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LIFE LESSONS

CHECKING OUT CHECKOFFS

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V o l u m e 1 1 , n u m b e r 2 6 D e c e m b e r 2 2 , 2 0 1 4

Study says healthy cattle can manage taxing transport

furry festive friends

Researchers find wellconditioned cattle bear up well during transport

By Jennifer Blair af staff

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prominent animal welfare group calls it “transport torture,” but a new study has found conditions inside livestock trailers don’t normally have a significant impact on animal health.

The Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada study looked at trailer microclimates during cattle transport.

“We thought they might have an impact on the health and morbidity rates once they got put in place at the feedlot,” said Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein, a senior researcher at the Lethbridge Research Station. “(But) no matter what the microclimate was inside the trailer — whether it was hotter than outside or colder than outside — those factors did not seem to affect the morbidity of the calves.”

That runs counter to charges levelled by Mercy for Animals, which has garnered 100,000 signatures since October on an online petition calling on Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz to overhaul “Canada’s woefully lacking transport regulations.”

The group launched the petition in the wake of an undercover video that showed sick and injured hogs

see CATTLE } page 6

Two Australian shepherds greet visitors as part of the Christmas decorations on Burro Alley Ranch, near Millarville, Alta. Photo: Wendy Dudley

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Is this the one? Latest BIXS revamp aims to boost bottom line

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CCA is partnering with an IT company with the goal of creating a calf-to-carcass system that will benefit everyone in the beef chain

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By Alexis Kienlen af staff

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IXS is getting another overhaul — but this revamp could make the beef database a lot more attractive to cattle producers.

The Beef InfoXchange System has struggled since its creation four years ago to attract producers, but the company taking it over says it will be expanded and

enhanced to bring in all players — from ranch to packing plant — into the fold.

“If we can’t bring everyone in, then it’s really hard to make it succeed,” Hubert Lau, executive vice-president of ViewTrak Technologies, said in an interview.

“When you have all that data flowing through, it’s extremely powerful. If we are missing some, then of course, it’s not going to be as effective. I really believe that there is an underlying desire in

the whole industry to see something like BIXS succeed.”

Part of the cool response to BIXS from cattle producers — fewer than 1,000 have signed on — is because they only receive raw carcass data once their cattle are slaughtered and graded.

Having data from along the chain can make a big difference, said feedlot operator Leighton Kolk, who has partnered with four producers to develop a software system that tracks cat-

tle from arrival at the feedlot to processing.

“With a complete database system, the producer will learn more about his or her production, genetics, cows, and calves,” said the operator of Kolk Farms feedlot northeast of Picture Butte.

“He’ll be able to learn about his production and if he is willing to change, he will be able to benefit from improving his efficiency,

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news » inside this week

inside » NYET NYET SOVIET Free market better than ‘command-and-control’ rail regulation, says expert

DECEMBER 22, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

livestock

crops

WINTER WONDER FOOD

STANDING TALL

columNists Laura Rance CWB sale is a sideshow

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brenda schoepp The true Christmas gifts

SEEDS OF DESTRUCTION? GM alfalfa would be a ‘devastating blow,’ says forage official

Canada can start to play catch-up in Korea

By Alex Binkley af contributor

Parliamentarians have given farm and food industry groups a fond Christmas wish with quick ratification of a free trade deal with South Korea so improved access to the Asian powerhouse can start in January.

While Ottawa dithered over the potential impact the deal would have on automakers in Canada, the U.S. reached a trade deal with Korea in 2011 that took effect in 2012. Canadian shipments of meat and other products to Korea have dropped as American exporters took advantage of lower tariffs to increase sales.

“Canadian exports of beef and veal tumbled from $234 million in 2011 to $84 million in 2013 as our competitors gained preferential access to Korea,” said Jim Laws, executive director of the Canadian Meat Council.

The trade deal will allow Canadian beef and pork sectors to win back some of that lost market share, he said.

Korea imports more than $2 billion worth of beef and pork annually, making it “highly coveted by all of the globe’s major meat-exporting nations,” said Laws.

Without a trade deal, meat shipments face tariffs up to 40 per cent. With an agreement, the tariffs are reduced progressively to zero.

Making the deal effective on Jan. 1 “will allow the benefits of this trade agreement to be felt quickly across Canada’s agri-food sector,” said Magrath grain farmer Gary Stanford, president of the Grain Growers of Canada.

The Jan. 1 implementation was critical to the beef industry because it prevents the U.S. from gaining another year’s tariff reduction ahead of Canada, said Camrose rancher Dave Solverson, president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.

The deal is also important because it expands the market for offal and other lower-value parts of the beef carcass.

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Doug Wray Silage corn is perfect cow chow in winter

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Capturing snow with stubble a yield booster

Forage group here for the long haul

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Death of bison industry leader leaves ‘huge void’ in Canada’s bison industry The death of Bison Producers of Alberta chair Thomas Ackermann in a tragic farm accident is being felt across Canada’s entire bison industry

By Jennifer Blair af staff

T

homas Ackermann had a way of making people feel like they mattered to him. With a single smile and a warm greeting, he drew you in, and his enthusiasm kept you talking far longer than you ever expected.

To him, you were important, someone who mattered, no matter who you were.

And he made everyone feel that way, said Linda Sautner, his friend and colleague at Bison Producers of Alberta.

Once, Sautner mentioned the phenomenon to Ackermann’s wife, Keri. “She kind of smiled and said, ‘You know, I’ve heard that a lot,’” said Sautner.

“The word genuine really fit Thomas. He was one of the few people I’ve known in my lifetime who was just a very good person through and through.”

On Nov. 27, Ackermann died when the tractor he was driving rolled on an icy rural road, pinning him underneath. He was 46.

His death leaves a “huge void” in Canada’s bison industry, said Sautner.

“He’s going to be very hard to replace,” she said. “He’s going to leave a large gap in the bison industry that really can’t be filled by any one person.”

Born in Switzerland, Ackermann first came to Canada as an agriculture exchange student. It was then that he fell in love — with the country itself, with the bison he saw, and with Keri. Following their marriage, the couple lived in Switzerland for a decade before coming back to the land that captured his imagination all those years before.

“When he came back here, he knew where he wanted to settle and he knew what it was he wanted to do,” said Sautner.

“Farming and raising bison was definitely his lifelong dream.”

That dream became a reality

Bison producer Thomas Ackermann is being mourned by his many friends following his untimely death last month. Photo: Supplied when Ackermann began working with Armin Mueller of Canadian Rangeland Bison and Elk, acting as his marketing manager before eventually becoming partners in the business.

“He was a brilliant businessman. His wife felt that his brain was wasted on farming,” Sautner said with a laugh.

“He’s going to leave a large gap in the bison industry that really can’t be filled by any one person.”

Linda Sautner

“Those of us who were connected with him in the industry really felt very strongly that we were the blessed ones for having that brain in our industry.”

Ackermann became chair of Bison Producers of Alberta four years ago, and right away, he was “very interactive.”

“He took a very concerned interest in what we were doing here and how we could be doing it better,” said Sautner, adding that last year he initiated projects with the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency to grow Alberta’s bison industry.

“His focus was always about making the bison industry better. He was just very, very passionate about it.”

But the one thing that stands out for Sautner is how well liked Ackermann was. Bison is a “very, very competitive industry,” she said, and a lot of producers “have their own way of doing things.”

“It’s not uncommon to hear a criticism of someone else’s way of doing things,” she said.

“But never once, in all of the time I’ve known of Thomas, have I heard a word like that about him. I’ve never heard a negative word or a criticism of him.

“He was just a really passion-

ate person who gave his all for our industry.”

But for as much as he loved bison, he loved his family — Keri and daughters Mikeala, Kiria, and Jenna — more.

“His biggest focus was on his family. He loved his daughters and his wife immensely.”

Sautner recalled a tour that the Bison Producers put on last year at Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump. Most everyone, she said, arrived the night before and spent the evening chatting around a campfire — but not Ackermann. He arrived the day of the tour and left soon after, darting home for a 4-H commitment.

“He had a very high sense of responsibility, but his priority was his family, and we all really respected him for that,” said Sautner.

A trust fund for his daughters has been established at Alberta Treasury Branch — called the Princess Club Trust Fund, in honour of his pet name for his daughters. jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • DECEMBER 22, 2014

FOLLOWING THE MONEY: Farm leaders say it’s well spent Saskatchewan and Manitoba aiming to keep admin costs below 15 per cent of spending — but their Alberta counterparts aren’t sure it can be done

By Jennifer Blair af staff

D

o Alberta’s wheat and barley commissions have a spending problem?

The chair of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission suggested as much when he took a shot at GrainsWest, a magazine published quarterly by the Alberta Barley Commission and Alberta Wheat Commission.

“You’ll not see us putting out a great big glossy magazine,” Bill Gehl said at a seed growers’ meeting in Manitoba last month.

Gehl later softened his remarks, saying that he wished his “glossy magazine” comment had been more diplomatic.

But both his organization and its Manitoba counterpart have set significantly lower limits on the percentage of checkoff dollars that can be spent on administration and related costs.

For the Saskatchewan wheat commission, that’s no more than 15 per cent, while the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association is targeting 10 per cent.

Those numbers are higher in Alberta — around 20 per cent for both the province’s wheat and barley commissions. But officials say it’s money well spent.

“It costs money to run a commission and move markets forward,” said Matt Sawyer, Alberta Barley’s outgoing chair. “Each commission can manage it however they want.”

While funding research is a priority, so is advocacy and extension work — both of which count as administration costs, said the Acme-area producer.

“All of these things are a key component to a good commission,” he said. “There’s a lot more to running a provincial commission than just research and market development.”

And that type of work requires manpower, said Kent Erickson, chair of Alberta Wheat.

“Each organization is going to have to decide how many different initiatives and different programs they’re going to lead, and to be leaders in a program, you need to have people running your program,” he said.

By the numbers

The barley commission’s 201314 annual report lists revenues of $4.2 million — including $2.6 million from checkoffs, $646,000 for administering the western Canadian checkoff program, and $761,000 in federal AgriInnovation Program funding.

Salaries, benefits, and contractors was its largest commission-related expense ($764,000) with general and administrative costs ($462,000), research expenses ($396,000), marketing and events ($250,000), communication/government relations ($236,000), and market development expenses ($194,000) among the major expenses.

The wheat commission had a budget of $5.8 million in its 201314 fiscal year (ending July 31), most of it funded by a 70-centper-tonne checkoff.

BARLEY & GRAIN COMMISSION by the numbers 

Barley CommisSion 2013-14 revenues

overall:

4.2 MILLION

$

}

Which includes…

$2.6 MILLION From Checkoffs $646,000 Administering

Western Canadian Deduction Program

$761,000 In federal AgriInnovation Program funding

Numbers taken from the Barley/Wheat Commissions’ 2013-14 Annual Reports



EXPENSES Salaries, benefits, contractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . $764,000 General admin costs. . . . . $462,000 Research expenses. . . . . . . $396,000 Marketing & events. . . . . . . $250,000 Communications/ government relations. . . . . $236,000 Market development. . . . . . $194,000

revenues

overall:

5.8 MILLION

$

2013-14 FISCAL YEAR ENDING JULY 31

}

A significant portion of that money went to research ($1 million), followed by market development ($813,000), salaries/benefits ($539,000), communication expenses ($296,000), meetings ($170,000), and general/administrative expenses ($162,000).

GrainsWest cost $246,000 and brought in $40,000 combined for the two commissions.

Spending priorities

When the wheat commission was formed, its 11-member board and 15 regional reps debated how the checkoff money should be divided, said Erickson, who farms near Irma.

“We decided that, with our budget, we’re going to put 40 per cent to research and development, 20 per cent to market development, 20 per cent maximum to administration, and 20 per cent to other initiatives, like policy and communication,” he said.

The organization has struggled to “hit that 20 per cent (for administration) without having a skeleton crew,” he said.

While the goal is to deliver programs “as effectively and efficiently as possible,” staff are needed to run them, added Tom Steve, general manager at Alberta Wheat.

“When we are getting into different areas including extension programs, market development, and research, we do have to have good people in place,” he said.

EXPENSES Research. . . . . . . . . . . . . $1 MILLION

Mostly funded by a

Market development. . . . . . $813,000

70¢/TONNE CHECKOFF

Salaries/benefits. . . . . . . . $539,000 Communication expenses. $296,000

(for both commissions)

EXPENSE: $246,000

Meetings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $170,000 General admin expenses. . . $162,000

Finding efficiencies

Partnering with other organizations is critical to providing highquality services at a reasonable cost, said Erickson.

“With things like Cereals Canada being involved strongly in international market development, we’re able to put program funding into those types of avenues and let them manage the administration side of it,” he said. “There are some efficiencies there.”

Each commission needs to “partner where it makes sense in order to get a better bang for our farmers’ dollars,” said Lisa Skierka, general manager at Alberta Barley.

“In order to be seen spending it wisely, you look for partnerships, and I think that’s what all of those groups are going to do,” she said.

“They’re going to establish their own partnerships, whether it’s on research or market development or other priority areas, and through that be able to reach those targets.”

“Not only do we share administrative costs, financial services, and office space, we also share similar interests,” added Steve.

“A lot of the farmers that we deal with grow wheat and barley, so farmers themselves have a common interest in the goals of the commissions.”

Filling ‘a gap’

GRAINSWEST: REVENUE: $40,000



WHEAT CommisSion 2013-14

GrainsWest was one of the first major collaborations between Alberta Barley and Alberta Wheat.

Launched in early 2014, the magazine fills “a gap,” said Skierka.

“The idea of GrainsWest is that we are providing a different kind of value to farmers in Alberta in a way that we used to provide through our newsletter — but working with the Alberta Wheat Commission using fewer dollars and being able to create a publication that has value in itself,” she said.

The 52-page fall edition of the magazine (which is printed on high-quality glossy stock and is also available digitally at www. grainswest.com) has features on Port Metro Vancouver, a malting elevator manager, and custom combiner; news articles on topics such as harvest sampling, production, and marketing; and columns, including ones by Steve and Skierka.

The magazine is part of “a finetuned communications program,” said Sawyer.

“The costs are going down all the time,” he said. “Our advertising revenue is up to $43,000, with the ultimate goal of it being completely self-sufficient.”

Hoping to partner

And feedback on the magazine has been “nothing but positive,” said Erickson.

“The big glossy magazine, maybe that’s not in their priorities right now, but… as a producer, I like to find avenues for getting information and for getting timely information,” he said.

“Each organization is going to have to decide how many different initiatives and different programs they’re going to lead, and to be leaders in a program, you need to have people running your program.”

Kent Erickson

Neither his organization nor the wheat commission were offended by Gehl’s comments about the magazine, said Sawyer.

“We just look forward to the opportunity to work with these commissions down the road and see what they’ve been doing,” said Sawyer.

The goal is to “collaborate with these groups where it makes sense on all fronts,” added Skierka.

“We don’t have to do everything together,” she said. “Where it makes sense, we’re open to and want to work with people.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

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DECEMBER 22, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

EDITOR Glenn Cheater Phone: 780-919-2320 Email: glenn.cheater@fbcpublishing.com twitter: @glenncheater

Who owns the CWB is just a side issue

Reporters Alexis Kienlen, Edmonton 780-668-3121 Email: akienlen@fbcpublishing.com Jennifer Blair, Red Deer 403-613-7573 Email: jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

PRODUCTION director Shawna Gibson Email: shawna@fbcpublishing.com

Who winds up running another little grain company isn’t important — it’s about the ability to sell Canadian grain in an increasingly competitive world

Director of Sales & Circulation Lynda Tityk Email: lynda.tityk@fbcpublishing.com

CIRCULATION manager Heather Anderson Email: heather@fbcpublishing.com

national ADVERTISING SALES James Shaw Phone: 416-231-1812 Fax: 416-233-4858 Email: jamesshaw@rogers.com

ADVERTISING sales Crystal McPeak Phone: 403-646-6211 or 403-360-3210 Email: crystal@fbcpublishing.com

classified ADVERTISING SALES Sharon Komoski Phone: 1-888-413-3325 Fax: 204-944-5562 Email: sharon.komoski@fbcpublishing.com

ADVERTISING Co-ordinator Arlene Bomback Phone: 204-944-5765 Fax: 204-944-5562 Email: ads@fbcpublishing.com

PUBLISHER Lynda Tityk Email: lynda.tityk@fbcpublishing.com

Associate PUBLISHER/ editorial director John Morriss Email: john.morriss@fbcpublishing.com

president Bob Willcox Glacier FarmMedia bwillcox@farmmedia.com 204-944-5751

The Alberta Farmer Express is published 26 times a year by Farm Business Communications.

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Publications mail agreement number 40069240 Canadian Postmaster: Send address changes and undeliverable addresses (covers only) to Circulation Dept., P.O. Box 9800, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3K7

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or U.S. subscribers call 1-204-944-5568 For more information on The Alberta Farmer Express and subscriptions to other Farm Business Communications products, or visit our web site at:

www.albertafarmexpress.ca or email: subscription@fbcpublishing.com At Farm Business Communications we have a firm commitment to protecting your privacy and security as our customer. Farm Business Communications will only collect personal information if it is required for the proper functioning of our business. As part of our commitment to enhance customer service, we may share this personal information with other strategic business partners. For more information regarding our Customer Information Privacy Policy, write to: Information Protection Officer, Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Ave., Wpg., MB R3H 0H1 Occasionally we make our list of subscribers available to other reputable firms whose products and services might be of interest to you. If you would prefer not to receive such offers, please contact us at the address in the preceding paragraph, or call 1-800-665-0502.

The editors and journalists who write, contribute and provide opinions to Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications attempt to provide accurate and useful opinions, information and analysis. However, the editors, journalists and Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications, cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and the editors as well as Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications assume no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any reader for this publication based on any and all information provided.

By Laura Rance

Manitoba Co-operator editor

T

here has been quite the media hullabaloo lately over rumours a large multinational based in the U.S. might be closing in on a deal with CWB, the much abbreviated version of the former Canadian Wheat Board.

Whether this rumoured deal is a partnership or acquisition depends on who’s talking, but in reality, it doesn’t much matter.

If you are a farmer trying to sell grain produced on the Canadian Prairies, what’s more important: Having another globally competitive company — and we might add a major processor/customer — vying for your grain? Or another undercapitalized player waving the Canadian flag?

Partnering with a major processor interested in tapping into the Canadian brand creates some interesting opportunities for wheat farmers, including the potential for a direct route into value-added premiums.

The problem with the recent FNA bid to buy CWB outright, a proposal apparently rejected, was that there was a small likelihood a company financed primarily by farmer shareholders could succeed on its own over the long term.

Likewise for the NFU’s appeal to the Prairie provincial governments to buy the company. They have no interest in being in the grain business, even temporarily. The only capacity in which governments belong in the grain business is regulatory.

If farmers — including FNA members — are truly interested in maintaining CWB as a Canadian institution, they can be investing in that notion right now at the rate of $5 for every tonne they deliver.

Our hunch is that farmer activity in that department has been on the dark side of anemic.

While there is no doubt political mileage to be gained from the optics around “giving away” assets, the value of the previous Canadian Wheat Board to Prairie farmers wasn’t in its hard assets.

The building in downtown Winnipeg, Mission Terminals, two lakers, rail cars and grain terminals under construction are indeed assets and they no doubt have value, but they are also leveraged.

Any buyer will take on a lot of debt.

The real value of the CWB was in its single desk and the role the former board played in grain transportation and logistics.

Those assets, albeit intangible and difficult to measure, weren’t given away, they were taken away through legislation.

And truth be told, most farmers see more value in their new freedom to manage their grain assets the way they see fit than they did in the single desk and price pooling.

The problem is that the value is so far only theoretical. Other companies may have been able to take on the board’s role as marketer, but nothing has taken over its other role in co-ordinating and disciplining deliveries into the supply chain.

For example, it is unlikely that basis levels would have been as wide as they were last winter under the previous marketing regime because the board’s contract system only allowed farmers to deliver as elevator space became available. Under the open market, farmers can — theoretically — sell their whole crop all at once, but when enough try, the result is a wider basis and a lower price at the elevator.

As farmers know, last year that basis got extremely wide.

A coalition of Saskatchewan commodity groups recently published an analysis putting the cost of last year’s transportation system meltdown at $3.1 billion, with potential for another $2 billion for the current shipping year. (See story on page 20.)

The coalition presented a series of recommendations to the Canadian Transportation Agency review panel built around four principles fundamental to a properly functioning system: Fostering more competition, market transparency, positioning the system for growth, and better representation for producers’ interests.

These are the core issues that deserve farmers’ attention, not who winds up running another little grain company.

If Prairie farmers want to get their knickers in a knot over a headline, it should be the likes of this one: “Landlocked Central Asia gets shorter railway link to Persian Gulf,” on a Reuters story about three countries co-operating on a brand-spanking-new 925-kilometre stretch of railway, linking the landlocked post-Soviet region and the countries lying along the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. (See story on page 20.)

Marketing freedom is meaningless without market information and access. Likewise for trade deals if you can’t deliver the goods. Our competitors in the former Soviet Union have that figured out.

Canada is in danger of literally missing the boat. laura@fbcpublishing.com

It’s livestock producers’ turn It looks like livestock producers will have several years of strong returns — but will they be able to reverse declining per capita meat consumption?

By Chris Hurt

I

n 2007, meat consumption per person in the U.S. was 219 pounds for the big four of beef, pork, chicken, and turkey.

C u r r e n t U S DA e s t i m a t e s 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 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 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 multiple-year 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.

Feed prices are much lower, drought continues to abate in the Southern Plains, and the U.S.

“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.”

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

So, how much of the 20-poundper-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 mini-boom 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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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • DECEMBER 22, 2014

The gift of Christmas comes not in a box or bag, but in the heart The holiday season can be a stressful, and painful, time — but also one for cherishing the true gifts we have been given

By Brenda Schoepp af columnist

S

easons of celebration can be lonely times for many individuals and families.

It is a time that lends itself to reflect on times past, love lost, and the empty chair in the room. A painful memory can easily overshadow the chaos and commotion — even when, or especially when, children are involved.

We suffer in this home, too, and at times it becomes overwhelming to give it all in the season, and we choose to pull back in quiet reflection. It seems appropriate at many times and at others it is best to surround oneself with the love of a solid family and faithful friends. Dealing with Christmas and the weaving into a new year can leave one exposed, exhausted, and feeling down. How we choose to cope is a private affair.

To get through it all, families may wish to have the discussion on how to cope with the season and times ahead. Who needs time out? Who needs to see all the cousins?

Who needs a pastor, doctor, counsellor or

someone to help with cooking, cleaning and the farm chores? Who wants to do something totally different for a change?

Breaking off from old traditions can be hard but at some time, we become the family and the tradition ourselves. So this is part of the evolution.

At the same time, someone away may need or crave a time that is old and familiar so they can cope with the speed of their world today.

Whatever the desire, it all means a break from the usual schedule and coping with change. Stressed or satisfied — the season of Christmas is here to stay. And that is a good thing.

For underneath the glossy wrap that distracts us is a simple story — a story of the gift of a child. A child that brings hope to us all. A child that forever reminds us of rebirth and starting anew and that a greater power is hanging around our heart just ready to step in. There is a pure beauty to a story that starts with birth — something we all experience. And there is a pure truth to a child — because children are always honest. More importantly, there is the wonderment of being granted a gift of such magnitude.

Regardless of our walk or station in life, we have this gift. And though we may not see this baby, we can see the reflection of that child in those we miss today. Were they not a gift of such magnitude that you can only stand in wonderment that they graced your life? Did they not love you so deeply that you can only whisper their name and know you were needed? Did they not struggle like this baby did later in life and still come to their mother’s arms for a moment of quiet peace and did they not light up the room just with their smile? Of course — this and more. We know our own stories.

Remember this: Although it hurts to remember the past, it is the gift of that time, that person, and that place that we are encouraged to bring ahead. We bring it ahead and unwrap it, understanding that true love is never lost, faithful friends care in this life and the next, moms and dads loved us, and little children filled our lives with light.

As sad as we may feel — these gifts were free. And every Christmas, the “gift of the season” is not in a box or a bag but in the heart.

It brings joy to my life to know that I have been loved despite my many weaknesses and helped by amazing friends when I was down. It brings joy to my heart to know that my legacy lives on in very independent and unique branches of my children and grandchildren. I stand in wonderment at the beauty of my farm and the natural healers that generously share that space with me.

I cannot begin to express my thankfulness to live in a free country — a country where I can open my gift of Christmas at any time without fear of persecution.

I’ve got joy in my heart that I have suffered and learned from that pain. And that through it all, I was offered the gift of grace through one small child.

If you are reading this, then I want to thank you for being a gift to me and offering hope and encouragement. I am grateful for the honour to fill this space.

Enjoy your gifts of the season.

Brenda Schoepp is a farmer from Alberta who works as an international mentor and motivational speaker. She can be contacted through her website www.brendaschoepp. com. All rights reserved. Brenda Schoepp 2014

Advocating for forages is critical work and needs to continue The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association works on a tight budget, but is in it for the long haul

By Doug Wray

R

ecent reports on the financial situation of the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association suggest its future is grim.

But while we’ll be on a tight budget in the coming year, the association is on firm financial footing and we intend on being around for a long time.

In fact, the need for an organization like ours has likely never been greater.

Improving forage productivity is critical to the long-term future of Canada’s beef industry and one of the primary reasons why the association was formed in March 2010.

Here’s why: First, forage research has declined sharply in recent years even as the big seed companies have ramped up investment in annual crops. I expect more money is spent on corn research in a couple of months than what is spent in a decade on forages, which is by far our largest crop by acreage.

So while grain and oilseed productivity has shot up, productivity of forages has lagged. There is huge potential for upping the game when it comes to forages, particularly pasture acres.

Second, this situation has not only seen hay and pastures — including a lot of marginal land better suited to for-

ages — go into annual production, but made the economics of cattle production less attractive. Sure, grain and oilseed prices are down and cattle prices up right now, but not investing in forage research impacts the long-term economics of raising cattle.

Third, no one is making more land and so we need to produce more beef per acre.

That’s key to reversing the shrinking of the Canadian herd. And the industry needs those cattle to utilize the feeding and packing/processing capacity in this country.

This is a concern I’ve heard from feedlot operators and those in the packing sector. They want the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association to succeed, and so does the Beef Cattle Research Council, which has dramatically increased industry funding for forage research.

That’s been a major accomplishment of the association, but much more is needed.

The reason corn and other major annual crops attract so many research dollars is that seed companies sell seed to grain and oilseed growers every year and can recoup their investment. The economic model for forages is much different. We have pastures that are 15 years old and still productive. We believe there are reasons for public money to invest in forage research because of the significant environmental benefits accruing from grasslands.

That’s why we’ve not only been publicizing the decline in forage research capacity, but advocating that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada address this critical issue. We’ve repeatedly raised it with Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, and also raised awareness in the beef and dairy industries. We participate on the national value chain roundtables for beef, special crops, and the seed trade, and have compiled a national forage assessment.

There are also specific issues we have addressed, such as working with industry and other stakeholders to get inocu-

The reason corn and other major annual crops attract so many research dollars is that seed companies sell seed to grain and oilseed growers every year and can recoup their investment.

lants for minor legume crops back to the commercial Canadian marketplace. (In November, a clover inoculant received registration and we’re working for the provision of inoculants for other clovers, trefoil, cicer milk vetch, and sainfoin.)

There is a host of other initiatives we’ve been involved in, including helping to develop an export protocol with China for timothy, going on trade missions, building partnerships with a host of groups, raising awareness of the ecological benefits of pastures and grasslands, and promoting best management practices for farms and ranches.

We know that funding is tight, so we’ve been prudent with our finances, paying off a startup loan we received from the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association, building a small reserve fund, and using a team approach to get the biggest bang for our limited dollars.

And the team is getting bigger as more and more people realize we can’t afford to neglect forages because they are the foundation of the beef industry.

That’s why we have an energized board and membership, and why we’re confident as we face the future. While there’s lots of work to do, there’s a big payoff for getting it done.

Doug Wray ranches near Irricana and is president of the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association.

6

Off the front

BIXS } from page 1 his productivity, or his value,” said Kolk, who has changed rations, days on rations, and cattle-purchasing criteria because of his system.

But he stressed it takes time to evaluate the data and make changes that improve efficiency.

“Producers shouldn’t rush to their mailbox and look for the cheque,” he said. “The benefits won’t be there right this year. It’s more of a process.”

BIXS has also been a process.

The initial version was difficult to use and prone to crashing, which prompted it to be shut down. A new version was given a ‘soft launch’ in March. Now its owner, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, is handing over the system to a newly formed (and as yet unnamed) private company that it will jointly own with ViewTrak Technologies. The Edmonton-based technology and traceability company developed Alberta’s Livestock Investigation Services software and says it supports over 50 million head of livestock annually with its IT products.

Bringing in data from feedlots and backgrounders will bring the BIXS system to the next level, and Lau said its redevelopment will happen with “steroid speed.”

Data is just part of the story, it’s also about having a system that easily provides meaningful numbers, said Kolk, who is also a director on the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, and vice-chair of the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association.

Kolk’s system not only allows him to get data of any of the 14,000 head in his feedlot with a click of

a mouse, but provides it in a way that allows him to make decisions on management and performance.

“The system connects the dots so we can identify what’s working, and if something is working, we can reward that,” he said.

But producers expecting a premium will be disappointed, he said.

Rather, the biggest benefit of a calfto-carcass system is that it allows everyone to work co-operatively to find efficiencies and improve the end product, he said.

“It’s there, but it’s not a separate entry on the cheque ledger that says, ‘By the way, here’s 50 bucks more per head,’” said Kolk.

The third edition of BIXS will be built on the existing system — which has three million detailed carcass records and 3.4 million animal birthdate records — and ViewTrak will provide the funding for that, said Lau. CCA said it decided to enter into the partnership because it did not have the resources, tools, or mandate to take the database any further.

The new company will have two board members from the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, two from ViewTrak, and a fifth director chosen by both organizations.

“Because our background is more technology, we may not know all the legislations and regulations and so on, so we want the board of directors to help us navigate those and set the directions so we would be aligned properly with the industry, both Canadian and internationally,” said Lau.

december 22, 2014 • Albertafarmexpress.ca

It’s not a quick payoff, but calf-to-carcass data can boost efficiency, productivity, and beef quality, says feedlot operator Leighton Kolk. Photo: courtesy ALMA

akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

“Producers shouldn’t rush to their mailbox and look for the cheque,” he said. “The benefits won’t be there right this year. It’s more of a process.”

Leighton Kolk

BIXS national co-ordinator Larry Thomas (left) will work with ViewTrak officials Hubert Lau (centre) and Ted Power to create a new and improved beef information database. Photo: Kim Berlie Photography

CATTLE } from page 1 arriving at Red Deer’s Western Hog Exchange, where they were then dragged, kicked, and hit with a plastic bat.

“Transport trucks are not adequately enclosed or climate controlled,” states Mercy for Animals website. “During the summer, temperatures inside trucks can reach well over 40 C, particularly when at a standstill. This can lead to heat stress and heart attacks; combined with high ammonia levels, it can cause death by suffocation. During the winter, exposure to snow, frigid winds, freezing temperatures, and extreme wind chill can cause animals to become frozen to the floor or sides of the trailer and possibly freeze to death.”

Schwartzkopf-Genswein’s study looked at the shipping of calves. While it found transport times, loading density, and outside temperature can affect the conditions inside a transport trailer “quite drastically,” the researchers didn’t find any major effect on the calves themselves.

The first part of the study looked at 24 loads of calves, with loads divided into two groups based on the amount of space given to the calves. In six of the loads, the researchers also put sensors in the trailers to measure temperature and humidity and took blood samples from the calves to mea-

sure stress hormone levels and dehydration.

Loading density did impact levels of dehydration in the calves, but the researchers did not find increased morbidity (incidence of sickness).

The results were similar in a study of feeder cattle, said Schwartzkopf-Genswein.

“We didn’t see much effect on the cattle in their condition at the time of off-loading.”

Feeder cattle are generally overloaded between five to 10 per cent above the recommendations, she said, but even in those circumstances, the research didn’t show “any really negative effects.”

The study, however, comes with a caveat.

Because the sample size was so small, the results need to be “viewed with caution,” said Schwartzkopf-Genswein, adding further studies with more cattle are needed to confirm the findings.

As well, the loads of cattle that were studied weren’t in transport for as long as the rules allowed, which is 52 hours for cows and other ruminants. (For hogs and other monogastric animals, the limit is 36 hours.) The calves that were studied were transported for 12 hours or less, while the cattle were in trailers for no more than 22.5 hours.

“We did not set specific times within the study as we were tracking commercial loads of cattle and

followed them regardless of their transport time,” said Schwartzkopf-Genswein.

Mercy for Animals wants the maximum to be eight hours before animals are given food, water, and rest, saying anything short of that amounts to cruelty.

“Increased time on the truck can result in greater shrink, (and more) downer and lame cattle regardless of animal type,” said Schwartzkopf-Genswein. “Of course, more vulnerable animals like cull cows and calves are more affected than fats, and particularly when the temperatures were below -15 C and above 30 C.” Still, her study doesn’t support the contention that any more than eight hours in transport is cruel.

“The industry is pretty good at figuring out what works for the cattle,” said Schwartzkopf-Genswein.

“From what I’ve seen, at least with the calves and the feeders, it seems that we don’t have any major problems.”

But it may be a different situation for cull cows, she added.

“Animals that are in good condition — that are fit for travel, that are ready for the trip — can manage it. Fat cattle have few problems managing the conditions of our transport,” she said.

“Once you get to smaller calves and cull cows, I do think some of the conditions in which they’re transported are more taxing for them.”

“The industry is pretty good at figuring out what works for the cattle,” says researcher Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein. Photo: supplied Producers need to focus on “taking care when putting the right kinds of animals on the trailer,” she said.

“If you know they’re compromised in any way, take the proper precautions — keep them off the trailer, keep them segregated, give them more bedding, give them more space.”

And while SchwartzkopfGenswein is “waiting with bated breath” for new transport regulations that have been almost

15 years in the making, she said she hopes new regulations reflect scientific knowledge rather than pressure from special interest groups.

“If there are welfare issues, absolutely,” she said. “I think we’re all on the same page in that we want good welfare for our cattle, but likewise, we also don’t want to impede commerce where there really are no problems.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

7

Albertafarmexpress.ca • december 22, 2014

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

By Allan Dawson staff

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.

“I think a lot of things have come together at the same time,” said chief commissioner Elwin Hermanson.

“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 the commission’s oversight of wheat classes, grading and exports.

Eight classes

There are currently eight classes of wheat — Canada Western Red Spring, Canada Western Red Winter, Canada Western Extra Strong, Canada Prairie Spring Red, Canada Prairie Spring White, Canada Western Amber durum, Canada Western Soft White Spring and Canada Western Hard White Spring.

While the commission will scrutinize them, 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, while end-users 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. “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.”

Canadian wheat is known for its consistency. However, three years ago some customers complained about lower-than-normal gluten strength in CWRS wheat. The grain commission 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

The complaints demonstrate the importance of getting quality control right, said David Hatcher, a research scientist with the commission’s grain research laboratory.

That’s why the commission will not add two new wheats — BW961and 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. They were also supported for registration by the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale at its annual meeting in February, but that was reversed when the committee’s quality subcommittee voted against registration.

“We’re the bad guys, but we said they don’t fit,” Hermanson said. “They don’t have the quality that customers are wanting, so we won’t 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 grain commission that decides which class the variety is in. If the varieties are registered, the commission 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, lowprotein 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.

“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 new class — something... that would pick up Faller and Prosper.”

“I think a lot of things have come together at the same time.”

Elwin Hermanson

Adjustments

The commission’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.

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Both are high-yielding American Dark Northern Spring milling wheats, but their end-use characteristics don’t fit the current

CWRS class reserved for Western Canada’s best milling wheat.

Both varieties are being grown legally in Western 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

0 gc

8

Markets are volatile but seasonal price patterns still matter Watch for an uptick in wheat prices in March and April and a spike in feed barley prices at Christmas AARD release

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DECEMBER 22, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

T

o help with their pricing decisions, crop marketers should be aware of seasonal price patterns, says an Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development market specialist.

Supply and demand is the main determining factor and so prices tend to follow in step with production cycles, said Neil Blue.

Seasonal prices are calculated by taking the average price for a certain time period (such as a week or month) and comparing it to the average price over the year. Often, the seasonal prices are plotted on a bar or line graph, with the annual price average as Index 100. Usually, such a calculation is done using data from several years, thus reducing the influence of contra-seasonal price moves that happen in some years, usually from a supply reduction.

“In years of average or higher yield, crop prices tend to make a low during harvest when there is plenty of available supply,” says Blue. “For example, western Canadian canola price lows typically occur in the first half of October... After a harvest low, prices usually rebound as harvest selling pressure subsides and as demand again becomes evident.

Canola prices tend to level off into the end of November, show some improvement during the December holiday period, trade sideways to lower into mid-February and then improve into spring. Canola prices tend to peak sometime in May-June and, unless production problems continue to support prices, usually fall from mid-July into the harvest low.”

Seasonal prices for different crops can be affected by different factors.

The pattern is different for a crop like wheat because prices are affected by what’s happening in the U.S., Europe, Australia and Argentina, he said.

“For example, wheat prices often improve in late March and April because of concern over frost damage to the emerging U.S. winter wheat crop,” said Blue. “Sometimes, our wheat prices can improve during October/November over concerns for the Australian wheat crop. Feed barley prices can be influenced by U.S. corn prices, but tend to follow the spring crop seasonal pattern with fall lows and May or June price highs. Feed barley prices often spike during the Christmas holiday season or during a period of extreme winter weather. Our pea prices tend to follow our seasonal production pattern, but also are subject to the influence of two seasonal pea production cycles in India, a major producer and one of our major export markets.”

Seasonal price patterns are an underlying price influence to consider when developing a marketing plan and analyzing a market, he said.

“The tendency is for fall delivered prices to be the highest at the beginning of the growing season when production uncertainty is the highest. That is often the best time to be forward pricing some expected production, considering cash flow needs and available storage for the expected new crop.”

Prices can rise during the grow-

ing season if there are production problems in a major growing area, so Blue recommends forwarding contract with a buyer up to about 50 per cent of expected production of a crop. To price a higher percentage of a crop prior to harvest, it is prudent to consider using the futures or options market if those alternatives are available for that crop,” he said.

“Of the many factors that can affect crop prices, seasonal price patterns are one to be aware of,” said Blue. “Remember that seasonal patterns differ somewhat by crop. Despite the development of world trade channels, electronic futures trading, and the influence of funds on the prices of commodities, seasonal price patterns are still deserving of a crop marketer’s respect.”

File Photo

All year long you feed the world.

Today, you feed your soul.

Alberta produces more than 19 million kilograms of turkey meat annually.

April and Amy Jardie are busy feeding the turkeys at the Three Point Cattle Company Farm near Millarville, Alberta.

CASHFLOW І FINANCING І CLOSE TO HOME І AG KNOW-HOW ™ Trademarks of Alberta Treasury Branches.

9

Albertafarmexpress.ca • December 22, 2014

NFU struggles to redefine its image After nearly half a century, the National Farmers Union is looking to update its public identity amid flagging numbers in a bid to attract more members

By Shannon VanRaes staff / saskatoon

I

s it an oldie but goodie — or just old and tired?

The National Farmers Union is looking to update its 45-year-old logo — the letters NFU on a green maple leaf design — but the move drew both criticism and praise during the organization’s annual convention in Saskatoon last month.

“I see this being a waste of time.

I like the old one, there’s too

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

.

The harvest is in. The herd is to market. The year draws to a close.

And for the year it was, there’s time – this short time – to reflect, take stock, share the goodness. And know that tomorrow, it begins all over again.

For the work that never ends - and the reasons you wouldn’t have it any other way – this time is like no other. Today you’re sharing what truly feeds your spirit.

And tomorrow, that spirit will produce the very best of what feeds the rest of us. In that calling, we share your pride, your passion - and this most precious time.

Long Love This Land.

atb.com facebook/atbfinancial @ATBAgriculture

many places people change for the sake of change,” said Ottawaarea farmer Tim Tabbert. “I think we’ve got more important issues than changing our logo.”

Others were even more blunt.

“It ain’t gonna matter a damn what our logo is,” said Gerald Benneke.

After looking at more than 140 options over two years, the NFU working group examining the issue presented a handful of options to members.

NFU youth president Alex Fletcher said he didn’t initially see the need for a logo update, even though he is co-chair of the working group dedicated to revamping it.

“To be honest about this, I’m not really passionate about branding work,” said the B.C. market gardener and fruit grower, adding he changed that view after talking to members.

“It’s something I hear — that the NFU’s look and feel is outdated, and it’s a barrier for new farmers… to understand what the NFU’s about.”

The logo committee showed new logos and tag lines to members — including a more contemporary maple leaf and lettering over a furrowed field, and one featuring wheat sheaves in red.

Some of the feedback was positive, but many preferred the union stick with the time-tested green maple leaf and yellow lettering.

But others felt the current logo isn’t cutting it and the new designs didn’t go far enough, with some suggesting the word ‘union’ be dropped altogether.

“Newcomers see value but hate the word ‘union.’”

Jan Slomp

Eliminating the word union from the title may draw more members, but it would create confusion as to the organization’s role, said president Jan Slomp, a dairy producer from Rimbey.

“Newcomers see value but hate the word ‘union,’” Slomp said. “We are a union of independent farmers… I don’t want to change it really, because if we would change it we are also brainwashed with the idea that working together is not good…

Our name means that thousand of individuals work together.”

The logo review is continuing.

“I just want to emphasize that these are concepts,” said Fletcher. “There is no perfect logo or tag line, there is no silver bullet, what we want to do is get something that is our best chance at really articulating who we are and (what) we’re trying to do.” shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

NEWS » Markets

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DECEMBER 22, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Russian exporters hurry hard

CGC says complaints down

Exporters of Russian wheat have cut prices to try to speed up sales abroad before the Kremlin curbs them in order to replenish its own stocks and prevent rises in the cost of bread. Russia’s grain exports are running at a record high, buoyed by a large crop and a plunging ruble that has made exports more profitable than domestic sales. Agriculture Minister Nikolai Fyodorov said his ministry would consider all options to restrain exports — “except an embargo.” Bread prices could rise by 10 per cent in the near future due to rising ingredient costs. — Reuters

The Canadian Grain Commission is disputing a Reuters article that says complaints about Canadian wheat quality have increased since Ottawa changed how its biggest crop is sold and inspected. It said problems cited by buyers include underweight shipments, low protein content and gluten strength, and other issues. Chief commissioner Elwin Hermanson denied buyers are unhappy, saying complaints are down since 2012. Low gluten strength and protein levels have been an issue for the last three crop years, he said, but were a result of weather and the way some wheat varieties reacted to growing conditions. — Reuters / staff

Canola values climb to encourage farmer selling Crushers are still running ahead of last year’s pace

By Phil Franz-Warkentin

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

Photo: Thinkstock 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 Resource News International, visit “ICE Futures Canada updates” at www.albertafarmexpress.ca.

11

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • DECEMBER 22, 2014

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

By Allan Dawson 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 Canadian Grain Commission will consult with 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 Gordon Miles, the commission’s chief operating officer.

The commission’s current farmer protection program requires licensed grain companies to post security to cover what they owe farmers for grain. Bill C-48 proposes to replace that with a fund of $5 million to $10 million, with companies paying 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 would be lower than the cost of our current security regime,” he said.

A 2009 study put the cost of the current plan at $9 million — $1.4 million for administration, $1 million for grain buyer administration, and $6.6 million for companies to post security. Based on 40 million tonnes, that works out to 23 cents per tonne.

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

Farmers don’t pay anything directly for the program, but they pay indirectly to offset the $7.6 million in grain company costs (19 cents a tonne).

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

Feed mills are currently not licensed by the commission and don’t have to post security, which can leave farmers on the hook. In September 2012, Manitoba feed mill and hog producer Puratone went into creditor protection — leaving farmers owed an estimated $1.5 million for unpaid grain.

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.

• E xtend farmer access to the commission’s binding determination of grade and dockage on grain deliveries to all facilities licensed by the commission, including processors and grain dealers.

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

• Create a non-binding Decision Review Panel.

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

Industry and farm reaction has been mostly positive.

The Canadian Canola Growers Association, Grain Growers of Canada, Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, and Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) largely support the bill.

“This is basically what we’ve been asking for,” said Doug Chorney, president of KAP, Manitoba’s main farm group.

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,” said Slomp.

“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 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 binding determination of grade and dockage to processors and other commission licensees.

“We’re after equitable treat-

ment 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.” His association 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 supports the proposal to repeal the commission’s authority to license grain elevators, said 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

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12

news » livestock

DECEMBER 22, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

‘A’ is not for antibiotics

Milk prices take a huge tumble

Six of the largest U.S. school districts are switching to antibiotic-free chicken, pressuring the world’s top meat companies to adjust production practices in the latest push against drugs used on farms. The move by districts in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Miami-Dade County and Orlando County is intended to protect children’s health amid concerns about the rise of so-called “superbugs,” bacteria that gain resistance to conventional medicines, school officials said. The six districts, which served 2.6 million meals last year, banded together to create the Urban School Food Alliance. — Reuters

New Zealand’s Fonterra dairy co-operative cut the price it expects to pay farmers for milk to an eight-year low because of tumbling global dairy prices caused by soaring production and falling demand from China and Russia. The world’s largest dairy exporter slashed its farm gate price forecast to NZ$4.70 (C$4.22) per kilogram of milk solids — nearly half last season’s record-high NZ$8.40. Global dairy prices have dropped roughly 50 per cent this year, battering New Zealand’s largest export industry. Its average cost of production is around NZ$5.50/kg. — Reuters

It’s high cost and high risk — but corn is a perfect cold-weather grazing crop When the weather outside is frightful, cattle can get all of their energy and protein requirements by grazing corn

By Jennifer Blair af staff / medicine hat

O

ne of the “best-kept secrets” of Manitoba cow-calf producers could soon make its way west — as long as producers have access to better genetics.

“The low-heat-unit corn varieties certainly have some potential to move into a cow or a calf backgrounding program,” Dr. Bart Lardner from the Western Beef Development Centre said at the recent Farming Smarter Conference in Medicine Hat. “This is really new territory for us in Western Canada as beef producers.”

Corn has typically been grown for grain and silage in the Prairies, but now there’s “tremendous interest in grazing the whole plant for beef cattle in field paddocks,” said Lardner.

“We know that in Western Canada, the issue facing the cow-calf producer is that very long winter and very short summer. We know we do have cold stress,” he said.

In extensive grazing systems, cows need supplementation during extreme cold, but corn could reduce that need.

“All of a sudden we have a crop that potentially can have all of those energy and protein requirements met,” he said, adding corn is very high in nutritive value.

“We know it’s going to meet or exceed beef cow requirements.

Energy is not an issue, but protein might be an issue for a very pregnant beef cow coming into calving.”

To gain the most nutrition out of corn, producers should look for varieties that are “100 or 200 heat units more than the area that you live in” and graze the corn before it hits full maturity.

“We don’t want it to go to black hair because then we’re grazing whole-plant corn,” he said. “We want those crops to

Corn grazing cattle in winter can reduce or even eliminate the need for supplemental feed. Photo: Thinkstock be at about half-milk, so then we have an equivalent level of starch and fibre in those plants.”

Since starch is a “major portion of the plant,” it can cause acidosis if it’s not balanced with some roughage.

“Cows are very preferential,” he said. “They are going to find the ‘ice-cream’ part of that plant. They are going to go for the cobs first, and we need to control that.”

Lardner suggests using a three- to four-day cycle.

“They will go out there and find the cobs, and then on day two and three, we’re going to ask them to eat the high-fibre husks, stalk, and leaf part of that plant.”

It may take “naive cows” a couple of days to figure out how to graze corn plants in the field.

“You’ll see one or two animals figure it out and start to taste test the plants, and once those cows

take off and consume that whole plant, the rest of them follow,” said Lardner.

“They really do catch on quite readily.”

Corn agronomy

But will this feeding method catch on with Alberta producers?

While corn heat units are important, the agronomics of growing corn here is also key, said Lardner.

He said recommended seeding rates are between 28,000 and 35,000 per acre and “the biggest thing” is soil temperature.

“You might be told you want to get it in the ground by May 15, but the soil is really too cold. You want that soil to be warmed up (to at least 10 C, but optimally 20 C).”

A seeding depth of one inch is recommended, as is seed-

“This is really new territory for us in Western Canada as beef producers.”

Bart Lardner

ing with a corn planter with 30-inch row spacing.

“If you go with the air drill, you’re going to probably suffer yield losses of 10 to 15 per cent compared to precision with the corn planter and the row spacing,” said Lardner.

Corn is also a high-fertility crop, so “pay attention to your

nitrogen and phosphorus,” he said. A Western Beef Development Centre study pegged input costs at between $208 and $226 per acre.

It needs babying, too.

“It does not compete very well with weed pressure up to about knee-high, so you have to come in between the threeand eight-leaf stage and hit it with Roundup.”

Corn is “a high-risk, highinput crop,” said Lardner.

“But hopefully (it’s a) highreward crop at the end of the day,” he said, adding grazing costs in one study were between $0.70 and $1.40.

“If you’re looking at this crop, you need to start small, and if you’re not comfortable with it, don’t even go down this road.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

13

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • DECEMBER 22, 2014

Concerns about Roundup Ready alfalfa raised at national forage meeting Many forage and forage seed importers have zero tolerance for GM crops, including alfalfa

By Allan Dawson staff / bromont, que.

A

single genetically modified canola seed cut the value of Heather Kerschbaumer’s timothy seed in half — costing her $20,000.

That’s why the seed farmer from Fairview, Alta., fears the introduction of Roundup Ready alfalfa.

“I think it would be a devastating blow to the seed industry, especially for our Peace region,” the president of Forage Seed Canada said at the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association annual meeting last month.

“We export so much seed and a lot of it goes into Europe and a lot of it goes to China, some of it goes to Japan — into all these markets where there is a zero tolerance (for GM crops).”

The value of a $40,000 lot of timothy seed destined for Japan dropped to 50 cents a pound from $1 after one canola seed was found in a 25-gram sample collected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, she said.

“So we lost $20,000 just from one canola seed,” she said.

A Roundup Ready alfalfa developed by Forage Genetics International is registered in Canada, but has not yet been commercialized.

It should stay on the shelf until there is widespread market acceptance, said Kerschbaumer.

Some American hay exporters have already been blacklisted

by Chinese importers because of GM contamination, said Ed Shaw, president and CEO of International Quality Forage in Carstairs.

While some of the contamination is from GM crops other than alfalfa, Roundup Ready alfalfa seed grown commercially in the U.S. is spreading, he said.

“We get seed from the States,” Shaw said. “I would be willing to bet that we would test positive for it (in some cases).”

Most GM crops are annuals, but alfalfa is a perennial and grows wild.

“When you get a perennial GMO, that’s different — I don’t know how you keep that in the box,” said Irricana cattle producer Doug Wray, president of the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association.

Sixty to 70 per cent of the forage seed shipped from the Peace region now contains some conventional alfalfa seeds, but there’s a tolerance for it, Kerschbaumer said.

But there’s zero tolerance for GM alfalfa among most buyers, and even though some countries accept it, the buyers don’t, she said.

“It could potentially affect timothy, red clover, brome grasses, fescues — and that’s a huge industry for not just us in our area but for anybody who is growing seed and exporting,” Kerschbaumer said.

There are strong views on the pros and cons of Roundup Ready alfalfa and his association has not taken a position, Wray said.

“The reality is there is no plan that will make everybody happy,” he said.

Forage Seed Canada — which represents the Peace Region Forage Seed Association, Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission, Saskatchewan Leaf Cutter Association, Alfalfa Seed Commission and Manitoba Forage Seed Association — wants organizations opposed to Roundup Ready alfalfa to speak with one voice, Kerschbaumer said.

Blocking Roundup Ready alfalfa in Canada, or at least in parts of it, isn’t impossible, she added, noting it’s restricted in California’s Imperial Valley. While the region is known for vegetable and fruit production, alfalfa is grown in rotation, making the area the U.S.’s biggest alfalfa exporter. To ensure GM-free alfalfa for export, it imports seed “because there is so much (domestic seed) contamination already,” she said.

“When we were there (last year) they kept telling us if you don’t have it up in Canada, you should keep it out of Canada,” she said.

According to Kerschbaumer, an official with Forage Genetics International said the company has Roundup Ready alfalfa test plots in Ontario and Quebec. The company could not be reached for comment.

There are unconfirmed rumours some Quebec farmers are growing

Roundup Ready alfalfa, Christian Ducheaneau with crop inputs company Synagri, told the meeting.

Initially Forage Genetics International said it would commercialize Roundup Ready alfalfa in the East where most of Canada’s dairy production occurs.

Even if Roundup Ready alfalfa is restricted to the East, it would likely spread gradually, according to Kerschbaumer.

“There’s almost no way to contain it because there is no wall between this guy’s field and that guy’s hay or a ditch,” she said.

“So it’s just inevitable that it will spread.”

That’s why Forage Seed Canada encourages farmers to test their alfalfa seed for Roundup Ready alfalfa before planting, Kerschbaumer said. allan@fbcpublishing.com

Forage seed grower and Forage Seed Canada president Heather Kerschbaumer, fears commercializing Roundup Ready alfalfa in Canada threatens exports of forage and forage seed. photo: allan dawson

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14

DECEMBER 22, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Keeping your horse physically active in the winter horse health } Pawing for forage through snow is one

way to provide physical activity and mental relief by carol shwetz

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 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 supervised.

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

U ? yO et e y aV it h t GO

intROdUCinG mOBile

Photo: Thinkstock 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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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • DECEMBER 22, 2014

When it comes to rhizobial bacteria, an infection is a good thing When you pull up a legume and find nodules on the roots, what should you be hoping for? Big nodules or little? White ones or red?

By Alexis Kienlen af staff / edmonton

I

f you want to know if a legume is fixing nitrogen, you have to pull it out of the ground, look at the roots, and check for red nodules.

That was one of the many bits of wisdom shared by University of Saskatchewan soil scientist Diane Knight at the Western Canadian Grazing Conference.

The province’s Ag Ministry funds research into the often-mysterious biological processes in soil and Knight’s work is aimed at better understanding the relationship between plants and rhizobial bacteria. This type of bacteria ‘infects’ a plant via the tiny hairs that sprout from a root — but in this symbiotic relationship, infection is a good thing because rhizobial bacteria fix nitrogen.

“The infection process is like sticking a finger into a balloon and making an indentation,” said Knight.

“That’s what happens in the root hair. The bacteria indent into the plant, and then they start to enter into the interior of the root.”

The bacteria then create nodules, which are enveloped by plant cells.

The nodules are made up of bacteria that can move nitrogen from the soil into the plant. But rhizobium bacteria are selective, and generally only form nodules with certain legume plants.

about two weeks after plants emerge, with most pulse crops experiencing maximum fixation around flowering.

But it’s not a one-way street — the rhizobia want something in return.

“We have to remember that nodules are using energy from the plant and drawing away energy that could be used for carbon development and growing leaves,” said Knight.

“There’s a balance between how many nodules the plant needs and the energy (they are) using.”

Some people may think big nodules are desirable, but that’s not the case. Small ones are actually more effective.

Knight recommends using a commercial inoculant on all legumes.

“We recommend that all legume crops be inoculated because we

“There’s a balance between how many nodules the plant needs and the energy it is using.”

akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

There’s mysterious stuff happening in the soil, but U of Sask. soil scientist Diane Knight knows what you should be looking for in nitrogen fixation in legumes. Photo: Alexis Kienlen

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Diane Knight

“There’s no one rhizobium species that can nodulate more than one per cent of the known legume plants,” said Knight. “Some rhizobia will nodulate a lot of different plants and some are very specific.”

Faba beans need a specific rhizobia for nodulation, while sainfoin is less selective.

Nodules come in different sizes and shapes. Some are determinate, which means they grow to a certain size. Others, like those found on red clover alfalfa, are indeterminate and keep growing, although their nitrogen-fixing activity changes during the growing season.

If you pull up your plant, you can have some idea of whether or not it is fixing nitrogen.

“We can usually tell whether or not the rhizobia have been able to initiate nodules within five or six days,” said Knight.

Rhizobia initially form small white nodules on the plant. Nodules don’t form evenly, and can continue to grow during a plant’s lifetime.

Colour is everything with nodules. White indicates they’re not able to fix nitrogen yet, but red or pink ones are busy fixing nitrogen.

(Hemoglobin, the same substance found in human blood, makes the nodules red.)

Active nitrogen fixation starts

want to introduce strains that we know to be effective. Bacteria have very short life cycles, so they multiply and change over in a few days to a few weeks.”

Every time a bacteria goes through a life cycle, there’s an opportunity for a mutation, and so rhizobia can lose their effectiveness over the long term.

Environmental factors also play a role. Rhizobia thrive in soils with good organic matter, and need a little bit of moisture to be effective. Too much water hampers the nitrogenfixing process while a deficit dries out both plants and rhizobia. Root hairs also don’t form when the soil is dry. As well, nodules won’t form below 10 C, and will die off at 37 C.

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} forecasts

DECEMBER 22, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Can you name the 15 hottest years on record?

Cows versus car survey

According to UN’s World Meteorological Organization, 14 of them occurred in this century. That includes this year, and if temperatures stay above normal in December, “2014 will likely be the hottest on record, ahead of 2010, 2005 and 1998,” the WMO said on Dec. 3. The global average air temperature for January to October was 0.57 C above the average of 14 C for 1961-90, it said. Arctic sea ice was the sixth smallest on record this summer while Antarctic sea ice paradoxically expanded to a record-large extent, apparently because of changing wind patterns. — Reuters

Rapidly rising meat and dairy consumption is contributing as much to climate change as exhaust emissions from the transport sector — but most consumers don’t view it that way, according to Chatham House, a U.K.-based think-tank. In a global survey, it found more than twice as many respondents saw transport exhaust emissions as a major contributor to climate change than saw emissions from meat and dairy output as important. Once consumers were aware of the implications for global warming of eating more meat, about 20 per cent became more likely to express willingness to change their diet. — Reuters

Here’s hoping you get the Christmas weather you want Everyone has their own definition of perfect Christmas weather, but if yours is white then Winnipeg is the place to be

W

By Daniel Bezte

ell, ’tis the season to talk about holiday weather across the Prairies.

With the holiday season now upon us, our weather thoughts turn towards 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 Christmas weather is to have a nice snowstorm. I know that 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 that 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 during Christmas day there is measurable snowfall. So what are the chances of this happening somewhere across the Prairies? The following table shows the probability of having snow on the ground for Christmas along with having snow fall 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.

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

If your version of a perfect Christmas is to have recordbreaking warm or heck, even cold temperatures, then here is a list of the warmest, cold-

est, and snowiest Christmas periods on record for two major centres in each of the three Prairies provinces. These records are based on the full set of data that each of these cities has, which means they go back to the late 1800s. While some might argue that these old records are not valid, I personally think they are and that they should be included.

If you are looking for a place to go in the Prairies to experience a really warm Christmas, then Calgary would be the place for you. While all of the other centres have seen some nice warm Christmases in the past, not one of the major centres 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, although Winnipeg comes out the winner here with a bonechilling -47.8 C on Christmas Eve in 1879!

Interestingly, when you examine the precipitation records for these three days, you’ll notice that 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 over 25 centimetres of snow on Christmas Eve and then a further 18 centimetres of snow on Christmas Day, for a total of 43 centimetres!

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.

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

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!

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.

Table 1 Chances of having a white Christmas, a ‘perfect’ Christmas and average snow depth at Christmastime across the Prairies Average chance of snow on the ground (%) City Calgary 56 Edmonton 85 Regina 91 Saskatoon 96 Winnipeg 98

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

Created: 12/12/14 www.agr.gc.ca/drought

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

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

Snow depth now (cm, 1991-2009) 4 11 12 11 14

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

Table 2 Christmas (Dec. 24-26) minimum, maximum, and precipitation records for the Prairie provinces Winnipeg Dec. 24 Dec. 25 Dec. 26 Brandon Dec. 24 Dec. 25 Dec. 26 Regina Dec. 24 Dec. 25 Dec. 26 Saskatoon Dec. 24 Dec. 25 Dec. 26 Edmonton Dec. 24 Dec. 25 Dec. 26 Calgary Dec. 24 Dec. 25 Dec. 26

Max.

Year

Min.

Year

Precipitation

Year

3.9 5.4 4.4

1953 1999 2011

-47.8 -40 -38.9

1879 1879 1883

15.2 9.4 30.5

1929 1938 1916

4.4 7.2 4.8

1953 1999 2005

-41 -40 -39.4

1983 1902 1891

5.1 15.2 7.6

1938 1938 1976

4 6.1 6.1

1999 1943 1898

-40.6 -39.4 -39.3

1884 1933 1990

9.7 7.1 13.5

1950 1959 1916

6.9 4.5 4.4

2011 1895 1928

-37.8 -38.9 -41.7

1917 1933 1934

12.7 7.6 9.9

1938 1922 1959

10.4 8.9 10

1999 1987 1999

-41.7 -39.4 -38.3

1880 1880 1880

25.4 17.8 21.1

1938 1938 1955

17.6 14.8 13.8

1999 1985 1999

-36.1 -35 -35.6

1983 1886 1886

5.1 10.2 10.2

1937 1923 1923

Grain research funding The Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) will invest over $18 million into field crop research in 2015 — more than double the $7.3 million awarded in 2013. Among the projects receiving funding in 2015 are the Genome Canada Large Scale Applied Research Project ($5 million); the Systems Approach to Crop Sustainability ($4.3 million over five years, half from WGRF); Wheat Cluster ($25.2 million over five years with $9.6 million from WGRF); the Barley Cluster ($11.2 million over five years with $1.5 million from WGRF); graduate scholarships and a study of agronomy research capacity in Western Canada. — WGRF release

In dry years, tall stubble can make all the difference in your yields Leaving tall stubble standing in the field can add an inch of soil moisture and boost yields by as much as 17 per cent

By Jennifer Blair af staff / medicine hat

L

T:15.58”

arge chunks of Alberta have seen some wet years recently, but water tends to be the most limiting factor for crop growth.

And there’s only two remedies when it’s dry: Increase water supply and improve water-use efficiency, says an agrometeorologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Leaving tall stubble in the field does both those things, Herb Cutforth said at the recent Farming Smarter Conference.

“In the Prairies, the soil water could be increased by the snow trap anywhere between five and 30 millimetres,” said Cutforth.

“There’s an inch of water you’ve contributed to the soil water before seeding.”

Standing stubble more than 30 centimetres tall can increase water accumulation tenfold by trapping snow and reducing evaporation from the soil, he said.

“The taller the stubble, the more efficiently the water is used, and the greater the yield,” said Cutforth.

“As the snow accumulates and the winds keep blowing, that taller stubble will continue to fill. We’ve had large fields fill right to capacity.

As the stubble increases in height, the water loss is decreased, which means you’ve got more water left for the crop.”

And that can have a big payoff — yield increases of up to 17 per cent, he said.

Even just leaving strips of tall stubble can have a similar effect in dry years.

“Snow accumulates near the strips,” he said. “There’s snow being trapped, and soil water reserves are increased for seeding.”

Snow catch strips also improve water-use efficiency, he said.

“Water is being added by the increased snow trap, and the evaporation is decreased on either side of the strips, so water is used more efficiently by the crop in between the strips.”

That’s what Curtis Hoffmann does on his farm near Esther, 60 kilometres northeast of Oyen.

“We use our snow catch strips in our hay land,” said Hoffmann, who farms 1,700 acres of grain and 450 acres of hay.

“A lot of years, we don’t get two cuts of hay out here, but when we do, we always want to try to leave a snow catch strip so we can get drifting.”

In his “historically dry” region, snow catch strips encourage drifting on the fields, gathering extra moisture for spring while preventing winterkill on the alfalfa.

“When you take a second or a late cut, your crop doesn’t really grow back a lot of years, so you don’t have that stubble height to get a good six to eight inches of snow on the stubble to protect it,” he said.

“If we take the hay off after the 10th of August, we’ll always leave a snow catch.”

Hoffmann has also been experimenting with leaving tall stubble during dry years.

Since late- and second-cut alfalfa is too short to catch snow, Esther producer Curtis Hoffmann leaves strips of tall stubble to do the job. Photo: Curtis Hoffmann “The drier the fall, the taller we’ll leave the stubble,” he said.

One year, he ran a trial on 90 acres of wheat using a disc drill for seeding and a stripper header at harvest.

“Basically the stripper header just takes the heads off, so we had a good three feet of stubble there, and it ended up catching about two feet of snow that year.”

But during “wet spells” — like the one he’s currently seeing — Hoffmann takes his stubble as low as he can.

“This year, we had a really wet fall,” he said. “We ended up tilling some of our canola stubble just to knock it down so it wouldn’t catch more snow so that we could get into it early in the spring.”

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • DECEMBER 22, 2014

There’s another issue with tall stubble — delayed seeding.

In one study, Cutforth found that at five inches depth, the soil was 1-1/2° colder in the no-till system.

“No-till soils are colder, but normally, they’re a little wetter at the shallower depths, so you can seed them a little shallower in the no-till compared to the conventionally tilled plots,” said Cutforth. “When you do that, soil temperatures even out a bit.”

But for Hoffmann, the increased water retention is worth it in a dry year.

“It makes a huge difference,” he said. “The higher you can leave your stubble in a dry year, the better off you are.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

18

DECEMBER 22, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Critics from both sides say CWB financials should be public The wheat board says it needs to keep financial info confidential, but Globe and Mail says secrecy can’t be justified

by Allan Dawson staff

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M

aybe it was MP Pat Martin’s question to Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz:

“Has the minister lost his freaking mind?” or a recent Globe and Mail editorial, but CWB’s transition to a private grain company is getting lots of attention beyond the farm sector.

So much so CWB issued an ‘open letter’ earlier this month to explain what it’s doing, while the National Farmers Union is asking the western provinces to buy and hold CWB’s assets until farmers can take control.

The NDP’s Martin and the Globe’s editorial board have sharply different views on the wheat board’s former single desk, but both agree the federal government has been less than transparent in regard to the CWB. Both decried Ritz’s decision not to release CWB’s financial statements.

“Given that CWB is a company owned by Canadians, a creature of Parliament with its board and management appointed by the government, this can’t be justified,” the Globe said. “It’s CWB, not CSIS. It’s a business that markets grains. As long as it’s a public company, make its financials public. That way, if and when it is sold, Canadians will be able to judge whether they got value for money. This shouldn’t be hard for the government to understand.”

The notion that the CWB is being given away probably stems from an Oct. 11 Winnipeg Free Press story that reported the money used to purchase CWB will remain with the new company providing additional working capital.

In its open letter, the CWB says it needs a partner with a lot of capital and grain-handling experience and justifies keeping its financial information secret by noting its competitors do, too.

Meanwhile, some predict farmers will lose CWB’s assets, estimated by former wheat board directors at around $300 million, when the company is sold. (CWB and Ritz say CWB assets belong to the government, not farmers.)

That prompted the National Farmers Union’s call for the four western provincial governments to buy CWB and hold it until a plan putting farmers in control is developed. allan@fbcpublishing.com

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • DECEMBER 22, 2014

Expert decries Ottawa’s ‘Soviet’-style regulation of grain movement Agricultural economist Barry Prentice says political meddling in grain movement creates inefficiency and ultimately costs farmers

By Allan Dawson staff

T

he railways would do a better job moving western Canadian grain if the revenue cap was scrapped, according to an agricultural economist specializing in transportation.

The federal government’s heavy use of regulation to manage the grain transportation system is something out of “the kit bag of the old Soviet Union” and ordering the railways to move minimum amounts of grain just extends that further, said Barry Prentice, a professor at the University of Manitoba’s Transport Institute.

“It’s the command-and-control economy,” said Prentice. “I thought we proved that was a crazy idea and the Russians did that for us. Why are we doing it now?”

Faced with a gridlocked system, Ottawa imposed grain movement minimums in March and have twice more issued orders-in-council, extending those minimums to this coming March. They vary from 200,000 to 465,000 tonnes weekly for each railway — figures that drew scorn from Prentice.

“I laughed when I saw the numbers, because they’ve ordered the railways to do what they normally do,” he said. “Again, it was politics trumping policy.”

The Maximum Revenue Entitlement — a.k.a. the revenue cap — was implemented in 2000 to ease concerns the railways would gouge farmers once legislated rail freight rates were abolished. The railways can charge whatever they want so long as the total annual revenue doesn’t exceed the maximum established by the Canadian Transportation Agency. This gives the railways flexibility to adjust freight rates to encourage efficiency — discounting the rate charged for moving 100-car trains versus 50 for example, while preventing them from taking advantage of farmers who are captive shippers.

“This idea of the railways being a monopoly and captive shippers, this is old thinking,” Prentice said.

Farmers feeling overcharged are free to start producing for domestic livestock production or ship to the U.S. by truck, he said.

“It’s not as if they have an absolute monopoly,” he said. “There is no maximum railway entitlement for the movement of potash, coal, and lumber and they do all right.”

“It’s the commandand-control economy.

I thought we proved that was a crazy idea and the Russians did that for us.”

Barry Prentice

Barry Prentice photo: supplied Farmers pay

The current system is inefficient and possibly lowers grain prices because international grain buyers see Canada as a less reliable supplier, he said.

And farmers ultimately pay, said Prentice, citing the demurrage cost when freighters anchor in port while waiting for grain to arrive.

“I don’t think the grain companies picked up the demurrage charges and cut their Christmas bonuses,” Prentice said. “I think farmers end up getting paid less for grain.”

But others say it would be worse without regulation.

“We don’t have a truly competi-

tive market for rail in this country so we need government oversight,” said Doug Chorney, president of Manitoba’s largest farm group Keystone Agricultural Producers.

“There’s too much at stake for our entire economy.”

Grain is different than potash because there are thousands of producers with little market power compared to a few potash firms, he said. Potash companies will even stop shipping if returns get too low, while farmers continue to produce no matter what.

“We really are price-takers,” Chorney said. “Generally speaking farmers are in a much more vulnerable position than a potash mine.”

“We don’t need to speculate about what would happen (without the entitlement),” said Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the Western Grain Elevator Association. “We’ve seen what has happened shipping to the U.S. (where the entitlement doesn’t apply).”

Grain companies want government regulation to compel the railways to enter contracts to serve grain shippers and be subject to penalties when the railways fail to fulfil their contracts.

“That will simulate a marketdriven system,” Sobkowich said. allan@fbcpublishing.com

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DECEMBER 22, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Farm groups say broken grain transport system costing farmers billions Saskatchewan coalition says farmers lost $135 per tonne last winter because the grain transportation system is a mess

By Allan Dawson staff

W

estern Canadian farmers lost $3.1 billion last crop year and could lose another $2 billion this year because of a broken grain transportation system, according to a coalition of Saskatchewan farm groups.

“Major adjustments need to be made to ensure farmers are treated fairly in a transparent environment with long-term commitment,” said Norm Hall, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan.

The association, along with the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers and the provincial barley and wheat commissions, have made nine recommendations to the Canada Transportation Act Review Secretariat on improving the system. They are based on four objectives: Fostering competition, increasing market transparency, being positioned for future growth, and ensuring producers have a voice in the transportation system.

The recommendations call for a full review of railway grain movement costs before adjusting the maximum revenue entitlement program, a higher priority on producer cars, and creation of a rail operations oversight group that includes farmers.

The coalition says in its submission the billions of dollars farmers lost due to delayed grain movement in the last crop year is based on a report prepared

by University of Saskatchewan agricultural economist Richard

Grain movement gridlock in the last crop year cost Prairie farmers $135 a tonne, says a coalition of Saskatchewan farm groups. PHOTO: ALLAN DAWSON Gray. Western farmers received $135 a tonne less than they should have based on a comparison of elevator and port prices, Gray found.

For an open market to function it must be more transparent, said the coalition, noting American farmers have a lot more access to grain pricing and rail movement information.

“We have neither effective competition nor regulation that can give us an effective voice and fair treatment,” the coalition stated.

Its nine recommendations are:

• A formal costing review, with the maximum revenue entitlement adjusted accordingly; • A commitment from Ottawa to keep the maximum revenue entitlement; • Mandatory reporting of grain handling and transportation system information; • C reation of a rail oversight group that includes farmer representation; • A responsive and “meaningful” dispute resolution mechanism; • Creation of a review panel to establish provisions to

enhance the use of running right provisions; • Changes to the Canada Transportation Act support small shipper innovation, diversification and investment; • Protection for producer cars; • Allowing the Canadian Transportation Agency to investigate planned closing of underserviced or unused rail lines, and under certain conditions, order the lines be put up for sale instead of being ripped up.

“Major adjustments need to be made to ensure farmers are treated fairly in a transparent environment with long-term commitment.”

Norm Hall

allan@fbcpublishing.com

Central Asia gets new railway link The new route will enhance exports of natural gas, grain and textiles

By Marat Gurt

ak yayla, turkmenistan / reuters

T

urkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Iran inaugurated a new railway route earlier this month that will improve resourcerich Central Asia’s access to markets in the Middle East and South Asia.

The 925-kilometre stretch of railway, built jointly by the three Caspian neighbours, will ease the exchange of goods between the landlocked post-Soviet region and the countries lying along the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.

It will also accelerate shipments of goods between the Persian Gulf and South Asia on the one hand and Russia and Europe on the other.

“These are just our first steps,” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told a ceremony in Turkmenistan which marked the end of the building of the final Turkmen-Iranian link of the new route, stretching from Uzen in western Kazakhstan to Gorgan in Iran.

“This (link) will cut trade costs and make trade more efficient.”

Rouhani, accompanied by Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev and Turkmenistan’s Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, symbolically bolted up the railway’s final link with wrenches.

The initial carrying capacity of the new railway route of five million tonnes of cargo a year is set to rise to 20 million tonnes annually in 2020.

“I am confident that this new route will create new geopolitical and new geo-economic opportunities for the region’s development, as well as for our nations,” Berdymukhamedov said.

Turkmenistan, holder of the world’s fourth-largest reserves of natural gas, hopes to ship textiles and products of its nascent gasprocessing industry along the new route, consistent with its strategy of economic diversification.

Oil-rich Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest economy and grain producer, plans to boost exports of wheat to Iran and other markets of the region.

It’s estimated the railway link cost $2 billion.

The new central Asian railway, which had its opening ceremony Dec. 3, will eventually ship 20 million tonnes of goods annually — including grain — from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Iran to markets in the Middle East and South Asia. Photo: REUTERS/Marat Gurt

21

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • DECEMBER 22, 2014

The straight goods on canola variety performance Interactive database allows searches ranging from yield and maturity to lodging and height Canola Council of Canada release

ary Stanford has been re-elected as president of the Grain Growers of Canada while Mike Ammeter is the new chair of Alberta Barley.

Stanford, who farms near Magrath with wife Diane, was first elected as president in 2013 after serving three years as vicepresident for the organization. It is the national voice for 14 provincial and regional grower groups, representing 50,000 producers of wheat, durum, barley, canola, oats, corn, soybeans, pea, lentil, rye, and triticale.

Ammeter and wife Allison farm 2,300 acres near Sylvan Lake, producing grains, oilseeds and pulses. He takes over the role from Matt

Gary Stanford Sawyer, chairman from 2009 to 2014, while Jason Lenz assumes the role of vice-chairman. Born and raised in the Bentley area, Lenz is, like Ammeter, a third-generation farmer.

Both will serve for one year in their respective roles.

Bentley producer Jason Lenz (l) and Sylvan Lake farmer Mike Ammeter are the newB:8.125” vice-chair and chair of Alberta Barley. photos: supplied T:8.125” S:8.125”

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Results are in for the 2014 Canola Performance Trials (CPT). Data from the science-based, third-party variety evaluations have been uploaded to the online comparison tool at www. canolaperformancetrials.ca.

A summary booklet is also available for download at the website.

The online tool includes interactive maps and the ability to refine searches by season zone, herbicide tolerance type, yield, days to maturity, lodging, and height. Users can also compare results from 2011 to 2014.

“With this cumulative data, you can use the online tool to compare varieties based on how they performed under the varying conditions we’ve experienced over the past four years,” said Franck Groeneweg, chair of the CPT governance committee and the SaskCanola board of directors.

“No one else is providing canola growers with this level of independent information on leading genetics.”

Alberta Canola Producers Commission and its counterparts in Saskatchewan and Manitoba provide funding for the program. The B.C. Grain Producers Association conducted trials in the Peace as their means of participation. Running the trials, analyzing data, and distributing the results costs about $10 per grower, with seed companies covering $6 of that through trial participation fees.

“The whole program ends up costing each canola grower only $4,” said Groeneweg. “This is excellent value and will provide a significant return on investment, given how important it is for growers to choose the right seed for their specific needs.”

Winnipeg-based Haplotech Inc., led by Rale Gjuric, co-ordinated the trials under the guidance of a governance committee that oversees approval of varieties, protocol design, data collection, analysis and reporting, and financial management.

The CPT program includes both small-plot and large field-scale trials. Results for 2014 are based on 25 smallplot trials and 101 field-scale trials across the Prairies.

The Canola Council of Canada has set a goal of achieving 52 bushels per acre by 2025 as part of its Keep it Coming 2025 strategic plan.

Ammeter leads Alberta Barley, Grain Growers re-elects Stanford G

22

DECEMBER 22, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

AARD tool can be used to assess winter feeding sites

Digital meat-grading scanner making its way to the processing floor The device developed at U of A uses near infrared and visible light to detect fat and meat colour ALMA release

G

rading is an important step for processors, and the industry has traditionally used human graders to measure qualities such as marbling, as well as fat colour and texture. But processors are now moving towards electronic grading tools and technology.

Technologies such as the Computer Vision System’s BeefCam module have achieved up to 64 per cent accuracy in grading beef.

However, processors are always looking for more convenient and cost-effective tools that match or improve upon that percentage. A University of Alberta research team led by Heather Bruce has prototypes of two devices that combine the reading of near infrared (NIR) and visible light properties.

The first is a digital scanner for detecting the amount of crude fat and meat colour.

The team also created a light meter that detects intramuscular fat in raw beef steaks using visible or NIR light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

Both prototypes are handheld and wireless, and much smaller and manoeuvrable than current tools used in processing plants. Although

Tool evaluates site characteristics, feeding strategies, bedding and shelter management, water source management, and post-wintering site Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development release

T

Heather Bruce most current technologies rely on visible light, the team found NIR was better at detecting fat on steaks and could predict intramuscular fat with 90 per cent accuracy.

Another promising outcome was that NIR and visible light properties have accuracy similar to human graders.

“We started testing these tools on beef, but we believe that they could be used to

grade pork, lamb, and other meats,” said Bruce. “We anticipate that, with the help of industry partners, our light meter and scanner can be refined and perfected for widespread commercial use.”

Their multi-year research was supported by the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency and Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions.

Any wAy you cAlculAte it a post-harvest cash advance works for you

he Wintering Site Assessment and Design Tool can help producers identify environmental risks associated with in-field winter feeding sites and systems.

The tool can also be used to compare different situations and to adopt beneficial management practices (BMPs) to address risks, said provincial nutrient management specialist Trevor Wallace.

The greatest environmental risk from wintering sites is the potential of water contamination from run-off carrying nutrients, pathogens and sediments.

Nutrient accumulation in the soils under in-field feeding systems is another factor that can significantly increase the risk of nutrient loss. The goal is to take advantage of the nutrients from in-field feeding systems and not lose them.

The tool evaluates five main wintering site factors: site characteristics, feeding strategies, bedding and shelter management, water source management, and post-wintering site management.

The tool looks at factors such as flooding frequency, stocking rate, run-off, bedding and shelter, water system management and post-site management to determine the risk of nutrient loss.

For example, it can be used to compare bale grazing (an imported feeding system) to swath grazing (a non-imported feeding system).

“These two feeding systems differ in their risk of nutrient accumulation,” said Wallace.

“With a swath-grazing system, animals generally move down the field with the feed, meaning that the nutrients are also moved across the field. With bale grazing, the animals go to where the bales are and all the nutrients from the feed is generally deposited in a small area potentially resulting in nutrient accumulation. With a bale-grazing system we can use the bales to direct the animals where we want them to go. With a swath-grazing system they follow the swaths.”

The Wintering Site Assessment and Design Tool provides a way to assess the potential risk of a feeding system at a site and suggests BMP options to address identified risks.

“The objective is to make sure the site selected for the winter feeding system is meeting the animal’s needs, minimizes the risk to the environment, and maximizes the benefit of the in-field feeding system,” said Wallace.

The Wintering Site Assessment and Design Tool is available by calling ARD’s publication office at 1-800-292-5697, or via download at www.agriculture.alberta.ca/ manure.

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23

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • DECEMBER 22, 2014

JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS

Bill and Jean Carruthers get into the Christmas spirit, driving their horses in red and green one-horse open sleighs, across the snowy pastures north of Turner Valley, Alta. Photo: Wendy Dudley

Canola prices entering sideways trend

By Shannon VanRaes staff

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

“I wouldn’t consider this as bearish or bullish, it’s not burdensome, it’s not super tight, it’s a relatively comfortable level,” Mike Jubinville of ProFarmer Canada said at Farm Credit Canada’s Ag Outlook 2015 conference.

A sideways trend is now dominating the canola market, and that could last for months or even a couple of years, he said.

One factor to watch is ending stocks, most recently pegged at 15.5 million tonnes.

“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,” he said, adding that number could drop to 1.1. million by the end of the crop year.

But tightening stocks alone won’t boost canola prices, he added, saying the overall vegetable oil market needs to rally.

But long-term historical trends hint at a pattern.

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

Grain and oilseeds producers have just come through “a once-ina-generation paradigm shift” where prices once considered as market highs are now viewed as lows, he said. But that doesn’t mean canola producers won’t get some nasty surprises before the next bull market emerges.

“We are going to test the bottom of this again, we’re going to shock people on certain days,” he said.

Canola got “a bit of bounce” in October when meal markets drove soybeans higher, but buyers are resisting any prices higher than $440 to $450 a tonne, he said.

“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.”

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.).

Over the past two years we have delivered $200,000 to rural fire departments and emergency services.

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The DuPont Oval Logo is a registered trademark of DuPont. ®, ™, SM Trademarks and service marks licensed to Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited. © 2014 PHL.

shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com 960 2014 FIRE Year End Print Ad_Final_Alberta Farmer Express.indd 1

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24

DECEMBER 22, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Community news and events from across the province

Four life lessons from the farm that will serve you well in life

By Jennifer Blair af staff / medicine hat

“My dad’s favourite saying is, ‘We’ll see.’

For Dad, ‘we’ll see’ means you don’t make plans.”

F

ifteen-year-old Andrea De Groot has a thing or two to teach us adults about life on — and off — the farm.

And those lessons have been learned working alongside her farmer father.

“On the outside, I may look like a regular high school girl,” said De Groot, a 4-H speech contest winner from Taber, at the recent Farming Smarter Conference in Medicine Hat. “But when I put this on,” — she hoisted up a pair of insulated coveralls — “I become a farmer’s daughter.”

Lesson No. 1 is Be prepared.

“When my dad tells me to come out in -30 C weather just to help for a minute, he really means come outside for a few hours and freeze,” she said.

“So get on your stylish insulated coveralls and your muck boots, because this job is never quick.”

And you better not forget the tools, she said, or you’ll be sent straight home to get them.

“Even if I do remember the tool for the job, I may be going back, because there’s two — or even four — more jobs that need completely different tools.”

Lesson No. 2 is Be flexible.

“My dad’s favourite saying is, ‘We’ll see,’” she said. “For Dad, ‘we’ll see’ means you don’t make plans.”

On the other hand, farmers

4-H Alberta seeking regional summer assistants 4-H Alberta is accepting applications for three regional summer assistant positions.

Summer assistants provide co-ordination, planning and administrative support for multiple projects and initiatives, including summer programs and livestock shows.

Successful candidates will be detail oriented, work well with others, and willing to do some travel throughout the province.

One year of post-secondary education and a driver’s licence is required, and familiarity with 4-H and Microsoft Office Suite are assets. The positions pay from $14 to $19 an hour, and will last from approximately May 1 to Aug. 31. Applications will be accepted until Jan. 4.

Applications should be sent to 4-H branch program specialist Katelyn Strang at katelyn.strang@gov.ab.ca. — AARD release

what’s

up

Send agriculture-related meeting and event announcements to: glenn.cheater@fbcpublishing.com January 13: Alberta Urban Retail Tour, Calgary (also Jan. 15 in Edmonton): Contact: Joan Bates 403-340-7625

Andrea De Groot

January 15-16: Ladies Livestock Lessons, Strathmore Travelodge, Strathmore. Contact: Kelsey 403-948-8519 January 15-17 & 22-24: Holistic Management Course with Don and Bev Campbell, Waterhole Hall, Fairview. Contact: Stacy Pritchard 780-835-6799 January 19: Manure Management Update 2015, Lethbridge Lodge Hotel, Lethbridge. Contact: Ag-Info Centre 1-800-387-6030

Andrea De Groot has learned a lot about farming — and a little about life — from her father John. Photo: Courtesy Andrea De Groot are second to none at making last-minute plans — another lesson in flexibility, she said.

“One year, we booked a trip to Mexico and left two days later.”

Be resilient is lesson No. 3 “Don’t be disappointed when the plans you may or may not have made don’t turn out,” she said, adding that “there may be even better things in store down the road.”

“I’ve learned to accept life’s little disappointments and to realize that, sometimes, things come up that are more important than the old plans.”

Her last lesson is Be dependable.

“I know I can always count on my dad no matter what,” she said.

“Through the good and bad and the changes in plans, I can

count on my dad to work hard and get the job done.”

Indeed, being a farmer’s daughter has prepared De Groot well for “the real world.”

“The lessons I’ve learned will serve me well,” she said. “These lessons have made me a person you can count on. Just like my dad.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

Reporter’s Notebook

Herding cattle isn’t horseplay for beginner rider

By Jennifer Blair af staff / lacombe

O

ne sunny afternoon in mid-November, I found myself on the back of a big bay gelding staring out over a field of Corriente cattle and wondering what the hell I was doing there.

I recently took up horseback riding after a 25-year hiatus, and until that afternoon, I had been perfectly content riding slow circles around an indoor ring.

But when my instructor (Roy, a retired jockey and current rancher) said we were going to chase the cows back home, I had little choice but to follow him out into the snowy pasture.

We started out well enough, just as I expected given my weeks of walking Bo around a ring (as though that could truly prepare me for herding cattle). Bo followed close behind Roy’s horse with very little prodding from me. And pretty soon, instinct and training kicked in — his, not mine — and Bo was off, trying to corral some wayward steers just as I was trying to corral him.

Oh yes, old Bo knew his job and didn’t want some greenhorn city girl calling the shots.

Eventually, I gave him his head, only tugging on the reins when he started trotting a little too fast for this beginner. But the cows were happy in the field, hiding in the boggy underbrush where I dared not venture, and I was happy to let Roy take the dogs out later to bring them home.

My first foray into herding cattle ended nearly as it had began, with me wondering what I was doing there — and how I got so lucky in the first place.

Now, I know there isn’t a lot of room for romantic notions in agriculture. The reality is most ranchers can’t, or don’t want to, chase cattle on the back of a horse.

But I think there must be something special about the ones who do — the ranchers who choose to follow in a long tradition of herding cattle on horseback despite the challenges that come with it.

And for a greenhorn city girl who’s been riding around a dirt ring for weeks, chasing cows on a horse in the snow was a romantic notion indeed. jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

January 20: Cow-Calfenomics, Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Grande Prairie (also Jan. 21 in Barrhead, and Jan. 22 in Vermilion). Contact: Ag-Info Centre 1-800-387-6030 January 20-21: Agronomy Update 2015, Lethbridge Lodge Hotel, Lethbridge. Contact: Ag-Info Centre 1-800-387-6030 January 22: Tiffin Conference 2015, Lethbridge Lodge, Lethbridge. Contact: Leslie Warren 403-845-5694 January 27: On-Farm Retail Tour: WOW (Workshop on Wheels), bus tour starts and ends in Leduc (stops at Gone Green Farms/Westerose; Brown Eggs and Lamb/Lacombe; and Billyco Junction Gardens/Lacombe).

Contact: Delores Serafin 780-427-4611 January 27-29: FarmTech 2015, EXPO Centre at Northlands, Edmonton.

Contact: 1-844-232-3584.

February 9: Getting into Restaurants workshop, Agri-Food Business Centre, Leduc. Contact: Eileen Kotowich 780-853-8223

FARMING IS ENOUGH OF A GAMBLE...

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

1-800-665-1362

25

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • DECEMBER 22, 2014

1-800-665-1362 • abclassifieds@fbcpublishing.com

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

display Classified

• Minimum charge — $15.00 per week for first 25 words or less and an additional 60 cents per word for every word over 25. Additional bolding 75 cents per word. GST is extra. $2.50 billing charge is added to billed ads only.

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• 10% discount for prepaid ads. If phoning in your ad you must pay with VISA or MasterCard to qualify for discount.

• Ask about our Priority Placement • Prepayment Bonus: Prepay for 3 weeks and get a bonus of 2 weeks; bonus weeks run consecutively and cannot be used separately from original ad; additions and changes accepted only during first 3 weeks.

• If you wish to have replies sent to a confidential box number, please add $5.00 per week to your total.

Count eight words for your address. Example: Ad XXXX, Alberta Farmer Express , Box 9800, Winnipeg, R3C 3K7.

• Your complete name & address must be submitted to our office before publication. (This information will be kept confidential & will not appear in the ad unless requested.)

• Advertising copy deviating in any way from the regular classified style will be considered display and charged at the display rate of $34.30 per column inch ($2.45 per agate line).

• Minimum charge $34.30 per week.

• Illustrations and logos are allowed with full border.

• Advertising rates are flat with no discount for frequency of insertion or volume of space used.

• Terms: Payment due upon receipt of invoice.

• Price quoted does not include GST.

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

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AGREEMENT The publisher reserves the right to refuse any or all advertising for any reason stated or unstated.

Advertisers requesting publication of either display or classified advertisements agree that should the advertisement be omitted from the issue ordered for whatever reason, the Alberta Farmer Express shall not be held liable. It is also agreed that in the event of an error appearing in the published advertisement, the Alberta Farmer Express accepts no liability beyond the amount paid for that portion of the advertisement in which the error appears or affects. Claims for adjustment are limited to errors appearing in the first insertion only.

While every endeavor will be made to forward box number replies as soon as possible, we accept no liability in respect to loss or damage alleged to a rise through either failure or delay in forwarding such replies, however caused, whether by negligence or otherwise.

(2 weeks prior)

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

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

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

NAME_ ___________________________________________________________ ______PHONE_#_______________________________ ADDRESS_____________________________________________ ______TOWN_____________________________________________ PROVINCE____________________________ _____POSTAL_CODE__________________________

All classified ads are non-commissionable.

advertising deadline Wednesday noon

Livestock_Equipment_ Livestock_Services_&_Vet_Supplies_ Miscellaneous_Articles_ Miscellaneous_Articles_Wanted_ Musical_ Notices_ On-Line_Services_

CERTIFIED SEED Cereal_Seeds Forage_Seeds Oilseeds Pulse_Crops Specialty_Crops

AD ORDER FORM

adveRtising Rates & infoRmation

RegulaR Classified

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

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

PLEASE_PRINT_YOUR_AD_BELOW_ ______________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CAUTION The Alberta Farmer Express, while assuming no responsibility for advertisements appearing in its columns, exercises the greatest care in an endeavor to restrict advertising to wholly reliable firms or individuals.

However, please do not send money to a Manitoba Co-operator box number. Buyers are advised to request shipment C.O.D. when ordering from an unknown advertiser, thus minimizing the chance of fraud and eliminating the necessity of a refund where the goods have already been sold.

At Farm Business Communications we have a firm commitment to protecting your privacy and security as our customer. Farm Business Communications will only collect personal information if it is required for the proper functioning of our business. As part of our commitment to enhance customer service, we may share this personal information with other strategic business partners. For more information regarding our Customer Information Privacy Policy, write to: Information Protection Officer, Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1.

Occasionally we make our list of subscribers available to other reputable firms whose products and services might be of interest to you.

If you would prefer not to receive such offers, please contact us at the address in the preceding paragraph, or call (204)-954-1456.

The editors and journalists who write, contribute and provide opinions to Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications attempt to provide accurate and useful opinions, information and analysis.

However, the editors, journalists and Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications, cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and the editors as well as Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communication assume no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any reader for this publication based on any and all information provided.

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

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❏

VISA

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26

DECEMBER 22, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

BUILDINGS

BUILDINGS

TRACTORS Various

HAYING & HARVESTING

HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING

HAYING & HARVESTING Baling Equipment 1991 HESSTON 4655 INLINE square baler, $6,500; 1033 NH square bale PU wagon, $4,000; 1948 wide front Farmall M w/live hyds (2 outlets) & spare parts, $3,200; DEMKIW & YAKIMETZ 30-in. breaking plow rubber tires, hyd life, manufactured in Vegreville, $1,500 OBO. All equip can be delivered to Edmonton. Call (780)841-2984, La Crete, AB.

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

$28,418 When you go with steel you get the right deals!

Pioneer One Steel Buildings

Call toll free 1 (877) 525-2004 or see us online at www.pioneeronesteel.com STEEL STORAGE CONTAINERS, 20-ft & 40-ft. Wind, water & rodent proof.

1-866-517-8335, (403)540-4164, (403)226-1722 magnate@telus.net

BUSINESS SERVICES BUSINESS SERVICES Crop Consulting

FARM CHEMICAL SEED COMPLAINTS 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

FARM MACHINERY FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous 1999 CAT 460 1,400 sep. hrs, rake up, $45,000; MacDon 962, 36-ft pick-up reel, $14,000; MacDon 871 CAT 460 adapter, $1,000. Call:(403)665-2341, Craigmyle, AB. ACREAGE EQUIPMENT: CULTIVATORS, DISCS, Plows, Blades, Post pounders, Haying Equipment, Etc. (780)892-3092, Wabamun, Ab. CASE 621 LOADER, 3-YD; 1996 Ford 7.3 Diesel, 5-spd, XL350 w/Haul-all compactor; 1980 Ford 8000 series gas tandem, 15-ft gravel box & hoist. (306)238-7501.

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 Machinery Wanted

RON SAUER

MACHINERY LTD. (403) 540-7691 ronsauer@shaw.ca

846 Ford Versatile Designation 6, 4WD Tractor 1990, newer 18.4 x 38 dualled tires,12 speed manual, 4 hyds., 6036 hrs., looks & runs good .............................. $28,500 555 JD Crawler Loader, 250 hrs. on rebuilt engine, good condition ................................................... $17,500 8070 AC Tractor, FWA, wheel base extended, duals .. $22,500 275 MF Tractor, diesel, multi power, 3 pth, new 18.4 x 30, front weights, loader available, looks and runs great ... $12,500 B275 IHC Tractor & Loader ................................ $3,500 51’ Degelman Landroller, only done 3,000 acres, as new.... .......................................................... $40,000 Degelman Dozer Frame MF 4000 Series 4WD .. $1,000 41’ Flexicoil 300 B Chisel Plow, 3 bar harrows, excellent condition .............................................. $12,500 Flexicoil 6 Run Seed Treater .............................. $1,000 134’ Flexicoil S68XL Sprayer, 2007, suspended boom, auto rate, joystick, rinse tank, triple quick jets, auto boom height, electric end nozzle & foam marker............. $32,500 100’ 65XL Flexicoil Sprayer, complete withwindguards,elec. end nozzles single tips, auto rate,excellent condition ... $12,500 10 Wheel MATR (Italy) Trailer Type V-Hayrake, hyd. fold, as new.................................................. $5,000 7 x 1200 (39.37’) Sakundiak Auger, 18 HP Koehler engine, c/w sweep hyd. drive....................................$2,500 7 x 41’ Farm King Grain Auger, nice condition.......$1750 1390 Brandt XL Swing Auger, elec. power swing, spout, adj. axle, as new ...................................... $22,500 225 Kello-Bilt Tandem Disc, 28” smooth front & rear blades, 10.5” spacing, oil, bath bearings, line new ............ $62,500 50’ Brandt Heavy Harrow, 27.5 x 5/8 tines, low acres ........................................................... $32,500 47’ 820 Flexicoil Chisel Plow, 4 bar harrows, line new ............................................................ $67,500 2009 GMC Topkick 20 ft. Grain Truck, automatic, silage gauge, air brake suspension,approx. 7,000 kms ..$105,000 40’ 5710 Bourgault SS Air Drill, 9.8” spacing, 3” steel packers w/ 3225 tb tank, c/w 3rd tank, new augers, drive sprockets, main clutch, excellent condition...... $25,000 New E-Kay 7”, 8”, 9” Bin Sweeps available.........Call 8” Wheat Heart Transfer Auger, hydraulic drive .. $1,500 New Outback RTK BASE stn ...................................... Call New Outback MAX & STX guidance & mapping ...In Stock New Outback E-Drive, TC’s .................................In Stock New Outback E-Drive X, c/w free E turns ............In Stock New Outback S-Lite guidance ............ **In Stock** $900 New Outback VSI Swather Steering Kit...........In Stock New Outback E-Drive Hyd. kit, JD 40 series ........ $1,000 Used Outback E-Drive Hyd. kits..............................$500

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Wanted

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

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

Go public with an ad in the Alberta Farmer Express classifieds. Phone 1-800-665-1362.

FARMING IS ENOUGH OF A GAMBLE...

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

Combines

AG DEALS TO GO!

Big Tractor Parts, Inc. Geared For The Future

COMBINES Accessories RECONDITIONED COMBINE HEADERS. RIGID & flex, most makes & sizes; also header transports.

Ed Lorenz, (306)344-4811 or Website: www.straightcutheaders.com Paradise Hill, SK.

TracTors TRACTORS Various

JD 2130 3 pth with loader JD 4255 FWA, 3 pth hitch, ldr. avail.

JD 4255 2 WD, ldr. available JD 4440, loader available JD 6420 FWA, c/w ldr. 3 pth hitch CASE IH 4700 Vibra Shank, 34ft.

Clamp on Duals, 20.8x38-18.4x38

STEIGER TRACTOR SPECIALIST

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

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

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

FINANCE, TRADES WELCOME 780-696-3527, BRETON, AB

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

1-800-665-1362.

SPRAYING EQUIPMENT Sprayers

SPRAYING EQUIPMENT Sprayers

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

www.penta.ca

1-800-587-4711

SEED / FEED / GRAIN SEED/FEED/GRAIN Feed Grain BUYING ALL TYPES OF feed grain. Also have market for light offgrade or heated, picked up on the farm.

Eisses Grain Marketing 1-888-882-7803, La-combe.

FEED GRAIN WANTED! ALSO buying; Light, tough, or offgrade grains. “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252 Looking for a hand around the farm? Place a help wanted ad in the classifieds. Call 1-800-665-1362.

SEED/FEED/GRAIN Grain Wanted

1-800-665-1362

JD 9400, 9420, 9520, 8970 JD 9860, 9760, 9750, 9650, 9600 JD 9430, 9530, 9630 Case STX 375, 425, 430, 450, 480, 500, 530 CIH 8010-2388, 2188 combine CIH 435Q, 535Q, 450Q, 550Q, 600Q pto avail.

JD 4710, 4720, 4730, 4830, 4920, 4930 SP sprayers JD 9770 & 9870 w/CM & duals CIH 3185, 3230, 3330, 4430, 4420 sprayers

Stretch your ADVERTISING DOLLAR!

4955 JD low hrs, 3 pth, very clean S670/680/690 JD Combine low hrs 4730 JD Sprayer, 100 ft.

JD 8770, 4WD, 24 speed with PTO Case IH 9170, 4WD 854 Rogator SP Sprayer, complete with JD auto steer, swath pro

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

BUYING:

GOOD SELECTION OF JD & CASE SP SPRAYERS AND 4WD TRACTORS

HEATED & GREEN CANOLA

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

TILLAGE & SEEDING Air Drills

• Competitive Prices • Prompt Movement • Spring Thrashed “ON FARM PICK UP”

1-877-250-5252 TILLAGE & SEEDING Air Drills

TECHNOLOGY MADE SIMPLE

$8.36 COST PER ACRE

MB and Eastern SK, call Brent at (204) 771-8244 AB and Western SK, call Larry at (403) 510-7894 www.versatile-ag.com/seeding

*Model AC600 shown.

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

1-888-413-3325

Based on the 40' ML930 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

27

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • DECEMBER 22, 2014

SEED/FEED/GRAIN Feed Grain

SEED/ FEED/GRAIN Feed Grain

TRAVEL

TRAVEL

TRAVEL

BUYING:

FEED OATS

• Mildew • Damaged

• Wild Oats • Offgrade

• Light • Tough

“ON FARM PICK UP”

Prairie-Wide Display Classifieds

MORE OPTIONS TO SAVE YOU MONEY

1-877-250-5252 SEED/FEED/GRAIN Grain Wanted

TRAILERS

BOW VALLEY TRADING LTD.

TRAILERS Trailers Miscellaneous

WE BUY DAMAGED GRAIN Wheat, Barley, Oats, Peas, etc.

Green or Heated Canola/Flax

1-877-641-2798

Farming is enough of a gamble, advertise in the Alberta Farmer Express classified section. It’s a sure thing. 1-800-665-1362.

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

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

Great rates whatever you choose

WWW.TRAILERGUY.CA 80 MISC. Semi-trailers check web for pics & prices. (306)222-2413 Aberdeen/Saskatoon, SK.

TRAVEL

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

Contact Sharon

*Portion of tours may be Tax Deductible

Select Holidays

Email: sharon.komoski@fbcpublishing.com

1-800-661-4326

www.selectholidays.com

CALL 1-866-388-6284

AG DEALS TO GO!

www.milliganbiofuels.com

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

TRACTORS Various

TRACTORS Various

TRACTORS Various

TRACTORS Various

TRACTORS Various

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 »

28

DECEMBER 22, 2014 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

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2014-11-19 2:19 PM

Client: BrettYoung Project: A World of Knowledge...

Publication: Alberta Farmer Express Size: 10.25” x 15.5”

Agency: ON Communication Inc Agency Contact: Jen Grozelle