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BREEDING BIG BIRDS Just how did today’s poultry become so large? » PG 3

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High costs slowing cattle herd expansion Canada’s beef cattle industry is poised for expansion, but will high capital costs cause delays?

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Big shows offer a chance to reconnect Every year, Alberta’s farm shows attract hundreds of thousands of visitors — and socializing remains the major draw

BY JENNIFER BLAIR AF STAFF

trong prices are signalling that it’s time to start retaining heifers and build the herd — but rising capital costs could cause some producers to hold off. “There’s lots of opportunities, but it’s costly,” said Rick Dehod, farm financial specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. A decade of pain and low prices means many producers have other priorities than expanding at the moment, he said. “A lot of those ladies and gentlemen for the last 13 years have kept their cost of production down, and they’ve really managed their farms well and survived,” he said. “But they’re behind on some of their working capital and some of the things that need to be done. “I’m sure they’re going to take their profit and meet some personal goals and some farm goals prior to keeping those cows back.” That’s the plan on Jake Meyer’s farm south of Lethbridge.

SEE HIGH COSTS  page 7 The cattle on show are only one of the attractions at Farmfair International.

Before there were smartphones, Twitter and Facebook, farmers perfected the art of social networking the good oldfashioned way — face to face at meetings, trade shows, and conferences during the busy winter season.

PHOTO: FARMFAIR

BY JENNIFER BLAIR AF STAFF

nd that’s still what keeps ’em coming back for Alberta’s two biggest farm shows. “For agricultural folk, whenever they gather, networking is a major component of what they do,” said Dave Fiddler, show manager for Farmfair International. The Edmonton event has grown from humble beginnings 41 years ago into one of Western Canada’s largest — and lon-

CENTURY OF SOLUTIONS

gest running — farm shows. With nearly 300 exhibitors and 90,000 visitors over the week-long show, Farmfair attracts farmers from across the country who come to talk shop about beef. “It’s where the beef industry comes to meet,” said Fiddler. “It’s the largest beef event in Alberta, and that is the major draw.” Over the years, Farmfair has added equine events and sales, entertainment, and competitions to appeal to a broader audience

SEE BIG SHOWS  page 6

AG SCHOOL SAVOURS ITS SUCCESSES  PAGE 2

NEWS » INSIDE THIS WEEK

INSIDE » VOTING FOR VADIM Alberta vet creates social media sensation

OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

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A COCKTAIL FOR CROPS

COLUMNISTS BRENDA SCHOEPP

VICKY HORN

Benchmark survey for cattle sector BY JENNIFER BLAIR AF STAFF

More than 1,500 western Canadian cow-calf producers are needed for a management survey that will help guide provincial extension and research activities for the beef cattle industry. “What we’re hoping to do is get farmers to fill out the survey and tell us what they did last year,” said Barry Yaremcio, beef and forage specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. The survey, which will be available before the end of October, will look at common management measurements, including calf birth and mortality rates, vaccinations, weaning, and culls. Once the data is compiled, producers will have a chance to compare their results with the provincial average. “What we’ll do with these surveys is give them the information back and say, ‘OK, this is how you ranked against your peers provincially, and here’s some suggestions on what you might want to look at to improve,’” said Yaremcio. “We’ll tell him if you’ve got an 85 per cent calving rate and the industry average is 90 per cent, there’s an opportunity for improvement.” The data will also be compared to baselines established in 1988 and 1998. “What we’re trying to do is see how the management techniques have changed by producers over the last 15 years.” The survey can be completed online through the Western Beef Development Centre, Alberta Beef Producers, and provincial Agriculture Ministry websites. Hard-copy surveys will be available at government extension offices and industry meetings this winter. jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

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DANCING WITH MOTHER NATURE

New book catalogues a ‘century of solutions’ at U of A’s ag department Department started in 1915 with just 16 students and has gone on to win national and international renown BY ALEXIS KIENLEN AF STAFF

hundred years of scientific innovation and agricultural advancements produced by University of Alberta faculty and researchers is being celebrated in a new book entitled A Century of Solutions. The Department of Agriculture — now the faculty of agriculture, life and environmental sciences (ALES) — was established in 1915 and had 16 students that first year. In was a quiet start, but much has happened since, said author Curtis Gillespie. “It is unbelievable the number of things they do in that faculty — it’s just mind blowing,” said Gillespie, who with fellow Edmontonian writer Theresa Shea spent a year researching the book. “Every single thing the faculty does touches every other faculty on campus. ALES really uses every other faculty. You can’t say that about other faculties.” The history is a general interest book, he said. “We wanted a narrative book that wasn’t too academic,” said Gillespie. “In discussions with the dean (John Kennelly), (communications manager) Michel (Proulx), and the others who were involved with the project, they decided that they wanted some-

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thing readable, entertaining, and enjoyable... There are no footnotes or academic language. We just wanted to make it a really great story that all kinds of readers can enjoy and get something out of.” Gillespie said he was surprised both by the diversity of the faculty and the impact the school and its alumni have had both nationally and internationally. Reading about past deans and faculty members and their various eccentricities was particularly enjoyable, he added.

“It is unbelievable the number of things they do in that faculty. It’s just mind blowing.” CURTIS GILLESPIE

“Dean Fred Bentley, for example, was so frantically worried that we (the human race) were going to breed ourselves into extinction — that was all he talked about,” Gillespie said. “Fifty years later, the global population has exploded. But then, the thing that’s so fascinating about ALES is

how much of its research has been on how to keep food production up to pace with the population explosion,” he said. The 250-page-plus, heavily illustrated book, which costs $20, can be purchased from the agriculture faculty. It was released last week at the kickoff to what will be a year of centenary events, including a number of public lectures and events. For more info, go to www.ales100.ales.ualberta.ca. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

The tale of how chickens got so big

Proven Seed is the secret to a successful harvest

Today’s strain of chickens are four times bigger than the broilers of 60 years ago, and they need only half the feed Learn more at provenseed.ca or ask your CPS retailer

You lookin’ at me? Today’s broilers can channel their inner Robert DeNiro — they’re bruisers compared to their 1950s’ era cousins. PHOTO: THINKSTOCK BY ALEXIS KIENLEN AF STAFF

modern broiler chicken grows a whopping four times faster than one bred in the 1950s — and packs on those pounds with much less feed. “They’re much more efficient,” said Martin Zuidhof, associate professor poultry systems at the University of Alberta. “It takes half the feed to grow a bird.” Zuidhof has been getting lots of calls from reporters since he and fellow researchers from the University and Alberta agriculture published a study on chicken breeding in the journal Poultry Science. The researchers raised three types of commercial broilers — the first group was from a strain developed in 1957, another

from 1978, and the third was a modern commercial variety developed in 2005. All three sets were given the same feed and raised under identical conditions — but the end result was dramatically different. After 56 days, the scrawny ’57 model weighed 905 grams and while the ’78 version was double the size, it still looks puny compared to the 4.2-kilogram modern bird. “We also took some pictures and that’s one of the reasons why this study has become fairly popular,” said Zuidhof. Not surprisingly, some thought something untoward was behind the growth spurt. “The subject of hormones has come up a couple of times, and we can honestly say that the only thing that was different in this study was

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genetics,” said Zuidhof. “We didn’t feed them hormones. This is decisive evidence that it’s not hormones — it’s genetics.” The media inquiries have given the professor a chance to explain the basics of livestock breeding, and why chickens have changed so quickly. “The chicken is like the drosophila (fruit fly) of the livestock industry,” he said. “If you want to see genetic changes quickly, you choose a model that has a short generation time and lots of progeny. The chicken isn’t a fly but on the spectrum of livestock, the chicken is the most fruitful.” Actually, the seeds of change were planted more than 70 years ago when American grocer A&P began holding “Chicken of Tomorrow” contests to spur development of a meat chicken at a time when most broilers were culls or spent layers. “Traditionally, they were grown for eggs and at the end of a laying cycle, you’d stew a chicken in a pot and you had a little bit of meat from it,” said Zuidhof. A number of farmers entered the contest, selecting and breeding their biggest birds. That led to modern breeding programs with the emphasis on growth rates and feed efficiency. The short breeding cycle made for rapid gains, said Zuidhof. “You get a fast-growing chicken that has 120 progeny (in a year). If it’s a male, closer to 1,000. You can multiply your best genetics over a lot of progeny, from which you then select from again.” That’s not only led to bigger birds, but ones that suit the market. Breast meat now accounts for 20 per cent of live body weight versus just 11 per cent a half-century ago. A wave of consolidation left just two big chicken breeders (CobbVantress and Aviagen, both headquartered in the southeastern U.S.). They still select for growth, yield and efficiency, but also for qualities like leg strength and resistance to metabolic disorders, which has made today’s chicken quite robust and with a lower mortality rate, said Zuidhof. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

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Trade deals open a door, but meeting customers’ needs is the key

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Europe has agreed to lower its tariffs, but will only accept beef raised without growth promotants and beta-agonists

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By brenda schoepp af columnist

rade agreements have changed in nature. Canada once went through a formal process via GATT or WTO. Now it is first come, first serve. This has been both favourable and limiting for our country. Trade liberalization is just that — the freeing of trade. This transcends from country to country and even penetrates from business to country. It allows for the reduction or elimination of tariffs, but does not soften regulatory requirements of the trading partner. For example, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union means Canada is first in line for reduced tariffs and improved market access for beef. The EU however, has not changed the requirements or standards under which the beef is to be produced or delivered. Although 94 per cent of the tariffs under CETA are to be reduced, no standards have been changed. Industries and companies must respond then with what that customer wants. Increasingly, private standards and brand assurance is what is being sought in trade agreements. The current industry declaration of high-quality grain-fed beef misses the mark under CETA

as the EU looks specifically for beef that has not been enhanced with growth promotants or betaagonists. We cannot look away from this. Our other trade agreements shirt-tail trade acceptance, such as with Japan and Korea. The U.S. was first at the gate and coming in second on a trade agreement does not mean preferential treatment. There can be enhancers to trade agreements that pave a smoother way for investors in both Canada and their trading partners. That does not guarantee a transfer of value. For example, on a per-kilogram basis, China may be the least profitable export market for beef — earning $5.93 less than a kilogram of beef sold to the EU. Our dependency on U.S. trade may be reduced if we manage the EU agreement well — as the value of beef sold to the States is expected to be $3.50 a kilogram less than beef sold into the EU. This proposes quite a shift in conventional thinking and in production practices. Canadians who wish to trade often ask themselves: Can I compete? Do I have access? Can I change? And in the case of the beef industry — do I have the product? The massive populations we are hoping to serve require much more than we produce unless we pull away from American dependency for exports of cattle and beef. Can our leader-

ship and our industry adapt to this new reality? If not, the beauty of trade liberalization is that businesses can deal with foreign business and be supported in doing so. Private-sector standards are not set by governments, but they are part of the agreement. It is part of the role of government to inform and promote those standards, but it can only do so if and when they exist.

Canadians who wish to trade often ask themselves: Can I compete? Do I have access? Can I change? And in the case of the beef industry — do I have the product?

Once an agreement is in place, governments step in to help by promoting the agreement and enabling companies to do business. It is this enabling environment that is extremely important to business. A Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute

study found an enabling regulatory environment is the background in all business decisions, and that includes regulations and taxation as well as market access. Regardless of the product, there must be an avenue to sell it. Expecting a windfall when industry won’t meet brand expectations or product standards is folly. It is also a waste of time to continue to hope upon a star when your country is the bridesmaid in the trade agreement, such as the case with Japan. Certainly tariffs will be reduced, but slowly and over a long period of time. Smaller markets are important as they take a variety of beef products, but it is the time of the tariff reduction that is important. An 11-year phase-out period is substantially different than 11 months. The real action will happen in those agreements where tariff barriers to trade are lifted quickly so that manufacturers can respond before the market changes. And even then, the beef industry must be willing and ready to respond. In the world of trade we must ask ourselves if this will be our limitation. Brenda Schoepp is a farmer from Alberta who works as an international mentor and motivational speaker. She can be contacted through her website www.brendaschoepp.com. All rights reserved. Brenda Schoepp 2014

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U.S. local corn prices dip below $2 in some areas A review of ending stocks in the past does not give much hope for a turnaround

www.albertafarmexpress.ca

By Daryll E. Ray and Harwood D. Schaffer

or email: subscription@fbcpublishing.com At Farm Business Communications we have a firm commitment to protecting your privacy and security as our customer. Farm Business Communications will only collect personal information if it is required for the proper functioning of our business. As part of our commitment to enhance customer service, we may share this personal information with other strategic business partners. For more information regarding our Customer Information Privacy Policy, write to: Information Protection Officer, Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Ave., Wpg., MB R3H 0H1 Occasionally we make our list of subscribers available to other reputable firms whose products and services might be of interest to you. If you would prefer not to receive such offers, please contact us at the address in the preceding paragraph, or call 1-800-665-0502. The editors and journalists who write, contribute and provide opinions to Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications attempt to provide accurate and useful opinions, information and analysis. However, the editors, journalists and Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications, cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and the editors as well as Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications assume no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any reader for this publication based on any and all information provided.

ven before the current U.S. Farm Bill was adopted, we shared our concern that a $4-plus plateau in corn prices, which was being widely predicted, was in all likelihood no plateau at all. A year ago many were predicting corn would average $4.50 a bushel, partly because of ethanol demand and partly because production costs had increased so much in recent years. We were doubtful. Even so, we were shocked, but not surprised, to see a newspaper headline announcing corn prices that were well below the $2 level. It was news of an elevator in the Minot, N.D. area that priced corn at $1.73 per bushel. Yes, you are reading that number correctly — $1.73 as the result of a $1.50 negative basis on a $3.23 futures price. And that $3.23 itself is 20 per cent below the supposed $4-plus plateau. We agree that it took a combination of circumstances to bring about a -$1.50 basis — an anticipated bumper crop, railroad problems, full elevators, and the lack of local demand — but circumstances will not pay the bills no matter how they came about. And it is not only in North Dakota that we are seeing situations in which farmers are facing an

unusual basis. Coming from the upper Midwest we always watch the prices and basis (generally negative) in those areas. And living in Tennessee, we also watch the prices and basis in west Tennessee (generally positive). During the first week in October 2014, both areas showed a negative basis in the range of 30 to 40 cents.

‘It was only the ethanol mandate and the subsequent demand for five billion bushels of corn for ethanol production that lifted corn prices out of the doldrums.’

All of this raises the question of what the next couple of years are going to look like. An examination of the 1995-2001 period may give us a hint. Between the high prices we experienced in 1995 and the lows that began in 1998, corn year-ending stocks increased from 426 million bushels to 1.8 billion bushels

and the season average price paid to farmers (basis included) tumbled from $3.24 to $1.94 and $1.82 the following year. This time around we have seen ending stocks increase from 821 million bushels to over two billion bushels and the price has plunged. Without increased demand or significantly reduced supply, the price in the 1998-2001 period remained below $2 for the whole period. The year-to-year variation in year-ending stocks made little difference. It was only the ethanol mandate and the subsequent demand for five billion bushels of corn for ethanol production that lifted corn prices out of the doldrums. Prices next year are likely to remain low even if stocks drop a little. It seems that it takes a constant stream of bullish news to keep prices up — like increasing demand for corn for ethanol production. It doesn’t take bearish news to keep prices down, only the absence of news of a sharply reduced supply or a significantly increased demand. And if prices remain low, the current configuration of farm policies may not provide the kind of help farmers will need. Daryll E. Ray holds the Blasingame Chair of Excellence in Agricultural Policy, Institute of Agriculture, University of Tennessee, and is the director of UT’s Agricultural Policy Analysis Center (APAC). Harwood D. Schaffer is a research assistant professor at APAC. Their weekly columns are archived at www.agpolicy.org.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

Seizing opportunity and making a difference

Feeding the World, Caring for the Earth

In a fast-food world, farmers and ranchers understand the true cost of producing real food By Vicky Horn

ur farm is deeply personal to us. It is more than just where we work and where we live. This is our life’s work; our land and animals become our life’s masterpiece. Taking care of the land, raising healthy animals and educating the next generation of stewards on our land will be our legacy. The pride that we have in seeing our pastures improve is measurable through the abundance of plant species, the thriving ecosystem of microscopic bugs right through to wildlife and healthy animals we raise. Our animals are our livelihood and their welfare is of utmost importance to us. Our lives are implicitly bound together; we each depend on each other for our wellbeing. The wonder of birth, watching them grow, the deep sadness when we lose one — we are emotionally tied to these animals and do our absolute best in raising them. Food is extremely valuable to us. In a world of fast food, disposable income and throwaways, farmers know the true cost of producing real food and the hard work that went into producing every potato destined to become a french fry and every pound of beef in that Big Mac. When we load our lambs for

shipping, I have to look my future meal in the eye. For me to do that with good conscience, I honour that animal’s life by cooking wholesome meals that provide good nutrition for my family. I waste as little food as possible, knowing full well the hard work that myself or another farmer put into growing that vegetable, protein or grain.

‘There are few opportunities today where you can put in a full day’s work and physically see all you have accomplished.’

Many farmers work two jobs to be able to put food on the table, literally. Reality is margins on farms are tight, capital costs are huge, and financing can be hard to come by. There are many variables outside our control: extremely cold winters, drought, rising feed costs, predators, market

Being good stewards and educating the next generation of farmers are key for Vicky Horn, pictured with son Brantley. photo : Supplied variability — these all can dramatically affect how we do financially. As a young farm, these fluctuations in cash flow drastically impact our farm’s viability. Working off farm provides cash flow throughout the year that may not be there just from farm income. Local customers supporting local farms is essential to our existence. As a young startup farm, being able to sell our product direct to customers and set a stable price provides financial stability for our farm. Being able to meet your customers, hear the wonderful meals they are enjoying with your product and having them thank you for the safe, nutritious food you raised is a reward all in itself.

Why do we farm? Thomas Edison said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work,” and nothing could be truer about farming. There are few opportunities today where you can put in a full day’s work and physically see all you have accomplished. While we all yearn to make a difference, farming provides a unique opportunity to see first hand the changes you can make, even just on your small piece of the world.

To celebrate World Food Day on Oct. 16, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization invited farmers, ranchers, politicians, and experts to submit essays on its 2014 theme: Family Farming: Feeding the World, Caring for the Earth. Contributors ranged from the well-known (Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, his U.S. counterpart Tom Vilsack, and Willie Nelson) to farmers from Nicaragua, Mexico, India and Ethiopia. Among the four dozen contributors were two Alberta producers — Vicky Horn and Kelsey Beasley. All of the essays can be found at www.worldfooddayusa.org (click on the ‘Perspectives’ link at the top of the home page).

Vicky and Shayne Horn raise Katahdin and Dorper sheep at Tangle Ridge Ranch near Thorsby.

Dancing with Mother Nature and leaving a legacy of sustainability Being sustainable means focusing on a triple bottom line — the people, the land and the business By Kelsey Beasley

y husband John and I have always been drawn to the land. He is a third-generation rancher here in Canada; I grew up on my parents’ small mixed farm. I am a microbiologist by trade and a rancher by inclination. John and I possess a strong land ethic as well as a keen ecological awareness; as stewards of the land we manage our business to ensure a viable livelihood for future generations. It is a model of thinking we follow that influences our daily decisions working with our family. We value long-term sustainability within our industry and approach our livelihood with a balance between preserving tradition, maintaining a pioneering spirit, recognizing innovation and embracing change.

Family farming is a way of life for us. As a family that invests their life’s energy into the raising of livestock for food; we understand the fundamentals of livestock ecology: the science of the interrelation between the animal and its total environment. Wearing many hats, we are the shepherds, the stockmen, the ranchers, the landowners, who tend these animals and the land we sustain on. We realize the utmost importance in maintaining a sustainable system where optimum production is achieved while maintaining long-term ecological management of the land. In a single given day we can experience the raw beauty as well as the tragic power of nature just as the weather changes. It is a living where our very existence is so deeply intertwined with our surroundings. We are also parents with small

children, making a home, providing for our dependent little ones. We want to cultivate the passion in our kids. We want to nurture their talents and share the joys that our way of life brings. It is more than just performance and economics; it is creating and sustaining that environment that will ensure a lasting legacy. To be sustainable we look at the triple bottom line, the people, the land and the profitability of the business. We approach our livelihood with a sense of passion and respect, with goals to produce safe food sources for people, livestock and wildlife. Our vision strives with emphasis of key principles; innovation, integrity, respect, collaboration, doing our best, and always learning. Sustainable grazing systems start with ecological soil management practices which replenish and maintain soil fertility, the foundation

of agriculture on the Prairies. We approach land stewardship by applying principles of grazing management and ecology that result in healthy ecosystems as well as a profitable business. A good indication of sustainable rangeland management is the biodiversity or range of natural organisms the ranch has. Biodiversity is essential to healthy ecosystems. As families that have a vested interest in their way of life, and a deep love and respect for the land that we live on, we realize the responsibility we carry to ensure biodiversity is maintained. Increased biodiversity in rangelands increases many essential functions such as drought mitigation, improving water quality and quantity, and ensuring critical habitat for sensitive species. It is right for us when we can preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of our natural environment.

Realizing there are more unknowns than knowns in science and agriculture, and that simple observations on the family farm, at most times, teach us more about ecological relationships than the most sophisticated research yet developed, it is key to realize that family farms are always in a state of continuous action, interaction and reaction between the animals, the people and the landscape. We dance with Mother Nature every day, starting from a young age, learning how to tend the land and animals and by adulthood have developed the skills and mindset to ensure the legacy lives on. John and Kelsey Beasley, with children Hannah (pictured with her mom), Jasper and Clara, ranch near the communities of Bigstone and Youngstown, and operate as Integrity Ranching.

Off the front

BIG SHOWS } from page 1 — but it’s the visitors themselves who are the biggest draw. “Coming to these events, going to the shows, seeing entertainment, and just as importantly, sitting down and having coffee — certainly, networking and socializing is a major component of any agricultural event,” said Fiddler. Agri-Trade’s show manager Dianne Smirl agrees. “They really want a place to socialize and network and connect with each other,” said Smirl. “With agriculture being so spread out, it’s a great chance for them all to get together and compare notes on how this year was and what they’re planning for next year.” Agri-Trade started out in Red Deer 31 years ago with 35,000 square feet. Today, the show has grown to over 300,000 square feet, more than 400 exhibitors, and 20,000 visitors during the 3-1/2-day event.

october 27, 2014 • Albertafarmexpress.ca

And while the show’s exhibits will be expanding even further in 2014, thanks to more outdoor tent space for exhibitors, some of that space will be dedicated to “social networking.” “Our whole purpose for being is bringing the community together and allowing them, under one roof, to check out new equipment, but more importantly, catch up with their neighbours and people in the ag industry,” said Smirl. “We’re going to have more space for you to hang out with other Alberta farmers and share stories and ideas.” But shows like Agri-Trade and Farmfair play an important role in bridging the gap between producers and consumers as well, said Fiddler. “Every year, we have a livestock innovation showcase, and in that area, a lot of consumers will stop by, talk to the producers, and ask how this affects them as a consumer,” he said.

“We’re going to have more space for you to hang out with other Alberta farmers and share stories and ideas.” Dianne Smirl

“More and more, we’re also seeing an urban audience that wants to come out and find out where their food comes from and how it’s produced.” Agri-Trade runs in Red Deer at Westerner Park from Nov. 5 to 8. Farmfair International is held at Northlands in Edmonton from Nov. 4 to 9. jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

Finding space for exhibitors has become one of Agri-Trade’s biggest challenges. Photo: Agri-Trade

Crowds stream into Northlands for Farmfair International. Photo: Farmfair

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Alberta Pulse – Zone 2 Lacombe Memorial Centre

Alberta Wheat & Alberta Barley – Region 2 Three Hills Community Memorial Centre

Alberta Wheat & Alberta Barley – Region 3 Lacombe Memorial Centre

FRIDAY

Alberta Canola – Region 5

Westlock & District Community Hall

Alberta Canola – Region 10 Paradise Valley Hall 21

Alberta Pulse – Zone 5 Alberta Barley – Region 4 Reunion Station, St. Paul Alberta Canola – Region 3 Alberta Canola – Region 7

27 Lacombe Memorial Centre 28

Alberta Canola – Region 12 02 Medicine Hat Lodge 03

DECEMBER 2014

Alberta Pulse – Zone 1 Taber Legion Hall

Canadian Agricultural Safety Association release

Alberta Wheat & Alberta Barley – Region 1 Bow Island Multiplex

Knights of Columbus Hall, Falher

injured farmers get back to farming

FREE ALBERTA CROPS BREAKFAST ON THURS., NOV. 6 IN RED DEER. SEATING IS LIMITED. REGISTER ON YOUR COMMISSION WEBSITE. Visit your commission’s website to find out about pre-registration for meetings. | albertabarley.com | canola.ab.ca | pulse.ab.ca | albertawheat.com |

he Canadian Agricultural Safety Association is now accepting applications for the Back to Ag Program, an initiative of the association, Farm Credit Canada, and the Rick Hansen Foundation. “Every year, there are Canadian farmers who experience a lifealtering injury, such as paralysis or lost limbs,” says Rick Hansen, CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation. “They often need specialized equipment or adaptive technology to return to the occupation they love. We’re thrilled to partner in this incredible program to help farmers get back to work.” The program will provide up to $10,000 to support the cost of adaptive technology for farmers and agricultural workers who have experienced a traumatic injury. “Some farmers must leave agriculture all together when they experience a traumatic injury,” said Marcel Hacault, executive director of the safety association. “This program will help produc-

ers get back to doing what they love – farming.” To kick-start the program, FCC donated $100,000 to the program following a successful two-week social media campaign earlier this year. Individuals and other organizations also donated to the program. Applications for the Back to Ag Program will be accepted until Nov. 28. Canadian residents who are 18 years or older, have experienced a life-altering injury, and are able to show their need and demonstrate how the adaptive technology will help them return to work on the farm are eligible to apply. The adaptive technology can come in the form of medical devices or accessibility tools such as ramps or lifts or any other technology that will allow the producer in return to work. For more info, visit casa-acsa. ca/Back_To_Ag_Program, email backtoag@casa-acsa.ca or call CASA at 877-452-2272. The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and safety of farmers, their families and agricultural workers.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

HIGH COSTS  from page 1 “We came to the conclusion that it just doesn’t pay to retain them right now,” said Meyer, who farms with his wife and three young sons. “The chance of prices coming down is better than prices going up. They’re at an all-time ridiculous record high, so the chance of them coming back down is pretty good.” Right now, the Meyers sell everything in the fall and “play the game a little bit in the springtime,” buying up bred heifers. “Most of the time you can find a better deal,” he said. “There’s usually a producer out there who has somehow figured out how to feed cheaper or had extra feed left over from the year before. A lot of times, producers like us can capitalize on that.” Some producers are taking advantage of strong prices to “become better established in a shorter amount of time,” said Meyer. “A lot of guys are saying they can pay their cows off sooner now. They’re able to take a whole extra year off their payments just from this year’s calf crop.” Others are improving infrastructure so that they’re “a little more comfortable” when prices come down. “Anything can happen,” he said. “You might as well get yourself comfortable right now while there’s money to be made. That way, you’re still comfortable if something happens.”

Land prices key

Expansion will ultimately be “an individual decision” for each operation, said Dehod. “Everybody’s got a different resource base, different labour

base, and different capital base,” he said. “It’s different for each farm in each different location in Alberta.” In the brown soil zones of southeastern Alberta, for instance, herds have been expanding for the past couple of years because of lower land prices. “Those people have made those choices because those lands were available and those ranchers were able to expand because they had access to cheaper pasture land,” he said. “Will the cow numbers come back in the black soil zone or grey soil zone? Time will tell.” Land is in short supply in the grey soil zones, especially in central Alberta, said Dehod. “There’s a lot of demand, and there’s a lot of people looking at buying farmland.” In southern Alberta where Meyer farms, irrigated land has been selling for $8,000 to $10,000 per acre near Lethbridge, with dryland prices increasing to $3,000 per acre and grassland approaching the $1,000 to $1,500 range. “You can see that land prices have pushed up, and with the amount of land required to run cattle, for hay, feed, and pasture, you need quite a bit of capital to purchase those lands,” said Dehod. “If you take a look at a quarter of pasture land, you’re looking at, at least $160,000.” Those costs are a growing barrier to new entrants in the industry. “With the cost of capital and cost of farmland, for young guys to get in, it’s insurmountable.”

Go slow?

Meyer chose the slow expansion route when he began farming full time five years ago. “You had to have the capital to

“You can see that land prices have pushed up, and with the amount of land required to run cattle, for hay, feed, and pasture, you need quite a bit of capital to purchase those lands.” JAKE MEYER

invest to get started, and we were lucky to have the capital from a previous career that I had,” said Meyer, who worked as an oilfield manager in South America. He invested a portion of his capital in buying a quarter section — “you need a base to get started” — and another portion in his herd. “When we first started out, we owned 30 head and financed another 30 head. We’ve slowly been building, buying more bred heifers, up to 150 today,” he said. And though the Meyers have no plans to start retaining heifers in the foreseeable future, they want to expand every year “as much as (they) can.” “We want to be large enough so that when our children are old enough to decide what they want to do, our operation is big enough to support them and their families,” he said, adding that he’d like to expand to 500 to 1,000 head in the next 15 years. “To be able to do that, obviously we need to expand, but with prices

Jake and Tanya Meyer want to build a sustainable cattle operation for their three sons — three-year-old Duane and twins Bradley and Devin — but they don’t think retaining heifers is the answer right now. PHOTO: COURTESY JAKE MEYER

right now and from a business standpoint, a lot of guys right now are tempted to just make money while there’s money to be made.” Some producers may choose “just to ride this out,” said Dehod, but with cow numbers dropping and demand for beef rising, it’s a good time to start thinking about expanding — however slowly. “If you keep heifers back, that comes out of your cash flow,”

he said. “But with all your other calves worth a little more, maybe you can keep more heifers back. Maybe you can retain cows a little bit longer because there’s an opportunity to put a calf on the ground. “Hopefully, we have a few risktakers and people who see that opportunity.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

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OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Earth-Shattering, Shatter Reduction Technology The First-Ever Pod Shatter Reduction Canola Hybrid With its patented pod shatter reduction technology, InVigor® L140P provides growers with the flexibility to delay swathing or straight cut their canola, knowing that they have less risk because of the hybrid’s built-in genetic protection.

Save time, money and yield Considering the significant reductions in labour and fuel costs with less wear and tear on machinery, the benefits of straight cutting are numerous; but the biggest advantage of pod shatter reduction technology is the increased harvest flexibility you gain. With the enhanced yield protection of the InVigor pod shatter reduction hybrid, you have more freedom and flexibility in making your most crucial harvest management decisions. The ability to delay swathing or straight cut canola with minimal yield variance is what the InVigor pod shatter reduction hybrid is all about. Straight cutting and delayed swathing allows the pods to mature for a longer period of time, resulting in larger seeds, a greater pod fill and lower green seed counts.

How does L140P work? The genetic researchers at Bayer CropScience found a way to select for genotypes which silence the dehiscence gene, creating a firmer pod seal/seam. This significantly increases the hybrid’s tolerance to in-field pod shatter, while still allowing for normal seed extraction during harvest. In addition to the built-in pod shatter reduction technology, InVigor L140P also exhibits lower levels of naturally occurring pod drop, ensuring all seeds end up in the bin – minimizing volunteer canola in following seasons. The result is considerably lower shelling levels due to pod shattering and a substantial decrease in overall pod drop. Simply put, this hybrid has greater pod adherence to the stem and a much stronger pod seal. InVigor L140P lets your canola ripen safely within the pod, firmly connected to the plant until you’re ready to harvest.

Yield protection you need Heavy moisture and increasingly common prairie wind events can prematurely split pods and shell seeds before harvest time, resulting in massive seed bank deposits and subsequent volunteer canola management issues. However, with the pod shatter reduction technology built into InVigor L140P, seeds remain safely intact inside the pod. Pod shatter technology is not 100% risk-free and growers could still expect losses under extreme weather conditions, but clearly the associated environmental risks with straight cutting are minimized with this technology.

INVIGOR L140P 2013 DST RESULTS Yield (% of InVigor 5440 Normal Swathing)

InVigor L140P

InVigor L130

InVigor 5440

108 106 104 102 100 98 Normal Swath Timing

Late Swathing

Straight Cut

Source: 2013 DST Results n=22 (net yield)

The patented pod shatter reduction technology of InVigor L140P provides stronger adherence of the seed valve and greatly reduces the effects of pod shatter. The results are increased yield protection and greater harvest management flexibility, including the ability to delay swathing or try straight cutting. In the 2013 DSTs (Demonstration Strip Trials), straight cut InVigor L140P showed a 7% yield advantage over InVigor 5440 at normal swath timing. For more information or to view an online demonstration of InVigor L140P, please visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/BayerCropScience

To see local trial results for this hybrid and other InVigor technologies, please visit InVigorResults.ca

FS:10.425” F:10.8”

T:21.6”

Albertafarmexpress.ca • october 27, 2014

L140P

T:15.5”

The Evolution of Harvest Management. NEW InVigor® L140P is the first canola hybrid to ever feature our patented POD SHATTER REDUCTION technology, providing growers with optimal pod protection for straight cutting canola or delayed swathing. Whether you’re looking to minimize input costs, mitigate weather concerns or need a reliable time-management tool at harvest, InVigor L140P helps ensure you get every bushel in the bin. To learn more visit: BayerCropScience.ca/InVigorL140P

BayerCropScience.ca or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative. Always read and follow label directions. InVigor® is a registered trademark of the Bayer Group. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

F:10.8”

O-66-10/14-10250626-E

NEWS » Markets

OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Ethanol price rigging suspected

USDA raises estimates again

The European Commission has raided ethanol companies as part of investigations into alleged price fixing. The competition watchdog said it had concerns companies may have colluded in submitting price information used to set industry benchmarks for trading in Europe and globally. The raids followed inspections in May 2013 of the offices of oil majors Shell, BP and Statoil as part of a probe into suspected manipulation of oil and biofuel prices. Financial benchmarks have come under increased scrutiny since some of the world’s biggest banks rigged two interest rate benchmarks. — Reuters

U.S. corn and soybean production in 2014, already estimated at record highs, will be higher than forecast a month ago but somewhat below market expectations. The USDA says overall corn yields will be a record 174.2 bushels per acre, with 22 states expected to post new yield marks. Soybeans were also in great shape. Compared with final pod counts for 2013, pod counts are up in seven of the 11 published states, USDA said. Twelve states are heading toward record-high soybean yields, including No. 1 producer Illinois. — Reuters

Canola rising on U.S. soybean worries, for now WILD CARD } Outside volatility is pushing money into commodities By Phil Franz-Warkentin

CE Futures Canada canola contracts saw some choppy activity during the week ending Oct. 17, but trended higher overall as a combination of speculative short-covering, spillover from soybeans, a weaker Canadian dollar, and a lack of significant farmer selling all provided support. The November contract jumped above the psychological $400-per-tonne level to start the week, and managed to hold above that point finishing Friday’s session at $410.50. The initial catalyst for the strength in canola was the wet weather across the U.S. Midwest, which was causing harvest delays. Fund traders are also holding very large short positions in canola of 25,000 to 35,000 contracts. That position had been as high as 50,000 contracts at one point, before they started to book profits, according to some analysts. The nearby technical signals are pointing higher for canola, but it will likely take additional

gains in beans to trigger any more shortcovering in the Canadian market. Further gains in soybeans, however, are questionable. The U.S. soybean harvest is still moving along, and the recordlarge crop will eventually be in the bin despite any short-term delays. For those looking for a spark in beans, it may need to come from elsewhere. One place to watch right now is South America, where farmers are in the early stages of planting their soybean crop. A drought in Brazil has raised some concerns over acres and yield reductions in that key soybean-producing country. Beyond that, outside financial markets have also been very volatile recently, with equity, energy and currency markets all seeing some big moves over the past week. One side-effect of those gyrations was increased money flows into the commodity markets, but whether that activity continues remains to be seen. While the U.S. soybean harvest is less than half complete, the Canadian harvest is in its final stages. Farmer selling in the futures has been lacklustre so far, but

should pick up over the next month given the need to generate some cash flow. Corn and wheat futures also moved up during the week, but just as in the oilseeds, any further gains may prove limited. Midwestern harvest delays provided a modest boost for corn, but supplies are already starting to pile up in some locations and the big U.S. production prospects remain a bearish influence there. For wheat, grade spreads and basis levels will be the story heading through

the winter. World wheat supplies remain large, but of lower quality overall. Winter wheat seeding in the U.S. could also provide some direction, with the recent rainfall in the southern Plains providing some much-needed moisture for the wheat there. Phil Franz-Warkentin writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

For three-times-daily market reports from Resource News International, visit “ICE Futures Canada updates” at www.albertafarmexpress.ca.

Photo: Thinkstock

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

Watch for mineral deficiencies when grazing on stubble Cow-calf pairs turned into stubble fields have different mineral supplementation requirements compared to when they were on pasture ALBERTA AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT RELEASE

etting cows graze on stubble is a good way to utilize forage resources, but producers need to pay attention to potential mineral deficiencies, says provincial beef and forage specialist Barry Yaremcio. “They will pick and choose what they eat from the straw, chaff, weed seeds in the stubble, slough hay from the low areas and mature hay growing along the fences and headlands,” says Yaremcio. “Quality of what they eat can be variable depending on the type of crop grown, fertility program and stage of maturity when the crop was cut or harvested. The combine setting — the amount of light grain and weed seeds thrown out onto the ground will impact what the cows eat as well.” Straw, chaff, and overmature grass hays typically have low amounts of protein, energy, calcium and magnesium. “These feeds are also high in neutral detergent fibre (which can reduce total feed intake) and relatively high in phosphorus,” says Yaremcio. “Grains and weed seeds are also high in phosphorus and have higher energy and protein content than the grasses, straw and chaff.” Cow-calf pairs that are turned into stubble fields have different mineral supplementation requirements compared to when they were on a mixed alfalfa — grass pasture. The lack of calcium and magnesium in the straw and forages can cause two problems. First, a diet low in calcium and higher in phosphorus can reduce phosphorus absorption. Phosphorus is the driver of all metabolic functions, and when it isn’t absorbed, feed intake is reduced. That in turn reduces milk production and weight gain on the calves. Cows can also start to lose weight. If the imbalance continues, it can impair reproductive performance — with cows taking longer to cycle and conceive a calf next year. Second, a calcium/magnesium deficiency can cause cows to go

down and it generally requires a veterinarian to treat animals in this situation. A mineral supplementation program should contain additional calcium and magnesium. “When it comes to calcium, in many cases, a 2:1 mineral does not provide enough calcium to remedy the situation,” says Yaremcio. “A feedlot mineral with a 3:1 or 4:1 calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is preferred. If a 1:1 or 2:1 mineral is left over from the summer, mix one bag of limestone (38 per cent calcium) with one bag of mineral and one bag of fortified trace mineral salt (with selenium). “This mixture (roughly 165 pounds) should be consumed by 100 cow-calf pairs in five to six days. If consumption is too low, add dried molasses to improve consumption. Add eight to 10 pounds of dried molasses to the entire mix and adjust to get the proper intake.” If feeding a straight mineral,

magnesium content should be in the three to five per cent range if the recommended intake is between 70 and 100 grams per day. “The added magnesium along with the calcium reduces the risk of downer cows,” says Yaremcio. “If magnesium is not present in the mineral, it can be purchased as an individual product from some feed stores or feed mills.” Feeds that are overmature or crop aftermath are usually low in protein. “A lactating cow requires 11 per cent protein (minimum on a dry basis) to maintain feed intake and milk production,” says Yaremcio. “Dry cows can manage on eight per cent protein. Supplementing protein on pasture is troublesome. Protein tubs or blocks will help solve the problem, but the mineral and vitamin supplementation should still continue as described above. Feeding three to four pounds of grain every third day

FILE PHOTO

along with a protein supplement is another option. Putting weaned cows onto these fields is an option to reduce protein requirements.” If the energy and protein requirements of the cow are not met, the cow will not be producing much milk, says Yaremcio. “This will reduce calf gains. To offset the loss of calf performance, creep feeding the calves with a ration that is between 14 and 16 per cent protein will improve average daily gains. If feeding straight

oats, which has 10 to 11 per cent protein on average, the calves will put down fat rather than lean growth and they could possibly not frame out properly resulting in fat, dumpy butterballs that will be discounted at auction. A mixture of one-third peas and twothirds oats or barley by weight will provide a creep ration that meets protein and energy requirements. With lower grain prices and high calf prices creep feeding will pay very well in the long run.”

British wheat yields reach record highs It will be the largest crop since 2008 Record wheat yields were recorded in Britain this year following a summer of nearperfect growing conditions. A National Farmers Union survey indicated a wheat yield of 8.6 tonnes per hectare, the highest ever and 16 per cent above the previous season. A crop of 16.67 million tonnes was projected based on area estimates for England, Scotland and Wales by Britain’s Farm Ministry and the Home-Grown Cereals Authority. It would be the largest wheat crop since 2008, when Britain harvested a record 17.2 million tonnes. — Reuters

As a farmer, you have a lot of decisions to make. The DEKALB® brand team is here to empower you with expert advice, agronomic insight and local data. With every important decision you face on your farm, we’re behind you. And we’re ready to help you turn great seed potential into actual in-field performance. DEKALB canola... Empowering Your Performance.

Talk to your DEKALB dealer today, or visit DEKALB.ca ALWAYS FOLLOW GRAIN MARKETING AND ALL OTHER STEWARDSHIP AND PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Details of these requirements can be found in the Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers printed in this publication ©2014 Monsanto Canada, Inc.

news » livestock

OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Canfax forum coming up

Meeting season is underway

The Canfax Cattle Market Forum is fast approaching. The event, Nov. 18-19, at the Deerfoot Inn in Calgary, will feature Richard Vesta of Harmony Beef who will speak about the reopening of the beef-packing plant in Balzac. Other topics include building a consistent supply chain, a feed grain market update, supply chain risk management, and major retail trends in protein both locally and globally. For more info, visit www.canfax.ca/CFX_forum_2014. — Canfax release

Alberta Beef Producers’ fall meetings are underway — with 23 meetings in nine zones slated for the next two weeks. Meetings will provide attendees with an overview of the work ABP and partner organizations have focused on the last year and discussion on the Plan Review will take place. Producers have the opportunity to bring forward resolutions that if passed will be voted upon by the entire delegate body at the annual general meeting in December. For a full list of meeting dates and locations go to www.albertabeef.org and follow the links. — ABP release

Building winter cattle rations that won’t wreck your bottom line Improving your feeding efficiency and reducing waste can help you save money overwintering your cattle this year By Jennifer Blair af staff

espite record-high cattle prices and strong demand for beef, margins remain tight for cattle producers who are battling the high price of land and feed. But cattle feeders can widen their margins as they head into winter by taking measures to improve feed efficiency and reduce waste right now. “To prepare your cattle for winter, the biggest thing is to make sure they’re fat enough or have enough body condition so that they’re not skinny going into winter,” said Barry Yaremcio, beef and forage specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. Fat provides insulation, he said, and a cow that’s 200 pounds lighter than she should be at this point of the season needs an extra 1,400 pounds of hay “not to gain weight, just to keep her warm over the winter,” said Yaremcio. “At five cents or six cents a pound, that’s $90 of cost that you’re going to have to incur just because these cows are a little bit skinny going into winter.” If the cow’s short ribs are showing, “wean the calves early” and put them on a grain/ hay ration, he said. “If the cow can have 40 to 60 days of good grazing or three to four pounds of grain supplement a day before it gets cold, she should be able to put on that extra 200 pounds to get her back into the shape she needs to be in.”

A balanced ration will also keep the cow in good condition heading into winter while improving feed efficiency — and saving some feeding costs. The first step in the process is testing the feed, said Yaremcio. “Take samples of the hay from different fields, and if you’re using greenfeed, take samples out of the bale using a forage probe,” he said, adding that using a probe is “more accurate than taking a grab sample.” “If you’re using a swathgrazing method, you probably want to go to 10 or 15 locations throughout the field and pick five to 10 stems or complete plants out of the swaths, compile them together, make a composite sample, and send that in.”

“The biggest thing is to make sure they’re fat enough or have enough body condition so that they’re not skinny going into winter.” Barry Yaremcio

Once the feed results are in, “that’s when the work starts,” he said. “How do you combine the different feeds? How do you use a combination of hay or straw or greenfeed? What kind of minerals do you need to make

sure your calcium/phosphorus balance is right?” CowBytes — software available through Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development — can help balance those major nutrients and micronutrients. “Basically, you put your cow information in and the feed test results into the program, and you just punch numbers to balance the ration so that everything matches the requirements,” said Yaremcio.

Reducing waste

But improving feed efficiency is only one piece of the equation, he said. Reducing feed waste can have a big impact on the bottom line, and that starts with proper feed storage. “There’s a number of different ways to stack hay when it comes off the field,” he said. “Some people use the pyramid method, but that’s probably the worst way to store hay.” When stacked in a pyramid, moisture that accumulates on the top of the bales will seep down through the stack, causing spoilage in every row. “Anywhere a bale touches another one, that’s where the spoilage occurs.” The best way to store hay is in a row aligned with the wind, he said. “If you’ve got a northwest/ southeast wind, you want to stack the bales in that direction so that when the wind blows, it blows all the snow out from between the rows,” he said, adding the rows should be at least three feet apart with six inches of space between each bale. Feeding methods can also create waste. Bale feeders cause between five to 13 per cent waste,

File Photo while simply unrolling a bale on the ground creates about 14 per cent waste. Using a bale processor or swath grazing causes up to 20 per cent waste. “When you’ve got the cows walking all over the feed or tramping onto the product that’s been put out by the bale processor, they’re working the fine material — the stuff that’s got the high protein, high energy, high calcium,” he said. “That material is being pushed into the snow, and 75 per cent of waste from a bale processor or from an unrolled bale is typically that fine material.” As feed waste increases, nutrients in the feed also drop. “The quality of the feed drops a lot faster than what the physical waste is, and then they’re getting a poor-quality ration,” he said.

Needs Your

CalviNg tips & tales

Friends and neighbours, we are once again looking for your best calving tips and tales for Cattlemen’s January 2015 Calving Special. We’re looking for good ideas, practical advice, or humorous tales and photos to share with fellow readers. A reward will be sent for Tips & Tales printed in this special.

“If you have a hay that was 11.5 per cent protein when it was baled and fed to the cows, by the time you take the waste factor into consideration, they’re only getting about 8-1/2 to nine per cent protein for the feed that they’re actually consuming. “The on-paper ration versus what they’re actually consuming are two different things completely.” Yaremcio recommends using a bunk-line feeder or a portable bunk feeder to reduce the waste caused by bale processors, but producers need to find the best fit for their own farms. “Each farm has its own situation and management techniques that it uses.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

Send your calving tips to Calving Tips & Tales (and your address) to Canadian Cattlemen 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1 Email: gren@fbcpublishing.com Fax: 1-866-399-5710

 ENTER BEFORE NOV. 29, 2014

YOUR REWARD A limited edition Canadian Cattlemen baseball cap

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

Feeding horses round hay bales — hidden costs and risks horse health } Concentration of nutrients and

overfeeding are among the potential problems By carol shwetz, dvm

onvenience and dollar savings are often cited as two major advantages when feeding round baled hay, especially when feeding groups of horses. At first glance these advantages may seem obvious, but for actual economic benefit certain conditions need to be met and the inherent health risks to the horses being fed round bales need to be considered. The preferred forage of choice for most classes of horses is grass hay, even more so when feeding round bales. As the percentage of alfalfa climbs in round bales, health problems become more frequent. As the horses burrow through the bale, the bale collapses, sifting delicate leaves out of the hay, leaving them to settle in pockets at the bottom of the feeder. These pockets of rich, dense leaves are high in proteins and sugars. When consumed in excess by susceptible horses, atypical and unseasonal episodes of laminitis can be triggered. In groups of weanlings these pockets of leaves will spur on non-productive growth spurts and in all groups of horses these pockets of rich leaves can induce colic and digestive upsets. If round bales are not stored properly or managed appropriately while being fed to the horses, weathering and/or spoiling of hay can substantially whittle away any price-per-pound advantage round baled hay may offer over square baled hay. If enough horses have access to and consume a round bale in a reasonable time of four to seven days, there may be little concern for spoilage. However, once the twine or plastic covering is removed from the bale, it begins to collapse, losing its resiliency to moisture and spoilage. Warming trends in combination with wet weather begin to take their toll, diminishing the nutritional content of the hay and setting the stage for mouldy patches and caramelization of proteins and sugars. As the hay quality deteriorates, the risk of digestive and respiratory disorders to the horse rises. Digestive upsets, colic and respiratory conditions such as (COPD), also known as heaves become prevalent. Round baled hay is typically associated with a higher incidence of dust and mould. Therefore horses with respiratory problems are not good candidates in round bale feeding systems. A certain percentage of hay spoilage is often inherent in the manner in which round bales are fed. It is important to maintain hay quality as the horses feed in order to maximize the nutritional content of the hay.

feeding or unexpectedly bullied by a pen mate are positioned vulnerably while feeding. For this reason it will be important to recognize the social workings within groups of horses. In addition to becoming targets for bullying, timid horses can become outliers unable to consume their daily requirement of feed, losing weight. When round baled hay is used, horse owners forfeit the ability to closely monitor intake. Although free-choice forage is a great idea for horses, it can be disadvantageous for the non-stop eater. Slow feed nets designed specifically for round bales can be a useful tool to limit the daily intake of some horses. It may be necessary to separate particular individuals

from the feeding group during the day to offset their gluttonous tendency. Slow feed netting will slow down the greedy eaters, but hard keepers may need to be separated and offered a little extra hay.

Monitoring weight gain

Supervision of individual horse’s body condition can identify how individual horses are responding to the round bale feeding system. Unfortunately round bale feeding methods do little to engage the horses in foraging activity and movement. It is not uncommon for horses with unlimited access to round bales within enclosed wintering grounds to consume 40 to 45 pounds of hay a day when 20 to 25 pounds would suffice.

Left unsupervised the majority of horses tends to gain weight over the winter season consuming more calories than are spent. Limited exercise in combination with excessive forage intake sets the stage for metabolic disease and obesity. Weight gain in the winter season is an unnatural phenomena stressing the horse’s internal hormonal and metabolic environment. Acknowledging the inherent limitations and health risks of feeding round bales of hay will identify whether it is suitable for the individual horse. Carol Shwetz is a veterinarian specializing in equine practice at Westlock, Alberta.

Round hay bale feeders designed specifically for horses will have the signature “paperclip” bar frame and lack the linking top bar in an attempt to avoid traumatic injuries while the horses are feeding.

MAKING THE MOST OF

their return. With a steady hand for managing them like your stock portfolio — and gloves on for a successful home stretch.

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Dangers for groups

Round bale feeders designed specifically for horses limit waste by containing the hay, preventing the horses from trampling and rendering the hay unpalatable. Although round bale feeders offer advantages when feeding round bales, they also can become problematic in certain groupings of horses. Head, neck, and back injuries are not uncommon. Horses that are startled while

UFA.com 39272_UFA Beef ABFarm_8.125x10.indd 1

10/3/14 11:55 AM

OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Strong prices, low feed costs reviving pork industry — but U.S. herd rebounding

Feed ingredient unlikely to spread killer pig virus The OIE findings rule out porcine plasma as a vector for spreading PEDv By Tom Polansek and Sybille de La Hamaide chicago/paris / reuters

The big unknown is how much impact PEDv will have on production, but USDA is upping its forecasts mates commercial pork production for 2015 will hit 23.9 billion Commodity News Service Canada pounds. That’s up 2.6 per cent with files from Reuters from a month earlier and five per cent more than in 2014. And for ecent strong prices, paired the first time in 62 years, more with low feed costs for pork than beef will be produced Canadian farmers are in the U.S. increasing profitability for hog The sooner-than-expected farmers and helping to revive the improvement by pork producers pork industry. from the porcine epidemic diar“We are seeing some of the idle rhea virus (PEDv), which killed an barns that were taken out of pro- estimated eight million pigs since duction three years ago starting May of 2013, will result in more to come back into production,” hogs in 2015, said USDA and marsaid Brad Marceniuk, livestock ket analysts. Hogs will become economist with the Saskatchewan readily available as farms largely Ministry of Agriculture. “So we’re unaffected by the virus grow their seeing some of the barns in Sas- herds, thanks largely to highkatchewan get repopulated.” priced hogs and low-cost feed. The recent rise in prices for live “PEDv just was not as extreme hogs in Western Canada is linked during the summer months as to firming pork cut-out values, some had anticipated,” said Purstrong demand for pork and the due University livestock econoweakening Canadian currency. mist Chris Hurt. Selling into the Canadian cash The disease doesn’t spread as market remains routine, as farm- well in hot conditions, Marceniuk ers only have a certain amount of noted. hogs to market each week. But, “The amount of pigs born alive overall supplies in North America for the third quarter was not too could be larger than first antici- far off from the same time last pated this fall, Marceniuk said. year, so we’ll likely see more supThe USDA raised its pork pro- ply coming to market over the duction forecast Oct. 10 for the month or two, and that could calendar year ending September put some pressure on prices,” 2015 that shows U.S. hog farms he added.  are rapidly recovering from a Typically, values move lower in deadly pig virus. The forecast esti- the fourth quarter, so prices are By Terryn Shiells

FILE PHOTO likely to drift down going forward. But, farmers will still be making good profits because of lower feed costs, Marceniuk said. What happens in the new year is still up in the air, because there could be more deaths related to PED virus this fall, which would reduce supplies for early 2015, he added. “I don’t think expectations are for as many cases (of PED virus) as there were last year, but we don’t really know that for sure,” Marceniuk said. Farmers will continue to clean trucks and barns diligently, as “biosecurity continues to be the main objective for producers to keep the disease out of the barn,” he added.

The World Organization for Animal Health says an animalfeed supplement suspected of spreading a deadly pig virus is not likely to transmit the disease if manufacturers follow proper safety measures. Multiple studies suggest that spray-dried porcine plasma, a supplement containing pigs’ blood that is fed to piglets, is not a likely source of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) “provided that good manufacturing practices and biosecurity standards are followed,” the organization, known as the OIE, said in a fact sheet. The findings represent an important development in the global effort to identify the methods in which PEDv is transmitted. The virus has killed an estimated eight million piglets, or 13 per cent of the U.S. hog herd, since it was first identified in the United States last year, pushing U.S. pork prices to record highs. The disease has also been found in Mexico, Canada, Japan and other countries. Blood products, such as spray-dried porcine plasma, are used around the world in the diets of piglets and had been considered potential carriers of PEDv because they contain pigs’ blood. The conclusion that porcine plasma is not likely to spread the disease gives a boost to

feed manufacturers, which had come under scrutiny amid concerns about their products. The findings were based on scientific work of an OIE ad hoc group on PEDv and highlight the feed industry’s “strong commitment to feed safety,” the International Feed Industry Federation said in a statement. However, the OIE, which sets global standards on policies affecting animal health, confirmed that feed is among the objects that can transmit PEDv indirectly if it is contaminated with feces carrying the disease. Researchers had previously established that PEDv was transmitted from pig to pig by contact with manure that contains the virus. It can also be spread from farm to farm via trucks, personnel or feed that are contaminated with feces, according to OIE. “Feed could play a role, most probably as a vehicle not as a contaminant itself,” said Paul Sundberg, vice-president of science and technology for the National Pork Board. In May, the European Commission strengthened its rules on imports of pig blood products for use in hog feed in a bid to keep out PEDv. Canada first alarmed the farm and feed industries in February when it said it had determined the virus was present in samples of U.S.origin plasma. It was unclear whether the feed was capable of causing the disease in piglets.

Fifth barn a false positive A fifth hog barn once thought to contain the virus that causes PED has been cleared after an extensive investigation and further testing By Shannon VanRaes staff

     

          

  

             

A false test was to blame for a report that a fifth farm in Manitoba was infected with porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED). The province had issued a bulletin Oct. 1 indicating a nursery finisher barn had tested positive for the virus, but subsequent tests found no trace of porcine epidemic diarrhea at the farm. “Really what it comes down to is that no test is ever perfect,” said chief veterinary officer Megan Bergman. “Unfortunately these things do happen.” An initial sample taken from the farm was tested twice and returned positive results both times. However, further monitoring by both the province and a private veterinarian turned up no signs of PED and no clinical signs of the disease in the herd, officials said. Since PED monitoring in Manitoba began early this year 1,090 samples from 182 farms have been tested for the virus. Nearly 4,000 samples have also been submitted for testing from high-traffic sites in the province. Eight of those hightraffic sites have tested positive for the virus.

“It’s kind of unexplained as to how that first sample came in positive, we’re not exactly sure how that came about,” said Mark Fynn, an animal care specialist with the Manitoba Pork Council. “Whether there was some cross-contamination at some point not related to the farm, we don’t know.” Four farms in the province have been confirmed to have the PED virus — two sow barns and two finisher barns, all located in the southeast of the province. The presence of PED can be easier to identify in sow barns, because newborn pigs are most susceptible to the disease. Some sow barns see piglet mortality rates in excess of 80 per cent. However, adult swine show few clinical signs of the virus. “Signs in a nursery finisher are pretty subtle,” said Fynn. “Usually you have the herd go through a bout of having some diarrhea for a couple of days and then the pigs are back to normal — they recover pretty well and you don’t see any increase in mortality or anything like that.” But better to have a false positive than a false negative he said, adding he believes the protocols for detecting the disease in the province are working well. shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

Officials at Red Deer hog facility vow animal abuse won’t happen again Western Hog Exchange chair says he doesn’t like animal rights group’s tactics but says its undercover video will result in ‘very positive changes’ By Jennifer Blair af staff

he Western Hog Exchange has one message for the pork industry in the wake of animal abuse allegations at its Red Deer facility. “What we saw is not acceptable,” said Brent Moen, chairman of the farmer-owned exchange. “We’re introducing changes, and we’re taking responsibility for this. And we will make improvements to our process.” An undercover video showing the alleged abuse came to light on Oct. 11, when CTV’s W5 aired footage taken by someone working undercover for Mercy for Animals Canada, an Ontario-based animal welfare group. The video shot by the person, who was employed at the plant for 10 weeks, showed workers dragging, kicking, and striking hogs with a plastic bat. But no one in Alberta’s pork industry was blindsided by the news. In September, CTV contacted Western Hog Exchange about the footage, and the organization worked quickly to get to the bottom of the allegations. “We asked that they immediately turn the videos, in their entirety, over to the SPCA and the CFIA, because they are the two legislative bodies that can take legal action against us if there were, indeed, violations or charges that needed to be issued,” said Moen. When CTV refused — citing a distribution agreement with Mercy for Animals Canada — exchange officials contacted the Alberta chapter of the SPCA and the regional office of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. “We told them that we would work with them and co-operate with them in any investigation that was forthcoming,” said Moen. “Obviously, we have no tolerance for this kind of stuff, so we agreed to get to the bottom of it.” Two independent swine specialists were brought in to conduct a “complete open investigation,” he said. “We asked them to come in and review all of our protocols, our training manuals, our procedures, and give us a report on what they found related to animal-handling issues and treatment of animals.” Management also met with staff at the Red Deer facility to inform them of the complaint, review animal welfare standards, and to warn that disciplinary action would be taken if those standards weren’t adhered to. Since then, the exchange has terminated one employee and suspended two others for failing to follow proper handling protocols. Every livestock producer wants companies like his to use “the most humane handling practices that we can do,” said Moen. “That said, people make mistakes. Within our handling system and with our workers, they have made mistakes. We have to hold them accountable for it, and we will try to ensure that it does not happen again.”

Immediate action

The response shows the exchange is serious about animal welfare, he added.

“I don’t believe that putting our head in the sand is going to make this issue go away,” said Moen. “We have to deliver good, solid plans going forward to minimize the potential of this happening again. We want to do what’s right, and we will do what’s right.” Taking immediate action was the right thing to do, said Darcy Fitzgerald, executive director of Alberta Pork. “Certainly, things were done wrong, and they are being corrected,” he said. “Something wasn’t right. They jumped on it. They fixed it quickly. And they’re willing to move in that direction for continuous improvement.” That includes working with third-party auditors on an ongoing basis to prevent similar incidents in the future. “I view this, for our organization and our industry, as a real learning experience. We will make some very positive changes out of this,” said Moen. “At the end of the day, while I don’t like the process that Mercy for Animals uses, I do recognize this as an opportunity to make positive changes, and we will do that.”

Changes needed?

Since the video was released in mid-October, Mercy for Animals has called on the federal government to “dramatically improve the very poor transportation regulations” in Canada’s livestock sector. “The Agricultural Ministry has been promising for over eight years to update our transportation regulations, and it has consistently failed to act in any way,” said Krista Osborne, executive director of Mercy for Animals Canada. Canada lags “grossly behind every other western nation” in its transportation regulations, she said. In the European Union, animals must be provided with food, water, rest, and protection from the elements on journeys lasting longer than eight hours. Under Canada’s Health of Animals Regulations, hogs can be transported for up to 36 hours without food or water, but Fitzgerald said that happens “very rarely.” “Most pigs travelling to our facilities would be under eight hours,” he said. Even so, a review of transport regulations is “always worth looking at,” said Angela Greter, acting executive director of Alberta Farm Animal Care. “Things change and new research becomes available,” she said. “We’re always striving to make it better.”

Enforcement necessary

Mercy for Animals is also calling for “appropriate and dissuasive fines and penalties.” “Regulations are certainly a first step, but enforcement is necessary. As we saw at Western Hog Exchange, the industry is incapable of regulating itself,” said Osborne. “The CFIA was there for every single shift that our undercover investigator worked, and the CFIA failed to take any action.” While the food inspection agency is responsible for enforcing regulations, organizations like

The latest undercover video by animal rights group Mercy for Animals Canada was taken at Western Hog Exchange’s Red Deer facility. Photo: Mercy for Animals video the SPCA are better equipped to handle animal welfare concerns, said Greter. “Everybody has an onus on them to report abuse if they see it,” she said. “The fact that this type of thing was going on for that length of time and wasn’t reported is really concerning for us. That’s not acceptable either. If this is going on, someone should be reporting it right away.” Fitzgerald said that should have been Mercy for Animals. “The individual was there for three months and then the video was held for at least another month and a half before being

released,” he said. “You start to wonder what is the ultimate goal between Mercy for Animals and W5 who continuously do this. If we’re truly concerned about the animals, let’s voice it right away. Let’s not wait.” That’s a question that should be put to the CFIA, responded Osborne. “We must remember that the CFIA is law enforcement, and what went on at Western Hog Exchange was in full view of law enforcement,” she said, adding the undercover worker made a complaint directly to a CFIA inspector, who “failed to act.”

What happened at the exchange is a “systemic issue,” said Osborne, who claimed “over eight million animals in Canada arrive at assembly yards and slaughterhouses either dead or too sick and injured to become part of the food supply and, as such, are euthanized.” “The only way to get any form of justice is to ensure that our grossly outdated transportation regulations are updated in a wholesale manner and that there is clear enforcement with dissuasive penalties for infractions.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

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OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

The boy is back?

LA to slash water use

The El Niño weather phenomenon could surface within one or two months and last into the Northern Hemisphere spring, though it will remain weak throughout its duration, says the U.S. weather forecaster. It could worsen droughts in Australia and Thailand, and also cut rainfall in Indonesia and Malaysia. El Niño could bring aboveaverage rainfall to parched California and bring milder-than-normal temperatures to the U.S. Midwest. In China, it could bring more rain south of the Yellow River and cause flooding in major rice- and cotton-growing regions. — Reuters

Los Angeles aims to reduce local water use by 20 per cent over the next three years to address a record drought through a mix of voluntary measures and mandatory restrictions. Residents would be asked to limit watering their lawn to twice a week, municipal workers would cut back on watering, and there could be mandatory cutbacks on car washing if the 20 per cent target isn’t met. The drought is expected to cost the state an estimated $2.2 billion this year, along with a loss of more than 17,000 jobs, as farmers are forced to leave fallow valuable cropland. — Reuters

A deeper look into Antarctica’s sea ice paradox Trapped greenhouse gases, the hole in the ozone, and the nature of salt water all play a role in this situation

By Daniel Bezte

hen people hear sea ice around Antarctica is hitting record-high winter levels, many scratch their heads and wonder how that could be happening in a warming world. Those who don’t want to believe in the fact that we are definitely increasing the amount of greenhouse gases and that extra energy is being trapped in our lower atmosphere will likely jump all over this type of news and declare global warming is just one big conspiracy. In my last article we started to look at just what has been going on in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Evidence shows air and sea temperatures are increasing over and around Antarctica. In fact, over the last half-century, average winter temperatures to the west of the Antarctic Peninsula have increased by about 5.8 C, which is the fastest known rate of global warming recorded worldwide. So what’s going on? Well, depending on who and what you read, the science behind this is straightforward and understandable — or it’s not as simple as it first seems. For me, I think the explanation is probably somewhere in between, with some fairly simple and easy-tounderstand scientific explanations combined with a few new things Mother Nature hasn’t yet revealed to us. The first explanation, I think, covers most of what is going on with winter sea ice coverage around Antarctica. It all starts with the hole in the ozone layer. No one disputes this has occurred, and while we have seen some minor weakening in the amount of ozone in the upper atmosphere over the Northern Hemisphere, the hole that is found over Antarctica is very pronounced. On a positive note, global efforts to reduce ozone-depleting chemicals look to finally be paying off as the ozone hole appears to have stabilized and there are signs of a slow recovery beginning. That said, the hole has been around for a while now and it is

Percent of Average Precipitation (Prairie Region) September 1, 2014 to October 16, 2014

< 40% 40 - 60% 60 - 85% 85 - 115% 115 - 150% 150 - 200% > 200% Extent of Agricultural Land Lakes and Rivers

Produced using near real-time data that has undergone initial quality control. The map may not be accurate for all regions due to data availability and data errors. Copyright © 2014 Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Prepared by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s National Agroclimate Information Service (NAIS). Data provided through partnership with Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and many Provincial agencies.

Created: 10/17/14 www.agr.gc.ca/drought

This map shows the total amount of precipitation so far this fall (Sept. 1 to Oct. 16), compared to the long-term average. Southern Manitoba, northern Saskatchewan, and northeastern Alberta have been dry so far, with amounts falling in the 40 to 60 per cent range. The wet spots have been southern Alberta and much of the southern half of Saskatchewan, where some regions received more than double their average precipitation.

not going to disappear any time soon. What does the hole in the ozone layer have to do with sea ice coverage? Well, the hole above Antarctica has caused cooling in the stratosphere. One of the side-effects of this cooling is a strengthening of the cyclonic winds that circle the Antarctic continent. This increase in wind speed seems to have several effects on sea ice coverage. First, it helps to push colder air from the centre of the Antarctic continent out over the water, which helps to rapidly freeze the ocean water. Another effect is that these winds also increase the push on the ice, which increases its speed as it moves around the Antarctic. Since this ice is rotating clockwise, and in the Southern Hemisphere

moving objects veer to the left, this results in the ice having a tendency to veer or move away from the continent and out to sea. When the ice moves away from the continent, ice-free areas open up and are then quickly frozen over by the cold air coming off of the continent, thus increasing the amount of ice. I mentioned in the last couple of articles that while the amount of winter sea ice has been increasing around Antarctica, the total volume of ice on the continent has been going down. This is due to increased melting along with an increase in the amount of glacial ice coming off of the continent and moving out into the surrounding seas. In fact, there have been several ice sheet collapses over the last 10 or so years. Some seem to be asso-

ciated with natural cycles, while other collapses seem to be connected to unusually high levels of melting. Whatever the reason, this melting results in an increase in fresh water. Here is where things that at first glance look simple and straightforward, get a little more muddled. Fresh water and ocean water have an obvious difference — ocean water contains salts. This makes fresh water and ocean water behave a little differently. First of all, fresh water will start to freeze pretty much around the 0 C mark, while ocean water begins freezing at about -2.0 C. The second difference is that ocean or salt water is denser than fresh water. This means that if there is an increase in the amount of continental ice melting, the amount of fresh water going into

the oceans around the Antarctic is also increasing. This results in warmer ocean water getting trapped under a layer of less dense fresher water. So, now two things are in play, the warmer ocean water is trapped below the surface and cannot warm the surface layer, and the surface layer is able to freeze at warmer temperatures so more surface ice is created and at a faster rate. That’s about all the room I have. It’s pretty interesting, so I do invite you to read up on it further. 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.

Protein data available Preliminary protein content data for the 2014 Canada Western Red Spring wheat harvest are now available by crop region. The data are based on samples received through the Harvest Sample Program and will be updated weekly. Go to www.grainscanada.gc.ca, type ‘protein content red spring wheat 2014’ and select the most recent upload. Producers have until Oct. 31 to register for the Harvest Sample Program, and samples can be submitted until Nov. 30. — Canadian Grain Commission release

Gabe Brown’s methods of using a ‘cocktail’ of cover crops to rebuild soil, lower input costs and boost yields are attracting serious attention

Inputs reduced

Organic matter in his soils has tripled, his input costs are lower, and synthetic fertilizer is a thing of the past, he said. He does use the occasional herbicide pass, but hasn’t used insecticides or fungicides in years. A cocktail of cover crops includes a mixture of different annual crops planted together in the same field. Plants need to be different heights and have different leaves and rooting habits; broadleaf and grasses need to be seeded together; and so do warmseason and cool-season grasses. “There can be up to eight to 20 plants in a cocktail,” said Nora Paulovich, manager of the North Peace Applied Research Association. “The premise is that all these plants have different growth habits but because of their diversity, they encourage the diversity of micro-organisms in the soil.” Cocktail cover crops also increase the diversity of micro-flora, which improves soil health. Brown describes cover crops as “biological primers.” “We’re just trying to mimic what nature evolved,” said Brown. “It’s just simple. When I describe it to people, they get it right away, or they’re just in denial... It’s so simple that we’re in denial that it can work. “But part of it is that we’ve been fed this mentality that we’ve got to feed the world — yield, yield, yield; grow more, more, more — and that’s totally the wrong concept.” Paulovich initially brought Brown to the Peace Country last

Gabe Brown says soil organic matter has tripled on his North Dakota farm, and that’s allowed him to slash input costs while boosting yields. photos: Supplied

Curtis Hale’s “cocktail” mix is predominately hairy vetch, along with sorghum, purple-top turnips, sunflower, crimson clover, tillage radish, kale, barley, oats, and rye. fall. After his first talk, a group of eight producers in the Manning area formed an informal cocktail cover crop group. The group put together a seed order, and sowed different cocktail cover crops.

Better seed

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These cover crops, grown by Jack Stahl, have done well despite a dry growing season. “This year was a real challenge because we were so dry and hot up here,” said Paulovich. “But it was really neat to see how well these cocktail cover crops did.” Staff at the North Peace Applied Research Association sowed four

see Cover crops } page 18

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ike many farmers, Gabe Brown hates the term “sustainable agriculture.” But his beef is that it doesn’t go far enough. “For us to have the resources that will be truly sustainable for future generations, we have to regenerate our degraded soil,” said the North Dakota rancher and farmer, an internationally renowned speaker who has toured North America and Australia. “Everywhere I’ve been in the world, I’ve yet to be on an operation that is not degraded, including my own. We can’t keep operating like that. We have to start regenerating those soils and building them back in order for us to be sustainable.” Brown first came to Alberta in 2013 and is holding five workshops in the province this week (for dates, go to www.areca.ab.ca and click on the Gabe Brown link near the bottom of the home page). Brown’s method was developed on his own 5,000-acre mixed farm following four straight crop losses from 1995 to 1998 due to drought and hail. “The banker wouldn’t loan me money anymore for operating, so I had to figure out how I had to make my land productive without using any inputs,” he said. “I started planting more legumes, and I saw that when you plant a legume with a grass, it benefits both species. Then we started growing some cover crops, and when I did that, the soil health improved.” Brown noticed more earthworms in the soil, and then larger yields. Now

The

af staff

he plants cover crops on all 2,000 acres of cropland every year, either with the cash crop or on its own.

By Alexis Kienlen

PROVING GROUND.

Cover crops and soil health guru winning converts in Alberta

Pioneer® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents. The DuPont Oval Logo is a registered trademark of DuPont. ® TM SM , , Trademarks and service marks licensed to Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited. © 2014, PHL.

} harvest

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

U.S. farmers latest to sue Syngenta over GMO corn rejected by China Farmers who did not plant the seed say corn prices dropped when China began rejecting boatloads containing Viptera corn By Tom Polansek chicago / reuters

armers from the biggest U.S. corn-growing states have sued Syngenta AG over sales of genetically modified corn seed not approved by China, joining global exporters in pursuing damages from the Swiss-based company. In co-ordinated lawsuits filed in early October in Federal Courts in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri, farmers accused Syngenta of being reckless when it launched U.S. sales of Agrisure Viptera corn seed in 2011 without obtaining import approval from China, a major buyer. The farmers, who did not plant seed containing the unapproved

trait, claimed they suffered losses because the price of U.S. corn dropped when China began rejecting boatloads of crops containing Viptera corn last year. In April, the National Grain & Feed Association estimated that U.S. farmers had lost more than $1 billion due to trade disruptions linked to the rejections. The lawsuits seek to open the complaints to all U.S. farmers who grew non-Viptera corn since China began rejecting the trait in November 2013.

Widely dispersed

Viptera corn, known as MIR162, was planted on about three per cent of U.S. corn acres during the past two years, according to court documents. Still, industry mem-

bers have said the trait can be found throughout the supply chain because it is difficult to segregate one variety from another. “There are a lot of angry farmers out there who really feel like Syngenta needs to step up and do the right thing, and that is, compensate farmers for all the losses that occurred as a result of Syngenta prematurely rushing the product to market,” said James Pizzirusso, a partner with law firm Hausfeld LLP, which is handling the farmers’ lawsuits. Last month, agribusiness company Cargill Inc. and another exporter separately sued Syngenta for selling Viptera corn seed before Beijing approved imports. The companies said they suffered combined damages of more than $131

million linked to China’s rejections of U.S. crops containing the trait. Syngenta had no immediate comment on the farmers’ lawsuits. The company has said the exporters’ complaints are without merit. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is negotiating with China to

“We don’t mess with China.” Deb Volnek a Nebraska farmer who is among those suing Syngenta

synchronize its regulatory review of new traits with the United States in a bid to reduce approval times, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Farmers misled

According to the lawsuit, farmers felt misled about the prospects for China to approve imports of Viptera corn because Syngenta chief executive Michael Mack said in an April 2012 earnings call that he expected Beijing to clear the trait “within a matter of a couple of days.” Beijing still has not approved Viptera corn. “We don’t mess with China,” said Deb Volnek, a Nebraska farmer who is among those suing Syngenta. “When China buys something, the markets go up. When it doesn’t, the markets go down.”

Cover crops } from page 17 different mixes at four different times during the growing season, with a great deal of success. “They didn’t look so good at certain times in July and August, but with the moisture we had in September, they are doing phenomenally,” said Paulovich.

Big potential

Curtis Hale, who raises cattle and grows grain near Hines Creek has the highest number of cover crops in the Peace. He and his sons first saw Brown during his initial visit and that prompted Hale to travel to North Dakota to see Brown’s farm. “For the most part, on the production side, we’ve been impressed with what we’ve seen on an extremely dry year,” said Hale. “We’re just getting going and we believe that the potential is phenomenal. We intend to keep going in this direction. We’re convinced this is the only future for us.” Even during a dry year, Hale’s cocktail cover crops improved his forage yields. With monocropping, he got six to eight tonnes an acre. That jumped to 13 tonnes an acre using the cocktail cover crop. “This is a tremendous advantage for us,” said Hale. “We have highquality feed, high production, and we’re building soil health. Those three things are all happening all at once for us, so it’s a no-brainer.” Hale didn’t have as much success on the cereal side because of low moisture levels, but he’s said he’ll conduct more trials in 2015. More producers will likely adopt this system, especially in a time of high input costs and low grain prices, said Hale. Americans in some regions have adopted the system and have done a great deal of research, and Hale said he thinks it might be because of low corn prices. “I do believe that this is the future, I really do,” he said. “I think people are beginning to wake up to the fact that you can’t ride the highs. If you have a dip and you can’t sustain yourself, you better look at a different system. I think that’s where we’re headed.” akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

Biobeds a simple way to prevent pesticide contamination The European innovation can break down pesticide simply and efficiently, but needs to be adapted to the Prairie climate BY ALEXIS KIENLEN AF STAFF

p to 80 per cent of pesticide contamination on a farm occurs where a sprayer is washed, filled, handled or rinsed — but there’s a simple and inexpensive way to prevent it. Biobeds, already in use in the U.K., Scandinavia, and South America, are trenches filled with absorbent materials (such as peat moss, compost or biochar), soil, and straw or wood chips. “It’s a fairly simple system that basically absorbs pesticides,” said Larry Braul, a water quality engineer with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Regina. “By introducing micro-organisms that break it down, the pesticide is degraded over time.” Braul and Ag Canada colleague Claudia Sheedy in Lethbridge are leading a project to Canadianize the European innovation. “What we’re trying to do is take the idea that they’ve adopted in Europe and adapt it to the Canadian climate,” said Braul. “There are a few challenges with that. One of them is that it’s a lot colder here. It’s a bit more challenging.” Micro-organisms can’t do their job when it’s too cold, and so the researchers are looking at heating methods, including solar, to keep them warm and active. “The big goal associated with the project is to solve any issue with biobeds and make them practical,” said Braul. “We’re actually trying to understand the microbial population within the biobed.” The research is looking at the ideal mix of material in the beds and the effect of torrential heavy rainstorms that are common on the Prairies. The goal is to adapt European designs and create a construction, operation and maintenance manual for biobeds that will function well in the Prairie climate. So far, an above-ground biobed and a pit with a geothermal membrane are the leading candidates. The price tag for a biobed will likely range between $4,000 and $8,000 depending on the size of sprayer, accessibility to electricity, and materials used, said Braul. If the collection pad is concrete, that would add another $5,000 to the cost. Researchers are also working with farmers to test prototypes and establish practical guidelines for using them. “When you introduce something like this, a producer always has some comments on how we can change it to make it better and more practical,” said Braul. Test biobeds have already been installed in the County of Grande Prairie and Outlook, Sask. Another test facility will open near Vegreville in spring. The concept was first introduced to Canada in 2008 after former Ag Canada researcher Tom Wolfe encountered biobeds on a trip to Sweden.

Larry Braul stands next to an above-ground biobed at a field day in Outlook, Sask. PHOTOS: AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD CANADA

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An alternative to an above-ground biobed is a pit with a geothermal membrane.

OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

EPA approves Dow’s Enlist glyphosate and 2,4-D combo Resistance will be monitored and approval will be reviewed in six years instead of the normal 15 By Carey Gillam Reuters

he Environmental Protection Agency gave final approval on Oct. 15 to a new herbicide developed by Dow AgroSciences that has faced broad opposition, ordering a series of restrictions to address potential environmental and health hazards. EPA said it was applying “firsttime-ever restrictions” on its approval of the herbicide, called Enlist Duo, which is designed to be used with new genetically modified crops developed by Dow AgroSciences. The herbicide was developed by Dow as an answer to severe weed-resistance problems that are limiting crop production around the country.

EPA said the approval lays out a template of new requirements for future approvals of herbicides designed for use with genetically modified crops. Dow will be required to closely monitor and report to EPA to ensure that weeds are not becoming resistant to Enlist Duo, the agency said. As well, EPA is ordering a 30-foot in-field “no spray” buffer zone around application areas. It has also banned use when wind speeds are over 15 miles per hour. Initially, Enlist Duo will be allowed only in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. EPA will take public comments until Nov. 14 about approving the product for use in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee and North Dakota.

EPA will review its approval of Enlist Duo in six years rather than the usual 15 years. The EPA decision comes after the U.S. Department of Agriculture gave final approval last month to Enlist corn and soybeans, which have been altered to tolerate being sprayed with Enlist Duo herbicide. The specialty crops and the herbicide are to be sold as a branded “Enlist Weed Control System.” Like the popular Roundup Ready system developed by rival Monsanto Co., farmers who plant Enlist crops can spray over the crops in their fields with Enlist herbicide and kill weeds but not the crops. Heavy use of Roundup herbicide triggered an explosion of herbicide-resistant “superweeds” that are hard for farmers to fight and which can choke off crop

yields. Such weeds now infest roughly 70 million acres of U.S. farmland, according to Dow. Enlist Duo combines 2,4-D, which used in combination with glyphosate should help farmers kill weeds that are resistant to Roundup, Dow officials say. Dow pegs the market for Enlist at about $1 billion, and hopes to start selling the system for the 2015 U.S. spring planting season. There has been broad opposition to Enlist Duo. Critics say use of 2,4-D has been linked to a range of health problems. They also fear the new herbicide could drift into neighbouring farm fields, harming crops there. And they say that in the long run it will only increase weed-resistance problems. The EPA received more than 400,000 comments about Enlist Duo. In one letter, the Environ-

Brazil soy exporters to police Monsanto biotech seeds

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mental Working Group nonprofit advocacy organization listed the names of more than 77,000 people asking EPA to deny approval. But the EPA said its scientists used “highly conservative and protective” assumptions to evaluate the human health and ecological risks of Enlist Duo and that usage as approved will protect the public, agricultural workers, and endangered species. The agency said it evaluated the risks to all age groups, from infants to the elderly, and took into account exposure through food, water, pesticide drift, and as a result of use around homes. “Our decision reflects sound science... and is protective of everyone and the environment,” said Jim Jones, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.

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sao paulo / At least one soybean exporter in Brazil has agreed with Monsanto to collect royalties, in exchange for a fee, from farmers who planted genetically engineered seeds marketed by the company, according to industry sources. The landmark deal, already finalized by a firm that declined to be identified, highlights an increasingly complex relationship between global grain merchants and biotech firms. Other bigger merchants like ADM and Bunge will finalize agreements soon, the sources said, resolving a months-long dispute that had threatened to disrupt as much as a quarter of all soy shipments from the world’s second-largest grower. The trading firms are wary of serving as biotechnology police in Brazil, a role they have not had to play in the United States because biotech companies’ patents are protected by laws that do not allow farmers to reuse seeds year after year there. In Brazil, where genetically modified seeds have only been legal since 2005, reusing seeds is more common and it is easier for farmers to skip out on Monsanto’s fees after buying the seeds the first season. – Reuters

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

Right to save seed will be absolutely clear in updated plant breeders’ rights bill, Ritz vows The government has introduced amendments to its Agricultural Growth Act to make the language around seed saving clearer BY ALEX BINKLEY AF CONTRIBUTOR

egislation updating plant breeders’ rights will be amended to make it absolutely clear that farmers can save and replant seeds from crops they have grown, says Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. It was one of several amendments the government plans for the Agriculture Growth Act, which was forced through second reading in the Commons in June. It had been introduced last December but languished on the order paper until March. The government finally made it a priority item just before the summer recess. Hearings on it by the Commons agriculture committee began Oct. 7. The government wants it passed before the next crop year. While the existing legislation allows so-called farmer privilege, the government decided to

Monsanto reports smaller loss Company executives cite ‘more challenging’ commodity environment

write it “in more farmer-friendly language” to remove any doubt, he said. The only thing producers won’t be able to do is resell the seeds to other farmers for planting.

Farm group support

A coalition representing most farm groups including the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and Grain Growers of Canada supports the bill. However, the National Farmers Union and environment groups have complained it would prevent farmers from saving seeds from a crop for planting and would subject them to costly challenges from multinational seed companies. The amendment will also bring Canada up to the terms of the International Union for the Pro-

tection of New Plant Varieties, which sets rules for plant breeders’ rights, patent-like protection for the developers of new varieties or strains of crops, Ritz said. About 90 countries are signatories to UPOV 91. By joining them, Canada is expected to gain access to promising varieties developed in other countries. The government will also change provisions of its Administrative Monetary Penalties Act to make it easier to crack down on imports that violate food safety rules, he said. As well, companies will be able to appeal the penalties to the Canadian Agriculture Review Tribunal. Legislation is also being amended to designate one organization to handle all advance payment applications for pro-

No increase

Ritz said the government doesn’t intend to increase the advance payment maximum because that’s sufficient for most farmers. “Only six per cent of farmers need more than $400,000 and they have other sources of financing.” He added that the government still refuses to support Ontario’s rev-

enue protection program because it would be countervailable. CFA and GGC along with 16 other farm groups are members of the Partners in Innovation. It says the bill would bring Canada “in line with the rest of the world; opening opportunities for plant breeders in Canada and outside of our borders to deliver superior varieties to Canadian farmers.” The protection of intellectual property is important to generate funds for investment in further plant breeding and research, the coalition adds. The greatest impact on farmers from amended PBR legislation will be access to new genetics and improved crop varieties that will increase productivity, deliver higher yields, and open more market opportunities for farm production.

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BY CAREY GILLAM

Monsanto has reported a narrower fourth-quarter loss and said it sees continued growth in the new fiscal year on sales of corn and soybean seeds. Monsanto forecast earnings in a range of $5.75 to $6 per share for the 2015 year. Analysts were expecting $6.03. Monsanto executives laid out plans for growth and investments in new business units for the 2015 fiscal year despite a “more challenging” environment for global commodities. It will also pour $350 million into a new farm data business unit, Climate Corp., and other emerging business units. Edward Jones analyst Matt Arnold said that even with grain prices depressed, Monsanto’s premium seed products should continue to be popular with farmers. “We think that fiscal ’15 can play out reasonably well, even in a pretty challenging agricultural environment,” Arnold said. Monsanto sees flat to lower key U.S. and Latin America corn seed plantings for 2015, while drought in Australia will hurt cotton sales. But those elements should be offset by upgrades and expansion of soybean products, officials said. – Reuters

ducers, rather than having different commodity groups handle them. “Farmers will be treated more like customers and there will be more flexibility in dealing with requests.” The program allows producers to get a loan based on the value of crop they have in storage on their farm so they have more marketing flexibility. The loan is repaid when the grain is sold.

Because a whole lot can grow from one good decision.

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OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Crop protection firm MANA Canada now Adama The company will continue to bring off-patent chemistry to farmers, but also intends to add value through innovation By Allan Dawson staff

Until now, Makhteshim Agan’s subsidiaries around the world, including MANA, operated under 26 unique local brand names.

Ad Number: SSEC-RYLEY14-T Publication: Alberta Farmer Express 3Col x 133 (6” x 9.5”) Non Bleed

he world’s biggest offpatent farm pesticide supplier and seventh-largest crop protection company has a new name and focus. “This change essentially Makhteshim Agan is now brings us to one Adama Agricultural Solutions Ltd., including in Canada, where company, one culture, it was called MANA (Makhteshim one identity, one brand Agan, North America) Canada. “This change essentially and one name around brings us to one company, the world.” one culture, one identity, one brand and one name around the world,” said company chief executive Andrew Mann. “We have a broad portfolio of products and services. InnovaAndrew Mann tion is not just about the product, but it’s also about the10/15/14 way SEC-RYLEY14-T_AFE.qxd 12:55 AM Page 1 of doing business.”

In 2011, 60 per cent of Makhteshim Agan was sold to state-owned ChemChina, starting a new partnership, which will result in further expansion. Adama, which means earth in Hebrew, posted revenues of more than US$3.1 billion in 2013. It employs more than 4,500 people, including 14 in Canada, has 50 subsidiaries and 120 active ingredients. Adama will continue to bring offpatent pesticides to farmers, but will also seek ways to make them better than the original, Mann said. For example, Adama might combine certain products to create a unique blend to assist farmers with herbicide-resistant weeds or herbicidetolerant volunteer crops, he said. It could be as simple as changing a pesticide formulation or concentration to make it easier for farmers to use.

“A big part of our portfolio is off patent, alternative choice, but we are going to be pursuing more and more chemistries from discovery,” said Mann. We may not be the discoverer of them, but hopefully we would have a proprietary position.” Adama sells more than 20 farm pesticides in Canada now — 12 herbicides, four fungicides, and four insecticides. To simplify pesticide options Adama has colour coded and created a unique icon for each pesticide category.

Adama’s roots lie in Israel where Agan Chemical Manufacturers was founded in 1945, and its global corporate headquarters remains in Airport City, Israel, just outside of Tel Aviv. Adama Canada is headquartered in Winnipeg, with two representatives in Manitoba and Alberta, respectively, three in Saskatchewan and two covering Eastern Canada. allan@fbcpublishing.com

Andrew Mann, CEO of Adama Canada Photo: Shannon VanRaes

Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers

Produced by: SeCan Product/Campaign Name: SeCan AAC Ryley Date Produced: October 2014

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. Commercialized products have 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.

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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 canola contains the active ingredients difenoconazole, metalaxyl (M and S isomers), fludioxonil, and thiamethoxam. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for soybeans (fungicides only) is a combination of three separate individually registered products, which together contain the active ingredients fluxapyroxad, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for soybeans (fungicides and insecticide) is a combination of four separate individually registered products, which together contain the active ingredients fluxapyroxad, pyraclostrobin, metalaxyl and imidacloprid. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for corn (fungicides only) is a combination of three separate individually-registered products, which together contain the active ingredients metalaxyl, trifloxystrobin and ipconazole. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for corn (fungicides and insecticide) 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 corn with Poncho®/VoTivo™ (fungicides, insecticide and nematicide) is a combination of five separate individually-registered products, which together contain the active ingredients metalaxyl, trifloxystrobin, ipconazole, clothianidin and Bacillus firmus strain I-5821. Acceleron®, Acceleron and Design®, DEKALB and Design®, DEKALB®, Genuity and Design®, 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® and VT Triple PRO® 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. Poncho® and Votivo™ are trademarks of Bayer. Used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

Move over Golden Rice Orange corn rich in vitamin A on its way Purdue University release

hile the world continues to debate the potential for Golden Rice genetically modified to contain higher vitamin A, Purdue University researchers have found a way to boost vitamin A in corn using traditional plantbreeding methods. Researchers say they have identified a set of genes that can be used to naturally boost the provitamin A content of corn kernels, a finding that could help combat vitamin A deficiency in developing countries and macular degeneration in the elderly. “This study gives us the genetic blueprint to quickly and cost effectively convert white or yellow corn to orange corn that is rich in carotenoids — and we can do so using natural plant-

breeding methods, not transgenics,” said Torbert Rocheford, the Patterson Endowed Chair of Translational Genomics for Crop Improvement. Vitamin A deficiency causes blindness in 250,000 to 500,000 children every year, half of whom die within a year of losing their eyesight, according to the World Health Organization. The problem most severely affects children in sub-Saharan Africa, an area in which white corn, which has minimal amounts of provitamin A carotenoids, is a dietary mainstay. Identifying the genes that determine carotenoid levels in corn kernels will help plant breeders develop novel biofortifed corn varieties for Africa and the U.S. The dark-orange colour of these corn varieties also makes them more culturally acceptable to consumers in

African countries where yellow corn is generally fed only to animals, Rocheford said. Their study found that a combination of visually selecting corn with darker-orange kernels and using a number of these favourable genes could be an effective way to rapidly convert white and yellow corn varieties to orange corn with higher levels of provitamin A and total carotenoids. Their research was done in collaboration with HarvestPlus and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, also known as CIMMYT. Varieties of orange corn are currently being grown in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Ghana. An open-pollinated variety of orange corn could be available for organic and local grower operations in the U.S. by 2016, he said.

Orange corn, which is naturally high in provitamin A carotenoids, could help combat vitamin A deficiency in developing countries, a condition that causes blindness in 250,000 to 500,000 children every year.

T:8.125”

EU corn crop reaches record high Estimates also raised for wheat and barley production

T:10”

Paris / French consultancy Strategie Grains has lifted its forecast for the EU’s 2014 grain maize harvest for the fourth month in a row to a record 73.3 million tonnes. The estimate was nearly two million tonnes above last month’s and now 14 per cent above the crop harvested in 2013. “Since last month we have increased our production estimates for several countries, in which excellent yields were expected: Hungary, Romania, France, Croatia, Austria and Germany,” it said in a monthly report. This large EU maize crop adds to already hefty global supplies with a record U.S. corn crop of 373 million tonnes. However, as opposed to the United States, where corn ending stocks are expected to exceed the 51-million-tonne mark for the first time in a decade, the outlook was rather balanced in Europe, Strategie Grains said. “The gain in attractiveness of EU maize, along with the competitiveness of maize against wheat, have enabled it to pick up demand and gave the EU maize balance sheet a more balanced outlook,” it said. The consultancy also raised its estimate for this year’s soft wheat crop in the 28-member bloc for the sixth month in a row, putting it at 147.4 million tonnes, against 146.6 million estimated last month and now nine per cent above 2013. The EU barley harvest is estimated to be 59.9 million tonnes. – Reuters

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OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

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ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Genuity and Design® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC, Monsanto Canada, Inc. licensee. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS. Helix® and Vibrance® are registered trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. © 2014 Syngenta.

OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

BRINGING IN THE HAY

A truck hauling a trailer stacked with round bales makes its way across a field near Millarville, Alta. Producers in southern Alberta have taken advantage of clear and warm weather in early fall to catch up on field work after a freak snowstorm in September left pastures too soggy. Photo: Wendy Dudley SEC-REDW14-T_AFE.qxd

10/15/14

12:46 AM

Page 1

Tips for making hay during fall’s cool, damp weather Fall is less than an ideal time for putting up forage, so the goal should be to salvage what can be salvaged and feed it quickly

A better harvest.

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ime is of the essence when putting up forage under less-than-ideal moisture conditions. “Cool and wet fall weather is great for pasture recovery and for easing forages into dormancy, but not so good for drying hay,” says Linda Hunt, forage specialist with the Alberta Ag-Info Centre in Stettler. “It’s not uncommon for fall conditions in the central and northern areas of the province to be too cool and wet to allow the swath to get down to the ideal 15 to 18 per cent moisture. So what do you do when your second cut is on the ground and it is too dry to silage but too wet for hay?” The short answer is to salvage what can be salvaged and feed it quickly. “The big advantage we have in Canada is the cool fall temperatures give us some grace to bale forage up tough and still come out OK,” says Hunt. “It’s sort of like storing your salad in the fridge rather than on the counter. The cooler temperatures can slow down the rate of spoilage giving you a chance to get the forage fed while there is still value. It’s definitely not the ideal situation, and is highly dependent on the weather, but it is a useful strategy when snow is in the forecast.” Forage baled between 18 to 35 per cent is highly variable and unpredictable so should be fed first and with caution, advises Hunt. “Wet, warm bales provide an ideal habitat for bacteria and mould growth, and it is the activity of the mould and bacteria that causes the bales to heat. Protein in

bales that reach 50 C or higher lose their value as the protein is converted to a form that is unavailable to livestock. The cool fall temperatures reduce the amount of heat produced in the bale by slowing down the activity of the bacteria and mould, as well as cooling the bales faster and keeping them from reaching the critical 50 C.” So use the assets that living in a northern climate provide, says Hunt. Colleague Ken Ziegler suggests “only putting 900 pounds of feed into the space of a 1,200-pound bale. When the bale is popped out of the baler, you will be able to slip your hand into the side of the bale quite far and quite easily compared to a tightly made bale. This allows the moisture to exit easier and the heat to dissipate.” Line bales up in north-south rows to minimize the exposure to the sun, says Hunt, and increase the surface area exposed to the westerly fall winds. “Leave a four- to six-inch gap between bales within the row, and space the rows far apart to increase circulation and enhance cooling. Keep wet bales out of doors for the best circulation and at the front of the stack where they can be accessed and fed first.” Wrapping bales can also be an option. “Ideally, bales should be in the 35 to 50 per cent range to ensure they ensile. If you have lower than 35 per cent moisture it can be difficult to remove the oxygen and spoilage is common. Again, the cool temperatures we have in the fall and winter slow down the rate of spoilage buying time to get the bales fed.” For more information on making quality bale silage, go to foragebeef.ca.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

U.S. farmers seen cutting fertilizer use as crop prices slide A late harvest and poor cash flow mean fewer applicators on U.S. fields this fall BY ROD NICKEL REUTERS

.S. farmers are cutting back on spreading fertilizer this autumn in response to a drop in crop prices to multi-year lows and a delayed harvest, dealers say, warning of a pullback that will be felt from grain markets to Canadian potash mines. Ten of 12 U.S. farm retail companies surveyed by Reuters say fertilizer sales this autumn are lower than they were last year. Reductions in fertilizer use of an estimated 10 to 50 per cent by volume could hit profits of producers such as PotashCorp of Saskatchewan and Mosaic Co. Lower fertilizer use in the world’s biggest corn-growing country could also point to smaller yields and reduced U.S. corn production in 2015, depending on weather and the size of the planted area. Some U.S. dealers say there is still time for fertilizer sales to recover to last year’s levels once farmers complete the harvest. But others fear a slump that could stretch into 2015 as low crop prices push purchases out of reach. “We’re having customer after customer telling us they’re having trouble with their banks,” said Randy Stephens, president of Texas-based SureGrow Ag

Products. He sees farmers cutting back by as much as 50 per cent on autumn fertilizer usage. Farmers also face dwindling credit availability based on projections that prices for next year’s crops will remain weak, he said. Chicago nearby corn futures earlier this month touched their lowest price since 2009 on expectations for the biggest harvest ever.

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Dealers said farmers are likely to cut back on all three major nutrients — potash, phosphate and nitrogen — but especially potash and phosphate, which are not typically applied every year. Joe Dillier, director of plant food at Growmark, a co-operative that spans 30 states, said fertilizer orders have been “non-existent.” But he expects a sales drop of only 10 per cent as high-yielding crops strip the soil of nutrients.

One banker sees farmers cutting fall fertilizer applications by as much as 50 per cent. Farmers apply fertilizer from late October into early December, depending on the region, once the harvest is complete. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Oct. 14 that only 24 per cent of corn was harvested, compared with the normal pace of 43 per cent. While corn, wheat and soybean prices fall, wholesale prices for granular potash and granular urea in the U.S. Corn Belt were up seven and 13 per cent year over year as of Oct. 10, according to data posted by Mosaic. “There’s going to be some cutbacks because (crop) prices are poor and inputs are too high,”

said Ralph Price, agronomy manager at Meadowland Farmers Co-op in Lamberton, Minnesota, who expects orders to fall 20 per cent this fall. Not all dealers are so bearish. The reduction in sales is likely to be modest because farmers will have good cash flow after the harvest, said Bill Wolf, president of the plant nutrient group at Andersons Inc. Fertilizer producers have acknowledged the possibility of a demand drop-off, but emphasize that farmers risk smaller crops and profits by cutting back. “This was a gigantic crop pro-

FILE PHOTO

duced in the U.S. With that, there was a lot of phosphate and potash taken out of the soil,” Mosaic chief executive Jim Prokopanko said in a Sept. 30 interview. “That has to be replenished.” Agrium Inc., which produces fertilizer and operates North America’s biggest farm retail network, expects a normal fall application season, depending on when harvest wraps up, spokesman Richard Downey said. Mosaic recently cut phosphate production due to rising costs, and Agrium warned its final two quarters of 2014 would miss profit expectations.

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OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

GMO label foes spend big on campaigns in Oregon, Colorado Voters weigh in on issue in upcoming midterm elections By Carey Gillam Reuters

pponents of GMO food labelling proposals on the ballot next month in Oregon and Colorado have contributed roughly $20 million for campaigning against the proposed laws, nearly triple the money raised by supporters of the initiatives, campaign finance reports show. Both measures would require labels on foods made with genetically engineered crops, which are common in the United States. Voters in Colorado and Oregon weigh in on the issue in midterm election voting on Nov. 6. Similar mandatory labelling measures failed at the ballot box in California in 2012 and in Washington state in 2013. Vermont passed a mandatory labelling law this year, but a group of grocery manufacturers has sued to block the law. Opponents who have contributed to defeat the measure include a long list of corporate powerhouses such as Mon-

santo Co., the leading developer of biotech crops. Other large contributors include PepsiCo Inc., Kellogg Co. and Kraft Foods. Campaign finance reports filed Oct. 15 in Oregon show opponents have pooled about $10.7 million to try to defeat the measure. That compares to more than $5.5 million from supporters of mandatory labelling. In Colorado, many of the same labelling opponents

have contributed more than $11.2 million, versus roughly $441,000 contributed by supporters of labelling, according to campaign reports filed this week. Among the supporters of GMO labelling is the ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s, which is also one of the major financial backers of the effort. Other supporters include food safety and family farm groups, organic food companies and individuals.

All major U.S. railroads must report service stats: regulator The edict comes as the grain sector braces for a long, slow winter By Karl Plume reuters

he top U.S. rail regulator ruled all Class 1 railroads operating in the United States must provide detailed weekly freight service reports, a decision that cited months of congestion that has hit the grain and power industries particularly hard. Carriers must submit detailed data on average train speeds, dwell times and other service metrics on a temporary basis beginning on Oct. 22, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) said. They must also jointly submit a narrative summary of operating conditions at the Chicago gateway, a busy rail hub that is a choke point in the national network. The ruling was a victory for the agriculture and power industries, which have argued for more transparency from rail carriers about the products they carry on their networks. Some have accused railroads of prioritizing crude shipments from shale oilfields in North Dakota over grain and coal, a charge the carriers deny. “Today, the STB is taking needed action to hold the railroads accountable, require more transparency from the railroads

on all products shipped on the rails, and make sure all products — whether grain, oil, coal or anything else — are treated equally and fairly in how they are transported,” Senator Heidi Heitkamp, of North Dakota, said. The STB ruling came after a public hearing last month and supersedes an earlier decision requiring only Canadian Pacific and BNSF, the top carriers in the congested northern Plains region, to report service details. Railroads have argued that they are taking all necessary steps to improve service, including hiring additional staff and expanding track capacity. But they have struggled to fully recover from service slowdowns caused by extremely harsh weather last winter and soaring demand for hauling crude oil by rail. “It is unclear how the increased reporting requirements in today’s order will in any way lead to improved service,” said Edward Hamberger, president and chief executive of the Association of American Railroads. Carriers have been voluntarily providing the STB with weekly statistics on terminal dwell times, velocity and the number of cars online since 1999, he said.

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

U.S. foods labelled ‘natural’ often contain GMOs, group reports Virtually all of the 80 ‘natural’ foods tested contain genetically modified corn or soy BY CAREY GILLAM REUTERS

majority of U.S. packaged foods labelled as “natural” and tested by Consumer Reports actually contained a substantial level of genetically modified ingredients, according to a report from the non-profit product-testing group. Consumers are being misled by the “natural” label, said Urvashi Rangan, executive director of Consumer Reports Food Safety and Sustainability. Consumer Reports said it had conducted a survey of more than 80 different processed foods containing corn or soy, the two most widely grown genetically engineered crops in the United States, to determine whether labelling claims for GMO presence were accurate. While foods labelled as “nonGMO,” or “organic” were found to be free of genetically modified corn and soy, virtually all of the foods labelled as “natural” or not labelled with any claim related to GMO content contained substantial amounts of GMO ingredients, Consumer Reports said. GMOs were present in breakfast cereals, chips, and infant formula, the group said. The organization said it tested at least two samples of each of the 80 products to measure GMO content. The products were purchased between April and July 2014, the group said. Products considered to be free of GMOs contained no more than 0.9 per cent genetically modified corn or soy. The report comes as the Grocery Manufacturers Association, which represents more than 300 food companies, is pushing the federal government to develop a definition of the term “natural” on food packaging, and to allow foods containing GMOs to be labelled as natural. Some food manufacturers have been sued for using “all natural” labels on products that contain genetically modified ingredients. Biotech crops currently on the market include corn, soybeans, canola and sugar beets that have been genetically altered to repel pests or tolerate direct spraying of herbicides. The companies that develop them say the crops are safe. Many scientific studies back those claims. But critics point to studies that show links to human and animal health problems and environmental damage. Last October, an international coalition of scientists said there is a lack of consensus in the scientific community about the safety of genetically modified crops. Vermont has passed a law that requires foods containing GMO ingredients to be labelled as such, and more than 20 other states are considering mandatory labelling of GMO foods, including Colorado and Oregon, which have the issue on the ballot for the November election. The policy arm of Consumer Reports, Consumers Union, supports mandatory labelling of foods containing GMOs.

It has been two years since this photo was taken during the California GMO labelling campaign was lost, but the debate rages on. Recent testing has shown many packaged foods labelled as “natural” contain GMO ingredients. PHOTO: REUTERS/STEPHEN LAM

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OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Aid groups cheer food price fall to four-year low However, ‘hunger hot spots’ remain in countries affected by disease and strife By Chris Arsenault

rome / thomson reuters foundation

Vendors sell vegetables in a market in Monrovia, Liberia October 1, 2014. The threat of hunger is tracking Ebola across affected West African nations as the disease kills farmers and their families, drives workers from the fields and creates food shortages. Photo: REUTERS/James Giahyue

orld food prices have hit a four-year low with record harvests breathing new hope into the fight against hunger, though some “hunger hot spots” remain, says a UN agency. Global wheat production is forecast to reach a record high in 2014, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in its monthly food price index released in Rome. Other coarse grains, including maize, are seeing a “comfortable” balance between supply and demand, leading to the lowest world prices since August 2010, it said. “Lower prices are good news from two points of view,” said Jane Howard, a spokeswoman for the World Food Program. “Fewer people go to bed hungry every night and it also means our organization’s food bill — buying food for our operations — is lower.”

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Global cereal stocks are expected to rise above 2.5 billion tonnes, their highest level in 15 years. Prices of sugar and dairy products fell most sharply in the latest monthly report, followed by cereals and oils, while meat prices remained high. But not everyone is happy. Low prices mean large trading houses and integrated supermarkets are paying less to small farmers. “The people at the bottom are being squeezed,” said Graciela Romero, international programs director at the British anti-poverty charity War on Want. “It is just a few hands controlling the market and prices will likely spike up again because there is no regulation.” The current period of lower prices is a marked change from 2007-08 when rising food prices triggered riots across several developing countries. Across the world, countries are set to spend more than $1 trillion on food imports in 2014. While harvests in much of the world hit high or even record levels, some regions continue to struggle. Countries affected by Ebola in West Africa — Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone — are facing serious market disruption. “In the Ebola-hit countries (we are) concerned about rising food prices,” Howard said. “While (the latest report is) good news overall, we are very worried about hunger hot spots.” Drought conditions in Central America are likely to reduce harvests there in 2014, while political violence in Iraq and Syria has severely degraded food security in those countries. Food prices in Somalia and Sudan remain at record levels, despite the generally better food security situation in much of East Africa.

Ukraine sees 2014-15 grain exports at a record Ukraine’s grain exports in 2014-15 will exceed last season’s record level of 33 million tonnes thanks to a higher harvest, said Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Ihor Shvaika. He gave no exact forecast, but the ministry has previously said exports would be no less than 30 million tonnes this season which runs from July to June. Ukraine plans to harvest 64.4 million tonnes of grain this year versus 63 million tonnes in 2013. According to the ministry’s data, Ukraine exported a total of 9.9 million tonnes of grain in the period from July 1 to Oct. 14, including 5.9 million tonnes of wheat and 3.07 million tonnes of barley. The former Soviet republic exported 7.4 million tonnes of grain in the same period last season. Analysts have said Ukraine is likely to export at about 26 million to 27 million tonnes. — Reuters

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

Food prices rise by 24 per cent in Ebola-hit countries Hundreds of farmers have died, disrupting planting and harvesting Reuters

ood prices have risen by an average of 24 per cent across the three countries worst hit by the Ebola outbreak, forcing some families to reduce their intake to one meal a day, said a World Food Program (WFP) spokeswoman. The food-producing regions of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia in West Africa have been severely affected by the worst outbreak on record of the viral hemorrhagic fever that has killed nearly 4,500 people. Infection rates in the food-producing zones of Kenema and Kailahun in Sierra Leone, Lofa and Bong County in Liberia and Guéckédou in Guinea are among the highest in the region. Hundreds of farmers have died. Decisions by the three governments to quarantine districts and restrict movements to contain the spread of the virus have also disrupted markets and led to food

scarcity and panic buying, further pushing up prices. “Prices have risen by an average of 24 per cent,” said WFP spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs. “Planting and harvesting is being disrupted with implications for food supply further down the line.” Byrs said her organization was carrying out a food security survey remotely using mobile phones to investigate the impact of the crisis on 2,400 families across the three countries. The first round of the survey of 800 people in Sierra Leone’s eastern districts of Kailahun and Kenema showed that people are worse off in terms of food security, despite being the main producing areas. “The survey showed that certain families have cut down to one meal a day or that people are eating food that costs less, such as cassava instead of rice,” she said.

A health worker checks the temperature of a woman entering Mali from Guinea. The food-producing regions of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia in West Africa have been severely affected by the worst Ebola outbreak on record. Photo: REUTERS/Joe Penney

U.K. rapeseed production jumps despite lower area Wheat area and yields recover from rain-soaked 2013 U.K. rapeseed production in 2014 rose 17 per cent to 2.5 million tonnes as favourable weather drove an increase in yields. “The overall oilseed rape yield has increased 25 per cent to 3.7 tonnes per hectare (66 bu./ ac.) following favourable weather conditions in 2014,” Britain’s Farm Ministry said. The area planted with rapeseed fell by 5.8 per cent to 674,000 hectares but there was a shift towards higher-yielding winter-sown varieties. The winter rapeseed area climbed 6.3 per cent to 660,000 hectares while spring plantings fell by 85.2 per cent to just 14,000 hectares, the ministry said. Wet weather in the autumn of 2012 prevented many farmers from planting winter rapeseed and led to a switch towards spring varieties. Conditions were more favourable for the planting of this year’s crop. — Reuters

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The world is coming in 2018 The 28th Commonwealth Agriculture Conference will be part of Farmfair International in 2018. Since 1963, the conference has been held biennially in Commonwealth nations across the world and is designed to give delegates a taste of the agriculture industry in the region of the host country. It was developed by the Royal Agriculture Society of the Commonwealth, which encourages and arranges an interchange of knowledge and experience in agriculture throughout the Commonwealth by working with leading national agricultural shows. — Farmfair release

Videos on AgInnovations winners Agri-Trade has its own YouTube channel and recently posted videos on its 2014 AgInnovations winners. The three winners are Haukaas Manufacturing (Rotating Bale Grapple), Integrity Post Structures (Perma-Column) and John Deere (Interactive Combine Adjustment). See story on page 46. To view the videos, go to www.youtube.com and enter ‘Agri-Trade Equipment Expo’ in the search box. The videos can also be found at www.agri-trade.com — Staff

HEARTLAND Heritage Ranch Rodeo a showcase of real-life cowboy skills

The 10-year-old event is the only place outside a working ranch to see traditional skills such as sorting, branding, and team doctoring By Tessa Nybo af contributor

skilfully thrown loop glides around a steer’s neck; another comes from behind to capture his two hind legs; and then two ranch hands on the ground hold the steer down for treatment. If this was out in the middle of a pasture, the cowboy or cowgirl would likely give the calf an injection, perhaps to treat a foot rot or pink eye problem. However, this time the ranch hands are under the lights of the Edmonton EXPO Centre with a crowd of spectators filling the seats on each side of the arena. They are competing in the team doctoring event at the Heritage Ranch Rodeo and the clock is ticking. And all the while, the familiar voice of longtime ranch rodeo announcer Gord Colliar booms over the sound system. “It is the only event that brings the working cowboy to the spotlight,” Colliar said in an interview. The Heritage Ranch Rodeo consists of events that simulate the work done every day on many of the country’s working cattle operations. Contestants must perform the events in a controlled manner that is humane to the horses and cattle involved, while also racing the clock in the team sorting, branding, doctoring and wild horse race, or being judged in the bronc riding. The events provide heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat excitement while showcasing the traditional methods of the working cowboy that are still in use to this day. Teams from 16 working ranches from across Western Canada will compete Nov. 4-6 at this year’s rodeo, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Colliar, Vern Lonsberry, Dave Fiddler, and Wilf Robson were instrumental in getting the rodeo started at Farmfair International to celebrate Alberta’s centennial in 2005. They chose to make ‘heritage’ part of the name to honour the cowboys and cowgirls of years past. “In that initial year, the ranch rodeo was an invitational event where ranches with a brand that had been registered for a minimum of 100 years were invited to put together a team of hands from their ranch to compete,” recalled Colliar. “It was an extremely high honour for a ranch to be selected to compete in the Heritage Ranch Rodeo and the ranch hands worked hard all year to be selected for that honour.” Colliar has been the voice of the rodeo

“It is the only event that brings the working cowboy to the spotlight.” Gord Colliar (above)

since Day 1. A cattle, dairy, and equine industry specialist with Zoetis, he had announced the Medicine Tree Ranch Rodeo in Nanton for 10 years prior, so announcing the Heritage Ranch Rodeo was a natural fit. The rules have been loosened to allow other ranches to compete, and many of the bigger, historic operations have dropped out because the event coincides with weaning, selling and ship-

ping of calves. But that hasn’t affected the level of competition and there has been a continual improvement in the horsemanship of the contestants, said Colliar. Although the rodeo is the premier showcase of traditional ranch skills, it’s also much more than that, he said. “The social aspect of getting together with old friends and educating people about our industry — I am very pas-

sionate about that,” said Colliar, adding that’s what brings him back year after year. It is a showcase of skills both the seasoned cowboy and first-time urban spectator can enjoy — and a glimpse of a world most people don’t get to experience. “There are lots of working cowboys left in the world,” said Colliar. “They’re just hard to see from the road.”

OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

The next farm tech revolution Rob Saik says big data will soon be a fact of life on farms, and producers will have to find ways to deal with it all now has more than 65 million acres of farm data in its system. The key is to zero in on specifics that truly matter, he said. “In southern Alberta, I coach a farm — every year they have low zinc levels on their cornfield,” said Saik. “I know they have to put zinc on. There is 13 to 14 years’ worth of data saying this is what it needs.”

By Jill Burkhardt af contributor

arm technology has come a long way — the leap from horses to tractors seemed huge until computers, auto steer, and advances in seed and crop chemistry came along. But the next technological leap is going to be the biggest yet, and it’s already underway, according to Rob Saik, CEO and founder of the Agri-Trend group of companies. “We are in an age of exponential growth with devices connecting to the Internet,” said Saik, who is also the author of The Agriculture Manifesto: Ten Key Drivers That Will Shape Agriculture in the Next Decade, a look at technology in farming and food production. Take a look at the equipment on display at Agri-Trade — virtually all of it can communicate wirelessly with the operator and, increasingly, other equipment. With all these devices giving us data, Saik said he can see a rapid creation of a “central nervous system” for the farm. Just as nerve fibres continually send data to the brain, farm devices of the future will monitor a host of things such as weather, soil moisture, heat and moisture in your bins, and even real-time data on what’s happening to plants in the field. And all these devices will link with smartphones, he predicted.

Why bigger?

It’s an odd sight, but driverless tractors are already here. And tech expert Rob Saik says combines will be next. Photo: Kinze Manufacturing “This is going to happen more rapidly than the adoption of the smartphone itself,” Saik said. But as is always the case, it’s not what technology farmers have, but what do farmers want technology to do. While auto steer was adopted very quickly once it became easy to use, variable-rate technology has advanced rapidly but remains challenging because it’s not easy to get all the pieces to fit. “There is a separation with grasping technology compared with guys ignoring it,” said Saik. “When the user interface becomes easy to use, more adaptation takes place.”

Big data

All these monitoring devices mean there will be a growing mountain of data on every farm. But without interpretation and implementation, data is useless, said Saik. That is going to lead to artificial intelligence — software that relies on algorithms — to help farmers turn data into dollars, he said. “The key to helping us sort data is to integrate technology,” said Saik. “The information will be too large and with tight margins, farmers can’t afford to guess.” And data has a way of piling up. Saik’s company has been tracking farm data online since 2001 and

Another driver in farm technology is obvious to every visitor at any farm equipment show — machines are getting bigger. It’s no coincidence this is happening at a time when it’s increasingly harder to find people willing to work on farms, said Saik. “We can’t find qualified operators,” he said. “(But) we are able to drive 120-foot-wide sprayers travelling 18 miles an hour.” The next logical step is to have driverless farm equipment, he said. “If Google has cars that travel half a million miles without an accident, farmers will have combines that drive themselves.” And if the thought of tractors driving themselves makes you laugh, consider that since 2012 Kinze Manufacturing has been working with three farmers in western Illinois to reduce labour at harvest time via driverless tractors pulling grain carts. “The participating farmers have experienced significant efficiency gains during this year’s harvest,”

the company stated in a press release. “Kinze continues to work toward full commercialization of the system.”

Ranches next

Many of the big changes have occurred on grain operations, with cattle producers waiting for their turn in the high-tech limelight. But with cattle prices at an alltime high, that wait may soon be over. “There will be a very sharp lift in technology in forage equipment and on the cattle end of things,” predicted Saik. On the forage side, Vermeer introduced a conceptual fully continuous round baler in September. “(The baler) allows two bales to be formed simultaneously, enabling the operator to continually move forward without having to stop and wait for a finished bale to eject before moving on to the next bale,” boasts the Vermeer website. Cattle producers can also use Bluetooth technology integrated in RFID tag readers and scale weigh-bars that connect to a tablet like the Gallagher TSi 2. Keeping up with the latest technology is critical to sustaining efficient operations, said Saik. And so shows like Agri-Trade are not only a chance to see the latest and greatest in new technology, but also a chance to think about what’s driving innovations and what the future might hold.

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

PASTURES OF PLENTY

Extended warm fall weather has producers still working in the fields to get the hay in, all with a golden backdrop of aspens and mountains, west of Okotoks, Alta. Photo: Wendy Dudley

Elm pruning ban over

NEW at UFA

Alberta has the largest stand of American elms in the world that is free of Dutch elm disease The 2014 elm pruning ban in Alberta has ended for the year. “Although Alberta remains free of DED, with two neighbouring jurisdictions, Saskatchewan and Montana battling the disease, we must stay vigilant to keep our elms healthy,” says Janet FeddesCalpas, executive director, Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease. Since its introduction from Europe in 1930, Dutch elm disease has destroyed millions of American elm trees across North America. At present, Alberta has the largest DED-free American elm stands in the world. There are an estimated 750,000 mature trees found in Alberta. Onethird are in urban areas, with the remaining 500,000 in provincial parks, farm shelterbelts, and rural homesteads. The ban, which will resume April 1, is necessary during the time when DED-carrying beetles are active, which is between April and September. Fresh cuts from pruning may attract the beetles that can spread the disease, increasing the chance of an infection. Once they have infected an area, elm bark beetles will feed on healthy elms during the growing season and then breed and overwinter in dead and dying elm trees. “The annual pruning ban is in effect during the time of year when elm bark beetles are potentially most active,” says Feddes-Calpas. “Pruning remains an important part of regular elm tree care and is encouraged in Alberta, outside of the annual ban period. Proper pruning helps keep trees healthy and better able to resist disease.”

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OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

FNA wants more time to present CWB purchase plan to farmers Is a sale being sped up ahead of the next federal election? BY ALLAN DAWSON STAFF

armers of North America (FNA) says with harvest delays it needs another six to eight weeks to pitch its plan for farmers to buy CWB from the federal government. But FNA president and CEO James Mann fears CWB will be sold first — probably to a foreign multinational grain company. “I would say I don’t have high hopes currently, but we’re definitely doing everything we can to get farmers the time they need to look at this,” Mann said Oct. 16. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz didn’t directly respond when asked if FNA will get more time. “The CWB will assess all potential bidders and then submit a plan for commercialization to the government, in accordance with the legislation,” Ritz said in an email. In April, CWB president and CEO Ian White said the company intends to provide a privatization plan to Ritz before the 2016 deadline, which also requires CWB to be privatized or wound down by 2017. That means CWB’s sale is imminent, said Bob Friesen, FNA’s vice-president of government relations.

Ritz supports a farmer-owned CWB but the matter goes beyond Ritz’s office, Mann said. “I think this is a deeper political question,” Mann said. “We’re not that far away from the election.” FNA wants to create a new farmer-owned company called Genesis Grain and Fertilizer Limited Partnership to handle and market western grain and distribute fertilizer. (FNA is also trying to create a $1.7-billion, farmer-owned nitrogen-manufacturing plant at Belle Plaine, Sask.) FNA is a privately owned company that describes itself as “a business alliance of farmers dedicated to maximizing farm profitability.” Farmers pay a fee for FNA services. In its offering memorandum issued Oct. 10, FNA asks farmers to invest a minimum of $10,000 (10 units of $1,000 each) to establish Genesis, which will try to buy CWB’s assets.

supplies products to FNA customers. Mann said western Canadian farmers have the money to buy CWB and is convinced they’ll do just that if they have time to consider the deal. It makes economic sense to handle grain and fertilizer at the same facilities, he said. Moreover, whoever buys CWB gets the money back to reinvest in the company, Friesen said. That’s what federal officials told an unnamed farm organization, he said. The Winnipeg Free Press quoted CWB’s chief strategy officer Dayna Spiring as saying much the same. “The government wants a strong and viable CWB,” Spiring is quoted as saying. “That was its goal when it removed the monopoly. To take away assets or to take a purchase price away would not be consistent with the goal of a strong and viable CWB going forward.”

Money stays with CWB?

Excess margins

Should the CWB purchase fail, FNA will continue to create Genesis if it raises at least $20 million. The maximum to be raised is $380 million. If CWB isn’t purchased farmers can get their money back, said Derek Penner, chief financial officer of AgraCity, a privately held firm that

The wide price discounts grain farmers received last crop year relative to port prices were akin to “a great grain robbery,” Mann said. “The only solution they (farmers) have to protect themselves from excess margins is to be involved in the business and capture those margins.”

At more than 100 recent farmer meetings across the West 1,000 producers said they would invest almost $50 million in Genesis, although their pledges are not binding, Friesen said. FNA first approached CWB in 2012 and has since sent a letter of intent demonstrating it’s serious, he said. CWB was created Aug. 1, 2012 after the federal government ended the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly. CWB has never made its financial report public, despite operating for two crop years. When asked if FNA has seen CWB’s books Penner replied: “Based on our best estimates, using publicly available information, we put the value of those (CWB) assets at between $250 million and $300 million.” FNA and AgraCity have put up the capital to kick-start Genesis. To recover its costs FNA will own shares in Genesis, Mann said. “The first portion is to cover costs, the second portion is to a subordinated position to farmers having received their capital back in the project,” he said. Other strategic partners, including grain customers, are also being sought, he said. The company is being set up so farmers retain ownership, he added. “They (farmers) do not want to see a situation like SaskWheat

Pool where their shares were available to be picked up by other entities that aren’t farmers and as a result lose their ownership interests,” Mann said. If as few as 3,000 farmers commit to delivering 1,000 tonnes each for a total of three million tonnes, Genesis can succeed, but the goal is to handle 20 per cent of Western Canada’s grain or five million to seven million tonnes a year, Friesen said. Work has started on West Coast port access for the company, he added. “We’re not proposing to resurrect the wheat board,” Friesen said. “We’re not proposing to buy the CWB for nostalgic or ideological reasons. We’re proposing that the farmer buy the CWB’s assets purely for commercial reasons...” CWB assets include its Winnipeg office building, around 3,300 hopper cars and two new lake freighters, port terminals at Thunder Bay and Trois-Rivières and a small elevator at Alexander, Man., acquired when it purchased Mission Terminal. CWB has also purchased Great Sand Hills Terminal and Prairie West Terminal, both in Saskatchewan and is building new concrete elevators at Bloom and Ste. Agathe, Man. and Colonsay and Pasqua, Sask. allan@fbcpublishing.com

Lack of information on CWB privatization criticized BY ALLAN DAWSON STAFF

(L to R): Blair Sanderson, CA; Glenn Dogterom, CFP, CMA; Bob Rice, CA

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A former Canadian Wheat Board director is critical about the lack of information around how CWB will be privatized. Stewart Wells, who is also chair of the Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board, which fought to retain the board’s sales monopoly, suspects the federal government has secret criteria for the sale, including that CWB remain a stand-alone entity for a certain period. That way the government can say it fulfilled its promise to make CWB an option in an open market. “The federal government is trying to bury this dead skunk as fast as it can and it’s using these CWB assets as a bribe,” Wells said, alluding to reports that whoever buys CWB will get their money back to reinvest in the company. What happens to CWB assets matters to farmers because, according to Wells, they belong to farmers. Almost all the wheat board’s revenue was earned while marketing farmers’ grain, he said. “The Canadian taxpayer has a dog in this battle too,” Wells said referring to the $177 million Ottawa contributed to assist the wheat board transition to an open market. Wells said he’s surprised

Farmers of North America (FNA) wants to buy CWB without having seen its books. He’s also skeptical that FNA’s proposed grain company would have much impact in the market given its size relative to much bigger competitors. Keystone Agricultural Producers wants to see as much competition for farmers’ grain as possible, but isn’t publicly endorsing FNA’s plan to buy CWB, said Doug Chorney, president of the Manitoba farm group.

“The federal government is trying to bury this dead skunk as fast as it can and it’s using these CWB assets as a bribe.” STEWART WELLS

“We don’t want to put support behind one initiative in case there’s another initiative potentially competing with it comprised of another farmerownership option,” he said.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

WTO again sides with Canada on COOL, but… By Shannon VanRaes staff

Under pressure to meet legislated quotas, railways give preference to their own main lines By Phil Franz-Warkentin Commodity News Service Canada

estern Canadian short line railways say they are getting the short end of the stick as they struggle to meet their own commitments moving grain and other products along their tracks. Last winter’s backlog of grain, linked in part to poor rail movement, prompted Ottawa to require the CN Rail and CP Rail move 500,000 tonnes of grain per week or face fines. There have been some concerns raised over the relatively cheap financial penalty (now at $100,000 per violation). There have also been a few cases where the quotas were not met, but in general the legislation has met its broad goal of seeing more grain move. However, an unintended consequence of the legislation has seen CN and CP focus their attentions on the “low-hanging fruit” of moving SEC_BRAW14_T_MC.qxd 9/25/14 grain along their main lines, where

there are fast turnaround times, at the expense of other business. “The legislation was a knee-jerk reaction, and has proved very disruptive to the transportation system as a whole,” said Sheldon Affleck, president of Big Sky Rail Corp. and Mobil Grain in Saskatchewan. While large elevators on the main line are getting a steady supply of cars, “the short lines are getting the short end of the stick,” said Roger Gadd, general manager of Saskatchewan’s Great Western Railway. “We’re still trying to catch up with last year’s crop, and we’ll probably never catch up this year,” said Gadd. He said rail car deliveries were inconsistent and estimated his railway was about 1,500 cars behind.

Unintended consequences

While Great Western depends on CP Rail for its cars, Gadd said railways are simply doing what was best for their own business under the current legislation. Rather, he placed the blame on the federal 9:40 AM Page 1 mandates themselves.

“Whenever you have government regulation, you do certainly get unintended consequences,” added Lee Jebb, vice-president of railway operations with Cando Rail Services, which runs the Central Manitoba Railway short line. “If you’re under orders to move a lot of wheat, you’ll move it to places that make the best utilization of your cars.” He said his short line

“The legislation was a knee-jerk reaction, and has proved very disruptive to the transportation system as a whole.” Sheldon Affleck Big Sky Rail Corp.

could provide a quick turnaround, but noted that other lines located farther off the beaten track were having issues. One additional consequence of the grain-moving legislation is that customers moving other products, such as fertilizer, have been given lower priority, said Jebb. Difficulties moving grain and other products to the U.S., which has a longer turnaround time, were another issue, according to Affleck. “If you believe in the free enterprise market, just let it go and don’t regulate things to death,” said Affleck, “because then you’re just adding one regulation on another regulation on another regulation, and putting out fires, and listening to complaints, on and on.” The current legislation runs out Nov. 29, and Affleck said he hopes it is not extended. “We need ideas on how to make things move smooth, not how to force people to do this, that, or the other thing,” said Affleck.

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It’s the third time the World Trade Organization has ruled in Canada’s favour, but it may not be the charm producers are hoping for. The international organization’s appellate body issued a 206-page decision last week that said the United States has not done enough to comply with previous WTO rulings regarding country-oforigin labelling (COOL). That prompted Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz to urge Washington to comply. “This ruling is further vindication for our Canadian position and what we have known for many months now,” said Ritz. “It’s important that the Americans immediately do the right thing in the interest of our North American integrated beef and pork industry — Canada calls upon the U.S. to enact legislative change as soon as possible.” Representatives of Canada’s beef and pork sectors echoed the call for swift compliance by the United States government, but were not optimistic that change would come quickly. “We are very pleased with this win, but it is the third time,” said Canadian Pork Council chairman Jean-Guy Vincent. “After the WTO appellate body confirmed the illegal discrimination in COOL in 2012 the U.S. did nothing to eliminate the discrimination against imported Canadian-born hogs and beef cattle. Indeed, the revised final rule made the discrimination worse.” Ritz was clear that the federal government is preparing to take retaliatory measures, and has circulated a wideranging list of products that could be affected. He said that Canada is prepared to use “any and all means at our disposal.” But before retaliation can occur, farmers and politicians will likely have to wait for a U.S. response to the ruling. “We fully expect the Americans to appeal again,” said Ritz. First introduced in 2008, the U.S. law requires retailers to list the country of origin on meat products. The Canadian and Mexican governments have argued that this requirement discriminates against their meat products, resulting in a significant decline in the number of hogs and cattle exported to the U.S. In Canada, the federal government estimates the losses in excess of $1 billion per year. “The first step of being a good partner is living up to your obligations,” said Ritz. “It’s paramount that U.S. legislators act quickly to remove the discrimination and costly segregation of our Canadian livestock.”

‘Fair rail’ act no so fair for short lines

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OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Ebola predicted to lead to ‘hunger crisis of epic proportions’ Hunger and displacement caused by the crisis could have long-lasting effects by Laura Rance

Manitoba Co-operator Editor/ Des Moines, Iowa

The virus that has so far killed thousands in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea has driven 40 per cent of farmers from their fields, and is causing the agricultural economy of the West African region to collapse. Entire populations now lack access to food, and farmers who do have crops have no market access. “It is a disease of the forgotten and the invisible world and it has been a neglected disease,” Nwanze said. “Now it has come to reach capital cities and travelled as far as Europe and the U.S.; the visible world is trembling.”

he global campaign to end world hunger came face to face last week with famine’s powerful new ally: the Ebola virus. “It could lead to a hunger crisis of epic proportions,” Kanayo Nwanze, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) told delegates attending the Borlaug Dialogue, an annual event held in honour of Nobel Peace Prize-winning wheat breeder Norman Borlaug. “We need a rapid, collective Starving the future response. We need to deal with In a live address from the Republic the emergency swiftly, but we also of Sierra Leone, President Ernest need to invest in long-term resil- Koroma said Ebola has taken its biggest toll on young adults, most ience in the rural areas.” While much of the North Ameri- of whom work in agriculture. “A disease that strikes youth and can focus has been on how to prevent the deadly virus from invad- farmers is a disease that destroys ing the First World, hunger fight- food production,” Koroma said. ers, defence experts and political “It weakens our present and leaders from West Africa appealed starves our future.” In its postwar era, Sierra Leone to delegates to see Ebola as a symptom of the very issues they came to had become one the fastestgrowing economies in the world, discuss — hunger and poverty. Nwanze told delegates that with projected annual economic accomplishing what has been growth of more than 11 per cent. described as the “world’s greatest Since May, its economic growth challenge” of feeding more than outlook has been downgraded to nine billion people by 2050 cannot three per cent. Florence Chenoweth, the minisbe accomplished without unleashing the productive capacity of the ter of agriculture for Liberia, said very population that is currently her country has also worked hard being ravaged — poor farmers liv- to rebuild in the aftermath of a civil ing in remote, hard-to-reach areas. war that raged from 1980 to 2006 “We must look to the invisible when a democratically elected in the forgotten world… it is easy government came to power. “We started from scratch,” she to pretend that they don’t exist, but they do,” he said. “And their said, noting that after the war, problems are our own; anyone farmers returning to the land who doubts this has only to look lacked even the seed they needed to plant atCAHOF Ebola.”2014 Ad 9/9/14 3:24 PM Pagea1crop.

People carry a bag of rice at a World Food Program distribution point in Freetown Oct. 18, 2014. The UN’s World Food Program and Food and Agriculture Organization say border and market closures, quarantines and movement restrictions, and widespread fear of Ebola have led to food scarcity, panic buying and price increases, especially in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The WFP is trying to provide food to around one million people in the three worstaffected countries. Photo: REUTERS/Josephus Olu-Mamma The country had since become self-sufficient in seed production and was producing enough rice that food procurement programs for the poor were able to source supplies within the country. Liberia had attracted more than $17.6 billion in foreign invest-

JOIN THE CELEBRATION! Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame

Induction Ceremony to Honour Walter Browarny (nominated by: Canadian Beef Breeds Council)

Charles Froebe (nominated by: Canadian Canola Growers Association)

Lorne Hepworth

ment, $17 billion of which was in agriculture. “All of that agricultural investment has of course left,” Chenoweth said. “When Ebola is contained, our country will virtually be starting again,” she said. Instead of nine per cent economic growth, her country’s outlook has been downgraded to 2.1 per cent since the virus first struck in May. “I think the impact on regional trade is going to be very, very strong,” she said.

No hiding

Linkages between food security, the Ebola crisis and the escalating conflict in Syria were powerful undercurrents rippling through the conference, which focused on how to close the gap between stagnating global productivity gains and the projected growth in demand for food. “We need to recognize that the link of food security to conflict and instability is a strong one,” said Daniel Speckhard, president and CEO of Lutheran World Relief and a former high-level U.S. diplomat serving in Iraq. “We shouldn’t forget that multiyear droughts in Syria between 2006 and 2010 are part and parcel of the spark that led to the beginning of the crisis in that country,” he said. “During that period one-half of the country turned into desert, more than 80 per cent of the

livestock had to be eliminated and that resulted in more than 800,000 people without livelihoods who started migrating to the city to survive.” Speckhard said at a time when there needs to be strong leadership from the international community, the ability of traditional international government organizations to respond is compromised by nationalism and populism. He joined John Hamre, president and CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and former U.S. undersecretary of defence, in urging citizens to support efforts to de-escalate regional tensions before they erupt into global crises. Hamre warned North Americans delude themselves by thinking their safety lies in sealing themselves off within “no-fly zones.” “We are living in an international age when good things and bad things can move at unprecedented speed,” he said. “We’ve known for six months that Ebola was going to become a global problem, we didn’t do anything as a nation. We thought of it as a remote problem, a tragic problem that affected West Africa, not us. “That’s not the case anymore. And I think what Norman Borlaug realized 50 years ago was that the human condition has now become seamless. We are not the beneficiaries if we try to hide.” laura@fbcpublishing.com

(nominated by: CropLife Canada)

Sunday November 9, 2014 6:00 pm Cocktail Reception 7:00 pm Dinner and Ceremony Centennial Room, Liberty Grand 25 British Columbia Road, Exhibition Place, Toronto ON

For tickets and information contact: Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame c/o Doug McDonell Tel: (905) 878-4394 Cell: (905) 467-3483 secretary@cahfa.com

Kanayo Nwanze, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, spoke to reporters at the recent Borlaug Dialogue about the effect of Ebola on food security. PHOTO: LAURA RANCE

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

Rural Internet service will not be compromised: minister

Ukrainian farmers like to burn stubble

Industry Canada says spectrum now used for high speed will not be taken for cellular By Meghan Mast Staff

meghan.mast@ fbcpublishing.com

NASA says the red dots in this satellite photo taken Sept. 18 are probably fires set by farmers in Ukraine and other Eastern European countries to burn crop residue. Photo: NASA/Goddard, Lynn Jenner

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Industry Canada says rural Canadians have no reason to worry about losing broadband services. “Under no circumstances will our government take spectrum licences away from any local Internet service provider that is providing Internet service to rural Canadians,” said Industry Minister James Moore. Industry Canada launched a consultation in August proposing to reclassify population centres of more than 30,000 as “urban,” raising concerns rural users would lose the spectrum currently used for high-speed Internet to cellular. The consultation provided an opportunity for Canadians to submit their thoughts on how the spectrum can best be used. “I have received thoughtful feedback from local municipalities, Internet service providers and individual Canadians,” said Moore. “Regrettably, some have falsely suggested that this consultation will somehow result in rural Canadians losing broadband services.” Late this summer Xplornet Communications, a rural broadband service provider, charged that proposed changes would take spectrum away from rural Internet providers and users. Moore said that if anything, the changes would benefit rural users. “The decisions resulting from this consultation will ensure that the 3500MHz spectrum band is deployed in the best interests of Canadian consumers, especially those living in rural areas.” Xplornet president Allison Lenehan said in a statement that her company is “delighted” the changes won’t affect rural Internet services.

OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

More people are eating a healthier breakfast, but it has to be quick

Lakeland newest member of ARECA

Fewer people are skipping breakfast, but they’re often grabbing a take-out breakfast meal Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development release

reakfast habits are changing, says provincial consumer market analyst Jeewani Fernando. “Market research shows that while skipping breakfast has declined in Canada, consumers are heading out of their homes in search of breakfast more often than previously,” says Fernando. “Cafés and fast-food restaurants are top of mind for away-fromhome breakfast options. That said, many consumers source their breakfast at home more often than any other meal. “Food trucks and ethnic flavours are making their mark on breakfast meals, too. These trends are creating many opportunities for food processors and restaurant owners alike.” According to The NPD Group, 80 per cent of all breakfast meals are made in five minutes or less. Ready-to-eat cereal remains the most popular, followed by toast, fruit and hot cereal — but toast is in a long-term decline while fruits and yogurts are steadily becoming more popular. However, fruit juice, breakfast’s second most commonly consumed beverage after coffee, has been in decline since 2006.

“Overall, in-home or carriedfrom-home breakfast trends imply time-pressured consumers with a motivation towards eating healthy,” says Fernando. Innovation in the limitedservice segment (LSR) has grown overall traffic for the breakfast meal occasion. However, breakfast full-service restaurant traffic has declined. The old standbys — such as eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns and toast — are less popular, while more people are grabbing breakfast sandwiches and bagels. Egg and cheese sandwiches are the most popular sandwich category in LSR. Coffee is the dominant item ordered at food service, followed by breakfast sandwiches. “Food-service breakfast meal trends also indicate consumers are constrained by time,” says Fernando. “These trends also suggest that while consumers are demanding convenient food, they also want to ensure this food is healthy and high quality.” When it comes to food truck sales, Fernando says millennials (those born in the early 1980s to the early 2000s) are the driving force. “This, in part, explains the t en d en cy o f fo o d t r u ck s t o locate near where millennials congregate, such as universi-

PHoto: Thinkstock ties and late-night bars. Some food truck companies communicate their schedules via social media.” Breakfast accounted for nearly 60 per cent of restaurant industry traffic growth over the past five years.

“Tim Hortons is facing stiff competition from rivals who are aggressively contending for a slice of the profitable breakfast market,” says Fernando. “Interestingly, more than one-quarter of McDonald’s revenue comes from breakfast.”

The Lakeland Applied Research Association (LARA) has become a member of the Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA). “LARA has a long history in conducting applied research and extension in northeast Alberta,” says Bill Gaugler, ARECA chair. “It’s great to have LARA on the ARECA team.” LARA conducts local not-for-profit research, demonstrations, and projects in the Lakeland area, serving farmers in the counties of St. Paul, Smoky Lake and Lac La Biche, and the municipal district of Bonnyville. “I’m particularly pleased to have LARA on the ARECA team,” says Gaugler. “I grew up on a farm in that area and was the manager of the Lakeland Forage Association after I graduated and before I went farming. ARECA’s goal is to provide good production information to farmers across Alberta, so having LARA on the team is right in line with where we want to go.” — AARD release

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

Ex-Cargill manager fights attempt to keep him from rival BY TOM POLANSEK

Dogs, hogs and dairy cows: ‘Animal pharm’ catches investor attention Lower development cost and shorter approval time than for human drugs makes them attractive

REUTERS

Valuable trade secrets that Cargill claims were stolen by a longtime manager in its meat-packing division who quit for rival JBS SA are nothing more than basic butchery, lawyers for the employee said in court documents. Cargill is asking a federal judge in Denver to forbid Jason Kuan from working for a competitor for one year to prevent damages stemming from the loss of confidential information. The dispute illustrates the intense competition among meat producers and processors at a time when beef prices are at record highs and the U.S. cattle herd is at a 60-year low. In August, Cargill sued Kuan, who led its “caseready” meat unit in Canada, for allegedly copying hundreds of company documents after he already had a job offer from JBS in Colorado. Kuan, who worked for Cargill for 20 years, did not return the documents when he resigned, according to the complaint. Kuan’s lawyers denied that he stole the materials, according to a court filing. They said this month that Cargill’s worries about the potential disclosure of trade secrets were misplaced because the meat industry is not highly technical. They noted that all competitors in the case-ready meat business, in which companies deliver meat to retailers after packaging it at plants, basically purchase, process and sell raw materials in the same way. “Simply stated, there are only so many ways to cut a steak,” Kuan’s lawyers said in a motion fighting Cargill’s move to keep Kuan from working for a caseready rival. Kuan periodically backed up Cargill documents from his work computer onto an external hard drive due to equipment failures and planned to return the documents to the company when he resigned, according to court filings. However, after Kuan quit, the company served him with an “instant lawsuit” before he was able to return the documents, the filings said, adding that he subsequently returned all the materials. Cargill believes Kuan “fabricated an unreliable ‘computer backup’ story” after being caught stealing trade secrets and that he cannot refrain from using the company’s confidential information in his job as president of JBS’s case-ready business, court documents show.

BY CAREY GILLAM REUTERS

ancer drugs for cats, pain relief for dogs, diarrhea drugs for hogs and hormones for dairy cattle: The “animal pharm” industry is increasingly drawing the interest of Wall Street investors. One of the newest companies to market in the emerging sector, California-based Jaguar Animal Health, notified the Securities and Exchange Commission in late August of intent to launch an initial public offering valued up to $70 million for development of gastrointestinal products for pets and livestock.

Jaguar recently launched its first commercial product, a drug to treat diarrhea in calves. Analysts say interest in the growing sector is strong despite risks such as drugs that do not perform as expected. “There is a lot of enthusiasm for animal health,” said Tim Lugo, an analyst at William Blair & Company, which has helped manage two recent animal health IPOs. “Vets in general are starving for new innovative therapies.” The animal health industry globally is pegged at $92 billion to $102 billion, with the subsector of animal medicines and vaccines seen at $22 billion annually, accord-

ing to a report by Technology Acceleration Partners. From 2011 to 2016, the animal medicines and vaccines sector is expected to grow by 5.7 per cent per year, the report states. Investors like the fact that regulatory approval of products for animals can move faster at less cost than with drugs for people. While a drug for humans can take 10 years and more than $1 billion to develop, one for animals can reach market in half that time for about $10 million, industry experts said. Until 18 months ago, animal drug development companies were largely off the radar screen, either divisions of much larger human-focused pharmaceutical companies, with products and

profit streams secondary to the parent operations, or startups struggling for cash. That changed in January 2013 when Pfizer Inc. spun off its animal health business Zoetis, raising $2.2 billion. Shares have climbed more than 40 per cent since. One of Zoetis’s hottest draws is a vaccine for pregnant hogs to ward off the PED virus that has killed millions of newborn pigs in the United States. Rising world population and increased wealth are boosting demand for animal health products, industry experts say. The drugs being developed help keep livestock healthy and can extend the lives and well-being of the pets people want to pamper.

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Always read and follow label directions. AgSolutions is a registered trade-mark of BASF Corporation; AgCelence, and INSURE are registered trade-marks of BASF SE; all used with permission by BASF Canada Inc. INSURE CEREAL should be used in a preventative disease control program. © 2014 BASF Canada Inc.

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2014-10-10 11:29 AM

OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Community news and events from across the province

Only in the digital age — Alberta and Ukrainian vets a YouTube sensation A shared passion for veterinary medicine and YouTube has Albertan Cody Creelman helping a Ukrainian colleague in his bid to win a bovine ultrasound

Send agriculture-related meeting and event announcements to: glenn.cheater@fbcpublishing.com Oct. 27: Harvest Sunlight — Feed the Soil, Grimshaw Legion Hall, Grimshaw. Contact: Monika Benoit 780-523-4033 (Also Oct. 28 in Legal, Oct. 29 in Vermilion, Oct. 30 in both Pollockville and Vulcan.)

By Alexis Kienlen af staff

t started with an online friendship between two cattle veterinarians, and blossomed into a worldwide, viral campaign. Even though he doesn’t speak a word of Ukrainian, Airdrie vet Cody Creelman, was drawn to the online videos of Vadim Pryadko, who lives in a town called Khmelnitsky near the Polish border. “We developed a relationship,” said Creelman. “We started talking about what type of practice he was at, what kind of school he went to, about his family. He had lots of questions about how we do things in the West in terms of cow medicine. He was keen to learn how to manage different diseases, our vaccination protocols, and antibiotic strategies.” It all started when Creelman, also an avid videomaker, left a comment on Pryadko’s YouTube channel, saying that he wished he could understand the words in the video. Since Pryadko doesn’t speak English, he used Google Translate to add subtitles and to communicate with his new Alberta friend via the social networking sites Facebook and Google Plus. The two quickly discovered they have many things in common. They are around the same age, and both are married with one child. But it is really their passion for their practice that brought them together, said Creelman, who has no Ukrainian heritage. “Our real connection is wanting to tell our story through the digital media,” said Creelman, 29. “As soon as I saw what a master he was at that, I was instantly drawn to what he could do. “I kind of dragged him into our little cow vet Twitter circle and he became popular there. He’s quite the photographer, so he always tells a pretty special story through a completely foreign yet familiar perspective. He does the same job that we do, but in a completely different land. He’s been a great source of inspiration for my videos. He has a mantra of making art out of the routine.” Pryadko works for a large dairy, as well as at an equine stable. There are only a few veterinarians in his city of around 300,000, so he also treats dogs, cats, mules and horses. His excellent videography skills made him a shoe-in for an annual video competition put on by diagnostic imaging company BCF Technology, which this year is offering a prize of an

what’s

Oct. 28: Working Well Workshop, Stettler. Contact: Kevin MacDonald 780-672-4765 (Also in Whitecourt, Lac Ste. Anne County, Clearwater, Pincher Creek, Morinville, Newbrook, Westlock, and Lac La Biche — see www.workingwell.alberta.ca.) Oct. 30: Getting into Farming Information Session, Agriculture Centre, Airdrie. Contact: Ag-Info Centre 1-800-387-6030

Vadim Pryadko (r) and his friend Anatoly Petruk star in a video aimed at winning the Ukrainian vet a bovine ultrasound. Photo: Supplied Easi-Scan portable ultrasound unit for cattle and equine veterinarians valued at US$14,000. “Since he doesn’t speak English, he had no knowledge of the contest,” said Creelman, who entered his friend in the contest. “We collaborated together. He had all the muscle, I just had a couple of ideas for him.” Creelman (@vetpracticeVAHS) is a prolific user of Twitter and has been relentlessly campaigning for his Ukrainian friend, using the hashtag #VoteforVadim. A host of producers from Alberta and across the country have taken up the cause. But his friend is no slouch at promotion, either. In a tongue-in-cheek video titled “Dreaming of an Easi-Scan,” a sad-faced Pryadko laments the task of preg checking cows. “My poor hand,” he says to a co-worker (played by friend Anatoly Petruk). “Sit down, look at how Cody Creelman checks pregnancy,” the co-worker responds before showing him a video of Creelman using the Easi-Scan. Crisply shot and tightly edited, the video also pushes the pathos button with a frustrated Pryadko in tears before his friend tells him of the video contest and the pair launch their quest to win the prize. (The video, which does contain graphic, real-life

images of bovine injuries and veterinary procedures can be viewed at www.youtube. com/watch?v=Uh-tGPzxPVo.) Winning would make a world of difference for him, Creelman said prior to the end of the contest. “What I make in a day before lunch, he makes in a month,” he said. “To have something that is worth US$14,000 is very special.” And that’s just what will happen — the video was voted the winning entry although further details weren’t available at press time. Pryadko also won a lot of friends in the West. People contacted Creelman during the voting, offering to donate money or gather vet supplies in case his friend didn’t win. Others changed their Twitter avatars to a blue and yellow checkmark to show their support. “It’s so international. We have such great support throughout Europe, Australia and in Canada. It’s just been huge,” said Creelman. Pryadko’s YouTube channel is www.youtube.com/channel/UCqc_ zlJiP2QXTqmQBnHnlFw while Creelman’s is www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ gI1jXVfTkzzftiYBlKdIw.

Oct. 30: Agriculture Labour Summit, Black Knight Inn, Red Deer. Contact: Bryan Walton 403250-2509 Nov. 3: Body Condition Score & BIXS workshop, Tomahawk. Contact: Carla 780-727-4447 Nov. 4: Building Soil — Creating Land, Olds College (Land Sciences Building), Olds. Contact: Cassie 403-652-4900 Nov. 5: 16th Annual Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop, Sheraton Hotel, Red Deer. Contact: Lisa Doyle 403-244-7821 Nov. 6: Alberta Verified Beef Production Training Workshop, Winfield Main Hall, Winfield. Contact: Kim Barkwell 780-9553555 (x3287) Nov. 10-14: Greener Pastures Ranching Ltd. Presents: YearRound Grazing Systems, Westlock. Contact: Steve Kenyon 780-307-6500 Nov. 12: Safe Agricultural Practices Workshop, Edmonton. Contact: Sherri 204-294-4376

akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

Alberta students rally to help out food banks

The trailer was filled many times during the annual FCC Drive Away Hunger campaign in Alberta this fall.

farm tractor pulling a trailer drove down the streets of Red Deer, Blackfalds, and Lacombe and stopped at eight schools earlier this month. And each time, hordes of students brought bag after bag of donations for area food banks. More than 2,000 participated in FCC Drive Away Hunger — an 11-year-old program that has collected more than 17 million pounds of food. “We don’t have exact food numbers yet, since we are still waiting for some totals to come in,” said FCC spokesman Jamie Marcotte. “We estimate it was around 60,000 pounds of food. We’re excited that

more than 2,000 kids and five local businesses worked alongside us during the tour.” More than 850,000 Canadians are assisted by a food bank each month, and 36 per cent of them are children. It’s estimated more than half of people using food banks in 2014 will do so for the first time. The participating Red Deer schools were Fairview, Grandview, Joseph Welsh, St. Francis of Assisi, and Father Henri Voisin. In Blackfalds, students at Iron Ridge Junior Campus collected food while students at James S. McCormick and Central Alberta Christian schools did the same in Lacombe.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

Economist says supply management costly for consumers

SCRUBBING UP

But critics say study flawed because it ignores billion-dollar U.S. subsidies By Shannon VanRaes staff

Supply management hurts the poor and costs Canadians as much as 69 per cent more for some products, according to a University of Manitoba agriculture economist. But Ryan Cardwell drew a strong response by audience members at a recent presentation at the University of Manitoba — some calling the work “narrow” and “almost inflammatory.” But the study was trying to assess the “distributional effects” of the system, Cardwell said. “So if you support this policy, or if you are against this policy, just be aware of the cost and consequences,” he said. “We’re not putting a value judgment on this system. Our point is that without this system consumers would be paying a lower price.” The study compared prices in select Canadian cities to those in the U.S. and used “a very conservative price premium,” said Cardwell. Those price differentials ranged from 10 per cent to 69 per cent. Many questioned the use of U.S. pricing in the comparison, noting American farmers receive billions in subsidies, while the U.S. government buys up surplus milk and eggs to prevent a flooded marketplace. “I’m so sick and tired of this argument that some people throw up,” said Bruce Muirhead associate vice-president of external research at the University of Waterloo. “There is no reasonable comparison between Canada and the U.S.… we’re not paying taxes to subsidize the dairy industry like they do in the United States and those subsidies range anywhere from $4 billion to $8 billion a year for the dairy sector alone.”

A red squirrel washes itself in the autumn sun, surrounded by aspen leaves, on a farm near Priddis, Alta. Photo: Wendy Dudley

Growers can’t stop talking about its flushing weed control. ( Please accept our apologies. )

shannon.vanraes@ fbcpublishing.com

If you’ve been anywhere within earshot of a grower who’s used Ares™ herbicide for Clearfield® canola, you’ve already heard all about it. A lot. Because only Ares controls the toughest flushing weeds and keeps them from coming back. Which means you save time and money in the process. So try it for yourself. Once you see the result, we doubt you’ll be able to keep it to yourself. To find out more visit agsolutions.ca/clearfieldcanola or contact AgSolutions® Customer Care at 1-877-371-BASF (2273).

Always read and follow label directions. Ryan Cardwell speaks at the University of Manitoba.

AgSolutions is a registered trade-mark of BASF Corporation; ARES is a trade-mark and Clearfield and the unique Clearfield symbol are registered trade-marks of BASF Agrochemical Products B.V.; all used with permission by BASF Canada Inc. © 2014 BASF Canada Inc.

Photo: Shannon VanRaes

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OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

FARMFAIR & AGRI-TRADE SPECIAL

Farmers can kick tires and talk shop at 31st Agri-Trade farm show Something for everyone at Farmfair International

With more than 425 exhibitors and an even bigger floor space, Agri-Trade is the place to check out new equipment and connect with old friends

Today’s Farmfair isn’t just cowboy hats and cattle sales BY JENNIFER BLAIR AF STAFF

eading into its 41st year, Farmfair International is set to impress visitors once again with its unique blend of livestock sales, entertainment, and western hospitality. “It’s one of the longestrunning agricultural events in Alberta and in Western Canada,” said show manager David Fiddler. “When you combine the Canadian finals rodeo and Farmfair International, you’ve got a pretty significant agricultural event.” As Alberta’s premier ranching show, the Edmontonbased Farmfair International boasts more than 300 exhibitors and in excess of 90,000 visitors each year — in no small part thanks to the new features that continue to be added to the show. “Over the years, we’ve added horse sales, equine events, entertainment features, and more competitive events, like the Team Roping Futurity, Barrel Racing Futurity, and the ever-popular Heritage Ranch rodeo,” said Fiddler. While the livestock shows continue to be the major draw of Farmfair, exhibitors are now going for quality rather than quantity when showing their animals, he said. “We’re seeing the same number of exhibitors bringing fewer head of cattle to town, but the quality has definitely improved.” And the commercial livestock show grows in popularity every year.

“We’re going to have the purebred beef shows, but we’re also going to have a commercial cattle show and sale, where we have bred heifers that show and sell, and bulls that just show.” The Livestock Innovation Showcase — an area dedicated to the latest technology available for producers — has also grown this year. “We’ll have other species represented in that, not just beef cattle. We’ll have dairy and goats and sheep.” With entertainment features, including the Canadian Finals Rodeo, rounding out the show, Farmfair International is a must-see for city folk and ranchers alike. “If you’re in the business of agriculture, there’s lots to see and do,” said Fiddler. “It’s a great opportunity to come out and make your operation better.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

BY JENNIFER BLAIR AF STAFF

entral Alberta’s biggest farm show is back and the 31st edition of Agri-Trade is bigger than ever, with new exhibitors, new spaces, and, of course, new equipment for farmers to explore. “I think they’re going to be very impressed with the exhibitor mix we have in the show,” said show manager Dianne Smirl. “If you’re looking for a piece of equipment or technology, I’m pretty sure we’re the one-stop shop for you. I know our exhibitors always bring their best products to Agri-Trade.” Agri-Trade has long been known as the go-to show for new equipment and technology, and this year’s show will be no different. “Our technology area has gotten bigger. Technology is of such great importance for us to highlight, and that area will only expand,” said Smirl. “We’ll have some new things for people to look at there.” Last year’s show was packed to the rafters with 415 exhibitors and 25,000 visitors over the 3-1/2day show, but with new exhibitors like Lemken, Pillar Lasers, and Salford, the 2014 show will be even bigger — so big that Smirl has nearly run out of space for it. “This year, we’re testing out a tent solution that we’re looking at expanding in 2015 to overtake the outside exhibitors that we have,” she said. “We’re actually converting most of that into tent space to get more exhibitors into the show.” And while Agri-Trade may be known for its tire kicking and equipment deals, the show is equally popular for the networking opportunities it offers. “Our whole purpose for being is bringing the community together and allowing them, under one roof, to check out new equipment but, more importantly, catch up with their neighbours and people in the ag industry,” said Smirl.

“If you’re looking for a piece of equipment or technology, I’m pretty sure we’re the one-stop shop for you.” DIANNE SMIRL

This year, the show’s learning stage has been replaced with a networking space to better accommodate that socializing. “We got rid of the learning stage and instead added more social areas to allow people to network and exchange information,” she said. “We’re going to have more space for you to hang out with other Alberta farmers and share stories and ideas.” Agri-Trade 2014 runs from Nov. 5-8 at Westerner Park in Red Deer. jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

FARMFAIR & AGRI-TRADE SPECIAL

Temptations abound at equipment shows A rotating bale grapple is one of the featured products at this year’s Agri-Trade By Jill Burkhardt af contributor

gri-Trade visitors be warned — you may be gripped by an urge to splurge. Take, for example, the Haukaas Rotating Bale Grapple, one of this year’s winners of the show’s Ag Innovation award. After watching the video showcasing the device (www.youtube. com/watch?v=pcseBOSqXb0), cattle producers who feed round bales may want to run out and buy one. The exhibitor submissions in the seven-year-old contest are judged by a committee of farmers, who also selected Integrity Post Structures’ Perma-Column and John Deere’s Interactive Combine Adjustments as 2014 winners. Haukaas Manufacturing was started 34 years ago by Greg Haukaas and his father on their family farm near Mortlach, Sask. The company has grown over time, and for the past 20 years, it has been an allied supplier to John Deere with one of their products. The goal of the rotating grapple was to simplify and speed the process of unloading and stacking bales, said Haukaas.

A rotating grapple takes bale stacking to a new level. Photo: Haukaas Manufacturing “On average, an experienced operator can unload a 53-foot semi-trailer (carrying 30 bales) in 12 minutes,” he said. With the grapple on the tractor, the operator is able to pick up two big round bales off the semi in a horizontal position, drive over to

the bale stack, rotate them to a vertical position, and set them on the ground. When four bales are lined up as a set, the operator can then place two more horizontally on top to prevent weather damage. Known as “mushroom stacking,” this method reduces dam-

CANADA’S LARGEST

age from ground moisture, keeps the net wrap from freezing to the ground, allows for more bales in a smaller area, and more precise placement makes the stacks more stable. The device was also designed to be easy on the bales.

“The grapple is gentle on net wrap, unlike teeth on manure bucket grapples,” said Haukaas. The rotating grapple requires an extra hydraulic remote in addition to the existing one to run the rotating part of the grapple. An inexpensive electric solenoid valve with a foot switch that shares the oil between grapple and rotating cylinder is also available, he said. Currently there are no other rotating grapples on the market. Haukaas Manufacturing produces four different kinds: onebale rotating and non-rotating and two-bale rotating and nonrotating. Integrity Post Structures is a post-frame construction business founded in 2008 and based in Okotoks. The company started with one construction crew, but now has 17 crews and constructs about 400 buildings a year. In 2009, co-owners Al Williams and Jerry Myer spotted the Perma-Column while attending the National Frame Building Association trade show in St. Louis. Although they had been in use in the United States for years, no one had investigated bringing them to Canada and the duo

CONTINUEd ON NEXT PAGE }

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

FARMFAIR & AGRI-TRADE SPECIAL

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Keeping the wood frame off the ground along with special concrete makes building more durable, says Integrity Post Structures. PHOTO: INTEGRITY POST STRUCTURES quickly secured the Canadian rights for distributing and manufacturing it. The Perma-Column is a fivefoot-long precast concrete column paired with an engineered metal steel bracket, which is installed in the ground. This keeps a building’s wooden frame off the ground. The column is made with self-compacting concrete, which provides three times the strength of standard concrete. Microfibres and microsilica add shock resistance, durability, compressive strength, and erosion resistance. A corrosion inhibitor protects the rebar

reinforcement from rusting, and a final admixture is added to give freeze/thaw protection. Although, using the precast concrete column adds five to 10 per cent to the value of the building price, the value is in the longevity. “Seventy-five per cent of the Integrity post-frame buildings sold today are being built with the premium Perma-Column,” said Williams. “People who buy buildings feel they have added value with Perma-Column. It adds longevity and provides the building with a concrete foundation that other

companies do not have with a wood foundation.” The company’s five-year-old headquarters along Highway 2 at Okotoks was the first building in Canada to be built with the Perma-Column. John Deere won for its Interactive Combine Adjustments, which allows a combine operator to select a harvest priority and specify which performance issue the machine should focus on — grain quality, straw condition or grain loss. The system will be available on all W, T and S-series combines and is integrated into the cab’s armrest display.

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OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

FARMFAIR & AGRI-TRADE SPECIAL

Shining a spotlight on Canadian genetics Farmfair International rolls out the red carpet for foreign buyers so they can learn about and connect with Canada’s purebred sector By Tessa Nybo af contributor

t comes with a learning curve, but sourcing or selling genetics abroad can open your operation to exciting opportunities to improve your purebred herd or find new customers. The Inbound Buyer Program is just one of the ways that participating in Farmfair International can get your purebred breeding stock noticed by breeders and buyers from across the country, and around the globe. The program has worked well for many Alberta seed-stock producers including Dawn Wilson. “Farmfair International is an ideal destination for international producers interested in making business contacts and learning about the Canadian beef industry,” said Wilson, who owns and operates Miller Wilson Angus near Bashaw with husband Lee. “The quality of the product is top notch. We’ve met great people over the years and have made numerous international sales at the show. It is the single best venue we have ever been at for direct sales.” The program has been operating

Getting to visit Alberta ranches is one of the draws for the Inbound Buyer Program. Photo: Courtesy Northlands in its current format since November 2010. “It was created as a venue to facilitate another format of sales to benefit the domestic purebred livestock market and to showcase Canadian cattle and genetics to the world,” said Stacy Felkar, Northlands’ international marketing manager for agriculture. The program reimburses buyers for 50 per cent of eligible travel costs (up to a total of $1,500) for foreign buyers attending Farmfair. Organizers also roll out the red carpet, offering a day of

farm tours, another day at AgriTrade in Red Deer, and hosting a reception so the buyers can meet Canadian producers and industry reps. Funding for the program is provided by Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency and the Canadian Beef Breeds Council. The visiting buyers can also take in breed-specific events and take part in a matchmaking session that lets them meet purebred producers of their breed. There’s also a full gamut of educational sessions ranging from nutrition to genomics, and their customized

FOR A

itinerary also allows them to take in the Heritage Ranch Rodeo, RAM Country Marketplace, and Canadian Finals Rodeo. But while the goal is to facilitate sales, the program doesn’t get involved in any business transactions — that’s left entirely to producers and buyers. There will be 12 breeds of cattle on show this year, and buyers from eight different countries have signed on — Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, U.S., Scotland and Turkey. Rachel Wheeler, of T & R Genet-

ics in Dubbo, NSW Australia, is the Australian representative for Farmfair International and has nothing but praise for it. “The show is located in an area with a high number of purebred herds, which is reflected in the quality of livestock on display,” said Wheeler. “The Inbound Buyer Program ensures that the buyers receive support and are connected with the right people.” It’s also fun, she added. “The unique combination of high-quality livestock, RAM Country Marketplace, equine events, and the Canadian Finals Rodeo creates a great spectacle,” she said. “The ability for visitors to tour around the large number of purebred herds in close proximity to Farmfair is also a big advantage.” Organizers are now looking at expanding the program to include sheep and goats. Applications for the Inbound Buyer Program are available at www.farmfairinternational.com and are accepted until Sept. 1 of each year. Selected participants are notified by mid-September. For more information, contact the Northlands Agriculture Department at 780-471-7300 or agriculture@northlands.com.

bag of hay,

WE’LL SHOW YOU HIGHER RETURNS. UFA offers forage testing to arm you with the information you need to make profitable feed decisions. Drop off your forage sample at your local UFA Farm & Ranch Supply store or at the UFA Booth (UFA AgriCentre West, Booth #130) during Agri-Trade in Red Deer, November 5–8, 2014.

HOW TO COLLECT A PROPER FORAGE SAMPLE

1. Label your resealable plastic bag with a description that will allow you to easily identify where the sample was taken.

2. Use your hay probe to randomly sample at least 20 cores from different bales.

4. Ensure the bag is fully sealed and store it somewhere cool to avoid spoilage.

5. Deliver the sample as soon as possible and avoid exposure to excess sun (e.g. in the back of your truck).

3. Hay — the final bagged amount should weigh 112–225 g (¼–½ lb).

Silage — the final bagged amount should weigh 225–454 g (½–1 lb).

UFA.com

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

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SPRAyING EqUIPMENT Sprayers Spray_Various_ TIllAGE & SEEDING Air_Drills_ Air_Seeders_ Harrows_&_Packers_ Seeding_Various_ Tillage_Equipment_ Tillage_&_Seeding_Various_ TRACTORS Agco_ Allis/Deutz_ Belarus_ Case/IH_ Caterpillar_ Ford_ John_Deere_ Kubota_ Massey_Ferguson_ New_Holland_ Steiger_ Universal_ Versatile_ White_ Zetor_ 2-Wheel_Drive 4-Wheel_Drive_ Various_ Fencing_ Firewood_ Fish_Farm_ Forestry/Logging_ Fork_Lifts/Pallet_Trucks_ Fur_Farming_ Generators_ GPS_ Health_Care_ Heat_&_Air_Conditioning_ Hides/Furs/Leathers_ Hobby_&_Handicrafts_ Household_Items_ Iron_&_Steel_ lANDSCAPING Greenhouses_ Lawn_&_Garden_ lIVESTOCK Cattle Cattle_Auctions__ Angus_ Black_Angus_ Red_Angus_ Aryshire_ Belgian_Blue_ Blonde_d'Aquitaine_ Brahman_ Brangus_ Braunvieh_ BueLingo_ Charolais_ Dairy_ Dexter_ Excellerator_ Galloway_ Gelbvieh_ Guernsey_ Hereford_ Highland_

Holstein_ Jersey_ Limousin_ Lowline_ Luing_ Maine-Anjou_ Miniature_ Murray_Grey_ Piedmontese_ Pinzgauer_ Red_Poll_ Salers_ Santa_Gertrudis_ Shaver_Beefblend_ Shorthorn_ Simmental South_Devon Speckle_Park Tarentaise_ Texas_Longhorn_ Wagyu_ Welsh_Black_ Cattle_Composite_ Cattle_Various_ Cattle_Wanted lIVESTOCK horses Horse_Auctions_ American_Saddlebred_ Appaloosa Arabian_ Belgian_ Canadian_ Clydesdale_ Draft_ Donkeys_ Haflinger_ Miniature_ Morgan_ Mules_ Norwegian_Ford_ Paint_ Palomino_ Percheron_ Peruvian_ Pinto_ Ponies_ Quarter_Horse_ Shetland_ Sport_Horses_ Standardbred_ Tennessee_Walker_ Thoroughbred_ Warmblood_ Welsh_ Horses_For_Sale_ Horses_Wanted_ lIVESTOCK Poultry Poultry_For_Sale_ Poultry_Wanted_ lIVESTOCK Sheep Sheep_Auction_ Arcott_ Columbia_ Dorper_ Dorset_ Katahdin_ Lincoln_ Suffolk_ Texel_Sheep_ Sheep_For_Sale_ Sheep_Wanted_

display Classified

• Minimum charge — $15.00 per week for first 25 words or less and an additional 60 cents per word for every word over 25. Additional bolding 75 cents per word. GST is extra. $2.50 billing charge is added to billed ads only. • Terms: Payment due upon receipt of invoice. • 10% discount for prepaid ads. If phoning in your ad you must pay with VISA or MasterCard to qualify for discount. • Ask about our Priority Placement • Prepayment Bonus: Prepay for 3 weeks and get a bonus of 2 weeks; bonus weeks run consecutively and cannot be used separately from original ad; additions and changes accepted only during first 3 weeks. • If you wish to have replies sent to a confidential box number, please add $5.00 per week to your total. Count eight words for your address. Example: Ad XXXX, Alberta Farmer Express , Box 9800, Winnipeg, R3C 3K7. • Your complete name & address must be submitted to our office before publication. (This information will be kept confidential & will not appear in the ad unless requested.)

• Advertising copy deviating in any way from the regular classified style will be considered display and charged at the display rate of $34.30 per column inch ($2.45 per agate line). • Minimum charge $34.30 per week. • Illustrations and logos are allowed with full border. • Advertising rates are flat with no discount for frequency of insertion or volume of space used. • Terms: Payment due upon receipt of invoice. • Price quoted does not include GST.

Published by Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1 WINNIPEG OFFICE Alberta Farmer Express 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1 Toll-Free in Canada 1-800-665-1362 Phone 403-341-0442 in Winnipeg FAX 403-341-0615 Mailing Address: Box 9800, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3K7 • •

•

AGREEMENT The publisher reserves the right to refuse any or all advertising for any reason stated or unstated. Advertisers requesting publication of either display or classified advertisements agree that should the advertisement be omitted from the issue ordered for whatever reason, the Alberta Farmer Express shall not be held liable. It is also agreed that in the event of an error appearing in the published advertisement, the Alberta Farmer Express accepts no liability beyond the amount paid for that portion of the advertisement in which the error appears or affects. Claims for adjustment are limited to errors appearing in the first insertion only. While every endeavor will be made to forward box number replies as soon as possible, we accept no liability in respect to loss or damage alleged to a rise through either failure or delay in forwarding such replies, however caused, whether by negligence or otherwise.

(2 weeks prior)

ORGANIC Organic_Certified_ Organic_Food_ Organic_Grains_ Outfitters_ Personal_ Pest_Control Pets_&_Supplies_ Photography_ Propane_ Pumps_ Radio,_TV_&_Satellite_ REAl ESTATE Commercial_Buildings_ Condos_ Cottages_&_Lots_ Houses_&_Lots_ Land_For_Rent_ Land_For_Sale_ Mobile_Homes_ Motels_&_Hotels_ Resorts Vacation_Property_ Farms & Ranches British_Columbia_ Alberta_ Saskatchewan_ Manitoba_ Acreages/Hobby_Farms_ Farms/Ranches_Wanted_ Pastureland_ RECREATIONAl VEhIClES All_Terrain_Vehicles_ Boats_&_Water_ Campers_&_Trailers_ Golf_Carts_ Motor_Homes_ Motorcycles_ Snowmobiles Recycling Refrigeration Restaurant_Supplies Sausage_Equipment_ Sawmills_ Scales_

COMMON SEED Cereal_Seeds_ Forage_Seeds_ Grass_Seeds_ Oilseeds_ Pulse_Crops_ Common_Seed_Various_ SEED/FEED/GRAIN Feed_Grain_ Hay_&_Straw_ Feed_Wanted_ Grain_Wanted_ Hay_&_Feed_Wanted_ Seed_Wanted_ Sewing_Machines_ Sharpening_Services_ Silos_ Sporting_Goods_ Stamps_&_Coins_ Swap_ Tanks_ Tarpaulins_ Tenders_ Tickets_ Tires_ Tools_ TRAIlERS Grain_Trailers_ Livestock_Trailers_ Trailers_Miscellaneous_ Travel_ Water_Pumps_ Water_Treatment_ Welding_ Well_Drilling_ Well_&_Cistern__ Winches_ CAREERS Career_Training_ Child_Care_ Construction_ Domestic_Services_ Farm/Ranch_ Forestry/Log_ Health_Care_ Help_Wanted_ Management Mining_ Oil_Field_ Professional_ Resume_Services_ Sales/Marketing_ Trades/Tech_ Truck_Drivers_ Employment_Wanted_

MAiL TO: Alberta Farmer Express, Box 9800, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3K7 FAx TO: 403-341-0615 PhOnE in: Toll-Free in Canada 1-800-665-1362 OR (403) 341-0442 in Alberta

NAME_ ___________________________________________________________ ______PHONE_#_______________________________ ADDRESS_____________________________________________ ______TOWN_____________________________________________ PROVINCE____________________________ _____POSTAL_CODE__________________________

All classified ads are non-commissionable.

advertising deadline Wednesday noon

Livestock_Equipment_ Livestock_Services_&_Vet_Supplies_ Miscellaneous_Articles_ Miscellaneous_Articles_Wanted_ Musical_ Notices_ On-Line_Services_

CERTIFIED SEED Cereal_Seeds Forage_Seeds Oilseeds Pulse_Crops Specialty_Crops

AD ORDER FORM

adveRtising Rates & infoRmation

RegulaR Classified

lIVESTOCK Swine Swine_Auction_ Swine_For_Sale_ Swine_Wanted_ lIVESTOCK Specialty Alpacas_ Bison_(Buffalo)_ Deer_ Elk_ Goats_ Llama_ Rabbits_ Emu/Ostrich/Rhea_ Yaks_ Various_

Even if you do not want your name & address to appear in your ad, we need the information for our files.

PLEASE_PRINT_YOUR_AD_BELOW_ ______________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CAUTION The Alberta Farmer Express, while assuming no responsibility for advertisements appearing in its columns, exercises the greatest care in an endeavor to restrict advertising to wholly reliable firms or individuals. However, please do not send money to a Manitoba Co-operator box number. Buyers are advised to request shipment C.O.D. when ordering from an unknown advertiser, thus minimizing the chance of fraud and eliminating the necessity of a refund where the goods have already been sold. At Farm Business Communications we have a firm commitment to protecting your privacy and security as our customer. Farm Business Communications will only collect personal information if it is required for the proper functioning of our business. As part of our commitment to enhance customer service, we may share this personal information with other strategic business partners. For more information regarding our Customer Information Privacy Policy, write to: Information Protection Officer, Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1. Occasionally we make our list of subscribers available to other reputable firms whose products and services might be of interest to you. If you would prefer not to receive such offers, please contact us at the address in the preceding paragraph, or call (204)-954-1456. The editors and journalists who write, contribute and provide opinions to Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications attempt to provide accurate and useful opinions, information and analysis. However, the editors, journalists and Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications, cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and the editors as well as Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communication assume no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any reader for this publication based on any and all information provided.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CLASSIFICATION__________________________ ❏ I would like to take advantage of the Prepayment Bonus of 2 FREE weeks when I prepay for 3 weeks. _

No._of_words_______________________x____$0.60____x_____No._of_weeks___ ______________ __=____ ______________ _ Minimum charge $15.00 per week

❏

VISA

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MASTERCARD

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Add $2.50 if being billed / Minus 10% if prepaying ________________ Expiry_Date___/__/_____/__/

Add 5% GST ________________

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OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

H1000 HAYBUSTER, TUB GRINDER, nmew hammers & new governor, $8,500 OBO. Phone: (403)556-0665.

Five minutes can get you 5% back from CPS Contact your local CPS representative about our PrePay program and start earning.

AUTO & TRANSPORT 40516_A CPS_PrePay Print_4x4_rev1.indd 1

AUTO & TRANSPORT Auto & Truck Parts

WANTED: NH BALE WAGONS & retrievers, any condition. Farm Equipment Finding Service, P.O. Box 1363, Polson, MT 59860. (406)883-2118

HAYING & HARVESTING

SOLD COWS. 2006 Haybuster bale processor, model 2650, good shape, stored inside, $13,000. Also calf sheds & round bale feeders. Also have a Westward 30-ft pull swather, $4000, has cut less than 8000-acs. (403)485-6530.

HAYING & HARVESTING Baling Equipment

We know that farming is enough of a gamble so if you want to sell it fast place your ad in the Alberta Farmer Express classifieds. It’s a Sure Thing. Call our toll-free number today. We have friendly staff ready to help. 1-800-665-1362.

Medicine Hat Co-op Ltd.

MACHINERY LTD.

Medicine Hat, AB

(403) 540-7691 ronsauer@shaw.ca

(403) 528-6609

www.dseriescanola.ca

Sturgeon Valley Fertilizers Legal, AB

(780) 961-3088

www.dseriescanola.ca

FARM MACHINERY Grain Vacuums

AUTO & TRANSPORT Autos

FARM MACHINERY Parts & Accessories

(780) 384-3877

- Wire Roller can now be converted to roll up & unroll flat plastic water hose up to 6” diameter (11” flat) - Hydraulic Drive (roll or unroll) - Mounts to tractor draw bar, skidsteer front end loader, post driver, 3pt. hitch or deck truck (with receiver hitch & rear hydraulics) - Spool splits in half to remove full roll - Shut off/ Flow control valve determines speed - Works great for pulling out old wire (approx. 3--5 minutes to roll up 80 rod or 1/4 mile) - Also works great for swath grazing or rotational grazing

**NuVision (Spray Air) & Meridian-Sakundiak Augers, Outback GPS Systems, EK Auger Movers, Belt Tighteners, Bin Sweeps & Crop Dividers, Kohler, Robin Subaru & Generac Engines, Headsight Harvesting Solutions, Greentronics Sprayer Auto Boom Height, Kello-Bilt Discs**

The Level-Winder II Wire Roller rolls wire evenly across the full width of the spool automatically as the wire is pulled in

Available at:

Ken Lendvay (403) 550-3313 Red Deer, AB email: kflendvay@hotmail.com Web: www.levelwind.com

BUILDINGS

NEW WOBBLE BOXES for JD, IH, MacDon headers. Made in Europe, factory quality. Get it direct from Western Canada’s sole distributor starting at $1,095. 1-800-667-4515. www.combineworld.com

W. Buis Holdings Limited

STEEL STORAGE CONTAINERS, 20-ft & 40-ft. Wind, water & rodent proof. 1-866-517-8335, (403)540-4164, (403)226-1722 magnate@telus.net

NOVEMBER 5 - 8 , 2014 IN BOOTH #CLL0129 (at the

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

Foremost, AB

1980 GMC 7000, STEEL box, hoist, roll-tarp; 1976 Ford F600, steel box, hoist. Phone (403)321-0455.

1999 CAT 460 1,400 sep. hrs, rake up, $52,500; MacDon 962, 36-ft pick-up reel, $16,000; MacDon 871 CAT 460 adapter, $2,500. Call:(403)665-2341, Craigmyle, AB.

BUILDINGS

www.dseriescanola.ca

COMBINE WORLD located 20 min. E of Saskatoon, SK on Hwy. #16. 1 year warranty on all new, used, and rebuilt parts. Canada’s largest inventory of late model combines & swathers. 1-800-667-4515 www.combineworld.com

COMBINES Accessories RECONDITIONED COMBINE HEADERS. RIGID & flex, most makes & sizes; also header transports. Ed Lorenz, (306)344-4811 or Website: www.straightcutheaders.com Paradise Hill, SK.

TracTors TRACTORS Case/IH

See my Wire Roller on display

bottom of the stairs on the Centrium ice surface at the Red Deer Agri Trade Show)

IN BOOTH #900

As well as (on the ice surface with Dutch Bunning Dist.)

(403) 867-2436

1997 CIH 9330 4WD. 240-HP, 4700-hrs, 4-hyd, power shift, radar, EZ steer, 500-hrs on drop in engine, excellent condition, no pto. $68,900.00 Phone toll free 1-877-862-2387. 1-877-862-2413. 2012 CIH STEIGER full factory warranty w/options-no PTO. $269,000.00 Phone 1-877-862-2413.

www.dseriescanola.ca

Do one little thing and get 5% back on everything *

40’ X 60’ X 16’ RIGID FRAME STEEL BUILDING

$28,418

500HD. 696-hours, like new, until May 15th, 2015. Loaded Almost anything on trade. toll free 1-877-862-2387 or

CASE 2090 (1984) W/CAB, A/C, dual PTO, front weight & duals. Full engine rebuilt 7,000-hrs, in VGC, $14,000 +GST. (403)932-2343 or (403)519-7815

ACREAGE EQUIPMENT: CULTIVATORS, DISCS, Plows, Blades, Post pounders, Haying Equipment, Etc. (780)892-3092, Wabamun, Ab. CASE 621 LOADER, 3-YD; 1996 Ford 7.3 Diesel, 5-spd, XL350 w/Haul-all compactor; 1980 Ford 8000 series gas tandem, 15-ft gravel box & hoist. (780)573-0292.

Available at:

Sedgewick, AB

AUTO & TRANSPORT Trucks

SCAN TO DOWNLOAD THE APP »»

Combines

Wild Rose Co-op Association Ltd.

EXCLUSIVE MERCEDES-BENZ DISCOUNTS for Alberta farmers & ranchers. www.mercedessalesman.com

TRY

2011 MACDON R85 DISC mower conditioner header. No use since $10,470.00 Warranty upgrade work order. Excellent condition. $24,900.00 Trades welcome. Toll free 1-877-862-2387, 1-877-862-2413

Barb Wire & Electric High Tensile Wire Spooler & Water Hose Roller

FARM MACHINERY

2011 BUHLER 6640 GRAIN vacuum. NEW, never used. $19,900. Trades welcome. Call toll free: (877)862-2387 or (877)862-2413.

LOOKING FOR EQUIPMENT?

HAYING & HARVESTING Various

BUSINESS SERVICES

2004 DODGE DUALLY TRUCK box, white, good condition, asking $1,500. Phone (403)325-4695.

2005 GMC 3500 DURAMAX dually 4x4 crew cab long box, w/exhaust brake, 5th wheel rails, camper tie downs & full leather, in excellent condition, $23,000 +GST. (403)932-2343 (403)519-7815.

WANTED: JD 7810 c/w FEL & 3-PTH; sp or PTO bale wagon; JD or IHC end wheel drills. Small square baler. (403)394-4401

COMBINES Combines - Various

FARM CHEMICAL SEED COMPLAINTS

Available at:

HESSTON 4655 INLINE SMALL square baler, quarter turn chute; New Holland 1033 square bale pickup wagon; 1948 Farmall M tractor, live hydraulics; single bottom 30-in breaking plow; Maxant single frame flail honey uncapper. Call (780)841-2984

Available at:

RON SAUER

846 Ford Versatile Designation 6, 4WD Tractor 1990, newer 18.4 x 38 dualled tires,12 speed manual, 4 hyds., 6036 hrs., looks & runs good .............................. $28,500 555 JD Crawler Loader, 250 hrs. on rebuilt engine, good condition ................................................... $17,500 8070 AC Tractor, FWA, wheel base extended, duals .. $22,500 275 MF Tractor, diesel, multi power, 3 pth, new 18.4 x 30, front weights, loader available, looks and runs great ... $12,500 B275 IHC Tractor & Loader ................................ $3,500 51’ Degelman Landroller, only done 3,000 acres, as new.... .......................................................... $40,000 Degelman Dozer Frame MF 4000 Series 4WD .. $1,000 41’ Flexicoil B Chisel Plow, 3 bar harrows, excellent condition .............................................. $12,500 Flexicoil 6 Run Seed Treater .............................. $1,000 *Conditions apply. 134’ Flexicoil S68XL Sprayer, 2007, suspended boom, auto rate, joystick, rinse tank, triple quick jets, auto boom 10/14-40516-1A height, electric end nozzle & foam marker............. $32,500 100’ 65XL Flexicoil Sprayer, complete withwindguards,elec. end nozzles single tips, auto rate,excellent condition ... $12,500 10 Wheel MATR (Italy) Trailer Type V-Hayrake, hyd. fold, as new.................................................. $5,000 10/8/14 9:14 AM NEW 12-39 Sakundiak Grain Auger, 44 HP Generac engine, E-Kay HD mover, power steering, belt tightener, slim fit, BUSINESS SERVICES lights, scissor lift, remote throttle, new tires ............ $23,500 Crop Consulting 8 x 1000 Sakundiak Auger, new 30 HP Koehler engine, Hawes mover, gear box clutch, spout ....... CNT $9,000 8 x 1200 Sakundiak Auger, 25 HP Koehler engine, Hawes mover, clutch, runs good ............................... $8,500 7 x 1200 Sakundiak Auger, 18 HP Koehler engine, c/w sweep hyd. drive....................................$2,500 We also specialize in: Crop Insurance appeals; 8 x 1400 Sakundiak Auger, 25 HP Robin engine, Hawes Chemical drift; Residual herbicide; Custom operator mover, clutch, spout, excellent condition, ...........CNT $10,000 issues; Equipment malfunction; Yield comparisons, 8 x 41’ Wheat Heart Auger, 25HP Robin engine, mover, spout & light, only 3 yrs old, like new ..................... $7,000 Plus Private Investigations of any nature. With our 8” E-Kay Bin Sweep, hoses to tractor ................... $1,000 assistance the majority of our clients have received 1390 Brandt XL Swing Auger, elec. power swing, spout, adj. axle, as new ...................................... $22,500 compensation previously denied. Back-Track 225 Kello-Bilt Tandem Disc, 28” smooth front & rear blades, Investigations investigates, documents your loss and 10.5” spacing, oil, bath bearings, line new ............ $62,500 50’ Brandt Heavy Harrow, 27.5 x 5/8 tines, assists in settling your claim. low acres ........................................................... $32,500 Licensed Agrologist on Staff. 47’ 820 Flexicoil Chisel Plow, 4 bar harrows, For more information line new ............................................................ $67,500 2009 GMC Topkick 20 ft. Grain Truck, automatic, Please call 1-866-882-4779 silage gauge, air brake suspension,approx. 7,000 kms ..$105,000 40’ 5710 Bourgault SS Air Drill, 9.8” spacing, 3” steel packers w/ 3225 tb tank, c/w 3rd tank, new augers, BUSINESS SERVICES drive sprockets, main clutch, good condition ........... $25,000 Financial & Legal New E-Kay 7” Bin Sweep .............**In Stock** $1,785 New E-Kay 7”, 8”, 9” Bin Sweeps available.........Call 8” Wheat Heart Transfer Auger, hydraulic drive .. $1,500 HAVE CANOLA? NEED CAPITAL? We buy Canola. 18.4 x 30, tractor tire & tube .....................................$350 We pay you before delivery. Canola for cash before New Outback RTK BASE stn ...................................... Call New Outback MAX & STX guidance & mapping ...In Stock delivery. Need Capital? www.inputcapital.com 844New Outback E-Drive, TC’s .................................In Stock 715-7355. New Outback E-Drive X, c/w free E turns ............In Stock New Outback S-Lite guidance ............ **In Stock** $900 New Outback VSI Swather Steering Kit...........In Stock New Outback E-Drive Hyd. kit, JD 40 series ........ $1,000 Used Outback E-Drive Hyd. kits..............................$500

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Wanted

Ask your local CPS representative about our PrePay program and earn 5%* toward future crop inputs.

Pioneer One Steel Buildings

Buy and Sell anything you need through the *Conditions apply.

40516_A CPS_PrePay Print_4x4_rev1.indd 2

JD 2130 c/w ldr., 3 pth hitch JD 3155 FWA, c/w ldr, 3 pth hitch JD 4255 2 WD, ldr. available JD 7200 FWA, c/w ldr. 3 pth hitch JD 7600 FWA, c/w loader JD 6420 FWA, c/w loader CASE IH 4700 Vibra Shank, 34ft. Clamp on Duals, 20.8x38-18.4x38 148, 265, 740, JD ldr. FINANCE, TRADES WELCOME 780-696-3527, BRETON, AB

When you go with steel you get the right deals!

Call toll free 1 (877) 525-2004 or see us online at www.pioneeronesteel.com

TRACTORS Various

10/14-40516-2A

10/8/14 9:14 AM

1-800-665-1362

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • OCTOBER 27, 2014

TRACTORS Various

Big Tractor Parts, Inc.

www.bigtractorparts.com

SPRAYING EQUIPMENT Sprayers

TRAVEL

BUYING:

TRAILERS Livestock Trailers

AGRICULTURAL TOURS

WILSON CATTLELINER ALUMINUM STRAIGHT, 1986, spring ride, weather inserts, barn doors, good condition, asking $10,750. Phone (403)325-4695

• Competitive Prices • Prompt Movement • Spring Thrashed

STEIGER TRACTOR SPECIALIST

1-800-982-1769

TRAILERS

HEATED & GREEN CANOLA

Geared For The Future

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.

SEED/ FEED/GRAIN Grain Wanted

TRAILERS Trailers Miscellaneous

“ON FARM PICK UP”

Available at:

South Country Co-op High River, AB

(403) 652-4143

www.dseriescanola.ca SPRAYING EQUIPMENT Sprayers

1-877-250-5252 If you want to sell it fast, call 1-800-665-1362.

*Portion of tours may be Tax Deductible

Select Holidays 1-800-661-4326

www.selectholidays.com

CANOLA WANTED Buying Tough, Heated, Green, Canola, Freight Options, Prompt Payment Bonded and Insured

CALL 1-866-388-6284 www.milliganbiofuels.com

48-FT. 1995 WILSON ALUMINUM Combo tandem hi-boy, new tires, new airbags. Hasn’t been used for 10 yrs, excellent condition, asking $11,500. Phone (403)325-4695.

“LIKE MANY BEFORE, WE’LL HAVE YOU SAYING THERE’S NO DEAL LIKE A KEN DEAL” • Phone: (403)526-9644 • Cell: (403)504-4929 • Email: kendeal@shaw.ca HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING

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

1-800-587-4711

CAREERS Help Wanted

48-FT. ROADMASTER TANDEM DROPDECK, 1987, air ride, tires 65%, asking $9,750. Phone (403)325-4695.

New 30.5L-32 16 ply, $1,995; 20.8-38 12 ply $795; 24.5-32 14 ply, $1,495; 14.9-24 12 ply, $486; 16.9-28 12 ply $558; 23.1-30 12 ply, $1,495; 18.4-26 10 ply, $890; 11R22.5 16 ply, $299. Factory direct. More sizes available new and used. 1-800-667-4515. www.combineworld.com Hit our readers where it counts… in the classifieds. Place your ad in the Alberta Farmer Express classifed section. 1-800-665-1362.

BOW VALLEY TRADING LTD.

Wheat, Barley, Oats, Peas, etc. Green or Heated Canola/Flax

1-877-641-2798

NEW-HOLLAND/CIH TECHNICIAN REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY. Sunny Southern Alberta, growing independent dealership, competitive wages, benefits, relocation. Call Bob (403)625-3321 or email service@challengernh.ca

Give us five minutes and we’ll give you 5% back *

BUYING HEATED/DAMAGED PEAS, FLAX & GRAIN “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252

WE BUY DAMAGED GRAIN

www.penta.ca

CAREERS

SEED/ FEED/GRAIN Grain Wanted

BUYING SPRING THRASHED CANOLA & GRAIN “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252

DEALS ON THE GO!

SCAN TO DOWNLOAD THE APP »»

4955 JD low hrs, 3 pth, very clean S680 JD Combine low hrs 2011 4730 JD Sprayer, 100 ft. 4050 JD, fwa loader with complete front end NH T8050 with fwa 4920 Macdon, 21 ft. D.S.A. GOOD SELECTION OF JD & CASE SP SPRAYERS AND 4WD TRACTORS

AG EQUIPMENT

53-FT. MANAC DRY VAN, 1997, spring ride, rollup door, fibreglass roof, no leaks. Great for storage or mobile shop, asking $6,450. Phone (403)325-4695.

TIRES JD 9400, 9420, 9520, 8970 JD 9860, 9760, 9750, 9650, 9600 JD 9430, 9530, 9630 Case STX 375, 425, 430, 450, 480, 500, 530 CIH 8010-2388, 2188 combine CIH 435Q, 535Q, 450Q, 550Q, 600Q pto avail. JD 4710, 4720, 4730, 4830, 4920, 4930 SP sprayers JD 9770 & 9870 w/CM & duals CIH 3185, 3230, 3330, 4430, 4420 sprayers

Costa Rica ~ Feb 2015 South Africa/Zambia ~ Feb 2015 India ~ Feb 2015 Greece ~ April 2015 Japan ~ May 2015 Ireland/Scotland ~ June 2015 Scandinavia ~ June 2015 Alaska Land/Cruise ~ July 2015 NWT/Yukon ~ July 2015

See your local CPS expert. Sign up for the CPS PrePay program.

Available at:

Webb’s Crop Services Ltd. Vermilion, AB

(780) 853-6565

www.dseriescanola.ca 40516_A CPS_PrePay Print_4x4_rev1.indd 3

*Conditions apply. 10/14-40516-3A

FARMING

10/8/14 9:14 AM

IS ENOUGH OF A GAMBLE...

Available at:

CHS DynAgra Carseland, AB

(403) 934-4644 www.dseriescanola.ca LIVESTOCK LIVESTOCK Cattle – Shorthorn 4’S COMPANY 34th ANNUAL Purebred Shorthorn sale, Sun., Dec 7th. Camrose Regional Exhibition AB, 1:00pm. Canada’s longest running private sale. Bred Heifers, Heifer calves, Herd Sire prospects & commercial bred Heifers. View catalogue online, www.canadianshorthorn.com, catalogue’s call (780)763-2209. Please pre-register for online bidding at dlms.ca

Prairie-Wide Display Classifieds

MORE OPTIONS TO SAVE YOU MONEY

Buy one province, buy two provinces or buy all three. Great rates whatever you choose

Advertise in the Alberta Farmer Express Classifieds, it’s a Sure Thing!

1-800-665-1362

LIVESTOCK Specialty – Alpacas HERD DISPERSAL DUE TO personal health issues dual registered, champion bloodlines, 26 females, 17 males, open to offers as must sell. For more info alpacas@eidnet.org

SEED / FEED / GRAIN SEED/FEED/GRAIN Feed Grain BUYING ALL TYPES OF feed grain. Also have market for light offgrade or heated, picked up on the farm. Eisses Grain Marketing 1-888-882-7803, Lacombe. FEED GRAIN WANTED! ALSO buying; Light, tough, or offgrade grains. “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252

Contact Sharon

Email: sharon.komoski@fbcpublishing.com

Available at:

Beaver Creek Co-op Association Ltd. Lamont, AB

(780) 895-2241

www.dseriescanola.ca

FO R NO TH W E BO 20 O 15 KI ED NG IT IO N

OCTOBER 27, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

ADVERTISE YOUR AG BUSINESS WHERE IT COUNTS.

The Farmer’s Product Guide helps farmers make informed decisions on everything that’s essential to their farm. From equipment and accessories to buildings, technology, tillage and trucks – the Farmer’s Product Guide covers it all. If you’re in the Ag business, the Farmer’s Product Guide offers you some amazing opportunities to reach your target audience! Call to find out about our fully integrated media solutions featuring print, online, email and interactive.

135,000 COPIES PRINTED And distributed through:

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Terry McGarry Ph: (204) 981-3730 Email: trmcgarr@mts.net

and at all major farm shows.

THOUSANDS OF FUllY SEARCHABlE AG PRODUCT AND SERVICE lISTINGS: WWW.FARMERSPRODUCTGUIDE.COM