Mbc141218

Happy Holidays May your new year be filled with peace and goodwill

december 18, 2014

SERVING MANITOBA FARMERS SINCE 1925 | Vol. 72, No. 51

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manitobacooperator.ca

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‘Tis the season

Getting outside and enjoying some fresh air and activity is good for the mind as well as the body. Our vet columnist Carol Shwetz says that goes for horses too ( see page 13). photo: Kevin flynn

Canadian Grain Commission to review wheat class system Wheat classes serve Canada’s grain industry well, but chief commissioner Elwin Hermanson wants to see how they can be improved

By Allan Dawson

Publication Mail Agreement 40069240

co-operator staff /brandon

T

he Canadian Grain Commission is planning to review this country’s respected wheat variety classification system to see how it can best meet the needs of customers while adapting to a wider range of varietal qualities.

Chief commissioner Elwin Hermanson told the Manitoba

Seed Growers Association annual meeting Dec. 11 the review is about improving the system, not scrapping it.

“I think a lot of things have come together at the same time,” Hermanson said in a followup interview.

“The gluten-strength issue, there’s these American varieties (Faller and Prosper) being grown legally. There’s a market for them, why doesn’t our class

system embrace them? Those are good questions. We don’t have all the answers. We want to consult and ask the right questions and get the right answers and make the right decisions.”

Many believe Canada’s reputation for supplying the world’s best milling wheat stems from its quality control system based on wheat classes, variety registration, including merit assessment, and CGC oversight

of wheat classes, grading and exports.

Eight classes

While the CGC will scrutinize its eight milling wheat classes — Canada Western Red Spring, Canada Western Red Winter, Canada Western Extra Strong, Canada Prairie Spring Red, Canada Prairie Spring See CGC REVIEW on page 6 »

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The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

INSIDE

Did you know?

LIVESTOCK

If you see beekeepers rubbing their heads…

Keeping track An Alberta inventor has found a better way to keep tabs on the herd

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CROPS Quality control The Canadian Grain Commission says complaints about grain quality are down

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FEATURE CSI Back 40 Crime scene forensics are proving invaluable at nabbing poachers

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CROSSROADS Machine shed manger A Headingley congregation gives an old story new life

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Editorials Comments What’s Up Livestock Markets

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Grain Markets Weather Vane Classifieds Sudoku

Propolis, which bees use to seal hives, may have another use

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pparently it works on mice, so millions of men may be hoping it works on them too. Scientists writing in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry say the material that honeybees use to seal their hives may promote hair growth.

In an ACS release, Ken Kobayashi and colleagues report that propolis, a resinlike material that honeybees use to seal small gaps in their hives, also contains active compounds that fight fungal and bacterial invasions. People from ancient times had noticed propolis’s special properties and used it to treat tumours, inflammation and wounds. More recently, research has shown that the substance promotes the growth of certain cells involved in hair growth though no one had yet tested whether that, in turn, would result in new locks.

The release says that when the researchers tested propolis on mice that had been shaved or waxed, the mice

Scraping propolis from the sides of a bee box in California.

Photo: Fishermansdaughter:Flickr

that received the treatment regrew their fur faster than those that didn’t. The scientists also noticed that after the topical application, the number of special cells involved in the process of growing hair increased.

Although they tried the material on mice that could

grow fur rather than balding mice, the researchers note that hair loss conditions often result from abnormal inflammation. Propolis contains anti-inflammatory compounds, so they expect it could help treat balding conditions, the ACS release says.

READER’S PHOTO

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This truck has seen a few miles, and now is bringing a few smiles to people’s faces in the town of Souris. Kowalchuk’s Furniture has it dressed for the season and on display for everyone to see in the heart of the town. photo: jeannette greaves

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The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

Campbell’s for Christmas?

Kelly Beaulieu hopes to sign contracts with a couple of food industry giants in the next couple of weeks

By Meghan Mast Co-operator Staff / Portage la Prairie

K

elly Beaulieu’s idea for converting the nutrition f ro m ve g e t a b l e s t h a t would otherwise be thrown away into a tasty food product has caught the eye of some big names in the processed food business.

B e a u l i e u ’s c o m p a n y , Canadian Prairie Garden Purees, has recently received letters of intent to purchase from Nestle and Campbell’s after sending them samples.

The deals have yet to be finalized, but Beaulieu said it looks promising.

“It’s really exciting to have the big guys notice you,” she said.

Beaulieu started the processing company because she wanted to address the amount of waste being created in the development and production of retail vegetables. Around 40 to 60 per cent of the produce in Manitoba is deemed unsellable and instead fed to animals or used for compost.

“It’s still top quality, it’s only visually imperfect,” she said.

The agronomist-turned entrepreneur said looks don’t matter to her process because vegetables lose their shape soon after entering the building where they are turned into purées.

“Since we grind it up right away I don’t really care if the carrot is crooked or the cauliflower is the wrong size,” said Beaulieu.

Working through the Food Development Centre in Portage la Prairie, she can pro-

“You don’t have to cry over my onions.”

Kelly Beaulieu

cess 8,000 lbs. an hour with only a five-person team. They process around 30 different types of vegetables that are all sourced from Manitoba, with the exception of Ontario sweet potatoes.

The steam-fusion cooking process flash cooks produce, locking in nutrients — even the vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin B that is usually destroyed by heat.

With the help of a food scientist, they identified the temperature and duration of the processing that would cook the vegetables while still maintaining the nutrients.

After the vegetables are cooked they are dropped into an ice bath, which stops the cooking process quickly, and preserves the colour, flavour and health of the product.

The product is also designed to appeal to gourmet restaurants. Her company currently supplies several restaurants across North America, including Prairie 360 in the Fort Garry Hotel.

John Placko works as a consulting chef to craft recipes that swap raw ingredients for the purée.

Then chefs are invited to taste test. While pitching to a bakery, Placko demonstrated how it could use beet purées in its meringues. For another

Kelly Beaulieu said her product’s quality and taste is what caught the interest of companies like Campbell’s and Nestle. photos: meghan mast

restaurant he replaced some ricotta cheese in a lasagne with navy bean purée.

“It reduces the fat content, reduces the calorie content, increases the protein and decreases the cost, so it’s all a win-win,” said Beaulieu.

Not to mention the time saved. Canadian Prairie Garden Purees have a shelf life of two years. The company washes the veggies, peels them, cooks and processes them. They even tackle produce that draws tears.

“You don’t have to cry over my onions,” she chuckled. meghan.mast@fbcpublishing.com

Cold, wet spring for 2015 If forecasters have it right, this winter could be another long one, but it won’t see long periods of below-normal temperatures

By Shannon VanRaes co-operator staff

C

all it an intermission from winter if you will, but don’t expect the warmer-than-usual temperatures to last — at least not in Manitoba.

Speaking at Farm Credit Canada’s Ag Outlook in Winnipeg last week, meteorologist Mark Robinson said that this year’s El Niño is a weak one.

“Right across the country we’re seeing warmer-than-normal temperatures,” Robinson said. “But in Manitoba it’s going to be a fairly average, fairly normal year.”

El Niños are tied to elongated stretches of warm water that develop in the Pacific Ocean near the equator, but this year, that stretch of warm water is located farther out into the Pacific than usual. The result? A softened effect that won’t have much impact on the Central Plains.

The current warm spell Manitoba is enjoying is the result of warm, moist air being drawn up from the Gulf of Mexico, said the Weather Network meteorologist.

The cold snap before that, which caught many Manitobans off guard, was the result of frigid air flowing out of Siberia and over the Arctic Circle.

“I am a meteorologist, so that means I do get paid to get it wrong on a fairly regular basis.”

Mark Robinson

“Instead of blaming that one on America, which I love to do, you can blame that one on Russia,” Robinson said.

Where the El Niño effect will have a positive impact is how long weather systems stay in one place. While the Canadian Prairies saw weeks of below-normal temperatures last winter, it’s unlikely that systems will stay in place for extended periods this winter, he said. Instead, weather systems will move across the continent fairly quickly. ” So t h a t’s g o o d n e w s,” Robinson said.

The weak El Niño also means that the extreme effects, such as drought and flooding, seen with intense or so-called “super El Niños” shouldn’t be a problem next summer.

Next spring however, may be a bit of a disappointment for Manitoba producers.

“That spring pattern is all important right now,” he said.

“And right now what we’re thinking is that it’s going to be a bit of a cold, wet spring.”

Or in other words, a longer winter is in the works.

“Winter may extend a little bit further, it may be a bit more mild now, but as we get into springtime things are going to get a little bit worse, a little closer to what we saw last year, with sort of that extended winter, and that’s right now what we’re looking at,” said the forecaster.

But a long winter doesn’t necessarily translate into a poor growing season, he added, pointing to years like 2010 as an example of when a cold spring evolved into a warm fall.

A long winter does mean that if Manitoba sees severe weather next year — such as hail, tornadoes, windstorms or intense thunderstorms — it will likely happen in late June or even early July.

But a lot can change over the next several months, Robinson added, noting a clearer picture of 2015’s spring weather will emerge by next March.

“I am a meteorologist, so that means I do get paid to get it wrong on a fairly regular basis,” he said laughing. shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

A bag of Canadian Prairie Garden Purees’ beet purée.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

OPINION/EDITORIAL

Spreading peace and prosperity

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electing the “Our history” selection featured on this page each issue involves a visit to the library of old issues bound into volumes by crop year — August 1 to July 31. No matter the year, each issue is a reminder of two things — how much things have changed, and how much they have stayed the same.

The Co-operator has gone through John Morriss two stages in its life, or perhaps three. It Editorial Director started as The Scoop Shovel in 1925, and acting as an “organ” for Manitoba Pool, it was full of optimism and good news until 1929, when the Pools’ Central Selling Agency failed, followed by the general economic collapse of the Great Depression. In 1930, other provincial co-ops attempted to assist the cause, leading to the name change to Manitoba Co-operator, but economic conditions were too severe and the publication died in 1936. However, Manitoba Pool revived the Co-operator in 1943 in the tabloid newspaper format in which it’s been published ever since.

This week we pulled the first Christmas issues from each of those incarnations. The December 1926 issue of The Scoop Shovel contained much of the regular news — such as grain, poultry and livestock prices and reports on the campaign to sign up members. Most of the news was good, and the number of advertisements and their contents suggest that it was a time of some prosperity.

Among the ads for wood-fired stock tank heaters, Carter Disc Separators and windmills were ads for pianos, radios (no squeals and howls) and ladies’ fur coats from Holt Renfrew.

However, there was a hint of turmoil to come in the “Pool Woman” column, a regular feature written by a woman who was apparently never identified.

“For nearly 2,000 years the beautiful message has rung through Christendom from a million churches — ‘Peace on Earth, goodwill towards men.’ And yet we have just passed through the worst war the world has known.

Nations are spending millions of dollars on building airplanes and submarines… scientists are working in their laboratories to perfect deadly poisons for the spreading of disease… war and the spirit of war are everywhere.”

That was a sad premonition for the first Christmas issue of the revived Co-operator on December 15, 1943. There were only two ads in that issue — both were for Victory Bonds. The main issue covered that week was the controversy over the Bacon for Britain program, with Agriculture Minister James Gardiner accusing Progressive Conservative Leader John Bracken of favouring use of heavier hogs, thus compromising the “long, lean, streaked” quality that Britain preferred.

At this time of year when we count our blessings, it’s wonderful to reflect that while there were just 17 years between those two first Christmas issues, we’ve been able to deliver 71 unbroken years of issues since. That speaks to the stability that we’ve enjoyed here in Canada, and particularly to the stability in Canadian agriculture. There has been turmoil, though nothing like the turmoil of the 1930s and 1940s.

But for many others the words of “The Pool Woman” in 1926 are unfortunately still all too true — “War and the spirit of war are everywhere.”

The notion of a separate “woman’s column” may seem outdated today, but it’s worth reflecting that including it was a progressive move at the time. It may not be a coincidence that those 71 years of relative stability in the West have come during a time of growing involvement of women in society, politics and the economy. If we look around the world to the regions still consumed by conflict, it’s often where women have not been given the same roles and respect. Farmers are among the millions displaced by those conflicts, especially in Africa and the Middle East, ironically where the concept of “Peace on Earth, goodwill towards men” began.

Farming has in some ways changed dramatically since those issues in 1926 and 1943. Many of the farmers back then were growing crops, raising cattle and shipping milk and eggs. That may be different today, but on the other hand much of our stories are the same — growing better crops and livestock, and dealing with those neverending issues such as prices and transportation. But perhaps remarkably, another thing that has not changed is that most of our readers are still part of a family farm operation. Christmas is a special time for all families, but it has special significance for families on the farm.

All of us at the Co-operator wish you and your families best wishes for your Christmas, and may the coming year be one in which the message of peace and prosperity be spread to farm families everywhere. john.morriss@fbcpublishing.com

CWB was solvent on our watch

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griculture Minister Gerry Ritz has a reputation for sometimes folksy, occasionally absurd and always partisan remarks, but when he strays into areas of defamation and outright lies, a response is warranted. In testimony before the Commons Agriculture Committee regarding the Harper government’s plan to gift CWB assets to a multinational grain company willing to partner with CWB, Ritz stated that “there were no assets” or implied that the assets were so heavily leveraged that the farmercontrolled CWB was insolvent.

Very little is known about CWB’s financial position since Aug. 1, 2012 when the government summarily removed the elected farmer directors and ended the single desk. Since then, no financial statements have been made available, no information has been provided on sales or costs, or the financing of CWB’s elevator buying and building spree, but let’s be clear where things stood when farmers were in control.

The single-desk CWB paid out all its revenues less the cost of operations every crop year so it had no capital base other than a contingency fund to backstop pricing options, a special account of uncashed cheques and capital assets used to carry out its business. Those capital assets included a recently renovated office building and furnishings, computer hardware and software, vehicles, hopper cars and two lakers under construction. The cost of these assets was spread over past, current and future pool years as prescribed by the relevant accounting standards and the CWB’s financial statements always received unqualified (clean) audits from the external auditor. Also worth mentioning was the CWB’s fully funded pension plan that left no unfunded pension liability in the event of windup.

The net fair market value of CWB assets on July 31, 2012 might be a matter of some debate but it was certainly not zero. The $145 million cash in the contingency fund alone was indisputably $145 million. It is also indisputable

OUR HISTORY:

that the assets were all paid for by farmers. Of course the greatest CWB asset was its single desk and its value remains the subject of legal action.

The enormity of the Harper government’s actions regarding the CWB must not be forgotten. The government ousted democratically elected farmer directors and ended farmer control of the CWB. It killed the single desk even though farmers supported it in seven consecutive director elections and the CWB plebiscite — the equivalent of torching the factory. Those actions made employees, office space and computer systems redundant, triggering untold millions in severance, writedowns and broken contracts. The government acknowledged this by committing 349 million taxpayer dollars (The Canadian Press, June 28, 2012) to add to the fire and is now apparently ready to hand over whatever is left and whatever has been purchased with farmer and taxpayer funds to a grain company willing to “partner” with CWB. It’s no surprise that Minister Ritz has attempted to disparage the farmer-controlled CWB to deflect scrutiny of his government’s actions. However, the facts are that on our watch the CWB was financially sound, with significant assets held on behalf of farmers and a mandate from farmers supporting the single desk. It is Minister Ritz and the Harper government that must answer for the debacle that has followed.

Former elected CWB directors: Allen Oberg Larry Hill Ian McCreary Bill Nicholson Bill Toews Bill Woods Rod Flaman Cam Goff Stewart Wells John Sandborn Kyle Korneychuk

December 1926

T

The December issue of the The Scoop Shovel in 1926 was drawn by Ed Russenholt, later to become CBC Manitoba’s first TV weatherman with his signature forecast for the “Heart of the Continent, “ which was also a title for his book of Manitoba history.

It reads: “Your membership in the Pool is an effort to co-operate in peace and goodwill — goodwill expressed, not only in better business and bigger bank balances, but in happy homes, healthy families and richer and fuller lives.

Co-operative distribution of the fruits of your toil benefits you, your family, your country and all those countries who need bread.”

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The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

COMMENT/FEEDBACK

NFU is a voice farmers need — if only they would listen After nearly 50 years of fighting for farmers, the National Famers Union voice is showing its age

By Shannon VanRaes co-operator staff

L

ate last month, the predictable mélange of National Farmers Union members gathered for the organization’s 45th annual meeting, where the big item on the agenda was updating the organization’s brand with a new logo and fresh tag line.

It was clear that some members believed the dated look and feel of the pan-Canadian group was keeping new, younger members at bay, and yet no one seemed particularly enthusiastic about leading a charge towards the 21st century.

President Jan Slomp described himself as “indifferent” to a logo change, while youth president Alex Fletcher said he “wasn’t really passionate about branding work.”

In fact, the greatest enthusiasm seemed to come from the members who rushed to the microphones to rail against the idea of change.

The common theme was don’t fix what’s not broken.

The problem is, that the National Farmers Union is broken.

It s membership is declining, fresh blood is scarce and you don’t have to attend a budget session to know finances are tight — the old margarine container with “coffee donations” scrawled on it is a good tip-off.

And the organization’s prob lems go far beyond a dated logo, although the tired green maple leaf may prove emblematic of its larger issues. The NFU has failed to engage youth or the broader public on social media, its rela-

tionship with mainstream media is openly distrustful, and thus far, it has shunned the idea of embracing urban supporters, even though they could provide strength in numbers and much-needed membership dollars.

The bottom line is, that with ra re e xc e p t i o n , t h e N F U i s n o longer meaningfully connecting with Canadians, farmers or otherwise, and its message is going unheard.

And that is the real travesty, b e c a u s e t h e Na t i o n a l Fa r m e r s Union has a message that Canadians desperately need to hear.

Time and time again the union is not only right about the effects of policy change on producers, it is practically clairvoyant.

The NFU is thorough in its economic assessments of the realities farmers face, taking into account all facets of both government policy and consumer trends. Its analysis looks at the big picture, and it does it without losing sight of the details.

While the priorities of other producer organizations can be clouded by the competing interests of corp o ra t e m e m b e r s, t h e Na t i o n a l Farmers Union has remained a pure voice for the interests of the farmers on issues ranging from Bill C-18 and CETA, to the assets of the Canadian Wheat Board, grain transportation and GMO alfalfa to name a few.

Yet, often the only validation the organization gains is the ability to say, “we told you so.”

Slomp said the union is unfairly painted as being socialist or com-

An NFU member examines logo options in Saskatoon. Photo: Shannon VanRaes

munist by those who don’t like the message — governments and corporations alike — in an effort to discredit it.

Undoubtedly that’s true. But the National Farmers Union’s worst enemy may be the National Farmers Union. Listening to members speak, the public relations person inside me cringed with each person who compared the Prime Minister to Adolph Hitler, the government to the Nazis, or who brought up the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Reminiscing about the CCF or wearing tie-dye might be considered charming, if not dated, but straying into political minefields outside of agriculture is a gift for

those who oppose you — as is clinging to the outmoded traditions of union culture.

Farmers do need to work together to accomplish change and build their livelihoods, but singing Solidarity Forever in 2014 is not understood or embraced by potential members the NFU needs if it is to stay relevant.

Clearly the National Far mers Union wants to protect its history of progressive thought and honour its roots, but the best way to do that isn’t by clinging to old symbols and songs, it’s by being progressive and embracing the changes that keep it strong. shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

Animal industry entering a mini-boom period Producers will be able to rebuild herds and regain profitability

By Chris Hurt

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n 2007, meat consumption per person in the U.S. was 219 pounds for the big four of beef, pork, chicken, and turkey. Current USDA estimates for this year are down to 199 pounds per person, nearly a 10 per cent decrease in seven years. In percentage terms, consumption of beef has been down 17 per cent, followed by 10 per cent for both pork and turkey and a more modest three per cent for chicken.

Why would U.S. consumers be eating so much less meat?

Some argue that diets have changed and U.S. citizens have made lifestyle changes that include less meat. There is probably some truth to the lifestyle change hypothesis, but three other factors are more important.

The first of these is that retail meat prices had to rise sharply for animal producers to cover the much higher

costs of feed from the 2006 to the 2012 crops. Retail prices of beef and pork in 2014 are about 40 per cent higher than in 2007. People simply eat less meat when prices rise quickly.

High feed and forage prices forced a national beef cow reduction of 12 per cent from 2007 to 2014. In addition to high feed costs, Southern Plains producers had the additional problem of widespread drought. As a result of the double whammy, producers liquidated 21 per cent of the beef cows in that region, which is the largest production region.

A third critical factor reducing U.S. consumption of meats is related to domestic and foreign incomes. Domestic incomes were under pressure in the financial crisis of late-2008 and 2009 setting off the “Great Recession.” While U.S. consumers were under pressure, incomes in developing countries were rising. This

caused U.S. meat exports to rise, pitting foreign consumers against domestic consumers for the limited U.S. meat supplies.

The next era for animal industries will be one of rebuilding herds and flocks.

This will be a multipleyear process. If the years from 2007 to 2013 could be described as the “Grain Era” in which crop sector incomes had an extraordinary run, the coming period may be described as the “Animal Era” when producers of animal products have strong returns.

During the “Grain Era” some resources like pasture land and forage production were converted to cash crop production. In the coming “Animal Era” there will be some incentive to convert cash cropland back to animal industry use.

Fe e d p r i c e s a r e m u c h lower, drought continues to abate in the Southern Plains, and the U.S. economy con-

In percentage terms, consumption of beef has been down 17 per cent, followed by 10 per cent for both pork and turkey and a more modest three per cent for chicken.

tinues a slow but steady process of bringing more families back into the workforce.

S o, h o w m u c h o f t h e 20-pound-per-person reduction in meat consumption will the animal industries recover in coming years? The answer depends on the magnitude of the changes in the drivers. As an example, 219 pounds of meat consumption per person was based on a period when corn prices averaged about $2 a bushel and soybean meal $200 a ton.

As feed prices reset in the coming era, few believe feed prices will drop back to those

low levels. Given current expectations for feed prices in coming years, a recovery of 10 to 12 pounds of the lost 20 seems like a reasonable estimate.

Animal industries are expected to be in a miniboom phase in coming years led by rising per capita consumption, continued small growth in U.S. population, and growing export demand.

An important determining force of how big the boom will be will depend to what level feed prices reset.

Chris Hurt is an extension agronomist with Purdue University

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The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

FROM PAGE ONE CGC REVIEW Continued from page 1

White, Canada Western Amber durum, Canada Western Soft White Spr ing and Canada Western Hard White Spring — Hermanson said scrapping the class system altogether would put Canada at a competitive disadvantage.

“Every major exporting country uses classes,” he said.

“What classes do is let you

blend varieties and not lose quality control so you can bulk grain and put it on vessels.”

That helps grain handlers and railways be more efficient. Endusers benefit by knowing how wheat in a certain class will perform. Lower handling costs and improved customer service result in better returns to farmers.

The Western Grain Elevator Association supports the wheat class system for those reasons,

said executive director Wade Sobkowich.

“We need to make sure we’re not making changes that compromise our ability to sell into certain markets,” he said in an interview. “That’s very, very important, but things change and it may be worthwhile to review the classification system, if for no other reason than to verify what we’re doing is proper.”

Wearable wreath The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is going to review Canada’s wheat class system, Elwin Hermanson, the CGC’s chief commissioner, told the Manitoba Seed Growers’ Association’s annual meeting Dec. 11. photo: allan dawson

Canadian wheat is known for its consistency. However, three years ago some customers complained about lowerthan-normal gluten strength in CWRS wheat. The CGC determined growing conditions resulted in three wheat varieties with normally adequate gluten strength falling below the standard. Because the varieties — Harvest, Lillian and Unity — represented a large portion of the production the whole CWRS class was adversely affected.

Quality control

David Hatcher, a research scientist with the CGC’s Grain Research Laboratory, agreed the complaints demonstrate the importance of getting quality control right. That’s why the CGC will not add two new wheats — BW961 and BW487 — to the CWRS class, even though that’s the class they were intended for by the developers at Agriculture Canada and Agri-Food Canada and the fact that they were supported for registration by the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale at its annual meeting in February.

The committee’s quality subcommittee voted against registration, however, when the three subcommittees, including agronomy and disease voted in a secret ballot later a majoritysupported registration.

“We’re the bad guys (at the CGC), but we said they don’t fit,” Hermanson said. “They don’t have the quality that customers are wanting, so we won’t

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put them in a (milling) class... that’s the role that we play.”

While it’s the the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that decides whether a new variety gets registered — a prerequisite to commercialization — it’s the CGC which decides which class the variety is in. If the varieties are registered the CGC will put them in the Canada Western General Purpose class, which requires no pre-registration merit testing, including for quality.

The class was originally developed for high-yielding, high-starch, low-protein wheats destined for ethanol production or livestock feed, but it is becoming a catch-all for wheats that fail to meet the end-use quality standards of the other classes.

Adjustments

The CGC’s review might result in changing end-use quality standards in some classes, elimination of some low-volume classes or adding new classes, Hermanson said.

“It might mean we should be adjusting the CPS (Canada Prairie Spring) red class,” he said. “Maybe we should be adjusting the CWRS (Canada Western Red Spring). Maybe we should have a new class — something... that would pick up Faller and Prosper...”

Both are high-yielding American Dark Northern Spring milling wheats, but their enduse characteristics don’t fit the current CWRS class reserved for Western Canada’s best milling wheat.

Both varieties are being g r ow n l e g a l l y i n We s t e r n Canada under identity-preserved contracts. “ They have a value and maybe we need to be encompassing value by changing the structure of our class system,” Hermanson said. “We won’t make these changes without consulting our stakeholders.”

Selling consistent-quality wheat that customers know they can blend with other wheats is Canada’s competitive advantage in world markets, Hermanson said.

“If we’re just selling it on price and availability... we’re going to be beat out by countries that have lower labour costs and have shorter distances to transport grain,” he said.

“So we have to get these other things right.” allan@fbcpublishing.com

7

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

CANFAX bullish on beef market outlook The forecast is for solid prices in 2015

By Meghan Mast CO-OPERATOR STAFF

T

he Canadian beef market will likely continue to see bulls in the new year, according to a CANFAX forecaster. “ We’re l o o k i n g a t v e r y s o l i d p r i c e s f o r 2 0 1 5 . At the risk of saying it, there’s potential for even higher p r i c e s ,” B r i a n P e r i l l a t , manager and senior anal y s t f o r C A N FA X , t o l d a group of producers at this year’s Manitoba Forage and Livestock symposium in Portage la Prairie.

He said the next six months will be a good marker, but the steady rise in beef prices bodes well for the industry. Low beef p ro d u c t i o n i n t h e c o u n try set the prices high while

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

Jan. 11-12: Manitoba Forage Seed Association annual conference, Victoria Inn, 1808 Wellington Ave., Winnipeg. For more info call Heather at 204-376-3309 or email hmcbey@forageseed.net.

Jan. 15: Southeast Beef and Forage Day, Vita. For more information call MAFRD’s Vita GO office at 204-425-5050.

Jan. 20-22: Manitoba Ag Days, Keystone Centre, 1175-18th St., Brandon. For more info visit www. agdays.com or call 204-866-4400.

Jan. 20-22: Red River Basin Land and Water International Summit Conference, Fort Garry Hotel, 222 Broadway, Winnipeg. For more info visit www.redriverbasincom mission.org.

Feb. 23-24: Wild Oats Grainworld conference, Fairmont Winnipeg, 2 Lombard Place, Winnipeg. For more info call 1-800-567-5671 or visit www.wildoatsgrainworld. com.

Feb. 25-26: Manitoba Young Farmers Conference, Victoria Inn, 3550 Victoria Ave., Brandon.

For more info visit www.gov. mb.ca/agriculture/business-andeconomics/events-and-deadlines/ young-farmers-conference.html or call 204-266-2930 or 204-6971140.

Feb. 26: Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Forum, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Keystone Centre, 1175-18th St., Brandon. For more info visit https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/events. html.

March 1-3: Warming of the North: Implications for Arctic Transportation, Supply Chain Management and Economic Development, Ottawa Convention Centre, 55 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa.

For more info visit http://umani toba.ca/faculties/management/ti/.

March 3-5: Canola Council of Canada convention, Fairmont Banff Springs, 405 Spray Ave., Banff, Alta. For more info visit http://convention.canolacouncil. org.

strong local and global demand maintained strong prices.

Ground beef sales — with prices increasing 50 to 70 per cent in the last few years — have played a large role in this, according to Perillat.

Mi d d l e m e a t s, i n c l u d i n g steaks, have also gone up 20 to 30 per cent.

“Consumers are willing and able to pay for beef and that’s brought prices to extremely record-high numbers,” he said.

Cow-calf producers will likely be the biggest beneficiaries in this market, thanks to tight calf supplies and strong competition.

Factors, including high fed cattle prices, cheaper grain, a lower Canadian dollar and tight cattle supplies, mean these market signals are bid

cattle out of the countr y.

Last year this country doubled feeder export numbers and this year is 50 per cent higher again.

“We’re probably going to have the third- or fourthbiggest export number in 20 years,” he said.

High export numbers combined with labour shor tages have created a perfect storm for packing companies.

T h e re h a s b e e n a s u b stantial drop in the national slaughter number, leading three Canadian plants, one in Quebec, one in Moose Jaw and one in Calgary, to close their doors in the last three years.

Utilization rates in slaughter facilities hang just over 80 per cent, which Perillat said, “is OK, not great.”

into calf prices, giving cowcalf producers higher profits from the high-priced calves they sell.

Manitoba producers will particularly benefit, since calf prices rose 70 per cent in the fall. Perillat projects t h e re w i l l b e e ve n f e we r calves around in 2015, which is good news for cow-calf producers, but remains a challenge for the indust r y, w h i c h i s i n n e e d o f expansion.

Labour shortages are causing packers to choose between killing more cattle and doing more processing. This puts them at a disadvantage, causing many producers to export their cattle elsewhere, often to the United States. In 2014, Canada will have exported ove r 1 . 2 m i l l i o n h e a d o f

He f o re c a s t s s l a u g h t e r numbers will be tighter in 2015 and hopes the consistently good prices will lead more producers to expand.

“Somehow we’ve got to be competitive and keep cattle in Canada,” he said.

What’s it going to take to expand the beef industry in Canada? Perillat said the key is confidence. “ R i g h t f u l l y s o, t h e r e’s still a lot of people skeptical of how long this will last.

They’ve tried it and been kicked a few times.

“We’re still a little hesitant while the U.S. is a lot more aggressive. We need to keep a h e i f e r. Ot h e r w i s e s h e’s going to go to Nebraska and be put on feed and never seen again.” meghan.mast@fbcpublishing.com

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8

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

Canola prices entering sideways trend The old highs have become the new lows

By Shannon VanRaes Co-operator staff

C

Mike Jubinville speaks about future market trends at a Farm Credit Canada event in Winnipeg. Photo: Shannon VanRaes

anola prices are tracking the overall trend towards lower commodity prices this year, but there is still room for some comfortable margins, a prominent market analyst says.

Speaking at Farm Credit Canada’s Ag Outlook 2015 in Winnipeg, Mike Jubinville of ProFarmer Canada said that while the canola markets aren’t good, they’re not really bad either.

“I would’t consider this as bearish or bullish, it’s not burdensome, it’s not super tight, it’s a relatively comfortable level,” Jubinville said, adding that a sideways trend is now dominating the canola market.

“Now that trend may last for six months, it may last for 12 months,

“I do believe we’ve gone through a once-ina-generation paradigm shift in how the grain markets are operating.”

Mike Jubinville

24 months, at this stage it’s just too early to say. The next set of bullish fundamentals, or catalysts to start the next bull market are out there and they will come,” he said.

One factor could be ending stocks.

Although Statistics Canada revised its canola production numbers last week, raising them to 15.5 million tonnes, Jubinville believes lower prices will eat into

end stocks over the next several months.

“Even at 15-1/2 tonnes, we’re still in a process of trimming down ending stocks this year,” he said. “I think that sneaky demand is going to come in here, and I think we’re going to export more canola than we think we’re gonna… so my ultimate feeling on ending stocks this year, maybe it’s a million tonnes, maybe it’s one, maybe it’s 1.1. million.”

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9

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

But tightening stocks alone won’t boost canola prices, Jubinville said. Canola will need the support of other oilseed markets, as well as the vegetable oil market to really rally.

“However, it does supply an underlying sense of support under the marketplace,” he said.

Looking at long-term historical trends and contemplating the future of the markets, he is seeing a pattern emerge.

“This fits into what is my emerging philosophy of two, two and two — two year up, two year down, two year sideways,” said Jubinville.

Of course there have been major changes, most recently, a paradigm shift.

“I do believe we’ve gone through a once-in-a-generation paradigm shift in how the grain markets are operating,” he said.

“The last time this happened was in the 1970s.”

For whatever reason or reasons, possibly the introduction of speculative involvement in commodity markets or the advent of the biofuel, Jubinville said prices that were once con-

sidered market highs are now the lows.

“So what were the old highs become the new lows, and this is something we’ve seen not just in canola, it’s in soybeans, it’s in corn, it’s in wheat, it’s in barley,” he said.

That new low however, will still have the ability to surprise producers as canola waits for the next bull market to emerge.

“We are going to test the bottom of this again, we’re going to shock people on certain days, it’s going to happen, it’s not a bull market, it’s a sideways trending market developing now, waiting for that catalyst to start the next bull market,” he stressed.

Those waiting for canola prices to move upwards before selling might have to wait awhile, and should take all factors into consideration.

“Again the steady decline we’ve seen in our canola market, it has a bit of a bounce, driven by meal markets that drove soybeans higher in October. Canola benefited certainly from some of that, but I think we are in this territory which I

call my Maginot line of resistance, in this $440, $450 area,” he said.

“So we’re looking at pricing opportunities in this market and $10 a bushel tends to buy enough canola for now. I am 50 per cent sold and I am prepared to wait, and I think I’m going to have to wait for months until I see the next real opportunity to emerge.”

But if you’re undersold and uncomfortable about it, the analyst said you may want to sell when you next get a shot at the top end of the current price range.

Farmers who have a basis contract in place and who are looking for a delivery opportunity, or who have already delivered and have left their futures open, may want to roll their nearby contracts forward to buy themselves more time.

“I’d be more inclined to look forward to see if you can roll that contract forward, say in to the July contract… not to say that there’s a big rally in the making here, but it gives you more time.”

news

PEDv jumps to Hawaii, animal feed tested

By Tom Polansek Reuters

Hawaii has identified its first outbreak of a deadly pig virus that emerged in the continental United States last year, confounding officials who are uncertain how the disease arrived over thousands of miles of ocean.

The state confirmed porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) on a farm on Oahu, the most populous Hawaiian island, on Nov. 20, according to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

Farmers and the federal government have been working to contain PEDv since it was first detected in the United States in the spring

of 2013. The virus has killed at least eight million pigs, roughly 10 per cent of the U.S. hog population.

Hawaii had toughened import requirements for live pigs in July in a bid to prevent the spread of PEDv, banning infected hogs and requiring tests for PEDv prior to shipping.

State officials do not know how PEDv arrived on their shores and are testing animal feed from the infected farm to try to determine whether it may have transmitted the virus, acting state veterinarian, Isaac Maeda said in a telephone interview.

“We live out in the ocean,” Maeda said. “A lot of things you see on the continental U.S., we don’t see out here.”

Chances of determining how PEDv arrived in Hawaii are “not looking very promising,” he added.

shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

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10

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

LIVESTOCK MARKETS Cattle Prices

Heifers

Alberta South $ — — 120.00 - 138.00 108.00 - 121.00 — $ 221.00 - 235.00 230.00 - 246.00 244.00 - 259.00 260.00 - 281.00 284.00 - 312.00 311.00 - 346.00 $ 205.00 - 218.00 216.00 - 227.00 225.00 - 241.00 238.00 - 257.00 257.00 - 280.00 280.00 - 309.00

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

(850+ lbs.)

(901+ lbs.)

(801-900 lbs.)

(701-800 lbs.)

(601-700 lbs.)

(501-600 lbs.)

(401-500 lbs.)

(901+ lbs.)

(801-900 lbs.)

(701-800 lbs.)

(601-700 lbs.)

(501-600 lbs.)

(401-500 lbs.)

Futures (December 12, 2014) in U.S. Fed Cattle Close Change December 2014 162.40 -4.05 February 2015 162.57 -4.40 April 2015 162.10 -4.35 June 2015 154.65 -5.25 August 2015 152.25 -5.07 October 2015 153.35 -5.15

Feeder Cattle January 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 August 2015 September 2015

Cattle Slaughter Canada East West Manitoba U.S.

Ontario $ 170.60 - 187.63 157.21 - 184.05 84.37 - 121.17 84.37 - 121.17 108.84 - 135.97 $ 220.71 - 254.74 194.11 - 247.44 205.16 - 259.92 229.50 - 290.62 250.57 - 320.64 250.19 - 335.22 $ 172.23 - 218.89 213.47 - 232.98 166.83 - 223.89 177.89 - 251.66 190.07 - 267.23 197.48 - 287.24

Close 228.60 224.25 224.10 224.42 224.22 224.12

Change -7.35 -7.80 -8.45 -8.18 -8.90 -8.78

Cattle Grades (Canada)

Week Ending December 6, 2014 53,103 12,871 40,232 N/A 562,000

Previous Year­ 50,164 14,451 35,713 N/A 629,000

Prime AAA AA A B D E

Week Ending December 6, 2014 1,442 25,499 12,501 513 848 11,428 229

Previous Year 721 22,205 14,804 620 868 10,126 23

Hog Prices Source: Manitoba Agriculture

(Friday to Thursday) ($/100 kg) E - Estimation MB. ($/hog) MB (All wts.) (Fri-Thurs.)

MB (Index 100) (Fri-Thurs.)

ON (Index 100) (Mon.-Thurs.)

PQ (Index 100) (Mon.-Fri.)

Current Week 193.00 E 179.00 E 183.61 186.30

Last Week 191.99 178.33 182.37 185.69

Last Year (Index 100) 166.08 154.96 156.26 160.10

Futures (December 12, 2014) in U.S. Hogs December 2014 February 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015

Close 87.55 84.35 85.70 90.30 91.85

Change -0.07 -2.27 -2.75 -1.70 -2.65

Other Market Prices Sheep and Lambs $/cwt Ewes Choice Lambs (110+ lb.)

(95 - 109 lb.)

(80 - 94 lb.)

(Under 80 lb.)

(New crop)

$1 Cdn: $0.8666 U.S. $1 U.S: $1.1540 Cdn.

COLUMN

(Friday to Thursday) December 12, 2014 Winnipeg Slaughter Cattle Steers — Heifers — D1, 2 Cows 119.00 - 125.00 D3 Cows 105.00 - 115.00 Bulls 138.00 - 144.00 Feeder Cattle (Price ranges for feeders refer to top-quality animals only) Steers (901+ lbs.) $ 180.00 - 208.00 (801-900 lbs.)

200.00 - 230.00 (701-800 lbs.)

220.00 - 248.00 (601-700 lbs.)

245.00 - 278.00 (501-600 lbs.)

270.00 - 312.00 (401-500 lbs.)

300.00 - 344.00 Heifers (901+ lbs.)

— (801-900 lbs.)

180.00 - 196.00 (701-800 lbs.)

210.00 - 235.00 (601-700 lbs.)

225.00 - 257.00 (501-600 lbs.)

260.00 - 287.00 (401-500 lbs.)

265.00 - 304.00 Slaughter Cattle Grade A Steers Grade A Heifers D1, 2 Cows D3 Cows Bulls Steers

EXCHANGES: December 5, 2014

Winnipeg (Hd) Wooled Fats — — Next Sale is Dec. 17th — —

Toronto 99.69 - 131.72 182.64 - 211.60 201.49 - 220.95 201.39 - 234.41 133.58 - 303.74 —

SunGold Specialty Meats 50.00

Short supply, good demand support feeder prices Fewer cattle are moving to market ahead of the holiday

CNSC

M

anitoba’s cattle auction marts saw some lighter activity during the week ended Dec. 12, as the number of cows coming to market started to wind down ahead of the holidays.

The slowdown seen during the second-last sale week of 2014 was nothing out of the ordinary for the time of year. Manitoba’s auction marts will hold one more week of sales before shutting down until the new year.

Once the markets reopen in January 2015, it will likely take a couple of weeks before the big numbers of cattle start coming to town.

“I would think towards the end of January we’ll start picking up again with bigger volumes,” said Brad Delgaty, market rep with Heartland Livestock Services at Brandon.

The number of cull cows coming to market during the week didn’t see a seasonal dip, however, and volumes were above normal, according to Delgaty.

“It’s worth the price they’re bringing,” he added.

“You can’t afford to keep them if they’re open or if they’re old with the price they’re bringing now.”

Prices for the feeder market were also attractive to farmers, with calf prices holding on very strong. Most of the auction marts reported feeder cattle values were either holding steady, or moving higher from the week prior. Some classes of feeder cattle saw lower prices at some auction marts.

The strength in the market continues to be related to a lack of supply paired with very good demand for cattle from Eastern Canada, Western Canada and the U.S. The Canadian dollar’s sharp drop during the week only helped attract more U.S. buyers to Manitoba’s auction yards. The Canadian dollar fell below US87 cents, going along for the ride with the tumbling crude oil market.

Minimum broiler prices as of April 13, 2010 Under 1.2 kg................................... $1.5130 1.2 - 1.65 kg.................................... $1.3230 1.65 - 2.1 kg.................................... $1.3830 2.1 - 2.6 kg...................................... $1.3230

Turkeys Minimum prices as of December 14, 2014 Broiler Turkeys (6.2 kg or under, live weight truck load average) Grade A .................................... $1.935 Undergrade .............................. $1.845 Hen Turkeys (between 6.2 and 8.5 kg liveweight truck load average) Grade A .................................... $1.920 Undergrade .............................. $1.820 Light Tom/Heavy Hen Turkeys (between 8.5 and 10.8 kg liveweight truck load average) Grade A .................................... $1.920 Undergrade .............................. $1.820 Tom Turkeys (10.8 and 13.3 kg, live weight truck load average) Grade A..................................... $1.880 Undergrade............................... $1.795 Prices are quoted f.o.b. producers premise.

Eggs

Strong Canadian hog sector facing uncertain 2015 PEDv continues to cut into U.S. hog supplies Commodity News Service Canada

Minimum prices to producers for ungraded eggs, f.o.b. egg grading station, set by the Manitoba Egg Producers Marketing Board effective November 10, 2013.

New Previous A Extra Large $2.00 $2.05 A Large 2.00 2.05 A Medium 1.82 1.87 A Small 1.40 1.45 A Pee Wee 0.3775 0.3775 Nest Run 24 + 1.8910 1.9390 B 0.45 0.45 C 0.15 0.15

brad delgaty

Auction markets’ holiday schedules Final sales of 2014

First sale of 2015

Ashern

Dec. 17

Mid-January *

Brandon

Dec. 18

Jan. 6

Gladstone

Dec. 16

Jan. 13

Grunthal

Dec. 16

Jan. 6

Killarney

Dec. 15

Jan. 12

Ste. Rose

Dec. 18

Jan. 15

Dec. 17 (feeders)

*

Winnipeg Dec. 19 (butcher/feeder)

*

Virden

* - sale dates not yet available

Demand remains strong from the eastern part of Canada as well, with a milder winter so far helping to keep things moving to that part of the country.

“It’s been hard to find a truck at certain times, but it’s been good,” said Delgaty, adding that “for the volumes that have been out there, the trucks have been keeping up pretty good.”

As long as demand remains strong, prices should remain strong for Manitoba cattle farmers in the early parts of the new year.

“There’s nothing that I can see that’s going to make (the market) drop any time soon,” Delgaty said.

Terryn Shiells writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

briefs

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

Chickens

“You can’t afford to keep them if they’re open or if they’re old with the price they’re bringing now.”

Terryn Shiells

Wester n Canadian hog farmers are facing an uncertain future from a marketing perspective heading into 2015, with a number of factors on both the supply and demand sides of the equation that could swing prices one way or the other.

“After a very profitable 2014… we’re at a pivot point,” said Tyler Fulton, director of risk management with Hams Marketing Services. He said the PED (porcine epidemic diarrhea) virus, and the resulting decline in hog supplies in North America, was behind much of the strength over the past year.

Reported PED cases in the U.S. have moved up slightly in recent weeks, but the instances of the virus are still running well behind the levels seen at this time a year ago. “I think that’s an indication that the effect from the disease will be

muted, compared to yearago levels,” said Fulton.

Meanwhile, other factors at play on the supply side have been camouflaged by the ongoing effect of PED. Fulton said there was talk in the industry about a growth in the U.S. breeding herd, with upwards of 100,000 m o re s ow s c o m i n g o n stream within the next year.

Together with productivity gains, that haven’t been detected due to losses from PED, Fulton said there was solid evidence that suggests that there will be a significant increase in the hog supply by midsummer 2015.

Goats Kids Billys Mature

Winnipeg (h) — — —

Toronto ($/cwt) 105.75 - 231.02 — 101.92 - 236.08

Horses <1,000 lbs.

1,000 lbs.+

Winnipeg ($/cwt) — —

Toronto ($/cwt) 11.00 - 58.00 14.25 - 35.33

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

11

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

GRAIN MARKETS Export and International Prices

column

Canola values climb to encourage farmer selling Crushers are still running ahead of last year’s pace Phil Franz-Warkentin CNSC

I

CE Futures Canada canola contracts moved higher during the week ended Dec. 12, boosted by the weaker Canadian dollar, gains in the U.S. soy market, good end-user demand and an ongoing lack of significant farmer selling.

The inverted January/March spread widened during the week, with January trading at up to $6 above the more deferred months on some occasions. That strength in the front month can be seen as a sign of the solid nearby demand, and also the fact that those who need canola now are being forced to pay up in order to encourage farmer sales.

While an explosion at a meal storage facility has kept the Louis Dreyfus crushing plant at Yorkton, Sask. closed for 1-1/2 months now, other processors have been picking up the slack. The overall crush pace is running ahead of the year-ago level, with 2.548 million tonnes of canola processed during the crop year to date as of Dec. 10, according to weekly data from the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association (COPA).

That compares with 2.397 million at the same point the previous year.

Overall, the processing sector was operating at 79.6 per cent of capacity during the past week, which compares with 78.1 per cent of capacity at the same time in 2013, according to COPA data.

While canola rose by $10 to $17 per tonne during the week, those gains came during a week that crude oil fell to its weakest levels in over 5-1/2 years. The drop in crude oil weighed on the Canadian dollar, which is conversely supportive for canola.

However, weaker crude oil does not have a one-to-one impact on grain prices, especially given the underlying economic uncertainty.

In the U.S., soybeans and corn were both up during the week, but wheat was mixed.

The strength in beans and corn was largely speculative in nature, with large U.S. supplies and favourable South American crop conditions overhanging the market.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its updated supply/demand estimates on Dec. 10, and provided a reminder of the sheer size of the soybean supplies out there. While both U.S. and world carryout forecasts were revised lower from the November report, world soybean stocks are still forecast at a record-large level while the U.S. ending stocks will be four times larger than at the close of the 2013-14 crop year.

U.S. corn supplies are also large, which will limit the upside potential heading through the winter. The weakness in crude oil is also bearish for corn, given the grain’s connection with ethanol production.

For wheat, speculative fund buying took Chicago prices higher during the week, but the Minneapolis and Kansas City futures lagged to the upside.

Russia, and its role in the global export market, was a major topic of debate in the wheat market during the week. The country made a large sale to Egypt, but there was also plenty of “will they or won’t they?” chatter regarding future sales from the country. Some Russian officials were talking up a “business-as-usual” export program, while there were other reports out of the country hinting at possible measures to prop up domestic supplies, while slowing exports.

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 Commodity News Service Canada, visit “Today in Markets” at www.manitobacooperator.ca.

Last Week

Week Ago

Year Ago

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

219.55

216.70

228.73

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

226.07

227.26

239.66

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

156.88

153.44

168.59

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

201.98

202.31

250.61

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

382.96

371.30

486.40

Chicago soyoil ($US/tonne)

706.04

698.99

877.59

All prices close of business December 11, 2014

Coarse Grains

oilseeds

Winnipeg Futures ICE Futures Canada prices at close of business December 12, 2014 barley

Last Week

Week Ago

December 2014

174.00

174.00

March 2015

177.00

177.00

May 2015

179.00

179.00

Canola

Last Week

Week Ago

January 2015

439.80

422.70

March 2015

436.20

420.90

May 2015

435.80

423.30

Special Crops Report for December 15, 2014 — Bin run delivered plant Saskatchewan Spot Market

Spot Market

Lentils (Cdn. cents per pound)

Other ( Cdn. cents per pound unless otherwise specified)

Large Green 15/64

Canaryseed

35.50 - 40.00

Laird No. 1

35.00 - 40.00

Oil Sunflower Seed

Eston No. 2

24.00 - 25.00

Desi Chickpeas

Field Peas (Cdn. $ per bushel)

22.75 - 25.00 — 15.20 - 16.00

Beans (Cdn. cents per pound)

Green No. 1

8.30 - 9.50

Fababeans, large

—

Medium Yellow No. 1

6.90 - 7.75

Feed beans

—

Feed Peas (Cdn. $ per bushel) Feed Pea (Rail)

4.10 - 4.10

Mustardseed (Cdn. cents per pound)

No. 1 Navy/Pea Beans

25.00 - 25.00

No. 1 Great Northern

42.00 - 42.00

No. 1 Cranberry Beans

41.00 - 41.00

Yellow No. 1

31.40 - 33.00

No. 1 Light Red Kidney

52.00 - 52.00

Brown No. 1

24.70 - 26.00

No. 1 Dark Red Kidney

57.00 - 57.00

Oriental No. 1

30.40 - 32.00

Source: Stat Publishing SUNFLOWERS

No. 1 Black Beans

29.00 - 29.00

No. 1 Pinto Beans

23.00 - 32.00

No. 1 Small Red

42.00 - 42.00

No. 1 Pink

42.00 - 42.00

Fargo, ND

Goodlands, KS

18.90

NQ

Ask

—

Report for December 12, 2014 in US$ cwt NuSun (oilseed) Confection Source: National Sunflower Association

Soy hoarders beware Argentine state bank will cut off farmers who hoard soy

By Hugh Bronstein buenos aires/ reuters

A

rg e n t i n a’s main state bank will deny credit to farmers who are holding on to soybeans as a hedge against inflation, a top official said on Dec. 12, as the government cracks down on crop hoarding as part of a campaign to build up its dollar reserves.

The grains-rich but cash-poor South American country has seen its economy grind to a standstill this year while farmers, hit by high inflation, use soy as a unit of savings preferable to the local peso.

T h i s d e p r i ve s t h e g ove r n m e n t o f m u c h needed foreign exchange and tax revenue.

To spark selling of an estimated 12.9 million

tonnes, or $4.96 billion worth of soy being held back from the market, Banco Nacion has told its branches to halt credit next year to growers who have piled beans into the long, white “silo bags” that have come to dot the Pampas Grains Belt.

If it works, the increase in supply from the world’s No. 3 source of soybeans would put downward pressure on food prices. Argentine soy is used widely as livestock feed in Asia, fuelling the region’s shift toward a higher protein diet.

“What Banco Nacion is doing is absolutely rational for a state bank dedicated to economic development,” cabinet chief Jorge Capitanich told reporters. “Our policy is aimed at helping growers who are most in need of credit, not

those who could just as easily sell their surplus beans to get financing.”

Farmers are required to report their stock levels regularly.

“You have to show you have sold all your soybeans. If you have anything left, no loans,” said Santiago del Solar, a farmer in the breadbasket province of Buenos Aires.

Banco Nacion finances about 40 per cent of Argentina’s total agricultural production, according to private estimates, amounting to $300 million in credits per year to soy growers.

More soy sales by farmers would help replenish state coffers by way of currency controls that force exporters to change dollar receipts into pesos. The government also imposes a 35 per cent tax on soybean exports.

12

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

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Sherwood Park man invents new cattle tracker with multiple uses Wireless rumen bolus can track cattle and other livestock and also measure their temperature to predict sickness or fertility cycles

By Alexis Kienlen staff

I

t all started with a simple idea.

Neil Helfr ich, a Sherwood Park inventor, had a moment of inspiration when his wife brought home a puppy in 2007. The dog had a microchip implant, which identifies the animal but can’t track it if it runs away. A device able to do the latter, Helfrich realized, would help producers like his cousin Sheldon Archibald, an Irma-area rancher.

It took a few years of R&D, but Helfrich eventually created a wireless rumen bolus, which sends radio signals from an animal’s stomach and allows it to be tracked.

“Think of it like a cellphone that can sit inside the stomach of about approximately 150 different type of animals,” said Helfrich.

The bolus can work in cattle, bison, elk, goats, sheep, and even camels or giraffes.

If a rancher has 500 cattle roaming across his or her property, all of the boluses will be networked together. This allows data to jump from one animal to another, so if one animal is out of reach of a cellphone tower, its data can be relayed via its herdmates. The data will then display on the rancher’s computer, cellphone, or tablet.

“You can be halfway across the world and you can be checking on your livestock,” said Helfrich. “You can make changes to the programming of the bolus as well. Everything can be done wirelessly.”

His technology uses a longbarrelled device placed in a cow’s throat to insert a bolus inside a cow’s rumen.

“It’s kind of like a little pill that is given to them,” he said.

About one inch wide and 2.5 inches long, a bolus can withstand a decade’s worth of digestive juices. In addition to thwarting rustlers, measuring temperature fluctuations can help predict sickness or fertility cycles. There are other electronic boluses on the market, but Helfrich’s is unique because its patented design (similar to Weeble Wobble toys) allows it to stay upright and his technology doesn’t require expensive hand-held scanners or readers.

“Because there are radio frequencies being sent to and from the bolus, I needed it to stay in an upright position even when the animal is moving,” he said.

Helfrich initially tried to create a better RFID tag, until he read about boluses, which changed his entire direction.

Neil Helfrich holds one of his cattle boluses while standing next to his cousin, Sheldon Archibald of Irma. Photos: Supplied

“You can be halfway across the world and you can be checking on your livestock.”

Neil Helfrich

A bolus placed in a fish tank to show how it stays upright.

“I realized that I didn’t want it in the ear tag, but in the stomach because that way it is tamper-proof,” he said.

The bolus can only be removed when the animal dies.

“Once the animal goes down beyond a certain threshold, you know the animal has been killed and the bolus will send out an alert,” he said.

The devices, marketed by Helfrich’s company The Wandering Shepherd, cost US$5 each. There will also be a fee for each data transmission of

between one and five cents, he said.

Helfr ich, who is currently taking pre-orders, said he’s received inquiries from Alberta, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S., including one from one of the bison ranches owned by media mogul Ted Turner.

“We’re just getting the word out right now and seeing the interest in where we’re going to start setting up the networks,” he said. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

13

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

Processing own milk has challenges and rewards

Japan’s beef bowl to get price hike Fast food sees first price increase in 24 years

The quota system doesn’t impact a producer’s ability to make the leap into processing, but having enough time to pursue a new business does

By Shannon VanRaes CO-OPERATOR STAFF

W

hat does it take to make a go of on-farm dairy processing? A good plan, a lot of time and plenty of hard work.

“That’s why I look so tired,” joked Lisa Dyck, owner of Cornell Creme.

Speaking at the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba’s annual conference in Winnipeg, Dyck re c o u n t e d h e r j o u r n e y t o becoming the first dairy producer-processor in Manitoba.

T h e s p e c i a l t y i c e - c re a m business is doing well, but Dyck said she understands why so few dairy producers choose to make the leap to processor.

“There are probably a lot of dairy farmers like ourselves, a l re a d y i n d e b t e d o n t h e i r farm, and then to start a second business is a lot,” she said. “And secondly, the big issue is time. I don’t think a lot of dairy farmers have the time to do this.”

The final hurdle is a shortage of processing facilities, said Dyck, who makes her product in a leased facility at the University of Manitoba.

She hopes to make a move to her own processing facility in the future, and noted that at one time there was discussion around building a microprocessor in Manitoba and making it available to producers.

“Which I think we still need because the cost of capital equipment is so great, and that scares off a lot of people,” she said.

Hetty Smyth didn’t have to worry about finding a processing location, but making the move into cheese, butter and yogurt didn’t come without big changes.

“Our family started out with it 24 years ago, so when my parents started to retire, even though I was on a different career path, I couldn’t see that shut down, it had always been a part of the farm, so that’s why my husband and I decided to take it over,” said Smyth, whose family comes from a long line of Dutch cheese makers.

Today the New Brunswick producer-processor sees milk travel a mere 200 feet from her brother’s dairy barn to her processing facility. It’s a proximity no longer allowed for new processors, but she added that the existing facility

FARMING

IS ENOUGH OF A GAMBLE...

Lisa Dyck

Hetty Smyth

PHOTOS: SHANNON VANRAES

was grandfathered in under the old regulations.

She said there were some q u e s t i o n s a b o u t h ow t h e cheese makers would fit into the quota system when Armadale Farm Products was first launched, but said it was nothing that couldn’t be ironed out.

“I think there was some resistance when my parents first started,” said Smyth. “I think mainly because it was something new, something that hadn’t been done before, so there was a lot of paperwork to sort out, with licences and figuring out exactly how things would run, but those things were figured out.”

Dyck said she managed the quota issue by creating two companies, one for the farm and one for the ice-creamprocessing business.

“Cornell Creme basically buys milk from Dairy Farmers of Manitoba, and Cornell Dairy gets paid from Dairy Farmers of Manitoba,” she explained. “It’s really a nonissue.”

When asked if expansion is on their minds, the processors had different takes, but both acknowledged that e n t re p re n e u r s n e e d t o b e realistic about the resources they have and how much time they can dedicate to a processing business.

“It is profitable, not as profitable as many people proba b l y t h i n k , b u t yo u k n ow there’s something to be said

TOKYO / REUTERS

that it’s not all about money, for me it’s about continuing what my parents started, it’s about continuing that legacy of making quality products that people enjoy,” Smyth said. “But owning your own business does have its pros and cons… there’s a lot of flexibility there, at the same time, doing what we do is a lot of work, we work seven days a week, my husband puts in 60-, 70-hour weeks.”

Smyth doesn’t expect the b u s i n e s s, w h i c h p ro d u c e s between 100 and 150 kilos of cheese each week, will expand any further.

Cornell Creme on the other hand does intend to grow.

“Once we get a little bit bigger our cost of production will come down. We will also get a break from some suppliers, because I can order bigger quantities,” Dyck said, adding that working with the University of Manitoba has been a great experience, but that she would like to move into her own processing plant sooner rather than later.

Both women would also like to see more producers make the leap to on-farm processing in the future.

“It’s definitely a lifestyle, but we definitely enjoy it, and as long as you enjoy it, it makes it all worthwhile,” Smyth said. shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

Japanese fast-food company Yoshinoya Holdings Co. said Dec. 9 it would raise the price of its signature beef bowl dish — long a symbol of the deflationary economy — for the first time in 24 years due to higher import costs.

The move marks a muchneeded win for the central bank, which is struggling to achieve its two per cent inflation target after two decades of falling prices. Reversing the deflation trend and reviving consumption is key to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s strategy to jump-start the world’s third-biggest economy.

Yoshinoya, operator of the 115-year-old beef bowl chain, said it would raise the price of its regular-size “gyuudon” dish by 27 per cent to 380 yen ($3) on Dec. 17, citing a spike in U.S. beef prices and the yen’s sharp depreciation against the dollar.

The “gyuudon” is a bowl of rice topped with sautéed beef and onions that is a favourite of Japan’s penny-pinching corporate employees, and thus an informal measure of consumer prices.

That would mark the first pure price hike for the dish since March 1990, excluding an adjustment to prices in April to reflect an increase in the national sales tax, a company spokesman said.

The price rise will be welcome news for the Bank of Japan, which eased monetary policy further in late October to counter the deflationary effect of slumping oil prices and weak domestic demand.

“It is profitable, not as profitable as many people probably think, but you know there’s something to be said that it’s not all about money, for me it’s about continuing what my parents started, it’s about continuing that legacy of making quality products that people enjoy.”

HETTY SMYTH

Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. 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.

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.

Your Land. Your Livelihood.

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Protect your operation today and for generations to come.

Implement or renew your environmental farm plan.

Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (MAFRD) is offering a free half-day environmental farm plan (EFP) workshop this winter.

A session will be held at select MAFRD GO Offices by video conference on Tuesday, January 13.

To register and for workshop locations and times go to:

manitoba.ca/agriculture or visit your local GO Office.

EFPs must be renewed every five years to remain valid.

Check the date of your Statement of Completion.

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14

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

LIVESTOCK AUCTION RESULTS Weight Category

Ashern

Gladstone

Grunthal

Heartland

Heartland

Brandon

Virden

Killarney

Ste. Rose

Winnipeg

Feeder Steers

Dec-10

Dec-09

Dec-09

Dec-12

Dec-10

Dec-08

Dec-11

Dec-12

No. on offer

1,815

984*

594

1,044

3,301*

593*

1,025*

750

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Over 1,000 lbs.

900-1,000

n/a

n/a

n/a

205.00-228.00

200.00-219.00

n/a

n/a

180.00-211.00

800-900

220.00-266.00

205.00-233.00

190.00-200.00

235.00-255.00

225.00-241.00

n/a

n/a

200.00-235.50

700-800

240.00-274.00

220.00-249.50

200.00-245.00

240.00-260.00

238.00-257.00

245.00-262.00

225.00-250.00

230.00-249.00

600-700

260.00-299.00

230.00-282.50

230.00-270.00

255.00-285.00

250.00-275.00 (280.00)

255.00-275.00 (284.00)

240.00-275.00

245.00-275.00

500-600

275.00-311.00

270.00-304.00

260.00-300.00

275.00-312.50

265.00-295.00 (304.00)

270.00-301.00

275.00-305.00

270.00-295.00

400-500

280.00-330.00

300.00-340.00

280.00-240.00

295.00-350.00

294.00-344.00

300.00-330.00

275.00-350.00

280.00-312.00

300-400

290.00-327.00

310.00-354.00

290.00-370.00

335.00-370.00

335.00-370.00

320.00-345.00

295.00-320.00

300.00-355.00

900-1,000 lbs.

n/a

n/a

n/a

185.00-202.50

184.00-214.00

n/a

n/a

175.00-191.00

800-900

n/a

190.00-215.00

180.00-195.00

200.00-217.50

207.00-221.00

n/a

190.00-215.00

190.00-205.00

700-800

n/a

200.00-231.50

190.00-205.00

215.00-235.00

212.00-230.00

n/a

200.00-232.00

210.00-236.00

600-700

250.00-261.00

230.00-259.00

210.00-252.00

225.00-261.00

232.00-254.00

230.00-255.00

230.00-250.00

220.00-245.00

500-600

260.00-289.00

250.00-292.00

240.00-272.00

260.00-295.00

247.00-282.00

255.00-275.00

250.00-280.00

240.00-275.00

400-500

270.00-319.00

290.00-320.00

265.00-312.00

285.00-318.00

275.00-326.00

270.00-302.00

270.00-310.00

280.00-300.00

300-400

280.00-320.00

300.00-322.00

290.00-335.00

300.00-335.00

288.00-350.00

290.00-323.00

285.00-310.00

300.00-310.00

No. on offer

350

n/a

208

450

n/a

n/a

n/a

300

D1-D2 Cows

110.00-125.00

85.00-129.00

100.00-118.00

113.00-126.00

113.00-124.00

92.00-105.00

117.00-125.00 (132.00)

109.00-120.00

D3-D5 Cows

100.00-115.00

n/a

n/a

100.00-115.00

75.00-112.00

n/a

105.00-115.00

100.00-112.00

Age Verified

125.00-143.00

n/a

n/a

n/a

117.00-128.50

108.00-115.00

n/a

n/a

Good Bulls

135.00-150.50

120.00-140.00

130.00-138.50

133.00-146.50

137.00-148.50

135.00-145.00

130.00-147.00 (149.00)

134.00-140.00

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

156.00-163.00

n/a

n/a

160

Feeder heifers

Slaughter Market

Butcher Steers Butcher Heifers

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

154.00-161.00

n/a

n/a

n/a

Feeder Cows

n/a

n/a

120.00-132.00

n/a

125.00-139.00

115.00-130.00

n/a

n/a

Fleshy Export Cows

n/a

n/a

119.00-124.50

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Lean Export Cows

n/a

n/a

100.00-112.00

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Heiferettes

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

125.00-145.00

n/a

* includes slaughter market

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

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15

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

column

Keeping your horse physically active in the winter Pawing for forage through snow is one way to provide physical activity and mental relief Carol Shwetz, DVM Horse Health

D

aily physical activity is essential for the overall health of your horse year round and this includes the winter season. Given the limitations that snow and cold and somewhat unsure footing can impose on activities with horses during the winter months, it can be challenging to ensure horses have sufficient physical activity.

As long as footing is safe and temperatures and winds are reasonable, riding or driving over a snow-covered landscape provides an invigorating experience for both horse and owner. Recognizing your horse’s level of fitness will be necessary to avoid the “weekend warrior” affliction. As pastures and paddocks become snowbound, horses simply move less and their fitness levels may decline. Horses asked to exert themselves beyond their conditioning, fatigue easily, leaving them vulnerable to injuries such as bone bruises, inflammation, and tendon and ligament injuries. Therefore lighter workouts may be necessary to

accommodate the horse’s level of fitness. For horses devoted to one sporting discipline, winter riding/driving can rejuvenate overall well-being bringing mental and physical relief from practice and competition.

Arenas and enclosed structures tend to have their own internal weather which struggle with ventilation, humidity, air quality, lighting, and fluctuating temperatures.

Damp, cold, or dusty environments do not present a hospitable environment for working a horse. Competitions or horse gatherings in such an environment distress a horse’s respiratory and musculoskeletal systems. Commingling of horses from various locations and the stress of trailering in cold weather substantially increase the risk of respiratory diseases such as influenza and strangles. Vigilant biosecurity is particularly relevant under these circumstances.

The internal weather of these structures tax a horse’s musculoskeletal system as well.

Therefore thorough warm-up before demanding exercise or competition and a thorough cool-down are essential to maintaining a healthy athlete.

A warm-up gradually prepares the cardiovascular and

file photo

musculoskeletal system for work, lessening body soreness and the horse’s risk for injury.

Cooling down after the horse’s workout allows the body to return to a state of rest, with a gradual recovery of heart rate and blood pressure. Keeping your horse walking for 10 to 15 minutes is most often a sufficient cool-down.

When activity with your horse becomes impractical due to winter weather conditions, consider engaging your horse in a natural activity such as foraging or pawing on a well-stocked snow-covered pasture.

It is one of the most natural ways of providing physical activity and mental relief for a

horse. Pawing is a very natural action for horses as well as a practical one. Although winter grounds can become very confining to horses, a little planning can encourage horses to seek pawing as a means of foraging. The movement of pawing has its own therapeutic benefits as the horse rocks back onto its haunches in order to free up the pawing forelimb, initiating neuromuscular relief to the muscles of the back and hindquarters.

This shift of weight momentarily frees and lightens the horse’s forehand offering physical and mental benefits to the horse.

Pawing on snow-covered pastures must always be super-

WORKSHOP & TRADE SHOW

vised. Monitoring body score conditioning is an excellent way to track the horse’s ability to paw. Although horses instinctively know how to paw, they may require a few winter seasons to become highly practised at the skill.

Horses naive to pawing will require greater supervision and may need supplementation with hay to ease their transition. Hay supplementation can also be an option if snow conditions deteriorate or temperatures plummet below 20 C. Carol Shwetz is a veterinarian specializing in equine practice at Westlock, Alta.

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16

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

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

A northern low, just in time for Christmas Issued: Monday, December 15, 2014 · Covering: December 17 – December 24, 2014 Daniel Bezte Co-operator contributor

T

he warm weather moved in as expected during the latter half of last week, but a strongly stratified atmosphere kept the really warm air from mixing down to the surface. Combine this with some low-level moisture and you end up with plenty of clouds and fog that helped to keep temperatures cooler than predicted. Temperatures were still warm enough that our fairly light snowpack took a bit of a beating and the forecast is not that promising for any significant snow before Christmas.

This forecast period will begin with an area of high pressure dominating our weather. This high is from the Arctic, but has already been modified, which means temperatures won’t be that cold. We should expect to see high temperatures in the -8 to -10 C range with overnight lows around -18 C. This high looks like it will move fairly slowly to the southeast over the week, which means that skies should be mostly clear and winds on the light side.

A weak disturbance will try to move through our region over the

weekend, but I think at best we’ll only see a mix of sun and clouds with only a few light flurries possible. A second area of high pressure will then move in behind this system, bringing more clear skies and temperatures continuing to be right in the middle of the usual temperature range for this time of the year.

We’ll then have to watch a developing storm system that is expected to move in off the Pacific and track across the northern Prairies next Tuesday and Wednesday. Confidence in this part of the forecast is low, but it currently looks like most of the energy from this system will stay well to our north. We could see some light snow on Christmas Eve with this system, along with some fairly strong southwesterly winds ahead of the system and then northerly winds once the system moves by, dragging a cold front through our region on Christmas.

Usual temperature range for this period: Highs, -18 to -2 C; lows, -28 to -11 C. 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.

WEATHER MAP - WESTERN CANADA

Percent of Average Precipitation (Prairie Region) November 1, 2014 to December 11, 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: 12/12/14 www.agr.gc.ca/drought

This issue’s map shows the total amount of precipitation that has fallen across the Prairies so far this winter (since Nov. 1) compared to the long-term average. It appears to be a tail of the northwest versus the southeast. Most of Alberta and north-central Saskatchewan have seen between 100 and 200 per cent of average precipitation. This compares to most of southern Manitoba, where most values are between 40 and 85 per cent, with some areas seeing less than 40 per cent.

A historical look at holiday weather Among the big Prairie cities, Winnipeg remains the champ for coldest recorded Christmas

By Daniel Bezte CO-OPERATOR CONTRIBUTOR

W

ell, ’tis the season to talk about holiday weather across the Prairies. With the holiday season now upon us, our weather thoughts tend to turn toward wishing for the perfect Christmas weather.

The question is, just what is perfect Christmas weather?

For those of you who have followed my articles it’s probably no secret that my perfect Chr istmas weather is to have a nice snowstorm. I know a big storm at this time of the year would cause all sorts of problems and hardships, but deep down inside I guess I just wish I could be stuck at home for a few days.

No pressure to go anywhere because you can’t, plenty of food available, family around you and new presents under the tree. A perfect time to be forced to sit back and just relax — at least until you have to dig yourself out! But that’s me; other people have much different expectations for their perfect Christmas weather.

According to Environment Canada, perfect Christmas weather means there is already snow on the ground and at some point dur-

ing Christmas Day, there is m e a s u r a b l e s n ow f a l l . So, w h a t a re t h e c h a n c e s o f this happening somewhere across the Prairies? Table 1 shows the probability of having snow on the ground for Christmas, along with having snowfall during the day.

Interestingly, it breaks the data down into two 18-year periods (1964-82 and 19912009) to try and show how our winters seem to be coming warmer with less snow.

Given the data, it seems if you want a white Christmas, Winnipeg is your best bet. If you want Environment Canada’s version of a perfect Christmas, Regina is where you should be.

If your version of a perfect Christmas is to have recordbreaking warm or heck, even cold, temperatures, Table 2 is a list of the warmest, coldest, and snowiest Christmas periods on record for two major centres in each of the three Prairie provinces. These records are based on the full set of data each of these cities has, which means they go back to the late 1800s. While some might argue these old records aren’t valid, I personally think they are and they should be included.

If you are looking for a place to go in the Prairies

to experience a really warm Christmas, Calgary would be the place for you. While the other centres have seen some nice warm Christmases in the past, not one of them comes close to Calgary’s recorded highs. If you want a chance at seeing some really cold weather during this period, then you could pick pretty much any place, as all have seen Christmases colder than -35 C, although Winnipeg comes out the winner here with a bone-chilling -47.8 C on Christmas Eve in 1879!

In t e re s t i n g l y, w h e n yo u examine the precipitation records for these three days you’ll notice the Christmas period has been a relatively dry, storm-free period, but there are a couple of exceptions. Winnipeg did see a heavy dump of 30.5 cm of snow on Boxing Day back in 1916, but the record for biggest Christmas snowstorms has to go to Edmonton. Back in 1938, Edmonton recorded ov e r 2 5 c m o f s n ow o n Christmas Eve, then a further 18 cm of snow on Christmas day, for a total of 43 cm of snow!

Whatever weather you do end up with I hope it is what you wanted; if not, then remember the season and try to make the best of it!

TABLE 1

Chances of having a white Christmas, a “perfect” Christmas and average snow depth at Christmastime across the Prairies.

City Calgary Edmonton Regina Saskatoon Winnipeg

Average chance of snow on the ground (%) 56 85 91 96 98

Chance now (%, 19912009) 47 79 89 89 95

Chance before (%, 19641982) 74 100 95 100 100

Overall chance of a perfect Christmas (%) 4 20 38 22 11

Snow depth now (cm, 19912009) 4 11 12 11 14

Snow depth before (cm, 1964-82) 6 17 15 13 14

TABLE 2

Christmas (Dec. 24-26) minimum and maximum temperature and maximum precipitation records.

Max. Year Min. Year Winnipeg Dec. 24 3.9 1953 -47.8 1879 Dec. 25 5.4 1999 -40 1879 Dec. 26 4.4 2011 -38.9 1883 Brandon Dec. 24 4.4 1953 -41 1983 Dec. 25 7.2 1999 -40 1902 Dec. 26 4.8 2005 -39.4 1891 Regina Dec. 24 4 1999 -40.6 1884 Dec. 25 6.1 1943 -39.4 1933 Dec. 26 6.1 1898 -39.3 1990 Saskatoon Dec. 24 6.9 2011 -37.8 1917 Dec. 25 4.5 1895 -38.9 1933 Dec. 26 4.4 1928 -41.7 1934 Edmonton Dec. 24 10.4 1999 -41.7 1880 Dec. 25 8.9 1987 -39.4 1880 Dec. 26 10 1999 -38.3 1880 Calgary Dec. 24 17.6 1999 -36.1 1983 Dec. 25 14.8 1985 -35 1886 Dec. 26 13.8 1999 -35.6 1886

Precipitation

Year

15.2 9.4 30.5

1929 1938 1916

5.1 15.2 7.6

1938 1938 1976

9.7 7.1 13.5

1950 1959 1916

12.7 7.6 9.9

1938 1922 1959

25.4 17.8 21.1

1938 1938 1955

5.1 10.2 10.2

1937 1923 1923

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

17

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CROPS

The CGC is still on guard for thee

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QUALITY ASSURANCE

h u sbandr y — the science , S K I L L O R A R T O F F A R M I N G

Canada’s grain quality system has not been compromised post-wheat board or by changes at the grain commission, the CGC’s chief commissioner says

By Allan Dawson co-operator staff / brandon

C

Complaints

Three years ago, some customers complained Canada Western Red Spring wheat had lowerthan-normal gluten strength. The CGC determined the complaints were justified. It blames poor growing conditions and increased production of three wheat varieties with borderline acceptable gluten strength.

The CGC has investigated Prima’s complaint and found it to be unjustified, Rémi Gosselin, CGC’s manager of corporate information services said in an interview Dec. 10.

“The rigour of our processes related to the inspection and certification of the quality and quantity of grain as it’s loaded onto vessels has not changed,” he said. “We’re still doing the same inspections that we did years ago. That has not changed.”

New amendments to the Canada Grain Act, Bill C-48, are not a response to concerns raised over Canadian grain quality, CGC chief operating officer Gordon Miles told reporters Dec. 9.

“We have seen a reduction of complaints

The Canadian Commission’s chief commissioner Elwin Hermanson (r) and CGC Grain Research Laboratory scientist, David Hatcher, talk about wheat quality at the Manitoba Seed Growers’ Association’s annual meeting. Hermanson stressed the CGC’s quality assurance system has not been weakened. photo: allan dawson

over the last couple of years,” he said. “Concerns about quality can be expressed by customers from time to time. There’s a difference between concerns and a formal complaint.

Nothing has changed in terms of our standards...”

Effective Aug. 1, mandatory CGC inward grain inspection arriving at export terminals from country elevators ceased. However, terminals can hire private CGC certified inspectors to do them.

Cost savings

The change allowed the CGC to cut employees and save $20 million a year — a cost that would have otherwise been passed on to grain companies with the CGC’s move to cost recovery.

“It is very clear under the Canada Grain Act that... the Canadian Grain Commission... is responsible, and has been responsible, for the inspection of grain going onto export shipments for decades and we still have that full responsibility,” Hermanson told the seed growers. “I can assure you we have that excellent reputation.

“Some say we’re the best, others say we’re

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neck and neck with the Americans and it’s our goal to be No. 1.”

While complaints about Canadian gluten strength have declined, Canada must be vigilant, said David Hatcher, a research scientist with the CGC’s Grain Research Laboratory.

That’s especially true in Asia, where endusers are very technically savvy and account for 50 per cent Canada’s wheat exports.

“We have to meet their needs or quite frankly they will go elsewhere if we don’t,” Hatcher told the seed growers.

“Consistency is key to keeping these markets.

They can deal with poor quality; they can’t deal with a lack of consistency.”

Mildew is the biggest degrading factor in Western Canada’s 2014 wheat crop, he said.

Mildew can give flour and bread crusts a darker colour. Fortunately colour is better this year than last despite the mildew, Hatcher said.

Fursarium head blight is the second most prevalent degrading factor, but toxin levels are “extremely low... well below the codex acceptable standards...,” he said. allan@fbcpublishing.com

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anada’s wheat quality assurance system has not been weakened by elimination of the Canadian Wheat Board’s sales monopoly or inward inspection at export terminals, say Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) officials.

“In light of a lot of the stories that have been going around I want to assure you it (ending inward inspection) hasn’t affected grain quality assurance in Canada,” chief CGC commissioner Elwin Hermanson told the Manitoba Seed Growers’ Association annual meeting Dec. 11. “There have been a few suggestions that it may be deteriorating or slipping.”

In October, Derek Sliworsky of Prima Group, Agriway PTE Ltd., told the Cereals 2014 conference in Winnipeg, his firm experienced problems with the weight and inconsistent protein in Canadian wheat since the wheat board’s demise. Peas were also found in a container of Canadian wheat, he said.

“We don’t know what’s going on in the system here (in Canada),” Sliworsky was quoted

by Reuters as saying.

He added while not all Canadian wheat shipments suffer from poor quality, “we don’t have these problems from other origins.”

Prima buys between 500,000 and one million tonnes of Canadian wheat a year to produce flour at its mills in Singapore, Sri Lanka and China.

18

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

Feed mills being considered for CGC producer protection under C-48 legislation The bill also proposes to revamp the producer protection program and create a new licence for container-loading elevators

By Allan Dawson

“We are looking to do consultations around bringing feed mills under the producer protection program.”

co-operator staff

F

armers who sell grain to feed mills might be protected if the company can’t pay its bills under sweeping changes proposed to the Canada Grain Act introduced to Parliament Dec. 9.

The CGC will consult the industry about the proposed changes designed “to enhance producer protection, enhance producer quality and safety insurance and further modernize the Canada Grain Act,” said CGC chief operating officer Gordon Miles.

The CGC’s current farmer protection program requires licensed grain companies to post security to cover what they owe farmers for grain. C-48 proposes to replace that with a fund of $5 million to $10 million.

Companies would pay into the fund based on how much they buy and their risk of failing to pay, Miles said.

The current program will remain until the fund is established.

“We anticipate that the costs

Gordon Miles

would be lower than the cost of our current security regime,” he said.

In a 2009 study, Scott Wolfe Management put the cost of the current plan at $9 million — $1.4 million for CGC administration, $1 million for grain buyer administration and $6.6 million for companies to post security.

Part of the CGC’s costs include monitoring grain companies’ liabilities. Despite its efforts, sometimes failing grain companies don’t have enough security.

The Scott Wolfe report said based on 40 million tonnes of grain being covered annually, the average cost of protection was 23 cents a tonne.

Farmers don’t pay anything directly for that, but they pay indirectly to offset the $7.6 mil-

lion in grain company costs (19 cents a tonne).

“Under the current system, the CGC’s cost to administer the program is approximately $1.4 million, or $8,400 per licensee, or one-tenth of one cent per $1 of average total farm cash receipts,” the report said.

Last year the CGC and Atradius Credit Insurance N.V. failed to reach a deal on setting up an insurance-based protection program.

The new compensation fund would not cover 100 per cent of farmer losses, Miles said.

Feed mills are currently not licensed by the CGC and don’t have to post security. But it’s something the Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) started lobbying for after Puratone,

a Manitoba feed mill and hogproducing company, went into creditor protection in September 2012. Farmers were owed an estimated $1.5 million for unpaid-for grain.

“We are looking to do consultations around bringing feed mills under the producer protection program,” Miles said.

Other changes proposed by Bill C-48, the Modernization of Canada’s Grain Industry Act, include: • Create a new class of licence for container-loading elevators.

• Extend farmer access to CGC binding determination of grade and dockage on grain deliveries to all CGC licensed facilities, including processors and grain dealers.

• Clarify the CGC’s mandate.

• Make provisions for variety declarations at elevators.

• Increase fines for breaching the grain act, including for misrepresenting the variety of grain delivered.

• Create a non-binding Decision Review Panel.

• Repeal parts of the act not used in Eastern Canada.

• Make it easier to collect grain samples from across the country to monitor grain safety.

CGC officials briefed reporters on the legislation they hope will be in effect Aug. 1, 2015, last week via telephone.

Industry and farm reaction has been mostly positive.

Now farmers can only get the CGC to determine grade and dockage on grain deliveries to primary and terminal elevators.

“Extending this right would remove an inconsistency in producer treatment across the licensed grain-handling system,” the CGC said in a background paper.

The legislation will change the CGC’s statutory mandate to operate for the good of Canada, not just farmers, which is essentially how the CGC operates now, assistant chief CGC commissioner Jim Smolik said.

“There’s certainly not going to be any decrease in producer protection,” he said.

There are a number of reasons to license container loaders, said Rémi Gosselin, the CGC’s manager of corporate information.

“Number 1, they are pur-

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19

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

Grain industry mostly supports C-48 and proposed changes to grain commission “This is basically what we’ve been asking for,” said KAP president Doug Chorney

By Allan Dawson CO-OPERATOR STAFF

Farm and industry groups are giving mainly thumbs up to Bill C-48, the Modernization of Canada’s Industry Act. The Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), Canadian Canola Growers Association, Grain Growers of Canada and the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association support the bill.

However, the Wheat Growers said in a release that CGC inspection on offshore shipments should be optional.

“This is basically what we’ve been asking for,” KAP president Doug Chorney said in an interview Dec. 12.

KAP supports adding feed mills to the payment protection program for farmers. Feed mills and livestock producers might not support the idea, but excluding feed mills “is unacceptable,” Chorney said.

The National Farmers Union is still studying the legislation, but is skeptical about the bill, said president Jan Slomp. According to Slomp,

past federal government changes, including ending mandatory inward inspection at grain terminals, have undermined the Canadian Grain Commission’s ability to protect farmers and ensure Canadian grain quality.

“C-48 moves the organization away from its central mandate set 100 years ago of acting in the interest of farmers,” he said.

“I will reserve final judgment on it until we study it further. If we find some positive things we’ll not hesitate to acknowledge them.”

The Western Grain Elevator Association supports the legislation, said association executive director Wade Sobkowich.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” he said.

The association, which represents Western Canada’s major grain companies, supports licensing container-loading facilities and extending farmer access to CGC binding determination of grade and dockage to processors and other CGC licensees.

“We’re after equitable treatment in the system so anything that brings that about... is a positive thing,” Sobkowich said.

“Anybody buying farmers’ grain should be treated the same under the Canada Grain Act.” The WGEA also supports proposed changes to the payment protection program so long as farmers continue to be protected and it costs less than the current program.

“The devil is in the detail,” Sobkowich said.

“We don’t know much about it... We’ll need to see how it looks when it’s actually created.”

Introducing variety declarations, and fines for misrepresenting a variety upon delivery, are also welcomed, he said.

The Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) supports the proposal to repeal the CGC’s authority to license grain elevators, said GFO chief executive officer Barry Senft. The Ontario government oversees Ontario grain elevators.

Senft said he’s uncertain about licensing container-loading facilities.

“We need to discuss why that process would take place,” he said. allan@fbcpublishing.com

JRI to upgrade at Dauphin Construction to be complete in August 2016 Staff

R

ichardson International Limited has announced plans to build a new high-throughput grain elevator to replace its current facility in Dauphin. The new elevator will have a total capacity of 25,000 tonnes. It will include 10,000 tonnes of storage space and replace the 5,750-tonne wooden crib elevator currently on the site. The build will incorporate 15,000 tonnes of existing steel bin storage, upgrading the receiving and shipping speed to match that of the new elevator. It also includes a high-capacity grain dryer, cleaner and 104-car spot.

Construction will begin in April 2015 and is expected to be complete in August 2016. Richardson will build a temporary receiving and shipping system at the Dauphin site to provide customers with a continued delivery option over the 16-month construction period.

Richardson acquired the Dauphin elevator in 2007 from Agricore United.

FEED MILLS Continued from previous page

chasing grain from producers, so producers should have protections in place,” he said in an interview. “Also historically there were much smaller volumes of grain shipped by container, but their use has grown significantly.”

Now around 18 per cent of the grain exported from Vancouver is in a container compared to just eight per cent 10 years ago, he said.

“We need to be able to capture information related to that grain movement,” Gosselin said.

“The fact that the industry is not licensed has left a gap in CGC oversight as it relates to the grain quality assurance system.”

The CGC will consult with the industry to determine which facilities meet the containerloading elevator definition, Miles added.

Penalties for breaking the grain act will be introduced through the Agriculture Administrative Monetary Act. Smolik likened it to a speeding ticket for some breaches of the act.

In some cases now, the CGC has little choice other than to pull a company’s licence, which Miles described as “draconian.”

“It’s really meant to encourage people to comply with the legislative requirements,” he said.

A non-binding Decision Review Panel is also proposed for companies to appeal CGC rulings without having to go to court “but it wouldn’t preclude the other party from going to court if it wants to challenge a grain commission ruling,” Miles said.

The legislation proposes to repeal the CGC’s authority to license primary and terminal elevators in Eastern Canada, which are currently regulated by provincial authorities and not the CGC. However, the bill would give the CGC the power to collect grain samples from eastern elevators to ensure grain is safe.

“This would create a consistent approach to grain safety across the country and assist with market access issues,” Miles said. allan@fbcpublishing.com

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20

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

Food crises still a risk as grain stocks near a 15-year high Demand growth is driven by changing diets and biofuels

By Nigel Hunt london / reuters

G

lobal grain stocks are heading for a 15-year high as the largestever U.S. corn harvest enters its final stages, but the risk of food shortages persists as demand for meat and biofuel keeps rising.

Drought in major grain-producing countries in both 200708 and 2010-11 led to a sharp rise in food prices, plunging millions more people into poverty, sparking riots and playing a role in the overthrow of some governments.

Cereal stocks have since been rebuilt and look set to climb to the highest level since the 1999-2000 season, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Global corn stocks are forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reach 192 million tonnes by the end of the current season, not far from an all-time

The ratio of corn stocks to high of 205 million set 28 years global annual consumption, a earlier.

But analysts warned that measure of how reserves would stocks could quickly be eaten cover shortages in the event of up in the event of poor harvests. a crop disaster, is around 20 per “I think demand growth is the cent.

“We can consider that a big difference between this decade versus what happened in stocks-to-use ratio of around 30 the 1990s. What this means is to 35 per cent is about the level you have less margin for error,” needed from now on to feed the said Brett Cooper, senior man- world population and maintain reserves,” said Thierry Pouch, ager at FCStone Australia.

“We are probably in a rebuild- head of research at farming ing phase still, but the type of advisory body APCA in France.

“Even if it is recovering, the comfort you got in the ’90s is stocks-to-use level for corn is at not evident yet.”

When the earlier record was a very low level.” set in 1987, it was enough corn to feed the world for 168 days. Locked-up stocks Current stocks would last only Rich Nelson, chief strategist around 72 days, because con- for U.S.-based consultancy sumption has more than dou- Allendale Inc., noted that corn bled since then. seedings have been reduced in A large share of the harvest South America and that the U.S. now goes to produce etha- corn area is likely to be smaller nol, particularly in the United next spring.

States. Demand has also risen “I wouldn’t call the global for corn to feed livestock as corn supply a glut. I would say consumption of meat has it’s a large supply that will be increased in emerging nations slightly moderated into 2016,” T:8.125” such as China. he said.

Adding to concerns about the security of food supplies is the location of global stocks, which are moving from exporters to major importers such as China.

“You have to look at where stocks are available. You can encounter a notion of food sovereignty in countries like India and China that lock up their stocks, apart from the problem of what is the actual state of their stocks,” Pouch said.

The USDA estimates that China will hold more than 40 per cent of global corn stocks at the end of the current season, up from around 28 per cent when global stocks were at record levels in 1987.

Analysts said stocks held in China would be less accessible to the world market in the event of a crisis than those held in a major exporting country such as the United States.

Global wheat stocks are slightly more comfortable, with a projected stocks-to-use ratio of 27 per cent at the end of the current season, based on USDA

data, but the location of those supplies is also a concern.

“For wheat, we will have a very good supply on the world market, and we also see some growth in inventory levels with the major exporters. However, some of the growth in inventory levels worldwide will come from China, which is unlikely to export,” F.O. Licht analyst Claus Keller said.

At the least, however, two consecutive bumper global grain harvests should provide temporary respite from the threat of food crises.

“Thanks to large inventories, grain markets are likely to remain stable this season, with international prices remaining under downward pressure well into next year,” said Abdolreza Abbassian, senior economist at the FAO. “In fact, above-average stocks held in major exporting countries, as expected for this season, could also help as a buffer against any major production shortfall in 2015.”

Funds for research equipment

ALL OF OUR SEED IS FIELD-TESTED. JUST LIKE OUR REPS.

Several projects were supported

T:10”

Staff / The federal and provincial governments are giving the University of Manitoba more than $670,000 to purchase specialized equipment for agricultural research.

The funding is provided through Growing Forward 2, focusing on research areas that are important to crop and livestock producers including soil quality, nutrient management, land productivity and animal care.

The projects funded at the university’s faculty of agricultural and food sciences include: • $220,000 for equipment to research soil particles and nutrients in water running off agricultural land; • $62,000 to purchase GPS collars, software and a portable cattle-handling facility to monitor animal grazing activity, which will be used to research the most economically and environmentally sustainable ways for producers to manage their pastures; • More than $229,000 for equipment to measure yields and harvest forage crops in research plots located across the province; and • $159,000 for a research team to evaluate nutritional needs, egg quality, environmental factors and other management practices related to the poultry sector’s transition to more spacious housing for birds.

“Manitoba’s capacity for innovation in agriculture is critical if we are to maintain a sustainable and competitive agrifood industry,” said Dr. Karin Wittenberg, acting dean of the faculty of agricultural and food sciences at the University of Manitoba. “We truly appreciate the provincial and federal governments’ support in developing that capacity.”

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21

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

Scientist says plants — not soil — are the building blocks of life

Soil scientist challenges conventional thinking by arguing microbes and fungi are the key to soil health

By Alexis Kienlen

T

hough many claim that soil is the building block of life, Christine Jones has a different approach.

“It’s not the soil that is the building block of life. It’s the plants,” the internationally acclaimed soil scientist and agricultural consultant said at a sold-out appearance in Olds.

The Australian also drew a large crowd in Rycroft, including a High River producer who was so eager to hear her that he booked a ticket to fly to the Peace Country to attend the event.

In Olds, Jones spoke about the critical role that mycorrhizal fungi and microbes play in building healthy plant stands and how management of plants helps build soil.

“Up to 85 to 90 per cent of the nutrient acquisition and plant needs is controlled and regulated by microbes,” she said.

The key is the relationship between mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots, she said. The fungi link plants together, and help exchange water, nutrients, and even information (in the form of chemical signals that can warn, for example, that pests or diseases are attacking nearby plants).

They also create energy in the form of what Jones calls “liquid carbon” that is used by microbes to create biologically available nitrogen.

“It’s not about adding things to the soil to fix it,” said Jones, a critic of heavy use of chemical fertilizers, which she says harms soil quality.

Instead, she said, farmers need to increase plant diversity on their fields and pastures, and foster plant growth for as long as possible in a season in order to boost the amount of photosynthesis. Both are key to building healthy and diverse microbial populations in soil, she said.

She outlined two pathways to build soil carbon: The decomposition pathway, which occurs when plants break down, and the liquid carbon pathway, which occurs when plants add sugars that stimulate microbial activity.

“This is why plant diversity is so important,” said Jones. “We need to have a diversity of functional roots in the soil.

“It’s like a hidden village where you have a bank and a gas station and a post office and school and all those things.

That’s what makes the community work — having all those things there. When you start taking those things away, it’s not going to work. To have functional groups of microbes in the soil, you have to have different plants above ground.”

Microbial nitrogen fixing can happen on any plant, provided there are aggregates around the roots. This can be seen when soil sticks to the roots.

Some producers may not want to hear it, Jones said, but adding chemical fertilizers can actually be detrimental because they can interfere with the interaction of the soil

“It’s not about adding things to the soil to fix it.”

CHRISTINE JONES

microbes. It’s possible to reduce or even eliminate chemical fertilizers, but plants first need to be weaned off them until rich microbiological activity is restored, she said.

A controversial approach

Among those in attendance was Grant Lastiwka, a livestock and forage specialist with Alberta Agriculture in Olds.

Lastiwka, who raises cattle near Innisfail, was looking for answers on how to deal with drought when he stumbled across Jones’ work two decades ago.

“As I tried to dig through things, I realized it came back to an approach,” he said. “For soils to be resilient and plants to be productive, it came down to the management of the green plant material so that the relationship with the plants was one in which they were partners with the soil and the soil organisms.”

Jones’ approach was at odds with conventional practices, but made sense to him, he said.

“I started to realize that in systems, things don’t add up,” said Lastiwka, who practises holistic management at his farm.

“Things are synergistic or antagonistic, but they are never neutral. So much of science is based on a linear approach to things.

It can’t really deal with systems.”

Adhering to Jones’ principles changed his farming practices, he said.

He started maintaining a ground cover, which captured water and protected his soil.

He improved soil quality by using bale grazing to amend the soil structure. This resulted in pastures that turned green earlier in spring, maintained that growth longer into the fall, and were more lush, especially under adverse conditions.

Another enthusiastic attendee was Steve Kenyon, a grazing consultant and custom grazing operator from Busby.

Encouraging development of soil organisms is central to his consulting work, he said.

“When the mycorrhizal fungi is intact, it expands the root system,” said Kenyon. “As soon as you do one process that inhibits that — boom! — you can’t reach the network.

“The mycorrhizal fungi is like the Internet — it interconnects every plant and they all communicate through it.”

Jones’ take on soil and current farming practices is “something producers need to hear,” Kenyon said.

“Although a lot of producers never will — even if they were here, they might not hear it,” he said. “This is controversial to traditional farming for sure, but it’s not controversial to sustainability or how we should be treating our primary resource.

As agricultural producers, we need to take care of that,

Steve Kenyon, a producer and grazing consultant from Busby, said that Jones’ message is one that producers should hear.

and that’s exactly what she is explaining to us.”

A collection of papers and presentations by Jones can be found on her website www. amazingcarbon.com. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

Renowned Australian soil scientist Christine Jones spoke to a packed house in Olds. PHOTOS: ALEXIS KIENLEN

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Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Biotechnology Industry Organization. B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your Monsanto representative for the registration status in your state. Roundup Ready 2 Technology and Design®, Roundup Ready 2 Yield®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup® and YieldGard VT Triple® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. Liberty® and LibertyLink® are trademarks of the Bayer Group. Herculex™ Insect Protection technology

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22

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

Oilseed glut should reignite global demand Analysis: There are abundant world stocks of the major oilseeds, but demand is expected to continue to increase

By Gavin Maguire REUTERS

P

roduction of the world’s top oilseeds will exceed demand by the largest margin ever in 2014-15, helping to push year-end stocks above 100 million tonnes for the first time.

The glut of major oilseeds has already driven prices to multiyear lows. It is widely expected to pressure prices for most of 2015.

This steep increase in supplies has been well chronicled.

Yet traders have paid less attention to the demand side of the oilseed equation, and could be in for a surprise in 2015 if consumption picks up faster than expected.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has pencilled in a rise of roughly 3.8 per cent in demand for the top oilseeds in 2014-15, slower than the expected 6.3

per cent climb in production.

But oilseed demand grew by 5.7 per cent last year, and averaged more than five per cent annually between 2009 and 2012, so there is risk that usage could steal the limelight from supply in 2015.

Supply surge

Global production of the most widely traded oilseeds has climbed by nearly 50 per cent over the past decade. It grew at an average annual rate of nearly 5.5 per cent from 2008 to 2014, despite back-to-back production problems in 201011 and 2011-12. Over the same period, world exports increased at an average annual rate of 6.8 per cent.

Oilseed stocks increased by an annual average rate of 5.8 per cent during the 2 0 0 8 - 1 4 e ra , w i t h s e ve ra l double-digit swings in both directions. Robust demand

depleted inventories following poor growing seasons, while bumper crops speedily replenished them after good growing seasons.

Recently oilseed stocks have climbed by their fastest clip ever, swelling by more than 22 per cent last year. They are projected to climb a further 31 per cent in 2014-15 as mammoth U.S. and South American soybean are gathered. The projected 2014-15 total is just over 100 million tonnes, nearly 40 million tonnes larger than the 2011-12 total. The projection represents more than 88 days of use.

Slow and steady demand momentum

As abundant as those inventories may appear, the resulting downward pressure on prices is whetting the appetite of endusers, who tend to be slower to respond to production swings

U.S. SOYBEAN SUPPLY Million bushels

Source: USDA Agricultural Projections to 2019, February 2010. USDA, Economic Research Service.

than others in the market. Still, there has been only one single instance of year-over-year demand contraction in 25 years.

Selecting the right cereal variety has never been easier

What’s more, demand rates have tended to pick up faster than average in the immediate wake of production surges, as supply-led price pressure helps to improve end-user margins.

Total oilseed demand grew 5.7 per cent last year, its fastest since 2009-10. For 2014-15, USDA expects consumption to grow at around 3.8 per cent, which would be below the fiveyear average of 4.4 per cent and close to two points below last year’s rate.

Oilseeds are trading at or near their lowest levels in four years and around 20 to 30 per cent below most of 2013. It stands to reason that demand has the potential to grow at least as quickly as last year, if not faster.

And if the 2014-15 growth rate emerges at five per cent rather than 3.8 per cent, that would equate to an additional five million tonnes of oilseed usage. A growth rate of seven per cent would mean close to 13 million tonnes of additional oilseed consumption.

With projected inventories seen at around 100 million tonnes, an extra five million tonnes of use may not seem significant. But any reversal in stocks momentum could boost market sentiment, which in turn could prompt more aggressive buying interest by c o n s u m e r s. T h i s s c e n a r i o could lift prices over the course of the year.

S o w h i l e c u r re n t f o c u s remains on the historic scale of global supplies, demand growth could well emerge as the main driver of market action in 2015 as consumers react en masse to the prevailing low prices.

Gavin Maguire is a Reuters market analyst. The opinions expressed are his own.

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FARMING

IS ENOUGH OF A GAMBLE...

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

11/14-41182-2 MC

1-800-782-0794

1

23

The Manitoba Co-Operator | October 6, 2011

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

FARMER'S

MARKETPLACE Call to place your classified ad in the next issue: 1-800-782-0794

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index Tributes/Memoriams Announcements Airplanes Alarms & Security Systems AnTiqueS – Antiques For Sale – Antique Equipment – Antique Vehicles – Antiques Wanted

Your guide to the Classification Categories and sub-listings within this section.

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– Peruvian – Pinto – Ponies – Quarter Horse – Shetland – Sport Horses – Standardbred – Tennessee Walker – Thoroughbred – Warmblood – Welsh – Horses For Sale – Horses Wanted poultry – Poultry For Sale – Poultry Wanted Sheep – Sheep Auction – Arcott – Columbia – Dorper – Dorset – Katahdin – Lincoln – Suffolk – Texel Sheep – Sheep For Sale – Sheep Wanted Swine – Swine Auction – Swine For Sale – Swine Wanted Speciality – Alpacas – Bison (Buffalo) – Deer – Elk – Goats – Llama – Rabbits – Emu/Ostrich/Rhea – Yaks – Various Livestock Equipment Livestock Services & Vet Supplies Misc. Articles For Sale Misc. Articles Wanted Musical Notices On-Line Services 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 – Acreages/Hobby Farms – Manitoba – Saskatchewan – Alberta – British Columbia – Pastureland – Farms/Ranches Wanted ReCReATiOnAL VehiCLeS – All Terrain Vehicles – Boats & Water – Campers & Trailers – Golf Carts – Motor Homes – Motorcycles – Snowmobiles Recycling Refrigeration Restaurant Supplies Sausage Equipment Sawmills Scales CeRTiFieD SeeD – Cereal Seeds – Forage Seeds – Oilseeds – Pulse Crops – Specialty Crops 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

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Advertisers requesting publication of either display or classified advertisements agree that should the advertisement be omitted from the issue ordered for whatever reason, the Manitoba Co-operator shall not be held liable. It is also agreed that in the event of an error appearing in the published advertisement, the Manitoba Co-operator 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.

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24

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

AUCTION DISTRICTS Parkland – North of Hwy 1; west of PR 242, following the west shore of Lake Manitoba and east shore of Lake Winnipegosis.

Westman – South of Hwy 1; west of PR 242.

Interlake – North of Hwy 1; east of PR 242, following the west shore of Lake Manitoba and east shore of Lake Winnipegosis.

Red River – South ofHwy 1; east of PR 242.

The Pas

AUCTION SALES Manitoba Auctions – Interlake

AUTO & TRANSPORT Trucks

McSherry Auction Service Ltd

1994 FREIGHTLINER MODEL 120 w/60 series Detroit engine 15-ft gravel box $10,000, good solid truck; 2, 350 Chev engines, $350 each; 1 Chev trans. overhauled, $200; Older 1979 Chev w/flat-deck 3/4Ton, $200; 1100 MF tractor w/easel & front end loader, bale fork & bucket, $2,800. Phone (204)824-2239.

Birch River

Swan River Minitonas Durban

Winnipegosis

Roblin

Dauphin

Grandview

Ashern

Gilbert Plains

Fisher Branch

Ste. Rose du Lac Russell

Parkland

Birtle

Riverton Eriksdale

McCreary

Langruth Gladstone

Neepawa Rapid City

Reston Melita

1

Brandon

Carberry

Treherne

Killarney

Pilot Mound Crystal City

Elm Creek

Sanford

Ste. Anne

Carman

Mariapolis

Lac du Bonnet

St. Pierre

242

Morris Winkler Morden

Altona

We would like to thank all our clients, auction attendees and friends for a great 2014.

2001 3/4 TONNE DODGE 4x4, club cab, 6-spd, safetied, 335,000-kms, $13,500 firm. Must be seen.

(204)436-2571, cell (204)857-2561.

We look forward to many auctions in 2015

BEEKEEPING

Beausejour

Winnipeg

Austin

Souris

Boissevain

Stonewall Selkirk

Portage

Westman

Waskada

Interlake

Erickson Minnedosa

Hamiota

Virden

Arborg

Lundar Gimli

Shoal Lake

Steinbach

1

Red River

ANTIQUES

!

ANTIQUES Antique Equipment WINTER PROJECTS: IH W4; IH WD6; IH H; JD AR; JD R; JD 70 DSL; JD 730 RC DSL; 1929 JD D; Oliver 77 RC; MH 44 RC DSL; MH 55 DSL; Fordson Major; Caterpillar RD4. (204)745-7445.

AUTO & TRANSPORT

AUCTION SALES Manitoba Auctions – Red River

FOR SALE: 1998 CHEV 1/2 ton 4x4, runs decent, fair condition, $1,200 OBO. Phone:(204)637-2393 or (204)212-2393.

BEEKEEPING Honey Bees STRONG SINGLE HIVES OR nucs for sale. Phone Andy Loewen:(204)326-1500 or (204)381-7993. andyloewen@hotmail.ca

BUILDING & RENOVATIONS BUILDING & RENOVATIONS Doors & Windows

AUCTION SALES AUCTION SALES Manitoba Auctions – Westman NEW YEARS DAY ANTIQUE & Collector Auction Thurs, Jan., 1st, 2015, 11:00am. 4-mi south Brandon, MB. Features: Beautiful antique Oak & 1/4 cut Oak Furniture: triple curved oak china & secretarybookcase; oak dining suite; hall seat; rect. oak dining table; lions paw set chairs; lions paw settee set; plus more. Light Up Advertising Signs; cranberry glass hanging parlour lamp & bridge lamp, Limoges dinnerware, stain glass windows, Plus much more.

For info contact: Donogh Antiques (204)727-1088 or (204)729-1212. Watch for updated listing & many pictures on web site www.mrankinauctions.com Murray Rankin Auctions (204)534-7401 Killarney, MB. Best Wishes for a safe & happy holiday season!

FARMING IS ENOUGH OF A GAMBLE...

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

1-800-782-0794

Nickel Auctions Ltd Austin, MB

We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year. We are booking sales for spring With dates booked and others pending.

WE ARE ONLY A CALL AWAY Phone: Dave 204-637-3393 Cell: 204-856-6900 E-mail: nickelauctions@mymts.net

Winkler, MB • 1-204-325-4433

NOW BOOKING SPRING & SUMMER 2015 FARM AND OTHER AUCTIONS

BILL KLASSEN AUCTIONEERS

To All Our Clients & Friends From Across Western Canada

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

BUSINESS SERVICES Crop Consulting

FARM CHEMICAL SEED COMPLAINTS

From Everyone at 1-855-326-4556

Manitoba Co-operator classifieds, 1-800-782-0794.

Merry Christmas to all our Clients,Auction Attendees, and Friends.

May you experience the True Meaning of Christmas as you Celebrate with Family and Friends.

From Management & Staff

• Quality Commercial/Agricultural/Residential Overhead Doors & Operators.

• Aluminum Polycarbonate Doors Available.

• Non-Insulated and Insulated Sectional Doors Available.

• Liftmaster Heavy Duty Operators.

• Mullion Slide Away Centre Posts.

• Commercial/Agricultural Steel Man Doors and Frames.

• Your washbay door specialists. • Quality Installation & Service.

• 24 Hour Service. • Replacement Springs & Cables.

CONCRETE FLATWORK: Specializing in place & finish of concrete floors. Can accommodate any floor design.

References available. Alexander, MB. 204-752-2069.

Professional Full Service Auction Company.

For No Obligation Auction Consultation See our website: www.billklassen.com or call 204-325-4433 cell 6230

Serving Manitoba, Saskatchewan, NW Ontario & Alberta....Since 1937

BUILDING & RENOVATIONS Roofing

We also specialize in: Crop Insurance appeals; Chemical drift; Residual herbicide; Custom operator issues; Equipment malfunction; Yield comparisons, Plus Private Investigations of any nature. With our assistance the majority of our clients have received compensation previously denied. Back-Track Investigations investigates, documents your loss and assists in settling your claim.

Licensed Agrologist on Staff.

For more information Please call 1-866-882-4779

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT CAMBRIAN EQUIPMENT. 25 FORKLIFTS, some good ones & some parting out. Over 80 sets of forks, frames & attachements of all types. Central Canada’s largest wreckers of construction equipment, with two yards over 50-ac. We have what you need. Call:(204)667-2867 or Fax:(204)667-2932.

Located 494 Panet Rd, Winnipeg, MB. CAMBRIAN EQUIPMENT. CRAWLER DOZERS, D8H bush equipment, old D7 good runner, D6 high track & old D6 9U series, D4 40. Now wrecking mini truck type dozers & loaders. New parts at low, low prices. Salvage all types on two yards over 50-acres.

Call: (204)667-2867 or Fax: (204)667-2932.

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

FOUILLARD STEEL SUPPLIES LTD.

Contact your local CPS representative about our PrePay program and start earning.

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

Winkler, MB • 1-204-325-4433

BUILDINGS AUCTION SALES Manitoba Auctions – Parkland

AFAB INDUSTRIES IS YOUR SUPERIOR post frame building company. For estimates and information call 1-888-816-AFAB(2322).

Website: www.postframebuilding.com

40516_A CPS_PrePay Print_4x4_rev1.indd 1

Happy Holidays!

We would like to take this time to wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season and continued success in the New Year !

Brad Goossen Ritchie Bros. Territory Manager Manitoba East 204.781.2336 | bgoossen@rbauction.com

rbauction.com/farmauctions

Steven Perrin Ritchie Bros. Territory Manager Manitoba West 204.573.0993 | sperrin@rbauction.com

*Conditions apply.

10/14-40516-1A

10/8/14 9:14 AM

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The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT CAMBRIAN EQUIPMENT. OVER 500 new & used buckets, snow buckets for loaders & skidsteers, buckets for large front end loaders, buckets for backhoes and attachments of all sizes. Dozer blades for snow & several snow blowers small & large. 5 gas & diesel trucks w/blowers & blades attached. Acres & acres of salvage. Central Canada’s largest wreckers of construction equipment with two yards over 50-ac we have what you need. Call:(204)667-2867 or Fax:(204)667-2932.

Located at 494 Panet Rd Winnipeg MB. CAMBRIAN EQUIPMENT. PARTING 20 graders, John Deere 772 A1B, Fiat-Allis 100 DD, Cat 112-120-12E-8T-140. Champion 562 -600 -720 -930-740-760. Some new parts in stock, central Canada’s largest wreckers of construction equipment with two-yards over 50-acres. We have what you need. Call: (204)667-2867 or Fax: (204)667-2932.

Located at 494 Panet Rd Winnipeg MB.

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

DISCS JOHN DEERE 637 rock cushion 35-ft new notched blades on front, $39,000; Wishek 842 26-ft, $39,000; Rippers DMI 5 shank, $8,900; 7 shank, $10,500; Degelmen 14-ft rock rake PTO, $9,500; Degelmen scoop type rock picker, $3,000; Melroe auto reset plows 7 & 8 furrow, 10 x 70 Westfield auger w/ swing bottom, $2,500; 7 x 40 Westfield electric motor, $1,000; 8 x 32 Farm King electric motor, $1,000; Leon 12-ft front blade, $3,000. (204)857-8403.

FOR SALE: JD 555 crawler loader, 9-ft. dover, 1 1/4-yd bucket, used steering clutches, A1 shape, A2 HWO, $21,000. Phone (204)824-2239.

FOR SALE: D7F CAT PS angle dozer, ripper, bush equipped, A1; MF 2675 dsl cab w/Degelman dozer blade. Phone:(306)238-7501.

FARM MACHINERY Grain Bins CUSTOM BIN MOVING Book now! Fert Tanks.

Hopper Bins/flat. Buy/Sell. Call Tim (204)362-7103 or E-mail Requests binmover50@gmail.com

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

GRAINVACS REM 2500 HD, $9,500; Brandt 4000, $7,000; Jump Auger, $500; New Gravity wagons 400 bu, $7,400; 600-bu $12,500; 750-bu $18,250; Tarps available large selection of used gravity wagons 250-750-bu, 375-bu $3,200; 500-bu, $5,500; Used grain carts 650-1100-bu, 672 Brent tarp & scales, $15,000; 874 Brent $22,000; UFT 750 hyd drive, JD 544 Payloader, $14,000; Grain screeners DMC 54, $5,000; DMC 48, $3,000; Hutch 1500, $1,500; Snowco, $800; 5 & 7 tube Kwik Kleens. (204)857-8403.

IHC#80 SNOWBLOWER, LITTLE WORK done, good condition; 2003 Chevy pick-up end gate for 5th wheel hitch; 1981 950 JD diesel tractor, w/rotary mower. Phone:(204)822-3835.

FARM MACHINERY Grain Vacuums

Combines

CURT’S GRAIN VAC SERVICES, parts & repair for all makes & models. Craik SK, (306)734-2228.

COMBINES Accessories

FARM MACHINERY Irrigation Equipment REINKE LATERAL IRRIGATOR, 4 span, trench guidance system, mounted genset & drag hose, $32,500 @ Treherne (204)526-7682

FARM MACHINERY Parts & Accessories GOODS USED TRACTOR PARTS: (204)564-2528 or 1-877-564-8734, Roblin, MB.

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

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

WATROUS SALVAGE

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

2006 AS 1010 APACHE sprayer 60-90 ft. boom, 1,000-gal tank, drop boxes, crop dividers, Trimble auto steer, 1,740-hrs, excellent condition. Phone (204)526-5307 or (204)827-2354, Glenboro.

10/14-40516-2A

40516_A CPS_PrePay Print_4x4_rev1.indd 2

10/8/14 9:14 AM

AG DEALS TO GO!

Geared For The Future

STEIGER TRACTOR SPECIALIST

RED OR GREEN 1. 10-25% savings on new replacement parts for your Steiger drive train.

2. We rebuild axles, transmissions and dropboxes with ONE YEAR WARRANTY. 3. 50% savings on used parts.

www.bigtractorparts.com

If you want to sell it fast, call 1-800-782-0794.

HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING

Factory Direct Outlet SELLING FAST - BOOK NOW Don’t be disappointed!

DELUXE WOOD & WATER OUTDOOR FURNACES CSA APPROVED Now available North American wide at prices never seen before

$

FC30HD Unit plus accessories

Introductory Doorcrasher Special

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

www.penta.ca

You receive base pump, rad hose, insulation, fittings, rust inhibitor PLUS our FC30HD (can heat 1 building) WOOD WATER FURNACE Some claim this is “North America’s Hottest Deal!”

Friesen Built Inc. 1-204-388-6150 • Toll Free 1-855-897-7278

TILLAGE & SEEDING Air Drills

The Icynene Insulation System®

Mastercard, Visa &Interac available

4497

This is not a misprint!!

HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING

TILLAGE & SEEDING Air Drills

1-800-587-4711

IRON & STEEL FREE STANDING CORRAL PANELS, Feeders & Alley ways, 30ft or order to size. Oil Field Pipe: 1.3, 1.6, 1.9, 1 7/8, 2-in, 2 3/8, 2 7/8, 3 1/2. Sucker Rod: 3/4, 7/8, 1. Casing Pipes: 4-9inch. Sold by the piece or semi load lots. For special pricing call Art (204)685-2628 or cell (204)856-3440.

TILLAGE & SEEDING Air Drills

1-800-782-0794 Stretch your ADVERTISING DOLLAR!

FYFE PARTS

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

*Conditions apply.

Big Tractor Parts, Inc.

SPRAYING EQUIPMENT Sprayers

TILLAGE & SEEDING Air Seeders

www.fyfeparts.com

TRACTORS Various

Spraying EquipmEnt

Tillage & Seeding

“For All Your Farm Parts”

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

1-800-982-1769

WaTRoUs, sK. Fax: 306-946-2444

1-800-667-9871 • Regina 1-800-667-3095 • Saskatoon 1-800-387-2768 • Winnipeg 1-800-222-6594 • Edmonton

*

CAMBRIAN EQUIPMENT NEW STEAMCLEANER Easy-Kleen magnum plus 4000. New electric & gas fuel pumps, 12V, only $59/each; New standard 12V fuel gauges, $13/piece; New Delco Remy 12V type 300 starters, $249; 7 units of scissor type lifts, up to 52-ft; Large stock of new & used loader & tractor parts, acres & acres of salvage, 2 yards over 50-ac.

Phone:(204)667-2867, Fax:(204)667-2932.

CAMBRIAN EQUIPMENT. TRACK & four-wheel drive loaders ready to work. 966 w/pulp loader. FiatAllis 345-605-840, Clark 45, Dresser 530. Case 621B. Nine-yard Volvo. Five two-wheel loaders need work track type. TD92 w/loader, Cat 941 w/loader, 955H w/ loader, Dresser 175-C. Over 900 tires & over 500 new & used hydraulic cylinders. Have dismatled loaders for parts. New parts for low prices, acres of salvage.

Call:(204)667-2867 or Fax:(204)667-2932.

FARM MACHINERY

Do one little thing and get 5% back on everything

CAMBRIAN EQUIPMENT CASE 125B delimber, good working order; IH 3964 feller buncher; (2) new Pembenton tree shears to fit CAT 320 & 330; sawmill all steel 48-in blade, 50-ft long; 450 Timberjack grapple skidder; Clark 668 skidder; CAT 966C hilift w/pulp clam; parting out several skidders. Acres & acres of salvage, 2 yards over 50-acres!

Phone:(204)667-2867, Fax:(204)667-2932

1996 36-FT. BOURGAULT AIR seeder, 8880 cultivator w/2155 tank, good condition, $25,000 OBO. (204)745-7445.

TracTors TRACTORS Case/ IH

NEW & USED TRACTOR PARTS NEW COMBINE PARTS

CASE IH MX 240 (02) 3,993-hrs front weights 480/80R46 Rear tires w/Duals, 380/80R46 Front tires, 3-PTH w/quick attach, 18-SPD, $69,000; Case IH MX 200 6,661-hrs tire same as above, w/rear duals, 3-PTH, 18-SPD, $54,000 @ Treherne phone (204)526-7682.

Large Inventory of new and remanufactured parts

TRACTORS John Deere

PRECISION PRICING

$7.68 COST PER ACRE

1997 9400 4WD, very good tires, 7,000-hrs, VGC, $95,000 OBO. (204)745-7445.

STEINBACH, MB. Ph. 326-2443 Toll-Free 1-800-881-7727 Fax (204) 326-5878 Web site: farmparts.ca E-mail: roy@farmparts.ca FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous 1980 230 TIMBER JACK cable skidder, excellent condition, new starter, injectors, main line, c/w chains on front tires. Call (807)466-7610 or (807)548-4435 or email angelica@talomafarms.com 5230 CASE IH, 3,200-HRS, 3PH, loader grapple $30,000; 16-ft Hesston disc-bine, cut 1,000-ac $25,000; 2005 NH BR780 net/twine, shedded, $13,000. Millet, AB. Phone:(780)352-4947.

COMPLETE POULTRY PROCESSING LINE. All Stainless Steel, kill & eviscerating line to process 250-400 chickens/hour. Includes scald tank, plucker, vacuum & more. For more info, Contact Rudy:(204)322-5558.

FOR SALE: 2004 9420T 3,440-hrs, 30-in. tracks at 85%, guidance ready, PWR shift, front weights, 4 SCVs, excellent condition, $150,000.

Phone (204)746-5312, Rosenort.

FOR SALE: JD 1840- Hi/Low Shift, 3PT; JD 2130Hi/Low Shift, 3PT, 2 Hyd’s; JD 2355- MFWD, 3PT, Canopy, Loader; JD 2750- Hi/Low Shift, 3PT, w/FEL; JD 2750- MFWD, CAH, 3PT, w/Loader; JD 2955- MFWD, CAH, 3PT, w/Loader; JD 40208SPD Power Shift, 3PT; JD 4230- Quad Shift, 2 Hyd’s; JD 4240- Quad Shift, 2 Hyd’s; JD 4250Quad Shift, 3PT, Duals; JD 4440- Quad Shift, 2 Hyd’s, Duals; JD 4440- Quad Shift, 3PT, 3 Hyd’s; JD 4450- MFWD, 15SPD, 2 Hyd’s, w/FEL; JD 4450- MFWD, 15SPD, 3PT, Loader; JD 46402WD, Quad Shift, Loader; JD 6400- PQ, 3PT, MFWD, w/640 FEL; JD 6420-24SPD, PQ, w/LHR, 3PT, MFWD; JD 8650- WD, Quad Shift, PTO. All tractors can be sold with new or used loaders.

Mitch’s Tractor Sales Ltd. St. Claude, MB. Cell:(204)750-2459. www.mitchstractorsales.com

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

MB and Eastern SK, call Brent at (204) 771-8244 www.versatile-ag.com/seeding Based on the 40' DH730 air drill and AC400 air cart on a retail lease contract amortized over 60 months at 4.49% APR. Other product configurations available. See dealer for details.

©2014 Buhler Versatile Inc. All rights reserved | info@versatile-ag.com

WWW.VERSATILE-AG.COM

26

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

Going Quietly Buggy

by Adrian Powell

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Podiatrist's focus Trudeau's party, for short Long in the tooth Decorative ribbons Flin Flon-Thompson dir.

Not one or the other Sicilian tourist hot spot Military "lights out" Like a crowd in awe Wedding invite letters Copy cat 8 on the Beaufort Scale Hook's toady Civil wrong, legally Every single one Pond plant ___ Howdy Doody Time!

Track crosspiece SOLUTION TO PUZZLE

L A M A

O G R E

D E S K

DOWN 1 Fifty-fifty 2 Burdon of "The Animals" 3 Tutu, e.g.

4 Turkish honorific 5 Be distressed 6 Like the Reaper 7 Carson's successor 8 Portuguese dollar, once 9 Spotted 10 Dressed 11 Quite an unpleasant sort 12 Tibetan holy man 13 Office necessity 19 Huge mound 21 Smallest of the piglets 25 Pilot's wind indicator 27 Ski-lodge feature, maybe 28 Yellow jackets 29 Famous first baseman 30 Throw with effort 31 Old jalopy 32 Vindictiveness 33 Northern Manitoba's The ___

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L E N O

Actress ___ Dawn Chong Much of Zimbabwe Twilight Zone-ish Royal flush card Part of the media Dissuade Third degree?

G R I M

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S O S O

ACROSS 1 Beaufort, for one 4 Condor's cousin 9 Chastise 14 Bomber pilot of "Catch-22" 15 Forestry worries 16 Blue-green organisms 17 Spelled as written 18 Skittish caterpillars?

20 Dark yellow pigment 22 Sullen look 23 Valuable hardwood 24 Wiener holders 26 Run fast 28 Annoying bugs who just look but don't buy?

33 Hodgepodge 34 Adjust as you must 36 Volcanic output, sometimes 37 Cute looking Aussie marsupial 40 Uncle, in Uruguay 41 Fern "seed" 44 Brief scene 47 Cockroach party game?

50 Bridges in Hollywood 51 Eat off the good china 52 Piece for a sitar 55 Library user's attention-getter 58 Spud 61 Latino flutterer that hangs from Louisiana trees?

*Taxes included

Payment Enclosed ❑ Cheque

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S P T I O T E E

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U.S. Subscribers

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

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To wn, Pr o vi nc e , P O S TAL C O DE

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That's 26 months for the price of 24. OR - Renew for one year and receive 13 months for the price of 12!

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save!

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Please fill in the spaces below that apply to you. Thank you!

If you're not the owner/operator of a farm are you:  In agri-business (bank, elevator, ag supplies etc.)  Other Total farm size (including rented land)_______________ Year of birth________  I’m farming or ranching  I own a farm or ranch but i'm not involved in it's operations or management

My Main crops are: No. of acres 1. Wheat ____________ 2. Barley ____________ 3. Oats ____________ 4. Canola ____________ 5. Flax ____________ 6. Durum ____________ 7. Rye ____________ 8. Peas ____________ 9. Chick Peas ____________ Livestock Enterpise No. of head 1. Registered Beef ____________ 2. Commercial Cow ____________ 3. Fed Cattle (sold yearly) ____________ 4. Hog Weaners (sold yearly) __________

My Main crops are: No. of acres 10. Lentils ___________ 11. Dry Beans ___________ 12. Hay ___________ 13. Pasture ___________ 14. Summerfallow ___________ 15. Alfalfa ___________ 16. Forage Seed ___________ 17. Mustard ___________ 18. Other (specify) ___________ Livestock Enterpise No. of head 5. Hog farrow-to-finish (# sows) ______ 6. Finished Pigs (sold yearly) _________ 7. Dairy Cows ___________ 8. Other Livestock (specify) __________

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Sudoku 5

Last week's answer

4

1 6 3 9 3 7 1 4 1 3 2 8 5 1 7 5 9 1 2 5 4 8 2 3 5 6

6 5 1 4 3 2 7 9 8

8 2 4 5 7 9 6 3 1

7 3 9 6 1 8 2 4 5

2 1 7 3 9 5 4 8 6

3 4 8 1 2 6 9 5 7

5 9 6 7 8 4 1 2 3

4 8 3 2 6 1 5 7 9

1 7 5 9 4 3 8 6 2

9 6 2 8 5 7 3 1 4

Puzzle by websudoku.com

Puzzle by websudoku.com

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes.

The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

27

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

REAL ESTATE Land For Sale

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

THE FOLLOWING PRIVATE LAND is being offered for sale: SW30-31-15W, SW19-26-14W. The following Crown Lands have been approved by Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Development for transfer to the purchaser of the private lands listed as these lands are part of the ranch unit held by Harold Fleming of Meadow Portage, MB. NE17-26-14W, NW17-26-14W, NE18-26-14W, NW 18-26-14W, SE19-26-14W, SE20-26-14W, SW20-26-14W. If you wish to purchase the private land & apply for the Unit Transfer, contact the lessee: Harold Fleming Box 17 Meadow Portage, MB. R0L 1E0. If you wish to comment on or object to the eligibility of this Unit Transfer, write the Director; MAFRD, Agricultural Crown Lands, PO Box 1286, Minnedosa MB R0J 1E0; or Fax (204)867-6578.

*

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

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

SEED / FEED / GRAIN SEED/FEED/GRAIN Hay & Straw 1ST CUT ALFALFA HAY for sale in 3 x 3 squares. $0.04/lb. Hay test available. Phone:(204)242-2074, Harry Pauls, LaRiviere, MB. 300 BALES OF ALFALFA Brome & Timothy mixed.

Big round bales, $60 per bale. Phone (306)542-4401.

400 5X6 ROUND BALES for sale. First cut alfalfa & alfalfa/ brome. Net wrapped, feed tested. Phone: (204)248-2643 or Email: colletfarm@gmail.com Notre Dame, MB. ALFALFA FOR SALE IN 3x4 square bales, stored inside delivery available. (204)746-4505.

ALFALFA GRASS MIX in round or large square bales, delivery avail. Call (204)730-3139.

ANNUAL RYE GRASS SILAGE bales, 600 wrapped, 60-in diameter, feed analysis available. Call Luc (204)248-2107 or (204)745-7306 BEEFMAN SPECIAL: LARGE SQUARE bales 2nd cut Alfalfa w/25% Orchard Grass 18-22% protein, in hay shed, $0.05/lb. Rye Grass, $0.04/lb. Delivery avail. Phone: (204)355-4980, Cell: (204)371-5744.

FOR SALE: 150 FIRST cut & 100 second cut round alfalfa bales. Located in Woodmore area. Phone Larry (204)373-2452.

GRUNTHAL LIVESTOCK AUCTION MART. LTD.

Hwy #205, Grunthal • (204) 434-6519

Season’s Greetings from the owners and staff GRUNTHAL, MB.

AGENT FOR T.E.A.M. MARKETING

REGULAR CATTLE SALES every TUESDAY at 9 am

* First Sale of 2015: Tuesday, Jan. 6th

For on farm appraisal of livestock or for marketing information please call Harold Unrau (Manager) Cell 871 0250 Auction Mart (204) 434-6519 MB. Livestock Dealer #1111

WWW.GRUNTHALLIVESTOCK.COM

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Angus 3 YR OLD PB Black Angus bull w/papers, $3,400.

Also rolled or crushed Barley & Oats by tote bag or small 50-lb bags, $10. Phone (204)886-2083.

HAMCO CATTLE CO - The Hamiltons at Glenboro, MB have for sale a strong group of Red & Black Angus bred heifers & cows. Bred to easy calving bulls.

Due to calve Feb-May 2015. Very good vaccination program. For more information, Contact Albert, Glen, or Larissa Hamilton: (204)827-2358 or (204)526-0705, or David Hamilton:(204)822-3054.

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Black Angus FOR SALE: PUREBRED BLACK Angus heifer calves, also bull calves, long yearlings & 1 coming 3-yr old herd sire. Ossawa Angus at Marquette (204)375-6658, cell (204)383-0703.

REGISTERED BLACK ANGUS BULLS for sale.

Low birth weights & quiet. Buy now & save, no disappointments! EPD’s & delivery available. Phone Amaranth (204)843-2287.

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Charolais 2 MATURE POLLED CHAROLAIS herd sires, easy calvers, Steppler Charolais bloodlines. Available for fall calving. (204)857-8220, (204)857-2260.

LIVESTOCK Cattle Various COMPLETE HERD DISPERSAL, 1,250 Black Angus cows, start calving April 15th. Also 50 Black Angus bulls. Call (204)447-2382, evenings.

READY TO MOVE HOMES -Marvin Homes- Your 10/8/14 9:14 AM RTM Home Builder since 1976. Super Deal!Only one unit left. 1320-sqft, 3 bdrm, 2 bath; Master suite has walk-in closet & 3-piece bath. Main floor laundry; Beautiful kitchen w/island. Suitable for basement or crawlspace. Call for more info. Marvin Homes, Mitchell, MB. (204)326-1493 or (204)355-8484. www.marvinhomes.ca

TIRED OF THE HIGH COST OF MARKETING YOUR CALVES??

3 KIPLING LANE

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

1604 sq. ft. 2 storey $319,900 in Niverville, 20 min. south of Wpg. 3+1 BR. 3.5 bath.

Modern open concept main floor w. espresso finished hardwoods. Gas fireplace. Island & high end stainless steel appliances, under cab. lighting.

Huge master w. tray ceiling, WIC + bath. 2nd flr. Laundry w. front load appl. Fin. bsmt. 12x20 deck, dble detached garage. Must see!

NIVERVILLE,MB · PH:1-204-899-7684

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

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

REAL ESTATE

NOTRELand DAME USED OIL For Rent & FILTER DEPOT

WANTED: BUTCHER HOGS SOWS AND BOARS FOR EXPORT

WANTED TO RENT CULTIVATED acres for 2015.

Prefer (204)362-0433 or • Buyminimum Used Oil3-yr agreement.

• Buy Call Batteries (204)327-5324.

• Collect Used Filters • Collect Oil Containers Southern and Western Manitoba REAL ESTATE Land For Sale Tel: 204-248-2110

410.08 ACRES FOR SALE IN THE RM OF FISHER NW 33-25-2W, NE 33-25-2W, SW 33-25-2W $329,000, Contact Dolf Feddes (204)745-0451, Canadian Farm Realty

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

160-ACRES CULTIVATED LAND, LOCATED North West of Lowe Farm MB. $4,350 per acre.

Call (204)746-8243.

LIVESTOCK Specialty – Bison/Buffalo BRED COWS, CALVES, YEARLINGS. (807)466-7610 or (807)548-4435.

Call

LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT ALTERNATIVE POWER BY SUNDOG SOLAR, portable/remote solar water pumping for winter/summer. Call for pricing on solar systems, wind generators, aeration. Carl Driedger, (204)556-2346 or (204)851-0145, Virden.

12V. or Hydraulic Electronic Scale Opt.

1 877 695 2532 www.ezefeeder.ca

LIVESTOCK SERVICES & VET SUPPLIES The following dealer and agent have applied for a licence under the Livestock Dealers and Agents Licencing regulation, which comes under the Livestock and Livestock Products Act. (C.C.S.M. c. L170)

LIVESTOCK DEALER LICENCE Interlake Packers Ltd. of St. Laurent, MB. Tony Atkinson, of Mountain Road, MB.

FOR SALE: 15 EXCELLENT fall calving cows w/calves. Calves as early as end of June. $3,050/pair. Phone:(204)278-3438.

FOR SALE:17 BRED HEIFERS Angus cross Simmental, due to start calving March 10th, 2015. Very nice, deep-bodied, 1000+ pounds, all vaccinated & Ivomeced. Call (204)746-0377 or (204)347-7490, St Malo.

FOR SALE: 500 BRED heifers, 300 Black & Black X bred. 100 Red & Red X bred, & 100 Char X. Heifers have all had their vaccinations, Blacks are bred to Black Angus bulls, Reds & Chars bred to Red Angus & are all easy calving. Calving start date, March 20th. Call (204)768-0184.

HERD DISPERSAL, 60 BLACK Angus & Simmental Charolais cross cows, all will be third calvers, 1 4-yr old Purebred Angus bull. (204)548-2883 Call our toll-free number to take advantage of our Prepayment Bonus. Prepay for 3 weeks and we’ll run your ad 2 more weeks for free. That’s 5 weeks for the price of 3. Call 1-800-782-0794 today!

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE FREQUENCY DRIVE 575 VOLTS, 25-30-hp, $1200; 2 Hobart 20-quart, $200 & 40-quart, $800 mixers; Number of used propane tanks 80gal.-1000-gal.-2000-gal. Arnie 24-ft end-dump, $15,000; 7200-bu capacity Grainleg, 110-ft high, $9200. Panther LX4 Scooter, $1250; 20-ft Arnie’s Lowbed, $12,000; Alot of stainless steel hog feeders from 25-75-lbs, $25.00ea. Phone (204)274-2502 Ext.225

PERSONAL SHARE YOUR LIFE, as it’s meant to be... A lasting Relationship. CANDLELIGHT MATCHMAKERS is here to help you. Confidential, Rural, Photos and Profiles to selected matches, Affordable, Local.

Serving MB, SK, NW Ontario. Call/Write for info: Box 212, Roland, MB, R0G 1T0, (204)343-2475.

CRAIG & LORNA MARR of Silver Ridge MB intend to sell private lands: E1/2 14-21-11W, W1/2 10-21-12W, NW 03-21-12W, SW 14-21-11W, N1/2 08-21-11W, SE 08-21-11W, W1/2 08-20-01W, S1/2 30-21-11W to Garrett Cameron who intend to acquire the following agricultural Crown Land leases: SW 13-21-11W West of PR No. 467, NW 30-21-11W, NE 31-21-11W, SE 31-21-11W, SW 31-21-11W, SE 02-22-11W, NE 03-22-11W, SE 03-22-11W East of road by Unit Transfer. If you wish to comment on or object to the eligibility of this purchaser please write to: Director, MAFRD, Agricultural Crown Lands, PO Box 1286, Minnedosa, MB R0J 1E0, or Fax:(204)867-6578.

JOEL & STEPHANIE DELAURIER of Ste Rose du Lac MB intends to sell private lands: E1/2 36-24-11W, Sec 1-25-11W, N1/2 02-25-11W, Sec 12-25-11W, E1/2 11-25-11W, SE 14-25-11W, W1/2 13-25-11W, W1/2 26-24-11W, SE 26-24-11W to Anthony Duffy who intends to acquire the following agricultural Crown land leases: NW 02-25-11W, E1/2 10-25-11W, NW 31-24-10W, W1/2 25-24-11W, E1/2 35-24-11W, SW 35-24-11W, W1/2 36-24-11W, W1/2 06-25-10W, S1/2 02-25-11W, NE 35-24-11W, W1/2 30-24-10W, SW 31-24-10W, NE 24-24-11W, NE 25-24-11W, NE 26-24-11W, SE 36-24-11W, SW 05-24-10W, E1/2 06-24-10W, SE 07-24-11W, W1/2 11-25-11W, Sec 13-25-11W, SW 14-25-11W, NE 35-25-11W, SW 07-24-10W by Unit transfer. If you wish to comment on or object to the eligibility of this purchaser please write to: Director, MAFRD, Agricultural Crown Lands, PO Box 1286, Minnedosa MB R0J 1E0; or fax (204)867-6578.

The following Private land is being offered for sale: NW 04-26-11W, NW 26-25-11W, SW 26-25-11W, SE 26-25-11W. The following Crown Lands have been approved by Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Development for transfer to the purchaser of the private lands listed as these lands are part of the ranch unit held by Allan & Rebecca Johnson of Arnes, MB. NE 09-25-11W, NW 10-25-11W, SW 10-25-11W, NW 15-25-11W, SW 15-25-11W, SE 16-25-11W, NE 16-25-11W, SE 21-25-11W, NW 14-25-11W, NE 15-25-11W, SE 22-25-11W, NW 22-25-11W, NE 22-25-11W, NW 24-25-11W, SW 24-25-11W, SE 24-25-11W, SW 27-25-11W, NW 35-25-11W; SW 35-25-11W, NE 14-25-11W, NW 23-25-11W, SW 23-25-11W, NE 23-25-11W, SE 23-25-11W, NW 27-25-11W, NE 34-25-11W, NE 03-26-11W, NW 03-26-11W, SE 03-26-11W, SW 03-26-11W, SE 04-26-11W, SW 04-26-11W, NE 04-26-11W, SE 09-26-11W, SW 09-26-11W, SE 10-26-11W, SE 09-25-11W, SW 22-25-11W, NW 23-25-11W, SW 23-25-11W, NE 33-25-11W, NE 24-25-11W. If you wish to purchase the private land & apply for the Unit Transfer contact the Lessees Allan & Rebecca Johnson at Box 324, Arnes, MB. R0C 0C0. If you wish to comment on or object to the eligibility of this Unit Transfer write the Director, MAFRD, Agricultural Crown Lands PO Box 1286, Minnedosa, MB R0J 1E0 or Fax (204)867-6578.

Sheldon FroeSe 204.371.5131 Stacey hiebert 204.371.5930 dolF FeddeS 204.745.0451 Junior thevenot 204.825.8378 henry carelS 204.573.5396

GOOD QUALITY 3X3 FIRST cut alfalfa square bales in shed. Will load for $0.06/lb. Can arrange trucking.

Call Hamco Cattle Co. at Glenboro MB (204)827-2358 SMALL SQUARE FIRST CUT alfalfa bales, 3,000 bales, $4.25/each, large order discounts. Phone: (204)828-3648.

SEED/FEED/GRAIN Grain Wanted

CanadianFarmRealty.com

REAL ESTATE Farms & Ranches – Acreages/Hobby GRANT TWEED : Providing professional service in all farm property matters. Selling-Buying-Renting call for an obligation free consultation. 50-yrs in the Ag Industry. Call anytime: (204)761-6884 grant@granttweed.com

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES RECREATIONAL VEHICLES Snowmobiles

WE BUY OATS Call us today for pricing Box 424, Emerson, MB R0A 0L0 204-373-2328

Vanderveen Commodity Services Ltd. Licensed and Bonded Grain Brokers

FOR SALE: 1996 POLARIS XLT snowmobile. Very good condition, $1,200. Phone:(204)637-2393 or (204)212-2393.

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

RECYCLING

Andy Vanderveen · Brett Vanderveen Jesse Vanderveen

A Season to Grow… Only Days to Pay!

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

CERTIFIED SEED CERTIFIED SEED Cereal Seeds JAMES FARMS LTD Brandon, Cardale & Carberry wheat, summit oats, Mcleod & Chadburn R2 soybeans, tradition barley & forage seeds. Various canola & sunflower seed varieties. Custom processing, seed treating, inoculating, as well as delivery are available. Early payment discount. For info call (204)222-8785, or toll-free 1-866-283-8785, Winnipeg. djames@jamesfarms.com

Court Seeds Developed for Manitoba.

Cardale CWRS

 Consistent high yields  Excellent disease package  Less straw, less shattering

Plumas, MB courtseeds@gmail.com 204-386-2354 courtseeds.ca

Phone: 204-526-2145 | www.zeghersseed.com Email: shawnz@zeghersseed.com

QUALITY PEDIGREE SEED SALE CWRS Wheat Other Crops • Cardale • Carberry • Harvest • New, Brandon • Pasteur

• Conlon Barley • Souris Oats • Lightning Flax • Meadow Peas • Red Proso Millet

North Star Seed - Forages Delmar Legend - Soybeans Zeghers Seed Inc. is also a exporter of special crops. Dealing in Flax, Mustard, Rye, Triticale, Spelt, Peas, Canary, Damaged Canola, Millets, and others. Give us a call for marketing opportunities!

Early Pay, and Volume DISCOUNTS! On select Seed purchases.

BUYING:

HEATED & GREEN CANOLA • Competitive Prices • Prompt Movement • Spring Thrashed

MALT BARLEY “ON FARM PICK UP” *6-Row* 1-877-250-5252 MALT BARLEY

Celebration & Tradition *2-Row* AC Metcalfe &BARLEY CDC feed Copeland We buy feed barley, wheat, MALT MALT BARLEY oats, soybeans, corn & canola We buy feed*2-Row* barley, feed wheat, *6-Row* oats, soybeans, cornCopeland & canola AC Metcalfe & CDC & Tradition COMECelebration SEE US AT AG DAYS IN We buy feed barley, feed wheat, THE CONVENTION HALL SEE barley, US AT AG DAYS IN WeCOME buy feed feed wheat, oats, soybeans, corn & canola CONVENTION HALL BOOTH 1309& oats,THE soybeans, corn canola BOOTH 1309 COME SEE US AT AG DAYS IN COME SEE US AT AG HALL DAYS IN THE CONVENTION THE CONVENTION BOOTH 1309 HALL

BOOTH 1309

2013 Malt Contracts Available 2014 AOG Malt Contracts Available Box 238 Letellier, MB. R0G 1C0 BoxPhone 238 Letellier, MB. R0G 1C0 204-737-2000 Phone 204-737-2000 2014Toll-Free AOG Malt Contracts Available 1-800-258-7434 Toll-Free 1-800-258-7434 BoxMalt 238 MB. R0G 1C0 Agent: M &Letellier, J Weber-Arcola, SK. 2013 Contracts Available Agent: M & J Weber-Arcola, SK. Phone 204-737-2000 Phone 306-455-2509 Box 238 Letellier, MB. R0G 1C0 Phone 306-455-2509 Toll-Free 1-800-258-7434 Phone 204-737-2000 Agent: M & 1-800-258-7434 J Weber-Arcola, SK. Toll-Free FARMERS, RANCHERS, Phone Agent: M & J 306-455-2509 Weber-Arcola, SK. SEED PhonePROCESSORS 306-455-2509

MALT BARLEY

LIVESTOCK Cattle Auctions

REAL ESTATE Houses & Lots

(Santa & Rudolph are Seasonal Employees only)

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

LIVESTOCK 40516_A CPS_PrePay Print_4x4_rev1.indd 3

LIVESTOCK Cattle Wanted

REAL ESTATE

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

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FOR SALE: 200 GREEN feed rye bales, approx.

1,400-lbs, lots of grain, $22/each. Phone: (204)637-2393 or (204)212-2393.

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

*Conditions apply.

Canadian Farm realty Buying & Selling Farms: 5 Agents, 1 Team

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

1-204-724-6741

TIRES FOR SALE: 4 SPRAYER tires, 385-85-34 on 8 bolt rims, off rogator sprayer, $1,800 OBO. Phone (204)648-7136

TOOLS FOR SALE: OTC INJECTOR tester model 4200B new condition, $600 OBO. Phone (204)648-7136.

28

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

TRAILERS

CAREERS Help Wanted

TRAILERS Grain Trailers SUPER B TRAILERS. 2009 Lode King; 2006 Lode King; 2009 Castleton; 2006 Castleton; Current Safeties.

Good rubber, good condition. (204)734-8355.

TRAILERS Livestock Trailers EXISS ALL ALUMINUM LIVESTOCK Trailers 2015 Stock available! 10-Yr Warranty. 7-ft wide x 20-ft & 24-ft lengths. Prices starting at $16,500.

SOKAL INDUSTRIES LTD. Phone:(204)334-6596.

Email: sokalind@mymts.net Looking for a hand around the farm? Place a help wanted ad in the classifieds. Call 1-800-782-0794.

CAREERS

AGRICULTURAL TOURS

FARM HELP REQUIRED for vegetable farm near Carman, MB. Duties may include planting, hoeing, harvesting & packing vegetables. Outdoors, stoop labour, variable hours, minimum wage. April through September. Dufferin Market Gardens (204)745-3077, fax (204)745-6193.

F/T POSITION AVAILABLE WORKING on a grain & livestock hog operation. Need a valid driver’s license, Class 1 would be an asset. Annual salary starting at $30,000. Some experience preferred.

Phone Luc:(204)248-2107, (204)745-7306 or Email: lluc@mymts.net Notre Dame de Lourdes, MB. WE ARE LOOKING FOR a reliable, detail-oriented person who is familiar with dairy cattle & their care, including feeding, bedding, treating, calving, etc.

Farm machinery experience is required. If interested, please send your resume to borstlap@xplornet.com or call (204)745-7864. Haywood, MB.

Prairie-Wide Display Classifieds

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Buy one province, buy two provinces or buy all three.

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Season’s Greetings From Everyone At

Holiday Hours:

Contact Sharon

December 25th Closed • December 26th Closed • January 1st Closed

Email: sharon.komoski@fbcpublishing.com

There will be no paper published on December 25th. Next issue is January 1st 2015.

Early deadline for the January 1st issue is Thursday, December 18th at noon.

Early deadline for the January 8th issue is Tuesday, December 23rd at noon.

Have a Safe Holiday Season & Happy New Year

See you in 2015!

SPECIAL EDITION Manitoba Ag Days Taking place Jan. 20, 21 & 22, 2015 at the Brandon Keystone Centre

The Manitoba Co-operator is presenting a great opportunity for you to feature your business, products or booth at Manitoba Ag Days in the Jan. 8th edition.

The Manitoba Ag Days Show is a winter indoor exposition of agricultural production expertise, technology, and equipment held in Brandon every January. The Show attracts exhibitors and visitors from across Canada and North Central United States and provides an annual opportunity for producers to comparison shop for everything they need for their agricultural operations.

DEADLINE: DEC. 22nd · ISSUE DATE: JAN. 8th Contact your Manitoba Co-operator Sales representative to book your space today!

Terry McGarry Ph: 204-981-3730 Fax: 204-253-0879 Email: trmcgarr@mts.net

SEE YOU AT THE SHOW!

RISKS AND REWARDS OF FALL

GREAT GORP PROJECT Triathlete creates home-grown energy bar » PAGE 44

The pros and cons of applying in dry soil » PAGE 17

OCTOBER 11, 2012

Communications breakdown added to emergency Firefighting made more dangerous without communications

By Lorraine Stevenson CO-OPERATOR STAFF

V

olunteer firefighters racing to reach fire-threatened Vita last week passed hundreds of vehicles headed the other direction and wondered what they were headed into, said veteran firefighter Alain Nadeau.

“I’ve been doing this for 33 years and this was the scariest I’ve seen,” said the weary La Broquerie fire chief on Friday after an exhausting week.

The air was so smoke filled around the southeastern village “we could barely breathe,” he said.

See GRASS FIRES on page 6 »

SERVING MANITOBA FARMERS SINCE 1925 | VOL. 70, NO. 41

GOT SEED?

By Daniel Winters CO-OPERATOR STAFF / MELITA

R

ising corn acres and severe drought in the Midwestern United States may crimp supplies of popular corn seed varieties for the com-

ing year.

“It’s really short,” said Ron Rabe, a Dekalb agronomist, who gave a brief talk on corn production in Manitoba at a recent WADO field tour.

Derek Erb, who farms near Oak Bluff and sells Pioneer Hi-Bred corn

|

$1.75

MANITOBACOOPERATOR.CA

Corn seed might be tight next spring Rising demand and dismal growing conditions in the drought-stricken United States may limit supplies seed, said farmers looking to secure seed for next spring should act quickly to secure their supplies, even if it means placing orders earlier than usual.

Pioneer Hi-Bred’s top varieties, which include D95 and D97, account for roughly half the acres seeded in the province. Erb said that with the harvest and quality testing still underway in some areas, it’s difficult to estimate how much corn seed will be available for next year.

One thing’s for sure, waiting until Ag Days in January to secure supplies will

be too late. “I would pretty much bank on that,” said Erb. Dry conditions throughout the province have seen the corn harvest arriving about a month earlier than usual, and seed orders have started coming in sooner than usual too.

Even with the possibility of a shortage of corn seed, Erb doesn’t expect the price of Pioneer’s supplies to rise much more than it has in recent years.

Rob Park, of RJP Seeds in Carman, who deals in Hyland seed varieties, See CORN SEED on page 6 »

29

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

MORE NEWS loc a l, nationa l a nd internationa l news

CSI forensics used to nab poachers Conservation officers will soon be recognized as law enforcement officers in Manitoba Co-operator Staff

B

Caught deer headed

Less than a month after collecting the samples, eight officers entered a property owned by the suspected poacher, 23-year-old Brendon Peeler.

Some patrolled access routes so no one could enter or exit and another stayed with the suspect. The others searched each building for the missing deer head.

An officer with a video camera panned each space before and after entering a room, to ensure there would be no complaints about property damaged during the search.

They found what they were looking for amongst the outbuildings.

In a garage, between piles of tires, they found two deer heads with tags on them. The eyes, still open, looked fresh.

“You can tell how old and how long ago the deer had been shot by the eyes because the eyes begin to shrink and sink into the head,” said Brouzes. He guessed these had been killed around the time of the crime.

Social media and the rural grapevine useful investigative tools Chasing elk, baiting deer and selling illegal fish are among the infractions Staff

Armed suspect

During the Folk Festival at Birds Hill Park in 2013, a suspect pulled a knife during an attempted robbery. A canine unit and natural resource officers were called out to track the suspect.

Fishery violations

Teulon RCMP called in natural resource officers when a drug bust near Komarno turned up freezers full of fish belonging to a commercial fisherman. The fish had not been properly declared and Riverton natural resource officers seized the fish and charged the individual for fishery violations.

Suspect detained

By the time conservation officer Laury Brouzes found the headless deer, there was just enough DNA left to bag and test. photos: supplied

A Riverton natural resource officer returning from a patrol of Hecla Provincial Park at 3 a.m. noticed a driver inside a vehicle parked on the causeway. The driver was found to be intoxicated, in possession of narcotics and had outstanding interprovincial warrants. The suspect was detained and RCMP were called to assist in the arrest.

Illegal fish sales

A routine commercial fish inspection of restaurants in April 2013 discovered that a particular restaurant advertised pickerel (walleye) on their menu but the restaurant did not have a receipt from either the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation or from a commercial fisher. A total of 486 walleye, or about 900 pounds of fillets, were found on the premises and the owner was fined $1,500. The seized pickerel was forfeited to the Crown and donated to a local charity.

Social media videos lead to charge of chasing wildlife

DNA from one of the two deer heads found in Brendon Peeler’s garage matched with the DNA from the kill site.

A seizing officer took the frozen deer heads and tagged them for the evidence locker. DNA from one of the heads matched the torso of the found deer. On July 8, 2014 Peeler was fined $1,297 for unlawful possession of an illegally taken deer and $673.65 for wasting the edible portion of a deer. He was banned from hunting for two years.

The other head was returned to Peeler because it had been killed during hunting season and could have been obtained legally.

“Of course the guy lied his face off,” said Brouzes, “but once the DNA is matched you’re toast.”

DNA analysis was also used in an investigation involving allegations a hunter had illegally shot a whitetail deer and then entered the buck in two hunting contests. The buck won both contests, but information emerged the deer had actually been shot from a vehicle on a road within Hecla Provincial Park. Officers were able to find the original kill site and collected photographs and samples of deer hair that were sent for DNA analysis.

Those samples were compared to the hide which was located at a local taxidermist and the hunter was charged with possessing illegally taken wildlife, hunting big game in a prohibited area and discharging a loaded firearm from a vehicle. The accused was found guilty and fined a total of $3,418.25 for the offences. meghan.mast@fbcpublishing.com

“Of course the guy lied his face off, but once the DNA is matched, you’re toast.”

Laury Brouzes

SEARCH

Manitoba’s conservation officers could soon have the full authority of peace officers but they have already been called upon to serve in that role. Here are some recent investigations in which they’ve been involved.

By Meghan Mast

y the time provincial conservation officer Laury Brouzes found the once-proud buck all that remained was scattered fur, a pink skeleton, and a furry hooved foot. Coyotes had licked its vertebrae clean.

The day before, someone had tipped authorities off, naming an individual who had shot a deer and only taken the head. It is an offence, under the Wildlife Act to waste any edible portion of a big-game animal, so Brouzes got to work questioning neighbours and gathering statements.

His sleuthing led him to a farmer’s field near St. Amelie, Man. where he tracked the prints to a cluster of bushes where the buck had fallen. Not much was left but the leg was enough DNA material to send to the forensic lab. He got an axe from his truck and salvaged the bottom eight inches of the limb.

“All you need is a small piece of tied meat and the hair,” he said. “Usually they want a piece of two square inches, but you always take more than what you need.”

Conservation officers have used forensic evidence to track poachers for nearly 15 years now. Back in the 1980s, prior to the advent of DNA analysis, officers used blood analysis to determine the type of meat from a chunk of tissue. They would partner these findings with other evidence, like firearm forensics, to make a case.

“On our better cases and in good investigations we’ll have a number of methods you might see on programs like CSI,” said Jack Harrigan, head of enforcement.

“It’s not quite the same though,” he laughs. “It takes longer than an hour to solve. Literally it’s like connecting the dots. Establishing reasonable grounds to lay charges against the offender.”

Though conservation officers act as enforcers, and have since the 1940s, their role has only just been recently clarified. At the end of November the Manitoba government introduced legislation that will formally recognize conservation officers as law enforcement officers.

“The announcement won’t give us new responsibilities as much as it will confirm our existing roles,” said Harrigan. “What it does is strengthen our authority to conduct enforcement.”

Conservation officers in Manitoba have carried firearms since 1998 and enforce all laws related to wildlife and the environment — including wildfires and poaching.

Search Canada’s top agriculture publications… with just a click. Network

Officers successfully tracked down the person responsible for chasing an elk on a dirt bike and videotaping another chase of an elk from a vehicle. Complaints about videos posted on social media dating back to September 2012 led officers to the accused. After a lengthy investigation, the accused pleaded guilty to chasing wildlife with a vehicle, which is a violation under the Wildlife Act, was fined $300 and given a two-year suspension from big-game hunting.

Man charged for baited hunting of deer (November 2013)

Officers came across a man walking away from a hunting stand near a pile of about 75 kgs of oats and corn. Investigation determined the feed had been left to attract deer and the man had been hunting there. He was subsequently charged for hunting near the bait, pleaded guilty and was fined $673.65.

Undercover operation nets conviction for illegal fish sales (December 2013)

An undercover operation led to a conviction and a fine for selling fish illegally. After becoming aware of an individual selling fish in the Netley area near Stony Mountain, natural resource officers posed as customers and purchased approximately 50 pounds of walleye. Monitoring fish harvest and sales is important in setting annual quotas to ensure the total catch does not exceed lake production capacities and threaten the future of the fishery. The offender pleaded guilty to a charge of selling fish to other than the corporation and was fined $1,200.

Manitoba-Ontario joint fish investigation (October 2013)

An Ontario commercial fisher was fined $3,350 after he was charged with a number of offences including failing to comply with the conditions of his commercial fishing licence, obstructing a fisheries inspection and failing to provide information requested by an officer. This type of investigation demonstrates that conservation enforcement agencies co-operate to ensure fish harvests and illegal sales don’t threaten the future of fisheries.

Anyone with information about illegal activities is asked to call their local Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship office or the Turn in Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-782-0076 (toll free).

30

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

Lethbridge horseman founds first equine-training college in Canada Ernie Knibb is financing the $7.5-million project and expects to have the school up and running in late March or early April

By Alexis Kienlen

“There’s a big demand for horse trainers, especially for good certified ones.”

staff

I

Ernie Knibb atop Hot Rod at the Golden Age Heritage Horse show in Claresholm in August 2014. Knibb’s school for horse trainers is slated to open next spring. Photo: supplied

t’s the first of its kind in Canada — and a labour of love for one Lethbridge-area horseman.

Would-be horse trainers are already beating down Ernie Knibb’s door, and he hasn’t even opened the door to the Lethbridge Community Equine College.

The private college, located just outside Lethbridge on Highway 25, will be the first Canadian school to certify horse trainers.

In order to receive government approval, Knibb had to prove that there would be jobs available for program graduates.

Ernie Knibb

“We found 19 different jobs for horse trainers, in one day, in Alberta alone,” he said. “There’s a big demand for horse trainers, especially for good certified ones, who are guaranteed to be trained.”

The electronics engineer and businessman grew up around horses, and following his retirement, was certified in the John Lyons method of horse training. Curious about other meth-

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ods of training, he then worked with other horse trainers and decided to create a facility offering a range of methods.

“The people who will be graduating from our college will see a whole bunch of different methods, instead of one person’s,” said Knibb. “One method may not work for one person or one horse, but a different method might work better. You have more tools in your tool box than just one method.

We’re offering a whole variety of methods so the student can deal with any problem.”

The response from prospective students was immediate — with Knibb receiving more than 200 inquiries following local media reports of the school’s groundbreaking ceremony last month.

It will have the largest riding arena in the province and three two-storey barns. The prebuilt barns, slated to be moved onto the site this month, will house 30 horses and have dormitories for 15 students on the second floor. A classroom and an office building still need to be constructed. Knibb expects the school to be up and running around the end of March or early April.

St u d e n t s w i l l t a k e n i n e courses, and also interact with farriers, saddle fitters, acupuncturists, trick trainers, and problem solvers. Knibb has been in contact with 68 trainers from across Canada and the U.S., who will do short sessions at the school. The curriculum has been approved by equestrian foundations across Canada. About 120 students will be able to take the program each year.

The first part of the course focuses on groundwork, horse maintenance and classroom learning, but the second and third part is all in the saddle.

Students can expect to be on their horses about eight hours a day from Monday to Friday. “ You better be prepared to ride a lot,” said Knibb with a laugh. “Eight hours is a long time in a saddle.”

The $7.5-million project is being solely funded by Knibb, even though he has some manpower help, and support from the City of Lethbridge, Lethbridge County, and Alberta Agriculture.

“Hopefully we get a lot of sponsorships and donations.

There is money being donated to different colleges for different programs, and that’s what I am hoping. But as of right now, I’m the only person behind it.”

More information can be found at www.lethbr idgee quinecollege.com. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

31

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

Standing in dark silhouette atop a small hill overlooking the Red River, there is strong attraction to this tall grey barn for anyone driving along the lower River Road. As tall as it is long, and nearly three times as tall as it is wide, the weather-beaten dairy barn of George Overwater has been a local landmark for many years. Built in 1912, the 65x25-foot structure is given additional vertical feeling with the board-and-batten siding that was once popular throughout North America.

John Overwater Sr. purchased the dairy farm in 1926. Through regular maintenance, the Overwater family has kept a rare example of board-and-batten construction in excellent condition. Featuring a 12-foot-high cement foundation and 30-foot vertical wall boards, the barn housed 14 dairy cows and eight horses in its prime. It survived a 1922 cyclone which levelled many other buildings in the St. Andrews-Lockport area as well as the barn’s source of water when the killer winds destroyed a nearby windmill. Located on Lot 20, Overwater Rd., 12 miles south of Winnipeg, the farm was once in total isolation (except for the occasional barn dance). Today a dozen new homes surround the farm which several years ago ceased as a dairy centre. The peak of the gambrel roof is 65 feet from the ground and covers another of this barn’s unusual attractions — a 2x12 fir rafter system that is pinned entirely by bolts. This gave it the capacity and strength for 100 tons of loose hay and grain bins in the loft for 1,000 bushels of feed grain. Because of the tight board-and-batten construction, which effectively eliminated lower-level drafts, ventilation through the cupolas and gable openings was very important in such barn designs.

Co-operator barn series revival Do you know this barn?

I

f you do, a Manitoba historian wants to hear from you. In early 1981 the Co-operator worked with provincial Manitoba Historic Resources Branch staff to photograph and publish a series on rural buildings in Manitoba. Each week a photo and a story were published about why each of the buildings was rare or unusual.

Now Gordon Goldsborough, webmaster and journal editor with the Manitoba Historical Society (MHS), is looking for Co-operator readers to help him find the GPS co-ordinates for these barns. He has looked for them during road trips in rural Manitoba, but because the site’s location details are scant, he has been unable to find them. He wants to include the buildings, with their GPS co-ordinates on a map of historic sites being prepared for the MHS. This photograph was taken by now-retired Co-operator editor Bob Hainstock who took the photo in the 1980s for the earlier project. Many of the photos were eventually i n c l u d e d i n H a i n s t o c k ’s 1986 book Barns of Western Canada: An Illustrated Century.

We are including the original “caption” that ran with his photo, hoping a reader can answer these questions: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Does the building still stand?

If so, where is it?

What are its GPS co-ordinates?

What other information can you provide on its state of preservation or other details about its history since the original story in the 1980s?

Please send your responses to Gordon Goldsborough at: email: gordon@mhs.mb.ca Telephone: (204) 474-7469 Mail: 2021 Loudoun Rd., Winnipeg, Man. R3S 1A3

HELPING THOSE WHO PROTECT WHAT MATTERS MOST. DuPont Pioneer is happy to help promote safety in rural communities across Canada through our Funding Initiative for Rural Emergencies (F.I.R.E.).

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32

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

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

Headingley hosts sing alleluia And cluck, coo, gobble, bleat and whinny their way Back to the Manger

By Lorraine Stevenson co-operator staff/Headingley, Man.

C

hr istmas lore has it there was no crib for a bed in that manger 2000 years ago — and there certainly was no fuel tank, spare tires, air hoses, and wrenches.

But as members of Headingley United Church discovered recently, retelling the Nativity story in a congregation member’s large machine shop opens up all realms of possibility.

Congregation members Jane and John Van Massenhoven hosted the show in their farm shop. They also contributed their menagerie of chickens, doves, and rabbits, plus a goat, a pony and Tony, a magnificent Narragansett turkey, to stand in for the furred and feathered creatures usually associated with the Christmas story.

The whole idea was to tell this story outside church walls in hopes of attracting people who might not otherwise hear it at church, said John, a hobby farmer and mediation lawyer, vice-chair of the church board — and one of the wise men at the lateNovember performances.

They also wanted to bring live animals on to the set, because animals are such an important part of the original story, he said.

“So many people forget the Nativity story altogether related to Christmas. But I think they also forget the fact that God made a very intentional choice in having Jesus born amongst animals to show that we’re all God’s creatures.”

The machine shop was outfitted with a stage at one end, and furnished with tables and bales for visitors. The Van Massenhoven’s critters were safely housed in their cages or pens near the stage, and the couple’s two sons Blake, 11, and Luke, nine, and other children kept watch over the four-legged members of the cast.

Many churches are looking for new ways and places to tell this story, and this was a perfect setting, said Rev. Joanne Kury, minister of the 60-plusmember congregation and part of the production.

“What it is for me, is bringing the Nativity story home again,” she said. “I think we’ve taken the Nativity story out of the barn for far too long.

We’v e d re s s e d i t u p a n d cleaned it up and put it on Christmas cards and we sing about it, but we don’t often stop and put ourselves back in this place.”

The living Nativity, staged on the first Sunday of Advent, was also a way to revive their

Angelic members of Headingley United Church (l to r) Candy Burke, Sandy Johnston and Cindy Ruth have an intense conversation with ‘Pastor Penny’ played by Margaret Mills during the stagin g of Back to the Manger by the small congregation November 30 in a congregation member’s farm shed. PHOTOS: Lorraine Stevenson

Blake Van Massenhoven, dressed as a wise man, escorts the family’s goat and turkey onto the stage during the performance of Back to the Manger held in the family’s machine shed November 30.

Jane Van Massenhoven welcomes visitors to the staging of Back to the Manger, held inside her family’s machine shop.

Tony the Narragansett turkey owned by Headingley hobby farmers Jane and John Van Massenhoven, struts across the set during Headingley United Church’s staging of a living nativity that included an assortment of farm animals.

church’s dinner theatre company. Headingley has hosted events for 30 years and it’s a part of who it is, says Kury.

It’s also been an important fundraiser for the small congregation and its 100-year-old church located just off the Trans-Canada Highway, and with all the talent available in it for costume and set making and script writing, all agreed this was a wonderful thing to try this year.

The production was also a fundraiser for the congregation. A flood caused about $50,000 damage to their church basement last fall, leaving Headingley United in quite a financial lurch without insurance to cover the repairs.

About 130 visitors came each of both days for fellowship and food served by church members, then they

settled down on bales to listen to the story of Back to the Manger told in script co-written by congregation members Margaret Mills and Glenda Paterson.

Tiny babies bawled in the background as Kury remarked how the story of Jesus’ birth is one about family and community and finding the Divine in a common place. They hope that staging a nativity this way makes the story feel closer to home, she said.

“This was a birth that happened to people who weren’t ready for a baby. They were away from home and away from supports, and the reason they wound up in a barn was because they couldn’t afford anything posher. We forget that.” lorraine@fbcpublishing.com

Signage directs visitors to the farmyard of John and Jane Van Massenhoven who were hosting Back to the Manger in their machine shed on the first Sunday of Advent.

Dan Schmidt of Winnipeg with 16-months-old Sadie at his side listens intently to the story of Back to the Manger.

Front row seats for all attending the Back to the Manger living nativity staged

by Headingley United Church.

33

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

COUNTRY CROSSROADS

RecipeSwap

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

Smaller meat cuts for smaller families A stuffed turkey breast is a way to enjoy a Christmas food tradition if a whole bird is too much for your smaller brood Lorraine Stevenson CROSSROADS RECIPE SWAP

I

f you have a big extended family squeezed around the dining table next week, you’re blessed.

The large, blood-relative family event seems to be going the way of the grandfather clock.

Many extended families don’t gather as they once did at Christmas.

Part of the reason is family members live farther apart nowadays. They can be outside the country, or otherwise so far away travel becomes prohibitive. Busier lives and conflicting schedules, priorities and obligations often make getting together tricky or downright impossible.

Households are smaller too. Slightly more Canadian couples now have no children compared with those that do, according to the 2011 Census of Population. There are more lone-parent families, and many single-person households today.

Christmas dinner with the relatives ceases in many families for another reason — the female relative with the time, energy and skill to make it happen declaring she’s had enough. If no one else is bossy and

organized enough to take over, the tradition ceases. Then we all just stay home and “cocoon” in our smaller family unit.

The long and short of it is Christmas dinner is a quieter, smallergroup affair for more of us than it used to be.

What does that mean for food traditions? For one, the hefty traditional Christmas pudding isn’t so popular anymore. Smaller gatherings can’t finish one.

What about a whole turkey? If fewer dads wear mom’s apron and carve for big broods, are Canadians switching their meat preference too?

No, says Wendy Harrisko, marketing and communication co-ordinator for Manitoba Turkey Producers. Whole birds remain popular and sales are strong this time of year. But her organization is paying attention to this trend toward smaller gatherings. That’s why it now promotes recipes for smaller cuts, such as the breast only.

“The whole turkey is still popular,” she says, “but we do know that family dynamics have changed, and recognize smaller gatherings aren’t necessarily going to eat whole birds.”

I wish you a wonderful Christmas spent with family and friends, no matter how lavish or intimate your holiday gathering is. Here are two stuffed turkey breast recipes, compliments of Chef Jason Wortzman and Granny’s Poultry (Manitoba) Cooperative Ltd.

Turkey Breast Stuffed with Brie and Cranberry Granny’s Seasoned, Boneless Turkey Breast, thawed 3 oz. brie, chopped 1/2 c. dried cranberries 1/4 c. slivered almonds 1/8 c. green onion, chopped 1/8 c. egg white

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

Rustic Italian Stuffed Turkey Breast 1 whole Granny’s seasoned boneless turkey breast, thawed 1 tbsp. olive oil 1/4 c. Pancetta or bacon, diced 1 tbsp. butter 1/2 c. fennel, diced 1/4 c. green onion, diced 1 tbsp. garlic, finely chopped 1/2 c. homemade or low-sodium chicken stock 2 c. crusty Italian bread, cubed 3 tbsp. fresh Parmesan cheese, grated 1/4 tsp. sea salt Black pepper to taste 1/4 c. homemade or low-sodium chicken stock (only required for slow cooker method)

Sauté bacon in oil until just crisp. Add butter, fennel, onion and garlic and cook until lightly browned. Add stock and then transfer to a mixing bowl. Add bread cubes, parmesan, salt and pepper and mix until stock is absorbed. Make a cut in the top of the turkey breast from one end to the other, not cutting all of the way through.

Create a large pocket in the turkey breast by cutting a slit further on each side. Place the stuffing mixture into the pocket.

Oven Method: Preheat oven to 350 F. Place the breast on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Cover the stuffing area with a greased piece of foil. Bake for 40 minutes, remove foil and continue baking for another 20 minutes or until it reaches a minimum internal temperature of 170 F. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.

Preheat oven to 375 F. Combine brie, cranberries, almonds, onion and egg white in a bowl. Cut a large pocket in turkey breast.

Stuff the brie and cranberry mixture into the pocket. Place the breast on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover the stuffing area with a greased piece of foil. Bake for approximately 45 minutes until meat reaches a minimum internal temperature of 170 C. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.

Serves 4 to 5.

Preparation time: 5 minutes.

Cooking time: 45 minutes.

Recipe Swap If you have a recipe or a column suggestion please write to: Manitoba Co-operator Recipe Swap, Box 1794, Carman, Manitoba R0G 0J0 or email Lorraine Stevenson at: lorraine@fbcpublishing.com

Slow Cooker Method: Place the breast in a slow cooker and add 1/4 cup of stock beside the breast. Cook on low setting for a minimum of 4-1/2 hours.

Recipe courtesy of Chef Jason Wortzman, Granny’s Poultry Cooperative (Manitoba) Ltd. Serves 4 to 6.

CORRECTION: The recipe for Magic Squares published in last week’s Swap should be cut into 36 squares, not 54.

34

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

COUNTRY CROSSROADS

Beta Sigma Phi beneficial to community Christmas Craft Mart turns back $50,000 to date

By Darrell Nesbitt Freelance contributor

P

roviding an opportunity for women to come together who laugh easily, share well with others, and aren’t afraid to eat dessert, the organization known as Beta Sigma Phi plays an important role in the community of Shoal Lake.

Chartered in 1981 with 12 members (that number presently stands at 18), the mission of the organization is to unite women of the community for the purposes of friendship and cultural development.

Since the fall of 1982, Beta Sigma Phi has hosted a Christmas Craft Mart as a fundraiser for the group, and more so for the community, even though they’re not considered a service group. Longtime member Barb Pettinger said the group normally has about $2,000 to donate to community improvements each year, and over time has turned back close to $50,000.

Originally held in the basement of the Buffalo Plains Inn (now known as the Shoal Lake Motor Inn), the craft mart later moved to the Ukrainian Hall and has been held at the Shoal Lake Community Hall since 1990.

“On average we have 45 to 50 exhibitors, hailing from parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and an average of 500 to 600 people passing through the door,” said Pettinger. It was no different at the 33rd annual craft mart held last month.

Various organizations have benefited from Beta Sigma Phi including the fire department, which is hired to help with setup, parking and cleanup.

Other organizations that have been assisted are related to health, seniors and children of the community, history, recycling, and those in need. Two bursaries are also provided annually.

“Several organizations have provided the lunch at the craft mart over the years, however, lately it has been Prairie Mountain Regional Museum, which in turn is a very good fundraiser for them,” said Pettinger. “There is normally a lineup for a hearty bowl of homemade soup, as workers can attest.”

The craft mart is just one means of giving back to

Mabel Ramsay (l) of Brandon was one of 50 exhibitors to display a wide range of crafts. PHOTO: DARRELL NESBITT

the community. The group also does Meals on Wheels one month per year, has hosted the dinner theatre for 10 years, and now provides appetizers to the Ducks Unlimited banquet.

Executive for 2014-15 are president — Pat Clark, vicepresident — Rheanne McMullan, secretary — Diane Malchuk, and treasurer — Elsie Dereniwski.

The group meets every two weeks for a total of 18

meetings from September to the end of May. Venues include homes, former council chambers, and at times, supper meetings within restaurants.

With friendship being pinpointed as the best part of being involved with Beta Sigma Phi, there is always room for additional members.

Darrell Nesbitt writes from Shoal Lake, Manitoba

Welcome guests to your home A festive arrangement beside the front entrance will invite them in

By Albert Parsons Freelance contributor

I

t’s nice to have an item or two of interest near the front entrance made of natural materials to welcome visitors to our homes during the festive season, and to say, “A gardener lives here.” One idea is to create an arrangement of evergreen boughs, twigs, cones, and berries in a substantial container to set beside the front entrance or at the base of the steps leading up to the front door.

Select a heavy container as it must be able to withstand our notorious winter winds. If the container is too light, place some rocks or bricks in it and perhaps even tie it down securely with wire. If you don’t have a suitably attractive container, consider using a large pail or nursery pot and simply covering it with burlap.

Using an oasis to hold the boughs in place is usually not necessary as they are heavy enough to stay in the container and will help anchor each other. You can sometimes obtain enough branches from your shelterbelt or from the wild, but such greenery is also available at garden centres at this time of year. I usually get my boughs from our town’s community composting site in late fall and store them outdoors in the shade until I need them.

Try to get evergreen branches that have cones on them to provide more interest, or you may have cones in storage that can be used.

Try to get evergreen branches that have cones on them to provide more interest, or you may have cones in storage that can be used. Fasten them to the branches with wire or twist-ties. Twigs and branches of deciduous trees and shrubs can be used as well, and could be painted.

This fall I was fortunate enough to find some willows that were bright red in a nearby ditch. They have added some great natural colour to the arrangement without my having to paint them.

Besides the evergreen and deciduous boughs, you will want some vivid colour to serve as an accent in your arrangement. I have tried – with limited success – to keep mountain ash berries in the refrigerator to use for this purpose. You might have some mini-pumpkins or decorative gourds left over from your autumn displays. Paint a few

A festive arrangement will provide a welcoming feeling for guests. PHOTOS: ALBERT PARSONS

of them red and/or white and fasten them into the arrangement after impaling them on sturdy sticks.

They will freeze, but unless the temperature warms up to above freezing for a few days, they will remain frozen and solid and will not get soft.

Perhaps some cranberries are still hanging on your bushes, but they will probably be in tough shape. So, like me, you might cheat a little and

use some artificial material to add colour, such as a big red bow or a few artificial berries. Remember, before long your arrangement will likely get an attractive dusting of snow from Mother Nature as she endeavours to make your natural festive arrangement even more beautiful. Enjoy the holidays!

Albert Parsons writes from Minnedosa, Manitoba

35

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

COUNTRY CROSSROADS

Food safety tips

Keep these tips in mind as you celebrate the holidays HEALTH CANADA RELEASE

F

ood is an important part of many celebrations. However, many of the foods found at holiday parties, such as baked goods, eggnog, cider, seafood and turkey, can carry viruses, bacteria or parasites that could cause foodborne illness. Health Canada would like to remind all Canadians of some basic steps they can take to help reduce the risk of foodborne illness during the holiday season.

• Baked goods: Holiday cookies and squares are a special treat, but uncooked cookie dough, batters or frostings made with raw eggs can contain salmonella bacteria. Always make sure your baked goods are cooked thoroughly and never lick the spoon or eat raw cookie dough when baking with eggs.

• Eggnog: Store-bought eggnog is pasteurized to remove any dangerous bacteria. If you’re making eggnog at home using raw eggs, be sure to heat the egg and milk mixture to at least 71 C (160 F). Immediately after heating, refr igerate the eggnog in small, shallow containers to allow it to cool quickly. Or, use pasteurized egg and milk ingredients, which are available at many grocery stores.

• Fruit juice and cider: When making punch or ser ving cider, check the product label to make sure the juice or cider has been pasteurized.

Unpasteur ized juice may contain bacteria like E. coli or salmonella that may cause serious illness, especially in children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. If it has not been pasteurized, you can make it safer by boiling the product before serving.

• Oysters and seafood: Some people enjoy eating raw seafood, such as oysters and sushi, during their holiday festivities. However, raw or undercooked fish and seafood may contain bacteria, parasites or viruses, so special care is needed in their preparation and handling.

Keep seafood like raw oysters or cold cooked shrimp rings refrigerated and serve them on ice to ensure they remain cold at holiday buffets. People who are more vulnerable to the risks of foodborne illness, such as older adults, pregnant women, young children and people with weakened immune systems, should avoid eating raw or undercooked fish and seafood.

• Holiday buffets: If you are serving buffet-style food, use

warming trays, chafing dishes or slow cookers to keep hot foods hot, and put serving trays on crushed ice to keep cold foods cold. Don’t let food remain at room temperature for more than two hours or add new food to serving dishes already in use. Instead, use a clean platter or serving dish each time you restock the buffet.

• Turkey and stuffing: If cooking a turkey for a holiday meal, use a digital food thermometer to make sure it is cooked properly. The temperature of the thickest part of the breast or thigh should be at least 85 C (185 F). To prevent potential cross-contamination, cook stuffing separately in its own oven dish or on the stovetop. If you do stuff your turkey, stuff loosely just prior to roasting, and remove all stuffing immediately after cooking. Cook stuffing to a minimum internal temperature of 74 C (165 F), and refrigerate within two hours of cooking.

It’s estimated that there are approximately 11 million cases of food-related illnesses in Canada every year. Many of these illnesses could be prevented by following proper food-handling and preparation techniques.

A Christmas welcome

By Blythe Kneeshaw FREELANCE CONTRIBUTOR

F

or Chr istmas my family and I constructed a trellised archway to decorate the entrance to our house. The whole structure was made out of weathered, grey boards from an old cattle chute. For the roof, all angles were cut at 45 degrees, which makes fitting easier than dealing with several different angles.

The curved trim board was cut from a 1x6 at 45-degree angles and then the curve was cut into the board.

The sides were made high enough for our tall relatives to walk easily through. Since the struc-

PHOTO: CINDY MURRAY

Thoughts on Christmas

By Addy Oberlin FREELANCE CONTRIBUTOR

T

he snow is falling. It makes everything outside look very pure and unblemished. The wind dies down and the branches on the spruce tree are covered with the sparkling white snow. It looks solemn and serene.

When I go to the stores there is a busyness that is in stark contrast with the serenity of my backyard.

Carols are playing, decorations and lights are welcoming to buy and buy some more. The atmosphere is crowded and noisy.

What was it like the first Christmas, when Joseph and Mary came into Bethlehem and there was only a barn left for them to stay? A precious baby was born in the stillness of the night. Shepherds who were watching their flocks that night learned that a Saviour was born and they went to see this baby.

When we gather this Christmas let us thank God for sending His Son Jesus to be our Saviour forever.

Wishing you all a blessed Christmas.

Addy Oberlin writes from Swan River, Manitoba

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

ture looked pretty top heavy we made fence sections to flank it.

In winter, snowpack covered the 2x4s that run across the bottom to hold the sides parallel. For summer we placed the trellis at the opening through our bush to a path that leads to the field.

Since there was no snowpack to make a level path over the 2x4s that were across the bottom of the trellis we made a boardwalk through the structure so we would not trip.

We have solar lights on the trellis during summer, but for Christmas we have a quaint twinkly entrance to our home to welcome family and friends.

Blythe Kneeshaw writes from Carberry, Manitoba

A Happy Christmas to all from Country Crossroads

The trellis is moved up to the house and decorated to provide a Christmas welcome. PHOTOS: BLYTHE KNEESHAW

If you have any stories, ideas, photos or a comment on what you’d like to see on these pages, send it to Country Crossroads, 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, Man. R3H 0H1, phone 1-800-782-0794, fax 204-944-5562, email susan@ fbcpublishing.com. I’d love to hear from you.

Please remember we can no longer return material, articles, poems or pictures.

— Sue In summer the trellis leads to the field.

36

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 18, 2014

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