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Inventor’s Showcase winner

January 30, 2014

Intra Grain’s storage monitor takes prize » Page 24

Flax gets Health Canada approval Cholesterol-lowering properties can be advertised » Page 23

SERVING MANITOBA FARMERS SINCE 1925 | Vol. 72, No. 5

It’s not official, but cattle price insurance is here Ban on announcements during the byelection campaign means Manitoba had to keep mum

$1.75

manitobacooperator.ca

Rail running rights pitched as grain transportation fix Transportation study announced last week is not intended to deal with the current backlog

By Shannon VanRaes

By Allan Dawson

co-operator staff

co-operator staff / brandon (with files from Alex Binkley)

he cat is out of the bag and halfway to Saskatoon, yet Manitoba remains the only western province not to have announced a livestock price insurance program. Last November, the Manitoba government outlined its intent to establish such a program in the speech from the throne, a n d s i n c e t h e n Ma n i t o b a Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (MAFRD) officials have been attending meetings with beef producers to dis-

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See INSURANCE on page 6 »

The Keystone Centre hosted another successful Manitoba Ag Days last week, with an estimate total of 36,000 to 38,000 people going through the gates at the annual three-day event. Photo: Sandy Black

armers typically go to hear market analysts at events like Ag Days to find out about prices, but this year, the story was more about whether their grain will even get to market. The transportation log-jam crippling export shipments was front and centre here last week with Saskatoon grain market analyst Larry Weber calling on farmers to unite and fight for a better deal from the railways. “ Wi t h c o - o p e ra t i o n a n d a stick, you guys wielding the power... would see results in six frigging months, not five years,” said Weber alluding to a $3.2-million project to deal with transportation issues announced in Winnipeg Jan. 21. “It doesn’t matter if you’re on the left side or the right side, come together at least once for God’s sake,” he urged farmers. “Either we deal with this transportation mess today or it’s going to be with us a long time.” However, industry officials said the government-industry effort announced last week to develop a long-term strategy for grain transportation isn’t See RAIL RUNNING on page 6 »

Pork virus creeps closer to Manitoba » PAGE 15

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

INSIDE

Did you know?

LIVESTOCK

Cold can literally help freeze your arse off

Finishing and marketing grass-fed beef Successful marketers share stories at Ag Days

CROPS Triffid test subsidy ends soon Positive samples drop to four per cent in 2013

FEATURE Historic grain revival Spelt growers find brisk market in Winnipeg

CROSSROADS Hard work, not overwork Psychologist offers advice to farmers at Ag Days

Exposure to cold temperatures can help boost weight loss Cell Press release

egular exposure to mild cold may be a healthy and sustainable way to help people lose weight, according to researchers writing in the Cell Press publication Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism Jan. 22. On the flip side, that means our warm and cosy homes and offices might be partly responsible for our expanding waistlines. “Since most of us are exposed to indoor conditions 90 per cent of the time, it is worth exploring health aspects of ambient temperatures,” said first author of the article Wouter van Marken Lichtenbelt of Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands. “What would it mean if we let our bodies work again to control body temperature? We hypothesize that the thermal environment affects humans, and more specifically that frequent mild cold exposure can significantly affect our energy expenditure over sustained time periods.” Earlier studies of temperature primarily focused on the extreme for application to the military, firefighters and others. But studies began to show big differences amongst people in their response to mild cold conditions. That led researchers to an important discovery: heat-generating, calorie-burning brown fat isn’t just for babies. Adults have it too and some more than others. Marken Lichtenbelt says they now have evidence to suggest that a more variable indoor temperature — one that is allowed to drift along with temperatures outside — might be beneficial. A research group from Japan found a decrease in body fat after people spent two hours per day at 17 C for six weeks. The Netherlands team also found that people get used to the cold over time. After six hours a day in the cold for a period of 10

photo: thinkstock

days, people in their study increased brown fat, felt more comfortable and shivered less at 15 C. In young and middle-aged people at least, nonshivering heat production can account for a few per cent up to 30 per cent of the body’s energy budget, they say. That means lower temperatures can significantly affect the amount of energy a person expends overall. So perhaps, in addition to our exercise training, we need to train ourselves to spend more time in the cold. Managing that in practice might take some convincing, however.

48 READER’S PHOTO

4 5 8 10

Editorials Comments What’s Up Livestock Markets

Grain Markets Weather Vane Classifieds Sudoku

11 16 38 42

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

Viterra funds CDC wheat breeding Staff

iterra has announced $5 million in funding for wheat and durum breeding at the Crop Development Centre (CDC) at the University of Saskatchewan. The funding will support the wheat-breeding programs led by Pierre Hucl and Curtis Pozniak. The researchers will set the breeding priorities, and Viterra will provide industry knowledge to ensure the CDC breeding is responsive to an evolving global marketplace, the two organizations said in a release. Viterra said the five-year agreement builds on a long-standing partnership with Viterra and the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, focusing on the development of wheat and durum varieties with enhanced yield, improved resistance to disease and insect pests and improved quality characteristics. “We continue to forge strong partnerships that build on our commitment to research and development for the benefit of our customers and western Canadian agriculture,” said Kyle Jeworski, Viterra’s president and CEO for North America. CDC said the funding will help researchers to significantly increase the number of varieties developed and commercialized. Using the latest breeding tools, development time will be reduced for a greater number of varieties. The estimated cost of developing a single new wheat variety is between $500,000 and $1 million.

China imports 2.7 per cent of total grain use beijing / reuters

Cattle prices are high, but the U.S.-Canada spread widens Tight cattle supplies have driven up prices, but failed to turn around the decline of the Canadian herd By Shannon VanRaes co-operator staff

“(W)e’ll probably go down, no doubt, but overall 2014 should shape up stronger than 2013.”

anadian cattle prod u c e r s a re n’t c o m plaining about prices these days, but maybe they should be, at least a little. “Prices are good, but t h e y s h o u l d b e b e t t e r,” Brian Perillat, senior analyst at Canfax, told producers at a recent meeting in Arborg. “Even despite the fact our dollar is down to 93 or 94 cents (when he spoke), we should be seeing much higher prices here in Canada relative to the U.S.” Instead, Perillat said the historic Canada-U.S. price spread of about 10 cents a pound has increased by two or even threefold. “ We’re 2 0 o r 3 0 c e n t s b e l o w t h e U . S . p r i c e ,” Perillat said. “And it goes down to country-of-origin labelling — with the rules on who can kill Canadian fed cattle, and how many, it’s put us at a big-time disadvantage.” Feeder cattle in the U.S. have reached record highs, with Reuters reporting seven consecutive record-breaking days at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange earlier this month, where wholesale choice beef prices reached $231.75 per hundredweight, and cash prices also broke records. Kevin Grier, senior market analyst with the George Mo r r i s C e n t re, s a i d t h e prices began to climb in December as supplies tightened. “We started off Christmas week in the United States with cattle prices that were at $1.30, or $130 per hundredweight and we finished last week at about $144, $145, which is historic, unprecedented, mind blowing — whatever you want to say,” Grier said, adding that supplies of feeder cattle are particularly tight, contributing to the price increase. Once rules and regulations around COOL are more settled, Perillat thinks the discount for Canadian 12/28/13

7:58 AM

Canfax

Brian Perillat, senior analyst at Canfax, speaks to producers. Photo: Shannon VanRaes

cattle may shrink, but that could be a long way off. In the meantime Canadian producers are not getting the same returns as their American counterparts. “Prices have gone up which is good, but our discount has actually gotten worse,” he said. “Our dollar has even gone down — and usually when the dollar goes down our prices go up — but it’s not happening right now... our discount just gets bigger.”

Type of cattle affected

Perillat said that although CO O L i s n’t a f f e c t i n g t h e number of cattle heading south of the border, it is affecting the type being shipped. “ I f y o u’r e l o o k i n g f o r the total number of cattle going south, there are more going south now... but it’s the feeders and they’re going south at a discount,” h e s a i d , a d d i n g Ty s o n’s decision to no longer take Canadian fed cattle at its Nebraska plant has affected producers as well. “So instead of sending fat cattle to the States, we’re sending more feeder cat-

tle, they go down there and they get fed in the U.S. and then they get slaughtered,” Per illat said. “ We’re also sending a lot more cows and bulls to the United States, partly because a plant in Quebec closed about a year ago.” Gr i e r n o t e s t h a t c a t t l e supplies are tight across Nor th Amer ica, and that even retail beef prices are now increasing. “Supplies are near historic lows,” he said. But higher prices could be what’s needed to expand the Canadian beef cattle herd, which currently sits a little under four million, Perillat said, or at least stymie the current trend of cow liquidation. At its peak, the Canadian herd was at 5.2 million head. “ With all of the pr ices as strong as they are, that should send signals that our cattle herd should potentially be turning around or growing,” he said. “But right now it’s been pretty disappointing, the cow liquidation continues and breeding stock prices have been fairly weak.” He a d d e d t h a t b r e e d -

ing stock prices will probably strengthen in the spr ing, but said that the Canadian herd still seems to be shrinking. “So we’ve l o s t a b o u t a quarter of our beef herd, and I honestly thought that maybe we’d start turning the corner and start growing, but we’re just not doing that which is disappointing,” he said, adding another year of lower feed prices would help. “There are a lot of guys who want to buy more cattle, or grow, but then country-of-origin labelling comes in and it seems like one more thing, and people think, really, do I want to take another chance? We’ve had BSE, the dollar goes from 70 cents to par, and feed prices double, and then along comes one more thing and they back off,” the analyst said. “They’ve been burnt so many times, they’re just really cautious.” But there is good news. Although cattle prices likely won’t keep breaking records day after day, 2014 does look promising. “It’s hard to say stronger than today, because we’re at a record high... we’ll probably go down, no doubt, but overall 2014 should shape u p s t r o n g e r t h a n 2 0 1 3 ,” Perillat said. “It’s still volatile, lots of risks in terms of the Canadian dollar, feed prices, everything... but yes, I think the market is well positioned.” shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

OPINION/EDITORIAL

Were they at the same meeting?

hen the subject of farming or farmers comes up in conversation with city folks, we are sometimes at pains to point out that they are not all cut from the same cloth. Not that there is anything wrong with being small- or large-C conservative, listening to country music or not liking gun control, but that doesn’t mean that any or all of the above apply to every farmer. John Morriss While they aren’t as racially diverse as Editorial Director urban Canada these days, that’s changing, and when it comes to religious, musical and cultural preferences, we’re willing to bet that farmers are about as diverse as the rest of the Canadian population. Then there’s the diversity of farms themselves — small, medium, large, various crops, various livestock, conventional, organic… the list is a long one. Unfortunately, these are points that seem to be lost on Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. He once told the House Agriculture Committee that the average grain farm in his area was 6,000-8,000 acres and that cattle operations were even bigger. The message seems to be that if you’re smaller than that (and most are), your views don’t count. It’s one thing to pick a policy, right or wrong, and then stick to it, which Mr. Ritz has certainly done. It’s another to dismiss and demonize those with a different opinion, as he did on the wheat board issue. And being singleminded is one thing, having a one-track mind is another. Recently we’ve seen that with the minister’s refusal to accept the grain companies’ claims that the railways aren’t pulling their weight, and last week we saw it again when he reported on his trip to the world agricultural ministers’ summit held in conjunction with the “Green Week” event in Germany. In a release and in his remarks to a press conference, Mr. Ritz said that he had called for a science-based approach to regulations, had raised market access issues, promoted the benefits of biotechnology and discussed the benefits of the proposed Canada-EU free trade agreement. He did not mention the real reason for the meeting he’d attended in Berlin, which was the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), attended by 65 agriculture ministers from around the world. At the close of the meeting, they issued a five-page communiqué which mentioned none of the items in Mr. Ritz’s press release. Instead, it focused on promoting diversity of local agricultural production systems, advancing the conservation and sustainable use of plant varieties and animal breeds adaptable to local conditions, sharing of genetic resources among plant breeders, better knowledge transfer to farmers, more diverse agricultural ecosystems, improved systems of land tenure and more work on addressing climate change and soil erosion. “We… are taking on our responsibility and making our contribution towards eradicating hunger and malnutrition and are committed to promote this issue in international fora,” the ministers said. Mr. Ritz’s failure to mention the real subject of the GFFA is at the least, bad manners. At worst, it’s a sign that Mr. Ritz either doesn’t really support the objectives, or doesn’t think they deserve any attention. That’s the message he’s sending, and it’s not one that will win him many friends in Europe. Europeans, and especially the Germans, put a lot of stake in international development and food security. Here’s part of the statement that German Agriculture Minister Hans Peter Friedrich issued (in English as well as German) after the Green Week meeting. “Producing enough food for mankind whilst securing the foundations for a nutritious, diverse and balanced diet — this is a big challenge.” He continued by saying that the decisive question in this regard was how to make agriculture as resilient as possible to climate change, volatile markets and dwindling resources. “There is no single solution that is valid for all regions and all problems. What we need here are intelligent, site-adapted and sustainable models that are suited to the people on the ground. The diversity of local plant varieties plays an important role in this context. They are adapted to the local climatic conditions and soils. Conventional breeding can make them even more productive and resilient.” It doesn’t sound as if the two ministers were at the same meeting. If Mr. Ritz wants a free trade agreement with Europe, it might be a good idea to show a bit more sensitivity to European views and ideals, as well as those of other countries represented at the GFFA. Yes, we want to trade with them, but we also want to help them feed themselves. john.morriss@fbcpublishing.com

Grain system chaos totally predictable Harper government unwilling or unable to address the issue By Ralph Goodale

t’s a costly, frustrating mess! That’s how farmers are describing the worsening situation in grain handling and transportation this winter. The complaints started early in the fall while producers were harvesting a record crop and available prices were still high. Concern has steadily escalated. It’s become painfully obvious that the existing system is incapable of delivering that crop to market in a timely manner. The spotting of rail cars is weeks, even months, behind. West Coast terminals are undersupplied. Some 40 ships are waiting in English Bay. Millions of dollars in demurrage charges are being incurred. Grain prices have dropped by 40 per cent. On-farm operating debts are going unpaid. That price penalty and extra costs — which farmers ultimately get stuck with — flow from the inability of railways and grain companies to handle and transport an excellent crop. They can’t seem to cope with anything beyond what they moved last year, and that is far below what’s required. Moreover, the Harper government is unable or unwilling to do anything about it. Indeed, Agriculture Minister Ritz defends railway and grain company performance as “adequate,” which it clearly is not. With producer patience wearing thin, the beleaguered minister pulled industry players into a meeting Jan. 21 at long last — to talk about the situation, and start a study of what’s gone wrong. Such a mess was entirely predictable. Long before he launched his crusade to demolish the previously existing grain marketing and

OUR HISTORY:

regulatory system, we asked Mr. Ritz for a coherent analysis of all the costs and benefits of the changes he was pushing. Quite apart from the merits/demerits of those changes, we also asked for a comprehensive business plan to manage implementation and transition. There was no cost-benefit analysis, no business plan, no consultation. There was, and is, no credible system to monitor and measure the consequences of his changes and report publicly. There is no transparency around price discovery, “basis” deductions or transportation logistics. In a deliberate free-for-all, co-ordination is largely absent. And there is certainly no advocate for the rights and interests of producers with the size and clout to take the railways and/or grain companies to court, if necessary, and win. The minister promised new legislation to rectify the imbalance in market power between farmers and railways — to enable shippers to get a decent level of transportation service. But his new law is a joke. Its definition of “service” is meaningless and shippers have no access to direct remedies from the railways. So shippers remain “captive,” with no competitive alternatives and no legal recourse. The Harper government’s intent here is becoming obvious. They are waiting for anger among producers to build to the point that farmers themselves turn against the “revenue cap” that exists within the law to provide some small measure of protection against arbitrary, discriminatory and exorbitant freight charges. Watch for it. That will be the Conservatives’ next move. They will blame the current transportation nightmare on the revenue cap, and use that as an excuse to do nothing. Ralph Goodale is the Liberal member of Parliament for Wascana, Sask. He is a former federal minister of agriculture.

January 1991

or a few years in the 1980s and 1990s, CN Rail held public meetings to receive farmer input on the operation of the transportation system. This ad appeared in our Jan. 31, 1991 issue. We reported that world wheat prices were near collapse as a result of the U.S.-EU price war. Speaking to Ag Days, wheat board chief commissioner Lorn Hehn said that the U.S. had sold 250,000 tonnes of wheat to Norway for $55 per tonne after applying an export subsidy of $52 per tonne. That translated to a net price of 73 cents a bushel to farmers in Missouri, but they were still guaranteed $4 under U.S. farm programs. Also speaking at Ag Days, Manitoba Agriculture Minister Glen Findlay raised the prospect of adjusting coverage under the Gross Revenue Insurance Program (GRIP), which was just getting underway. GRIP was a combined crop insurance and revenue insurance program with farmers, the federal government and provincial governments each paying onethird of the premiums. Findlay expressed concern that coverage levels for wheat were too high, which would discourage farmers from planting other crops. He was no doubt also concerned about Manitoba’s exposure under the program — an Agriculture Canada study projected the province could be $85 million in the red by 1995. GRIP was terminated in 1995, when it was $1 billion in the red overall. There was little complaint at the time, as there was a brief spike in grain prices in 1995-96.

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

COMMENT/FEEDBACK

You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone The loss of the Indian Head tree nursery will be felt by future generations By Richard Warkentin

he closing of the tree nursery at Indian Head, Saskatchewan and the demise of the Prairie Shelterbelt Program has happened without a lot of attention from the Prairie agricultural community. For over 110 years, the tree nursery supplied shelterbelt trees for the Prairie provinces. Since 1935, in the height of the Dirty ’30s, it was taken over by PFRA, which was on the forefront of reshaping the rural landscape, with programs like the Prairie Shelterbelt Program. Some would refer to PFRA as “the organization that saved Western Canada” and contributed to the value of shelterbelts for rural communities. In Apr il of 2012, G err y Ritz announced the decision to close the tree nursery. There was an element of protest, and even disbelief that it would actually happen. It seemed like there could be an easy transition for the nursery to be managed by a coalition of western municipalities. Well, December 31, 2013 came and went, and there was no arrangement made to take over the nursery. Many farmers were somewhat ambivalent on the demise of the Prairie Shelterbelt Program. There was the question if shelterbelts were still relevant due to the adoption of reduced tillage and low-disturbance seeding practices. Farmers are using larger equipment and the shelterbelts get in the way. Older shelterbelts are perceived to be too gangly and encroach onto valuable farmland. There is, however, still a high erosion risk after low-residue crops such as beans and potatoes. There is still a need for perennial soil conserva-

PHOTO: thinkstock

tion practices to work in co-operation with crop management systems. According to historical records in Western Canada, there is a pattern of increased shelterbelt planting after periods of dry weather. For the past 20 years, we have been in a wet weather cycle. What will happen when a dry weather cycle occurs? Ironically, the same time that the federal government announced the closing of the tree nursery, there was a research study in the Rural Municipality of Stanley on the benefits of shelterbelts to the rural community. This study was a master’s thesis research project conducted by Louise Bellet, who was raised on a farm in France, and studied communitybased natural resource management. The thesis project researched the complementary relationships between trees and soil organisms to

sustain soil fertility. Another aspect of the project was a social study that considered the rural community values that influence the management of agro-ecosystems. The soil biological study revealed that shelterbelts act as a reservoir of below-ground biodiversity. Fields adjacent to shelterbelts were observed to have significantly higher biomass and organic matter. The social study revealed that almost 70 per cent of community survey respondents rated shelterbelts as important to the RM of Stanley community. Shelterbelts were seen to provide a greater value to the community as a whole, than to actual agricultural productivity. The conclusion of the study stated that field shelterbelts have a value as a cultural practice and provide an important function as part of a sustainable farm system.

We w i l l o n l y re a l i ze t h e f u l l impact of the loss of the Indian Head Tree Nursery after the reality hits that it is no longer there. There will be no annual ritual of “picking up the PFRA trees” this spring. As the song goes, “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” Many farmers grew to take the free trees available from Indian Head for granted, and the loss of the nursery will be a big gap to fill. There may be opportunity for other wholesale tree nurseries to provide shelterbelt trees at a reasonable cost, but the federal government has made a huge statement on its support of rural communities by shutting down the tree nursery. Richard Warkentin is the technician for the Stanley Soil Management Association.

A perspective on Canada and Canadians It is a place where the word ‘business’ prevails over any other value By Louise Bellet

or the past year and a half I conducted a thesis research on the ecosystem services provided by shelterbelts to the RM of Stanley community. The research project has been very successful. I initiated an effective collaboration between universities, research departments and local governmental and non-governmental organizations to achieve a participative research. This has been a great opportunity to meet with new cultures, such as Mennonite and Hutterite people, continue working with farmers at managing agro-landscapes for joint production, conservation and livelihood benefits, and integrate the international research community on agroecosystem goods and services. The last two months in Winnipeg have been dedicated to the communication of my thesis results, presenting to the public, research community and governmental staff. It’s all

If you consider civil participation and representation as an indicator of democracy, then rural Canada is rather inert.

in their hands from there, and I wish them good luck. When thinking of Canada, I really appreciate its ability to welcome and integrate a diversity of cultures, while still respecting each culture’s integrity and right of being. Canada is the promised land of racial and gender equity, except for First Nations who are sadly suffering from segregation and stigmatization. Canadians are generally sophisticated, able to perform a wide variety of art and engage in spiritual conversations. In Winnipeg especially they have a level of self-consciousness and empathy I have rarely seen elsewhere. Here, however, lies the inexplicable paradox of Canada and Canadians, for it is also a

place where the word “business” prevails over any other value. The ideology that economy and growth is the pillar of people’s happiness is well ingrained. Create jobs and profits, the rest will follow. This mentality brings a nasty taste for sexy high tech, especially biotechnology. Seed companies, chemical companies, agro-equipment companies... they are powerful, with a rather unified voice, aggressively lobbying the government to support their case. The use of religious values and morals in farming is well present. The media is actively used to spread the ideology that Canadian farmers are critical to “feed the world.” Any practice or measure that

does not seek and contribute to yield increase is a sacrilege to the hungry people in need, meaning genetically modified crops, growth hormones and other biotechnology-driven practices. Environmentally orientated practices are perceived as a barrier to growth, and clearly not supported by the actual Conservative government. I can regularly read articles that portray Europeans as socialist, rigid and tight to beliefs that go against progress, against Canadian ideology. It also tells that Canadian investors will do what it takes in lobbying the European Union Agricultural Policy to get access to its market. If you consider civil participation and representation as an indicator of democracy, then rural Canada is rather inert. Most public policy organizations such as farmers’ unions or the Canadian Wheat Board have been erased in the last five years. There is a very low percentage of participation in elections. Even the last federal elections gathered

only 35 per cent of voters. It is heartbreaking to see the gap between people on the ground and their political representations. But Canadians tend to be pessimistic, even fatalistic. They avoid controversies, rather agreeing with whatever is supporting the industry as an expression of patriotism. I really hope Canadians will find the strength to take ownership of their development and future, for their own sake, but also for all the other countries Canada is influential. I am now going back to France to set roots in my own country, the family farm. I intend to learn how to manage the farm before launching an agro-ecology transition project for conventional farmers. I hope to keep working with research, using my farm as a science-based experimental station. There are too many open doors and development opportunities to name. Louise Bellet is an M.Sc. student in environment and management (Royal Roads University)

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

FROM PAGE ONE INSURANCE Continued from page 1

cuss the proposed program. But there has been no official confirmation. The federal government announced a new Western Livestock Price Insurance Program last Friday during a press conference in Camrose, Alberta, with representatives from Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia participating. Manitoba was absent. “Manitoba is not able to discuss the province’s participation at this time to respect the rules of the Election Financing Act,” said a spokeswoman for the Agriculture Department. Other sources within MAFRD have indicated a formal announcement regarding the program will take place shortly after this week’s provincial byelections. The province’s absence hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm of the Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), which issued a statement shortly after the announcement in Alberta The association acknowledged that the announcement “did not explicitly include Manitoba... due to the byelections in Morris and ArthurVirden,” but added that the association is confident that beef producers in Manitoba will have the same access to the program. “This new risk management tool will be a critical component to help the industry develop the confidence we need to rebuild Manitoba’s beef herd and be competitive on the landscape with other sectors,” said MBP president, Trevor Atchison. “This could fundamentally change beef production in this province.”

RAIL RUNNING Continued from page 1

“This could fundamentally change beef production in this province.” Trevor Atchison

Based on an existing livestock insurance program in Alberta, that province’s Agriculture Financial Services Corporation will be the central administrative centre for the program, according to Agriculture Canada. The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation will be the lead service delivery agent for the program. Products will include insurance for both pork and beef producers, encompassing fed cattle, feeder cattle and cow-calf operations. Details of the program will be sent to producers this March, but policies will provide an insurable floor price on cattle, allowing producers to manage risk and reduce price volatility. Atchison said it is something beef producers have been asking for, for several years. “Beef producers require strong, bankable, risk-mitigation tools,” he said, adding price insurance will build on new forage insurance programs announced last fall. He encouraged any beef producers interested in learning more about the programs to attend the association’s annual general meeting in February. shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

designed to address the backlog crippling this year’s shipments. “We’re dealing with intermediate issues, not the shortterm ones,” said Gordon Bacon, president of Pulse Canada, who will head the industry coalition assigned to the task. The five-year project has been in the planning stages for months and is supposed to help individual grain companies measure system performance, which could be used to negotiate a level-of-service agreement with a railway or perhaps launch a level-of-service complaint against a railway.

New study

Pulse Canada has received $1.5 million from Agriculture Canada and other farm and industry groups are chipping in $2 million for the study, Bacon said. While the industry’s primary focus for now is getting more grain transported during the next few months, the prospect of larger crops in the future should focus a lot of attention on the five-year study, Bacon said. “We need better performance measurements. We need more details on when orders for rail cars are placed, loaded for pickup and unloaded at a port. We need to find out what causes variability in cars reaching their destination. It can take eight days or 26 days. “There’s a general feeling in the grain industry that we have to start doing things differently because larger crops of grains, oilseeds and specialty crops will become the norm in the future,” he said. The coalition also includes the Canadian Special Crops Association, Canadian Canola

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Speaking at Ag Days Jan. 21 market analyst Larry Weber said if farmers unite they could force the government to legislate rail running rights, resulting in better grain movement. photo: allan dawson

Growers Association, the Alberta Wheat Commission, the Western Grain Elevators Association and the Inland Terminal Association. “There’s been a lot of talk about transportation and the poor performance of our supply chain this year in particular, but not a lot of action. The industry is coming together to roll up its sleeves and to get to work. The numbers speak for themselves and what we’ve seen isn’t good enough,” said Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the Western Grain Elevator Association in a release.

Industry meeting

At the behest of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, the railways and the grain industry had a closed-door meeting last week to discuss the current crisis. Ritz wants to hear from them again in February on what short-term actions will be taken to boost grain shipments this winter and spring. Transport Canada is also due to release the latest quarterly report from the Quorum Corp., the federal Grain Transportation Monitor. It was delivered to the department in late January. Quorum Corp. president Mark Hemmes said in an interview the railways are matching their 2012-13 grain movement performance but have yet to indicate how they will be able to move the much larger 2013 crop. A late, but record harvest and prolonged cold since early December have created a backlog that could be as high as 27 million tonnes. Hemmes said the railways will have to ramp up their efforts to move the grain. CN Rail spokesman Mark Hallman said in an email that cold weather is part of the problem. “We are all in this together and we all need to pull together to improve the entire supply chain,” he said.

Too much power

But Weber told his farm audience the problem is the railways have too much power. “Everybody understands the problem — the railways won’t co-operate and improve,” he said. Increasing competition by offering running rights so other

rail companies access existing lines would improve service while keeping freight rates in check, he said. Even the threat of running rights, similar to the threat of delivering physical grain against a futures contract, would discipline the railways, Weber said. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has also said running rights should be considered as an option, as should ending the cap on railway revenue for hauling grain. “Having said that I’m not about to give the railways freedom to charge whatever the market will bear,” he told reporters Jan. 20. “At the end of the day there have to be other efficiencies gained if you’re going to give up something like that rail cap. It’s not going to be like a free card played in the game,” Ritz said. Ending the cap would be a mistake, without implementing running rights, Weber told reporters. “We can’t get rid of the cap... because that’s the only thing that’s going to protect farmers forever,” he said. The Western Grain Elevator Association agrees. Removing the Grain Revenue Entitlement (GRE or cap) is a risky proposition,” the association says in a policy paper. “There is no evidence to show that shippers would get better service if the GRE were eliminated.” Weber has launched an online petition calling for improved rail service and more transparent grain markets. “We’ve forgotten our past,” Weber said, noting he just drove through Sintaluta — the tiny southeastern Saskatchewan hamlet often cited as the birthplace of the western Canadian farm movement that led to the creation of the farmer-owned grain company United Grain Growers, the right to producer cars and birth of the Canadian Grain Commission. “We built a grain system where farmers actually had some control and we blew it,” Weber said. “But change starts with you guys here.” allan@fbcpublishing.com

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

Camelina makes organic debut With an enviable ratio of omega fatty acids and a rich taste, one producer hopes the flax doppelganger will catch on with consumers By Shannon VanRaes CO-OPERATOR STAFF / BRANDON

little yellow flower is about to make a big splash in the Manitoba food scene. Er na and Franz Kracher of Freefield Organics, a small organic farm near Inglis, are preparing to introduce an organic, cold-pressed camelina oil to the Manitoba market — as soon as they come up with a label, that is. “We have just started producing it, so we still have to finish some things,” said Erna Kracher while attending an organics session at Ag Days in Brandon last week. She noted that while there are other camelina oils on the market in Canada, none are organic. “Ours will be the first,” she said, adding they are using a cold press imported from

Germany that can make about 100 litres per day. Sometimes called “false flax” because of its tendency to creep into flax fields, the plant is native to Northern Europe and Central Asia. It was a common cultivar in Europe until the 1940s when it was replaced by higher-yielding crops, according to information provided by Health Canada, which considers camelina to be a novel food. Camelina oil is similar to flaxseed oil, but because of its much higher vitamin E content, it is more stable and has a longer shelf life. Kracher adds that it’s also high in other essential fatty acids. “It is a very healthy oil... it has a really good ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 and omega-9, and the benefit of all the vitamin E,” she said. It also has a distinct taste.

WHAT’S UP

Erna and Franz Kracher of Freefield Organics showcase their cold-pressed, organic camelina oil. PHOTO: SHANNON VANRAES

ing the product through local health food retailers and direct marketing. She said moving towards organic, local production is something she and her family feel is very important to the future of food production.

Jan. 30: FCC workshop: Eight key principles of farm financial management, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Viscount Cultural Centre, 293 Mountain Ave., Neepawa. For more info or to register visit http://www. fcc-fac.ca/en/LearningCentre/ workshops_mb_e.asp. Feb. 3-6: Canadian Weed Science Society/Weed Science Society of America joint meeting, Hyatt Regency, 655 Burrard St., Vancouver. For more info visit http://wssa.net/ meeting/annual-meeting/.

shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

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Feb. 4-5: Manitoba Beef Producers 35th annual general meeting, Victoria Inn, 3550 Victoria Ave. W., Brandon. For more info visit mbbeef.ca.

Pekko R2 is one of the earliest maturing Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soybean varieties on the market. It takes off early, displays high pod set and finishes strong. Choose Pekko R2 for impressive, reliable yields.

Feb. 5-6: Manitoba Swine Seminar, Victoria Inn, 1808 Wellington Ave., Winnipeg. For more info visit www. ManitobaSwineSeminar.ca or call Dallas Ballance at 204-475-8585.

In the end, it all comes down to performance and BrettYoung brings a new standard of excellence to the field.

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Feb. 24-25: Wild Oats Grainworld 2014 conference, Fairmont Winnipeg, 2 Lombard Pl., Winnipeg. For more info visit wildoatsgrainworld.com. Feb. 25: FCC workshop: Minimize taxes and maximize purchasing power, 1-4 p.m., War Veterans Community Hall, 119 Sixth Ave. N., Swan River. For more info or to register visit http://www.fcc-fac. ca/en/LearningCentre/workshops_ mb_e.asp. Feb. 25-27: Canola Council of Canada annual convention, San Antonio, Texas. For more info visit www.canolacouncil.org. Feb. 26-27: Manitoba Young Farmers Conference, Canad Inns, 2401 Saskatchewan Ave., Portage la Prairie. For more info call 204-8254245 or email danielle.cabernel@ gov.mb.ca.

“For food security, I think it is so important to have local food processors and local mills,” she said. “I think that is something we need more of.”

Get ahead and stay ahead

Please forward your agricultural events to daveb@fbcpublishing. com or call 204-944-5762.

Feb. 24: FCC workshop: How to benefit from agricultural cycles and economic trends, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Victoria Inn, 3550 Victoria Ave., Brandon. For more info or to register visit http://www. fcc-fac.ca/en/LearningCentre/ workshops_mb_e.asp.

“It has a nutty flavour and a little bit of taste like asparagus,” said Kracher. “It works very well to make salad dressings, or dips... and it has a very high smoke point, 475° (F).” For their first batch, the Krachers bought camelina seed from a neighbouring producer, but they will grow their own this summer. Camelina is unusual in that it has to be intercropped to be successful, but the first-time growers said they haven’t yet decided what crop they will use. “It could be flax, peas or oats... it is separated at cleaning,” she said, adding its seeds are quite a bit smaller than flax. And while this is the latest offering from Freefield Farm, Kracher adds that they also mill grain into flour and flakes, and they hope to expand into other value-added products in the future. She plans on sell-

BrettYoung™ is a trademark of BrettYoung Seeds Limited. Elite® is a registered trademark of La Coop fédérée. Always follow grain marketing and all other stewardship practices and pesticide label directions. Details of these requirements can be found in the Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers printed in this publication. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not glyphosate tolerant. Genuity®, Genuity and Design®, Genuity Icons, Roundup®, Roundup Ready®, and Roundup Ready 2 Yield® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC used under license. 13028 10.13

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014 Trim: 10.25”

Trim: 15.5”

TOUGH WEEDS, MEET EXPRESS . ®

Crank up the rate all you want, glyphosate alone still misses a number of hard-to-kill weeds like narrow-leaved hawk’s-beard, flixweed, stinkweed, dandelion and volunteer canola. With hotter-than-hot systemic activity, DuPont™ Express® herbicides don’t just control weeds, they smoke them from the inside out, getting right to the root of your toughest weed challenges with performance that glyphosate alone can’t match. It’s no wonder Express® goes down with glyphosate more than any other brand in Western Canada! Visit expressvideo.dupont.ca to see Express® in action – torching tough weeds like dandelion and volunteer canola right down to the roots, so they can’t grow back.

Express® brand herbicides. This is going to be hot. Questions? Ask your retailer, call 1-800-667-3925 or visit express.dupont.ca

As with all crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™ and Express® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. All other products mentioned are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies. Member of CropLife Canada. ©Copyright 2014 E. I. du Pont Canada Company. All rights reserved.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

Trim: 10.25”

MULTIPLE MODES OF ACTION TAKE GLYPHOSATE TO THE NEXT LEVEL How to manage the threat of weed resistance before it manages you.

rairie farmers depend on glyphosate for agronomic practices such as pre-seed, chemfallow and post-harvest herbicide applications. Recent years, however, have seen an increase in documented cases of weed resistance, with glyphosate a key concern. What can growers do?

EFFECTIVE NON-CROP USE OF GROUP 2 HERBICIDES

UNDERSTAND WHY RESISTANCE OCCURS

For pre-seed weed control, DuPont scientists recommend a pre-seed burn-off treatment of Express® (Group 2) or PrecisionPac® NC-00439 or NC-0050 (Group 2) with glyphosate (Group 9). This is particularly effective if the crop rotation includes a crop such as Roundup Ready® canola and weeds that are not effectively controlled by glyphosate alone.

Weeds become resistant when they’ve had too much of a good thing. Practices that work well one year become less effective over time, if there’s no break in routine. For example, glyphosate alone will not control glyphosate-resistant kochia and may increase the risk of glyphosate resistance occurring in other weed species. Faced with Roundup Ready® volunteers and hard-to-kill weeds not controlled by glyphosate alone, growers have found that adding in DuPont™ Express® brand herbicides helps control these weeds and manage the threat of resistance.

Group 2 herbicides are a highly effective tool to control weeds. Like other herbicide groups, they should be mixed with herbicides from other groups in the same spray to manage resistance.

Because Group 2 and Group 9 herbicides have activity on many of the same weeds, growers get multiple modes of action working for them. In certain situations, adding a third mode of action such as dicamba, 2,4-D or MCPA (Group 4) may be advisable when there are weeds resistant to multiple groups. Express® brand herbicides significantly improve control of tough weeds such as narrow-leaved hawk’s-beard, flixweed, stinkweed, dandelion and volunteer canola, compared to glyphosate alone. This approach also helps proactively manage weed resistance.

COUNT ON DUPONT

DuPont Crop Protection is working with growers and retailers to protect the use of all the best crop protection tools available. As growers seek ways to manage weed resistance while maintaining profitable crop protection, DuPont is with you all the way.

Trim: 15.5”

MANAGE RESISTANCE ON YOUR FARM Crop rotation and complementary weed control

A field should have a rotation of at least three crop types. Consider also weed control methods such as higher seeding rates, planting clean seed, mowing out suspected resistant weed patches before they go to seed and using herbicides according to label directions.

Multiple modes of action

Herbicides are categorized into 17 groups, based on how they target a weed. For example, Sulfonylurea (Group 2) herbicides control weeds by inhibiting an enzyme essential to their growth. “If at all possible, producers should use mixtures of herbicides that use multiple modes of action in the seeding year,” says Ken Sapsford, University of Saskatchewan. “It’s one further step to help stop resistance from developing.”

Untreated Check

Glyphosate plus Heat®

Glyphosate plus Express® SG

Source: Controlled growth room environment, 29 days after application, Dr. François Tardif, Peter Smith, University of Guelph, Plant Agriculture Department, January 2013.

To see Express® brand herbicides in action, please visit expressvideo.dupont.ca Questions? Ask your retailer, call 1-800-667-3925 or visit express.dupont.ca The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™, Express® and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. All other products mentioned are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies. Member of CropLife Canada. ©Copyright 2014 E. I. du Pont Canada Company. All rights reserved.

RIGHT SIDE PAGE

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

LIVESTOCK MARKETS Cattle Prices Winnipeg

January 24, 2014

Exchange rate attracts U.S. cattle buyers’ interest

Steers & Heifers 120.00 - 126.00 D1, 2 Cows 76.00 - 82.00 D3 Cows 68.00 - 74.00 Bulls 80.00 - 90.00 Feeder Cattle (Price ranges for feeders refer to top-quality animals only) Steers (901+ lbs.) 135.00 155.00 (801-900 lbs.) 155.00 - 162.00 (701-800 lbs.) 155.00 - 175.00 (601-700 lbs.) 175.00 - 189.00 (501-600 lbs.) 185.00 - 202.00 (401-500 lbs.) 190.00 - 212.00 Heifers (901+ lbs.) 125.00 - 145.00 (801-900 lbs.) 135.00 - 149.00 (701-800 lbs.) 142.00 - 157.00 (601-700 lbs.) 150.00 - 165.00 (501-600 lbs.) 158.00 - 183.00 (401-500 lbs.) 170.00 - 190.00

Heifers

Alberta South $ 137.00 - 148.50 148.50 75.00 - 85.00 65.00 - 76.00 – $ 142.00 - 158.00 150.00 - 168.00 160.00 - 179.00 174.00 - 195.00 185.00 - 209.00 190.00 - 215.00 $ 130.00 - 145.00 140.00 - 155.00 145.00 - 164.00 155.00 - 174.00 162.00 - 181.00 168.00 - 191.00

($/cwt) (1,000+ lbs.) (850+ lbs.)

(901+ lbs.) (801-900 lbs.) (701-800 lbs.) (601-700 lbs.) (501-600 lbs.) (401-500 lbs.) (901+ lbs.) (801-900 lbs.) (701-800 lbs.) (601-700 lbs.) (501-600 lbs.) (401-500 lbs.)

Futures (January 17, 2014) in U.S. Fed Cattle Close Change February 2014 143.92 3.77 April 2014 140.60 1.38 June 2014 132.22 0.95 August 2014 130.35 0.95 October 2014 133.20 0.60 December 2014 134.12 0.17

Feeder Cattle January 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 August 2014 September 2014

Cattle Slaughter Canada East West Manitoba U.S.

Week Ending January 18, 2014 51,148 12,690 38,458 NA 598,000

Auction markets are back up to full speed, post-holiday Terryn Shiells

Ontario $ 122.33 - 151.59 130.40 - 148.13 62.20 - 89.88 62.20 - 89.88 75.85 - 102.32 $ 145.64 - 172.21 154.60 - 171.90 154.74 - 179.66 159.31 - 193.88 167.32 - 205.18 170.54 - 211.43 $ 133.92 - 143.66 127.61 - 149.96 124.27 - 156.51 140.92 - 166.65 139.83 - 173.44 142.67 - 175.66

Close 170.37 169.87 170.35 170.82 171.97 170.70

Change 0.57 1.62 1.08 0.92 0.82 0.30

Cattle Grades (Canada) Previous Year 46,316 12,370 33,946 NA 612,000

Week Ending January 18, 2014 464 21,346 16,942 690 614 10,361 32

Prime AAA AA A B D E

Previous Year 550 19,228 13,344 476 691 11,164 14

Hog Prices Source: Manitoba Agriculture

(Friday to Thursday) ($/100 kg) E - Estimation MB. ($/hog) MB. (All wts.) (Fri-Thurs.) MB. (Index 100) (Fri-Thurs.) ON (Index 100) (Mon.-Thurs.) P.Q. (Index 100) (Mon.-Fri.)

Current Week 180.00 E 159.00 160.05 161.55

Futures (January 24, 2014) in U.S. Hogs February 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014

Last Week 167.71 157.78 158.74 161.69

Close 85.57 92.95 100.30 102.10 100.55

Last Year (Index 100) 168.39 155.77 157.04 159.70

Change -1.30 0.70 0.70 0.35 0.23

Other Market Prices Winnipeg (105 head) (wooled fats) — Next Sale is Feb. 5 —

Chickens Minimum broiler prices as of May 23, 2010 Under 1.2 kg................................... $1.5130 1.2 - 1.65 kg.................................... $1.3230 1.65 - 2.1 kg.................................... $1.3830 2.1 - 2.6 kg...................................... $1.3230

Turkeys Minimum prices as of February 2, 2014 Broiler Turkeys (6.2 kg or under, live weight truck load average) Grade A .................................... $1.905 Undergrade .............................. $1.815 Hen Turkeys (between 6.2 and 8.5 kg liveweight truck load average) Grade A .................................... $1.890 Undergrade .............................. $1.790 Light Tom/Heavy Hen Turkeys (between 8.5 and 10.8 kg liveweight truck load average) Grade A .................................... $1.890 Undergrade .............................. $1.790 Tom Turkeys (10.8 and 13.3 kg, live weight truck load average) Grade A..................................... $1.790 Undergrade............................... $1.705 Prices are quoted f.o.b. farm.

CNSC

“We’re getting into calving time, and if a cow loses a calf, she’s being sold.”

keith cleaver

his year is shaping up to be a good one for Manitoba’s cattle producers so far, as prices stayed steady to higher from already strong prices for feeder and slaughter cattle during the week ended Jan. 24. Strong demand continued to propel prices higher for the feeder market, according to Keith Cleaver, manager of Heartland Livestock Services in Brandon. Some auction yards reported prices rising by as much as $8 to $15 per hundredweight on the feeder cattle. Slaughter cattle prices were steady to higher compared to the previous week’s sales at most of the province’s auction marts, reports show. The sharply weaker Canadian dollar helped to drum up fresh interest from buyers in the U.S., as it makes Canadian cattle a very affordable option for them. A dovish Bank of Canada announcement on Jan. 22, which noted it will take longer than originally expected to get inflation back up to targets, was behind the move that saw the loonie periodically drop below US90 cents during the week. Buying interest for Manitoba’s feeder and slaughter cattle also came from the provinces to its west and east during the week, said Cleaver. Buyers who came out to Manitoba’s auction marts had a good selection of cattle to choose from, as volumes of feeder cattle were mostly higher than the week prior. Markets were starting to get back into full swing after the holiday break, Cleaver added. Some markets, however, saw lower volumes of cattle due to unfavourable winter weather conditions in various regions. “The first part of the week, the roads around here were a little bit icy, and it was pretty cold,” said Cleaver.

But winter storms and icy roads didn’t cause too many transportation issues for trucks hauling cattle away from the market in Brandon, he added. Slaughter cattle volumes were unseasonably high, he said, adding that many producers are sending cows and bulls to market because they’re very profitable right now due to strong prices. “We’re getting into calving time, and if a cow loses a calf, she’s being sold,” he added. Lower feed prices are also helping make 2014 a good year so far for Manitoba’s cattle producers, with grain values continuing to move lower due to large global supplies. But the very cold winter seen so far in the province is causing problems for some producers. Many days have seen temperatures well below average across the province in December and January. A c c o rd i n g t o E n v i r o n m e n t C a n a d a data, mean temperatures in some regions of Manitoba were 5 to 8 C below average. Many of the 79 areas included in the data recorded lows in the -32 to -45 C range. The colder the temperatures, the more hay and feed cattle need to eat to stay warm during the winter months. The odd areas are starting to get short on hay, Cleaver said, but for the most part, producers are doing OK for feed supplies so far. “And this year with the lower grain (prices) you can feed some grain versus straight hay to the cows,” he added. Terryn Shiells writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

briefs

Sheep and Lambs $/cwt Ewes Choice Lambs (110+ lb.) (95 - 109 lb.) (80 - 94 lb.) (Under 80 lb.) (New crop)

$1 Cdn: $.9040 U.S. $1 U.S: $1.1062 Cdn.

COLUMN

(Friday to Thursday) Slaughter Cattle

Slaughter Cattle Grade A Steers Grade A Heifers D1, 2 Cows D3 Cows Bulls Steers

EXCHANGES: January 24, 2014

Toronto 77.46 - 100.27 142.17 - 162.45 162.10 - 176.68 163.94 - 172.85 163.03 - 215.17 —

SunGold Specialty Meats 35.00

Eggs Minimum prices to producers for ungraded eggs, f.o.b. egg grading station, set by the Manitoba Egg Producers Marketing Board effective June 12, 2011. New Previous A Extra Large $1.8500 $1.8200 A Large 1.8500 1.8200 A Medium 1.6700 1.6400 A Small 1.2500 1.2200 A Pee Wee 0.3675 0.3675 Nest Run 24 + 1.7490 1.7210 B 0.45 0.45 C 0.15 0.15

Goats Kids Billys Mature

Winnipeg (head) (Fats) 75.00 - 90.00 180.00 —

<1,000 lbs. 1,000 lbs.+

staff / U.S. consumer analyst Mintel says that 39 per cent of beef and other red meat consumers ate less in 2013 than in 2012. One-quarter of pork consumers claimed to have eaten less pork in 2013 than they did in 2012, Mintel said in a release Jan. 22. In contrast, only 10 per cent of beef and other red meat eaters are eating more, and only 13 per cent of pork consumers are eating more. “Health trends motivating consumers to cut fat and cholesterol intake are by far the most dominant factors affecting the red meat market,” Patty Johnson, global food analyst at Mintel said in the release. “While some consumers are turning away from

red meat in favour of healthier alternatives, there are still a staggering amount of Americans who partake on a regular basis. For many of those who are cutting back they are very well trading up to a higherquality meat product.” Sixteen per cent of those who say they are consuming less red meat are eating less but higher-quality red meat. Johnson said this creates an opportunity to market higherquality meats to consumers. Packaging may be an area for innovation, particularly to appeal to women, Mintel said. More than one-third (35 per cent) of women would like to see more resealable packaging, 26 per cent say they want individual-size portions and 23 per cent would like to see recipe options on the package.

Toronto ($/cwt) 60.00 - 227.50 — 100.89 - 202.98

Horses Winnipeg ($/cwt) — —

U.S. consumers eat less, but higher-quality meat

Toronto ($/cwt) 5.00 - 31.17 29.00 - 40.00

Looking for results? Check out the market reports from livestock auctions around the province. » PaGe 14

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

GRAIN MARKETS Export and International Prices

column

Declining loonie cuts canola’s downward momentum Soybean buyers shift their gaze to South America Phil Franz-Warkentin CNSC

CE Futures Canada canola contracts moved lower during the week ended Jan. 24, but managed to hold above nearby contract lows as an even weaker tone in the Canadian dollar helped temper the downward slide. The now-common refrain of large supplies and ongoing logistical issues remained the pre-eminent bearish influence on the canola market, with no immediate change to that situation on the horizon. The government did announce $1.5 million in funding for a group to look into improvements to the grainhandling chain, but anything that comes out of that effort will be longer term. The Canadian dollar, meanwhile, lost over a cent relative to its U.S. counterpart during the week and has lost about four cents in the first few weeks of 2014. The March canola contract has lost about C$20 per tonne over the past month, but when factoring that into U.S. dollars, that same tonne of canola is actually US$30 per tonne cheaper (rather than $20) for any international customer paying with U.S. dollars. The slide in the currency has played a part in expanding domestic crush margins to record-wide levels. Crush margins provide an indication of the profitability of the product values relative to the seed cost when processing canola, with exchange rates also factoring in to the equation. As of Jan. 24, the canola board crush margin calculated by ICE Futures Canada was about $175 above the most active March contract. While the crush margins may be strong, the

Last Week

All prices close of business January 17, 2014

Week Ago

Year Ago

Chicago wheat (nearby future) ($US/tonne)

207.05

Minneapolis wheat (nearby future) ($US/tonne)

226.99

Coarse Grains Chicago corn (nearby future) ($US/tonne)

166.92

Chicago oats (nearby future) ($US/tonne)

259.04

Chicago soybeans (nearby future) ($US/tonne)

483.73

Chicago soyoil ($US/tonne)

832.17

oilseeds

logistics issues in Western Canada slowing grain movement are also limiting the actual crush pace. The total crush in the 2013-14 crop year to date, as of Jan. 22, was reported at about 3.2 million tonnes by the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association, which was over 240,000 tonnes behind the level seen at the same point the previous year. In the U.S., corn posted small gains during the week, while soybeans were down and the three wheat markets were narrowly mixed. For soybeans, the attention was largely focused on South America, where relatively favourable crop conditions and the early stages of harvest in Brazil will soon be causing more global export demand to shift away from the U.S. Big South American crops also have the potential to be bearish for corn going forward, but good export demand in the meantime was helping prop up values.

Winnipeg Futures ICE Futures Canada prices at close of business January 24, 2014 barley

Last Week

Week Ago

March 2014

127.00

May 2014

129.00

July 2014

129.00

Canola

Last Week

Week Ago

March 2014

425.20

431.10

May 2014

435.00

440.40

July 2014

443.80

449.30

Special Crops Report for January 27, 2014 — Bin run delivered plant Saskatchewan

Wheat mixed

U.S. wheat continues to miss out on export opportunities, but cold temperatures across some winter wheat-growing regions were enough to provide a bit of a boost to the Kansas City hard red winter wheat contracts. Chicago soft wheat held narrowly mixed during the week, while Minneapolis futures were mostly lower. With snow cover thought to be adequate in most winter wheat-growing areas, the attention in the U.S. market remains primarily on export potential and whether the U.S. will be able to increase sales, now that prices are thought to be more competitive internationally. Phil Franz-Warkentin writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

Spot Market

Lentils (Cdn. cents per pound)

Other ( Cdn. cents per pound unless otherwise specified)

Large Green 15/64

22.00 - 23.00

Canaryseed

Laird No. 1

19.50 - 22.00

Oil Sunflower Seed

Eston No. 2

16.75 - 19.50

18.50 - 21.00 —

Desi Chickpeas

18.50 - 19.50

Field Peas (Cdn. $ per bushel)

Beans (Cdn. cents per pound)

Green No. 1

9.30 - 11.00

Fababeans, large

Medium Yellow No. 1

4.85 - 6.25

—

Feed beans

—

Feed Peas (Cdn. $ per bushel)

No. 1 Navy/Pea Beans

42.00 - 42.00

Feed Pea (Rail)

No. 1 Great Northern

60.00 - 60.00

Mustardseed (Cdn. cents per pound)

No. 1 Cranberry Beans

64.00 - 64.00

Yellow No. 1

34.00 - 35.75

No. 1 Light Red Kidney

55.00 - 55.00

Brown No. 1

33.00 - 34.75

No. 1 Dark Red Kidney

60.00 - 60.00

Oriental No. 1

27.30 - 28.75

No. 1 Black Beans

40.00 - 40.00

No. 1 Pinto Beans

35.00 - 35.00

5.00 - 5.50

No. 1 Small Red

For three-times-daily market reports from Commodity News Service Canada, visit “Today in Markets” at www.manitobacooperator.ca.

Source: Stat Publishing

No. 1 Pink

SUNFLOWERS

— 40.00 - 40.00

Fargo, ND

Goodlands, KS

18.90

18.00

32.00* Call for details

—

Report for January 24, 2014 in US$ cwt NuSun (oilseed) Confection Source: National Sunflower Association

Manitoba farmers ‘kicking tires’ on sunflowers Special crop contracts attract interest at Ag Days By Phil Franz-Warkentin Commodity News Service Canada

unflower acreage in Manitoba may be on the rise in 2014, as early pricing opportunities are favourable and farmers are showing an increased interest in alternative cropping options, according to an industry participant. With prices for most grains and o i l s e e d s g r ow n a c r o s s We s t e r n Canada under pressure by large supplies and logistical issues, specialty crops that sometimes fly under the radar, including sunflowers, may be getting more attention than normal ahead of spring planting. “Whenever other commodity

prices go down, the special crops can expect an increase in acres, or at least an increase in interest,” said Mike Durand, of Nestibo Agra in Deloraine, noting that “there were a lot of tire kickers at Ag Days (in Brandon Jan. 22-23).” Ne w - c r o p p r i c i n g f o r o i l s e e d sunflowers can be found at 20 to 22 cents per pound, with confectionery contracts offered at anywhere from 28 cents (for No. 2) to as high as 32 cents per pound, said Durand. Su n f l owe r s h a v e f o l l owe d t h e downward trend seen in most other commodities, but still “pencil out better for farmers than the majority of other crops,” said Durand.

Manitoba farmers grew 70,000 acres of sunflowers in 2013, which compares with 100,000 the previous year and the prior five-year average of about 120,000. Adverse weather conditions in the spring limited some of the area, according to a report from the National Sunflower Association of Canada. Nestibo Agra is also one of the few companies still contracting for buckwheat in Manitoba. Durand said interest in the crop was there, but only “a handful” of contracts will actually be filled this year as the lack of local processing capacity together with increased riskiness in the international market were limiting the potential for buckwheat.

Prices are down but margins may still be better than other crops.

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

LIVESTOCK

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H USB A N DRY — T H E SC I E NC E , SK I L L OR A RT OF FA R M I NG

Strong demand for directmarketed, grass-fed beef Successful forage-finished beef entrepreneurs share marketing strategies at Ag Days By Daniel Winters CO-OPERATOR STAFF / BRANDON

t takes longer and costs more to produce grass-finished beef, but Jim Lintott’s customers are willing to pay the asking price. The key is quality, which he describes as job No. 1. “I’ve almost never had a consumer tell me, Jim, your rib-eye steak at $17.99 a pound — twice what it’s worth at Safeway — is too bloody expensive and I won’t eat it,” said Lintott, president of the 10-member Manitoba Grass-Fed Beef Association. At his farmers’ market table, retail customers regularly come to him with a fistful of $100 bills and buy a pile of premium cuts to impress their guests at an upcoming weekend feast. “That’s the market that’s there. Build that market with a high-quality product and give them bragging rights. Do not sell them a rib-eye steak for $11 a pound. It’s worth $20,” said Lintott, in a presentation at Ag Days hosted by the Manitoba Organic Alliance. Wa y n e Mc D o n a l d , w h o r u n s McDonald Farm near Cartwright, direct markets all of the grass-only production from his Galloway-Anguscross herd of 80 head through an e-commerce-enabled website that also offers pasture pork and lamb. “The beef is by far the easiest one to sell in terms of customer demand,” said McDonald.

Inspected

His cows are small framed, and carcass weights at 18-24 months average around 450-500 pounds. A provincially inspected abattoir is just 20 minutes away from the farm in Killarney. The website, which uses a software program called Joomla that is available for free downloading online, is key to his marketing strategy, because it means his store is open 24-7 for customers. Instead of hiring a webmaster, he is able to update pictures, prices and do inventory tracking himself because the software is very user friendly.

It features pictures and stories explaining how the animals are raised, as well as the farm’s philosophy. Shoppers can browse through all the product line, then enter their choices in an online shopping cart, and then place an order and pay for it via credit card or PayPal. “As I was sitting here, I had three orders come in. The online shopping cart is fantastic and it works really well for us,” said McDonald. Once the order amounts for customers in Winnipeg, Portage or Brandon exceed $3,500 to $6,000, he loads

“As I was sitting here, I had three orders come in. The online shopping cart is fantastic and it works really well for us.” WAYNE MCDONALD

the truck and delivers the frozen meat to a pre-arranged meeting place for customer pickup in a coolerequipped trailer. “I’m usually done and gone in half an hour,” said McDonald, who added almost all of his customers are families, and about half of them prepay online.

Different is better

Ian Grossart, who raises 90 head of forage-finished beef on his certified organic farm near Brandon, mainly sells locally from the farm gate. In the 1990s, faced with the option of “getting big, or getting out,” he decided to switch to organic to boost his profit margins. “Getting better, and getting different, appealed to me more,” said Grossart. “We’ve gone from using Roundup, Ralgro and Rumensin to aloe vera, kelp and compost.” Having cattle on his organic farm means he can speed up the nutrient cycling process and turn a profit on a green manure crop by grazing it.

Raising beef the old-fashioned way has bolstered his conviction that he’s doing the right thing by raising healthier food, and he sees the results in positive feedback from his customers. USDA literature from 1959, he said, states that a hamburger had 20 international units of vitamin A. “In 2010, there’s none,” said Grossart. “People say we have the best science now and that ‘old is bad,’ but the nutrients in our food have in fact gone down.” Lintott is excited by the long-term potential of the Canada-European Union free trade agreement, which could open up a new market for half a million head of hormone-free beef. “Who has a protocol in place to service that market? It’s not the guy down the road who is producing commodity beef. He’s got hardly enough records to do his income taxes,” said Lintott, who added that in that respect, organic leads the way, followed by purebred breeders, and then the grass-fed beef association members.

Jim Lintott.

PHOTOS: DANIEL WINTERS

Wayne McDonald

Partnerships

Although it will be at least two years before CETA is signed, he is eager to start approaching buyers in the EU by working with Manitoba foreign trade representative for Western Europe Wolfgang Haufe. But Haufe warned that trying to break into giant markets isn’t for the faint of heart, and it’s best to start with smaller markets on the European periphery. Once, in pursuit of a co-operation deal with a big German corporation, Haufe sent a basic outline of a potential agreement to the managing director and was later pleased to receive an invitation to meet in person. “When I arrived, the managing director stood up, tore my paper in half, and said, ‘This, Mr. Haufe, is what I think of your proposal!’” said Haufe. “At that stage, I knew that this was not a partner for me.” daniel.winters@fbcpublishing.com

Ian Grossart

Wolfgang Haufe

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

SHEEP & GOAT COLUMN

Temperatures outside were cold, but bidding was hot Feeder lambs dominated, with no difference between wool and hair types January 8, 2014

By Mark Elliot Co-operator contributor

D O

espite the cold temperatures, producers delivered 379 animals to the Jan. 22 sale at Winnipeg Livestock Auction. Bidding was strong. nly two ewes were delivered to this sale. A young 90-pound Cheviot-cross ewe brought $69.75 ($0.775 per pound). A 205-pound Suffolkcross ewe brought $131.20 ($0.64 per pound). No rams were delivered for this sale. Fifteen 124-pound Suffolkcross lambs brought $164.30 ($1.325 per pound); representing the heavyweight lamb classification. More lambs were supplied for the market lamb classification compared to the last sale. This resulted in lower bidding. However, still strong bidding from

briefs

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Ewes

$69.75 / $131.20

n/a

$164.30

n/a

95 - 110

$145.35 – $154.55

$160.92

80 - 94

$115.02 – $132.99

$140.28 – $148.80

73 - 76

$99.90 – $114.76

$129.20 (76 lbs.)

60 - 69

$85.80 – $104.72

$106.47 / $108.90 (63 lbs.)

55 / 57

$77.52 / $84.70

n/a

40 / 45

$56.00 / $58.50

n/a

the wool and hair lambs. The price ranged from $1.41 to $1.48 per pound, at a weight range from 81 to 93 pounds. An exception was 24 80-pound Clun Forest-cross lambs which brought $122.40 ($1.50 per pound).

The lightweight lambs continued this strong bidding. The price ranged from $1.35 to $1.51 per pound, at a weight range from 73 to 76 pounds. The price ranged from $1.43 to $1.505 per pound for lambs ranging from 60 to 69 pounds.

Lambs (lbs.) 110+

Under 80

the buyers occurred. The 105and 110-pound lambs received $1.405 per pound. The 102pound lambs received $1.425 per pound. Feeder lambs dominated the sale. There appeared to be no differences in prices between

However, those lambs that were noted as culls, due to physical disabilities attracted lower bids. Fifteen 57-pound Cheviotcross lambs brought $77.52 ($1.36 per pound). A 55-pound Clun Forest-cross lamb brought $84.70 ($1.54 per pound). Once again, the cull lambs were hit with lower bidding. A 40-pound Cheviot-cross lamb brought $56 ($1.40 per pound). A 45-pound Rideaucross lamb brought $58.50 ($1.30 per pound). The cull lambs did not reach these prices. No goat does were delivered for this sale. A 160-pound Boer-cross buck brought $172.50 ($1.08 per pound). Two 48-pound Boer-cross (goat kids) brought $80 ($1.67 per pound). The cull goat kid did not reach this price.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

LIVESTOCK AUCTION RESULTS Weight Category

Ashern

Gladstone

Grunthal

Heartland

Killarney

Ste. Rose

Winnipeg

Brandon

Virden

Feeder Steers

Jan-21

Jan-24

Jan-22

Jan-20

Jan-23

Jan-24

No. on offer

1,700

500*

828

702

3,724*

1,048*

2,578*

1,460

Over 1,000 lbs.

n/a

125.00-141.00

900-1,000

n/a

120.00-145.00

132.00-154.00

140.00-155.00

143.00-157.00

n/a

145.00-157.00

800-900

140.00-167.75

159.00-166.50

148.00-164.00

145.00-165.00

154.00-166.00

155.00-164.00

155.00-165.00

150.00-167.50

700-800

152.00-180.00

155.00-178.00

155.00-177.00

160.00-182.00

158.00-176.00

160.00-176.00

165.00-183.00

160.00-185.00

600-700

160.00-196.50

160.00-186.00

160.00-188.00

165.00-184.00

170.00-194.00

175.00-195.00

175.00-198.50

175.00-198.00

500-600

170.00-214.00

185.00-210.00

175.00-214.00

175.00-207.00

180.00-205.00

185.00-203.00

180.00-213.00

185.00-224.00

400-500

180.00-225.50

180.00-220.00

185.00-222.00

190.00-228.00

190.00-225.00

190.00-229.00

185.00-231.00

200.00-230.00

300-400

n/a

180.00-230.50

185.00-220.00

180.00-230.00

n/a

185.00-204.00

200.00-210.00

n/a

120.00-135.00

124.00-138.00

n/a

110.00-125.00

Feeder heifers 900-1,000 lbs. 800-900

n/a

125.00-150.00

130.00-149.50

135.00-155.00

139.00-149.00

140.00-150.00

130.00-154.00

130.00-148.00

700-800

130.00-159.00

135.00-155.50

140.00-156.00

145.00-165.00

148.00-163.00

150.00-159.50

140.00-162.00

140.00-158.00

600-700

134.00-170.00

140.00-168.50

145.00-171.00

155.00-170.00

152.00-170.00

155.00-170.00

150.00-174.00

150.00-170.00

500-600

140.00-177.00

140.00-176.00

155.00-178.00

165.00-182.00

158.00-181.00

160.00-177.00

160.00-184.00

155.00-189.00

400-500

150.00-184.00

145.00-180.00

165.00-190.00

175.00-195.00

162.00-184.00

165.00-188.00

160.00-187.50

170.00-190.00

300-400

n/a

150.00-181.00

165.00-190.00

180.00-200.00

n/a

145.00-192.00

170.00-190.00

Slaughter Market No. on offer

517

n/a

160

n/a

220

D1-D2 Cows

70.00-77.00

50.00-78.00

n/a

74.00-83.50

72.00-78.00

60.00-70.00

55.00-85.00

75.00-82.00

D3-D5 Cows

62.00-68.00

n/a

60.00-65.00

62.00-73.00

45.00-77.00

n/a

70.00-76.00

Age Verified

72.00-82.00

n/a

74.00-82.75

72.00-77.00

n/a

Good Bulls

80.00-92.50

75.00-80.50

n/a

87.00-94.00

87.00-96.75

83.00-94.00

84.00-94.00

84.00-90.00

Butcher Steers

n/a

110.00-120.00

112.00-119.50

n/a

125.00-131.75

Butcher Heifers

n/a

106.00-118.00

110.00-117.50

n/a

125.00-130.50

Feeder Cows

n/a

75.00-85.00

75.00-87.00

75.00-86.00

75.00-83.00

n/a

80.00-85.00

Fleshy Export Cows

n/a

70.00-79.00

n/a

Lean Export Cows

n/a

69.00-70.00

n/a

80.00-87.00

n/a

Heiferettes * includes slaughter market

(Note all prices in CDN$ per cwt. These prices also generally represent the top one-third of sales reported by the auction yard.)

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

Cheaper corn puts more cattle on feed

Pig-killing virus creeps closer to Canada

December placements were up, which is bearish for cattle futures

Staff

By Theopolis Waters chicago / reuters

ore young cattle than expected entered U.S. feedlots in December as cheaper feed gave feedyard operators a chance to break even or turn a slight profit, analysts and economists said following the Jan. 24 U.S. government cattle report. The U.S. Department of Agriculture showed December placements at 1.681 million head, up one per cent from 1.664 million a year earlier. Analysts, on average, expected a 2.3 per cent decrease, citing healthy grazing pastures that allowed ranchers to fatten cattle outside of feedyards at reduced costs. Anxious to cash in on the seasonal upswing in prices for slaughter-ready cattle, ranchers moved animals to feedlots where they dined on less-costly feed before heading to packers such as Tyson Foods and Cargill Inc. “Corn became cheap enough to bring in cattle, and hay supplies increased substantially at lower costs,” said Dan Vaught, economist with Doane Advisory Services in St. Louis, Missouri. Don Roose, president of Iowabased U.S. Commodities said: “The northern Corn Belt placed cattle pretty aggressively. That really was the tiebreaker.” The bigger placements were largely centred around the U.S. Corn Belt, which suggests more affordable feed, he said. Feedlots in recent months were faced with record-high costs for scarce lightweight calves that eroded their margins. In October, feedlots profits briefly surfaced in the black for the first time in 29 months following last fall’s record corn harvest. Feedyards in December averaged a loss of about $68 per head on cattle sold to meat companies, compared with a $26-per-head loss the month before, according to the Colorado-based Livestock Marketing Information Center. “Feedlot break-evens began to improve at a time when they need to fill excess capacity. When people saw the slightest hint of profitability, they jumped at it and put some cattle on feed,” said Elaine Johnson, analyst with CattleHedging.com in Denver, Colorado. USDA put the feedlot cattle supply as of Jan. 1 at 10.593 million head, down five per cent from a year earlier of 11.193 million. Larger-than-anticipated cattle supplies in January were tied to increased placements in December, analysts said. The government said the number of cattle sold to packers, or marketings, in December was down 1.0 per cent from a year earlier, to 1.736 million head. Analysts expected the report to be bearish. “You’ve got more cattle around than you thought after the first of the year, which could pressure the nearby contracts,” said Roose.

Manitoba Pork puts producers on alert as the virus is found in Ontario and nearby Minnesota “Federal and provincial government officials are working closely with industry to prevent the entry of the disease into Manitoba. However, it’s critical that all producers take truck washing and biosecurity very seriously.”

Reuters

anitoba Pork is warning producers to be extra vigilant with biosecurity as new cases emerge in nearby Minnesota and Ontario. Canada has discovered its first two cases of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv), which has already killed more than one million pigs in the United States, government and industry officials said Jan. 23. The Ontario government is investigating a hog farm in the province’s Middlesex County after a laboratory finding of the virus, Dr. Greg Douglas, chief veterinary officer for Ontario, said at a news conference. Middlesex County is in southern Ontario near the city of London. An undisclosed number of pigs have died at the Ontario farm. Douglas said the farm is not under quarantine, but the farmer has agreed not to move pigs off it in the near term. Separately, one of Canada’s biggest pork processors, Olymel LP, said tests also confirmed the virus at an unloading dock of its Saint-Esprit slaughter facility northeast of Montreal, Quebec. “We had an emergency conference call with provincial and private veterinarians Friday afternoon to assess the situation in Manitoba, and the implications of the Ontario case of PEDv,” said Manitoba Pork general manager, Andrew Dickson in a notice to producers. “The emergency plan to contain any potential outbreak in Manitoba was discussed in detail. The most immediate threat to Manitoba producers is from infected pig farms in central Minnesota and the volume of truck traffic into the U.S. directly.”

Andrew Dickson

Manitoba Pork general manager

The virus causes up to 100 per cent mortality in nursing pigs aged three to five weeks. The virus is quickly transmitted from hog to hog by infected feces and there is currently no available vaccination. Experience in other jurisdictions has shown that PEDv is extremely difficult to contain. The virus does not affect food safety, and poses no risk to human health or other animals. “Federal and provincial government officials are working closely with industry to prevent the entry of the disease into Manitoba. However, it’s critical that all producers take truck washing and biosecurity very seriously,” said Dickson. Producers should review their trailercleaning protocols for all trucks entering their farm. Producers should also have entry protocols for people and materials that enter their farm. “We urge producers to be vigilant for PEDv-like symptoms and to report all suspect cases to your herd veterinarian immediately,” said Manitoba Pork chair Kyle Kynoch. “If your stock is infected, follow your vet’s instructions on elimi-

nating the virus, and alert visitors and neighbouring producers.” PEDv — which causes diarrhea, vomiting and severe dehydration in hogs — has turned up in 23 of the 50 states since its discovery in the United States last April. The Canadian Pork Council has taken steps to mobilize a PED Strategic Task Force that will bring key players together to standardize efforts across Canada. This task force is expected to have regulatory veterinary officials – both federal and provincial – and the veterinary diagnostic laboratory sector engaged along with provincial pork boards, the council said in a release. “The swine industry has been actively following the situation in the U.S. and the risks associated with the rapid spread of the virus. We have been in constant contact with swine health experts in Canada and our counterparts in the U.S. to understand PEDv and share the most current information and practices,” added CPC first vice-chair Rick Bergmann. The virus continues to spread in the United States, with a total of 2,394 confirmed cases in herds. Concern among the top U.S. hog-producing states has reached such an extent that officials at an industry gathering in Minnesota this week swabbed the trade floor to test for the virus. The Iowa Pork Congress, billed as the country’s largest winter swine trade show and conference, expects nearly 300 exhibitors and hundreds of hog producers to convene on Wednesday and Thursday in Des Moines. As other states plan their annual pork conventions, a rite of winter just ahead of the spring breeding season, they are also mulling precautionary measures.

briefs

Second case of H10N8 reported in China beijing / reuters / Chinese authorities have confirmed the second human case of the new H10N8 strain of bird flu, contracted by a woman who is in critical condition in hospital in the east of the country, state news agency Xinhua has reported. The 55-year-old woman was admitted to hospital in Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi province, on Jan. 15, complaining of a sore throat and dizziness, Xinhua said Jan. 25. “An investigation showed that she once had exposure to an agricultural market,” the report said. In December, China confirmed its first death from the H10N8 strain, also in Nanchang. China is in the middle of its traditional flu season and has long had a problem with bird flu. Another strain of bird flu, H7N9, emerged in China last year and so far has infected more than 200 people in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, killing at least 52.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

WEATHER VANE

Weather now for next week.

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“ E V E R Y O N E T A L K S A B O U T T H E W E A T H E R , B U T N O O N E D O E S A N Y T H I N G A B O U T I T.” M a r k Tw a i n , 18 9 7

More cold weather ahead Issued: Monday, January 27, 2014 · Covering: January 29 – February 5, 2014 Daniel Bezte Co-operator contributor

ell, the cold air moved in last weekend, all right, but it sure came in with a howl, as strong nor therly winds behind the arctic cold front brought ground blizzard conditions to a large part of Manitoba on Sunday. Unfortunately, it looks like cold weather is going to dominate this forecast period, but on the bright side, we should see a lot of sunshine, along with lighter winds and little in the way of snowfall. The only real chance for any measurable snow will come right at the start of this forecast period, as a weak system will drop quickly down from northern Alberta sometime Wednesday. Temperatures will moderate a little bit ahead of this system before we receive another reinforcing shot of cold air as the system pulls off to the east on Thursday. T h e f o re c a s t t h e n l o o k s to be pretty quiet for the remainder of the week and

into early next week as coolto-cold high pressure dominates. Daytime highs to start the period off look to be in the -16 to -22 C range with ove r n i g h t l ow s i n t h e - 2 4 to -28 C range. The models then show a strong arctic high dropping down into our region during the middle of next week. If this happens we’ll see some really cold air move in, with highs by Wednesday and Thursday only expected to be around -26 C and overnight l ow s i n s o m e a re a s f o re cast to drop to around the -40 C mark. The only saving grace is that the winds are forecast to be fairly light during this period. The latest model run I looked at was forecasting winds to be below 15 km/h, with most days showing winds in the five- to 10-km/h range. Usual temperature range for this period: Highs, -22 to -5 C; lows, -33 to -14 C.

WEATHER MAP - WESTERN CANADA

The first image above shows the global temperature departure from average for December 2013; the second shows the departure from average for all of 2013. On December’s map you can see how a large portion of Canada, and most of North America, had below-average temperatures during the month. On the map for all of 2013, what really jumps out is the small amount of blue (below-average) temperatures. One of the only below-average regions was right through the heart of North America and even then it was only a little below average.

Daniel Bezte is a teacher by profession with a BA (Hon.) in geography, specializing in climatology, from the U of W. He operates a computerized weather station near Birds Hill Park. Contact him with your questions and comments at daniel@bezte.ca.

Warm, cold and the polar vortex Believe it or not, December 2013 was one of the warmest ever for the planet By Daniel Bezte CO-OPERATOR CONTRIBUTOR

he global weather numbers are in for December 2013, and it turns out that despite the cold weather parts of North America have been experiencing, the planet on a whole continues to be running a temperature. According to data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Climatic Data Center, NASA and University of Alabama-Huntsville’s (UAH) Re m o t e Se n s i n g Sy s t e m s, December 2013 was one of the top five warmest on record. NOAA placed December as the third warmest, NASA had it as the fourth-warmest, while UAH had it as the second warmest. This was the ninth consecutive month with a top-10-ranked global temperature, making 2013 the fourth warmest year on record globally since reliable records began in 1880. If you include 2013, then nine out of the 10 warmest years globally have all occurred in the 21st century, with the one other year occurring in 1998. I know this is little consolation when we are freezing our butts off here in Manitoba. After another ground bliz-

Most of the Northern Hemisphere is seeing above-average temperatures, which means all that displaced cold air has to go somewhere.

zard created hazardous conditions across a large portion of southern and central Manitoba last weekend, it’s hard not to question global warming. Then, once you get your mind around the global aspect of global warming and look at the maps showing who has been above and below average, your thoughts start going in the direction of, “It’s just not fair.” But that’s the thing about temperatures: if one area is seeing temperatures warmer than average, another area will be seeing cooler than average. This is especially true in the winter. So far this winter, most of the Northern Hemisphere is seeing above-average temperatures, which means all that displaced cold air has to go somewhere — and that just happens to be here! As I travelled around during the week, I heard a lot of selfproclaimed weather experts discussing why we’re seeing all

of this cold weather. I’ve heard ideas ranging from Arctic/Antarctic ice cover, and the hole in the ozone layer, to the infamous polar vortex. The one I’ve heard about most, and that has probably grabbed the most headlines, is the polar vortex. So I thought we should spend a little time examining just what a polar vortex is — and can it be blamed for all of this cold weather? After all, we seem to have this need to blame things on something. A polar vortex is a large area of circulation (low pressure) in the upper atmosphere that is centred near both poles and tends to be the strongest in the winter. The counterclockwise flow around this region in the Northern Hemisphere means the atmosphere is flowing from west to east. The stronger the air flowing around the vortex is, the more circular the vortex tends to be. If the flow weakens, the shape of the vortex tends to

get distorted and we start to see large ridges and troughs form. Ridges are regions where the vortex has pulled northward, allowing warm air to move northward, while troughs are areas where it sags southward, allowing cold arctic air to push south. The polar vortex has been around for — well, for as long as we’ve had the ability to measure the upper atmosphere. It’s likely it has always been a part of the world’s overall weather patterns, so it is not a new thing. Even the term “polar vortex” has been used in the literature since at least the 1930s.

Stuck in the middle

So, the question now is: Are the cold temperatures a result of the polar vortex? The answer is yes and no. The polar vortex forms as a function of the cold temperatures that develop over our poles in the winter as a result of little to no solar input during this time of the year. The polar vortex, depending on the strength of the winds flowing around it, can create troughs and ridges that can allow cold air to surge southward. The polar vortex is not the only feature that can influence troughs and ridges, so we can’t really say the current setup of troughs

and ridges is directly connected to the polar vortex. The pressure pattern we have been basically stuck with since early December across North America has been dominated by a large and persistent ridge of high pressure over the West Coast and a deep trough of low pressure over eastern North America. Warm air is pushing north under the western ridge and is bringing record temperatures all across the far western parts of North America. To our east, the trough is allowing cold air to sag southward, bringing some of the coldest winter weather in years to eastern regions. That leaves us kind of stuck in the middle. Actually, we are mostly under the eastern trough, with Saskatchewan really in the middle. Either way, this means we will continue to see storm systems ripple down the dividing line between the warm and cold air. If this dividing line pushes to the east, we’ll see warmer air move in and better chances for snow; if it slides to the west, we’ll see colder and drier air. I’m just not sure which of the two situations I like better. Personally, I’d rather see the West Coast ridge move eastward and bring us an early end to this cold, blowy winter!

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

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CROPS husba n d r y — the scie n ce , S K I L L O R A R T O F F A R M I N G

Flax growers’ subsidy for Triffid tests ends soon Testing to continue through 2014, farmers urged to segregate 2013 crop

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The percentage of samples testing positive for Triffid dropped from 14 per cent in 2009 to under four per cent in 2013. photo: ©thinkstock

Staff

lax growers are urged to take advantage of a program subsidizing the cost of testing their harvested crops and seed for Triffid genetics before it’s gone at the end of next month. Funding for the Flax Farm Stewardship testing program, which since 2011 has covered 50 per cent of the fees for farmers to get their pedigreed and farm-saved seed tested at approved labs, up to a maximum $100 per sample, is now set to end Feb. 28, the Flax Council of Canada said in a release Jan. 25. The program had been funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through its Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). With that funding, the council reimbursed labs for the balance of their fees. The council had said in Sep-

tember it was “exploring ways to extend funding for the program through to the end of 2014.” Flax growers thus “are encouraged to complete testing of harvested flaxseed and planting seed for the presence of Triffid prior to Feb. 28,” the council said. Some flax buyers will only accept test results from certain labs, the council noted. Lists of approved labs and of companies’ preferred labs are available online.

Segregate 2013 crop

Bred at the University o f S a s k a t c h e w a n ’s C r o p Development Centre for tolerance to soil residues of sulfonylurea herbicides, genetically modified CDC Triffid got regulatory approval for release in 1998. Faced with concern over the loss of export markets if a GMO flax was introduced, Triffid was dereg-

istered in 2001 without ever being commercialized. Triffid genetics then unexpectedly turned up in flax exports to the GMO-shy European Union in 2009, sending Canada’s flax exports spiralling to an all-time low by 2011. With a regime of testing both seed and harvested crops introduced in 2009, the percentage of samples of crop production testing positive for Triffid fell from 14 per cent to below four per cent by 2013. However, the flax council said in September, “despite these efforts, the amount of Triffid in farmsaved seed stocks and production tested has plateaued in the last two years.” To further reduce Triffid levels, the council urges growers to segregate their 2013 harvest from production grown in previous years,

“… despite these efforts, the amount of Triffid in farm-saved seed stocks and production tested has plateaued in the last two years.”

then to market the flax grown in previous years first, to help make sure any stocks containing Triffid are “flushed” from the system. It’s expected testing of farm stocks will be “discontinued” at the end of 2014 — and the testing of planting seed will continue “indefinitely,” the council said in September.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

How successful is spelt?

With half the gluten of flour, and twice the taste, according to one baker, the ancient grain spelt is gaining favour with consumers By Shannon VanRaes

“Basically, spelt is the lifeblood of our farm now.”

co-operator staff / brandon

at and Larry Pollack aren’t just spelt growers, they’re spelt believers. And they aren’t alone. “This is a historic grain, it was probably the second grain domesticated for humans,” she told a group of organic producers gathered at Ag Days in Brandon. “It’s been used for animal and human sustenance for about 9,000 years... and the benefits are tremendous.” The ancient grain contains about 50 per cent less gluten than wheat, as well as roughly 45 per cent more vitamin E, in addition to a high number of unsaturated fatty acids, she said. And those health claims are attracting more people to spelt than ever before as bakeries covet the ancient grain for both its nutritional punch and its flavour. Each month, the Pollacks alone deliver 130 sacks of spelt flour to Manitoba bakeries. “The bread has a much nuttier flavour, it has more flavour overall, which I love and which our customers love,” said Tabitha Langen, co-owner of the Winnipeg-based Tall Grass Prairie Bread Company. “We have customers who buy it not for the health benefits, but for the flavour... it’s very nice.”

Ancient connection

She had heard about spelt from other bakers, but it was a story about a female mystic from the Middle Ages that hooked her on the grain. “There was a time in Europe when many people were dying

Pat Pollack

Tabitha Langen (l) and Pat Pollack hold up a tray of cookies made with spelt flour. Photo: Shannon VanRaes

and this woman — Hildegard of Bingen — had a vision in which God said to her, ‘tell my people to eat spelt,’” she explained. “As it turned out, hundreds of years later they found out that the reason people were dying was because the rye at the time really did have a deadly disease, and so they were eating it and dying.” Today, Hildegard of Bingen is known as Saint Hildegard and spelt is working its way back into the health food canon in the wake of controversial books like Wheat Belly, which criticizes modern wheat varieties. An early proselytizer of spelt, it was Langen who approached

the Pollacks in the fall of 2003 asking if they would give growing it a try and supply her bakery. The rest as they say, is history. “Basically, spelt is the lifeblood of our farm now,” Pat Pollack said, adding that they have expanded to on-farm processing and flour milling. But spelt isn’t without its challenges. In addition to being rich in vitamins, the grain is also rich in something most farmers don’t want more of — hulls. “You lose about 75 per cent, by volume, when you dehull,” Pat Pollack explained. “Which means you have to have a whole

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lot of storage... and a backup plan.” Unlike most other grains, spelt can only be dehulled shortly before use. The berries need time to mature after harvest and are susceptible to spoilage once they lose their protective out layer. Inside their hulls, spelt berries can last three to five years. “Once you take that hull off, you micro-abrade the bran and expose it to oxygen so it will oxidize. And that will lead to the oils in the kernels becoming rancid. The hull acts as a protectant for insects and disease — they say the hull will even protect the internal kernels from radioactivity,” she said. And since their first crop in 2004, yields have averaged

between 80 and 125 bushels per acre, meaning a lot of storage is needed. “It’s pretty easy to grow, it’s an aggressive crop — you sow it early in the spring and once it gets started it pretty much takes over everything else,” explained Larry Pollack. “There’s still weeds in it, but spelt grows so tall and thick they get squeezed.” He added that most years, the spelt lays down before it can be swathed, which helps to eliminate weeds as well. However, the bulky organic grain earns its keep, going for between 70 and 90 cents per pound, Larry Pollack said. But even though they get requests for their product from around the world, the Pollacks aren’t planning on expanding beyond the 100 acres they currently grow. In fact, they sold half of their farm last year, although they do plan to expand their milling capacity with a larger mill stone, pushing output from 80 pounds an hour to 220 pounds. Other organic producers are also familiar with spelt, Larry Pollack said, adding he believes consumers will see more of the ancient grain on bakery shelves in years to come. Langen agrees. “ Yo u k n ow, w e’v e e v e n talked about using it to replace wheat,” she said. shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. This product has been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for corn is a combination of four separate individually-registered products, which together contain the active ingredients metalaxyl, trifloxystrobin, ipconazole, and clothianidin. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for canola is a combination of two separate individually-registered products, which together contain the active ingredients difenoconazole, metalaxyl (M and S isomers), fludioxonil, thiamethoxam, and bacillus subtilis. Acceleron and Design®, Acceleron®, DEKALB and Design®, DEKALB®, Genuity and Design®, Genuity Icons, Genuity®, RIB Complete and Design®, RIB Complete®, Roundup Ready 2 Technology and Design®, Roundup Ready 2 Yield®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup Transorb®, Roundup WeatherMAX®, Roundup®, SmartStax and Design®, SmartStax®, Transorb®, VT Double PRO®, YieldGard VT Rootworm/RR2®, YieldGard Corn Borer and Design and YieldGard VT Triple® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. Used under license. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design are trademarks of Bayer. Used under license. Herculex® is a registered trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Used under license. Respect the Refuge and Design is a registered trademark of the Canadian Seed Trade Association. Used under license. ©2013 Monsanto Canada Inc.

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briefs

Canada, S. Korea in ‘tremendous’ free trade talks By Rod Nickel / Reuters

Canada and South Korea are having “tremendous discussions” toward a free trade agreement, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said on a broad-ranging conference call Jan. 20. Talks began in 2005, but were later hung up over disputes such as a delay in South Korea scrapping its ban on Canadian beef. South Korea lifted its nine-year-old ban in 2012. “It (would be) a great agreement to have free trade into Korea… It’s a very primary agriculture market for us, a premium product market and we continue to press ahead in those negotiations.” A free trade deal would be welcome news for Canadian beef and pork shippers. Without such an agreement, Canadian producers fear that shipments to South Korea would shrink once Seoul’s free trade deal with the U.S. takes full effect in 2016.

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

NFU offers alternative to proposed seed legislation expanding plant breeders’ rights Terry Boehm says end use royalties will be a tax on every bushel of grain farmers grow By Allan Dawson

Terry Boehm

investment into new varieties here. You know, it’s time for action UPOV 91.” The NFU’s Farmers’ Seed Ac t w o u l d “re c o g n i z e t h e inherent rights of farmers derived from thousands of years of custom and tradition to save, reuse, select, e xc h a n g e a n d s e l l s e e d s,” Boehm said. “Current and proposed restrictions on farmers’ traditional practices, w h e t h e r f ro m c o m m e rc i a l contracts, identity preservation (IP) systems, or legislation essentially criminalize these ancient practices and harm farmers, citizens and society in general.” The NFU law would enshrine the right of farmers to exchange and sell seed, including through far merowned organizations such as co-operatives, non-profit organizations and associations. When farmers realize how costly and restrictive C-18 is, they will fight it, Boehm said, adding he hopes the same so-called ‘freedom fighters’ who ran the U.S. border with wheat years ago to protest the Canadian Wheat Board will also fight the bill. “This seed issue crosscuts all political philosophies if you understand what it means,” he said. Plant breeding can be funded publicly and by farmers, Boehm said. “We had a great system here and we’ve seen it demolished, but we can rebuild and we can rethink,” Boehm said. “I maintain we’ve been sold a bill of goods to how expensive it is to develop a variety.” The NFU also proposes that after plant breeders’ rights expire, varieties would be in the public domain allowing unrestricted use. It also wants farmers and other non-accredited plant breeders to be able to register new varieties. The NFU says it wants a variety registration system that meets farmers’ needs for quality, reliability and agronomic per for mance under local conditions. The NFU wants variety deregistration to be based on evidence, including input from the recommending committees.

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ew federal legislation to give plant breeders and their companies more rights over the seed they develop is just a way to transfer more wealth and control from farmers, the chair of the National Farmers Union’s seed trade committee says. “They’ll want the end point royalty on every bushel I as a farmer grow,” Terry Boehm told reporters during a telephone news conference Jan. 2 0 a n n o u n c i n g t h e N F U ’s fundamental principles for a Farmers’ Seed Act. “It’s a tax on me as a farmer and I have no say on how it’s used and what’s developed,” the former NFU president said. Bill C-18, the Agricultural Growth Act, would see Canada adopt UPOV 91, an international treaty on plant breeders’ rights. (UPOV is the French acronym for International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants.) Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says ratifying UPOV 91 will encourage seed companies to bring new, superior varieties to Canada and also invest in developing varieties here. Under C-18, farmers will still be allowed to save their own seed, unless they agree under contract to do otherwise, Ritz has said. However, the legislation will allow companies to collect end use royalties when farmers deliver their grain to elevators. The NFU argues farmers should only have to pay a royalty on a new variety once. “The fundamental concerns with UPOV 91 are the extension of powers to plant breeders and plant breeding companies essentially and the control of seed,” said Boehm. “They have the exclusive control over the selling of seed, the conditioning of seed... the stocking, storing and the bagging.” Boehm said while the proposed legislation preserves farmers’ right or privilege to save seed, plant breeders will decide whether farmers can “stock” seed or not. “I f y o u c a n’t s t o c k t h a t s e e d . . . w h a t va l u e i s t h a t so-called pr ivilege (to the farmer)?” he said. Ritz told reporters the NFU interpretation is wrong. “I’m not sure if they didn’t read past the opening page,” he said. “They’ve been against this from Day 1. This has been 22 years under discussion. Ninety-nine per cent of other farmers agree that this is the right move forward to entice

“They’ll want the end point royalty on every bushel I as a farmer grow. It’s a tax on me as a farmer and I have no say on how it’s used and what’s developed.”

Produced by: SeCan Product/Campaign Name: SeCan Pasteur Date Produced: December 2013

co-operator staff

It also wants a public appeal mechanism for registration and deregistration of varieties. According to Boehm some companies are deregistering varieties just to force farmers to buy new varieties and pay royalties. Registration would be based on robust, independent thirdparty merit testing to ensure they are as good as or better than existing varieties, taking into account market harm, ecological effects, multiple farming systems, nutrition and disease resistance. SEC_PAST13_T_MC.qxd 12/11/13 The NFU proposes a dispute settlement process and

Terry Boehm photo: allan dawson

binding arbitration carried out by a public commission to settle questions of infringement between farmers and companies. It would be modelled after the Canadian Grain 1:23 PM Page 1 Commission’s process for settling grain-grading disputes.a

The NFU would also prohibit Genetic Use Restriction Technologies (GURTs), sometimes referred to as Terminator Technology and ban gene patents seed or traits. allan@fbcpublishing.com

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

Parrish and Heimbecker seeks Weyburn Inland Terminal

A touch of orange

The deal, which requires shareholder approval, would close before the end of March Staff

P The reason why the moon appears larger on the horizon has spurred much scientific debate over the centuries. photo: lenore Berry

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Meet Ken Dutton Started farming: 1974 Crop rotation: Chemfallow, durum, spring wheat, barley First vehicle: ‘64 Chevy Half-Ton Loves: Family, Saskatchewan Roughriders Hates: Kochia, Edmonton Eskimos Will never sell: His 4020 John Deere tractor, a gift from dad Most memorable farming moment: “Last year, we filled all the bins.” PrecisionPac® blends: DB-858, DB-8454

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arrish and Heimbecker plans to buy its way further into southeastern Saskatchewan’s grain market with a $94.6-million all-cash deal for farmer-owned Weyburn Inland Terminal. Winnipeg-based P+H on Jan. 24 announced an “arrangement agreement” with WIT in which the grain firm would buy up all WIT’s issued and outstanding shares for $17.25 each, about 33.7 per cent above the shares’ closing price on the previous day and 28.3 per cent over WIT’s record share value in the over-the-counter (OTC) market. The proposed deal — which still needs at least two-thirds approval from WIT shareholders at a meeting to be held sometime late next month or in early March, as well as court and regulatory approval — “offers all WIT shareholders immediate liquidity at a compelling value,” WIT said in a release. The two companies expect to close their deal before the end of March. Under their arrangement, one company will get a $4-million termination fee if the other backs out of the deal — for example, if a “superior proposal” for WIT were to appear from some other buyer, or if WIT’s board were to withdraw its support for the deal. WIT’s board said it has unanimously agreed the deal with P+H is “in the best interests” of WIT and it recommends shareholders vote to accept the offer. The agreement may not get a warm welcome from all WIT shareholders. After WIT’s board announced its plans last month to pursue options such as a sale, two directors quit the board and a shareholder group sprung up online, urging the board to call a shareholders’ meeting and consider other options besides a sale to improve share liquidity. P+H, with its grain-handling, flour-milling and foodprocessing interests, is “the perfect partner for the next chapter of WIT’s story and a great addition to the Weyburn community,” WIT CEO Rob Davies said in the company’s release. P+H, founded by the graintrading Parrish and Heimbecker families in 1909, remains family owned and privately held.

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For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit precisionpac.dupont.ca or call 1-800-667-3925 to find a certified PrecisionPac® herbicide retailer near you. As with all crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™ and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. All other products are trademarks of their respective companies. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2014 E. I. du Pont Canada Company. All rights reserved.

KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK #createsurvivors

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

No relief for Earth’s warming trend in 2013, studies find It may have been cold here lately, but overall, the world keeps getting warmer By Irene Klotz REUTERS

h e a ve ra g e t e m p e ra t u re o f Earth maintained its warming trend in 2013, despite seasonal and regional variations that included a shrinking ice cap in the Arctic and a massively growing one in the Southern Hemisphere, U.S. scientists said Jan. 21. N A S A s a i d t h e p l a n e t’s a v e rage temperature in 2013 was 58.3 F (14.6 C), tying 2006 and 2009 for the seventh-warmest year since 1880 when global climate record-keeping began. Using the same data but different analysis processes, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said 2013’s average temperature was 58.12 F (14.51 C), which tied what NOAA considers to be the fourth-hottest year on record. The agencies differ in their analysis techniques. NASA for example uses more temperatures from Antarctica, but said the overall trend remains what has been measured every year since 1976 when global temperatures first surpassed the 20th century’s global average of 57 F (13.9 C). “ T h e p a t t e r n s o f t e m p e ra t u re change are very similar across the different analyses, but rankings and the exact numerical value are a func-

tion of some of the small differences that we have in the processing,” Gavin Schmidt, deputy director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, told reporters on a conference call. Global temperatures began climbing in the late 1960s, a phenomenon that has been tied to heat-trapping greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere. NASA, or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, said the amount of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere is higher now than at other times in the last 800,000 years. Carbon dioxide levels were about 285 parts per million in 1880, the first year in the global temperature record. By 1960, levels reached 315 parts per million. In 2013, the amount of carbon dioxide peaked at more than 400 parts per million. The relationship between greenhouse gases and global temperatures is complicated. In 2013, for example, the continental United States experienced its 42nd warmest temperature on record while Australia had its hottest year ever, NASA and NOAA data shows. Ice in the polar regions presents another puzzle. The amount of Arctic sea ice in the Northern Hemisphere continued its ubiquitous and well-documented decline, while

sea ice in Antarctica in the Southern Hemisphere increased a record amount, scientists said. “The situation in the Southern Hemisphere is more complicated,” Schmidt said, noting that wind patterns are impacted by the region’s ozone hole and other factors. “There’s a lot of complicated physics going on,” he added. “It’s not a clean picture.” Ocean temperatures, including El Niño and La Niña warming and

cooling patterns in the equatorial Pacific, also disconnect regional, seasonal and yearly temperatures with overall global trends, the scientists said. “The long-term trends in climate are extremely robust,” Schmidt said. “There are times, such as today, when we can have snow, even in a globally warmed world. But the long-term trends are very clear. They are not going to disappear. It isn’t an error in our calculations.”

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

Post office could take a lesson from the seaway Increased rates, lower volumes accepted by major shippers By Alex Binkley CO-OPERATOR CONTRIBUTOR

ike Canada Post, the St. Lawrence Seaway is raising its rates in 2014 even though its volume of business dropped during 2013. Unlike the protests that have greeted the post office’s plan to raise stamp prices and reduce service, the seaway’s toll increases have been accepted by shippers and marine carriers. The Seaway Management Corp. has announced a 2.5 per cent increase in tolls for the Canadian locks in the seaway with some incentives for new shipments. Its tolls were frozen for five years, noted Bruce Hodgson, director of market develop-

ment. “We’ve had to take steps to cover over operating costs as we didn’t get the tonnage increase we needed to do this. People don’t like the increase, but there is recognition that we have to take this step.” Robert Lewis-Manning, president of the Canadian Shipowners Association, said in an interview that increases are reasonable. “The seaway has to be sustainable and invest in upgrades to its facilities,” he said. “It is making significant investments that we hope will bring more traffic in the future.” The seaway has launched a $400-million program to renew infrastructure. Both the Shipping Federation of Canada, which repre-

sents foreign shipowners, and the Chamber of Maritime Commerce, which represents industries that use the seaway, declined an opportunity to criticize the toll increases. The seaway moved 37 million tonnes of freight during the 2013 navigation season, about 5.3 per cent lower than 2012. The decline “was a reflection of the performance of the North American economy with weakness in steel production and shipments of cement and other bulk goods. As well, exports of American coal to China slowed during the year compared to 2012.” Despite a late-season surge in Prairie grain, overall grain tonnage was down 3.2 per cent in 2013. “However, the high vol-

umes of grain currently going into storage and the pent-up demand for grain movements bodes well for the start of the seaway’s 2014 navigation season,” Hodgson added. The late harvest in Western Canada and the cold snap in December complicated grain loading and ship operations. When the seaway reopens in late March, large grain stocks in Thunder Bay could mean a strong start for the shipping season. “We began 2013 with almost no carry-over from the 2012 harvest.” For other commodities, improving economic conditions in Europe and the United States could also translate into more traffic for the seaway this year, he said.

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Richardson joins revamped winter wheat initiative Ducks Unlimited Canada and Bayer CropScience are also supporting the new initiative Staff

ichardson International has signed on as a partner in a new organization to promote winter wheat acres in the West. Richardson is joining the Western Winter Wheat Initiative, a new body formed out of the Winter Cereals Sustainability in Action program, set up in 2009. “ We are excited to have Richardson International now on board in support of this new winter wheat initiative as they bring extensive knowledge of the ag sector with their agronomy, sales and grain merchandising units,” Paul Thiel, vice-president of innovation and public affairs with Bayer CropScience, said in a release. The new organization will focus on performance tracking trials across the three Prairie provinces in 2014, said Peter Entz, assistant vice-president of seed and traits for Richardson. One of the new initiatives’ first support tactics is a new interactive and comprehensive website, including statistics on the benefits of growing winter wheat, guidelines to winter wheat management, and tools to support winter wheat production, the partners said. The site is an update of the previous program’s online space at GrowWinterWheat.ca. Ducks Unlimited has long been an advocate for winter wheat production, Paul Thoroughgood, regional agrologist for Ducks Unlimited Canada, noted in the same release. DUC’s support stems from winter wheat’s status as a significantly productive habitat for many Prairie wildlife species including waterfowl and u p l a n d g a m e b i rd s. So m e waterfowl species are 24 times more productive nesting in winter wheat than in springseeded varieties, DUC said.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

Health Canada approves health claim for flaxseed

Products containing milled flaxseed can now link consumption with cholesterol-lowering effects By Lorraine Stevenson co-operator staff

f you want to lower your cholesterol, you may not need to go to your doctor for a prescription drug. Re s e a rc h h a s p r ov e n t h a t consuming five tablespoons (40 grams) of ground flaxseed a day will lower cholesterol, and that claim now has a stamp of approval from Health Canada, which means it can be carr ied on food labels. The approval comes after nearly two decades of research that’s produced a large body of scientific evidence supporting the health b e n e f i t s o f f l a x . T h e Fl a x Co u n c i l o f Ca n a d a b e g a n actively pursuing the claim about two years ago. “This is a proud achievement as Canada is the first country in the world to allow a health-related claim for flaxseed for use on food l a b e l s,” s a i d Wi l l i a m Hi l l , president of the Flax Council of Canada. This has a number of benefits including anticipated increased demand for flax and product development, he said. Food use for flax now represents its fastest-growing market segment.

Consulting, who worked with the Food Regulatory Initiatives Division of Agriculture Canada on the submission by the FCC. It included over 1,100 studies looking at flax’s impact on conditions such as on cardiovascular disease, plus hundreds of others related to diabetes, the immune system, inflammation, cancer, and health issues related to men and women, Fitzpatrick said. Being able to tell consumers about flax’s health benefits will spur development and demand for more valueadded flax-based products such as energy bars, more breakfast cereals and pastas, said Linda Braun, executive director of the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission, adding that approval for

the health claim is the return on investment farmers have made through their voluntary levy in research. “This is a very good example of how their dollars have b e e n l e v e r a g e d t o c re a t e research that’s helped to promote their product,” she said. The other good news is consumers need not wait for products containing flaxseed to come on the market. Many already exist, plus flaxseed is widely available in stores as both whole and milled seed so it’s easily incorporated into everyday eating. Canada is the first country in the world to permit such a claim for flaxseed. Hill said the FCC also plans to seek a health claim for the U.S. lorraine@fbcpublishing.com

“This is a proud achievement as Canada is the first country in the world to allow a healthrelated claim for flaxseed for use on food labels.”

Food use of flax has risen from near zero 20 years ago to 25 per cent

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“It’s grown significantly, to where it probably represents 25 per cent up from zero 20 years ago,” Hill said. This latest health claim adds to just a dozen currently permitted in Canada due to strict federal requirements that any food or ingredient sold this way must have substantial supporting scientific evidence. Health Canada has recognized the extensive research on the health benefits of flaxseed in Canada, the U.S., Europe and Asia, said Kelley Fitzpatrick, president of Winnipeg-based NutriTech

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

briefs

Ag Days Inventor’s Showcase first-place winner

Bunge sells U.S. ethanol plant By Michael Hirtzer reuters

Bunge North America has sold its stake in a Mississippi ethanol plant in what is likely to be the first of a spate of industry deals amid uncertainty over biofuel use in the United States, analysts said Jan. 2. Ethanol makers are turning big profits now, but the future is cloudy with the U.S. Environmental Protection agency expected early this year to reduce the mandate to mix biofuels with gasoline in what would be the first cut in the 2007 Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS. “In my view, it’s a good time to sell and reinforces Bunge’s focus on value creation,” said Ann Duigan, an analyst at JP Morgan Chase. “More deals (are) likely if RFS declines.” Privately held Ergon Inc. purchased Bunge’s share of what had been a 2007 joint venture for a 54-million-gallon-per-year ethanol plant in Vicksburg, the only facility that produced corn-based ethanol in Mississippi. The financial terms were not disclosed, and Ergon did not say what percentage of the venture Bunge owned. “This transaction allows us to look at alternative feedstocks, as well as how the plant may be used for products beyond traditional ethanol production,” Don Davis, president of Ergon’s refining and marketing division, said in a statement. The Mississippi facility has been idle since December 2012 after the worst U.S. drought in 50 years decimated corn supplies. Industry experts said it could also produce ethanol with sugar or sorghum. “The ethanol sector is doing well lately, which is probably helping deals get done; valuations on plants are pretty high right now,” said Darin Friedrichs, an analyst at AgTraderTalk, citing ample U.S. corn stocks after a record-large 2013 harvest and a 30 per cent drop in corn prices in the past six months. Margins for U.S. ethanol makers rose to their highest in at least five years recently as corn prices plunged. But if the Obama administration moves to cut mandated biofuel use in the United States, further expansion is unlikely, even as the industry consolidates, analysts said. The EPA recommended reducing the biofuels mandate in November and the proposal now is under final review. For corn-based ethanol, the agency proposed to cut the mandate to about 13 billion gallons a year from around 14.4 billion.

Intra Grain was this year’s winner of the Ag Days Inventor’s Showcase competition with its grain storage monitoring solution. It receives a $1,000 cash prize from Ag Days and an advertising package from the Manitoba Co-operator. Jim Affleck, Manitoba Co-operatora (l-r), Ron Folk and Eric Fazakas, Intra Grain and Dave Laudin, Manitoba Ag Days. photo: supplied

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

British scientists look to breed GM camelina

AG DAYS INVENTOR’S SHOWCASE SECOND-PLACE WINNER

Researchers request permission to grow the crop in open-air field trials By Kate Kelland LONDON / REUTERS

r itish scientists have applied for permission to run an open-air field trial of a genetically modified (GM) crop they hope may one day become a sustainable and environmentally friendly source of healthy omega-3 fats. The proposed trial — likely to generate controversy in a nation where GM foods have little public support — could start as early as May and will use camelina plants engineered to produce seeds high in omega-3 long chain fatty acids. No GM crops are currently grown commercially in Britain and only two — a pest-resistant type of maize and a potato with enhanced starch content — are licensed for cultivation in the European Union (EU). But scientists at Britain’s agricultural lab Rothamsted Re s e a rc h h a v e d e v e l o p e d camelina plants to produce omega-3 fats that are known to be beneficial to health but normally found only in oils in increasingly limited fish stocks. The idea, they told journalists at a briefing on their plans, is initially to supply the fishfarming industry, which currently consumes around 80 per cent of fish oils taken from the sea, with a non-fish source of these omega-3s. Beyond that, possibly within a decade, the GM-produced omega-3 oils could be used in food products such as margarine, the researchers said. “We now have a vegetable oil enhanced with these two critical fish oils,” said Johnathan Napier, a professor of plant science and head of a 15-year research project which has so far shown that the fish oilproducing plants can be grown successfully in greenhouses. “We know it works in the glasshouse, now (we need to see) does it work in the real world?” he said. The researchers said that although the trial would be in the open air, there was no risk of cross-pollination between the camelina plant and other field crops grown in Britain. The application for permission to conduct the trial is subject to a public consultation and an inquiry by a scientific committee that monitors such GM plans. A decision could be made within 90 days. “If you have a crop that has got potential health benefits and sustainability and environmental benefits, and we can articulate that clearly, then I think people will see this is an OK thing to do,” Napier said. Omega-3 oils found in fish are known to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases including heart attacks and strokes.

Clean Seed Technologies was this year’s second-place winner of the Ag Days Inventor’s Showcase competition. It receives a $500 cash prize from Ag Days and an advertising package from the Manitoba Co-operator. Jim Affleck, Manitoba Co-operator, (l-r) Ward Jensen, Colin Rosengren and Mark Tommasi, Clean Seed Technologies and Dave Laudin, Manitoba Ag Days. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

Federal cash announced for oat research, marketing Funding to be spent on verifying benefits of oats for horses as well as recapturing U.S. market By Daniel Winters co-operator staff / Brandon

pail of oats is the best way to catch a horse, but capturing new markets takes a bucket of money. That’s why the announcement by federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz of $3.7 million aimed at helping the industry boost exports has the Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA) feeling frisky as a new foal. The funds include an investment of up to $600,000 from AAFC’s AgriMarketing Program to help oat producers gain a foothold in the American equine market, estimated at nine million head. A further $109,500 will be u s e d t o e va l u a t e h ow o a t beta-glucan fibre improves the immune system in horses. Ritz said that while oats is now used for a wide variety of products including cosmetics, tapping the horse market down south is the quickest route to boosting exports. “The health benefits of oats to humans are well known, but this new research will unlock the health benefits to horses,” said Ritz, who made an appearance at the Manitoba Oat Growers Association’s annual general meeting held on the sidelines of Ag Days. But Bill Wilton, outgoing president of POGA, said it’s more a case of rounding up a market that has busted loose in recent years. From over one

Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz makes an announcement at the recent Manitoba Oat Growers Association annual general meeting. photo: Daniel Winters

million tonnes 12 years ago, oat exports to the horse market down south have plunged to just 250,000 tonnes this year. “One of the difficulties is that we don’t have an advocate or a salesman that goes down and promotes our oats,” said Wilton.

Pelletized feed

Feed manufacturers switching to pelletized feed is the main reason why sales have foundered, he added. The pellets nowadays don’t contain as much oats as they used to because pellet markers have

been substituting oats with wheat byproducts, beet pulp, DDGs, or other cheaper alternatives. “As long as they meet the nutritional requirements, they don’t have to list what’s in it on the bag,” said Wilton. But judging by focus group studies, horse owners aren’t thrilled with the substitutes, and many would actually prefer a ration containing more oats because they regard the grain as a “safe, natural and healthy” feed. “ We think there’s a real opportunity to get that market back,” said Wilton.

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The funding will support marketing activities that include a multimedia advertising campaign to increase awareness of Canadian oats as healthy equine feed, and attendance at trade shows and conferences where POGA can hold face-to-face meetings with equine experts, such as veterinarians and nutritional researchers. Also, up to $2.9 million of the new funding will go to n e w o a t v a r i e t y re s e a rc h aimed at increasing yields and disease resistance, and $151,500 has been earmarked for creating a new method of identifying gene markers that can be used by breeders to pinpoint desirable traits. Je n n i f e r Mi t c h e l l Fe t c h , the only federally funded oat breeder in Western Canada, will begin researching new oat varieties at the Brandon Research Centre starting this spring. Shawn Mathieson, executive director of POGA, said that the industry has managed to lever $1.6 million in oat checkoff funds into $8.4 million worth of research and market development in recent years. To support further investments, the members present voted unanimously to remove the $250 checkoff overcap limit.

Cap removed

The voluntar y, refundable checkoff of 50 cents per tonne had been capped to protect sellers of large volumes of

the grain. Removing it puts the organization in line with virtually all other major commodity groups and oat grower associations in Alberta and Saskatchewan, she said. David Drozd, of Ag-Chieve Gra i n Ma rk e t i n g Ad v i s o r y Services, said that oats at $4 per bushel in the March 2014 futures contract won’t last because oats is likely to “catch up” with the plunging price of corn. “The outlook isn’t that good from now until Christmas. Yesterday was a good day to sell grain, today is the next best, and it won’t be as good tomorrow,” said Drozd, who said that he believes prices would fall to $2.80 if it wasn’t for the difficulty shipping the crop to market. Clogged logistics for the light and bulky crop are the reason that local elevators, especially farther west, are offering as little as $2 per bushel, he added. Moving oats to the markets in the United States is problematic due to trucking restrictions south of the border that don’t allow Super B transports. Canada is a major oat p ro d u c e r, a n d t h e l a rg e s t exporter of oats in the world. In 2012, the Canadian oat industry brought $430 million to the farm gate and exported $620 million worth of highquality oats to a number of key markets, including the U.S. daniel.winters@fbcpublishing.com

New Resolution Guidelines for MCGA’s AGM Are you interested in submitting a resolution to the Manitoba Canola Growers Annual meeting? Check out the new guidelines and worksheets for resolutions on MCGA’s website www.mcgacanola.org or call Liz at 204-982-2122 for the guidelines and worksheets. All resolutions must be submitted to the MCGA office by February 3, 2014. Forms can be faxed to 204-942-1841 or emailed to rossb@mcgacanola.org. MCGA’s Annual Meeting will be held Tuesday February 18, 2014 at 1:50 pm during the CropConnect conference at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg.

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

briefs

General Mills not going totally GM free

Bale-ful scene

By Lisa Guenther staff

General Mills still supports genetically modified (GM) technology, despite the food company’s move to market Cheerios as free of GM ingredients, a company representative told CropSphere delegates in Saskatoon earlier this month. “From General Mills’ perspective, we want to do what consumers are anticipating and wanting,” Steve Peterson responded when asked about the company’s GM free Cheerios. Peterson is director of sourcing and sustainability at General Mills and runs a 600-acre mixed farm in Minnesota. General Mills’ announcement to market Original Cheerios as GM-free “is not an indication that we’re going to move everything there,” Peterson said. Earlier this month General Mills announced it had been making its Original Cheerios without genetically modified ingredients for several weeks. The Minneapolisbased company plans to start labelling Original Cheerios as free from genetically modified ingredients. The changes don’t apply to other Cheerios products. “It was an easy thing for us to do because it all comes from oats and oats are a non-GM crop,” Peterson said. Changing Original Cheerios was as simple as swapping beet sugar to cane sugar, and sourcing GM-free cornstarch. The company also has organic brands, such as Cascadian Farm and Muir Glen, which include everything from vegetables to cereals. But Peterson says 70 per cent of General Mills’ food portfolio includes GM technology. “So we’re supporters of the technology and we believe it’s safe. But we have a large tent. Consumers across the world have many interests. And we’re satisfying all those needs.” Although General Mills aims to please consumers, it’s not today’s typical North American consumer driving the company’s sustainability efforts. Peterson said General Mills’ data suggests about 17 per cent of consumers value sustainability. “But they will not pay one more cent for sustainable products.” But young adults place more importance on sustainability, Peterson said. “We’re trying to skate to where the puck is going… We think this is going to be very important in the future. And to work on this, you need to start it now.” A rival major cereal maker, Post Foods, recently announced its Grape-Nuts Original cereal in the U.S. will be non-GMO verified and its packaging will bear a “Non-GMO Project” seal. (Grape-Nuts Original is made with wheat and barley flour and contains neither grapes nor nuts.)

This field of bales illustrates the cold and wind that Manitobans have had just about enough of this winter. photo: luc Gamache

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

Low canola prices around for a while, Ag Days crowd told Market analysts Brenda Tjaden Lepp and Larry Weber delivered a similar bearish outlook

Stop lying to Statistics Canada StatsCan’s eyes in the sky will soon be able to accurately predict crop production By Allan Dawson

By Allan Dawson

CO-OPERATOR STAFF / BRANDON

CO-OPERATOR STAFF /BRANDON

on’t expect higher canola prices any time soon, unless bad weather affects production later this year, according to two market analysts who spoke at Ag Days Jan. 21. “Is the party over for canola? I’m sorry, it is for a while,” said Larry Weber of Weber Commodities in Saskatoon. “We’re going to need a drought in the United States or South America. “The difference between now and the last four years — now when you see profit you’re going to have to take it.” A record 18-million-tonne canola crop in Western Canada, combined with a backlog in all grain shipments to export terminals, has reduced futures prices and widened the basis, bringing cash prices for canola to under $8 a bushel in some places, Weber said. Canola futures prices alone have plunged almost 30 per cent with March futures closing Jan. 24 at $431 a tonne ($9.77 a bushel). “If you want to look for some basis strength just don’t set your sights too high because it’s probably impossible that we get better than $20 or $30 (a tonne) under (the futures price),” said Brenda Tjaden Lepp, chief analyst at FarmLink Marketing Solutions. “I think we’re going to be just simply in a very weak basis environment for quite a while until the supply situation sorts itself out. “I kind of think it will be in 2015-16 that the canola market, and oilseeds in general, will be able to work their way back up.” Tjaden Lepp estimates a 3.6-million-tonne canola carry-over when the 2013-14 crop year ends July 31, versus just 700,000 tonnes in 2013. She says the supply/demand forecast is similar to 2009-10 when canola futures averaged $340 a tonne ($8.61 a bushel). “That’s kind of where I think it’s going,” Tjaden Lepp said. “And it’s going to stay there until something changes to help alleviate the supply situation — the very unique, madein-Western-Canada, oversupply situation.” Weber said that in more than 30 years, he has never seen wider basis levels for canola. In some cases it’s just grain buyer greed, he said. Both Tjaden Lepp and Weber, who spoke separately, marvelled at this year’s record production and how quickly canola prices fell. “It’s really mind blowing,” Tjaden Lepp said.

Market analyst Brenda Tjaden Lepp doesn’t see much hope for improved canola prices any time soon, unless bad weather affects oilseed production. PHOTO: ALLAN DAWSON

Doing nothing didn’t work

Still, farmers could have locked in profitable prices between September and the beginning of November, Weber noted. “The last four years doing nothing (about locking in prices) was the right option,” he said. “That’s not going to be the same going forward.” Tjaden Lepp had a similar message. Farmers need to plan grain marketing well in advance. It starts by gathering information and then forming an opinion about what the market might do. Vancouver terminals are already booked for deliveries until June or July, she said. Meanwhile, Japanese customers are buying canola for OctoberNovember delivery. That could prevent farmers from being able to sell canola off the combine this fall. Locking in a poor basis now for fall delivery might be better than not being able to deliver at all in the fall, Tjaden Lepp said. “It (the canola basis) has just ballooned and it’s really all the market can do in order to discourage demand on the West Coast and discourage new selling in the country,” she said. Futures prices might rally, but grain companies will likely widen their basis to limit any gains in cash prices. Tjaden Lepp said one elevator in northeast Alberta had essentially stopped buying grain because it was fully booked. But when it received more cars than expected, it offered a special — $9-a-bushel canola. “It lasted an hour and a half,” she said. “This was a month ago. When that happens there is no need for the basis to go up.”

“If you want to look for some basis strength just don’t set your sights too high because it’s probably impossible that we get better than $20 or $30 (a tonne) under (the futures price).” BRENDA TJADEN LEPP

Everything changed Aug. 1, 2012 when the Canadian Wheat Board’s sales monopoly ended, Weber said. “It’s not just about prices, it’s about delivery slots,” he said. “And if you think this transportation mess isn’t going to affect canola, you’re wrong.” According to Tjaden Lepp grain companies are focusing on moving wheat now because the margins are better than for canola. Farmers should shop around before selling their grain. “The fact remains there is $1 to $2 a bushel between buyers in any given community on any given day,” she said. “Right now the canola basis varies from $35 (a tonne) under (the canola futures) to $85 under from one company to the next across Western Canada. “And you have to negotiate as well, (but) farmers aren’t in a negotiating position right now.”

Stop lying to Statistics Canada. That was one of the messages Brenda Tjaden Lepp of FarmLink Marketing Solutions gave farmers at Ag Days Jan. 21. “We all do better with credible information about supplies,” she said. “We’re going to figure it out anyway. You cannot possibly improve your negotiating position in the marketplace by lying to Stats Canada and hiding information about the inventory in your bins. It’s going to come out eventually. In the meantime, there are costs to not having good information.” Even if farmers continue to fib, StatsCan is working to get around that using drones and high-resolution satellite pictures to figure out farmers’ yields, Larry Weber of Weber Commodities in Saskatoon said in a separate Ag Days address. “We’re not going to be able to screw with government anymore because the technology that they have is unbelievable,” he said. Weber said he saw some of StatsCan’s new technology in Ottawa last August, including high-resolution photographs of crops in a 32-square-mile area. “From that picture I could zero in on a canola plant and count the pods,” Weber said. “I could zero in on a wheat head and tell you how many seeds were in that wheat head. I could zero in on your deck and tell you what brand of barbecue that you have from 210 miles in space.”

More transparency

Both market analysts want more transparency in Canada’s grain markets. Weber said all large grain sales should be made public after they occur, as has been the case in the United States since 1973 following the so-called “Great Grain Robbery,” when the Soviet Union quietly negotiated huge grain purchases with individual American companies and by so doing prevented prices from spiking until news of the sales broke. Weber wants the number of grain vessels waiting to be loaded at the West Coast made public, and the weekly size of the railway’s car fleet. “How can we make a decision if they’re (railways) being efficient this week if I don’t know how many cars they have? You can’t.” Weber bemoaned the effect large hedge funds are having on futures markets. “The funds are in such deep control... there’s such a disassociation between cash and futures (prices) that they are no longer discovering the price (with futures markets),” he said. “Realize it’s not just supply and demand anymore (determining prices). It’s the control the funds have in the market and it’s not really helping prices. “We’ve moved away from every exchange being a price discovery mechanism to being a money-generating mechanism for shareholders. And that’s not right.” allan@fbcpublishing.com

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

They’re very useful — but forecasting soybean yields isn’t easy Gary Martens uses a trick his father discovered to get a better forecast of soybean yields By Angela Lovell co-operator contributor

orecasting soybean yields can be especially challenging, but Gary Martens has a method based on his father’s crop records. Martens’ father kept meticulous records for 71 crops, and devised a formula based on the relationship with moisture received and final yields, the University of Manitoba plant science instructor said at the recent Manitoba Agronomists Conference in Winnipeg. “My dad gets 51.8 bushels per acre minus 2.9 times the rainfall in May minus 2.7 times the rainfall in July,” said Martens. “That means if we have no rain in May and no rain in July he is going to get 51.8 bushels per acre. It has to be very site specific, but I tested it out and it’s pretty close.” Mar tens encouraged the agronomists to look at similar data to help their clients forecast yields, but noted they won’t have to do it the hard way. There’s already an Australian app on the market called iPaddock, developed by Michael Fels, that does a similar thing and a new Canadian yield estimator app is being developed. In the meanwhile there are other ways to estimate soybean yields at different stages of crop development, said Martens, but noted all have their difficulties and drawbacks.

season stage is useful to help determine whether to put more money into the field,” said Martens. However, you are once again stuck with doing a plant count to estimate yield potential. “Around the R1 to R3 stage the plants are already in a reproductive stage, but we can’t yet count pods and can’t estimate how many seeds there will be per acre,” said Martens.

Late season (R6 stage on)

Once pods are forming, yield forecasts are very helpful for either pricing the crop or preparing storage. But estimating yield at this stage is time consuming and subject to a number of factors. Yield is estimated using a basic formula — the number of plants per acre multiplied by

pods per plant multiplied by seeds per pod divided by seeds per pound. The first problem is that seed size for soybeans can vary widely. This formula also doesn’t take into account how the seed will mature, harvest losses, and variability within the field. Martens comes back to the rainfall connection as one of the best ways he believes there is to predict yield. “Most farmers put on enough nutrients and treat the crop nicely so there are a lot of standards out there,” said Martens. “But one of the biggest variables is rainfall. I have used histor ical data to average yields for crops across Manitoba based on rainfall because I think that’s one of the biggest Apps are being developed to make a rapid assessment of soybean yields. T:8.125” drivers.”

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“The reason for trying to estimate yield early in the season is to establish whether there’s enough of a plant population present to leave the plant stand as it is or start over,” said Martens. Recommended target plant population is 160,000 plants per acre, but as few as 20,000 plants per acre can still produce 77 to 81 per cent of expected yield, according to studies conducted by the universities of Iowa and Purdue. (The data is based on seven-inch and 30-inch row spacings.) However, Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) estimates there is only a 50 per cent yield potential when there are 20,000 plants per acre. “M A S C i s b e i n g g e n e r ous,” said Martens. “They are going to estimate (lower) yield (potential) even though they acknowledge that you will probably have a higher yield than that if you have 20,000 plants per acre.” A bigger factor is seeding date. If soybeans aren’t started early in Manitoba, yield will begin to decline and drop off dramatically if seeded after the first week of June. With the high cost of soybean seed, the cost to replant has to be carefully considered. “If a replant is going to cost you $100 per acre you have to think is that really worth it based on the potential yield you can get from as little as 20,000 plants per acre,” said Martens.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

Keen-eyed scouting required to keep ahead of soybean diseases Soybean acreage is soaring and that’s good news for diseases seeking an accommodating host By Angela Lovell CO-OPERATOR CONTRIBUTOR

An electron micrograph of soybean cyst nematode and its egg, magnified 1,000 times. PHOTO: USDA

oybean cyst nematode — the most devastating soybean disease in the U.S. — hasn’t yet been found in Manitoba, but Sam Markell of North Dakota State University says it soon will be. The nematode has been moving north since it was first discovered in Nor th Carolina in the 1950s, the extension plant pathologist told the recent Manitoba Agronomists Conference. The good news, he said, is it can be managed if farmers are proactive, but he warned it can be hard to spot in its early stages. Yields can be reduced by 15 to 30 per cent before above-ground symptoms appear. And once it’s in the soil it’s

there for good. The trick is that you need to find it early and take measures to keep egg levels low, said Markell. The pest’s life cycle begins when the female nematode, a t y p e o f p a ra s i t i c w o r m , fills with eggs and swells to form a leathery, hard-bodied cyst. The cyst can last for a long time and moves easily with anything that moves soil including farm equipment, b i rd s , w i n d a n d w a t e r. A female can produce up to 200 eggs and once her female offspring have mated, they take up residence in the soybean plant roots. As the female swells, the cysts can be seen on roots and appear as yellow dots that are much smaller than the white plant nodules. These cysts will deprive the plant of water and nutrients; inter fere with nodulation;

and poke holes in the roots that allow other pathogens to enter.

Field scouting

The first step to identify nematode cysts requires soil samples and in-season digging. The best areas to take s o i l s a m p l e s a re a t f i e l d entrances, flooded areas, low spots, fence rows, low-yielding spots and alkaline areas. Use a one-inch probe and take 20 or more samples to get a representative sampling of an area. Mix the samples in a plastic bag and keep cool (but not cold) until it can be sent to a lab that can test egg levels. (Agvise Laboratories in North Dakota perform the tests, but Manitoba farmers should contact their local provincial soils or crop specialist or Mario Tenuta at the University of Manitoba, who conducted a Manitoba survey last year and plans another one this year.) In-season digging is another way to visually check for cysts on plant roots and should not be done before August. Remember the samples are alive and can easily be knocked off the plant root so take the whole plant out and massage the soil off very gently. Bring a magnifying glass to help identify the tiny cysts.

Managing nematodes

Resistance and rotation in combination are both important to manage the pest as it’s easier to keep egg levels low than reduce high levels of infestation. Choosing resistant varieties pays twice, said Markell. In variety trials in areas of North Dakota, resistant varieties had up to 40 per cent higher yields ov e r a s u s c e p t i b l e c h e c k . Growing resistant varieties also lower egg levels in subsequent soybean crops. Poor host crops, such as canola, will result in a significant drop in egg levels in the first year away from soybeans. But other crops, such as edible dry beans, are good hosts and won’t reduce infestation. There are no seed treatments yet registered available in Manitoba and, in any case, they should be seen as complementary to resistance and rotation and not as a substitute, cautioned Markell.

White mould

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White mould is a fungal pathogen that causes yield loss in soybeans, sunflowers, dry edible beans, canola, flax and other pulse crops. The life cycle begins as black overwintering sclerotia that germinate into apothecia (small mushrooms) and release ascospores that feed on dying flower petals. Conditions that favour development are moist soils with one to two inches of rain one to two weeks before bloom along with heavy and prolonged dews and temperatures of 15 C to 23 C during bloom. Even the most resistant soybean varieties offer Continued on next page »

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

China aims to increase farmland by eight per cent Official provides little detail on how the new farmland would be developed or upgraded beijing / reuters

hina aims to boost grain production eight per cent by 2020 over last year’s figure, as a plan to create millions of hectares of high-quality farmland will swell crop yields, a Farm Ministry official said Jan. 24. China produced 602 million tonnes of grain last year, the culmination of a decade of steady rises, but its farms must grapple with limited water resources and severe pollution as demand grows rapidly from a population of nearly 1.4 billion. Food demand grows more than five million tonnes annually, Zeng Yande, director of the planting management bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, told reporters. “Demand is this big, and arable land is only so much, we must guarantee supply,” he said, adding that China’s rapid industrialization and urbanization trends are fuelling demand.

Zeng said the plan, which aims to establish 67 million hectares of highquality farmland, would hike grain production by an extra 50 million tonnes by 2020, or 8.3 per cent more than last year’s output. He gave little detail on how the new farmland would be developed or upgraded, though the government has said it wants to rejuvenate heavily polluted land and improve water use. China will also step up yields by using new types of seeds and trying to limit the impact of natural disasters, Zeng said. Food security is among China’s top priorities this year, and Zeng reiterated Beijing’s frequently stated goal of 95 per cent self-sufficiency in key crops. But China is also seeing imports rise as policies to support farmers boost domestic prices of grain. Its cereal imports last year were up roughly seven per cent on an annual basis, at close to 15 million tonnes.

A farmer plows at a village in Jiading district on the outskirts of Shanghai in 2007, when it was reported more than 10 per cent of China’s farmland was polluted. Photo: REUTERS/Aly Song

Continued from previous page

only partial protection. Rotation to non-hosts such as corn and cereals may help. S oy b e a n s g e n e r a l l y a r e more tolerant to white mould than many other crops and may not necessarily suffer significant yield losses. Fungicides are available, but plants need to be sprayed at early bloom to target early infections and that may not be economically feasible given the low-yield risk.

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Charcoal rot

Charcoal rot is caused by a fungal pathogen that infects early in the season and can reduce yields by a third in dry conditions. It’s crucial to recognize the disease because symptoms on the plant may not show up until long after infection. The tiny microsclerotia look quite literally like charcoal dust if the outer tissue is peeled back from the dying plant stem. Shaving the stem will reveal dark swirls and indents deep into the plant material. These microsclerotia can survive for up to two years and have many hosts including corn, sunflowers and edible dry beans. There are currently no resistant varieties or seed treatments for charcoal rot and fungicides are ineffective. Rotation is the main tool for managing the disease, which will also not thr ive under c o o l , w e t c o n d i t i o n s. It’s important to scout for charcoal rot during the growing season to plan a strategy for the following year.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

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Most farms appear to have managed gas shutdown Emergency measures plans put to the test after gas shutdown in southeastern towns and municipalities By Shannon VanRaes and Lorraine Stevenson co-operator staff

ne year ago — almost to the day — Trevor Schriemer walked outside to find his family’s greenhouse operation engulfed in flames. So when a natural gas pipeline ruptured near Otterburne and burst into flames early Saturday morning, his first thought was “not again.” “It was terrifying, all of a sudden you hear this massive explosion and I look out of the windows and I thought my greenhouses were burning down... again, and on the exact anniversary,” he said. The fire is out, but the Schriemer family farm is finding heat hard to come by. The four-acre greenhouse complex runs on natural gas boilers, or at least it did until Manitoba Hydro cut off the natural gas supply on Saturday. “Now we’re running exclusively on diesel from St. Anne’s Co-op, they’re here every eight hours filling us up,” Schriemer said, adding he’s glad he included a diesel backup when upgrading the boiler system last year. “As long as St. Anne’s can sustain us, and as long as my son can stay awake in the boiler room.... we will keep going,” he said. The Schriemers’ predicament was an extreme version of the circumstances many thousands to residents and many farm owners were plunged into last weekend. After the explosion, the pipeline supplying gas to the region was shut down and depressurized to contain the fire. That left about 4,000 residents in New Bothwell, Niverville, Otterburne, St-Pierre-Jolys, Grunthal, St. Malo, Dufrost, Ste. Agathe, Marchand and Kleefeld without heat just as a blizzard set in, closing roads and plunging temperatures into the -30 C range. It also set in motion a whole series of municipal emergency response plans enacted by local officials and volunteers. Public information officers with municipal emergency measures teams taking media calls last week reported their neighbours faring as the best they possibly could. Wa r m - u p s h e l t e r s e n a c t e d as part of local emergency plans stood empty as people opted to stay home relying on electrical space heaters, or leaving to be with friends and family unaffected by the outage. Two warming shelters set up at the New Bothwell Christian Fellowship Church and Grunthal Abundant Life Fellowship church were open but remained unused overnight Sunday, said Heather Chambers Ewen of the RM of Hanover’s

Residents speak to an RCMP officer after a natural gas explosion near Otterburne closed roads and left locals negotiating access to their homes and farms. Photo: Shannon VanRaes

emergency team. People appeared to have chosen to sit tight, and were saying they were shutting up the interiors of their homes to keep one or two rooms warm with alternative heat sources, she said.

Warm-up shelters stayed empty

“People are being very self-sufficient at this time,” Chambers Ewen said. “Temperatures are lowering in people’s homes but everyone is trying their best to use good judgment in their own homes and in their own situations,” she said. In Niverville, compressed gas was trucked in to keep the Niverville Heritage Centre warm, and the town was also prepared for a worstcase scenario, noting on its website that there were about 200 cots and blankets stored in the community to be set up should there be an electrical grid failure. The warm-up shelter was not opened after town officials determined there was no need for the service. In St. Pierre-Jolys, an emergency prevention order had been declared, essentially giving special powers to mayor and council to take charge of the situation, said Brian Martel, another emergency measures information officer. Martel said across the region volunteers have been being mobilized to call on and check in on residents in affected municipalities to make sure everyone was remaining safe. “We’ll be doing a checkup with residents and making phone calls to see if there’s anything they need, and to give information,” he said. One of the emergency officials’ big concerns as people hunkered down at home was that they use only approved space heaters. Barbecues, kerosene heaters or temporary gas space heaters pose a

serious risk because they produce harmful levels of carbon monoxide as well as fire risks. Businesses in St. Pierre-Jolys were at a virtual standstill as the week began said Arlene Enns, co-owner of the ordinarily busy Le Routier Restaurant. Except for Hydro crews dropping in, their place was dead. Staff were making toast and coffee for them using electrical appliances, she said. “We’re serving very limited fare and it’s not warm in here, but it’s temperate,” she said.

Farm contingency plans

Unconfirmed reports, meanwhile pegged as many as 200 farm owners in the region to be affected one way or another. Cory Rybuck, general manager for Manitoba Egg Producers, said the egg farmers they’d been in contact with said they were improvising and faring all right. “We do have some some producers without heat, but it’s not affecting them... typically with layers they generate their own heat,” he said. “There are some barns that do use supplemental heat, they would either be using propane, or diesel or electric, not natural gas, so we haven’t heard from those folks since it all happened,” he said. “Those who have backup plans are putting them into effect, and those who don’t are managing to make do somehow,” he said. A spokesman for Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development said all affected livestock producers in the region would follow existing contingency plans. Dr. Dale Douma, acting chief veterinary officer, said by Sunday the department had mapped out the extent of the natural gas out-

age as well as the swine and poultry premises that were hooked up to the natural gas line. These industry associations were contacted and provided with a map and list of their members that were affected over the weekend, he said. “We remain in close contact with these associations and they’ve been asked to contact MAFRD if additional support is needed,” he said, adding that MAFRD was aware of some operations that had been affected and disrupted by the natural gas outage as of Monday, but additional support had not been requested at that time. A provincial government spokesperson said Premier Greg Selinger met with local officials Monday about how the communities were coping with the situation to see if they needed any additional support.

Heat could have melted greenhouse

The explosion, which produced flames reportly 200 to 300 metres high and a roar akin to a jet plane, was so close that he could feel the heat from it, Schriemer said. “You could pretty much stand outside... in your shirt sleeves, if it was any closer it would have melted all the plastic in my greenhouse,” he said. In full production, with greenhouses bursting with tomato and cucumber crops requiring steady temperatures, their backup plan also includes leaving lights — which provide 12° of heat — on longer. But you can only rob plants of darkness for so long, he said, adding that increased demands on electricity in the wake of the gas outage had brought its own problems. “Manitoba Hydro was desperate to reduce the load… we cut our lights early yesterday (Sunday) to help out the grid, and avoid rolling blackouts,” he said. “It’s been a struggle.” Schriemer said he knows neighbours are also struggling with the loss of natural gas and heat. “People who have chicken barns, hog barn, all their gas has been cut as well, not to mention all the houses were people are shivering,” he said, adding his own father has been searching for extra space heaters since the outage. “You can’t buy a heater in the city of Winnipeg anymore,” he said. At press time Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization was continuing to work with affected communities. Nine natural gas tanker trucks were in place at all health-care facilities in the region to ensure the heat stayed on. lorraine@fbcpublishing.com shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

U.S. soy farmers facing tough sell or hold decision: Maguire China, the key player, could shift U.S. purchases to cheaper sources in South America By Gavin Maguire Reuters

Soybeans — sell now and avoid a further price drop from a big Brazilian crop, or hope for a weather rally? photo: thinkstock

ell now or sell later? That is the tough decision facing U.S. soybean farmers who in 2013 harvested one of the largest crops in history and are currently faced with robust domestic and export interest that are supporting futures and cash prices comfortably above $12 per bushel. Growers in Brazil are on the verge of harvesting a record crop, and are faced with cash prices that are already $3 a bushel cheaper than U.S. futures and are expected to slump even further over the next month as harvesting in the main soy areas gathers pace. O n c e Br a z i l i a n s u p p l i e s make it to the ports, they

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could potentially spark a s h a r p t u m b l e i n U . S . va l ues right ahead of the 2014 planting season. This would leave any U.S. growers holding unhedged supplies with a p o t e n t i a l l y b u rd e n s o m e liability at the worst possible time. Diminishing unsold crop values might strangle cash flows just as operating expenses climb during planting season. Such a scenario could cause panic among some U.S. crop holders, especially if cash flows are tight already and expenses for the coming season have not yet been taken care of. Still, for those with the ability to withstand any potential near-term price breaks, the upcoming U.S. growing season could well provide fresh selling opportunities if weather or robust consumption spark a price rally. The key issue will be whether those upcoming rallies manage to steer prices much above current levels, or whether any intervening price dip is so severe that it confines subsequent pr ice re b o u n d s t o p r i c e s b e l ow those prevailing right now.

Spotlight on China

As the world’s top soy consumer, China will play a critical role in determining price. Most market bulls anticipate China will continue the brisk purchasing rate seen over the past several months and be the chief buyer of South American soybeans once supplies become available. However, a recent softening in Chinese domestic prices suggests that the rate of Chinese soy import purchases may have room to slow. Cash soybean values in Shandong Province have slumped by roughly eight per cent since September to their lowest level since mid-2012 on the back of strong inflows of soy imports from the U.S., which hit a record for 2013. In addition, roughly eight million tonnes of Chinese soy purchases from the U.S. have not yet been shipped, meaning there is potential for China to cancel and transfer that portion of its U.S. purchases to South Amer ican origins once supplies become available. Chinese importers have proved content to conduct such origin switches before, especially when the new source offers such steep price discounts as are available currently in South America.

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Continued on next page »

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NEWSPRINT - 240 ink density Publication: Manitoba Cooperator

2014-01-22 11:22 AM

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

Canola crush margins keep getting wider New-crop crush margins are over $100 per tonne above the November futures By Phil Franz-Warkentin Commodity News Service Canada

anola crush margins continue to widen to unprecedented levels, highlighting the cheapness of canola seed compared to its worth when processed. Crush margins provide an indication of the profitability of the product values relative to the seed cost when processing canola, with exchange rates also factoring in to the equation. As of Jan. 23, the canola board crush margin calculated by ICE Futures

briefs

Cold poses risk to European grain crops paris / reuters / Mild conditions so far this winter in Europe have prevented the full hardening of cereal crops in some countries, leaving them vulnerable to a severe cold spell, the European Union’s cropmonitoring unit said Jan. 27. No significant frost damage is estimated to have occurred across the European continent so far and this should remain the case this week despite a forecast fall in temperatures, the MARS unit said in a monthly crop report. “The current situation is delicate, however, considering the weakly hardened crops in Europe’s central regions,” it said. “If the cold air intrusion is more severe than expected and accompanied by shallow snow cover, frost kill events could occur in eastern Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Baltic countries, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.” Since mid-December, most of Europe had observed temperatures that were 2 C to 7 C above seasonal norms.

Continued from previous page

especially in Brazil’s top soy state of Mato Grosso. Some Brazilian oilseed brokers project an additional $1- to $1.50-per-bushel price erosion in the Mato Grosso region should the rest of the state report similarly abovenormal yields. And should these early yield reports in turn indicate generally strong production across the entire continent, soy importers will be encouraged to anticipate a further decline in benchmark prices through the export sea-

Canada was about $175 above the most active March contract. The current margins represent an improvement of about $20 per tonne over the past month and come in at nearly triple the levels seen at this time last year. New-crop crush margins are also over $100 per tonne above the November futures, which is historically strong as well. Canada’s record-large crop and logistics issues hampering movement across the Prairies continue to weigh on canola prices, both in the futures and in the cash market where basis levels remain wide. At the same time, the Canadian dol-

lar has weakened sharply over the past month, losing four cents relative to its U.S. counterpart. Those two factors are playing the biggest role in the wide crush margins, according to market participants. While crush margins may be strong, logistics issues in Western Canada slowing grain movement are also limiting the actual crush pace. The total crush in the 2013-14 crop year to date, as of Jan. 15, was reported at just under 3.1 million tonnes by the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association, over 200,000 tonnes behind the level seen at the same point the previous year.

Seed is getting cheaper, but oil isn’t.

CWRS bids fell slightly last week

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son as they move to exploit more than adequate supplies o f s oy b e a n s a c r o s s So u t h America for the next several months. For U.S. farmers still sitting on unsold beans, the prospect of a glut of South American soybeans within the coming weeks should be cause for alarm, as a sharp decline in local prices to the $10-perbushel region or even lower cannot be ruled out over the near to medium term. Bu t f o r t h e t i m e b e i n g , robust U.S. domestic demand continues to underpin values above $12 a bushel. That price may appear somewhat low

compared with the more than $15 pr ice achieved dur ing the growing season last summer, and could potentially be seen again should the upcoming U.S. crop encounter stiff weather challenges at critical development times. Yet, $12 may equally come to be seen as a rich price for soybeans should the South American crop come in even larger than is currently projected and high-profile buyers back away from making purchases to help drive benchmark values closer to where Mato Grosso soybeans are already trading. So, U.S. soy farmers still

holding large chunks of unsold beans face a tough choice: Do they fire off sales now and secure a roughly $12-a-bushel sale price that is on the low end of the recent range, and forgo the chance to sell at higher prices in the event of a 2014 U.S. growing season problem? Or, do they hold on to those beans and run the risk of benchmark prices descending to below the $10 level — and underneath the cost of production in many areas? Gavin Maguire is a Reuters market analyst. The opinions expressed are his own.

estern Canadian wheat cash bids we re m i x e d d u ring the week ended Jan. 27. Canadian Western Red Spring (CWRS) bids were down slightly, Canadian Prairie Red Spring (CPRS) held steady and durum prices were slightly higher. On Jan. 27, average spot bids for 13.5 per cent CWRS across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta came in at around $158 per tonne, or $4.31 per bushel, based on pricing available from a cross-section of deliver y points, from $160 per tonne, or $4.36 per bushel, the week prior. Basis levels saw a slight improvement, at an average discount of $64 relative to the futures, compared to $66 last week. Average CPRS values were unchanged compared to last week at $143 per tonne, or $3.88 per bushel. Average basis levels were also unchanged at a discount of $87 compared to futures. U.S. wheat futures were steady to lower during the week. Spring wheat futures in Minneapolis were weaker due to the large global supply situation and a lack of significant developments on the export front. Hard winter wheat futures in Kansas City were steady, finding some support from worries about extremely cold weather harming U.S. winter wheat crops. The March spring wheat contract in Minneapolis was quoted at US$6.0650 per bushel on January 27, down 11.25 cents from the week prior. March Kansas City hard red winter wheat futures, which are more closely linked to CPRS in Canada, lost 0.75 cents over the week, settling at US$6.2250 per bushel on Jan. 27. Durum prices were up slightly to $183 per tonne, or $4.97 per bushel, an increase of about $3 per tonne from the week prior.

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

Fertilizer prices to level off before spring rally

EMPTY NESTER

Many Canadian farmers have already booked at attractive prices last fall By Terryn Shiells COMMODITY NEWS SERVICE CANADA

We humans are shovelling snow this winter, but the resident of this home has sensibly gone south to wait for it to melt before returning. PHOTO: HERMINA JANZ

orth American fertilizer prices have been on the rise over the past month, but are expected to level off until the spring, when the market should see a seasonal rally, said Rick Rempel, vice-president of marketing for Western Canada with Agrico Canada Ltd. He said tight supply had contributed to the increase. “The supply of (fertilizer) has been disrupted by less imports into the U.S. and some minor production issues at some of the plants,” said Rempel. Nitrogen and phosphate prices have both been rising, but are expected to drop off ahead of the spring, said David Asbridge, president and senior economist with NPK Fertilizer Advisory Service in Missouri. “Nitrogen prices, we expect them to kind of calm down a little bit to drop off a few dollars and then kind of drift along,” Asbridge said. “And then start a seasonal rise into the spring season, probably the end of February, first of March or so.” Phosphate prices are also expected to see a drop before seeing a slight rally in the spring, as supplies are expected to be more than adequate by the time farmers are ready to apply them to their fields. “There’s plenty of product out

there, it just doesn’t happen to be right here right now,” Asbridge added. “And, of course it’s only the middle of January, we can’t use it anyway.” Many Canadian farmers have already covered their fertilizer needs for the upcoming spring because prices were attractive this past fall. “There might be anywhere from 25 per cent to maybe 40 per cent, that still has to be purchased,” Rempel said. “It depends on the location, and a few other factors.” How much supply there are in North America in the coming months and where prices move this spring will also depend on the weather, Asbridge said. “If it’s a season like 2012, where farmers in the U.S. were actually out putting fertilizer down in January and February, which is extremely unusual, then we could see a lot of upward pressure on prices,” he added. Logistics issues may also arise and cause some shortages of certain products. In the U.S., the upper Mississippi River could remain frozen longer than normal, Asbridge said. In Canada, the backlogged grain handling system, due to the large crops produced in 2013-14, may also be problematic. “It could become a little bit of an issue on the supply side. How much of an effect it will have, I guess it’s too early to tell,” Rempel said.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

Brazil GMO planting to increase by 6.8 per cent this season

Farmers are turning to GMO varieties even though they are not completely resistant to a troublesome caterpillar sao paulo / reuters

razil will increase the amount of land planted with genetically modified soy, corn and cotton by 6.8 per cent this season to increase yields, local analytics firm Celeres said Dec. 18. That is a smaller increase than the 14 per cent growth from the 2011-12 to the 2012-13 crops. About 91 per cent of Brazil’s soybean crop, which is likely to be the largest in the world when it is harvested early next year, has been planted with GMO seeds, Celeres said. That is up from 89 per cent a year earlier. Farmers are starting to plant a new variety of Monsanto soybean seeds developed specifically for South America: worm-resistant Intacta. China, which buys 70 per cent of Bra-

zil’s soybeans, approved Intacta imports on June 10. Monsanto Co. estimates that eight per cent of soy seeds sold in Brazil for the 2013-14 season were Intacta. The U.S.-based company also continued to sell its herbicide-resistant Roundup Ready soy seeds in Brazil this year. The greatest jump in GMO planting occurred in cotton, with GMO planting increasing 35.7 per cent from the 2012-13 season. Brazil’s cotton fields were attacked by a new type of caterpillar, the helicoverpa armigera, earlier this year. It later spread to soy and cornfields, requiring farmers to invest more in pesticides. “ The intense caterpillar attack was the main reason for the significant increase in GMO cotton,” the Celeres report said, adding that the jump occurred even though available cotton

“The intense caterpillar attack was the main reason for the significant increase in GMO cotton.” Celeres report

biotechnologies were not completely resistant to the pest. Nearly 71 per cent of the first of two annual corn crops planted in Brazil has been planted with genetically modified seeds, according to Celeres. China has recently approved imports of genetically modified corn from Argentina and Brazil, opening up a new export market for South America. SEC_MIDGE13_T_MC.qxd

10/17/13

A cotton bollworm moth (helicoverpa armigera) flies off the hand of a research technician in a laboratory in Melbourne, Australia. Considered the world’s worst agricultural pest because it is resistant to nearly every class of chemical pesticide, the insect’s caterpillars attacked crops in Brazil earlier this year — prompting more interest in GMO crops. photo: Reuters 11:40 AM

Page 1

China says over three mln hectares too polluted to farm Government trying to reverse damage done by years of urban and industrial encroachment

Building better midge traps.

A Chinese worker collects catfish for disposal in a polluted pond in Haikou, Hainan province, Sept. 10, 2013. Local government acted to kill all catfish at the pond after the water tested below standards, according to local media. photo: REUTERS/Stringer

city of Guangzhou. The rice was grown in Henan, a major heavy metal-producing region. China’s determination to squeeze as much food and resources as possible from its land has put thousands of farms close to chemical plants, mines and other heavy industries, raising the risks of contamination. With food security still the most pressing concern, China is deter mined to ensure that at least 120 million hectares (295 million acres) of land are reserved for agriculture, a policy known as the “red line.” The rehabilitation of polluted land is part of that policy. A government land survey revealed traces of toxic metals dating back at least a century as well as pesticides banned in the 1980s, and state researchers have said that as much as 70 per cent of China’s soil could have problems.

Produced by: SeCan Product/Campaign Name: SeCan Midge Multi Date Produced:October 2013

bout 3.33 million hectares (eight million acres) of China’s farmland are too polluted to grow crops, a government official said Dec. 30, highlighting the risk facing agriculture after three decades of rapid industrial growth. China has been under pressure to improve its urban environment following a spate of pollution scares. But cleaning up r ural regions could be an even bigger challenge as the government tries to reverse damage done by years of urban and industrial encroachment and ensure food supplies for a growing population. Wa n g S h i y u a n , t h e vice-minister of land and resources, told a news briefing that China was determined to rectify the problem and had committed “tens of billions of yuan” a year to pilot projects aimed at rehabilitating contaminated land and underground water supplies. The area of China’s contaminated land is about the same size as Belgium. Wang said no more planting would be allowed on it as the government was determined to prevent toxic metals entering the food chain. “In the past there have been news reports about cadmium-contaminated rice — these kinds of problems have already been strictly prohibited,” he said. This year, inspectors found dangerous levels of cadmium in rice sold in the southern

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

AUCTION DISTRICTS Parkland – North of Hwy 1; west of PR 242, following the west shore of Lake Manitoba and east shore of Lake Winnipegosis. Westman – South of Hwy 1; west of PR 242. Interlake – North of Hwy 1; east of PR 242, following the west shore of Lake Manitoba and east shore of Lake Winnipegosis. Red River – South ofHwy 1; east of PR 242.

The Pas

Birch River

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Ste. Rose du Lac Russell

Parkland

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Gladstone

AUCTION SALES Manitoba Auctions – Interlake

FARM CHEMICAL SEED COMPLAINTS

LORNE & CHRISTINE HAMBLIN are offering for sale approximately 202-acres of farmland located on River Lots 257, 259 & 261 East of PTH-75 in the RM of Montcalm, described as follows: Title #1698884/1 (Roll #’s 118025, 118150 & 118250)Title #1801487/1 (Roll #118050) Rural water is connected to these properties. CONDITIONS OF OFFER TO PURCHASE. 1) Offers must be received on or before 4:00pm on February 21, 2014. 2) Offers must be accompanied by a 5% deposit payable to Bruce Gregory “in trust.” Deposit cheques accompanying unaccepted offers will be returned. 3) Offers will be reviewed by the Vendors by Feb 24, 2014 & the party whose Offer is accepted will be contacted within 5 business days. 4) Highest or any offer not necessarily accepted. 5) The Purchaser shall be responsible for the payment of GST or shall self-assess for GST. 6) Possession shall be March 31, 2014. 7) The date of closing will be March 31, 2014, at which time the balance of the purchase price will be paid. 8) Tenders are binding upon acceptance & not subject to any conditions precedent. 9) The Vendor will be responsible for the real property taxes on the property up to December 31, 2013. The Purchaser will be responsible for 2014 real property taxes. 10) Title to the land will be transferred free & clear of all encumbrances & liens, except for: a) The following registrations: a. Caveat 195636/1 filed by MTS pursuant to an Easement Agreement b. Caveat 196155/1 filed by MTS pursuant to an Easement Agreement. c. Caveat 2801594/1 filed by MTS pursuant to an Easement Agreement. d. Caveat 80-56842/1 filed by Manitoba Hydro Electric Board pursuant to an Easement Agreement. e. 81-18197/1 filed by Lorne & Christine Hamblin pursuant to an Easement Agreement giving access to title 1801487/1. b) All movable machinery, scrap metal & portable buildings which shall be removed by the vendor by Aug 31, 2014. 11) The deposit of 5% will be forfeited if the successful party does not finalize or complete the terms of the Agreement of Purchase & Sale. 12) The Purchaser relies entirely upon his/her personal inspection & knowledge of the land, independent of the representations made by the Vendor or the Solicitor & Agent of the Vendor. The land will be sold “as is” & the Purchaser is solely responsible to determine the value & condition of the land, land quality, land use, environmental condition & any other information pertaining to the land. Signed & sealed Offers will be received up to 4:00pm on February 21st, 2014 at: Lorne & Chris Hamblin Box 612 Morris, MB. R0G 1K0. Email offers will be accepted at chamblin@mymts.net providing deposit cheque is also received. For more information: call (204)746-3330 or email at above address

FARM LAND FOR RENT

McSherry Auction Service Ltd

We also specialize in: Crop Insurance appeals; Chemical drift; Residual herbicide; Custom operator issues; Equipment malfunction; Yield comparisons, Plus Private Investigations of any nature. With our assistance the majority of our clients have received compensation previously denied. Back-Track Investigations investigates, documents your loss and assists in settling your claim. Licensed Agrologist on Staff. For more information Please call 1-866-882-4779

Boissevain

Killarney

Elm Creek

Sanford

Specialty Crops Various

Beausejour

Ste. Anne

Carman

Mariapolis

Pilot Mound Crystal City

SEED/FEED/CROP INPUTS

Lac du Bonnet

Winnipeg

Austin Treherne

Westman

Waskada

Stonewall Selkirk

Portage Carberry

Brandon Souris

Melita

Land For Sale

Arborg

Interlake

Langruth

Rapid City

Reston

REAL ESTATE/RENTALS

Land For Sale

Lundar

Erickson Minnedosa

REAL ESTATE/RENTALS

Crop Consulting

Gimli

Shoal Lake

Hamiota

Virden

MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS/SERVICES

St. Pierre

242

Morris Winkler Morden

Altona

Steinbach

Red River

FARM/CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

Salvage MURPHY SALVAGE New & used parts for tractors, combines, swathers, square & round balers, tillage, press drills & other misc machinery. MURPHY SALVAGE (204)858-2727 or toll free 1-877-858-2728.

LIVESTOCK/POULTRY/PETS Pets & Supplies BORDER COLLIE PUPS FOR sale, 4-months old, working parents, on site. $125 ea, delivery neg. to certain areas. No Sunday calls, (204)656-4430, Winnipegosis. FARM/CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

Grain Cleaners FORSBERG MODEL 14 GRAVITY table. Cleans Wheat @ 250-bu/hr, Canola & Flax @ 140-bu/hr. In good condition. $9,500.00 OBO. Phone: (204)471-3418.

AUCTIONS/ANTIQUE SALES Antiques Wanted DOWNSIZING, BUYING OLD ADVERTISING sign, Gasoline & Oil, Soda Pop, Porcelain, Tin, Calenders, pre 1920 license plates. Old Red Wing Crocks, old cans & gas pumps. Coca-Cola machines. Antique & Collectible Collections. Anything w/Advertising on it. Oak furniture, Silver Coins, Pinball Machines, old toys & Collectible tins. Kelly (204)981-9616 or cccollector@hotmail.com

AUCTIONS/ANTIQUE SALES Antiques For Sale SUN., MAR. 9TH, 10-4 MB Antique Association Sale. Browse our many tables to find a treasure. Glassware, collectibles, Nostalgia. CanadInns Polo Park 1405 St Matthews Ave. Contact Kelly for more info (204)981-9616. Vendor spaces avail. Antiques & Collectibles (no crafts) FARM/CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

Baling Equipment WANTED: NEW HOLLAND BALE wagons, any size. Farmhand small bale accumulator or Hoelschler fork or grabber, 8 to 18 bale size. Also, 336 or 346 or newer JD small square baler. Roeder Implement, Seneca, KS (785)336-6103.

Bioriginal Food & Science Corp., based in Saskatoon, are looking to contract Borage acres for the upcoming 2014 growing season.

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Great proﬁt potential based on yield, prices and low input costs. Attractive oil premiums and free seed delivery and on-farm pick-up. Flexible contracting options available as well. For more information, please contact Carl Lynn P.Ag. of Bioriginal at:

306-229-9976 (cell) 306-975-9295 (ofﬁce) crops@bioriginal.com

REAL ESTATE/RENTALS Land For Sale FARM LAND FOR SALE: 2,156-ac in R.M. of Westbourne. Call Henry Kuhl:(204)885-5500. Royal LaPage Alliance. LAND FOR SALE OR RENT in CAMERON Municipality. 4 quarters & 80-acres of crop land. Phone (204)858-2219. The following Private Land is being offered for sale: SE 1-29-17W, NW 31-28-16W. The following Crown Lands have been approved by Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives for transfer to the purchaser of the private lands listed as these lands are part of the farm unit held by Steven Sliworsky & Tracy Bartels of Rorketon, MB. NE 19-28-16W, NW 19-28-16W, SE 19-28-16W, SE 30-28-16W, SW 30-28-16W, NE 31-28-16W, SW 31-28-16W, SW 05-29-16W, NW 17-29-16W, SW 17-29-16W. If you wish to purchase the private land & apply for the Unit Transfer contact the Lessee Steven Sliworsky or Tracy Bartels at Box 83, Rorketon, MB R0L 1R0. If you wish to comment on or object to the eligibility of this Unit Transfer write the Director, MAFRD, Agricultural Crown Lands, PO Box 1286, Minnedosa MB R0J 1E0; or fax (204)867-6578.

PUGH SEEDS: CERT AC Barrie, Cardale, Kane Wheat, Conlon Barley, Souris Oats. Phone (204)274-2179 or (204)871-1467, Portage.

The following Private Land is being offered for sale: NE 27-23-08W, SE 16-23-08W, NE 10-23-08W, SE 27-23-08W, NW 23-23-08W, SE 23-23-08W, W 1/2 26-23-08W, NE 22-23-08W. The following Crown lands have been approved by Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Development for transfer to the purchaser of the private lands listed as these lands are part of the ranch unit held by William Lazarowich of Mulvihill, MB. SE 10-23-08W , NE 16-23-08W, NE 22-23-08W, NW 22-23-08W, SE 22-23-08W, SW 22-23-08W, NE 23-23-08W, SW 23-23-08W, NW 27-23-08W, SW 27-23-08W, SE 34-23-08W, SE 35-23-08W, SW 35-23-08W. If you wish to purchase the private land and apply for the Unit Transfer contact the Lessee William Lazarowich at PO Box 2, Grp 15 RR 1 in Mulvihill, MB R0C 2G0. If you wish to comment on or object to the eligibility of this Unit Transfer write the Director, MAFRI, Agricultural Crown Lands, PO Box 1286, Minnedosa MB R0J 1E0; or Fax (204)867-6578.

AUCTION SALES U.S. Auctions

SEED/FEED/CROP INPUTS Pedigreed Cereals Various JAMES FARMS LTD AC Carberry Wheat, Tradition Barley, Souris & Summit Oats, Hanley Flax, Forage seeds, various Canola, Sunflower & Soybean seed varieties. Custom processing, seed treating & delivery avail. Early payment discount. For info call (204)222-8785 or toll free 1-866-283-8785, Wpg. LARGE QUANTITY OF CERTIFIED harvest wheat for sale, wholesale pricing & selling in truckload lots only. Also certified Newdale 2-Row malt barley. Inland Seed Corp. Binscarth MB. (204)683-2316.

in the RM of Lorne N ½ 20-6-10 WPM & SW ¼ 20-6-10 WPM approx. 374 cultivated acres, 5,300 bus, grain storage and older bins Three year lease with terms to be negotiated

Please Contact Larry J. Selby at

SELBY LAW OFFICE 351 Main Street Manitou, MB R0G 1G0 Phone: (204) 242-2801

AUCTION SALE Estate & Moving

Sat., Feb. 1 @ 10:00 am

Stonewall, MB - #12 Patterson Dr *Professional Snap On Hand Tools * 2) Tool Cabinets * Power Tools * Air Tools * Yard items * Household * Large Amount of Antiques

Stuart McSherry (204) 467-1858 or (204) 886-7027

www.mcsherryauction.com

TRIBUTES / MEMORY CERISE RED PROSO COMMON MILLET seed. Buy now to avoid disappointment. 93%+ germination, 0% Fusarium Graminearum. Makes great cattle feed, swath grazed, dry or silage bale. Very high in protein. Energy & drought tolerant. Sold in 50-lb bags. 2000+ satisfied producers. 11th Year in Business! Millet King Seeds of Canada Inc. Reynald (204)526-2719 office or (204)379-2987, cell & text (204)794-8550. Leave messages, all calls returned. www.milletkingseeds.com reynald@milletking.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS BASF KNOWLEDGE HARVEST -- Join growers from your area to watch live plant demonstrations, speak to experts about what is new with biologicals & get strategies for managing herbicide resistance from industry leaders. Hear from acclaimed visionary & financial analyst Richard Worzel about the future of agriculture. Register now at www.agsolutions.ca/knowledgeharvest Feb 25th Lethbridge - Feb 27th Portage la Prairie March 4th Regina - March 6th Saskatoon March 11th Yorkton - March 13th Edmonton

McSherry Auction Service Ltd

GUN AUCTION

Close OUT GUN STORE & Personal Collection

Sat., Feb. 15 @ 9:30 am

Stonewall, MB - #12 Patterson Dr 400 GUNS: * All Calibres * Modern * Vintage * Military * Restricted Hand Guns * Ammunition * Accessories * Mounts * 90% are Brand NEW or New Old Stock Go to the Website for 400 Pictures and Information!

Stuart McSherry (204) 467-1858 or (204) 886-7027

www.mcsherryauction.com AUCTION SALES Auctions Various

BE AN AUCTIONEER. (507)995-7803 www.auctioneerschool.com

AUCTION SALES Auctions Various

AUCTION

SKID STEER ATTACHMENTS & INDUSTRIAL TOOLS THE FOLLOWING PRIVATE LAND is being offered for sale: N1/2 14-29-15W, E1/2 23-29-15W, NE 20-28-15W, NW 23-29-15W, S1/2 25-29-15W, SW 19-29-14W, SW 30-29-14W, SE 19-29-15W. The following Crown lands have been approved by Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives for transfer to the purchaser of the private lands listed as these lands are part of the farm unit held by Lorne Bass of Toutes Aides, MB: NW 5-31-14W, SW 5-31-14W, NE 5-31-14W, SW 8-31-14W, SE 8-31-14W, NE 8-31-14W, NW 8-31-14W, SW 18-30-14W, NW 18-30-14W, SE 19-30-14W, SW 19-30-14W, NE 13-30-15W, SE 13-30-15W, SE 24-30-15W, NW 19-29-14W, NE 22-29-14W, SE 22-29-14W, SE 27-29-14W, NE 27-29-14W, NE 34-29-14W, SE 34-29-14W, NW 35-29-14W, SW 35-29-14W, SE 13-29-15W, SW 23-29-15W, NE 18-30-14W, SE 18-30-14W, NW 6-31-14W, SE 6-31-14W, SW 6-31-14W, NE 6-31-14W, NW 36-30-15W, NE 36-30-15W, SE 36-30-15W, NE 24-30-15W, NE 25-30-15W, SE 25-30-15W. If you wish to purchase the private land & apply for the Unit Transfer contact the Lessee Lorne Bass, Box 2, Toutes Aides, MB, R0L 2A0, (204)732-2481. If you wish to comment on or object to the eligibility of this Unit Transfer write the Director, MAFRI, Agricultural Crown Lands, PO Box 1286, Minnedosa, MB R0J 1E0; or Fax (204)867-6578.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 15TH 10:00 AM

Location: Indoors 218 Brandt St. Steinbach, Manitoba (Hwy #12 South) Note: Accepting Consignments Of Snowmobiles, Snowblowers & Other Equipment Partial List:

COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS & TENTS

•10 ft X 20 ft Commercial Instant Pop Up Tent •16 ft x 22 ft Marquee Event Tent, C/W: 320 sq.ft, one zipper door, 7 windows, heavy duty frames and fabrics •Cover All 30FT X 65FT X 15FT High Ceiling Double Doored Storage Building C/W: commercial fabric, waterproof, fire resistant, doors on two ends. Load Tested For Canada

•Stout Receiver Hitch Plates •Stout Regular Weld-on Plates •Stout Walk Through 48in Pallet Forks •Stout Full Back 48in Pallet Forks •48in Standard Pallet Forks •(4) Skid Steer Tires SKS 10-16.5 •84’’ Hydraulic Skid Steer Snow Plow Dozer

INDUSTRIAL & SHOP TOOLS

•10 Ton Hydraulic Porta Power Kit •50 Ton Air Hydraulic Jack •New Abraisive Sandblasters •New & Used Mig Welders •New & Used Chains Saws •Gas Engines & Pressure Washers •Honda Pressure Washer •New 2500lb Air Bumper Jacks •New Aluminum Truck Toolboxes Diamond Tread •New Aluminum ATV Ramps •New Bolt Cutters Various Sizes •18V Power Lube Grease Guns

•10FT 20 DRAWER HEAVY DUTY WORK BENCH WITH HANGING WALL c/w 40’’ high hanging wall, *MANY ITEMS SOLD stainless steel drawer panel, metal INDIVIDUALLY. handles, each drawer holds up NEW SKID STEER to 220lb. ALSO SOME LARGE LOTS ATTACHMENTS & •KING POWER 10,000LN DIESEL SOLD BY THE PALLET SILENT GENERATOR TIRES CONSISTING OF NEW & •1500W Patio Heater •Lowe Hydraulic Auger 1650CH, •10,000Lbs 24V Truck & ATV Winch 9in, 12in & 15in Bits USED: SANDBLASTERS, •Lowe Hydraulic Auger 750CH, 9in •880 Lbs Electric Cable Hoist CHAIN SAWS, MIG •MIG Electric Welder & 12in Bits WELDERS, SOLAR PANELS, •50’ Air Hose Reel with Hose •Stout Brush Grapple HD72 •Stout Rock Bucket Grapple HDU72 3/8’’ x 50’ HUNTING & FISHING CAMO •Stout Snow Bucket 96in, Double •1” Dr. Air Impact Wrench Kit GEAR, AIR IMPACTS, Cut Edge •80Gallon Air Compressor TRAILER AXLES & HUBS, •Stout Snow Bucket 96in, Poly •2 Ton Floor Jack with Blow Case Cut Edge MISC TOOLS •3 Ton Floor Jack

PENNER AUCTION SALES LTD. 218 Brandt Street Steinbach, MB Ph: 204.326.3061 Fax: 204.326.3061 Toll Free: 1-866-512-8992 www.pennerauctions.com

AUCTION SALES U.S. Auctions

Sale Conducted by: PENNER AUCTION SALES LTD.

AUCTION SALES U.S. Auctions

ONLINE ONLY AUCTION ONLINE ONLY AUCTION

IQBID FEBRUARY AUCTION OPENING: Saturday, February 1

CLOSING: Monday, February 10

TRACK & MFWD TRACTORS / COLLECTIBLE TRACTORS / COMBINES / FLEX & DRAPER HEADS / AIR DRILL & PLANTERS CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT / FORKLIFTS / SKID STEER LOADERS & ATTACHMENTS / TRUCKS / PICKUPS / TRAILERS NH3 & CHEMICAL EQUIPMENT / LIVESTOCK ITEMS / OTHER EQUIPMENT / SNOWBLOWERS / TURBO SAW / SUV & RECREATION

FOR CONSIGNOR INFORMATION & LOCATION, COMPLETE TERMS, LOT LISTING & PHOTOS VISIT IQBID.COM The IQBID.com mission is simply PERFORMANCE WITH ACCOUNTABILITY!

IQBID is a division of Steffes Auctioneers Inc. West Fargo, ND Litchfield, MN Mt. Pleasant, IA 701.237.9173 320.693.9371 319.385.2000

IQBID.com | SteffesAuctioneers.com

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

AUTO & TRANSPORT Auto & Truck Parts GREAT PRICES ON NEW, used & remanufactured engines, parts & accessories for diesel pickups. Large inventory, engines can be shipped or installed. Give us a call or check us out at www.thickettenginerebuilding.ca Thickett Engine Rebuilding. Ph (204)532-2187, Russell MB. STEEL SERVICE TOOLBOX FOR 1/2, 3/4 or 1-ton truck, 6-compartment, 79-in wide, 8-ft long, front of box to middle of axle 58-59-in, good shape, $750 OBO. Phone:(204)669-9626.

AUTOS/TRUCKS/TRAILERS Autos 1980 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL, 2-DR, 352 motor, could be easily restored. $750 OBO Phone: (204)669-9626.

AUTO & TRANSPORT Semi Trucks & Trailers FOR SALE: 1989 MACK truck model R688ST, 350 engine, Eaton 8LL trans, 22.5 tires 60%, wet kit, A/C, not safetied, $9,000 OBO. (204)648-7136 TITAN TRUCK SALES (204)685-2222 2005 Freightliner Columbia Mercedes 450 HP, 13 SP, 3:90 Gear Ratio, 12000-lbs Front, 40000-lbs Rear, 22.5-in Aluminum Wheels, 244-in Wheel Base, 1,184,389-kms. $18,000.00 TITAN TRUCK SALES (204)685-2222 2005 IHC 9900I Cummins ISX 500 HP, 18 SP, 3:73 Gear Ratio, 12000-lbs Front, 40000-lbs Rear, 22.5in Aluminum Wheels, 244-in Wheel Base, 72-in Mid-Rise Bunk, Four-Way Differential Locks, 1,428,989-kms. $29,000.00 TITAN TRUCK SALES (204)685-2222 2005 IHC 9900I Cummins ISX 475 HP, 13 SP, 3:73 Gear Ratio, 12000-lbs Front, 40000-lbs Rear, 22.5in Aluminum Wheels, 244-in Wheel Base, 72-in Mid-Rise Bunk, 1,409,137-kms. $19,000.00 TITAN TRUCK SALES (204)685-2222 2006 Volvo 630 D12 465 HP, 18 SP Autoshift, 4:30 Gear Ratio, 14600-lbs Front, 46000-lbs Rear, 22.5in Aluminum Wheels, 240-in Wheel Base, 927,814-kms. $27,000.00 TITAN TRUCK SALES (204)685-2222 2006 Western Star 4900 Mercedes 450 HP, 10 SP Eaton Autoshift, 12000-lbs Front, 40000-lbs Rear, 22.5-in Aluminum Wheels, New 20-ft Cancade Grain Box, Remote Gate & Hoist, 1,045,311-kms. $65,000.00 TITAN TRUCK SALES (204)685-2222 2007 IHC 9900I Cummins ISX 500 HP, 18 SP, 3:58 Gear Ratio, 12000-lbs Front, 40000 lbs Rear, 22.5in Aluminum Wheels, 244-in Wheel Base, 72-in Mid-Rise Bunk, Three-Way Differential Locks, 1,356,565-kms. $37,000.00 TITAN TRUCK SALES (204)685-2222 2007 Western Star 4900SA Detroit 515 HP, 18 SP, 3:91 Gear Ratio, 12000-lbs Front, Super 40000-lbs Rear, 22.5-in Aluminum Wheels, 209-in Wheel Base, Four-Way Differential Locks, New Rebuilt Engine, 759,564-kms. $40,000.00 TITAN TRUCK SALES (204)685-2222 2008 Peterbilt 388 Cummins ISX 450 HP, 13 SP, 3:55 Gear Ratio, 12000-lbs Front, 40000-lbs Rear, 22.5-in Aluminum Wheels, 244-in Wheel Base, 63in Mid-Rise Bunk, Three-Way Differential Locks, 1,005,456-kms. $39,000.00 TITAN TRUCK SALES (204)685-2222 2009 Kenworth T800 Cummins ISX 525 HP, 18 SP, 4:10 Gear Ratio, 12000-lbs Front, Super 40000-lbs Rear, 22.5-in Aluminum Wheels, 196-in Wheel Base, Four-Way Differential Locks, 866,438-kms. $59,000.00 TITAN TRUCK SALES (204)685-2222 2009 Peterbilt 388 Cummins ISX 450 HP, 18 SP, 3:55 Gear Ratio, 12000-lbs Front, 40000-lbs Rear, 22.5-in Aluminum Wheels, 244-in Wheel Base, 63in Mid-Rise Bunk, Three-Way Differential Locks, 1,145,366-kms. $49,000.00 TITAN TRUCK SALES (204)685-2222 2010 Peterbilt 388 Cummins ISX 550 HP, 18 SP, 4:10 Gear Ratio, 12000-lbs Front, Super 40000-lbs Rear, 22.5-in Aluminum Wheels, 244-in Wheel Base, 63-in Mid-Rise Bunk, Three-Way Differential Locks, 779,362-kms. $65,000.00 TITAN TRUCK SALES (204)685-2222 2012 Peterbilt 386 Cummins ISX 450 HP, 13 SP, 3:90 Gear Ratio, 12000-lbs Front, 40000-lbs Rear, 22.5-in Aluminum Wheels, 206-in Wheel Base, Three-Way Differential Locks, Wet Kit, 168,566-kms. $79,000.00

BEEKEEPING Bee Equipment

BUILDING & RENOVATIONS Roofing

FARM MACHINERY Parts & Accessories

FARM MACHINERY Tillage & Seeding – Various

PRICE TO CLEAR!!

GOODS USED TRACTOR PARTS: (204)564-2528 or 1-877-564-8734, Roblin, MB.

CARBIDE DRILL POINTS & openers for air drills. VW Manufacturing Ltd Dunmore (Medicine Hat) (403)528-3350 US: Loren Hawks Chester, Montana (406)460-3810 www.vwmfg.com

75 truckloads 29 gauge full hard 100,000PSI high tensile roofing & siding. 16 colours to choose from.

WISCONSIN MOTOR PARTS FOR VG4D: crank shaft, heads, fly wheel, starter, manifold & carb, $750 OBO. Phone:(204)669-9626.

B-Gr. coloured......................70¢/ft.2

Harvest Salvage Co. Ltd.

Multi-coloured millends.........49¢/ft.2

1-866-729-9876 5150 Richmond Ave. East BRANDON, MB. www.harvestsalvage.ca New, Used & Re-man. Parts

Ask about our blowout colours...65¢/ft.2 Also in stock low rib white 29 ga. ideal for archrib buildings BEAT THE PRICE INCREASES CALL NOW

Tractors Combines Swathers

FOUILLARD STEEL SUPPLIES LTD.

The Real Used FaRm PaRTs sUPeRsToRe Over 2700 Units for Salvage • TRACTORS • COMBINES • SWATHERS • DISCERS Call Joe, leN oR daRWIN (306) 946-2222 monday-Friday - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

ST. LAZARE, MB. 1-800-510-3303

BUILDINGS AFAB INDUSTRIES IS YOUR SUPERIOR post frame building company. For estimates and information call 1-888-816-AFAB(2322). Website: www.postframebuilding.com CONCRETE FLATWORK: Specializing in place & finish of concrete floors. Can accommodate any floor design. References available. Alexander, MB. 204-752-2069. FOR SALE: 1 FUTURE steel building X frame model, dimension 110-ft. long x 40-ft. wide x 21-ft. high, all steel building, asking $55,000. (204)867-2436, (204)868-1212.

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT D6C CAB LGP, NEED motor work; D7, had fire under seat; 96 EX200 LC Hitachi excavator, Q/C bucket, will take feed grain in trade. (204)352-4306. LINKBELT LS98 CRAWLER CRANE 50-ft. boom, CAT D318 motor, long under carriage c/w all rigging including 1 1/4-yd & 1 1/2-yd buckets for dredging gravel machine, ready to go to work, $15,000 OBO. Phone:(204)669-9626.

FARM MACHINERY FARM MACHINERY Fertilizer Equipment FERTILIZER SPREADERS: 4-TON $1,500, 5-ton $4,000, 6-ton $6,000, 8-ton $7,000-8,000; Vicon 3-PH spreader $450; Valmar 240 $1,500; Valmar PT $5,500; Small Valmar $700. Phone: (204)857-8403.

FARM MACHINERY Grain Bins 4 TWISTER 5,650-BU HOPPER bins, Rocket Aeration, $11,500 each. Will negotiate for mult bins. To be moved or would negotiate to be used on site. Would consider renting as well. Two 5,000-bu Westeel’s on hoppers, $8,900 each. Have cross channel for aeration. David (204)746-4779. BIG BINS & FLOORS at old prices, 20,000-56,000bu. bins holding prices until spring. NEW MOISTURE CABLES! Call Wall Grain for details (204)269-7616 or (306)244-1144 or (403)393-2662. CUSTOM BIN MOVING Book now! Fert Tanks. Hopper Bins/flat. Buy/Sell. Call Tim (204)362-7103 or E-mail Requests binmovers@hotmail.com

FARM MACHINERY Grain Dryers

WATROUS SALVAGE WaTRoUs, sK. Fax: 306-946-2444

FARM MACHINERY Combine – Caterpillar Lexion 2008 LEXION 585R COMBINE. 1,121 Sep Hrs. Ag leader autosteer/Y&M, 35-in tracks, RWA, P516 header, auto contour, HP Fdr, MAV chopper, Cebis, Sm. Grain & Corn Sieves, 2 sets APS Grates. Elec. Hopper Fold. Excel shape. Field ready. Full dealer service history available. $239,000. David (204)746-4779.

Combine ACCessories FARM MACHINERY Combine – Accessories 93 NH 973 FLEX, PU reel, 30-ft. good working order, $8,900; 98 NH 973 30-ft., crary air reel, poly skids, $12,900. Reimer Farm Equipment, Hwy #12 N, Steinbach, MB. Gary Reimer (204)326-7000 www.reimerfarmequipment.com CIH 820 20-FT., $1,500; 95-99 CIH 1020 25-ft., poly skids, nice start $7,900.00; 96-02 CIH 1020 30-ft., poly skids, nice start, $10,900; 010-CIH 2020 30-ft., poly skids, recond., $18,900; 07-010 CIH 2020 35-ft., poly skids, recond., start $18,900. Reimer Farm Equipment, Hwy #12 N, Steinbach, MB. Gary Reimer (204)326-7000 www.reimerfarmequipment.com JD 216 16-FT. $1,950; JD 920 20-ft., poly skids, recond. $6,900; JD 924 24-ft. steel pts., poly skids, $4,950; JD 925 25-ft., steel pts., poly skids $4,500; 01 JD 925 25-ft., poly pts., poly skids, F/F auger, recond., $13,950; 3, JD 930 30-ft., steel pts., poly skids, start at $3,950; 2, 2003 JD 930 poly skids, F/F auger, recond. $15,900.00; 03 JD 930 air reel, poly skids, F/F auger, recond. $20,900; 04-06 JD 630 Hydra Flex, poly skids, HD auger, start at $14,900; 04-011 JD 635 Hydra Flex, poly skids, mint start at $14,900. Reimer Farm Equipment, Hwy #12 N, Steinbach, MB. Gary Reimer (204)326-7000 www.reimerfarmequipment.com JD 843 8 ROW, 30-in., totally reconditioned, mint $14,500; JD 893 8 row, 30-in., field ready $19,500. Reimer Farm Equipment, Hwy #12 N, Steinbach, MB. Gary Reimer (204)326-7000 www.reimerfarmequipment.com

NEW MC DRYERS IN STOCK w/canola screens 300-2,000 BPH units. Why buy used, when you get new fuel efficient & better quality & control w/MC. Call Wall Grain for details (204)269-7616 or (306)244-1144 or (403)393-2662.

FYFE PARTS

1-800-667-9871 • Regina 1-800-667-3095 • Saskatoon 1-800-387-2768 • Winnipeg 1-800-222-6594 • Edmonton “For All Your Farm Parts”

80-FT. BUCKET ELEVATING LEG w/3 phase 10-HP electric motor. Phone (204)886-3304.

FARM MACHINERY Combine – Case/IH

STRONG SINGLE HIVES or Nuke for sale. Call Andy Loewen (204)326-1500 or email andyloewen@hotmail.ca

2011 CASE IH 8120 Combine. 569 Sep Hrs. Field ready. Lge Tube rotor, long auger. Lux Leather cab, Pro 600 Display. Fine cut chopper, Bean concaves avail. Can store & Defer Pay until Aug 1, 2014. $234,000. David (204)746-4779.

BUILDING & RENOVATIONS Doors & Windows

JD 1770 16 ROW 30-in. planter, 1 season on discs, new chain & bearings on drive shaft, liquid fertilizer, $46,000. (204)746-4555.

TracTors FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Case/IH 1981 MODEL 1086 W/DUALS 3-PTH, Ezee On FEL. Phone (204)797-7049.

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – John Deere 1976 JD 4430 QUAD Range Trans, 18.4-38 duals, good running order, $12,900. Reimer Farm Equipment, Hwy #12 N, Steinbach, MB. Gary Reimer (204)326-7000 www.reimerfarmequipment.com 2002 JD 9120 P.S., 1,000 PTO, 3-PTH, 900 metric duals, 6,065-hrs, $119,000. Reimer Farm Equipment, Hwy #12 N, Steinbach, MB. Gary Reimer (204)326-7000 www.reimerfarmequipment.com 4630, 3-PTH, FRONT WEIGHTS 20.8x42 w/hob duals; 4250 w/3-PTH; 4240 w/cab, good tires; 3010 w/48 FEL; 280, 158 & 148 loaders; F11 Farmhand FEL. (204)828-3460 NEW JD 741 FEL, frames for 20/30 series. $13,900. Reimer Farm Equipment, Hwy #12 N, Steinbach, MB. Gary Reimer (204)326-7000 www.reimerfarmequipment.com

www.fyfeparts.com

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Ford

NEW & USED TRACTOR PARTS NEW COMBINE PARTS

FORD 7700 W/FEL, 7710 w/cabs & 3-PTH. Good condition, $14,000- $24,000. Phone (204)322-5614.

Large Inventory of new and remanufactured parts

STEINBACH, MB. Ph. 326-2443 Toll-Free 1-800-881-7727 Fax (204) 326-5878 Web site: farmparts.ca E-mail: roy@farmparts.ca

Tillage & Seeding FARM MACHINERY Tillage & Seeding – Various BOOKING SPECIALS for all makes of Harrow Tines: Mounted, Standard Draw Bars & Heavy Harrows. Ex: 9/16x26-in. straight (Degelman, Brandt, Bourgault, Flexi-coil, Riteway) 100+ $21.95/each. 3/8/x15-in. bent (Riteway, Morris, Herman) 100+ $8.60/each. Special ends Feb 14th 2014. March 2014 delivery. Call Fouillard Implement Ltd. (204)683-2221.

SUKUP Grain Dryers For Sale: 1 or 3 ph, LP/NG, canola screens. Discount pricing now in effect. Call for more info (204)998-9915

FARM MACHINERY Grain Elevators

FOR SALE: KUHN ROTOSPIKE tiller w/crumbler, 9-ft. 6-in. wide, 3-pt., 1000 PTO, 2-SPD gear box, great for breaking land up, $6,000 OBO. (204)648-7136

HEADER TRAILERS & ACCESSORIES. Arc-Fab Industries. 204-355-9595 charles@arcfab.ca www.arcfab.ca

BUILDINGS

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Versatile FOR SALE:1985 836 Designation 6. Very nice condition, next to new radial tires all around, 15-spd trans, w/PTO. Asking $35,000 OBO. Phone: (204)743-2145 or (204)526-5298.

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – 2 Wheel Drive STEVE’S TRACTOR REBUILDER specializing in JD tractors in need of repair or burnt, or will buy for parts. JD parts available. Phone: 204-466-2927 or cell: 204-871-5170, Austin.

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Various

Big Tractor Parts, Inc. Geared For The Future

STEIGER TRACTOR SPECIALIST

RED OR GREEN 1. 10-25% savings on new replacement parts for your Steiger drive train. 2. We rebuild axles, transmissions and dropboxes with ONE YEAR WARRANTY. 3. 50% savings on used parts.

1-800-982-1769 www.bigtractorparts.com

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous 24-FT OCEAN STORAGE CONTAINER, excellent shape, asking $3850, can be delivered; 45-ft extendable Hallin semi rafter trailer, good shape, asking $3900; Case 730 gas tractor, good tires, 3-PTH, w/7-ft Allied snowblower, asking $3700; 48-ft Fruehauf semi storage trailer, good condition, asking $4000. (204)728-1861 FOR SALE: 1975 SILAGE truck Chev 366 5-SPD, 2-SPD axle, tilt hood w/attached David batch mixer (approx 4,000-lbs) w/scale, $4,000 OBO. Phone (204)672-0061

Serving Manitoba, Saskatchewan, NW Ontario & Alberta....Since 1937 • Quality Commercial/Agricultural/Residential Overhead Doors & Operators. • Aluminum Polycarbonate Doors Available. • Non-Insulated and Insulated Sectional Doors Available. • Liftmaster Heavy Duty Operators. • Mullion Slide Away Centre Posts. • Commercial/Agricultural Steel Man Doors and Frames. • Your washbay door specialists. • Quality Installation & Service. • 24 Hour Service. • Replacement Springs & Cables.

Phone: 204-326-4556 Fax: 204-326-5013 Toll Free: 1-855-326-4556 www.reimeroverheaddoors.com email: kurtis@reimeroverheaddoors.com

• FARM • COMMERCIAL • WORK SHOPS • STORAGE SHEDS • FOUNDATIONS | FLOORS

From The Ground Up

GRAINVACS BRANDT 4500, $7500; Rem 552, $3000; Rem 2500HD, $9500; Walinga 510, $950; 8x30 auger, $900; New 9-ft 3-PTH blade, $950; 10ft box scraper, $2250; 12-ft, $2450; 12-ft Leon front blade, $3500; 10-ft Leon blade, $2000; 150-bu Snowco feeder cart, $750; Sudenga weigh-wagon digital scale, $3500; Haybuster bale shredder, $6000. Phone (204)857-8403. GRAVITY WAGONS NEW 400-BU, $7100; 600-bu, $12,000; Double compartment type & tarps available used. 750-bu Parker, $14,000; JM750, $14,500; Parker 500, $6000; Parker 616-bu, $10,500; Kilbros 375, $3000; 250-bu Daicon, $2500; Grain carts 450-1100-bu large selection priced to sell. Phoenix Harrow, $9500; Mixmills Artsway, $1500; Henke 36-in rollermill, $5000; Champion rollermill 20-in, $2000. Phone (204)857-8403. REDUCED: 2005 Case MX285 PWR shift, 4 hyd, 3-pt. w/quick hitch, 1000 PTO, front fenders, R46 rear duals, R34 front tires, has 4,200-hrs, was $102,000 now $89,900; 2011 Sitrex MK 16 V rake, like new; 1980 JD 644B hay loader, 3.5-yd bucket, good tires, runs excellent, 140-HP, was $20,000 now $17,500. (204)425-3518 SNOWBLOWERS: LORENTZ HEAVY DUTY 8-ft $1,700, JD 7-ft $1,500, 8-ft single auger $1,000, 6-ft V-type $250; Skidsteer NH 865LX $12,900; 6x16 bumper pull stock trailer $3,000, 6x16 GN $3,500; Powder River squeeze chute $1,600; 10-in skidsteer tracks $750; Tractor cab $600; Balzer forage wagon front conveyor $3,000; Harsh 350 Auger feed cart $5,000. Phone:(204)857-8403.

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous QUIT FARMING: 08 8010 4WD Combine, 30-ft. Flex draper, $200,000; 011 Massey Swather 36-ft. 9260 Big cab w/swath roller, $65,000; 05 STX 450 quad new traks, $130,000; 08 STX 430 4WD, new tires, $160,000; 05 2, IH 9100 Hyway tractor, 550 Cat, 13-SPD, 4-way lock, $30,000 each; 03 Advance Super B grain, $28,000; 95 Super B Flat, $10,000; 011 13x85 Farm King Aug, $20,000; IH sprayer 3320, $200,000; 012 CovyAll Tender unit, $10,000; 01 JD 1780= 15x31 planter, $50,000; 010 41-ft. Salford as new, $70,000; Hvy Harrow, $16,000; 013 corn header 8x30 Gearinghof chopping head, $86,000; 013 Killbros Grain cart, scale, tarp, lights, $45,000; 2, 105 White rebilt, $9,000; Hutchmaster tandem, $8,000; 10x70 Farm King, $6,000; 10x85 Convyall Belt con, $6,000; Roadrunner Header Hauler, $8,000; 30-ft. MacDon Drap Hd, Tandem w/duals Trailer $20,000; To haul sprayer, $5,000; IH 4240 tractor w/15-ft mower, $12,000; 16x30 Westco cult, $3,000; 16x30 band sprayer, $3,000; 06 320 Cat Excavator, 10,000-hrs, nice, $60,000; 98 T-800 Kenworth stainless steel paving Box 30-in. Live Belt, $30,000; 04 Chev 4x4 4-dr w/8-ft. deck, new tire, new safety, $6,500; 3= 10,000-gal., Poly fert tanks; 18-yd. Reynolds push off scraper, $30,000. Call (204)871-0925, Macgregor, MB.

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Wanted 2 SETS 4-FT FLEXI-COIL mounted packers w/12in spacing. Call (204)662-4432, cell (204)264-0693 Sinclair, MB. WANTED: 20-FT JOHN DEERE or Morris Hoe Drill. Phone Keith (204)873-2240 or (204)825-7196.

HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING

LIVESTOCK Cattle Auctions

• Sprayed foam insulation • Ideal for shops, barns or homes • Healthier, Quieter, More Energy Efficient®

FARMERS & RANCHERS

1-800-587-4711

REGULAR BUTCHER & FEEDER SALE Every Friday 9AM

FREE STANDING CORRAL PANELS, Feeders & Alley ways, 30ft or order to size. Oil Field Pipe: 1.3, 1.6, 1.9, 1 7/8, 2-in, 2 3/8, 2 7/8, 3 1/2. Sucker Rod: 3/4, 7/8, 1. Casing Pipes: 4-9inch. Sold by the piece or semi load lots. For special pricing call Art (204)685-2628 or cell (204)856-3440. Stretch your advertising dollars! Place an ad in the classifieds. Our friendly staff is waiting for your call. 1-800-782-0794.

STEWART CATTLE CO. & GUESTS BULL SALE 40 Black Angus bulls & 8 Simm Cross Angus bulls, 11 PB Angus Heifers, February 27th, 2014 at 1:30pm Neepawa Ag-plex, Neepawa, MB. Contact Brent Stewart (204)773-2356 home, (204)773-6392 cell. View catalogue online at www.stewartcattle.com stewartcows@wificountry.ca WWW.REDDIAMONDFARM.COM 18 MTH OLD PB Black& Red Angus bulls for sale. Check out our bull catalogue online. We guarantee & deliver. Phone Michael Becker:(204)348-2464, Whitemouth.

Hwy #205, Grunthal • (204) 434-6519

NEXT SHEEP & GOAT SALE

AGENT FOR T.E.A.M. MARKETING

Wednesday, February 5 @ 1:00 pm Gates Open: Mon.-Wed. 8AM-4PM Thurs. 8AM-10PM Friday 8AM-6PM Sat. 8AM-4PM

We have 7 to 10 local buyers and orders and 7 to 8 regular order buyers on our market.

For more information call: 204-694-8328 Jim Christie 204-771-0753 Scott Anderson 204-782-6222 Mike Nernberg 204-807-0747

www.winnipeglivestocksales.com

FARMING IS ENOUGH OF A GAMBLE...

Sales Agent for

HIQUAL INDUSTRIES

We also have a line of Agri-blend all natural products for your livestock needs. (protein tubs, blocks, minerals, etc)

For on farm appraisal of livestock or for marketing information please call

Harold Unrau (Manager) Cell 871 0250 Auction Mart (204) 434-6519 MB. Livestock Dealer #1111

Advertise in the Manitoba Co-operator Classifieds, it’s a Sure Thing!

WWW.GRUNTHALLIVESTOCK.COM

1-800-782-0794

Hit our readers where it counts… in the classifieds. Place your ad in the Manitoba Co-operator classifed section. 1-800-782-0794.

BLACK ANGUS & POLLED HEREFORD bulls for sale. Yearlings & 2-yr olds available, natural muscled bulls developed w/high forage rations. Semen tested, delivery available. Call Don Guilford (204)873-2430. CRANBERRY CREEK ANGUS REGISTERED bulls for sale. Sired by HF Tiger 5T, SAV Pioneer, Cranberry CRK Dynamite, Cranberry CRK Highlander, J Square S Tiger. Bulls are easy doing with great dispositions. Hand fed for longevity. Semen tested, guaranteed & delivered. Will hold until the end of April. All weights & EPD’s available. Call (204)534-2380, or cranberrycreek27@gmail.com for more info, David & Jeanette Neufeld, Boissevain FOR SALE: 2 1/2-yr old Black Angus bull, sired by Iron Mountain. Asking $2,800 OBO. Phone: (204)743-2145 or (204)526-5298. FOR SALE: REGISTERED BLACK ANGUS bulls low birth weight, very quiet, hand fed, no disappointments, EPD’s & delivery avail. Amaranth (204)843-2287. OSSAWA ANGUS AT MARQUETTE, MB. For sale: yearling & 2-yr old bulls. Also, a couple of herd sires. Phone: (204) 375-6658 or (204)383-0703.

DB MICHIELS RED ANGUS PB 2-yr old bulls for sale. Catalogue information available by email. Yearling bulls & heifers also for sale. Contact Dale:(204)723-0288 or Brian:(204)526-0942. Holland, MB. Email: dbmredangus@gmail.com

REGULAR CATTLE SALES Saturday, February 1st Bred Cow Sale 10:00 am Monday, February 24th Sheep & Goat Sale with Small Animals 12:00 Noon

5 2-YR OLD/15 YEARLING Registered Black Angus Bulls, semen tested & delivered within 100-mi. (204)741-0070, (204)483-3622, Souris.

13 PB RED ANGUS open heifers for sale w/o papers, $1,200 each pick, or $1,075 each take all, can deliver. Phone (204)641-5725, Arborg.

GRUNTHAL, MB.

every TUESDAY at 9 am Feb 4th, 11th 18th & 25th

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Black Angus

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Red Angus

GRUNTHAL LIVESTOCK AUCTION MART. LTD.

NEXT BRED COW SALE

Licence #1122

IRON & STEEL

HAMCO CATTLE CO. 16TH Annual Angus Bull Sale, Sat. March 15th, 2014 (1:00pm) at the farm South of Glenboro, MB. Selling approx. 60 yearling & 20, 2-yr old Red Angus & 40 yearling & 2, 2-yr old Black Angus bulls. Many are AI & some are ET. Semen tested, free delivery, delayed payment plan. Call for catalogue or view online at: www.hamcocattleco.com. Albert, Glen & Larissa Hamilton (204)827-2358 or (204)526-0705; Dr David Hamilton (204)822-3054 or (204)325-3635

LIVESTOCK Cattle Auctions

“Where Buyers & Sellers Meet”

www.penta.ca

Bred Cows / Heifers For Sale: Simmental Angus X Bred to calve Mar 10 to May 10, preg checked, vaccinations up to date. 35 HD first calvers. Call Cameron (204)855-2069 or Stan (204)855-2810

Plan to attend the complete dispersal of approximately 175 Charolais X Cows & 20 Charolais X Heifers For Darlene & the late Reg Monk Saturday, February 1st, 2014 at 1:00pm Ashern Auction Mart Herd has been on a full health program To start calving around the 1st of March Heifers – bred Charolais Cows – bred Charolais or Red Angus For more info call: Darlene at (204)768-3108 Buddy at (204)768-0018 Kirk at (204)768-0019 Also selling: For Leonard Gulay – Herd Dispersal 40 Cows bred Angus or Hereford 22 coming w/2nd calf 3 coming w/3rd calf 15 Cows – 5 to 8 yrs old To start calving around 18th February For further info/view pictures go to: www.globalauctionguide.com or www.ashernauction.com Note: This is a good opportunity to replace your open & older cows.

Monday, Februay 10

The Icynene Insulation System®

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Angus

LIVESTOCK

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Black Angus 19TH ANNUAL CATTLEMAN’S CONNECTION BULL SALE, March 7, 2014, 1:00pm, Heartland Livestock, Brandon, MB. Selling 100 yearling Black Angus Bulls. For catalogue or more information call: Brookmore Angus, Jack Hart (204)476-2607 or (204)476-6696, email at brookmoreangus@gmail.com; quest consignor, HBH Farms, manager Barb Airey (204)566-2134, (204)761-1851, email rbairey@hotmail.com Sales Mgmt: Doug Henderson (403)350-8541 or (403)782-3888.

WWW.REDDIAMONDFARM.COM 18 MTH OLD PB Red Angus bulls for sale. Check out our bull catalogue online. We guarantee & deliver. Phone Michael Becker (204)348-2464, Whitemouth.

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Charolais FOR SALE: PUREBRED CHAROLAIS bulls, 2-yr old, 1 1/2-yr old & yearlings. Polled, some Red Factor, some good for heifers, semen tested in spring, guaranteed & delivered. R & G McDonald Livestock, Sidney MB. (204)466-2883, (204)724-2811. PB BULLS & HEIFER calves born Feb & Mar. Also 1 1/2-yr old bulls. Phone Jack: (204)526-2857. Holland, MB. WWW.REDDIAMONDFARM.COM 18 MTH OLD PB Polled Charolais bulls for sale. Check out our bull catalogue online. We guarantee & deliver. Phone Michael Becker (204)348-2464, Whitemouth. Call our toll-free number to take advantage of our Prepayment Bonus. Prepay for 3 weeks and we’ll run your ad 2 more weeks for free. That’s 5 weeks for the price of 3. Call 1-800-782-0794 today!

Looking for a great deal on used ag equipment? Start here. OVER 30,000 PIECES OF AG EQUIPMENT!

Find it fast at

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

save! Renew early and

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Hereford

LIVESTOCK Cattle Wanted

POLLED HEREFORD & BLACK ANGUS bulls for sale. Yearlings & 2-yr olds available, natural muscled bulls developed w/high forage rations. Semen tested, delivery available. Call Don Guilford (204)873-2430.

TIRED OF THE HIGH COST OF MARKETING YOUR CALVES??

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Simmental

10th Annual

300-700 LBS. Steers & Heifers Rob: 528-3254, 724-3400 Ben: 721-3400

Monday, 1:00 p.m.

800-1000 LBS. Steers & Heifers Don: 528-3477, 729-7240

Rendezvous Farms Simmental Bull & Female Sale

Contact: D.J. (Don) MacDonald Livestock Ltd. License #1110

February 10

Ste. Rose Auction Mart Ste. Rose, MB

On Offer 82 Bulls & 29 Heifters Renew your subscription to the Manitoba Co-operator for 2 years BEFORE we mail your renewal notice, and we'll extend your subscription by 2 additional months. That's 26 months for the price of 24. OR - Renew for one year and receive 13 months for the price of 12!

LIVESTOCK Sheep Wanted LIVESTOCK Cattle Various LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO take delivery of bred cows in March, start calving Apr 15th & feed calve & grass till Fall. Call Dale (204)638-5581, Dauphin.

For more information contact

Call, email or mail us today!

1·800·782·0794

David Maguet Cell: 204-447-7573 Gerald Maguet Cell: 204-447-5037

WANTED: young bred cows or heifers to calve Apr.-May. ALSO WANTED: 23.1x34 tractor tires. Phone (204)278-3438

We Buy Sheep, Lamb and Goats Direct On Farm

For more information call: 204-694-8328 Mike Nernberg 204-807-0747

www.winnipeglivestocksales.com Licence #1122

We know that farming is enough of a gamble so if you want to sell it fast place your ad in the Manitoba Cooperator classifieds. It’s a Sure Thing. Call our toll-free number today. We have friendly staff ready to help. 1-800-782-0794.

LIVESTOCK Swine Wanted

WANTED: BUTCHER HOGS SOWS AND BOARS FOR EXPORT

Email: subscription@fbcpublishing.com MS E R : 12345 2010/12 PU B Jo hn S mi th Co mpan y Name 123 E xample St. To wn, Pr o vince, POSTAL C ODE

403-638-9377 Fax: 403-206-7786 Box 300, Sundre, AB TOM 1x0 Jay Good: 403-556-5563 Darren Paget: 403-323-3985

Your expiry date is located on your publication's mailing label.

LIVESTOCK Cattle Various 14 BRED HEIFERS, CHAROLAIS cross, bred to calve May 1, all vaccinations, preg checked & Ivomec. $1400. Phone (204)529-2535 or (204)529-2667. 20 GOOD QUALITY BLACK & Red Angus X bred heifers for sale. Start calving March 12th, 2014. Bred w/easy calving Black Angus bull. (204)379-2408.

ATTACH YOUR MAILING LABEL HERE

30 RED ANGUS X Simm heifers bred Red Angus, exposed May 16th-Aug 9th, closed herd, all vaccinations. Also 3 Red Angus herd sires. (204)564-2699, Inglis.

Canadian Subscribers

U.S. Subscribers

❑ 1 Year: $58.00* ❑ 2 Years: $99.00* ❑ 3 Years: $124.00*

❑ 1 Year: $150.00 (US Funds)

BUYING ALL CLASSES OF livestock. Phone George (204)278-3564. Dealer license #1152. FOR SALE: 450 AGE verified cows, one owner, 2/3rds Black, 1/3rd Red, bred for May 1st calving, $1300 each. Call (204)522-5428.

*Taxes included

Payment Enclosed ❑ Cheque

❑ Money Order

❑ Visa

P. QUINTAINE & SON LTD. 728-7549 Licence No. 1123

Email: transcon@transconlivestock.com www.transconlivestock.com

LIVESTOCK Cattle Wanted WANTED: ALL CLASSES OF feeder cattle, yearlings & calves. Dealer Licence# 1353. Also wanted, light feed grains: wheat, barley & oats. Phone:(204)325-2416, Manitou.

WE BUY CATTLE DIRECT ON FARM

We come out to your farm and price cattle towards condition and quality we pay

“PREMIUM PRICES FOR PREMIUM CATTLE”

For more information call: 204-694-8328 Scott Anderson: 204-782-6222 Mike Nernberg: 204-807-0747

www.winnipeglivestocksales.com Licence #1122

Specialty LIVESTOCK/POULTRY/PETS Livestock Equipment ALTERNATIVE POWER BY SUNDOG SOLAR, portable/remote solar water pumping for winter/summer. Call for pricing on solar systems, wind generators, aeration. Carl Driedger, (204)556-2346 or (204)851-0145, Virden. HEAVY BUILT STEEL CATTLE troughs/feeders good for any feed or water, 3.5-ft x 16-ft, 500-gal. capacity, no sharp edges, weight 1400-lbs & are indesructable. Phone (204)362-0780, Morden. KELLN SOLAR SUMMER/WINTER WATERING System, provides water in remote areas, improves water quality, increases pasture productivity, extends dugout life. St. Claude/Portage, 204-379-2763.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

www.ezefeeder.ca

ORGANIC ORGANIC Organic – Grains

Bioriginal Food & Science Corp., based in Saskatoon, is actively buying Organic Flax from the 2013 crop year. If interested, please send an 8lb sample* to the following address: Attn: Sandy Jolicoeur Bioriginal Food & Science Corp. 102 Melville Street Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7J 0R1 *Please state the Variety & Quantity for Sale

For more information, please contact Sandy at:

306-975-9251 306-975-1166 purchasing@bioriginal.com

WELL LOCATED FARM ONLY 20-min from Virden extending to 311-acs. Approximately 240-acs is presently in cultivation & 50-acs of pasture. The farmhouse is older but is in excellent condition. First class range of farm buildings. Tel: Gordon Gentles (204)761-0511 or Jim McLachlan (204)724-7753. HomeLife Home Professional Realty Inc. www.homelifepro.com

HEATED & GREEN CANOLA Holland, MB Phone: 204.526.2145 Visit www.zegherseed.com Email: shawnz@zegherseed.com

New GP Class Wheat

* Pasteur - High yield CWRS Wheat Other Crops • New Cardale! • Conlon Barley • Carberry • Souris Oats • Glenn • Lightning Flax • Kane • Meadow Peas • Harvest • Red Millet Brett Young - Canola’s and Forages. Canterra - Canola’s North Star Seed - Forages Delmar Legend - Soy beans

DISCOUNTS!

On select purchases.

PERSONAL

LOOKING FOR PASTURE LAND to rent in South Western Manitoba. Phone (306)452-7605.

WE CAN HELP YOU! Find Love, have Fun & Enjoy Life. CANDLELIGHT MATCHMAKERS. Confidential, Rural, Photos & Profiles, Affordable, Local. Serving MB, SK, NW Ontario. Call/Write for info: Box 212, Roland, MB, R0G 1T0, (204)343-2475.

REAL ESTATE Farms & Ranches – Wanted

CONVENTIONAL AND ROUNDUP ready grazing corn. Early maturing, leafier for increased grazing yield for ruminant livestock including cattle, sheep, bison & wildlife food plots. CanaMaize Seed Inc. 1-877-262-4046 www.canamaize.com

REAL ESTATE Farms & Ranches – Manitoba EXCELLENT LIVESTOCK FARM EXTENDING to 1,578 deeded acres with 4,425-acs of Crown Land. All the land is fenced & the farm has very good buildings & metal corral system. The farm can carry up to 400-450 cow calf pairs. There is a small bungalow home. Tel: Gordon Gentles (204)761-0511 or Jim McLachlan (204)724-7753. HomeLife Home Professional Realty Inc. www.homelifepro.com HAY LAND 160-ACS OF Alfalfa 1/2-mi off 418 Deer Line average production last few yrs about 350 large bales; Inwood 1,020-acs ranch, only $550,000; Eriksdale 640-acs right on Hwy 68m $135,000; Dallas 1,000-acs presently hayland good for grain; 2,061-acs North of Fisher Branch 600 cult, very reasonable; 1,260-acs Red Rose 500 in hay only $360,000 offers. See these & others on NOTRE DAMECallUSED OIL at www.manitobafarms.ca Harold (204)253-7373 Delta Real Estate . & FILTER DEPOT MLS FENCED pasture, 1982 • Buy1323498 Used Oil 160-ACS• Buy Batteries bungalow, 1056-sq.ft, $164,000; MLS • Collect Used Filters Woodside, • Collect Oil Containers 1320867 156-acs Lakeland Clay Loam fenced, outSouthern and Western Manitoba buildings, older home, mun. water, Gladstone $350,000; MLSTel:1400601 716-acs mixed farm, 204-248-2110 fenced elk, bison, cattle, 1,064-sq.ft. bung, outbuildings, 2nd yard site, McCreary $400,000; MLS 1320985 24-15-11 RM Lakeview Section of pastureland in block, fenced, 4 dugouts, $259,000. Call Liz (204)476-6362, John (204)476-6719. Gill & Schmall Agencies.

REQUIRE FARMS FOR LOCAL & European buyers grain land with or without bldgs, sheep farms, cattle ranches, suburban properties, or just open land, acreages, houses, cottages. Call Harold (204)253-7373 Delta R.E. www.manitobafarms.ca

REAL ESTATE Land For Rent WANTED: LOOKING FOR CROPLAND in Argyle, Stonewall, Selkirk, Warren, Balmoral, Grosse Isle, St Francis, Elie, & surrounding area. Please call Deric (204)513-0332, leave msg.

RECYCLING

BuyUsed Used Oil Oil ••Buy NOTRE •• Buy Buy Batteries Batteries DAME ••Collect CollectUsed Used Filters Filters • Collect Oil Containers • Collect Oil Containers USED • Antifreeze OIL & Southern,Southern Eastern, and Manitoba Western Western FILTER Manitoba DEPOT Tel: 204-248-2110

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Vanderveen Commodity Services Ltd. Licensed and Bonded Grain Brokers

37 4th Ave. NE Carman, MB R0G 0J0 Ph. (204) 745-6444 Email: vscltd@mts.net Andy Vanderveen · Brett Vanderveen Jesse Vanderveen

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REAL ESTATE Farms & Ranches – Pastureland

GOOD QUALITY GRAIN & Cattle Farms wanted for Canadian & Overseas Clients. For a confidential meeting to discuss the possible sale of your farm or to talk about what is involved, telephone Gordon Gentles (204)761-0511 www.homelifepro.com or Jim McLachlan (204)724-7753, www.homelifepro.com Home Professional Realty Inc.

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Grain Wanted

COMMON SEED SEED/FEED/CROP INPUTS Common Forage Seeds FOR SALE: ALFALFA, TIMOTHY, Brome, Clover, hay & pasture blends, millet seed, Crown, Red Prozo. Free Delivery on Large Orders, if Ordered Early. Leonard Friesen, (204)685-2376, Austin, MB. FOR SALE: ORGANIC SAINFOIN seed. Called “Healthy Hay” in Europe. (sainfoin.eu) An ancient, non-bloating, nutritious, low input, perennial forage loved by all animals. Better flavored meat & dairy. (306)739-2900 primegrains.com/prime-sainfoin.htm jhusband@primegrains.com

SEED / FEED / GRAIN SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Hay & Straw DAIRY BEEF & HORSE hay for sale in large squares, delivery available. Phone (204)827-2629 or (204)526-7139 FOR SALE 1ST & 2nd cut alfalfa hay. 100-200 RFV in 3x3 medium square bales. Harry Pauls (204)242-2074, (204)825-7180 cell, La Riviere, MB. HAY FOR SALE. 5X5 round bales of grass mixed hay. (204)646-4226. LARGE ROUND FIRST CUT alfalfa/grass bales. 46 bales, 1,400-lbs, $50/bale. Phone:(204)685-3024. MacGregor, MB. LARGE ROUND WHEAT STRAW bales, trucking available. Phone:(204)325-2416. Manitou.

WE BUY OATS Call us today for pricing Box 424, Emerson, MB R0A 0L0 204-373-2328 *6-Row* *6-Row* Celebration Celebration&& Tradition Tradition

FOR SALE BY TENDER • Approx. 450 Round Alfalfa Hay Bales • Minimum bid 200 bales (Bales are approx. 1200lb ea) To obtain bid packages interested parties please call 204-578-6547 Brandon Research Centre Closing Tender Date February 14th, 2014 VENTE par soumission • Env. Ronde 450 Foin de luzerne balles • offre minimale 200 balles (les balles sont environ 1200 lb ea) pour obtenir les packages soumission parties intéressées veuillez appeler 204-578-6547 Centre de recherches de Brandon fermeture Date de soumission Février 14th, 2014

MALT BARLEY BARLEY MALT

We feed feed wheat, Webuy buy feedbarley, barley, feed wheat, MALT BARLEY MALT BARLEY oats, corn & canola oats,soybeans, soybeans, corn canola *6-Row* *6-Row* Celebration&&Tradition Tradition Celebration COME SEE US IN COME SEE US AT AT AG AG DAYS DAYS IN We buy feed barley, feed wheat, CONVENTION HALL We THE buy barley, feed wheat, THEfeed CONVENTION HALL oats,soybeans, soybeans, corn & & canola canola oats, BOOTH corn 1309

TIRES WANTED: 4, 17-IN. LIGHT truck rims for 2003 Ford 150 with or w/o winter tires. Phone (204)367-4649

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2013 Malt Contracts Available 2013 Malt Contracts Available Box 238 Letellier, MB. R0G 1C0 Box 238 Letellier, MB. R0G 1C0 Phone 204-737-2000 Phone 204-737-2000 Toll-Free 1-800-258-7434 2013Toll-Free Malt Contracts Available 1-800-258-7434 2013 Malt Available Agent: M &Contracts J Weber-Arcola, SK. Box 238 Letellier, MB. R0G 1C0 Agent: MLetellier, & 306-455-2509 J Weber-Arcola, SK. Box 238 MB. R0G 1C0 Phone Phone 204-737-2000 Phone204-737-2000 306-455-2509 Phone Toll-Free 1-800-258-7434 Toll-Free 1-800-258-7434 Agent: M & J Weber-Arcola, SK. Agent: Mbuyers & J Weber-Arcola, SK. We are of farm grains. Phone 306-455-2509 Phone 306-455-2509

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FARM PROPERTY FOR SALE by tender. Sealed written tenders for the purchase of property in the RM of Thompson described below will be received by Rae Thomson- estate executor for R.H. Thomson. Tenders to be mailed to Rae Thomson- Box 394, Oakville, MB. R0H 0Y0. For the following legally described property: 1.NE 6-5-6W, approx. 156.9-acs w/2 story house & buildings 2.SE 6-5-6W, approx. 90-acs w/2 cattle shelters & hay shed. 3. SE 6-5-6W, approx. 61.9-acs 4.SW 6-5-6W, approx. 159.84-acs. 5.NW 6-5-6W, approx. 157.42-ac. 6.SE 1-5-7W, approx. 80.65-ac. 7.SW 1-5-7W, approx. 80.90-ac. 8.SW 5-5-6W, approx. 160-ac. Individual tenders to be submitted for each property #1-8. CONDITIONS OF TENDER: Interested parties must rely on their own inspection & knowledge of the property. Any specific questions pertaining to the property should be directed to Rae Thomson at (204)267-7020 or by email @rhthomsonestate@hotmail.com. Tenders must be received on or before February 28th, 2014. Tenders must be accompanied by a deposit of 5% of the amount offered, payable to Jerry Dykman, Law office. Deposit cheques accompanying unaccepted bids will be returned. Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted. TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE: The bidder(s) whose tender is accepted will be required to complete an agreement covering terms & conditions of the sale. Possession date will be April 2014, negotiable. The successful bidder will be responsible for all property taxes as of the date of possession. The purchaser shall be responsible for payment of GST or shall self assess for GST.

PEDIGREED SEED Cereal – Wheat

*6-Row* Celebration & Tradition We buy feed barley, feed wheat, oats, soybeans, corn & canola

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REAL ESTATE Farms & Ranches – Manitoba

COME SEE US AT AG DAYS IN THE CONVENTION HALL BOOTH 1309

Livestock Equipment

2013 Malt Contracts Available Box 238 Letellier, MB. R0G 1C0 Phone 204-737-2000 Toll-Free 1-800-258-7434 Agent: M & J Weber-Arcola, SK. Phone 306-455-2509

LIVESTOCK/POULTRY/PETS

• Vomi wheat • Vomi barley • Feed wheat • Feed barley • Feed oats • Corn • Screenings • Peas • Light Weight Barley You can deliver or we can arrange for farm pickup. Winnipeg 233-8418 Brandon 728-0231 Grunthal 434-6881 “Ask for grain buyer.”

FARMERS, RANCHERS, SEED PROCESSORS BUYING ALL FEED GRAINS Heated/Spring Threshed Lightweight/Green/Tough, Mixed Grain - Barley, Oats, Rye, Flax, Wheat, Durum, Lentils, Peas, Canola, Chickpeas, Triticale, Sunflowers, Screenings, Organics and By-Products √ ON-FARM PICKUP √ PROMPT PAYMENT √ LICENSED AND BONDED SASKATOON, LLOYDMINSTER, LETHBRIDGE, VANCOUVER, MINNEDOSA

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TRAILERS Livestock Trailers EXISS ALUMINUM LIVESTOCK TRAILERS 2013 Stock on sale - only three units left. Mention ad & receive a $1,000 rebate on 2013 models. 7-ft wide x 20-ft, 18-ft, 16-ft lengths. 10 Year Warranty. 24-ft available in March. SOKAL INDUSTRIES LTD. Phone: (204)334-6596, Email: sokalind@mymts.net

TRAILERS Trailers Miscellaneous ADVANTAGE AUTO & TRAILER: Livestock, Horse & Living quarter, Flat deck, Goosenecks, Tilts, Dumps, Cargos, Utilities, Ski-doo & ATV, Dry Van & Sea Containers. Call today. Over 250 in stock. Phone:(204)729-8989. In Brandon on the Trans-Canada Hwy. www.aats.ca

TRAVEL

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CAREERS CAREERS Help Wanted FULL-TIME FARM EMPLOYEE WANTED for larger Potato, Grain & Cattle farm. Employees duties would have emphasis on Cattle: Helping w/calving (day-shift only), feeding, bedding, etc. Experience w/Cattle, Machinery & Class 1 would be an asset. Willing to train motivated person. Competitive wages & medical benefits available. Located 5-mi N of Carberry on HWY 5. Phone Trent Olmstead: (204)476-6633 or Fax resume to:(204)834-2175.

Buy and Sell

anything you need through the

GARDENER/HARVESTER REQUIRED FOR VEGETABLE farm near Carman, MB. Duties may include seeding, transplanting, hoeing, harvesting, washing & packing vegetables. Outdoors, stoop labour, variable hours, minimum wage. Full-time April through September. Dufferin Market Gardens, phone (204)745-3077, fax (204)745-6193. HALARDA FARMS IS SEEKING a full-time/yr round employee to work in crop production & w/cattle. Class 1 drivers licence an asset but not required. The successful applicant will be self-motivated & a team player. No experience needed. Competitive wages & an extensive health & benefit package offered. Halarda Farms is a modern large mixed farm located in the Elm Creek area. E-mail resume to office@halarda.ca or fax to (204)436-3034 or call (204)436-2032.

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

WORLD NEWS FA R M I NG N E W S F ROM A BROA D

Network

Search news. Read stories. Find insight.

In the land of the holy cow, fury over beef exports Angry mobs have formed to rescue cows from being sent to slaughter By Jo Winterbottom and Meenakshi Sharma DELHI/MUMBAI / REUTERS

ne night last August here, an angry mob ran amok on the Delhi-Jaipur highway, burning trucks and government property and forcing traffic to halt and factories to shut. The rioters were incensed over an issue arguably as old as India itself: the eating of beef, which the country’s majority Hindus have considered sacrilegious for at least 1,000 years. Perhaps surprisingly in a country where so many people view cows as sacred, India could soon become the world’s biggest beef exporter, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Most, though not all, of the beef India exports is buffalo, an animal less venerated than the humpbacked indigenous Indian cow. But the trade, even in buffalo beef, still evokes revulsion among Hindu nationalists. The sharpest criticism comes from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main opposition in parliament. Its candidate for prime minister in next year’s elections, Narendra Modi, has slammed what he calls the government’s “pink revolution,” (a play on the original agricultural or “green” revolution in India) and its “secret agenda... for export of beef.” India’s vegetarian traditions and the Hindu aversion to beef mean only 2.1 million tonnes of beef are consumed domestically a year. That compares with 11.5 million tonnes a year in the United States, which has just a quarter India’s population. But exports of beef from India are likely to hit close to 1.8 million tonnes in 2013, second only to Brazil, according to an April forecast by the USDA. The value of India’s exports has nearly doubled from $1.9 billion in 2010-11 to $3.2 billion in 201213, according to the government’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). Beef production in India is dominated by Muslims, a minority in the country. This year’s unrest along the Delhi-Jaipur highway shows how quickly beef can stir anger. Passersby reported a foul smell coming from a truck that had broken down; rumours spread that it was loaded with cow meat. Slogan-shouting youths swept through the town of Dharuhera, some 40 km (25 miles) from Delhi, ransacking the truck and tearing out its cargo of ice-covered meat. By the time police calmed the riot, 74 trucks and buses had been burned. In the end, the cargo turned out to be buffalo meat, not cow. But Sailesh Soni, a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a powerful Hindu nationalist group that backs the BJP and wants stricter enforcement of a ban on cattle killing, said all Hindus should be ready to defend all cattle. “If somebody targets my mother, what would I do? I will stand and save her. Likewise, you should get up, gather and save our mother cow,” he said.

Mythology

Hindus believe that Nandi, a bull, is the steed of powerful deity Lord Shiva, and that Lord Krishna was born as a cowherd. Many rural households in India, the world’s biggest producer of milk, own at least one cow or buffalo. Female buffaloes, in particular, are prized for their creamy milk, while the males are used for pulling carts and plows, and their dung keeps home fires burning in villages that have little or no access to power. Statistically, there are enough cows and buffalo in India for every rural household to have about two. But once cows are past their productive life, owners will often simply turn them out, unwilling to spend on fodder for no return. Buffaloes and cows are increasingly ending up in abattoirs mushrooming across the country, accord-

A street-side vendor stands on the pavement next to her cow as it rains in Mumbai July 10, 2013. The vendor sells grass stalks to passersby for five to 10 Indian rupees ($0.11-$0.22), which are then fed to her cow. PHOTO: REUTERS/DANISH SIDDIQUI SYSTEM ID:RTX11IKIV

ing to industry participants and officials interviewed by Reuters. Buffalo makes up by far the bulk of India’s beef exports. Cow meat is banned from export, but animal rights groups say some finds its way abroad. In all, India has half the buffaloes in the world, according to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and the largest number of cattle, with 327 million head, according to the USDA. The United States has around 89 million cattle.

Booming beef industry

Sitting in his airy ground-floor office in an abattoir about eight km from the town of Aligarh in northern India, Mahendra Singh says business is booming. His production of buffalo meat has increased to 150 tonnes a day from 100 to 120 tonnes around a year ago. His employer, Hind Agro Industries Ltd., has sought the local government’s permission to lift its daily output limit to 250 tonnes to meet rising demand. “Earlier there was only our plant but now there are more than five units in this area alone,” Singh, the plant’s general manager, said. Hind Agro sells most of its meat to the Middle East and Southeast Asia, but the government says India’s biggest beef buyers are Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Egypt. China, where beef consumption is growing rapidly, could soon be on the official customer list after the two countries signed a framework deal earlier this year. Global demand for exports of buffalo — leaner and cheaper than cow meat — is growing at around 30 per cent a year. The lack of growth hormones in Indian beef provides an additional attraction for health-conscious consumers, said M. Kalim Khan, vice-president of exports and marketing at Hind Agro.

High stakes and hijacks

The rapid expansion of the beef meat sector, rising prices and demand have encouraged cattle smuggling, animal activists and officials say. “Abandoned animals are picked up from the streets for slaughter. No one is bothered because everyone, including the police, get their share from the agents,” says Arvind Shah, a founder of Karuna, a charity for animal welfare in the city of Mumbai. Shah, whose tall and thin physique has made him a well-known figure among residents near his tiny

office, describes violent clashes between truck drivers and animal rights activists. “Stopping trucks on highways in the middle of the night is a very risky business. I was chased by masked men and threatened,” the 49-year-old activist says. Activists get tipoffs from villagers and even rival suppliers about the route and timing of vehicles carrying meat or animals, and then they work out a strategy to stop them. “We go in a group of 30 to 40 people and carry wooden sticks. Most of the time, we succeed in stopping the trucks and releasing the animals,” says Brijesh Shah, a 34-year-old member of Jiv Rakshak Dal, which literally means animal protection group. “Sometimes... they attack us with iron rods and other sharp weapons.” The group has stopped 120 trucks since 2002 and saved around 8,000 animals, he says. Truck drivers, for their part, have stories of beatings and robberies. “We are fed up with paying bribes to policemen and getting beaten up by animal rights people and political party members,” said Mohammad Gulfam, a driver at the Gulaothi market. While government regulations on the transport of animals are strict, implementation is often weak and cattle are squeezed into trucks to cut costs. Animals often make the journey to the slaughterhouse without food or water and are sometimes left in the baking heat while drivers take their breaks.

Playing politics

And there are dangers for beef traders even when they are operating legally. “On my way to make a delivery at Hind Agro, our truck was stopped by about 15 people belonging to some political party,” said Mohammad Yusaf, a driver waiting to load up at Gulaothi market. “They beat me and my co-worker and robbed us of 25,000 rupees ($408),” he added. After the outbreak of violence outside New Delhi, Muslim elders and clerics decided that preserving the peace was far more important than eating beef. Anyone killing cows, including the ones left to stray, will now be fined 115,000 rupees, they announced. Since then, tensions have eased in the area, where Hindus and Muslims live side by side and chat in each other’s front yards.

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

Record beef prices help U.S. beef packer margins to 2-1/2-yr. high Prices for choice beef continue to hit records — will consumers push back? By Theopolis Waters

“The question becomes whether processors will win the battle, but lose the war.”

Reuters

ome U.S. beef packers are reaping their best profits in 2-1/2 years after the price for beef that they sell to grocers and restaurants hit historic highs, analysts and economists said Jan. 21. Margins for beef processors such as Tyson Foods and Cargill Inc. will continue to widen as long as they are able to pass on their costs for record-high cattle prices to wholesale buyers, they said. “This is the time of year when packer margins are always narrowest because of seasonally tight supplies. So, this has been a bit of a pleasant surprise for packers after two weeks of ratcheting up wholesale beef prices,” said Jim Robb, director of the Denver-based Livestock Information Center. On Jan. 21, U.S. beef packers, on average, earned an esti-

Don Roose

Cattle prices are high, but so are wholesale beef prices.

mated $102.85 per head of cattle processed, according to the Colorado-based analytics firm HedgersEdge. It was the first time processors saw triple-digit returns since June

photo: istock.com

2011 at $104.10, said the firm’s analyst Bob Wilson. Beef prices climbed after years of drought in the United States shrunk the herd to its lowest level in more than 60 years. Recently,

cattle and beef became increasingly scarce after packing plants shut down during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. And, retailers were caught short of product while they replenished coolers as colder weather settled in across the U.S. Plains, which slowed down animal weight gains. In response, packers last week paid up to $144 per hundredweight (cwt) for cattle, an all-time high, feedlot sources said.

The Jan. 21 wholesale choice beef price was $239.72 per (cwt), leaping $3.16 from the previous day to its ninth consecutive record, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Select cuts captured their 13th straight record after surging $2.70 in price to $237.15. It is unprecedented that cash (or slaughter-ready), cattle, beef prices and margins are at current levels, said Don Roose, president of Des Moines-Iowa brokerage U.S. Commodities. Packers are doing everything in their power to push up beef prices, and it is working in the short term, he said. “The question becomes whether processors will win the battle, but lose the war. Overall, there is concern about the loss of demand at these price levels, which will be key,” Roose said.

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osaka, japan / reuters Japan’s Kubota Corp. plans to sell powerful, large tractors in North America and Europe next year, its president said Jan. 22, challenging farm equipment industry leader Deere & Co. Yasuo Masumoto, president of Japan’s biggest farm equipment maker, told Reuters Kubota was seeking a joint venture with a European or U.S. company this year to produce the tractors, which will have a horsepower of at least 200. The company had previously raised the prospect of adding the 200-horsepower tractors to its lineup through acquisitions, but Masumoto said that route would take too much time. “There’s no progress on an acquisition and we have to get into big machines,” he said, adding that Kubota is targeting sales of about 300 units of these larger tractors in the year to March 2016. The North American market for large tractors is dominated by U.S.-based Deere, CNH Industrial NV and AGCO Corp., while the main companies in Europe include unlisted Claas KGaA mbH. Kubota is currently one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of equipment used in paddy farming, but it wants to expand into the market for dry field crops such as wheat, corn and soybeans, which globally cover about four times the land area used for rice cultivation. The company’s tractors currently go up to 135 horsepower at most. Last year, Kubota invested 40.3 million euros ($55 million) in a new plant in northern France that will begin producing up to 170-horsepower tractors in April 2015 for the North American and European markets.

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

Yellowstone managers reject vaccinating bison with biobullets Ranchers fear disease could spread to cattle outside the national park By Laura Zuckerman REUTERS

ellowstone National Pa r k m a n a g e r s h a v e rejected a plan to use air rifles to shoot the nation’s last herd of purebred bison with so-called biobullets containing a vaccine against a cattle disease, in a decision that has riled the U.S. livestock industry. Ro u g h l y h a l f o f Ye l l ow stone’s 4,600 bison are estimated to have been exposed to br ucellosis, a bacter ial infection that can sometimes cause cows and bison to miscarry. Worries that infected bison may endanger cattle in states such as Montana that border Yellowstone had prompted the powerful ranching lobby to endorse biobullets — absorbable projectiles packed with vaccine. They would cut disease rates among bison by as much as 35 per cent over 30 years. The proposal was the latest decades-long efforts to ease conflicts between livestock interests and wildlife advocates over management of Yellowstone bison. Pa r k o f f i c i a l s s a i d t h e y decided against the remote vaccination program because of its $9-million price tag, questions about its effectiveness and the possible impact on the millions of visitors who flock to the park to view iconic western wildlife like bison. The measure would have required shooting the animals once a year for three decades, raising questions about how increased human interaction could affect bison within the wild herd. “We have concerns about how that repeated contact might impact bison behaviour and their visibility to park visitors,” said Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash. Nash said there was no documented case of wild bison transmitting brucellosis to cattle, which he said signifies the success of existing measures designed to separate the park’s herd from domestic livestock.

Errol Rice, executive vicepresident of the Montana Stockgrowers Association, said the threats posed by infected bison to Montana’s brucellosisfree certification, which protects the market value of cattle, warranted using biobullets. He said the program would have lessened the public outcry that erupts when wandering bison are corralled and shipped to slaughterhouses. St e p h a n y S e a y, s p o k e s woman for Buffalo Field Campaign, a bison advocacy group, applauded the park’s decision not to shoot bison with vaccine. “It was a mismanagement scheme based on a livestock model. We don’t vaccinate skunks against rabies or mosquitoes against West Nile virus,” she said.

Bison in Yellowstone National Park. Roughly half of the 4,600 animals are estimated to have been exposed to brucellosis. PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

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The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

COUNTRY CROSSROADS CON N EC T I NG RU R A L FA M I L I E S

I can manage Being a hard worker and having a strong sense of self-reliance can make you a successful farmer, but it can also be a mental pitfall, psychologist tells Ag Days audience

Michael Rosmann/Ag days psychologist. photo: lorraine stevenson By Lorraine Stevenson co-operator staff

f your react to stress by burying yourself in work, you might think you got that from Mom or Dad. You did, but it comes from your parents and then some, according to clinical psychologist Michael Rosmann, who spoke at Ag Days last week. You pull all-nighters on the combine, or at a desk when there’s threats or trouble. Your distant predecessors sat up watching for predators. Their days were spent hunting for greener pastures too, says the Iowa-based farmer, researcher and academic who has studied a farmer’s tendency to overdo it when under pressure — and suffer the consequences afterward. Studies around the world document the consistent personality traits of people in agriculture, he told his Brandon audience. And you’re a great farmer if you’re conscientious, willing to work hard, and have better-than-average great capacity to cope with adversity. A strong sense of self-reliance and diminished need for companionship have also served farmers very well over the centuries. But a predisposition that ultimately reaps rewards from hard work and overwork, has a downside, says Rosmann.

Downside

For one, farmers’ predisposition to “go it alone” has become problematic in modern society, as farming has become a more social and interactive affair.

Farmers now need to engage in more business negotiations, and require skills for settling conflicts among staff and family than ever before. “We’re not very good at that as farmers,” he said. “We’re not very good at conflicts, or at how to minimize fights within the family, or even just how it should all be done right,” he said. “What had survival value in previous generations was capacity to work alone and to trust ourselves. Now that capacity works against us.” Various studies have researched what may be at the root of farmers’ predispositions to overreact in stressful circumstances. Rosmann cites one study that looked at the genetic makeup of cattle herders in Kenya. Researchers found those with the healthiest, largest herds were also four times more likely to exhibit a specific gene mutation associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than those not involved in pastoral pursuits. The conclusion: these farmers do well because they’re more inclined to search for better pastures and stay alert for danger than those without the gene mutation, said Rosmann.

Endurance

The problem is no one can endure prolonged stress forever. What we now understand about the brain is that after long periods of hyperalertness and hyperactivity the brain chemicals like serotonin and norepinephrine, which help the brain relay messages to itself, and control things like mood, memory

and certain social behaviours begin to diminish. The body and the brain must have periods of rest to replenish them, because without it, we slide into depression and potentially self-destructive behaviour, said Rosmann. “We can’t stay geared up continuously,” he said, adding that you’ve reached that point when you can’t handle stress anymore. That’s when the outbursts or dramatic statements happen or when you experience a constant “lump in the throat. You’re near tears a lot, but you’re not actually crying.” What farmers need to recognize is that they’re especially prone to cycling down this way. “Research has accumulated which indicates that the agricultural population has a higher incidence of depression, related to stress, than the nonagricultural population,” he said. Yet, it need not be this way, says the psychologist. Knowing this about themselves, farmers can become less vulnerable to their own predispositions, he said. “We can manage our behaviour,” he said. “Behaviour is like a recipe, with ingredients that can be varied to maximize our well-being, such as what we consume, how much and how hard we work, sleep, recreate, pray, laugh, talk and so forth.” Our own behaviour is also the thing we have virtually complete control over, contrary to many of the things that cause us stress, he adds. “We can’t control the weather and we

can’t always tell if the wheat market is going to go down. But our behaviour is the one thing that we have almost complete control over.”

Adequate rest

What farmers must allow, given their predisposition to overdo it, is time for adequate sleep, recreation and social interaction to function at their best. You’re in charge of how much sleep you get, or whether you exercise or eat properly, he said. Farmers also have a choice whether to stay silent and closed up, or to become more interactive with others, and benefit by it. “You’re in charge of whether you talk to people instead of keeping things to yourself. You’re in charge of whether to talk to your spouse,” he said. Touching and being touched, enjoying a good belly laugh and having a higher, spiritual view are other restorative things we do for ourselves. “The more farmers know how we are made, the better off we are, because then we can manage our own personal behaviour,” he said. “If we know that we react by working terribly hard and being hyperalert then we can begin to follow our own course of adjustment to stress. We can learn how to manage it.” Rosmann is the founder of the U.S.based seven-state organization ‘AgriWellness’ (www.agriwellness.org) and author of a collection of essays titled Excellent Joy: Fishing, Farming, Hunting and Psychology. lorraine@fbcpublishing.com

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

COUNTRY CROSSROADS

RecipeSwap

Send your recipes or recipe request to: Manitoba Co-operator Recipe Swap Box 1794, Carman, Man. ROG OJO or email: lorraine@fbcpublishing.com

Flax gets a health claim Lorraine Stevenson Crossroads Recipe Swap

f you’ve been sprinkling flaxseed on your salad, stirring it into a smoothie, or baking with it, it’s probably because you’ve heard flaxseed is good for you. Accumulating scientific evidence suggests there are considerable health benefits to be gained from eating it, most notably its ability to lower your cholesterol. Now Health Canada agrees, and will permit foods containing ground (milled) flaxseed to carry a health claim. Flax’s omega-3 fatty acids, fibre and other nutritional benefits are what make both the whole seed, and ground whole seed a soughtafter ingredient for cooks and bakers. It’s when you grind or mill the seeds that their benefits and nutrients become more available. A new health claim is relatively rare in Canada and only about a dozen are allowed. You might remember hearing how barley got one recently too.

Statements we’ll eventually see on products with flax will state something to the effect that daily consumption of five tablespoons (40 grams) of ground flaxseed will help to reduce cholesterol levels. That literally is a good thing in a small package. Five tablespoons a day are also not a lot, considering how easy it is to include flaxseed in what we eat. Many of us already eat, cook and bake with it, sprinkling some on our morning yogurt or adding it to soups, stews, chili and meat loaf. Thanks to all the research we’ve heard over the years, not to mention yummy recipes, flaxseed is a popular baking ingredient among home bakers. Many of us use it as a fat replacer, substituting it for oil in recipes. We’ll be hearing more about flaxseed in the days ahead, including new products on store shelves, and, we hope, more recipes for incorporating it into our diets too. Meanwhile, here are four popular recipes from The Flax Council of Canada website for getting more flax on your plates every day. You can find recipes and information about flax on its website at: www.flaxcouncil.ca.

Orzo, Lentil And Flax Soup

Oven-Fried Chicken

A tasty soup that will become a family favourite.

Crowd-pleasing spicy dish. For a less spicy version, simply reduce the spices.

1/4 c. butter 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 medium carrot, finely chopped 1 celery stalk, finely chopped 1/2 green pepper, finely chopped 5 c. boiling water 1/3 c. low-sodium chicken soup base 2 tsp. garlic powder 1 bay leaf 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 28-oz. (796-ml) can tomatoes with herbs and spices, break up tomatoes 1/3 c. orzo pasta or any small soup pasta 1/3 c. dried lentils, rinsed 1 tsp. granulated sugar 1/3 c. flaxseed

1 beaten egg 3 tbsp. skim milk 1/2 c. ground flaxseed 1/2 c. finely crushed unsalted crackers 1/4 tsp. black pepper 1 tbsp. dried parsley flakes 1 tsp. paprika 1 tsp. chili powder 1 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. seasoned salt 2 - 3 lbs. chicken pieces 2 tbsp. melted butter*

In a large pot over medium to medium-low heat, melt butter. Add onion, carrot, celery and green pepper. Gently sauté over mediumlow heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add boiling water, soup base, garlic powder, bay leaf, Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes with juice, orzo and lentils. Stir. Slowly simmer for one hour with lid ajar, stirring occasionally until lentils are soft. Add sugar and flaxseed. Stir and serve.

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a small bowl, combine egg and milk. In a shallow container, combine ground flax, cracker crumbs, pepper, parsley, paprika, chili, garlic and seasoned salt. Skin chicken and rinse with water. Pat dry. Dip chicken pieces into egg mixture; coat with crumb mixture. Place chicken on greased (15x10x3/4-inch) baking pan so pieces do not touch. Drizzle pieces with melted butter. Bake for 45 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink. Do not turn chicken pieces while baking.

USING FLAX AT HOME Cooking with flax When you add flax to your cooking, you add a pleasant, nutty taste, and more. The attractive, oval reddishbrown seeds of flax add taste, extra texture and good nutrition to your breads and other baked goods. That’s why flax has been long used in multigrain cereals and snack foods. Flax also delivers the benefits of its soluble fibre, lignans, omega-3 fatty acid mix and protein. Flax can be added to your cooking in its milled or whole seed form. • Whole flaxseeds: The small, reddishbrown seeds of flax add nutrition when added to bread doughs, pancake, muffin or cookie mixes. When sprinkled on top of any of these before baking, they also add crunch, taste and eye appeal. • Milled flax: Grind a desired amount of flaxseeds to a free-flowing granular consistency in a coffee bean grinder. Added to any foods, the milled flax enhances the flavour, appearance and food value of the finished product.

Flax replaces oils Flaxseeds can replace the oil or shortening in a recipe because of their high oil content. If a recipe calls for 1/3 c. of oil, use 1 c. of milled flax to replace the oil – a 3:1 substitution ratio. When flax is used instead of oil, baked goods tend to brown more rapidly.

Storage Whole flaxseeds which are clean, dry and of good quality, can be stored at room temperature for up to a year. For optimum freshness, milled flax should be ground as needed, or refrigerated in an airtight, opaque container.

Buying flax

Yield: 10 servings. Serving size: 1 cup.

Yield: 6 servings. Serving size: 1 to 2 pieces.

Whole flaxseeds can be found at many health food stores and organic/natural food markets. They can be easily ground at home, using a coffee grinder which is the best method to preserve freshness. Milled flax is also available in some stores or by mail order from a few sources.

Source: Flax Council of Canada

* For a lower-fat version, omit the butter.

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

COUNTRY CROSSROADS

Easy-care rubber tree This large plant will adapt itself to most indoor environments By Albert Parsons FREELANCE CONTRIBUTOR

arge, individually potted plants add a hint of sophistication to the interior landscape because they avoid the clutter often associated with a collection of smaller ones, and can present a modern, sleek appearance. Even a smaller home can accommodate a large plant if it isn’t too wide and has a more vertical growth habit. By keeping it trimmed and trained so that it fits the space, and by being prepared to slip it to start a new plant when the parent plant begins to outgrow its location, a gardener can keep it in scale with its surroundings. One such large plant, the easy-care rubber tree, will adapt itself to most indoor environments. These plants prefer moderate light levels but not direct sunlight, at least during the summer. Our sunlight during the winter won’t hurt it, but don’t leave a rubber tree in front of a south-facing window during the summertime. Sometimes a rubber tree becomes quite tall (in their natural tropical environment they can grow to over 35 metres) so it often needs some support. Use a large bamboo stake and tie the trunk to it with garden twine; make sure the stake is placed behind the plant so that it is barely visible and any excess twine is snipped off. The stiff, leathery leaves look best when they are kept clean, so wiping them with a damp cloth every couple of weeks is a good idea. R u b b e r t re e s a re o f t e n m u l t i stemmed. This can be controlled,

Newer cultivars of the rubber tree (l) have colourful variegation while older varieties (r) have dark-green foliage. PHOTOS: ALBERT PARSONS

depending on how large you want the plant to get. A single-trunked specimen will be narrower while one with several trunks will have greater width. The plants are quite drought tolerant, but it is a good idea to water before the soil completely dries out; rubber trees, however, respond poorly

to being kept too wet. You will know if you are keeping it too dry because the bottom leaves will yellow and fall off. Overwatering will cause the lower leaves to drop off as well, but they may not yellow first. This might also lead to root rot, so ensure that the container has excellent drainage and

that the pot will not sit in excess water that drains out of the holes. Exposing the plant to drafts — particularly cold drafts during the winter months — might also cause leaf drop. Rubber trees are not heavy feeders so you need only fertilize a couple of times a year, once in the spring and again in midsummer. These plants do not put forth much active growth during the winter and should not be fertilized during this season. A rubber tree can be cut back by simply cutting off the top of a stem just above a leaf axil. A new stem (sometimes more) will grow from the axil. These cut-off stems are perfect for propagating new plants. Simply cut off the bottom so that the cutting will be about 30 cm long and either plant it in dampened soilless mix or put it in a vase of water. They will root in water in a few weeks and then can be planted into a soilless mix. Most rubber trees up to this time have had lovely dark-green foliage, but like most other plants, plant breeders have widened the selection available, and there are now ones that have red foliage or variegated white and green foliage. These varieties require a bit higher light intensity than the plain green ones to maintain their colour. A rubber tree is a good investment and will enhance the interior landscape for years to come if it is properly maintained and propagated as needed. Albert Parsons writes from Minnedosa, Manitoba

Take your taste buds on a trip around the world Try more international foods this year – all from the comfort of your own home By Julie Garden-Robinson NDSU EXTENSION SERVICE

any of us eat more international foods than we imagine. Although we might think we are enjoying North American food, the recipes we prepare at home and the ones we choose in restaurants often are melting pots of world cuisine. What ethnic foods do you enjoy? My family particularly enjoys food of Asian, European and South American origin. In the past couple of weeks, we had chicken stirfry, pot stickers, egg rolls, lentil curry, Swedish meatballs, homemade pizza, spaghetti, tacos and quesadillas. We enjoyed various breads, including lefse, pita bread and tortillas. We also prepared cornbread and roasted root vegetables, which can be traced to early Native American culture. Consider trying some different recipes from other cultures

this year. With an adventuresome and healthful approach to cooking, we can take our plates and our palates on a journey around the world without leaving home. Many international menus are higher in fruits and vegetables. Enjoying more stir-fried vegetables, which is characteristic of Asian cuisine, can help us meet the goal of filling half of our plates with fruits and vegetables. Fill one-four th of your plate with lean proteins such as meat, poultry, seafood and plant-based proteins such as lentils and beans. Many other cultures incorporate m o re p r o t e i n - r i c h p l a n t foods such as lentils, chickpeas and dry beans. These fibre- and protein-rich legumes can stretch your protein food dollar when added to soups, stews and salads. For example, mix minced garlic, lemon juice, red pepper and tahini (sesame seed paste) with mashed chick-

peas and you have the tasty Middle Eastern dip known as hummus. Try white beans in an Italian vegetable soup with a base of diced tomatoes, chicken broth, oregano and basil. Be sure to drain and rinse canned beans to reduce the sodium content by about 40 per cent. As another option, start with dr y beans and invest the time in soaking and cooking them to make delicious, nutritious meals. Fill the remaining onefourth of your plate with grains, particularly whole grain foods. Try less familiar grains such as quinoa or bulgur mixed with parsley, olive oil, chopped tomatoes and cucumbers to make tabbouleh salad, a common dish in the Mediterranean region of the world. Hi g h e r- c a l o r i e, h i g h e rsodium foods from around the world can be “tamed” by substituting ingredients. Choose fat-free or reduced-fat

dair y products in place of full-fat dairy. Dairy is the fifth food group that provides protein, calcium and many other nutrients, and yogurt is a staple ingredient in many cultures. Try using more spice when you trim the amount of butter or salt in recipes. You can perk up the flavour of foods with chili powder, garlic, ginger, basil, oregano, curry or cilantro. To reduce sodium in any of your recipes, opt for reduced-sodium versions of broths and sauces such as soy sauce. Compare Nutrition Facts labels to learn more about your choices. Julie Garden-Robinson, PhD, R.D., L.R.D., is a North Dakota State University Extension Service food and nutrition specialist and professor in the department of health, nutrition and exercise sciences.

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

COUNTRY CROSSROADS

Cross-country skiing time! Don’t spend the winter indoors — get outside and try some of Manitoba’s trails By Donna Gamache FREELANCE CONTRIBUTOR

or some Manitobans, winter is a time to hibernate or to migrate south. But for the hardy ones, it’s a time for outdoor sports, especially if February brings somewhat warmer weather ( w e h o p e ! ) . A n i n c re a s ingly popular winter sport is cross-country or Nordic skiing, and Manitoba has a variety of spots where this can be practised. Most of our provincial parks have packed and groomed trails for the cross-country enthusiast. Birds Hill Park is popular for city folk because of its nearness to Winnipeg, while in eastern Manitoba the Whiteshell Provincial Park offers about 10 different trail systems. In south-central Manitoba, Spruce Woods Park is well known for its hilly trails and the chance to see whitetailed deer — or at least their tracks. Hardy, long-distance skiers can book an overnight stay at Jackfish Cabin by calling (204) 834-8800. Farther south, the trails of Turtle Mountain Park aren’t quite so well known, but my husband and I have found them well worth the drive. (The James Lake Cabin there can be booked by calling the Boissevain office at 204-5342028.) Beaudry Provincial Park, just west of Winnipeg, is another spot where we’ve stopped for a ski, as we drove in to the city. Other provincial parks with groomed trails are Camp Morton, Grand Beach and Hecla/Grindstone. For more information and maps of ski trails, you can check the

provincial website at http:// www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/ parks/recreation/skiing.html. For trail conditions, check at http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/parks/recreation/ trail_conditions.html. Riding Mountain National Park also has many trails, but due to cuts by the federal government last winter the park is no longer in charge of these. Instead, some — but not all — of the trails are now looked after by volunteers from communities around the park and by members of Friends of Riding Mountain. The Campground Trails, Compound East Trail, Lake Katherine Trail and Grey Owl Trail (only as far as the warming hut) were all ones that we skied last winter and found them in good shape. Check to see which ones have been groomed and tracked at http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ mb/riding/activ/activ5.aspx and on the Friends website at http://www.friendsofrid ingmountain.ca/index.php/ feed/. Besides trails in our provincial and national parks, there are many Manitoba ski trails which are maintained by nonprofit, volunteer-run ski clubs, on private property. Visitors are welcome, but skiers need to sign in at the trailhead to be protected by liability insurance. Donations are gladly accepted — usually there’s a donation box — to help pay for some of the grooming and upkeep expenses, and the expensive equipment needed. The club my husband and I belong to runs the Bittersweet Trails south of Bagot (and north of Treherne). These trails

Trail in Riding Mountain Park.

GAMACHE PHOTOS

Loppet skier going down a hill at Bittersweet.

are becoming quite popular, not just with local skiers but with many from farther away, because there are both classic and skate trails of various degrees of difficulty. Families find the eastern section has some easier trails for young children, as well as several very good hills; more expert

skiers opt for the challenging western section, with its more difficult hills. Check us out at http://www.ccsam.ca/snowreports/central-manitoba/ bittersweet/. There is a good map showing how to reach the trailheads. For other clubs the Ma n i t o b a C r o s s - Co u n t r y

Association site is at http:// www.ccsam.ca/where-to-ski/. This site divides Manitoba into various regions so skiers can look for specific areas to explore. For instance, in south-central Manitoba, Birch, Shannondale, Burwalde Woods and Pumpkin Creek all offer groomed trails. Use this site to check for trail updates which are usually added weekly. One of the skiing features to watch for each winter is the annual loppet held by many ski clubs. The original loppet was a timed long-distance race, and some of the Manitoba ones are competitive. However, many are not competitions, but more of a leisurely get-together for skiers of all ages. Dates for noncompetitive ones set for this year include the 8th annual Riding Mountain Loppet on Saturday, March 1; the Birch Tour on February 2; and the Shannondale Loppet on February 22. T h e d a t e f o r o u r ow n Bittersweet Loppet is February 16 (the Louis Riel long weekend) and we’d welcome some newcomers. Those who register ahead of time (at 204252-3270) can sign up for a barbecued meal if they wish, but drop-in visitors are also welcome. Last year our loppet also featured free hayrides for skiers and non-skiers. Check our website for more details on this year’s event. Don’t spend your winter hibernating. Get out and enjoy the outdoors, especially after the worst of the winter passes by. Donna Gamache writes from MacGregor, Manitoba

Reader’s Photo

Welcome to Country Crossroads If you have any stories, ideas, photos or a comment on what you’d like to see on these pages, send it to: Country Crossroads, 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, Man. R3H 0H1 Phone 1-800-782-0794 Fax 204-944-5562 Email susan@fbcpublishing.com. Don’t forget to keep those feeders full! PHOTO: LILLIAN DEEDMAN

I’d love to hear from you. Please remember we can no longer return material, articles, poems or pictures.

– Sue

The Manitoba Co-operator | January 30, 2014

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Today’s smart choice for preventing weed resistance. herbicides with different modes of action

NOTHING GETS PAST BARRICADE II. ®

When tough broadleaf weeds invade your cereal crops, it’s no time for half-measures. You need action now. With a new and more concentrated formulation, DuPont™ Barricade® II herbicide leverages the strength of three active ingredients from 2 different groups (Group 2 and Group 4) to keep broadleaf weeds far away from your crop. Powered by Solumax® soluble granules, Barricade® II also delivers one-hour rainfastness and easier, more consistent sprayer cleanout. It’s no wonder growers made it Western Canada’s premier broadleaf herbicide for cereals.

Barricade® II. Raise the bar on your broadleaf weed control. Questions? Ask your retailer, call 1-800-667-3925 or visit barricade.dupont.ca powered by Solumax®

soluble granules, combining

multiple modes of action from two groups – Group 2 and Group 4.

An effective, time-saving formulation. Barricade® II is powered by DuPont™ Solumax® soluble granules, combining the c As with all crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™, Barricade® and Solumax® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2014 E. I. du Pont Canada Company. All rights reserved.

cereal crops

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narrow-leaved hawk’s beard, kochia, cleavers, flixweed, lamb’s-quarters, cow cockle, volunteer canola