Alberta farmer express by Farm Business Communications

A FLOWERING BUSINESS

BULLDOZERS BANNED Rancher turns down $1 million, donates land for a provincial park » PG 32

Carolyn Bondy got into daylilies by accident, and now sells them across the country » PG 3 Publications Mail Agreement # 40069240

V o l u m e 1 2 , n u m b e r 1 7 A u g u s t 1 7 , 2 0 1 5

Doing the right thing — and getting paid for it

A FRIEND IN HARD TIMES

ALUS program shares cost of stewardship projects with farmers By JENNIFER BLAIR AF staff / Sylvan Lake

ike most farmers, Kevin Ziola wants to be a good steward of the land — but it’s been tough for the thirdgeneration farmer to balance his conservation efforts with his bottom line. “As a cattle farmer, I believe it’s important to work with nature, not against it,” said Ziola, who runs 200 head of cattle on 10 quarters near Sylvan Lake with wife Roxanne. “But we don’t make lots of money, so it’s hard to put away a little extra cash for (conservation). It wouldn’t be that high on the list because machinery, cattle, and feed take priority.” But thanks to a national program called ALUS (pronounced ‘Alice’ and short for Alternative Land Use Services), farmers like the Ziolas can now get paid to retain or reconstruct natural areas such as wetlands, grasslands, and riparian areas. Conceived a decade ago by Keystone Agricultural Producers, Manitoba’s main farm group, the program spread east to Ontario and P.E.I. and arrived in the County of Vermilion River in 2010.

When drought sent hay prices soaring, Cindy Wilinski harnessed the power of social media to get affordable hay to those who need it most. Read the full story on Page 12. PHOTO: WENDY DUDLEY

A golden future for corn? Ambitious plans to develop early-maturing varieties are fuelling predictions of millions of acres of corn on the Prairies BY JEFF MELCHIOR

see RIGHT THING } page 7

AF Contributor

hanks — or no thanks — to routine early frosts and insufficient heat, corn has rarely been considered a profitable crop in most of Alberta. But that may all be changing. DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto are pouring millions into developing new varieties and, they’re predicting Prairie corn acreage will soar. “The biggest objective is getting the corn crop to establish itself and complete its life cycle before the first killing frost in the fall,” said Steven King, evaluation zone and breeding zone lead with DuPont Pioneer. The global giant recently opened a 22,000-square-foot

GEARING UP:

research centre in Lethbridge to further the development of corn hybrids that require less heat units. Earlier this year, it released a limited amount of its P7005AM hybrid, which requires 2,000 heat units. While that’s better than the usual 2,200 heat units for earlymaturing corn, the company wants to go beyond that, said King. “To give more confidence to producers across a broad geography we really need to have hybrids that are 100 to 200 heat units earlier than that,” he said. Even without earlier-maturing hybrids, corn production in Alberta has been expanding. In 2014, it reached 40,000 seeded acres, the majority destined to be used for animal feed. But it’s not an easy crop to grow.

Insufficient heat units in his area is the biggest challenge for Clinton Adams, a mixed grain producer and feedlot operator in the Lethbridge area. He typically plants 300 to 400 acres of corn on irrigated land every year, with most going towards silage in his 5,000- to 6,000-head feedlot. “I tried grain corn five years ago but there weren’t enough heat units to make that work,” said Adams, who serves as a director for the Alberta Corn Committee. “I had 100 bushels of combine corn but you need about 150 bushels to make some money. I wound up rolling my corn, cracking it and using it as distillers corn.” Adams has invested a lot of money into corn production over the years, including a row planter, corn header and corn

roller, but he needs higher yields before greatly expanding his corn acres. “It’s exceptionally more expensive to grow. We always say if you don’t get over 15 tonnes per acre you’re not really making much money — you’re just breaking even. We usually get 20 tonnes per acre. Most guys, if they get under 15 tonnes per acre of corn they’d rather grow barley silage.”

High hopes

Despite these challenges, major hybrid seed developers are bullish on Western Canada’s prospects for becoming a Corn Belt. In 2013, Monsanto pledged $100 million to develop earlydeveloping corn hybrids over the coming decade. The company

see corn in Alberta } page 6

CP says it’s boosting capacity } PAGE 8

news » inside this week

inside » HARVEST DILEMMA Knowing when to swath canola is just a nightmare this year

AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

livestock

crops

columNists

BRIGHT IDEA FOR TESTING TIMES

THIS PUTS MONEY IN YOUR JEANS

COOL boxing match heads into the next round

Brenda Schoepp It’s time to talk about the real issues in supply management

INTENSIVELY PRODUCTIVE Rotational grazing advocates say you can triple carrying capacity

Laura Rance

Cindy Wilinski has a hit on her hands matching up hay buyers and sellers

Not understanding how grading works can cost you serious dollars

4 5

Sylvain Charlebois

While the grocery sector innovates, food processing fades away

Watch what you spray — or the entire grain industry could pay Grain buyers are testing pesticide residues like never before By JENNIFER BLAIR AF staff / Olds

hen it comes to pesticide residues, the world is watching like never before. “Everybody is looking more at food safety and health safety — there’s more scrutiny all the time with all the chemicals that we’re using,” said Jim Smolik, assistant chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission. He cited China as an example. The grain commission randomly samples grain vessels leaving the country for more than 120 different chemicals, but China is testing imports for more than 400 chemicals, Smolik said at the Making the Grade workshop in late July.

Increased residue testing means Canadian grain is facing increased scrutiny abroad, says Canadian Grain Commission assistant chief commissioner Jim Smolik. PHOTO: JENNIFER BLAIR And what’s allowed — called maximum residue limits — is also in flux. Some nations use the internationally recognized standard called the Codex Alimentarius, but others don’t.

“As countries choose to follow Codex limits or choose to follow their own, we have to be cognizant that the more we’re finding as far as residues in grain, the more that they’re aware of it as well,” said Smolik. “They have the testing capabilities, and they’re going to continue to test.” In countries that don’t have a maximum residue limit for certain chemicals, the default will be zero, he said. “Zero means zero, and it can become hugely costly to the industry if we get locked out of certain countries.”

In the spotlight

This year, producers delivering grain may be asked to declare in writing whether they’ve used quinclorac (the active ingredient in several different herbicides) or chlormequat (the active ingredient in plant

growth regulators such as Engage Agro’s Manipulator.) “With chlormequat, one of the issues is that it just hasn’t got the approvals in the United States yet, so that’s why these companies are asking that you sign that waiver,” said Smolik. “If they start shipping into the United States and it’s not approved there, it becomes a market access issue.” Glyphosate is also facing heavier scrutiny after the World Health Organization issued a claim that it is “probably” a carcinogen. Because of that, producers “have to read and follow label instructions,” said Smolik. Like other chemicals, glyphosate enters and remains in the plant at low levels, and early application of the chemical can compound that. “Monsanto’s instruction is that anything over 30 per cent

head moisture is going to be retained in the seed,” said Smolik. “If you’re spraying, even though the majority of the crop is 30 per cent or under, those areas that are green are certainly not under 30 per cent. “The application rates and crop maturity are key if you’re going to be applying that.” And Canada’s trade partners may start pushing maximum residue limits lower and lower if they see increases in residues, said Smolik. “These are the things that are going to start to impact our ability to sell grain into the world markets,” he said. “These are all tools that you guys use that are registered in Canada, but if they don’t have approvals in other countries at this point, it becomes a market access issue.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

A big test for Alberta’s wild horses Advocates who want to save the animals hope DNA testing will prove they qualify as native to the province By Alexis Kienlen AF STAFF

re Alberta’s wild horses native to the province or just domestic horses gone feral? A new DNA testing initiative aims to settle that question, and potentially end the battle over the wild horse cull. “We’re trying to determine if there are any special genetics among the wildies of the eastern slopes so we can decide which steps need to be taken for the conservation of these animals,” said Darrell Glover, an Olds-area horse enthusiast and retired oilman who founded the group Help Alberta Wildies (HAWS). Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development maintains the 900 or so wild horses that roam from Kananaskis to Nordegg are descendants of animals used in logging and mining operations in the early 1900s. But Glover said he believes they are descendants of the Canadian horse, a breed developed in the East in the 1600s, mixed with draft horse lineage. “That doesn’t make them any less special,” said Glover. “The Canadian horse and all breeds of draft are on the endangered list. We still feel that they’re special enough to deserve conservation and protection. We believe the government’s agenda is total eradication. And that’s what we’re fighting.” HAWS, which has about 25 active members, is working with equine conservationist Victoria Tollman of North Carolina and Gus Cothran, a geneticist at Texas A&M University, who has one of the world’s largest databases of horse

Wild horses have many passionate supporters but others say they overgraze pastures and can pose a disease threat. PHOTO: Help Alberta Wildies genetics. Cothran and Tollman came to Alberta to see the wild horses, and have put together the study to determine their genetic makeup. “There have been so many theories as to where these horses are connected back to,” said Glover. “We’re really hoping that in 12 to 16 months, we could have some answers.” Cothran will need about 100 hair samples from the wild horses, which will be collected from animals that have been captured or rescued from the wild. “We go out and take photos of the horses in their captive environment. A number of them are tame enough that we can go and get hair from their tails and manes,” said Glover.

Since domestic horses have been released over the years, the wild horses will have bred with them, making their genetic makeup even harder to determine. “That’s why we’re getting the genetic specialist, to figure out where they go back to. Clearly there had to be horses here before mining and logging. Where did they come from?” said Glover. It’s hoped the findings will provide fodder to advocate for preservation of the wildies, but if it is determined their ancestors were horses that escaped or were let loose, then the fight will be over and the group will have to accept it, said Glover. HAWS would also like to see a study done on the wild horse populations and their impact on the environment. “Our basic position at HAWS is that if you don’t have the science, and if you don’t know how many are too many, why are you continuing to cull when there is a possibility for contraception? We just don’t see the logic in it,” said Glover. Last winter, another wild horse advocacy group, the Wild Horses of Alberta Society (WHOAS), negotiated a five-year pilot project that will allow the group to test a contraceptive vaccine for wild mares, and adopt out captured animals. HAWS and WHOAS used to work together until last fall, when opinions differed on some issues. HAWS doesn’t believe in a cull and would like to get the population of wild horses to about 2,000 so that the herd can become more sustainable and genetic diversity can be maintained. Anyone who has a wild horse or knows of one that has been captured can contact Glover by email at hawwildies@ gmail.com. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • AUGUST 17, 2015

Landscape crops lucrative for Alberta growers Two central Alberta farmers have branched out into a fast-growing niche market — landscape plant production By JENNIFER BLAIR

AF staff / Red Deer County

he grass really is greener when it comes to landscaping crops — and the ornamentals smell pretty sweet, too. “The market as a whole has been growing 10 per cent a year for the last 20 years, and the economic forecasts show that it’s only going to increase,” said Joel Beatson, executive director of Landscape Alberta. “Gardening is still the No. 1 hobby in Canada, and as the baby boomers start to retire, there’s going to be a greater demand.” With a farm gate value of around $123 million and more than 75 producers across the province, Alberta’s landscape agriculture sector is drawing traditional farmers who are looking to make a premium for their crops — on a lot less land. “We’re not commodity controlled the way a lot of other crops are, so growers can set their own prices, and the market thrives,” said Beatson. But there are challenges. Each crop comes with a learning curve and many have a long growing cycle — between five to seven years for trees and up to three years for sod. And there’s no crop insurance. “When you have weather issues, it can be even more devastating,” he said. “If it was one year away from harvest, you have four or five years of production time put into a product that you’re not going to be able to sell.” And it’s no surprise labour is another challenge. The industry employs about 17,000 Albertans, making it second only to cattle as an ag employer. “When you have to hand prune 10,000 trees, that can only be done by people,” noted Beatson. But despite the challenges, business is booming. Here’s how two central Alberta farm families are making a go of growing landscaping crops.

Mountain Sod and Seed Farm

The number of sod operations in Alberta has more than doubled in the past five years, but the Mountain family got in on the ground floor. “We’ve been in this business for over 50 years now,” said Peter Mountain, co-owner of Mountain Sod and Seed Farm near Innisfail. “My dad started it by growing Kentucky bluegrass seed and he harvested it for the seed purposes, not for the turf.” In the mid-1960s, the Mountains were approached by a Calgary landscaping company wanting to cut some sod using a small walk-behind machine — a completely novel idea for the family’s patriarch. “My dad said, ‘I’d have to see that to believe it,’” said Mountain. “Well, they brought their little walkbehind machine here and cut it one foot wide. That was the first sod that was harvested here.” Today it’s a fully automated sodstacking harvester, and the varieties have changed dramatically, too. “The varieties we used in those days were more of a forage-quality seed,” said Mountain. “The newer ones are what they call dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties of Kentucky bluegrass. They grow shorter and get denser quicker, and they can tolerate a lot more mowing and a lot shorter mowing.” The Mountains test new varieties to see how they perform in Alberta’s growing conditions and add ones they like to their own seed mixes. “We don’t buy the seed premixed,” said Mountain. “We buy

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to market landscaping crops, says Mountain Sod and Seed Farm co-owner Peter Mountain. PHOTOs: JENNIFER BLAIR the straight strains, and we blend our own percentages of seed with our seed mixer so we physically see ourselves what’s going in the seed mix.” Seeding takes place from early May to mid-August, and requires “a lot of preparation.” “You want that field to be like a pool table. If you have a rough field, you get waste. You start throwing it away at $3 a roll, that hurts.” A Pulvi-Mulcher, which has both packers and diggers, prepares the ground, which is seeded twice — straight one way and then at a slight angle “to break the pattern up.” They use about 50 pounds of seed per acre. “If you get really good seed — the best there is — maybe 80 per cent germinates,” said Mountain. That drops when seed is stored, so the goal is to get new seed annually. As a perennial plant, the grass will regrow, but the Mountains don’t use the regrowth in their harvest “unless (they) absolutely have to.” “We used to do it quite a bit, but now we’re running on the field with the big trucks and the tractors harvesting when it’s wet,” he said. “To try to get a good cut off of there next time, your quality is down. We make a point to work it up and reseed.” Sod takes up to two years to mature and the Mountains rotate with wheat or barley — meaning they only get three sod crops off a decade on their 200 acres. “It’s the same with any other crop. You can’t keep cropping continually and expect it to produce properly.” And they face a different type of race at harvest — sod should be installed within 24 hours of being cut. “I’ve heard of guys having it spoil on the truck between here and Grande Prairie,” said Mountain. So they market mainly to central Alberta, and most of their business comes from word of mouth. “If you sell a customer a good product and he’s happy, he’ll tell a couple of people. If you sell a customer some poor-quality product, he’ll tell everybody,” said Mountain. “My dad always said, ‘If you’ve got a good-quality product — no matter what it is — you will sell some. If you’ve got a poor-quality product, you’ve got to give it away.’ And we’re not in the business of giving turf away.”

Gable House Farm and Gardens

Carolyn and Jeff Bondy never set out to become daylily producers when they retired to Carolyn’s family farm near Sylvan Lake. “It kind of came serendipitously to us,” said Carolyn. “We wanted to buy a cargo trailer, and we ended up buying the (seller’s) daylily business too.”

The couple started with 70 varieties of daylilies and a steep learning curve. Five years later, they grow more than 450 varieties, with customers across Canada. “We’ve fallen in love with them,” said Carolyn. “It’s a wonderful crop to grow. You wouldn’t necessarily think of it as a crop, but it is.” Over the years, the Bondys have had to learn which cultivars will work in Alberta’s climate. “What we have here, we’ve tested before we approve them for sale and determine whether they’ll be worthwhile keeping,” said Jeff. “There’s a lot of plant material that comes out that’s tested for Zone 4, but we don’t live in Zone 4,” Carolyn added. “I’m really happy to test the daylilies for our zone (Zone 2).” The Bondys only grow registered varieties. “Registered daylilies are like registered animals,” said Carolyn. “They’ve gone through a process and there’s a family history you can trace as to what’s in their lineage. “We don’t just sell daylilies that

Daylily farming is a labour of love for Carolyn Bondy and her husband Jeff. have been cooked up in somebody’s backyard.” New cultivars from across the country are trialled in their small test plots. “First of all, we want to see if they’re going to winter,” said Carolyn, adding that no mulch is used for insulation during the testing phase. “The next thing we want to see is what kind of pretty face we’re going to have and what kind of foliage we’re going to see. Is it going to have nice, clean foliage that doesn’t brown by midsummer?” The couple also wants to see how quickly the plants will multiply. “They don’t run — they multiply from the middle outward — but some of them are slow, and some of them are quick.” But one thing the different cultivars have in common is their surprising hardiness. “Our garden suffered from drought to begin with,” said Jeff. “It was so dry here, and we got rice-like hail early in the season. We also had two killing frosts. But

the plants did quite nicely in spite of all that.” They also ship well, said Carolyn. When ready for harvest — any time between spring and late summer — clumps are divided into two or three separate plants, cleaned, trimmed of all leaves, and put in the mail. Even after two weeks in transit, they’re usually good to go. “After that period of time, you have to soak them and then plant them and keep them hydrated for about two weeks,” said Carolyn. Most sales come from the Internet or word of mouth, and the couple doesn’t sell south of the border because that requires “phytosanitary certificates.” Annual sales have hit $10,000 and the daylilies are multiplying so fast that supply is outstripping demand. But the Bondys are at the limit of what they can handle. “Jeff and I can’t manage any more on our own with just the two of us,” said Carolyn. jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

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2015-07-24 11:17 AM

AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

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

Reporters

The labelling law and the damage done

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

The Americans’ lowballing of damage caused by COOL is part of a new battle strategy that could spell trouble for Canada

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BY LAURA RANCE

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MANITOBA CO-OPERATOR EDITOR

t’s no secret that Canadian livestock groups and the federal government would like nothing better than to see the U.S. surrender and repeal its country-of-origin labelling (COOL) scheme. It appears, however, that those efforts are bogged down once again. Firstly, we’re in the midst of a federal election campaign. Even if Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government gets the go-ahead to start imposing retaliatory duties to the tune of $3 billion on imported American goods, it is an uneasy fit with the goal of wooing voters. As well, the U.S. has sought an arbitration panel ruling on the level of punitive sanctions Canada is proposing to impose. Not surprisingly, the American view of how much damage COOL has done to the Canadian pork and beef sectors differs from Canada’s. Ottawa is arguing for the ability to impose sanctions on imported U.S. goods in the order of just over $3 billion. The U.S. is suggesting a more appropriate figure for retaliation measures is $43.22 million. (See story on page 9.) The $2.96-billion discrepancy comes down to the different methods each side used to determine how much damage is being done. The Canadian submission looked at the difference between the U.S. and imported livestock prices and trade flows. The U.S. used a model that analyzed how trade flows would differ if COOL was withdrawn against a 2014 baseline that factors in external influences. It will be up to the arbitration panel to decide which methodology is the right one.

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Behind the political wrangling is a growing number of people wanting to know where their food comes from BY HARWOOD D. SCHAFFER AND DARYLL E. RAY

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

previous arbitration rulings, trade sanctions can only be calculated based on the value of lost trade, not the effect on domestic prices. As well, while implementing COOL caused high costs to the industry at the beginning, those costs would have diminished over time, it argues, and “does not consider ‘full repeal’ as advocated by Mexico and Canada to be the only available option for compliance.” In that vein, although the U.S. House of Representatives has already passed a bill to repeal the law, the U.S. Senate is currently considering a bill that would establish a voluntary COOL scheme. The logic behind this initiative is that times have changed in the food business since COOL was first made into law. Consumers are much more vocal about their right to know where their food is coming from and how it has been produced and handled. As a result, more companies are opting for a fully traceable value chain as part of their marketing strategy. We’ve been critical in the past of the Canadian fight to have COOL quashed. We don’t argue that it isn’t trade distorting, but that the money spent fighting would have been better spent on a branding program that establishes Canadian meat as a premium product rather than fighting for the right to blend in with everyone else. We’ve also suggested that seeking compensation, rather than a repeal of COOL, might be a good way to fund such a program. If the USTR position wins out, Canada’s victory in the COOL fight may prove to be a hollow one indeed.

Consumers may have last say in COOL

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It’s notable that based on the way this has gone in determining whether COOL is trade distorting, the odds are decidedly in Canada’s favour. But assessing how much damage it has caused is a complex question. The USTR argues that it can’t be calculated solely on price differences and trade flows because there are a host of other factors that may have also influenced markets during the time COOL has been in force. Those factors could include the effects of the recession, the ongoing downward trend in beef consumption, weather shocks such as the 2012 drought, and disease outbreaks such as PEDv. They could also include changes in fuel costs, exchange rates, and unemployment or changes in biofuel policies that affect the demand for feed grains. Canada wants compensation for export revenue losses, which the U.S. says it has set unrealistically high at US$1.61 billion annually, considering Canada’s total export value for affected livestock in 2014 was US$1.744 billion. In other words, “Canada claims the value of its exports would increase 92 per cent if the United States came into compliance. Mexico makes similar claims,” the USTR says. “On its face, neither the Canadian or Mexico’s estimate of trade effects appear to be based on the market realities of trade in the North American livestock and meat markets. They each claim the potential for massive growth, which, taken together, would expand U.S. imports by 74 per cent.” Canada is also claiming compensation for domestic price suppression losses, which the USTR says are not sanctionable under the WTO. According to those rules, as well as

t is looking increasingly unlikely that any country-of-origin labelling (COOL) legislation will see action before the end of the summer congressional recess. That doesn’t mean that the issue is on the back burner, only that there are not enough votes in the Senate to move COOL legislation forward. The pressure for doing something about COOL is the result of a WTO ruling that the legislation discriminates against beef and pork coming into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico because U.S. packing plants limit the days that they will handle nonU.S. animals or refuse to accept these animals at all. The packers claim that it is too difficult/expensive to keep track of animals requiring different labels in their plants. The House has already passed COOL repeal legislation by a margin of 300-131 and its adoption by the Senate would move it forward. To force the issue in the Senate, Pat Roberts, a longtime opponent of COOL, added language repealing COOL to a must-pass extension of the highway bill. His amendment does not include provision for a voluntary COOL program. “We can continue to discuss voluntary labelling programs similar to those already in the marketplace once COOL is repealed,” Roberts said.

Debbie Stabenow and John Hoeven have introduced a bill in the Senate to establish a voluntary COOL program. In support of her legislation Stabenow said, “It would be a sad day and I believe irresponsible on our part if we move back to the days prior to COOL where we were labelling meat that was born in a foreign country and spent most of its life in the foreign country but then could somehow come in and be harvested here and be called a product of the United States.” As Stabenow pointed out, Canada also has a mandatory countryof-origin labelling law for food products. According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website, “When a food product is wholly manufactured outside of Canada, the label must show that the product is imported… In addition, it is mandatory to state the country of origin on some specific imported prepackaged products, such as… meat products… For example, prepackaged cheese from the United States imported into Canada is required to be labelled ‘Product of United States.’” When the COOL repeal was being debated in the House, Colin Peterson pointed out that the European Union also has country-of-origin labelling laws. Currently, Australia is considering the implementation of a country-of-origin law that would require a label to indicate the domestic percentage of a product. All of these laws come into

action because consumers everywhere for a variety of reasons: they want to “buy local,” they want to support the domestic economy with their purchases, they believe that domestic products are better whether or not that is true. While some groups have come out in support of the Roberts legislation or the Stabenow/Hoeven provisions, there are those who are opposed to any action until the disputes resolution process comes to a conclusion; the U.S. has challenged the level of the countervailing tariffs Canada and Mexico are asking for. Last last month, a group of “142 farm, ranch, rural, faith, environmental, farm worker, manufacturing and consumer organizations” sent a letter to Roberts and Stabenow urging to reject either a repeal of COOL or making it a voluntary program. The letter went on to argue, “It is premature for Congress to unilaterally surrender to sabre-rattling from our trading partners in the midst of a long-standing dispute. COOL opponents have highlighted Mexico and Canada’s threats of retaliation as if their aspiration to seek billions of dollars in penalties were already approved by the WTO. But these unapproved, unrealistically high retaliation claims are merely aggressive litigation tactics designed to frighten the United States — a standard practice in WTO disputes. Congress should not fall for it.

“The WTO can only authorize penalties based on the extent to which COOL caused a reduction in the volume and price of livestock imports. But the economic recession was the driving factor behind declining livestock imports, not the application of a simple label. Cattle imports are higher today than when COOL went into effect and hog imports are rapidly rebounding, even with COOL in place. This straightforward logic is buttressed by a recent economic report from Auburn University that demonstrates that COOL has not impacted the livestock trade and that any harm to our trading partners has in fact been negligible at most.” At this point we are not ready to predict what the final action of Congress will look like. But we do believe that consumers are learning how to put pressure on grocery retailers and major restaurant chains to get what they want. No matter what Congress eventually does, if enough consumers want to know where their food comes from, they will find a way to get that information. Harwood D. Schaffer is a research assistant professor in the Agricultural Policy Analysis Center, Institute of Agriculture, University of Tennessee. Daryll E. Ray is emeritus professor, Institute of Agriculture, University of Tennessee, and is the former director of the Agricultural Policy Analysis Center (APAC). http://www.agpolicy.org.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • AUGUST 17, 2015

Big picture ignored in supply management debate Critics focus on milk powder, but the real issue is about creating valued-added products while protecting farm families By BRENDA SCHOEPP AF columnist

anadians produce over 700 kinds of cheese. It makes me smile to think of all the small processors and farmers who delight in cheese making. Cheese also contributes $69 million in exports every year. Sounds like a good-news story and as Canadians we tend to focus on what we know — and we know cheese and we know exports as we currently trade with 42 other countries. But when it comes to cheese and dairy products, the whole of the story is a little more complicated. Historically, we go back to 1966 and the creation of the Canadian Dairy Commission and the resulting implementation of supply management in the 1970s. Both were created to stop the wild swings in prices and thus a formula based on demand and supply was developed. Marketing boards established in each province took the responsibility of execution and that was the foundation for a two-tiered system that we have today. Canada has export limits allowed under the World Trade Organization (WTO) for dairy, and yet does export $4.6 million in milk each year and $207 million in speciality products such as yogurt. Along with the trade in cheese, it would seem a healthy portfolio. But the rest of the story lies in milk powder and this is where Canada lags. Because Canadian dairy is seen as subsidized by the

WTO and may sell above the world price, the easiest exported product — milk powder — does not get the play it deserves. To drive this point home the trade balance in dairy for the year 2014 was a deficit of $414,126,000, which means that Canada imported more than it exported in dairy. This was largely milk protein. Imports of U.S. milk proteins have increased by 300 per cent since 2010 and these imports at times have actually created a surplus on the Canadian side. Supply management opponents are focusing on milk powder. An increase in sales of milk powder to nations that are hungry for it, such as China, creates huge opportunities. Bringing the price down via the open market would also help in Canadian processing. Canadian-based dairy processors currently add value out of country. Saputo has more foreign processing plants than domestic ones, and Agropur established its cheese and milk ingredient plants in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The supply-managed sector, particularly dairy, also carries significant debt as farmers continue to improve facilities and pay astronomical prices for quota. Although income is basically guaranteed, the dairy industry is in a constant state of upgrade. In Canada, 98 per cent of farms are family farms and dairy is no different. The average dairy farm in Canada is 77 head and they dot the countryside near exceptional feed sources. The majority of the industry is in Quebec at nearly 45 per cent and Ontario at 32 per cent

followed by Alberta (6.8 per cent) and B.C. (6.3 per cent). With the balance of power in the East both from a farmer and a voter perspective, it is unlikely that one province will side up to radical changes. Any change must be carefully constructed. At the emotional heart of the issue is the family farm and — if supply management is phased out — how to compensate and protect equity for the farmers. Or put another way, will the taxpayer be interested in another deal with farmers? This is not easy. Marketing boards are a jurisdiction that is shared and a national decision must be a shared perspective. Representatives of dairy farmers don’t want more imports but that view may be rather short sighted, as imports are not at the core of the debate. It is the ability to add value domestically and to export. A coinciding equity shift needs to simultaneously occur. Families need protection if there is change, while processors need to access inputs that are not above the world price so they can create products and jobs in Canada. All this circles around a trade table where we are not sure at what rate other jurisdictions subsidize dairy. Farmer support in China, the country that cries the loudest for Canadian milk powder, was US$165 billion in 2012. How much of that was for the Chinese dairy industry, directly or indirectly, is unknown. To be fair, dairy is just one piece in the puzzle. Supply managed collectively accounts for 18 per cent of all Canadian farm cash receipts. We can add to this other

commodities and industries that are also watching Canada’s growing agri-food trade deficit with concern. This is not an attack on the dairy industry, but an attempt to spark a larger discussion that goes well beyond cheese and crackers to a processed food trade deficit that was last reported at $6.8 billion and growing. Food processing is vital to Canada and the agri-food industry contributes 6.7 per cent to national GDP and employs one in eight persons. Food processing is the No. 1 manufacturing business in Canada. Canada is about trade and as the world’s fifth-largest food exporter on a per capita basis, we need food commodities value added at home so we have a product of greater worth with which to trade. Preferential access does start with great trade agreements. Just as important is the communities in which we live and the farmers who keep us there. Perhaps a balanced discussion will lead us to create a comprehensive food policy and action plan that encompasses an enabling environment for all and focuses on our competitive advantages — not our competitive differences. We are a nation with one of the most trusted food sources in the world. Surely we can build on that. 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 2015

There’s a good-news story in grocery stores, but not in food processing Massive investment and new thinking have improved food distribution but the processing sector is collapsing By Sylvain Charlebois and Evan Fraser

here was some good news for families with lower incomes in the latest UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report on world food prices. World food prices are continuing their decline, giving some breathing room for the poor. This means we are not likely to see riots any time soon as we did during the food crisis, back in 2008 and 2011, when agricultural commodity prices were skyrocketing. In the U.K., for example, food inflation is at its lowest level in decades. What seems counterintuitive, though, is that food prices in Canada have gone up significantly in the last 12 months — almost four per cent — bucking world market trends. But before Canadians start calling foul, there are some good reasons for this increase and unique factors contributing to Canada’s foodpricing climate. In June, Statistics Canada reported food prices moved up 3.8 per cent from last year. Proteins have been pushing prices

upwards, with beef and pork leading the charge. For both commodities, inventories have been built up again and so some products have shown signs that prices have peaked. Bacon prices, for example, have started to decline. FAO numbers would not be able to capture this reality since a developed economy like ours would necessarily eat more meat than the average country. Another unique aspect of our Canadian food market which is not reflected in FAO numbers is the effect of our oil-driven petro-dollar. Our buying power of imported food products has declined over the last year, significantly. As a result, pasta and lettuce are up more than 10 per cent, and 22 per cent, respectively, and other commodities, including fresh fruits and vegetables, cookies, and crackers, are all up from last year. The California drought certainly did not help either, especially given that we import many fresh products from the Sunny State. In response to the drought, our more savvy Canadian food importers have changed their procurement strategies and have successfully found products

elsewhere around the world. As a result, food inflation for many currency-sensitive categories has dropped in recent months. Nonetheless, food prices in Canada have gone up anywhere between six per cent to eight per cent over the last two years, and many Canadian families have had to bear the burden of paying more for food. Food banks are certainly being impacted and that trend will likely continue for a while. Consumers with fewer means may feel gouged as a result of inconsistent messages about world food prices. What may add insult to injury is looking at our food retailers’ balance sheets. Loblaw, Sobeys and Metro are all generating more-than-decent returns to their shareholders these days. Indeed, the food retailing sector is in much better shape than just a few years ago, but it is hardly because the sector is taking advantage of vulnerable food consumers. In fact, we have seen an incredible influx of new projects in recent years that has enhanced the overall robustness of our food retail sector. Over the past few years, grocers and independents have invested well over

$4 billion in capital investments. Grocers have better distribution systems than ever before which are equipped to compete against non-traditional food retailers like Walmart, Costco, and yes, Amazon. Consumers have only a superficial appreciation for these improvements since logistical systems are hidden business levers. The industry is actually a better cost manager now. Yes, retail price points have gone up, but so too did the sector’s capacity to manage costs. But if we stick to what Canadians can actually observe, food retailers now offer more variety in nicer, more spacious stores. Urban food deserts are slowly disappearing due to the fact that fresh foods are readily available in convenience stores now. In larger outlets, consumers can enjoy labyrinths of voluptuous smells and appetizing counters to support an approach which favours health, ethnicity and culinary curiosity. It has been exciting to watch. Most importantly, and to their credit, grocers are deliberately trying, more than ever, to confine their procurement strategies so consumers can buy locally grown products. It is a deliberate

attempt to cater to an increasingly fragmented marketplace, and food retailers are adapting quickly. As we witness the renaissance of a food distribution sector in our country, the real tragedy remains the dreadful and unfortunate collapse of our food-processing sector. Canada has lost over 150 manufacturing plants since 2008, a sad story which we do not talk about often enough. This leaves Canadian farmers with limited markets, and little value-added opportunities. Crop diversity and the quality of life in rural communities have also suffered as a result. This is something FAO reports should recognize. Something ought to be done to build our processing capacity in Canada so consumers can become more immune to macroeconomic influences. Perhaps, food distributors themselves may someday come to our domestic food-processing sector’s rescue. Who knows? Sylvain Charlebois is professor in the College of Business and Economics and Evan Fraser is Canada Research Chair in Global Food Security at the University of Guelph.

Off the front

August 17, 2015 • Albertafarmexpress.ca

corn in Alberta } from page 1 predicted corn production in the West will reach eight million to 10 million acres by 2025 — a gargantuan leap from the current average of 300,000 to 500,000 acres (most of it Manitoba). DuPont Pioneer’s Lethbridge research station is part of that company’s investment in what it calls “ultra-early-maturity” corn and soybean varieties tailored to the Canadian Prairies. Prior to the opening of the Lethbridge centre, southern Manitoba was DuPont Pioneer’s lone Petri dish for early-maturity corn in Western Canada, including the hybrid released commercially this year. Lethbridge was chosen primarily because of its proximity to the sweet corn-producing area of Taber, as well as its two postsecondary institutions. “Within a very short drive we can access sites we hope will be future corn-growing areas once we make corn a few days earlier in maturity,” said King. Another advantage of the Lethbridge area is its rainfall, said King. Contrary to popular belief, corn generally does not require more water than most Alberta crops. However, being drier than southern Manitoba gives the Lethbridge centre the opportunity to develop and test hardier breeds of corn. “The genetics we’re going to be selecting in the Alberta environment I expect to be different from what we select in Manitoba because of the differences in precipitation,” said King. “By selecting under conditions that have a certain amount of water stress throughout the seasons allows us to select from the beginning material that’s tougher and better able to perform when water is limited.”

‘Time will tell’

Although Adams is hopeful, he’s taking a “wait-and-see” approach. “(New hybrids) always seem to offer the same or a little bit

DuPont Pioneer plans to develop hardier corn varieties suitable for Alberta conditions at its new Lethbridge research centre. PHOTO: DUPONT PIONEER

“I believe there will be material in the product development pipeline to get those few extra days earlier.” Steven King

less... (the result has) always been within half a tonne one way or the other way,” he said. “They’re slowly lowering the heat units... time will tell.” One thing Adams would like to see crop product companies focus on is herbicides for conventional corn – he is trying to use

less glyphosate because of controversy over the product. “The problem with conventional corn is the chemistry isn’t very good,” he said. “If you’re not on top of it it’s very hard to kill the weeds. (Companies) took all the focus off of trying to make the chemicals better for conventional because

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hardly anybody does it anymore and focused on Roundup ready varieties.” If ultra-early hybrids open the door to more corn production, it won’t be just farmers who benefit, said King. “One of the beauties of corn is that it is used in so many different things, whether it’s animal feed, human food or some industrial uses,” he said. “That’s what makes it such an economically viable crop.” Livestock producers, in particular, need another feed source. “We would welcome another feed grain in the province to supply our livestock industries,” said Ron Gietz, pork specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. Climate change may also play a role in increasing corn acres in Alberta, added King.

“If climate change expands the frost-free period, then it allows us to take those high-yielding genetics and allows farmers to harvest a viable crop rather than have a killing frost ruin the crop before it is mature.” While the new 2,000-heat-unit hybrid is “a great step forward,” even better varieties are on the way, said King. “I believe there will be material in the product development pipeline to get those few extra days earlier. Whether it’s a year from now, two years from now, or five years from now, it’s hard to predict at this point. That’s why we need this research facility to allow us to do that plot testing so we really have a good assessment in these key environments of how close we are to achieving our objectives.”

Some facts and figures on corn • I n Alberta, the trick to growing corn is getting the right combo of heat and rain (corn needs 500 millimetres of water per growing season to reach optimum growing potential). That is why irrigation is key in areas like Taber, which has the sufficient heat units to bring corn to maturity but not the optimal rainfall. • T here are currently almost 1.7 million acres of irrigation in the southern area of the province. The majority of these is within irrigation districts with the remainder privately held. • I ndustry analysts predict, based on 2013 livestock production statistics, livestock consumption of corn could soon approach over 3.6 million tonnes in Alberta. • C orn, much like barley and wheat, is susceptible to fusarium infections. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry expects fusarium will spread with the

expansion of corn acres in Alberta, as the pathogen survives very well in the residual stalks and roots of corn crops. But unless the ears are infected there are generally no effects on corn yield or quality. • I n the Northern U.S. Plains, the European corn borer, cutworms, wireworms, white grubs, grasshoppers, and corn rootworms are among the most common corn pests. These can be controlled through the use of insecticides, resistant hybrids, and strategic crop rotation. • C ontrol of weeds at an early crop stage is very important, as many of the crop’s most competitive weeds germinate early. However, there are several control options available and most of today’s corn varieties use glyphosate-resistant technology. — Jeff Melchior / Source: Alberta Agriculture and Forestry

Albertafarmexpress.ca • August 17, 2015

RIGHT THING } from page 1 Funding comes from a variety of sources — governments, foundations, angler and hunter associations, and environmental groups. “We recognize the value of that land that they’ve taking out of production, and we pay them an annual payment for the ecological goods and services they provide,” said Denika Piggott, regional delivery initiative co-ordinator for ALUS. “We work with the farmer to cost share the actual establishment of the program, and then annually, the farmer gets a payment to support the ecosystem services that they’re providing.” The payment structure varies from county to county, which is what makes the project “so adaptable across Canada,” said Piggott. “A community can come in and say, ‘What makes the best sense for our farmers?’” she said. In some cases, the payment is based on a fixed rate per acre, while other municipalities base the payment on current land values in the area. And some communities are being “innovative” and paying producers based on the “net benefit they can prove through an assessment.” Through a cost-sharing agreement with ALUS, producers are able to complete projects such as riparian fencing, wetland restoration, shelterbelt creation, tree planting, erosion control, native prairie grass establishment — the list is “endless.” “Farmers make the decisions of how their land is being managed in a sustainable way,” said Piggott. “We also work with farmers, in that if they have a unique thing that they think would benefit the environment, we see if it’s a good fit for ALUS.”

And there’s really no downside for participating in the program, said Piggott. “We recognize that being an agricultural producer is not an easy job,” she said. “In some cases, land changes and becomes a different function from year to year. The program is so adaptable that, in those cases, farmers can choose to opt out if they need to farm that land. “There’s no drawbacks because you can just opt out when you need to.”

On-farm success

The Ziolas applied to the ALUS program last spring when they realized they needed to manage their cattle’s access to Tindastoll Creek, which runs through most of the couple’s pasture land. “People I talked to told me I had to put a fence along the creek. I thought, ‘Holy smokes, that’s a major project,’” said Ziola. After chatting with Lewis about the problem, Ziola found a solution that would work well for both his operation and the county. “The county cleaned out the creek, and I put a hot wire on both sides of it so the cows can’t get into the creek,” said Ziola. “It’s not that huge of a project SEC_MOAFLO15_AFE.qxd 7/8/15 when you just do one hot wire. That

Kevin Ziola used ALUS funding to create year-round watering systems he uses to help conserve the creek/wetlands on his operation near Sylvan Lake. PHOTO: ALUS keeps the cattle out but still lets the wildlife in really easily. That worked out really well.” In the spring, the creek fills Ziola’s dugout (another ALUS project), which supplies three off-site, year-round watering systems. That system has “changed our life a lot,” 1:54 PM Page 1 said Ziola.

“I used to have to make a hole in the ice every morning, but now it’s a whole lot easier for me to have an extra cup of coffee in the morning instead of digging a hole in the ice.” But with a price tag of about $10,000 for each of the watering systems, the Ziolas were limited in what they could do on their own.

“It’s made my life way easier, but I couldn’t have afforded it,” said Ziola. “This work wouldn’t have happened without the help of ALUS and the county.” For more info, see www.alus. ca. jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

Catching on

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ALUS has expanded to four more Alberta counties — Parkland, Red Deer, Lac Ste. Anne, and Mountain View — with three more coming on board shortly. “It’s a new program, but now there’s some actual evidence that it works,” said Piggott. “A lot of counties have been sitting by and watching carefully how other counties have run the program.” Now, counties are “willing to take that risk” because they’ve seen the benefits. “There’s been some great success in those counties and recognition nationally and provincially for the counties that run the program,” said Piggott. A prime example is Red Deer County, which joined the program in 2013 with five projects. This year, the number jumped to 25. “I’ve been doing this kind of stuff in Alberta now since 2001, and over that entire time, farmers and ranchers have been saying, ‘If we had a different market signal for these kinds of lands, we would be better able to manage them in a way that’s good for the environment and good for society,’” said Ken Lewis, conservation coordinator with Red Deer County. “Finally, with the ALUS program, we have an on-the-ground program where farmers are getting paid for ecosystem services.” ALUS gives producers another way to generate income from their marginal farmland, said Lewis. “Your choice every year when you look at that wetland in the corner of your field is to farm around it or farm through it,” he said. “Now we can send them a different market signal for some of their land. They can grow ecosystem services and get paid for those, instead of more traditional crops or animals that they’re producing.”

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AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

CP Rail says it’s upping its game The company is investing billions to move even more grain as western Canadian production continues to increase BY ALLAN DAWSON

“Make no bones about it, grain is king at CP. It is our life-bread. There is nothing we want to do more than move a lot of grain.”

Staff

P Rail says it’s “well positioned” to move this year’s grain crop despite recent cutbacks in staff and locomotives. Grain is, was, and will continue to be the railway’s biggest cargo, said John Brooks, vice-president of sales and marketing for bulk commodities. “Make no bones about it, grain is king at CP,” he said. “It is our lifebread. There is nothing we want to do more than move a lot of grain. “I think we feel pretty good about our handling capacity… to move this new crop.” But the Western Grain Elevator Association is uneasy after CP announced last month that it’s cutting 300 employees and idling 20 per cent of its locomotives and cars due to a drop in business. “We’re just a month away from the highest-demand months (for cars) and we see information that CP is cutting back on crews, cars, and locomotives,” said Wade Sobkowich, the elevator association’s executive director. “That doesn’t fit. On the surface it looks like rail services are being removed not added to.” However, Brooks said the railway is “well positioned” to move this year’s crop, which is expected to be about average in size. Ottawa imposed minimum weekly volumes when CP and CN

John Brooks

CP Rail VP John Brooks says the railway is ready for the 2015-16 crop and is investing to move even more grain in the future. PHOTO: SUBMITTED couldn’t keep up with record production in 2013-14. But CP moved a record 27.85 million tonnes of Canadian grain and grain products from Western Canada in the crop year that just ended, and the company is investing to move more, Brooks said. Over the next three to five years the railway plans to double its capacity on two of its major corridors — Winnipeg to Edmonton and Moose Jaw to Minneapolis-St. Paul — in anticipation of increas-

ing western Canadian grain production, especially if corn spreads west. It will do it by running more trains, longer trains and at higher speeds with innovations such as central traffic control (which schedules trains to maximize throughput), investing in heavier steel rails, newer ties, more and longer sidings and buying bigger hopper cars. “It’s all these components that give you a big lift in capacity,” Brooks said.

It takes 100 trains with 112, 90-tonne cars to move one million tonnes of grain, Brooks said. Haul 134 cars and it takes 83 trains. If the cars hold 100 tonnes instead of 90, the number of trains drops to 75. “That’s our model at Canadian Pacific,” Brooks said. “That should translate into growth for the shippers and hopefully benefit producers.” CP Rail is also communicating better with shippers and farmers “so we know what to move and know what the expectations are.” Last crop year CP Rail used “dedicated trains” to haul most of its grain. Grain companies and CP Rail agree up front how many trains the company will receive over an entire crop year. The company then knows how much grain it can sell.

“If you talk to the shippers I think it has been a big success,” Brooks said. And there’s more. New country elevators on CP lines are expected to load a minimum of 134-car trains, up from 100 or 112, while existing terminals will be encouraged to expand car spots. New elevators will load cars faster so CP can leave its locomotives running and move out quicker. “We’re working with all the major grain shippers… to really look at our origin infrastructure… to develop facilities capable of loading fast, dumping trucks fast from producers…” This year, CP will spend $1.5 billion on its network. That’s probably more than any other railway, according to Brooks. About 21 per cent of the money is regular maintenance, but the rest is aimed at increasing capacity. Vancouver is a world-class port, but it’s congested, Brooks said. CP Rail is working with port terminals to be more efficient and set another record in the 2014-15 crop year by unloading 148,000 cars of grain and grain products in Vancouver, he said. “That wouldn’t happen if we weren’t working closely with the shippers to get it done.” CP Rail’s unloads at Thunder Bay were the second highest on record, he added. allan@fbcpublishing.com

*For commercial use only. Offer subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. See your New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. standard terms and conditions will apply. Depending on model, a down payment may be required. Offer good through August 31, 2015, at participating New Holland dealers in Canada. Offer subject to change. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in price. © 2015 CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland Agriculture is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland Construction are trademarks in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • AUGUST 17, 2015

U.S. scoffs at Canadian claims of COOL damage Canadian officials are standing by their claims of $3 billion in damages BY ALEX BINKLEY af contributor

he office of the United States Trade Representative is scoffing at Canadian claims of more than $3 billion in damage annually to its beef and pork producers because of the country-of-origin labelling (COOL) law. The figure is more like US$43.2 million a year, the USTR says in a submission to the World Trade Organization in advance of next month’s hearing into the amount of retaliatory tariffs Canada and Mexico can levy on American food and consumer goods in response to COOL. The USTR claim about minimal damages drew a quick rebuke from Agriculture Canada. “In all previous rulings, the WTO has found Canada’s economic analysis regarding COOL to be robust. Our analysis was quantified by Daniel Sumner, a world-renowned specialist in agricultural economics.” It said the USDA’s chief economist has pegged the cost for just the American meat sector at US$2.6 billion annually. “Our government’s position remains unchanged,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “The only way for the United States to avoid billions in retaliation by late summer is to ensure legis-

lation repealing COOL passes the Senate and is signed by the president.” The September hearing in Geneva is expected to proceed because the U.S. Senate is balking at abolishing or reforming COOL to meet the finding of the WTO final decision issued in May that the law violates international trade rules. Legislation repealing COOL would have to be passed before this month’s congressional recess. Instead a small group of senators is trying to win approval for a modified plan, which Canada had dismissed as irrelevant and misleading. The head of the Canadian Meat Council noted the U.S. has argued in four previous WTO hearings that its legislation is WTO compliant, and lost each time. “The U.S. track record on this subject so far speaks for itself,” said Jim Laws. In its submission, the USTR says Canada and Mexico have made fundamental legal errors and numerous flaws and erroneous assumptions in developing their damage claims. The Canadian duty list will include beef, pork, apples, rice, corn, maple syrup, wine, jewelry, wooden furniture and mattresses. Ritz says Canada will aim its tariffs to goods coming from states whose senators opposed ending COOL.

The bottom line on fusarium head blight is ugly New study says a two per cent rate of damage will cost a producer $87 an acre Staff

rade loss — not yield reduction — is what hurts the pocketbook when it comes to fusarium. That’s the finding of a new report by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, which examined the financial impact of fusarium head blight. “While some economic losses occur due to yield reduction, grade loss is responsible for the greatest cost,” said farm business management specialist Ted Nibourg. The report used three levels of fusarium damage: low (0.4 per cent wheat kernels affected), medium (1.0 per cent), and high (2.0 per cent). A low outbreak reduces No. 1 hard red wheat to a No. 2, medium drops it to a No. 3, and high turns it into feed. And the bottom line? Using a six-year price average, that works out to losses ranging from $35 to $63 per tonne. For a 50-bushel-anacre crop, low incidence meant $48-an-acre drop in revenue, medium dropped it by $65, and high incidence cost a producer $87 an acre.

Fusarium head blight is costing Alberta wheat growers millions, mostly because of grade loss. PHOTO: NEW BRUNSWICK Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture The report used Canadian Grain Commission data from 2003 to 2012, but it was only in the final years that fusarium caused significant losses province-wide. In 2009, it’s estimated that about 150,000 tonnes of wheat in Alberta were downgraded, with an economic loss of about $3.6 million. In 2010, that jumped to 230,000 tonnes and an $8.7-million loss

(wheat prices were higher), and in 2012, 400,000 tonnes were downgraded but since most damage was in the low or medium range, the province-wide loss was estimated at $2.9 million. Fusarium is now common in southern Alberta and “there is evidence it’s showing up in new areas of central and northern Alberta as well,” said Nibourg.

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2015-07-20 4:38 PM

NEWS » Markets

}Fuel Prices

AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Jump to the pump

Ready to move up?

Make sure your harvest fuel supply is lined up. Fuel shortages occurred in 2008 and 2013 and unexpected maintenance work at the Scotford Manufacturing Centre northeast of Fort Saskatchewan had Shell struggling to find fuel, said Todd Bergen-Henengouwen of Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. The good news is diesel prices have been lower recently (97 cents a litre at the end of July in the Edmonton region versus $1.20 a year earlier). “However, since fuel is priced in U.S. dollars, the weak Canadian dollar does support higher diesel prices, and demand will increase during harvest. As such, we could see an increase in fuel costs this fall,” he said. — AAF release

Have you enjoyed success at a farmers’ market, earned a loyal following of enthusiastic customers, and are thinking of moving into a retail setting? Before making that jump, ask three questions: Do you really want to grow bigger? What are your retail options and how do these affect your costs and pricing? How do you calculate costs and ensure profitability for your product? A new fact sheet entitled Pricing: Moving from Farmers Market to Retail Sales explores those three issues. It’s available at www.agriculture.alberta.ca (under the Information tab) or by calling 780-427-0391. — AAF release

Canola bins remain closed, awaiting firmer prices Traders step to the sidelines and wait for fresh news By Terryn Shiells

uiet, choppy activity was the theme of the week for the ICE Futures Canada canola market, as trade volumes were pretty lacklustre in early August. That resulted in some two-sided trade and some weird price swings that likely wouldn’t have happened if there were more players actively trading the market. Traders stepped to the sidelines as they awaited fresh news about the state of North American oilseed crops. They were also being cautious ahead of the Aug. 12 supply-and-demand report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Producers are quiet as well, as they’re holding on to their supplies, awaiting firmer prices and getting ready to start harvest in some areas. As a result, line companies aren’t buying, leaving activity near non-existent some days. For the four trading days of the first week in August, ICE Futures Canada data shows only 40,671 contracts traded. As recently as June 2, over 45,000 contracts were traded in a single day. Compared to July 31, canola contracts were higher, underpinned by a strong U.S. soy futures market. Canola prices are expected to remain in a relatively rangebound pattern awaiting some fresh news. In the longer term, the market’s technical bias remains pointed lower, and prices could be dragged down by weakness in outside vegetable oil markets. The 2015-16 Canadian canola harvest will also be at the top of traders’ minds, as yield reports will determine price direction by giving a clearer picture of how big the crop will end up being. Estimates for Canadian canola production are wide ranging, from about 12.5 million tonnes to 14.5 million tonnes. Statistics Canada will release its first production estimates on August 21. The U.S. soybean crop’s prospects will also drive the canola market, and of course, CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) soy futures. Chicago soybeans had an up-anddown week as well, with prices generally stronger compared to the previous seven-day period. Expectations that USDA will reduce its acreage and production estimates for the upcoming U.S. bean crop in the Aug. 12 supply-and-demand report drove values higher. There are also some rumblings that corn acreage will be reduced in the report, which helped to underpin CBOT corn futures during the week.

photo: tHINKSTOCK Wheat values were stronger in the U.S., underpinned by reports that prices have moved low enough to attract fresh export demand for U.S. supplies. A strengthening U.S. dollar index may cap fresh export demand, which could weigh on prices in the coming weeks, especially if the U.S. Federal Reserve announces an interest rate increase as it would likely cause a surge in the greenback. Add the large global supply situation for wheat, as Canada and Europe should produce sizable crops despite weather problems this year, and the long-term bias seems to be pointed lower. In the shorter term, traders will watch harvest progress in Canada and the U.S.

The Canadian winter wheat harvest is underway, and there has been some very early activity on the spring wheat crop. The U.S. winter wheat harvest is in full swing, while the spring wheat harvest has been delayed by wet weather but should benefit from drier conditions in mid-August, forecasts show. The Aug. 12 USDA report will also provide direction for wheat, with traders watching for global ending stocks estimates, and domestic production. Terryn Shiells writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

For three-times-daily markets reports and more from Commodity News Service Canada, visit the Markets section at www. albertafarmexpress.ca.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • AUGUST 17, 2015

MAKING HAY

It has been an extreme-weather summer, with producers trying to dodge hail, rain and tornadoes, while also dealing with drought. Combines, balers and trucks have been running full steam to get the hay off fields, as in this pasture, near Priddis, Alta. Photo: Wendy Dudley

VIDO to develop vaccines against TB and Johne’s The hunt is on for new vaccines that would protect cattle and bison against bovine TB and Johne’s disease. The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization International Vaccine Centre (VIDOInterVac) has developed a number of vaccines since its founding 40 years ago. The University of Saskatchewan-based centre has now been given $2.9 million from Genome Canada to develop vaccines against bovine TB and Johne’s disease. Bovine tuberculosis affects the lungs of cattle and bison, and wild species such as deer and elk. It also can be transmitted to humans. Johne’s disease, caused by a related species of bacteria, results in chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract in cattle. It is a particular problem for dairy herds, causing the animals to sicken and sometimes die. VIDO-InterVac researchers and their collaborators in Canada and Ireland aim to deliver two new vaccines for these costly mycobacterial diseases. The funding is part of a $7.4-million project being conducted over four years. The researchers plan to bring vaccines for both diseases to market within two years of the project’s end. — VIDO-InterVac release

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news » livestock

AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

New profitability software

Small mistakes can kill

Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has a new spreadsheet for calculating profitability of cow-calf operations. Rancher’s Return Lite gives “ranchers a base for comparing the financial impacts of changing commodity prices and alternative production systems,” said business specialist Bruce Viney. It uses a producer’s operating and capital cost estimates to generate detailed results. Its key outputs include total gross margin; gross margin per head; returns to equity and management on a total and per-head basis; and break-even selling prices. The free program can be found at www.agriculture.alberta.ca (search for ‘rancher’s return lite’). — AAF release

Producers are being urged to take care while baling. “While the large equipment and heavy bales mean efficient use of time and less, if any, physical handling of hay, it does leave little room for equipment failure or operator error,” said Kenda Lubeck, farm safety co-ordinator with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “When loaded with heavy bales, equipment can become unstable, especially on hilly or uneven surfaces. It’s important that the operator has the confidence and attitude to make safe decisions while running the equipment. It’s also a good idea for even experienced operators to review any equipment manuals prior to using it each season.” — AAF release

Hay-sourcing group riding to the rescue of those in need Cindy Wilinski wanted to help so she harnessed the power of Facebook to source affordable hay for livestock owners hit hard by drought By Alexis Kienlen AF STAFF

ed up with high hay prices and concerned about the lack of affordable hay, Cindy Wilinski decided to take matters into her own hands. Last month, the owner of CRW Equines set up a Facebook page called Hay List 2015 to connect hay buyers with hay sellers. “I was trying to group people together because the majority of customers was small-acreage owners,” said Wilinski, who raises horses and cattle near Okotoks. “They do not have the ability to buy truckloads of hay at a time because they are only feeding one to four horses. Getting hay shipped to them is out of the question because they don’t have a full load.” So Wilinski began arranging shared shipping. She found sellers of hay in areas not hit by drought and connected them with customers who needed hay. Hay was delivered to specified drop points, with the small-acreage owners sharing the shipping costs to make their purchases more reasonably priced. But they weren’t the only ones who needed hay. The number of likes on Hay List 2015 jumped to over 3,000 in the first week. “It’s just snowballed from there,” said Wilinski. “We have people who are wanting an entire year’s supply of cattle hay or alternative feeds. Boarding stables are looking for 700 square bales a month. We’ve been able to help a lot of people get hay and avoid having to sell their entire herd. “If all these cattle people who are hit hard have to dump their cattle now, the cattle prices will go up again in spring, and the horse markets will be flooded, which will drive horse prices down again. That’s what we’re trying to avoid.” Hay List 2015 soon had thousands of ‘likes’ and was being used across the province, with

Cindy Wilinski’s bid to help small-acreage owners quickly ‘snowballed’ after she started a hay-sharing service on Facebook. PHOTO: WENDY DUDLEY most of the people looking for hay in the Edmonton area, followed by Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, and Calgary. Wilinski isn’t making a cent from the project, and intends to register it as a non-profit. She’s sourced hay from the northern U.S., Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Trucking costs make the hay very expensive, but some transporters have just charged for fuel. Wilinski initially used her contacts to source hay, and then people began helping her through word of mouth and the Internet. Wilinski has managed to find some deals and has sourced hay for $4 a square bale in Saskatchewan,

“We’ve been able to help a lot of people get hay and avoid having to sell their entire herd.”

Cindy Wilinski

a bargain compared to the $12 that some Alberta suppliers have been charging. RJK Canada, a mining, construction and power company

owned by Robert J. Krueger, donated a database which Wilinski uses to keep track of buyers and sellers. The database allows her to cross-ref-

erence and match everyone with the type of hay they are requesting. There is no cost to use Hay List 2015. Wilinski is making arrangements with an accountant friend in Red Deer, Steve Schiestel of Summit Wealth Strategies, to establish the group as a non-profit, and create a buying co-op. Anyone in need of hay or who has hay to sell can post to Hay List 2015 on Facebook. A description of the process along with sign-up forms for buyers, sellers, and transporters can be found at rjkcanada. com/rjk-hay-supply.html. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • AUGUST 17, 2015

Dry means extra dangers Water hemlock and blue-green algae are two killers that pose an increased risk in dry, hot years

imalayan balsam can be spotted in a number of municipalities across Alberta, and is especially common in flower beds. Before it was listed as a prohibited noxious weed, Himalayan balsam was a very popular ornamental. It was even readily available in greenhouses. Himalayan balsam is incredibly invasive in wet areas — mature seed capsules explode when touched and so the plant can launch seeds up to five metres in distance, allowing this species to spread relatively rapidly. Once the plant takes over an area, Himalayan balsam’s shallow root system leaves riparian areas prone to erosion in the spring and fall. It is most easily identified when its orchid-like flowers begin to bloom. Plants stand one to three metres tall, flowers range from

By Alexis Kienlen AF STAFF

ried-up sloughs and waterways mean cattle can graze things they normally wouldn’t. And that can be deadly. Water hemlock — something cattle wouldn’t normally eat — is one of the dangers. Its leaves and stems are toxic, but the root is especially dangerous, with a marblesized piece enough to kill a cow. “Water hemlock is not a preferential plant. It may have been in your pasture for several years, but it becomes a huge management issue when pastures become lean,” said Dr. Ross Foulston, a veterinarian with Wetaskiwin Veterinary Services. “If stocking densities are high and animals are seeking alternative plants to meet their hunger, they could end up tugging on these plants. It’s bad enough if they get the foliage above ground, but it’s especially bad if they pull up the root.” Animals will often be found dead a short distance away from the plant, while animals that are found alive could be convulsing, frothing or clamping their jaws. Cattle are the most at risk because of the way they graze, but deaths have also occurred in sheep, goats and bison. Water hemlock, which has four different species, grows in lower areas near sloughs, ponds, streams and swamps, and can also be found growing in water. The flowers and seed heads of the plant can look a lot like dill and cow parsnip or even like common yarrow, which grows in the uplands. Its leaves which are long, thin and serrated, and the leaf veins off the main central vein run in low points between serration, which makes it unique. Hemlock does not like a lot of shade, so it’s normally out in the open. In a dry year, producers who are short of forage may be making hay from sloughs, and could risk rolling water hemlock into a hay bale, which will still have some level of toxicity. “There could also be some dry areas and cattle will travel into zones that weren’t dry in the past and could come across water hemlock,” said Foulston. If you find water hemlock, do not attempt to remove it without using gloves or protective eyewear, and do not cut into the bulbous roots. It’s best to call an ag service fieldman, crop specialist or veterinarian to get more information about removal. The plant can generally be removed manually, and then incinerated, desiccated, or composted. Another threat to watch out for this year is blue-green algae. It is most common in August, after several weeks with high temperatures above 25 C, and in stagnant water. Breezes will often push it against a shoreline, which ups the risk from the extremely toxic algae. “They can be walking away from the water and die that quickly,” said Dr. Trent Wennekamp, a veterinarian with Lloydminster Animal Hospital. Blue-green algae can be found on lakes, sloughs and dugouts. However, since dugouts tend to be cooler, they tend to have fewer problems. Blue-green algae can be difficult to identify, so it’s best to phone a veterinarian. If you suspect your water source is infested with blue-green algae, find an alternative source for water. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

Invader blasts its way into wet areas

Water hemlock has been found in many sloughs this year. This specimen was found in Wabamun Provincial Park. PHOTOs: ALISON LENNIE

Himalayan balsam can launch seeds five metres from the parent plant. PHOTO: Chantelle White pale pink to purple, and have lance-shaped, sharply serrated leaves. If this plant is discovered, pull the plants and burn immediately, or place in garbage bags and dispose of at the landfill.

Contact your local fieldman at www.aaaf.ab.ca

For more information on noxious weeds: www.abinvasives.ca

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AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Researchers using big data to find feed-efficient dairy cattle The goal is to develop a prediction tool for breeding cows that will eat less with no loss in productivity By Alexis Kienlen

“We have an estimate that breeding for increased feed efficiency and reduced methane emission can reduce feed costs by about $100 per cow per year.”

AF STAFF

esearchers at the University of Alberta are looking to give producers a bit of a boost by isolating feedefficient traits in dairy cattle. “We have an estimate that breeding for increased feed efficiency and reduced methane emission can reduce feed costs by about $100 per cow per year,” said Paul Stothard, an assistant professor of genomics and bioinformatics and co-leader of a research team drawn from his university and the University of Guelph. The study will collect data from the universities’ two herds and a pair of large Canadian commercial herds and look for cattle that easily convert feed into increased milk production. “In order to get the most powerful data set possible, we’ll be incorporating data from other countries like Australia, Switzerland, the U.K. and the United States,” said Stothard. This will result in the world’s largest data set on these two traits. Step two will be to develop prediction tools so more efficient animals can be selected for breeding based on a simple DNA test. The Canadian Dairy Network

Paul Stothard

Paul Stothard wants to develop a simple tool to allow producers to breed for more feed-efficient dairy cattle that produce less methane. PHOTO: SUPPLIED currently provides genetic evaluation for dairy cattle, but hasn’t looked at these traits because the data hasn’t been available. “Through measuring feed efficiency and methane emissions in thousands of animals, we’ll be able to build the pre-

diction equations needed to deliver those genetic evaluations,” said Stothard. The project team just received a $10.3-million grant from Genome Canada, Genome Alberta and the Ontario Genomics Institute and is partnering with the

Available fall 2015

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Canadian Dairy Network. GrowSafe, an Alberta company that uses radio frequency ID technology in feed bunks, will help collect the feed-efficiency measurements. It will take the project team about four years to go from data collection to completion.

New year-long study aims to collect hard data on the condition of animals and find ways to improve transport practices By Alexis Kienlen AF STAFF

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“We’re hoping we can start providing genetic evaluations to producers before the end of the project,” said Stothard. “But it does take time to collect the data, build the prediction equations, and validate them.” Once the information is available, dairy producers could receive genomic estimated breeding values on feed efficiency and methane emission for any cattle that are in the Canadian Dairy Network. The network already hosts a national database of all the dairy performance data collected in Canada.

nimal welfare during transport is a hot topic, and so Alberta Farm Animal Care is conducting a cattle benchmarking project that will track the condition of animals arriving at auction marts and abattoirs. “There’s a lot of talk around transport and what’s happening with animals,” said Angela Greter, the organization’s executive director. “We hear a lot of anecdotal comments from people off the cuff, but we don’t know what is really happening. “So we need to do a proper study about that, rather than just listening to stories. If we can really see that there are problems, then we can address them.” The study aims to identify shipping conditions that may be detrimental to animals and establish a baseline that can be improved upon. “We’re also looking at associated risk factors, so we’re looking to capture how long an animal is in transport, what kind of truck they were travelling in, the

weather and other factors,” said Greter. “We will then try to relate those potential risk factors to the conditions we’re seeing so we can get a better picture of what’s going on.” The study is being led by Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lethbridge, and will build on her recent study on animal transport and compromised cattle. “This project is almost like a followup on that one because what she didn’t capture in that was the arrival of animals at auctions,” said Greter. Data collection will begin later this month or in early September and will continue for a year to capture data in all seasons. Final results should be available in about a year and a half. Ottawa contributed $268,000 to the project, and additional support came from Alberta Beef Producers, Alberta Milk, the Alberta Cattle Feeders, Alberta Auction Markets Association, the provincial government, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • AUGUST 17, 2015

Province cuts pumping fees, opens land for grazing

he province is cutting waterpumping fees and working to open up public lands for grazing. Rental fees have been cut in half for the Water Pumping Program, which provides pumps and pipes to help producers get water for domestic and livestock use by filling their dugouts or other suitable catch basins from nearby water sources. The emergency water-pumping program provides assistance to between 400 and 1,400 clients every year. The fee reduction will apply to anyone who uses the program in the 2015-16 fiscal year and will be retroactive to April 1.

Environment and Parks is also working with municipalities to identify additional public lands for grazing. The measures will allow temporary grazing or haying permits in suitable locations. As of early August, Agriculture Financial Services Corporation had paid out $70 million in crop or pasture insurance claims. It estimates payouts will total $700 million to $900 million this year. Provincially, 78 per cent of crops and 29 per cent of pasture acreage were insured in 2015. — Alberta Agriculture and Forestry release

‘Ag gag’ law gets the heave-ho

federal judge has struck down an Idaho law banning documentation of animal abuse at livestock operations, ruling it violated freedom of speech. The law was crafted in response to a video released by animal rights activists showing workers at an Idaho dairy dragging a cow across the floor by a chain on its neck and repeatedly beating, kicking and otherwise abusing other cows. The Animal Legal Defense Fund and other groups sued to overturn the so-called ag gag law, and a

U.S. district judge agreed it violated protections of free speech. She rejected arguments by state attorneys that the law was designed to protect private property and the privacy of agricultural facility owners and not to suppress free speech critical of livestock operations. She also said the law was substantially motivated “by animus towards animal welfare groups,” noting the Republican state senator who was a sponsor of the measure likened undercover investigations of livestock operations to “terrorism.” — Reuters

Anthrax strikes two cattle operations near Fort Vermilion If an animal dies suddenly on your property, do not move it and call a veterinarian for a diagnosis By Alexis Kienlen AF STAFF

nthrax has surfaced in Alberta, killing about 10 cattle on two separate operations in the Fort Vermilion area. This follows the death of two bison that died in North Battleford, Sask. and producers are being warned to be on the lookout for anthrax, due to the hot, dry conditions. The disease is not new to Alberta but rare. “I’ve been here 24 years and this is the third year that I’ve seen anthrax,” said Dr. Wendy Quist, veterinarian with Frontier Vet Services in Fort Vermilion. “Anthrax looks like many other things that cause sudden death, so if producers have sudden death in their herd, they probably should be contacting their veterinarian to get a diagnosis.

“Too many times, I have calls from people weeks later, wondering why an animal died. They probably should be calling a veterinarian as soon as possible.” Anthrax is a bacteria that is in soil in many areas. Under certain conditions, such as drought or high temperatures, there is a greater risk for the bacteria to become infective. Overgrazing, fresh raking, and areas that have been dug can expose cattle to fresh soil, which may contain anthrax, said Quist. “Combine that with some drought and the risk is much greater,” she said. When cattle ingest anthrax, they will die almost immediately and appear bloated, with blood coming out of their mouths and anuses. If anthrax is suspected, do not open the carcass, as this can spread bacteria and further contaminate the pasture. Anthrax is also transmissible to humans. “Be aware that the discharges from the carcass could be infec-

tious to humans,” said Quist. “People should be practising proper biosecurity and should be wearing gloves and being careful about handling tissue.” Other animals should be removed from the pasture, and a tarp should be placed over the dead animal to prevent scavenging of the carcass. The edges of the tarp should be staked to the ground. Producers should not remove the dead animal, and should not call for deadstock pickup. After the vet takes samples, the carcass should be allowed to rot for a few days, so some of the bacteria are killed before it is buried or burned. “Burned is preferable, but a lot of times, these things happen when we’re on a fire ban or have high fire hazards and it’s not practical,” said Quist. Individual producers in areas of high risk or have known cases of anthrax can get a vaccine for their animals. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

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AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Drought reduces EU maize crop

El Niño to hit Aussie grain

Prospects for this year’s European Union maize harvest are deteriorating as hot, dry conditions persist. After French maize endured record temperatures and low rainfall during July, crop worries extended to Romania and Hungary, also experiencing a heat wave. The latest EU harvest forecast has been cut by almost three million tonnes to 65.5 million tonnes, compared with a record 77.8 million in 2014. Some traders put the EU crop lower at 61 million to 62 million tonnes. Drought has reduced availability of grass for cattle while difficulties in the livestock sector could prompt more use of on-farm maize feed, traders and analysts said. — Reuters

Australia’s agricultural sector can expect above-average rains in the western part of the country over the next three months, while some southeastern regions could be unseasonably dry. The outlook reflects the much warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean, and an El Niño weather system in the Pacific, the nation’s Bureau of Meteorology said in a notice on its website. Grain growers face a high risk of reduced wheat harvests this winter due to El Niño, according to Andries Potgieter, a scientist at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation. — Reuters

Hot and hotter is the story on the global weather front Heat waves usually hit one or two regions at a time, but this year wide swathes of Europe, Asia, and North and South America are sizzling

BY DANIEL BEZTE

t’s been a while since we’ve looked at what’s happening with weather around the world. So in this issue we’ll take a look at the latest world weather happenings, starting from a global perspective, and then working our way to more specific regional events. We’re still waiting for the global July temperature numbers to be crunched, but early indications are that July will come in with above-average values once again. Looking back at June, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA, this June was the warmest June globally since record-keeping began in 1880. The global departure from average in June was 0.88 C, which was just 0.03 C away from being the warmest-ever departure from average which was 0.90 C set this March. So far this year, that puts us on track for 2015 to be the warmest year ever recorded. How is all this heat affecting the Arctic and Antarctic? According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, ice in the Arctic at the end of July was the eighth lowest since satellite records began. Ice coverage was around 8.8 million square kilometres, which is about one million square kilometres below average (or about two standard deviations below average for those of you who are into statistics). The northern sea route along Russia is now pretty much open, but the Northwest Passage through Canadian waters is still choked with ice. In Antarctica, sea ice amounts are still above average, but ice growth slowed dramatically in July, putting total ice coverage just slightly above average for this region. The next weather item to look at is the El Niño event that has been strengthening over the Pacific Ocean. In NOAA’s latest summary, it indicated there’s a current El Niño advisory and that moderate to strong El Niño conditions are present across most of the Pacific Ocean. It says there is a greater than 90 per cent chance that El Niño conditions will last through the winter of 2015-16, and put an 80 per cent chance of this event lasting into next spring.

This map shows total precipitation across the Prairies so far this growing season. Most of Alberta and Saskatchewan is seeing less than 250 millimetres of rainfall.

Accumulated Precipitation (Prairie Region) April 1, 2015 to August 6, 2015

65 - 88 mm 88 - 111 mm 111 - 134 mm 134 - 157 mm 157 - 180 mm 180 - 203 mm 203 - 226 mm 226 - 249 mm 249 - 272 mm 272 - 296 mm 296 - 319 mm 319 - 342 mm 342 - 365 mm 365 - 388 mm 388 - 411 mm 411 - 434 mm 434 - 457 mm 457 - 480 mm 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 © 2015 Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Prepared by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s National Agroclimate Information Service (NAIS). Data provided through partnership with Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and many Provincial agencies.

Created: 08/07/15 www.agr.gc.ca/drought

cutline I will look into El Niño and its possible impacts on us in an upcoming article, but let’s just say that during an El Niño winter there is a better-than-average chance of seeing warm and dry weather across Western Canada. Tied in with El Niño and the warm ocean temperatures across the Pacific comes a warning about possible severe coral bleaching around the Hawaiian Islands this summer. According to NOAA’s experimental coral bleaching forecast, there is a 50 to 90 per cent chance that this region will experience Level 2 thermal stress this summer, which is the highest stress level and could result in widespread coral bleaching and mortality. This event is not just confined to Hawaii as there is also a 70 per cent chance of seeing the same thermal stress levels along the northern coast of Cuba and in the Bahamas. With the planet as a whole run-

ning on the hot side it’s not surprising that most of our weather stories are heat related. What is interesting is that when heat events occur, they usually affect only one or two areas of the world. This year we are seeing heat events occurring all over the place. In Europe, there has been some intense heat so far this summer, with the Netherlands breaking its all-time heat record with a reading of 38.2 C in Maastricht on July 2. In the U.K., London broke its all-time July heat record with a reading of 36.7 C on July 1. Germany also broke its national all-time heat record on July 5 with a reading of 40.3 C in Kitzingen. France wasn’t left out of the heat, but it fell short of its hottest-ever day with a reading of 40 C. The heat was also felt in Asia as Thailand broke its hottest July national heat record with a reading of 41.1 C. The extent of the heat across this region was widespread,

as nearly half the stations in this country broke their all-time July records during this heat wave. South America was not going to be left out and Urumitia in Colombia broke its national all-time July heat record with a reading of 42.2 C on July 1. The most current heat wave is now affecting Japan, as a longterm heat wave begins to take its toll. With 55 deaths and over 11,000 sent to hospital since April, temperatures over the last little while have just got hotter. Japan’s meteorological agency uses 35 C as the level for issuing extreme heat warnings and on Aug. 6, Tokyo suffered through its eighth straight day of extreme heat. The heat wasn’t just confined to the Tokyo region, with nearly 90 per cent of the reporting stations in that nation reporting temperatures above 30 C on Aug. 5. Finally, here in North America we’ve also seen extended heat,

with the Pacific Northwest on track to record that region’s warmest summer. If the warm weather continues, it’ll probably be that region’s warmest year on record. For example, Seattle has seen 12 days so far this summer with highs above 32 C, which is already three days more than its previous record. Most stations in this region recorded their warmest June and July on record, so chances are it will easily break its record for the warmest summer. That’s all the room I have for this week. Let’s hope we continue to be lucky and that the big-time record-breaking heat stays away from our area! 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.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • AUGUST 17, 2015

Trim: 10.25”

Rob Davies is the new general manager of Alberta Barley. Davies spent 15 years as the CEO at Weyburn Inland Terminal and served on various agricultural industry boards and federal government working groups. “I am very excited for this opportunity to work with Alberta farmers and the Alberta Barley board to advance its vision,” he said. “The future is bright for Alberta’s barley industry and I’m eager to be a part of that.” Alberta Barley chairman Mike Ammeter said Davies “has an extensive agriculture background and is well known and respected within our industry. He is the right person for this job.” Davies replaces Lisa Skierka, who left the organization in March. — Alberta Barley release

Making the Grade: Does your grain have what it takes to hit No. 1? The word ‘subjective’ comes up a lot — here’s what you need to know about main grading factors for canola, wheat, and malt

} ALBERTA

New GM for Alberta Barley

By JENNIFER BLAIR AF staff / Olds

Canola

Dockage is the No. 1 “controversy” in canola grading every fall. And a lot of the problems stem from the different sieves that can be used to clean canola. “There’s an extreme between an .028 slotted sieve and an .040,” said Judy Elias, operations supervisor at the Canadian Grain Commission. Using an .028 sieve, “what comes through is broken canola and weed seeds. That’s dockage.” But shaking that same sample through an .040 sieve filters out “a lot more” mate-

Trim: 15.58”

fter a summer of battling drought, insects, and hail, will your grain make the grade this harvest season? That’s what nearly 100 producers set out to find at a recent workshop hosted by the province’s canola, wheat, and barley commissions. And what they discovered at the Making the Grade workshop is that small things can have a big impact on the pocketbook. “It’s very subjective, and it takes trained inspectors sometimes to see some of those slight differences that might move you from a No. 1 to a No. 2,” said Jim Smolik, assistant chief commissioner at the Canadian Grain Commission. “Being armed with that knowledge is extremely important as a producer is moving forward.” Read on as three industry experts share their tips on the main grading factors for the most popular crops on the Prairies.

Germination is the most important grading factor for maltsters — without it, malt barley is “worth nothing,” says Rahr Malting’s Kevin Sich. PHOTO: JENNIFER BLAIR rial that isn’t actually dockage — “but you could be charged for it.” The size of the sieve that should be used “depends on the condition of the canola,” said Elias. “Years where we have really dry conditions, you could have really small canola, and when they use an .040 slotted sieve, a lot of your good canola is going to fall through there,” she said. “That could be considered dockage when it really shouldn’t be. It should be in your pocket, not theirs.” But “none of it is wrong,” because the different sizes of sieves are permitted under the grain commission’s standards.

“It’s not illegal. A lot of times you’ll go to an elevator and they’ve only got an .040 sieve. They don’t even have an .028.” Producers need to be aware of what they have in their bin before they go to market it, she said. “Take it somewhere and find out what the dockage is first. So many producers walk into the elevator and say, ‘What do I have?’ You should know what you have and say instead, ‘What will you give me for this?’” she said. “It costs $50 to do a sample at the grain commission. But if you’re going to save two per cent on a truckload, $50 is pretty cheap insurance.”

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Producers have a right to know what their grade is — and to be paid according to their true grade, she added. “I realize you make a relationship with elevators, but you only want what you deserve. There’s no fault in finding out which grade is right.”

Wheat

Frost or mildew damage — two of the main factors in wheat grading — provide a challenge of a different sort. “With frost and mildew, it’s a subjective factor, and we’re trying to make it as objective as we can,” said Bill

see GRAIN GRADE } page 18

AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

gRAIN gRADE } from page 17 Adduono, operations supervisor at the Canadian Grain Commission. “When you’re looking for the base grade and only frost is involved, you can use the frost guide. If there’s only mildew, you can use the mildew guide. As soon as there’s mildew and frost in the sample, then you have to go to the standards.” Those guides can change. Every year, the grain commission creates ‘standard samples’ to reflect the level of quality that can be expected based on the weather conditions at harvest. “If there’s more frost in a particular year and less mildew, they’re going to reflect a little more frost and less mildew,” he said. The samples are evaluated based on whether the damage is ‘light,’ ‘moderate,’ ‘heavy,’ or ‘hard.’ “When you’re going through the frost guides, you’ll look at the wrinkling of the bran and deciding, ‘This is light; this is a little more severe, so it’s moderate.’ The amount of each factor like that determines if it’s a No. 2 or a No. 3,” said Adduono, adding the same theory applies to mildew. In most cases, it takes the eye of a trained professional to correctly identify the right grade when there are multiple factors at play, he said. “It should be easy to have a machine do it, but it’s a massive expense to have a machine in every elevator, and there’s subtleties of how much you’re seeing. You have to use some judgment.”

Malt barley

Malt germination is the “single biggest grading factor,” and it needs to be over 95 per cent. “If it doesn’t grow, it doesn’t do the conversion of starch to sugar,” said Kevin Sich, manager of Rahr Malting’s grain department.

Free grain-grading program arms farmers to better market their crop The Canadian Grain Commission’s sampling program takes the guesswork out of grain grading Grain commission supervisor Bill Adduono makes grading for frost or mildew damage as objective as possible using ‘standard samples,’ which vary from year to year. photos: jennifer blair

“It’s just a soaked, waterlogged barley kernel that’s dry and brittle as stone — and it tastes like stone. It’s worth nothing.” And germination levels can drop as barley waits in the bin to be hauled after harvest. Recheck tests are a good way to “protect yourself,” said Sich. “At Rahr, we don’t ask for recheck samples. If we tell you to haul in February, you can just start hauling,” he said. “But you roll the dice if you do that. “It’s simpler to do a recheck with your half-ton or send it priority post to us than rolling the B-train down the road at $20 a tonne.” When doing a recheck, “you can do two wrong things and one good thing,” said Sich. “The first thing you can do is go get the pre-sample you sent us in the fall out of your basement or your shop and send it to us, and we do a recheck on that,” he said. “That’s wrong. We’re having problems with guys who are send-

Dockage is the No. 1 concern for canola producers — and sieves are sometimes the culprit, says Judy Elias of the Canadian Grain Commission. ing in their fall sample thinking that’s what they should do. That sample doesn’t mean anything anymore.” The second mistake is taking a sample from the manhole. “Again, that doesn’t mean anything because it’s the bottom of the bin,” said Sich. “Your germination is going to be most unstable in the grain that cools down last, so take it off the top of the bin. “If you’re going to start doing it at the bottom, I hate to say it, but you’re wasting your time.” The right way to recheck is take a representative sample from the bin. “In the wintertime, we’re always saying either take a load out and sample it for your recheck, or take a ladder and probe a couple of feet and send that in for your recheck sample,” said Sich. “If that sample’s good and grows 98 per cent, chances are the whole bin is fine.”

By JENNIFER BLAIR AF staff / Olds

Of all the things a farmer can’t control, grain grading seems to cause the most headaches after harvest. “You all make your decisions during the year of what you’re going to seed, how you’re going to seed it, and what fertilizers and chemicals you’re going to use to try and maximize the profitability on your farm,” said Jim Smolik, assistant chief commissioner at the Canadian Grain Commission. “But when you deliver to the elevator, that’s when your profits can actually get eaten.” Grading grain can be “very subjective,” Smolik said at the Making the Grade workshop in late July. The Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Sample Program takes some of the guesswork out of grain grading by offering

a free — though unofficial — grade. “It does give you a better understanding of what you’ve actually got in your bin,” he said. “If you’ve done a good job sampling, it gives you a good understanding of what you’ve got, and it allows you to go and market it.” The Harvest Sample Program is also used to set grade standards and for research into things like maximum residue limits and factors affecting grade. In addition to grading the grain, inspectors determine the protein content in cereals and pulses, as well as the oil, protein, and chlorophyll content in oilseeds. That information provides a good benchmark for producers to use when marketing their grain, said Smolik. “If you want to come into an elevator and actually get paid for what you’re delivering, you need that benchmark,” he said. jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • AUGUST 17, 2015

In deciding when to desiccate, crop maturity trumps harvest timelines The Canola Council of Canada’s Spray to Swath calculator shows just how long to wait after spraying a desiccant or other pre-harvest chemical By JENNIFER BLAIR AF staff / Olds

n desiccation — as in life — success is usually defined by maturity. “Whatever product you’re using, make sure you’re using it when the majority of the plants in the field is physiologically mature,” said Harry Brook, crop specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “You get into problems when they’re immature. It doesn’t preserve your yield or your value when you’re using it.” Desiccants can help dry down the crop for an earlier harvest, said Brook, who spoke at the Making the Grade workshop in late July. Right now, four products — Syngenta’s Reglone, BASF’s Heat, Nufarm’s Aim, and glyphosate — are used as desiccants in Canada. But desiccants don’t help immature seeds to mature, said Brook, so it’s important to apply any desiccant when the plant is already mature. “Physiological maturity occurs at basically less than 30 per cent moisture. That applies for all cereals, peas, and canola,” he said. In canola, the right stage is when 60 to 75 per cent of the seeds have changed colour. Cereals are mature when “the part just below the head of the stem is yellow and dry,” he said.

“Whatever product you’re using, make sure you’re using it when the majority of the plants in the field is physiologically mature.”

also allows producers to pick when they want to swath, and will choose a product based on that timeline. Following the right pre-harvest intervals and making sure the crop is mature when it’s sprayed will help keep any residues within acceptable levels for export, said Brook. “If you do it when it’s not mature, that’s when you get the chemical getting into the grain itself, which affects the quality,” said Brook. “Ultimately, that’s when we start getting feedback from the customers buying the stuff saying, ‘What’s with these maxi-

mum residue limits being too high?’” That’s why following the product label is so important, added Gabert. “These pre-harvest intervals are typically designed because the companies have done the tests to show that your product — the food that we sell somebody else — is now below the maximum residue limits if you wait the right number of days,” said Gabert. “It’s really critical that you understand that and read and follow label directions.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

The right time to apply a pre-harvest desiccant is when the crop is physiologically mature, says crop specialist Harry Brook. PHOTO: JENNIFER BLAIR

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At that point, producers should be doing the ‘fingernail test.’ “Try and force a crease down it,” said Brook. “If you can see a dent in the kernel and it stays in the kernel after taking your fingernail off, then it’s at 30 per cent (moisture) or less.” Pre-harvest intervals — “meaning the time from when you apply a product to the time you cut it” — are equally important, said Keith Gabert, an agronomist with the Canola Council of Canada. And the best place to get information on pre-harvest intervals in canola is the Canola Council’s Spray to Swath calculator, he said. “If you’ve already sprayed and you know what you’ve sprayed, you can put that product in there and it will tell you how many days you need to wait,” said Gabert. The calculator (available at www.spraytoswath.ca)

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AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Crack open some pods before swathing canola this year, says agronomist The ideal time to swath canola is when 60 per cent of seeds have changed colour — but 30 per cent is more realistic for large acreages By JENNIFER BLAIR AF staff / Olds

eith Gabert is already dreading phone calls about swath timing in canola. “It’s going to be a hard job to figure out where your canola crop is going to be at for swathing, especially on some of those thin stands,” said the Canola Council of Canada agronomist at the Making the Grade workshop in late July. “It’s going to make harvest timing tough.”

“It’s going to be a challenge out there. You’re probably going to look at some of those crops out there and decide which part of the crop you’re willing to lose.” Keith Gabert

In normal years, producers should judge swath timing based on the main stem of the plant, said Gabert. But the hot, dry conditions of early summer stalled canola crop emergence across the province, leaving some fields with only two-thirds of its seeded crop. And when a canola plant has a lot of room to grow, “it branches out,” increasing the yield potential on the secondary branches. “The main stem is typically the

Finding the right time to swath is going to be tricky this year, says Canola Council agronomist Keith Gabert. PHOTO: JENNIFER BLAIR major contributor to yield, and that’s not likely to be the case in a lot of fields this year,” said Gabert. “This year, we’re likely going to look at a lot of these crops and say, ‘Where’s the majority of my yield coming from?’ And that’s the secondary branches.” Cracking open the seed pods on the secondary branches — not just eyeballing the pods — will be “pretty critical” in deciding whether the crop is ready to be swathed this year, he said. “The pod colour change on the outside of the pod can be really different between varieties and even between years on the same variety,” he said. “Simply because the outside of the pod is a nice yellow-brown colour doesn’t mean that, when

Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. Commercialized products have been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for canola contains the active ingredients difenoconazole, metalaxyl (M and S isomers), fludioxonil and thiamethoxam. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for canola plus Vibrance® is a combination of two separate individually-registered products, which together contain the active ingredients difenoconazole, metalaxyl (M and S isomers), fludioxonil, thiamethoxam, and sedaxane. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for corn (fungicides and insecticide) is a combination of four separate individually-registered products, which together contain the active ingredients metalaxyl, trifloxystrobin, ipconazole, and clothianidin. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for corn (fungicides only) is a combination of three separate individually-registered products, which together contain the active ingredients metalaxyl, trifloxystrobin and ipconazole. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for corn with Poncho®/ VoTivo™ (fungicides, insecticide and nematicide) is a combination of five separate individually-registered products, which together contain the active ingredients metalaxyl, trifloxystrobin, ipconazole, clothianidin and Bacillus firmus strain I-1582. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for soybeans (fungicides and insecticide) is a combination of four separate individually registered products, which together contain the active ingredients fluxapyroxad, pyraclostrobin, metalaxyl and imidacloprid. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for soybeans (fungicides only) is a combination of three separate individually registered products, which together contain the active ingredients fluxapyroxad, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl. Acceleron and Design®, Acceleron®, DEKALB and Design®, DEKALB®, Genuity and Design®, Genuity®, JumpStart®, RIB Complete and Design®, RIB Complete®, Roundup Ready 2 Technology and Design®, Roundup Ready 2 Yield®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup Transorb®, Roundup WeatherMAX®, Roundup®, SmartStax and Design®, SmartStax®, Transorb®, VT Double PRO®, and VT Triple PRO® are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC, Used under license. Vibrance® and Fortenza® are registered trademarks of a Syngenta group company. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design are trademarks of Bayer. Used under license. Herculex® is a registered trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Used under license. Poncho® and Votivo™ are trademarks of Bayer. Used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

you crack it open, you’re going to have nice black seeds inside.” But the whole seed doesn’t have to be yellow or black, added Gabert. “I don’t need a whole lot of black there, but I need to know that the seed is starting to ripen down and change colour,” he said. “I’m talking about a quarter of the seed or half the seed or even a pinhead-size dot on that seed so that I know it’s mature and it’s ready to change colour.”

Timing dilemma

The best time to swath is typically when 60 per cent of the seeds have changed colour, said Gabert. That’s when you’ve got maximum yield and also when the oil content is highest.

But waiting for the entire field to hit 60 per cent colour change might not leave enough time to swath large acreages. In that case, it’s better to start swathing when the seed colour change hits 30 per cent. “If you have a lot of acres or you need a lot of swather hours to get that knocked down, typically you’ll start at 30 per cent, and by the time you’re done, likely they’re over 60 per cent,” he said. And this year, that might mean that the main stem is overripe when it’s swathed. “If it’s really ripe and you can actually hear those seeds rattling in there and getting ready to shell out, you might decide that’s the right stage to leave it for,” he said.

“The main stem can be overripe, but all of these secondary branches that are in the right stage can get you to No. 1 canola.” Sacrificing some of the crop to salvage the bulk of it will be a hard reality for many producers this year, said Gabert. “There’s going to be some fields where we can’t get all of the canola that’s in that field and call it a salvageable crop,” he said. “It’s going to be a challenge out there. You’re probably going to look at some of those crops out there and decide which part of the crop you’re willing to lose.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

Start small when straight cutting canola for the first time

his year’s thin canola crop may force some producers to take their chances with straight cutting. “Typically we recommend a well-knit, even crop — something that the wind won’t shake, rattle, and roll — so that we prevent shattering and loss,” said Keith Gabert, Canola Council of Canada agronomist. “This year will be a little different. I have a lot of growers saying they’re going to try straight cutting because they have a thin enough crop that they don’t want to put it on the ground. They’re afraid to swath it... It’s podding a couple of inches from the ground. There’s not enough stubble to anchor that swath even if they did cut it.” Those who haven’t straight cut before should hedge their bets, he said. “Start swathing a little later, when you’re well past that 30 per cent (colour change),” said Gabert. “When you start feeling concerned that your swather is shelling things out, then you stop. Hopefully that’s leaving you with 20 or 30 per cent of your crop left standing to swath so you’re not putting all your eggs into one basket by straight cutting for the first time. “It’s going to be a learning opportunity for us, and I hope it’s not a lesson we repeat.”

jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

Photo: Thinkstock

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • AUGUST 17, 2015

G3 Global Grain Group officially completes CWB deal CWB name is retired as its assets are combined with those of Bunge Canada COMMODITY NEWS SERVICE

G3 Global Grain Group has officially closed its investment in a majority interest in CWB, the former Canadian Wheat Board. CWB will be combined with the grain assets of Bunge Canada to form a new Canadian agribusiness, G3 Canada Limited. “Combining the local market presence and global expertise of CWB and Bunge Canada Grain provides the opportunity to fulfil a promise to Canadian producers — to create a new and competitive alternative for the marketing of their grain,” G3 CEO Karl Gerrand said in a release. “The name change to G3 Canada Limited represents another step towards our vision of build-

ing a highly efficient coast-tocoast grain-handling enterprise, and I welcome the opportunity to work with the dedicated teams from G3, Bunge Canada and CWB, who have worked so hard to bring these transactions to a successful conclusion.” CWB’s president and CEO, Ian White, who helped lead the organization through the transformational process, said he is gratified with the investment outcome. “CWB is pleased to complete the initiative to commercialize. The capital investment G3 brings, as well as extensive operational experience, is a huge benefit to the sector, and we are pleased that Canadian grain producers will be able to continue to participate in the growth of the new company,” White said in the release.

The CWB sign will be coming down from the former Canadian Wheat Board building in Winnipeg. FILE PHOTO

NEWs Three flax varieties deregistered in 2017 The Canadian Grain Commission is notifying grain producers and industry stakeholders that the registration CDC Arras, Flanders and Somme will be cancelled effective Aug. 1, 2017. At that time, these varieties will be removed from the variety designation list for flaxseed. As per a protocol established with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in 2009, the grain commission provides three years’ notice when a grain variety’s registration is cancelled at the request of the breeder. — Staff

U.S. farm income down, but land prices holding up The value of U.S. farmland rose 2.4 per cent on average in the year to early June, slowing from a gain of around eight per cent in the previous year. The lowest grains prices in five years coupled with patchy export demand because of a strong dollar have hit farm profits and the USDA has forecast overall net farm income will drop by a third this year to US$73.6 billion — the lowest level since 2009. But the survey showed that in the year to early June, farmland across the country largely held its value. Land values in the Corn Belt, were 0.3 per cent down at $6,350 per acre. The biggest drop was a fall of 5.9 per cent in Iowa. But even there, land values stayed above 2013 levels, at $8,000 per acre. — Reuters

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AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Soakin’ it in

Pitch perfect elections DUKE UNIVERSITY Durham, N.C.

A canola field north of Lundreck, Alta., where there has been little moisture this summer, welcomes water from this irrigation system. Photo: Wendy Dudley

A new study by researchers at the University of Miami and Duke University shows that policy statements may be less important than a deep voice for candidates hoping to win voters’ support in this year’s federal election. The researchers say our love for leaders with lower-pitched voices may harken back to “caveman instincts” that associate leadership ability with physical prowess more than wisdom and experience. “Modern-day political leadership is more about competing ideologies than brute force,” said study co-author Casey Klofstad, associate professor of political science at Miami. “But at some earlier time in human history it probably paid off to have a literally strong leader.” The study, which looked at how unconscious biases nudge voters towards one candidate or another, are consistent with a previous study by Klofstad and colleagues which also found that candidates with deeper voices get more votes. The researchers found that a deep voice conveys greater physical strength, competence and integrity. The findings held up for female candidates, too. (Men and women with lower-pitched voices generally have higher testosterone, and are physically stronger and more aggressive.) Eight hundred volunteers completed an online questionnaire with information about the age and sex of two hypothetical candidates and indicated whom they would vote for. The candidates ranged in age from 30 to 70, but those in their 40s and 50s were most likely to win. “That’s when leaders are not so young that they’re too inexperienced, but not so old that their health is starting to decline or they’re no longer capable of active leadership,” Klofstad said. “Lo and behold, it also happens to be the time in life when people’s voices reach their lowest pitch.” Researchers then asked 400 men and 403 women to listen to pairs of recorded voices saying, “I urge you to vote for me this November.” Each paired recording was based on one person, whose voice pitch was then altered up and down with computer software. The deepervoiced candidates won 60 to 76 per cent of the votes.

China proposes heavy penalties for food safety China’s top court has demanded heavy penalties for companies and individuals who violate the country’s food safety laws. The Supreme People’s Court said in a circular that companies selling food online should be held wholly liable for any safety issues affecting consumers and urged firms to compensate consumers more quickly. Food safety is one of the top concerns among Chinese consumers after a series of scares from milk tainted with industrial chemical melamine in 2008 to fiery liquor ‘baijiu’ laced with Viagra. The country’s main prosecutor also said that it had investigated 652 officials relating to misconduct over food safety protection, including for embezzlement and taking bribes, the official Xinhua news agency reported. — Reuters

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • AUGUST 17, 2015

With feed supplies down, pea straw is a viable alternative But the straw has to be baled as soon after harvest as possible Alberta Agriculture and Forestry release

With a shortage of feed supplies for cattle this summer, many farmers are looking at their options, one of which is pea straw. With the pea harvest underway, now is the time to think about using pea straw in cattle rations, said Barry Yaremcio, beef and forage specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “Pea straw is excellent filler in a pregnant cow ration,” said Yaremcio. “It has reasonably good quality, two to three per cent more protein on a pound-for-pound basis than barley or oat straw, and roughly the same amount of energy. Cows like to eat it, and it’s a good replacement for the more expensive hay.” Get baling a soon as possible, he said. “Pea straw tends to be fairly fluffy when it comes out behind the combine, but quickly settles. If the straw lies on the ground too long, you could end up picking up dirt and getting it into the bale as well. That means if the soil is moist, you could get white mould forming on the straw in the bale.” Pea straw is more commonly used in a pregnant cow ration, said Yaremcio. “It can be 40 to 60 per cent of the ration, fed alongside eight to 10 pounds of grain a day to that cow. Calcium and magnesium levels in pea straw are a lot higher than in the other cereal straws so there are less supplementation problems, but feed tests are still critical. You should include a neutral detergent fibre test in the analysis to determine maximum feed intake.” There is no problem with animals consuming a pea crop that has been treated with Reglone or glyphosate, as both are safe, he said. “And as far as yields are concerned, what we’re hearing is that pea straw yields this year are anywhere from one-third to three-quarters of a tonne per acre, which should result roughly in onehalf to three-quarters of a bale per acre.”

25 CWRS varieties to be dropped Includes formerly popular varieties such as Neepawa, Katepwa, Harvest and Kane Staff

he Canadian Grain Commission has announced that as of Aug. 1, 2017, 29 varieties will no longer be eligible for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheat classes. The list (below) of 25 CWRS and four CPSR varieties includes formerly popular varieties such as Katepwa, Harvest and Kane as well as Neepawa, which was once the check variety for the CWRS class. “In an evaluation of varieties against the revised quality parameters for the CWRS and CPSR classes, the Canadian Grain Commission determined these varieties do not meet the quality characteristics of their current designated class,” the grain commission said in a release. It also said that it would start a review of up to two years of CWRS and CPSR varieties for

which more quality data is needed before a decision about their class designation. They will remain in their designated classes unless the evaluation shows they do not meet the revised quality parameters. At least two years’ notice will be given before any of these varieties are designated to another class, the commission said. The changes are part of a “Canadian wheat class modernization” consultation started by the CGC last February. During the consultation, the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale, at its annual meeting, changed the check varieties for Canada Western Red Spring wheat and Canada Prairie Spring Red wheat. Changes came into effect on Feb. 26, 2015. CWRS check varieties now, depending on region, include Glenn, Carberry, Splendour, BW 965, PT 472 and PT 772. CPSR checks are Glenn, AAC Foray, HY537 and 5700 PR.

wheat classes CWRS varieties to be dropped Aug. 1, 2017 AC Abbey AC Cora AC Eatonia AC Majestic AC Michael AC Minto Alvena Alikat CDC Makwa CDC Osler Columbus Conway Harvest

File Photo The grain commission earlier announced creation of an interim wheat class for Faller, Prosper and Elgin ND wheat varieties, effective Aug. 1, 2015. It said it will consult with stakeholders before deciding whether the class is permanent.

Kane Katepwa Leader Lillian McKenzie Neepawa Park Pasqua Pembina Thatcher Unity 5603HR

CPSR varieties to be dropped Aug. 1, 2017 AC Formost AC Taber Conquer Oslo

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AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Milk price plunge prompts grim warnings Deregulation of Europe’s dairy sector arrived just as Chinese demand dropped sharply BY KATE HOLTON London / Reuters

ritish farmers say they are facing financial ruin with a plunge in milk prices forcing many out of work and spurring others to blockade distribution centres and walk cows through supermarkets. Farming unions from across the country are urging the government to provide more help for an industry that has seen a 25 per cent year-on-year drop in the amount farmers are paid for milk.

The National Farmers Union estimates that the majority of dairy farmers is now selling milk below the amount it costs to produce it. “I was earning a pittance,” said Peter Parkes, a farmer who pulled out of dairy produce 18 months ago. Farmers around the country have been protesting against depressed prices, with videos online showing them entering supermarkets and clearing the shelves of milk. One group of protesters entered a supermarket in Stafford, central England, with two cows, to “show” the animals just how cheap their milk was.

“If the milk stays this cheap in six months’ time, 12 months’ time, there will be no fresh milk left in this country,” one protester said in a video posted online, as bewildered shoppers looked on. “We cannot afford to sell milk at this price.” AHDB Dairy, the industry body, said the collapse in prices, sparked by lower demand from China and a price war among British supermarkets, had resulted in more than one milk producer going out of business per day in the last year. It’s a similar story in Ireland, where the country’s largest food

company is warning dairy prices are sinking towards uneconomical levels that could lead to a drop in production. International milk prices are at 13-year lows. “We are heading towards levels where it is uneconomical to produce long term and that is going to have to correct itself. It’s not sustainable,” said Stan McCarthy, chief executive of Kerry Group, which processes one billion litres of milk per year. He said the key driver would be demand in China, which has fallen off sharply, and it was not yet clear when demand would pick up there.

Accounting for just over one per cent of world milk output, Ireland is not a major milk producer but it is one of the largest exporters in Europe with 80 per cent of milk output sold abroad. Ireland’s government promised that billions of euros and thousands of jobs would flow from the historic deregulation of Europe’s dairy sector earlier this year, with farmers facing no legal restrictions on the amount of milk they can produce for the first time since 1984. T:17.4”

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Albertafarmexpress.ca • august 17, 2015

Why the long face? Horses and humans share facial expressions Study finds horses have a ‘rich repertoire of complex facial movements’ “Horses are predominantly visual animals, with eyesight that’s better than domestic cats and dogs, yet their use of facial expressions has been largely overlooked.” Jennifer Wathan

orses share some surprisingly similar facial expressions to humans and chimps, according to new University of Sussex research. Mammal communication researchers have shown that, like humans, horses use muscles underlying various facial features — including their nostrils, lips and eyes — to alter their facial expressions in a variety of social situations.

The findings, published in the journal PLOS ONE earlier this month, suggest evolutionary parallels in different species in how the face is used for communication. The study builds on previous research showing that cues from the face are important for horses to communicate, by developing an objective coding system to identify different individual facial expressions on the basis of underlying muscle movement. The Equine Facial Action Coding System (EquiFACS), as devised by the Sussex team in collaboration with researchers at the University of Portsmouth and Duquesne University, identified 17 “action units” (discrete facial movements) in horses. This compares with 27 in humans, 13 in chimps, and 16 in dogs. “Horses are predominantly visual animals, with eyesight that’s better than domestic cats and dogs, yet their use of facial expressions has been largely overlooked,” said the study’s colead author, doctoral researcher Jennifer Wathan. “What sur-

prised us was the rich repertoire of complex facial movements in horses, and how many of them are similar to humans. “Despite the differences in face structure between horses and humans, we were able to identify some similar expressions in relation to movements of the lips and eyes. “It was previously thought that, in terms of other species, the further away an animal was from humans, the more rudimentary their use of facial expressions would be,” said co-lead author Professor Karen McComb. “Through the development of EquiFACS, however, it’s apparent that horses, with their complex and fluid social systems, also have an extensive range of facial movements and share many of these with humans and other animals.” She added that a systematic way of recording facial expressions would have a wide range of applications, including better information for veterinarians and improved animal welfare practices.

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Horses use similar facial muscles to humans, suggesting an evolutionary parallel in how horses and humans use the face to communicate. Photo: Jennifer Wathan

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AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Researchers say there’s a payoff from planting under poly High tunnels have caught on in a big way in Eastern Canada, but are still rare on the Prairies BY LORRAINE STEVENSON

Staff / Portage la Prairie, Man.

ool nights and early frosts mean commercial production of lateseason crops like fall-bearing raspberries is typically not feasible on the Prairies. But a Manitoba initiative is exploring whether high tunnels could be the solution. “We’re trying to see if we can change that with high tunnel production, and make it profitable,” provincial fruit crop specialist Anthony Mintenko said at a recent horticulture workshop. In neighbouring Minnesota, three 100foot rows of raspberries yield about 320 pounds worth about $2,900 if sold at $4.50 per pint. This is the first year a variety of fruits and vegetables has been planted in the high tunnel built in 2014 at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada location here. “We have a lot of recommendations from other places like Minnesota and Ontario about what to grow in a high tunnel but nothing for under Manitoba conditions,” said Mintenko. He is evaluating day-neutral strawberries, early-season June-bearing strawberries, fall-bearing raspberries and blackberries at one end of a tunnel that’s 100 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 7.5 feet high. At the other end, vegetable specialist Tom Gonsalves is experimenting with vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. They’re also evaluating the

High tunnels have the potential to extend production of fruits and vegetables on the Prairies, says Anthony Mintenko, a fruit crops specialist in Manitoba. PHOTO: LORRAINE STEVENSON potential for a summer-bearing yellow raspberry that can produce a second crop later in the season if grown under warm conditions. High tunnels are like greenhouses, except they don’t have a double layer of poly, and no permanent heat or electricity. But they also keep cold out and heat in, reduce the risk of fruit rot, and produce more uniform yields. But the big payoff is being able to sell earlier in the spring when demand and

prices are strong, as well as extending the sales season into the fall. The high tunnel at Portage la Prairie cost about $5,000 to build, with the added side venting and a drip-irrigation system pushing the total capital cost to $8,000. The side venting is needed because most fruit crops shut down when temperatures rise above 30 C. “It is a relatively cheap design, and doesn’t have the headroom of a lot of tunnels,” said Tom Gonsalves, adding that

capital cost can be recouped fairly quickly with high-demand crops. He plans to plant kale in September and again early next spring because “kale is a crop where, if there’s any heat at all, it’s going to grow.” Choosing the right varieties is a key part of the study, as varieties of vegetables specifically bred for high tunnels and their higher-temperature conditions, which can be 5 C higher. “Most multinational seed companies have varieties of the common crops like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and coolseason lettuces and spinach that have been bred specifically for high tunnel use,” he said. He noted that on July 26, the thermostat hit 34.6 C in the tunnel. “A lot of varieties would have trouble at that temperature, he said. “But at 34.6 C all the cucumbers did was grow faster.” By then they’d already harvested cucumbers too. “We picked the first cucumber July 10 in this tunnel,” he added. There is “great potential” in high tunnels on the Prairies, said Waldo Thiessen, executive director of the Prairie Fruit Growers Association (which largely represents Manitoba producers). “Manitoba is behind on this,” he said. “Ontario is way ahead of us and down in the eastern U.S., they’re extending their season and taking advantage of higher prices and higher yields because they can protect their plants from the elements.” lorraine@fbcpublishing.com

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • AUGUST 17, 2015

Chinese pork imports to surge as hog sector boom-bust cycle persists Pork imports are expected to climb 54 per cent to two million tonnes this year for one year for the small pigs to be ready for sale after you increase the supply of breeding sows.” The Ministry of Agriculture is playing down the inflationary implications, saying the increase in the price of pork — which it admitted was far from over — would not be as dramatic as in 2011 when it caused broad inflation to surge. Even so, ANZ Bank estimates the seven per cent year-on-year rise in average pork prices contributed to a 0.2 percentage point increase in the Consumer Price Index for June.

BY NAVEEN THUKRAL AND NIU SHUPING

Singapore/Beijing / Reuters

eople in China eat more than half the pork consumed in the world, but domestic supplies come mainly from small farms that cut their herds whenever costs rise, causing boom-and-bust cycles that have led to record-high hog prices this year. Wary of the social impact of such gyrations in the cost of a staple food, the government is trying to develop a more reliable food chain, but supplies are likely to remain tight until the first quarter of 2016 at least and imports will jump. Rabobank is forecasting a 54 per cent increase in pork imports this year to two million tonnes, mainly benefiting European Union countries. When prices surged in 2011, the government responded with subsidies to encourage hog breeding. But that led to a huge surplus and lower prices, forcing farmers to slaughter breeding sows until their numbers plunged. Inevitably, prices turned north again, with hogs quoted at 20 yuan (US$3.22) per kilogram now in Fujian province, up from 13.6 yuan at the beginning of the year. Fujian is home to some of the largest hog farms in the country. “Driven by high margins, many farmers have started to replenish their farms,” said Pan Chenjun, a livestock analyst at Rabobank in Hong Kong. “They are stopping the slaughter of sows to increase production and many large pig farms are also boosting supplies.”

Environmental constraints

A farmer feeds water to pigs at an enclosure in a pig farm in Liaocheng, Shandong province April 9, 2015. Photo: REUTERS/Stringer Farm sizes increasing

While small farms still account for about 80 per cent of China’s pork, the share of production from farms with more than 3,000 hogs is expanding rapidly as Beijing attempts to develop more stable food chains. Pork supplies from larger farms have doubled in the past five years. In 2013, China’s largest meat producer, the privately held Shuanghui Group, acquired U.S. pork producer Smithfield Group in a $4.7-billion deal that was seen as a statement of intent by the country to develop a first-rate meat sector.

In the short term, however, pork supplies are likely to remain tight. The number of breeding sows at the end of June stood at a record low of 39 million, down from an historical high of 50.1 million in 2013, according to Rabobank. The government says stocks are at the lowest since 2008 after falling for 22 months. Rabobank says hog supplies have dropped to 384 million from an all-time high of 468 million at the end of 2013. “Increasing the breeding sows today does not mean you’ll have small pigs tomorrow,” said Feng Yonghui, chief analyst at soozhu. com, an industry website. “You’ll have to wait

Adding to the near-term supply woes is a new environmental law that is prompting provincial governments to relocate some hog farms away from urban centres. It came into force on Jan. 1 and authorities in places such as Fujian, Guangdong and Jiangsu have already ordered farms that do not come up to scratch to close or move. In the process, even some medium-sized to large farms are shutting down, unable to meet the higher standards. Annual world consumption of pork stands at around 110 million tonnes. China’s consumption is forecast to rise to 57.4 million tonnes this year, up 27 per cent from 45.1 million a decade ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. China is looking to import pork from Mexico, Thailand and Brazil, industry sources said, but Germany is already one of the big winners. Its exports to China doubled in the first half of 2015 from a year before to 83,400 tonnes, VDF, the German meat industry association, said.

14250 – 100 Street, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 7C7 Phone: (780)532-5344 • (888)532-5344 • Fax: (780)532-2457 11508 – 8th Street, Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4H3 Phone: (250)782-7511 • (800)663-3572 • Fax: (250)782-7511 TRACTORS NH L230 2011 3000lb Lift Capacity, Full Load, High Flow Hyds, Hyd Q/A, 400 eng hrs, Stk#E016122 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $49,500 Kubota RTV-900 2010 SidexSide 1180 eng hrs, Stk#E015145 . . . . . . $10,500 Woods CZR2652 2012 52” Zero Turn Mower Stk#E014133 . . . . . . . . $4,100 Kubota B7510 4wd, 60” Sweeper, 60” Mower, 60” Blade & 48” Tiller 500 eng hrs, Stk#E011076 . . . . . . . . . . . . . $13,000 NH TV140-TV6070 Loader, Grapple, 105 PTO HP . . . . . Starting At $32,900 Steiger CM280 1984 Good Shape. 7110 eng hrs, Stk#E015984 . . . . $26,000 Cat 75 Stk#E016131 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $38,700 NH T9060 Triples 1300 eng hrs, Stk#E014421 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $225,000 NH T9.670HD 2011 800 Duals, 600hp, GPS, Lux Cab, Mega Flow Hyds 325 eng hrs, Stk#E013694 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $307,000

SPRAYERS

FC Used Pull Type Sprayers, Various Models . . . . . . . . . Starting At $21,900 Apache AS1210 2009 100ft, 1200 gal, AutoBoom, 5 Section Boom, Envizio Pro 850 eng hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $159,900 Wilmar 8100 1997 Coming In Stk#E016135 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35,000

FEEDING

Haybuster 2650 Grain Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Starting At $13,900

TILLAGE & SEEDING

Summers 60ft Heavy Harrows Stk#E014008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $22,900 JD 220 18ft Disc Stk#E014891 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,250 FC 3450 340bu, Variable Rate & Mechanical Rate Units Available, Tow-Behind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Starting At $29,900 FC 820/1720/Pack 33’x9”, Single Shoot, TBH, Air Seeder, Packer Bar Stk#E015372 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $22,000 FC 5000/1720 33’x9”, Single Shoot, TBH, 4” Rubber Packers Stk#E015789 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30,000 FC 5000 45’x9”, Double Shoot, TBH, 4” Rubber or Steel, Two To Choose From . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Starting At $40,000

FC 5000/3450 2002 57’x7.2”, TBT, Mech Cart, Single Shoot . . . . . . $55,000 NH P2060/P1060 2009 70’x12”, TBH, Variable Rate, Double Shoot, AgTron Blockage Monitor On Seed Runs, 4” Paired Row Atom Jet Openers, 5.5” Rubber Packers, Clean Unit. Stk#E013197 . . . $125,900

COMBINES & HEADERS

CIH 2388 2003 With Pickup Header, Hopper Cover, 1,650 T Hours 2210 eng hrs, Stk#E014945 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $72,000 NH 94C 25’ Draper to fit 2388 Stk#E014946 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000 Lexion 570 2011 RWA, Clean Unit, 850 eng hrs, Stk#E014936 . . . . $159,900 NH CX8070 2008 1000 T Hours 1300 eng hrs, Stk#E014437 . . . . . $169,900 NH CX8080 2009-12 9 Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Starting At $175,000 NH CX8090 2013 Cast Drum, Tier IV, GPS, Duals, 200 T Hours 270 eng hrs, Stk#E013496 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $325,000 NH CR9090 2012 c/w Pickup Header, RWA, GPS, Luxury Cab, Stk#E016124 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $310,000 NH Selection Of NH Straight Cut & Draper Headers Various Sizes Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Starting At $22,000 JD 9860 2004 Hopper Cover, Clean & Ready To Work, 1,815 T Hours 2420 eng hrs, Stk#E015728 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $124,900

GRAIN CARTS

Demco 850-1150 2014 850 to 1150 Bu, Black or Blue, PTO & Hyd. Drive, 900 Tires, Tarp & Scales . . . . . . . . . Starting At $49,900

SWATHERS

Hesston 8400 1994 21ft Draper Stk#E014240 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $13,500 MacDon 4952 2000 30’ 972, New Drive Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $47,900 MacDon 9352i 2005 30ft 972, Double Knife, Triple Del. Stk#E012026 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $59,900 MacDon M105 2013 25ft D65, Single Knife, Triple Del. 125 eng hrs, Stk#E014431 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $129,900 MacDon M150-M155 30’ & 35’ D60/D65, Double Knife, Trans, Triple Del, Swath Rollers Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Starting At $101,900

DISCBINES/HAYBINES/RAKES NH 488 1996 9’3” Side Pull Haybine Stk#E015827 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,900 NH 1411 2003 10ft Sidepull Stk#E014170 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $11,900 CIH 8360 12ft Hydroswing Two To Pick From . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,500 NH 1475 2006 16ft Hydroswing Stk#E014022. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $17,500 NH 1431 13’ Discbines, 2 to choose from: . . . . . . . . . . . Starting At $20,000

BALERS NH BR780/BR780A Auto Wrap, 2.07m P/U . . . . . . . . . . Starting At $13,900 NH BR780A 2006 TW/NW, 2.07m P/U Stk#E007409. . . . . . . . . . . . . $18,900

CONSIGNMENTS JD 9600 2830 Threshing Hours 4165 eng hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35,000 JD 925 25’ Auger Header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000 JD 2520 Tractor, Loader, Backhoe, Disc, Mower, Rear Blade, Wood Chipper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $28,000 JD 930 10’ Side Pull Disc Mower Conditioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,500 JF FCT1350 JF Forage Harvester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $16,900 NH 492 New Holland Haybine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000 KV 3PT-4BT Kvernland 4 Bottom Plow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,000 AG 3PT-2BT Dearborn 2 Bottom Plow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $600 JD 530 John Deere Round Baler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,400 NH BR780 New Holland Round Baler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,000 FK Y720 Farm King 72” Rotary Cutter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,700 RN 350 Renn Stockmaster Feed Wagon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,000 Wheat-Belt Never used 20’ Electric Bale Elevator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,900 NH CX860 2004, 76C P/U, 1602T Hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $95,000 JD 640D 2012 40’ Combine Draper c/w Upper Cross Auger & HLA 4 Wheel Steer Header Cart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $71,000 Kub ZG227 54” Zero-Turn Mower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,500 DR Pro Lawn Vac & Chipper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,600 *For commercial use only. Offer subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. See your New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. standard terms and conditions will apply. Depending on model, a down payment may be required. Offer good through August 31, 2015, at participating New Holland dealers in Canada. Offer subject to change. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in price. © 2015 CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland Agriculture is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland Construction are trademarks in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.

AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

No matter what the crop — canola, alfalfa, grass, small grains, lentils, or peas — New Holland H8000 Series Speedrower® windrowers deliver capacity that can’t be matched by any other machine. Not only do you have the power to drive the widest variety of headers, you also get outstanding visibility, comfort, and header control – giving you a SMART choice in the ultimate crop-cutting PLUS machine.

BONANZA BUCKS

PHENOMENAL PHENOMENAL CAPACITY AND IN-FIELD CONTROL.

CAPACITY AND IN-FIELD CONTROL. No matter what the crop – canola, alfalfa, grass, small grains, lentils, or peas – New Holland H8000 Series Speadrower® windrowers deliver capacity that can’t be matched by any other machine. Not only do you have the power to drive the widest variety of headers, you also get outstanding visibility, comfort, and header control – giving you a SMART choice in the ultimate crop-cutting machine.

• 126 hp to an industry-leading 226 hp • Smooth Discbine® headers up to 18’ wide — the widest available • Reliable draper headers from 21’ to 36’ • Proven Haybine® sickle headers — 12’, 14’, 16’ and 18’ • Comfort Ride™ cab suspension for a smooth ride • Optional chassis suspension for ultimate productivity in the field

SWATHER SALE!

• 126 hp to an industry-leading 226 hp

• Smooth Discbine® headers up to 18’ wide – the widest available • Reliable draper headers from 21’ to 36’ • Proven Haybine® sickle headers – 12’, 14’, 16’ and 18’ 2013

2012 NEW HOLLAND H8060

MACDON M155 • Comfort Ride™ cab suspension for a #W22649A. 497 HRS, smooth ride 40’ TRIPLE DELIVERY DRAPER, TAIL • Optional chassis suspension for16.5L-16.1 ultimate WHEELS, 600-65R28 productivity in the field DRIVE WHEELS, HYD

145,000

CENTER LINK, ROTO SHEARS,HYDRAULIC ROLLER. PRINCE ALBERT.

#HW3388A. 508 HRS, #HW3387A. 551 HRS, AIR AIR SPRING SUSPENSPRING SUSPENSION, FULL *For commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Capital America LLC SION, FULL W/AC, CAB W/AC,requirements. CAB DELUXE or CAB CNH Capital Canada Ltd. See your participating New Holland dealer for details and eligibility Down payEZEE PILOT GUIDANCE, UPGRADE, 36’forHEADER, ment may be required. Offer good through November 30, 2013. Not all customers or applicants may qualify this rate or term. 36’ HEADER, DOUBLE DOUBLE KNIFE, SINGLE CNH Capital America LLC or CNH Capital Canada Ltd. Standard terms and conditions will apply. This transaction will be unconditionally interest free. Canada Example - 0.00% per annum for a total contract term of 36 months: UII Based on a retail contract date of October 15, 2013, with a suggested retail price on a new T7.170 tractor of C$131,116.70 KNIFE, SINGLE REEL. SWATH PU REEL, TRANScustomer provides down payment of C$26,212.70 and fi nances the balance of C$104,904.00 at 0.00% per annum for 36 months. There will be 35 equal monthly installment HUMBOLDT PORT GAUGE WHEEL payments of C$2,914.00 each, the first due on November 15, 2013 and one final installment of C$2,914.00 due on October 15, 2016. The total PACKAGE. amount payableHUMBOLDT will be C$131,116.70,

125,000

105,000

125,000

which includes finance charges of C$0.00. Taxes, freight, setup, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in suggested retail price. Offer subject to change or cancellations without notice. © 2013 CNH America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland and CNH Capital are registered trademarks of CNH America LLC.

2012 JOHN DEERE A400

2012 NEW HOLLAND H8060

#W22412A. 256 HRS, 480XR38 TIRES AG LUG, 14LX16.1SL FORMED REAR CASTOR, REAR WEIGHT KIT, CUTTING HOURS --ONLY! 185 HRS, 36’ DOUBLE KNIFE DRIVE, UII P/U REEL, SINGLE SPAN, PLASTIC FINGERS, HYD TILT, FORE/AFT, TRANSPORT KIT. KINISTINO.

2011 MASSEY FERGUSON 9435

92,000

#W22406A. 270 HRS, 36’ CENTRE DELIVERY DRAPER HEADER, WINCH ROLLER FREE FORM, 480/85R28 FRONT TIRES, REAR FORKED 14L-16.1 SL GOODYEAR, SINGLE KNIFE 36’, 4 REAR WEIGHTS 55KG EACH, GAUGE WHEELS 20X10.00-10NHS, 5 FORWARD LIGHTS 3 REAR LIGHTS, 5200 HEADER. PRINCE ALBERT.

2011 MASSEY FERGUSON 9430

89,000

© 2014 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.

2011 MACDON M150

136,000

72,500

#W22643A. 570 HRS, 2010 D60 HEADER ONLY 407 HRS, HYD SHIFT DECK, ALWAYS SHEDDED. KINISTINO

2007 MASSEY FERGUSON 9430

72,000

#W22408A . 1102 HRS, 30’ CENTRE DELIVER DRAPER HEADER, UII P/U REEL, HYD TILT AND GAUGE WHEELS, 18.4R26 DRIVE TIRES, 12.5L-15 FORMED CASTORS. KINISTINO.

#W22122B. 844 HRS, 30’ CENTRE DELIVER DRAPER HEADER, WINDSHIELD WIPER, ELECTRIC FORE/ AFT, MECH TILT, UII P/U REEL, HYD DECK SHIFT, CONVERTED TO SCHUMACHER KNIVES, TOPCON STEERING MOTOR, AUTOSTEER, GAUGE WHEELS, REAR WEIGHTS. KINISTINO.

2006 MASSEY FERGUSON 9420

62,000

#PN3020C . 828 HRS, 30’ CENTRE DELIVER DRAPER HEADER, FRONT 18.4R26 FIRESTONE, 30’ PU REEL UII, ELECTRIC FORE/AFT, SWIVEL GAUGE WHEELS, HYD TILT, SINGLE KNIFE, FORKED REAR TIRES,MOUNTED WINCH SWATH ROLLER, 4 CYLINDER CUMMINS DIESEL 110 HP. PRINCE ALBERT.

2005 NEW HOLLAND HW325

2002 MACDON 9250

1998 CASE IH 8825

#HN3123B. 1500 HRS, DELUXE CAB UPGRADE, CAB AND REAR AXLE SUSPENSION, HB36 HEADER, GAUGE WHEELS, SINGLE KNIFE DRIVE, UII PICKUP REEL. HUMBOLDT

#W22416A. 1101 HRS, 30’ DRAPER HEADER, 21.5X16.1 AG LUG, 9.5 FORKED BACK CASTOR, 30’ 962 HEADER, MECH DECK SHIFT, SINGLE KNIFE DRIVE. KINISTINO.

#W22108B. 2906 HRS, 30’ SHIFTABLE DRAPER HEADER, GAUGE WHEELS, ROTO SHEARS, KOENDERS MOUNTED ROLLER, DOUBLE KNIFE,DOUBLE SWATH PU REEL. HUMBOLDT

58,000

Hwy. #3, Kinistino 306-864-3667 Hwy. #5, Humboldt 306-682-9920 Hwy. #2 S., Prince Albert 306-922-2525 PRECISION FARMING AND DRONE EXPERTS ON STAFF

26,500

VISIT

2015 MACDON M155

FARMWORLD.CA FOR DAILY CASH SPECIALS ON EQUIPMENT, PARTS & MORE!

Bi-annual payment

WITH D65 35’ HEADER

12,310

(OAC, some restrictions apply)

+ GST

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • AUGUST 17, 2015

Pruning ban not over yet

CleanFARMS collection dates

Rural residents are being reminded the provincial ban remains in effect until Sept. 30. Pruning dead wood from elms (and then burning, burying, or chipping it) helps protect the trees from elm bark beetles and the Dutch elm disease they spread — but only if done from Oct. 1 to March 31. “If elm trees are pruned during the pruning ban period, these beetles which are active at this time can be attracted to the scent of the fresh wound and possibly infect an otherwise healthy elm with DED,” said Janet Feddes-Calpas, executive director of the Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease. “Once an elm tree is infected with DED it will die within that year.” — AAF release

CleanFARMS will be collecting obsolete pesticide and livestock medications at 20 locations from Oct. 26-30 across the southern part of the province. Farmers can drop off their obsolete materials at a designated collection site at no charge. The products will then be transported to a high-temperature incineration facility for safe disposal. Pickups will occur at four locations each day in an area stretching from Red Deer and Oyen to Fort MacLeod and Medicine Hat. For a list of collection sites and locations go to www.cleanfarms.ca and follow the links for ‘Obsolete pesticide and livestock medications.’ — Staff

Think spongy, sweet, and narrow HEARTLAND in intensive rotational grazing Rancher who runs 700 cattle on 10 acres a day says he’s boosted his carrying capacity by 300 to 400 per cent BY JENNIFER PAIGE Staff

imicking nature can improve feed value, reduce labour, and put more money in a rancher’s pocket. “All we are doing here is mimicking the animal’s natural process of moving through pastures,” said Ralph Corcoran, certified educator with Holistic Management International. “With a successful system you will start to see the benefits in all areas of your operation.” Specialists say a successful grazing system can provide feed that holds a high sugar content, increases soil nutrients, lowers labour demands, and builds resiliency to extreme weather. Proponents such as Saskatchewan rancher Neil Dennis say the method can produce big dividends. He points to a pasture originally seeded in 1949 that he successfully rejuvenated through intensive grazing followed by extensive recovery time. Dennis, who has been experimenting with grazing practices for three decades, said he has increased the carrying capacity of his lands by 300 to 400 per cent. The pasture that was once seeded to crested wheatgrass now claims 40 species. There’s also much better water infiltration — up to a level of five to 10 inches per hour — and an improved mineral cycle, which in turn has increased carbon sequestration. “Early on, I realized the higher the stock density, the faster things turn around,” said Dennis. “And they say with this type of grazing, we are putting the CO2 deeper into the soil and it is not coming out like it used to.” Dennis recently opened his operation, Sunnybrae Farm near Wawota, for a tour as part of Holistic Management Canada’s Open Gate Learning Series.

Long and narrow

Rotational grazing systems involve moving cattle through a series of paddocks that are intensively grazed for short periods of time. “When you are making your fence, make your paddocks long and narrow, and you will be able to get more animal impact on the land. That way you get better consumption of grass and more foot impact,” said Dennis who is currently running 700 head on 10 acres a day.

A number of workshops has been held in recent weeks as a part of the Holistic Management Canada’s Open Gate Learning Series. PhotoS: Jennifer Paige Producers use perennial pasture mixtures that are generally a minimum of 30 per cent legumes. Most often, this includes alfalfa, along with grass species that boast high quality and superior regrowth, such as meadow brome, orchard grass and tall fescue. “It is key to know how much grass you have,” said Blain Hjertass, another certified educator with Holistic Management International. “Mark out one square foot and see how much grass is in that area. Then you know how many pounds of grass are in each paddock and you have an idea of how many cattle you want on that piece of land for how long in order to provide the right amount of feed.” Pastures are generally grazed until the grass has been well picked and the field shows a visible herd effect. As cattle are moved off of paddocks, pastures are left to rest and regrow. It is recommended to allow fields to rest for 80 to 100 growing days.

Sugar content

“What we are doing here is tricking nature to grow more, faster,” said Corcoran. “Plant recovery time is the most important. It is not the number of animals in the field, it is the time that they are on the field and the time they are off of it, to allow the grass to recover. “If you bring the cattle back on the land too early or leave the cattle on the land too long, you are overgrazing.”

Most producers allow pastures to grow until the majority of plants has reached the flowering stage. Allowing proper regrowth time will offer cattle the best feed and give the plant time to expand its root system, which will also support improved soil health. “The one thing I have found is that the healthier the soil gets, your sugar contents stay higher longer, and your plants stay vegetative a lot longer too,” said Dennis. “In 60 days, my plants used to be all seed heads and drying out. Now I am going 80 to 100 days and they are still vegetative and have a higher sugar content.” Dennis said 12 per cent sugar content is considered a good level to graze. “This field has over 20 per cent sugar content in the forage right now. If you are trying to gain weight with cattle, that’s what you want,” he said.

A cushioned carpet

Producers who have implemented a rotational grazing system echo the experience of seeing their soil systems flourish. “As we bring up a soil profile from Neil’s pasture, you can see why it feels spongy when you walk on it,” said Hjertass. “If you look at the side view, there is over an inch of litter on the surface from all of the years of being high stock density grazed. And that is why there is so much nutrition in this land.” Having litter cover on pasture land enables greater nutrient cycling and availability; enhances

Blain Hjertass, certified educator with Holistic Management International, discusses the benefits of rotational grazing at a recent workshop as part of the Holistic Management Canada’s Open Gate Learning Series.

Neil Dennis has been grazing cattle for the past 30 years at Sunnybrae Farm in Wawota, Saskatchewan. water-holding capacity and biological activity; and aids to protecting the soil during bouts of drought and excessive moisture. “With plant diversity and litter cover you are able to hold more water in the soil, you have way more fungal activity, you’re getting more aeration, which allows more water infiltration, air infiltration and CO2 exit,” said Hjertass. During the farm tour, Hjertass took soil samples from Dennis’s pasture land as well as a neighbouring cropland to compare the soil structure.

“If you also look at the soil samples that we placed in the water, you will see that the good healthy soil is maintaining its composure and very little soil has broken apart,” said Hjertass. “Whereas the soil from the cropland, half of that soil is already broken apart. This is an example of what is happening in the field. In very dry conditions the soil blows away and in very wet conditions, it washes away, unless you have a healthy soil structure.” jennifer.paige@fbcpublishing.com

AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Russian ‘food crematoria’ provoke outrage amid crisis, famine memories Images of zealous officials throwing imported bacon into a furnace are being denounced BY GABRIELA BACZYNSKA moscow / reuters

A broken head of cheese is seen on the ground as illegally imported food falling under restrictions is destroyed in Belgorod region, Russia, August 6, 2015. Russian government plans for mass destruction of banned western food imports have provoked outrage in a country where poverty rates are soaring and memories remain of famine during Soviet times. photo: Reuters

ussian government plans for mass destruction of banned western food imports have provoked outrage in a country where poverty rates are soaring and memories remain of famine during Soviet times. Even some Kremlin allies are expressing shock at the idea of “food crematoria” while one orthodox priest has denounced the campaign, which officially began earlier this month, as insane and sinful. However, the authorities are determined to press on with destroying illegal imports they consider “a security threat.” Russian TV showed a small

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mountain of illegally imported European cheese being bulldozed while even before the official start, zealous workers threw boxes of European bacon into an incinerator. Moscow banned many western food imports last year in retaliation for sanctions imposed by the U.S., European Union and other of their allies during the confrontation over Ukraine. But now many Russians say the government has lost sight of the everyday struggles faced by ordinary citizens. More than a quarter of a million people have backed an online petition on Change. org, an international website that hosts campaigns, calling on President Vladimir Putin to revoke the decision and hand the food to people in need. “Sanctions have led to a major growth in food prices on Russian shelves,” the petition states. “Russian pensioners, veterans, large families, the disabled and other needy social groups were forced to greatly restrict their diets, right up to starvation. If you can just eat these products, why destroy them?”

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With annual food price inflation running at over 20 per cent, public indignation has been deepened by Russian media reports that the Agriculture Ministry was tendering to buy “mobile food crematoria” to speed up the destruction. Putin’s decree ordering the food to be destroyed entered into force Aug. 6. It does not specify methods but says the process should be carried out “by any available means” and videotaped, apparently to prevent corrupt officials from simply helping themselves and holding a feast. How much food has evaded the embargo is unclear, but considerable quantities appear to have slipped through the net by various routes, including via Belarus. The ban, currently in place until Aug. 5, 2016, covers a wide range of imports including pork, beef, poultry, fish and seafood, milk and dairy products, fruits, vegetables and nuts. It applies to food from the United States, EU, Canada, Australia and Norway.

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • AUGUST 17, 2015

Monsanto bid for Syngenta faces opposition from farm, consumer groups

MAKING HAY PLAY

Rival company BASF is preparing to make its own bid for the company Reuters

Two Australian shepherds on Burro Alley Ranch, near Millarville, Alta., make play with the hay, treating it like their castle. An expensive play yard, considering the premium price of hay due to a shortage in many drought-stricken areas. Photo: Wendy Dudley

everal U.S. farm and consumer groups are working on strategies to derail a proposed tie-up of Monsanto and Syngenta, saying a combination of the market leaders would spell fewer and higher-priced products. Coalitions of opponents are being formed and market analyses being done, moves that underscore the hurdles U.S.-based Monsanto will face in any deal to take over Swiss-based Syngenta. “We will aggressively oppose it,” said Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union. “This would reduce competition in the marketplace that is already highly concentrated.” Monsanto, the world’s largest seed company, has yet to persuade Syngenta, the world’s top provider of agricultural chemicals, to even start negotiations. The NFU is one of several groups in a loose coalition that is working on the objections it will present to the Justice Department if a deal comes together. The Food & Water Watch consumer advocacy group is doing a market analysis on which to base its objections.

Monsanto’s stated intention of selling off Syngenta’s seeds and traits businesses is a “red herring,” and the combined company would be a dominant player in the key agricultural platforms of seeds, genetic traits and crop chemicals, said Diana Moss, president of the American Antitrust Institute. “Farmers are already paying through the nose,” Moss said. “This would take it to a whole new level.” Some individual farmers are also making their opposition clear. “I hope they don’t get it done,” said Ohio farmer John Davis, past president of the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers. “They could get to the point where they could charge whatever they want.” The deal would also face strong resistance in Brazil should it go forward, farmers and lawyers said, a hurdle that could delay or force major concessions to the $45-billion deal. As one of the few places in the world with land available to expand farming, Brazil is likely to surpass the U.S. as the world’s top soybean producer in the coming years, while its tropical climate makes it an enormous pesticide consumer.

Brazil’s regulator, Cade, could spend up to a year, the maximum time allowed, analyzing any potential deal, said Marcio de Carvalho Silveira Bueno, an antitrust lawyer at Sao Paulobased TozziniFreire Advogados. Brazilian farmers are already opposed to the deal, said Ricardo Tomczyk, president of Brazil’s main farmers’ lobby Aprosoja in top growing state Mato Grosso. “It would distort the free market and hurt the sector all around... we are quite concerned,” said Tomczyk, a lawyer who has also represented farmers in legal battles against Monsanto over royalty fees. Ratcheting up the pressure to find a deal, which first came to light in late April, is German chemicals group BASF’s bid for Syngenta. BASF has already lined up a loan package from large multinational banks, people familiar with the matter said. BASF will only decide to submit a bid for Syngenta if Monsanto makes an offer for the Swiss group, the sources said, adding that BASF was comfortable with there being no merger at all and the status quo in the industry prevailing.

USED EQUIPMENT NEW & IN STOCK • Parker Grain Carts • Rem Grain Vacs • Haybuster Bale Processors • PRO ALL Medium Harrow 70’

519766

628424

667512

2008 New Holland CR9060 Combine, 950hrs, Excellent cond.

2011 New Holland 9070 Combine, 550hrs, 425HP, Excellent cond., loaded

2005 New Holland CR960 Combine, 1140hrs, 330HP, Good cond.

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NH CR9070, 2011,525 sep hrs, gps . . . . . . . . . . . . . $235,000 NH CR9070, 2011,550 sep hrs, gps . . . . . . . . . . . . . $235,000 NH CR8090,2013,400sep,dsp,gps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $335,000 NH CR9090 Elevation,750sep, gps, 2012 . . . . . . . . $335,000 NH CR9060, 2008,940 sep hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $175,000 NH CR960, 2005,1130 sep hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $129,000 JD 9600,1989, stored inside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $34,500 CIH 2388,99,2000hrs,con . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75,000 NH 840CD-30 like new,cross auger .. . . . . . . . . . . . . $69,500 NH 840CD-30, header height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $59,500 NH 94C-30’ header,CR/CX adptr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $38,500 Macdon 973-36’ header,pur,trspt, cross auger .. . . . $39,500 MacDon 972-30’ header,TR/TX adptr . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000 MacDon 973-30 header CNH adptr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000 HoneyBee sp36 hdr,CIH adptr,2011,2 in stock . . . . . $58,000 NH 971-30’,header,batt reel, trspt (2) TR-TX adptr . . . $9,500 JD 230-30 auger header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,500

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691668

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2013 New Holland T9.450HD 2013 New Holland T7.235 2013 New Holland H8040 Tractor, 1950hrs, 450HP, Good Tractor, 1600hrs, 185HP, Good Windrower, 410hrs, Excellent cond., 710R42 duals,full gps, cond., 865ldr,grpl,3 point, cond., 2 roto shears, Trimble 1000 PTO, mega flow hyd 4 hyd,sus cab, power shift easy pilot

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TRACTORS 0% 36 MON USED 4WD TRACTORS

NH T9.450HD ,2013,1000PTO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $265,000 NH T9.450HD,2014,1000pto,620hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . $299,500 NH T9.450HD,2013,2250hrs,1000pto . . . . . . . . . . . $250,000 NH T7.235,2260hrs,ldr,3pt,2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $131,000 NH T7.235,2575hrs,ldr3pt,2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $129,500 NH T7.200,1650hrs,ldr,3pt,2013.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $129,500 CIH Puma 140,1000hrs,PS,2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $110,000 CIH 430 Steiger,2007,2600hrs .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $185,000 CIH 9270,6300hrs,PS,20.8R42 duals . . . . . . . . . . . . . $65,000 CIH MXU135,6600hrs,ldr,3pt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $45,000 NH T7.235,2013.PS,ldr,grpl,4 hyd,1750hrs . . . . . . . $135,000 NH T7.200,2013,1650hrs,ldr,grpl, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $129,500 NH 846 6200hrs,12 spdd std,14’ blade. . . . . . . . . . . $49,500 MF 8120,fwa,ldr,grpl,2750hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $32,500 Steiger Panther 1000, PS, 14’ blade . . . . . . . . . . . . . $58,500 NH l175 Skid Steer,1200hrrs,cah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,500

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SWATHERS

705709

719200

2013 New Holland T7.235 Tractor, MFD, 2575hrs, 155HP, Good cond., ldr,3 pt, 3 hyd,sus cab

2014 New Holland CR8090 Combine, 380hrs, Excellent cond., leather, full GPS, DSP, folding hopper

$129,500

$335,000

HAYING & LIVESTOCK

NH H8040-30’,2 roto shears,Trimble easy pilot, 2013.410hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $129,500 Macdon M105-25,2013,290hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $115,000 Westward 7000-25’ 1992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $19,500 Westward 3020-25’ pto swather,pur . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,500 Swath Rollers available 8” steel & polly . . . . . . . . . . . $1,200

NH 660 auto wrap baler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,900 NH 664 Bale Command baler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,500 Tycrop 12 12 ton 16’ hidump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,500 Jiffy 600 high dump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,500 Haybuster 2650 bale processo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $11,500 JF Stoll 1360 for age harvestor . . . . . . . . . $49,500. .$39,500

LAWN GARDEN

Westfield MK100x61 swing auger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,500 Sakundiak HD8x1600 24hp,mover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,900 Sakundiak HD8x1600,24hp,mover,clutch . . . . . . . . . . $8,900 Sakundiak HD10x140038hp, mover,clutch light kit $13.900 Sakundiak HD10x1200,31hp,mover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,500 Westfield MK130x71 low pro hopper . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,500 Westfield MK130x71,hyd swing & lift . . . . . . . . . . . . $16,500 Wheatheart SA1391,hyd swing & lift . . . . . . . . . . . . $19,500 Farmking 8x51xhyd swing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . offers Brandt 5000 grain vac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,900 Turbo 990 grain vac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,900

Exmark LZE 691 52” zero tu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,900 Deines 1800KT-60” front mower,320hrs . . . . . . . . . . . $4,900 Grasshopper T616-48” front mower, powerfold . . . . . $7,900

SPRAYERS FlexiCoil S67XL,100’,scrns,SP655,mrkrs .. . . . . . . . . $11,500 FlexiCoil S65XL,100’, screens, markers, SP655 monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,500 CIH PS160-100’ suspended sprayer,duals . . . . . . . . $38,500

AUGERS

Linden Agri-Centre Ltd.

(403)546-3814

www.lindenag.com

(403)263-4688

Sales Manager - Ken Toews 888-8109 (cell) 546-2634 (res) • Ian Anhorn 888-8121 (cell) 631-2260 (res) • Kevin Helmer 373-5554 • Andy Nelson 588-4355

AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Community news and events from across the province

Rancher’s generous donation is a gift for all Albertans

Producers who want to take their management skills to the next level are being encouraged to apply for the second annual Robert (Bob) L. Ross scholarship program. Ross, a dairy producer from St. Marys, Ont. who died in 2014, was an influential advocate for business management training and a mentor to farmers across the country as one of the creators and instructors in the Canadian Total Excellence in Agricultural Management program.

By Alexis Kienlen AF STAFF

ottlob Schmidt had a dream of preserving the land that he has spent so much time on. And the realization of that dream will benefit all Albertans with the creation of the province’s 76th provincial park. “It has always been my wish that someday I could leave this land to someone else,” said the 90-year-old farmer. “I felt that was the right thing to do because I couldn’t stand the idea that someone might want to come in with a bulldozer and clear out the trees, which seems to be a habit around here.” Antelope Hills Provincial Park, 940 acres of uncultivated grasslands north of Hanna, is home to aspen groves, cacti, natural brush, wetlands and rare wildlife such as Sprague’s pipit, Baird’s sparrow, and the Thirteen-lined ground squirrel. Schmidt, who has no heirs, was offered more than $1 million for the property by a developer, but valued the land and wildlife over the money. He was born in Romania in 1924, moved to Canada in 1927, and his family settled on the land in 1933. Schmidt and brother Alex took over the farm and raised cattle together from 1945 to 1958, when Schmidt bought his brother out and became the sole operator. From 1958 until the 1990s, Schmitty as he is known to his friends, raised purebred Hereford cattle. After getting out of the cattle business, he began gardening and raising pheasants and peacocks. He currently rents out his pastures. Schmidt will be able to stay on the property until his death, when Alberta Environment will take possession. He has a room in the lodge in town, but still prefers to stay out at the farm, mowing the grass and doing chores around his place. In a video acknowledging his gift, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Research Development Minister Kyle Fawcett said, “Mr. Schmidt’s offering is to all Albertans, and a legacy contribution representing his passion for the environment and his values of conservation and preservation.” Schmidt received the province’s Order of the Bighorn Award in recognition of his donation. The province will build a few trails, picnic areas and a parking lot, but will leave most of the property untouched. There will be no overnight camping, hunting or ATVs allowed on the land. “I hope people will walk around and enjoy themselves,” said Schmidt. “I just want people to leave the grass the way it was, and let Mother Nature have her way.” akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

Want to kick up your management skills a notch?

The scholarship covers the $7,500 tuition for the CTEAM program.

Gottlob Schmidt stands by the sign installed at the gate to his property. The 90-year-old Schmidt donated his farm to the province and it will become Alberta’s 76th provincial park.

Baird’s sparrow

Sprague’s pipit

The scholarship covers the $7,500 tuition for the CTEAM program, a set of five-day modules held over the course of two winters. Participants use their own farm data to develop a strategic business plan for their operation. “This scholarship is meant to provide a Canadian farmer with the opportunity to continue on the path of farm management excellence that Bob was devoted to,” said Heather Broughton, a Donalda producer and principal of Agri-Food Management Excellence, which now operates the CTEAM program. The next course starts in November with modules held in Calgary, Abbotsford, B.C., Niagara Falls, and Ottawa. The scholarship also offers up to $4,000 towards travel costs and $2,500 for another family member’s tuition. Last year’s scholarship was awarded to Manitoba grain farmer Roger Lepp. For more information visit www.agrifoodtraining.com. — Staff

“I couldn’t stand the idea that someone might want to come in with a bulldozer and clear out the trees, which seems to be a habit around here.”

Gottlob Schmidt

Thirteen-lined ground squirrel

Bob Ross

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • AUGUST 17, 2015

Albertans front and centre at Junior Angus Showdown A lbertans took top honours at the Canadian Junior Angus Association’s recent Showdown 2015, capturing four of the six grand aggregate awards. Keely Adams from Forestburg won in the junior division (ages nine to 12), with Saskatchewan’s Baxter Blair as the reserve winner. Halley Adams of Forestburg was the grand aggregate winner in the intermediate division (ages 13 to 16) with Manitoban Chris Jermey as the reserve winner. And in senior division (ages 17 to 21), Brooke Bablitz from Cherhill was the grand aggregate winner and Chad Lorenz of Markerville was the reserve winner.

To be eligible for this award, juniors must compete in at least eight of the 14 Showdown competitions. They are: conformation, showmanship, literature, sales talk, card judging, scrapbook, photography, art, graphic design, team grooming, farm sign, team judging, print marketing, and public speaking. There were 118 participants in this year’s Showdown in Olds. The Canadian Junior Angus Association is a group of Angus enthusiasts under the age of 21. Showdown is an annual summer cattle show held every July and rotates in provinces across the country. — Canadian Junior Angus Association release

USED EQUIPMENT 702455

$14,500

708844

$95,000

2008 New Holland SF216

2008 New Holland H8080 MoCo-SP,

120’ Sprayer

1230hrs 643386

$98,000

713233

$14,500

2003 John Deere 1895 Air Drill,

2008 Rem 2700 Grain Vac,

Good cond., 430 Bu 1910 Air cart

Good cond., 713234

684304

These six multi-tasking Angus enthusiasts were winners in the grand aggregate category at Showdown 2015. From left to right: Baxter Blair, Chad Lorenz, Brooke Bablitz, Keely Adams, Chris Jermey, and Halley Adams. PHOTO: Canadian Junior Angus Association

$35,000

$10,000

2011 Renn RGU1214 Grain Extractor,

2000 New Holland 688 Round Baler,

Good cond.

what’s

up Send agriculture-related meeting and event announcements to: glenn.cheater@fbcpublishing.com Aug. 18: Whole Farm Water Management Workshops with Rob Avis, Marie Reine Hall, Marie Reine (also Aug. 19 in Kinuso and Aug. 20 in Manning). Contact: Kaitlin McLachlan 780-835-6799 Aug. 20: Organic Vegetable Field Day, two farms near Lethbridge. Contact: Lindon 587-521-2400 Aug. 24-25: HortSnacks on Wheels. Bus tour of Kathy’s Greenhouse in Kitscoty and three Saskatoon greenhouses. Departs from Salisbury Greenhouse in Sherwood Park. Contact: Dustin Morton 310-3276 Sept. 1: HortSnacks in the Field, Hidden Valley Garden, Sylvan Lake. Contact: Ag-Info Centre 1-800-387-6030 Sept. 12: Explore Horticulture, Grande Prairie Provincial Building, Grande Prairie. Contact: Ag-Info Centre 1-800-387-6030

Sept. 12: 2015 Communities in Bloom Alberta Awards, Whitecourt Golf & Country Club, Whitecourt. Contact: Communities in Bloom Alberta 780-778-3637 ext. 421

685875

$42,000

$19,500

2002 Flexi-Coil 3450 Air Cart,

2000 Flexi-Coil 2340 Air Cart,

Good cond.

TRACTORS

Sept. 15: How to Put on a Farm-to-Table Culinary Event — Bus Tours for Producers, Sherwood Park. Contact: Ag-Info Centre 1-800-387-6030

NH L180 ‘10, Skid Steer, w/ cab, air, heat, 422 hrs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$32,000

Sept. 19: Explore Horticulture workshop, Red Deer Recreation Centre, Red Deer (also Sept. 26 in Lethbridge). Contact: Ag-Info Centre 1-800-387-6030 Sept. 26: Explore Horticulture, Lethbridge Exhibition Park, Lethbridge. Contact: Ag-Info Centre 1-800-387-6030 Oct. 3: Ponoka Women’s Conference, Ponoka Community Centre, Ponoka. Contact: Lauraine Weir 403-783-3713 Oct. 21-22: Natural Health Product and Functional Ingredients Industry conference, AITF Auditorium, Edmonton. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry 780-968-3513

713228

NH 688, ‘00, bale comm., 17, 694 bales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$12,000 NH 688, ‘00, w/auto tie . . . . . . . . .$10,000

SPRAYERS & SEEDING

OFF ROAD UTILITY

FC 2340 variable rate air cart . . . .$19,500

Honda TRX500 Foreman, ‘07 . . . . . $4,500

FC 5000 57’, w/3450 TBH air cart $46,000

MISCELLANEOUS

NH P2070, ‘11, 60’ precision drill$112,000

HAYING EQUIPMENT

Flaman Pro 1010, ‘10, Grain Bagger w/ Conveyor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$28,000

NH 1475, ‘96, 14’ haybine. . . . . . .$12,500

Renn FBU 1014, Unloader . . . . . .$29,000

NH 2300, ‘99, 18’ header . . . . . . . . $9,000

Renn RGU1214, ‘11, 12’, Unloader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$35,000

CIH 8580, ‘97, 4x4 Square Baler

$22,000

Claresholm, AB 403-625-3321

1-800-852-7270 www.challengernh.ca

AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

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

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

NAME_ ___________________________________________________________ ______PHONE_#_______________________________ ADDRESS_____________________________________________ ______TOWN_____________________________________________ PROVINCE____________________________ _____POSTAL_CODE__________________________

All classified ads are non-commissionable.

advertising deadline Wednesday noon

Livestock_Equipment_ Livestock_Services_&_Vet_Supplies_ Miscellaneous_Articles_ Miscellaneous_Articles_Wanted_ Musical_ Notices_ On-Line_Services_

CERTIFIED SEED Cereal_Seeds Forage_Seeds Oilseeds Pulse_Crops Specialty_Crops

AD ORDER FORM

adveRtising Rates & infoRmation

RegulaR Classified

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

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

PLEASE_PRINT_YOUR_AD_BELOW_ ______________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

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

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

❏

VISA

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MASTERCARD

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

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • AUGUST 17, 2015

BUILDINGS 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

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

Barb Wire & Electric High Tensile Smooth Wire

SPOOLER

FARM CHEMICAL / SEED COMPLAINTS

Back-Track InvesTIgaTIons

1-866-882-4779. www.backtrackcanada.com

FARM MACHINERY FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous 1981 GMC 7000 SERIES, factory, 17-ft B&H, 10X20 70% A1, $8,000; 1980 Chev 1/2 tonne flatdeck, winch, duals, $3,500; 1978 GMC 6000 series, factory 15-ft steel B&H, original 38,000-km, $12,000; 1988 Chev 20-ft factory flat-deck, 10X20, 75%, $3,500; 410 MF combine, PU, all good, $1,050; Vac tank 1800-gal. & pump A1 $10,000; Rotex SR7 power parachute for parts, $3,000; 21-ft Hart Carter PU reel, A1, $1,100; 25-ft U2 PU reel, A1, $4,000. Ph (306)238-4411.

Roll up Silage Roll up & unroll lay Plastic & Grain OR flat plastic water Bags; hose (up to 6” diameter 11” flat) Features:

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.

• Mounts to tractor draw bar, skidsteer, front end loader, post driver, 3 pt. hitch or deck truck (with receiver hitch & rear hydraulics); • Spool splits in half to remove full roll; • Shut off/Flow control valve determines speed;

1-800-982-1769

Works great for ...

www.bigtractorparts.com

The Level-Winder II

The Icynene Insulation System®

Rolls wire evenly across the full width of the spool automatically as the wire is pulled in!

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

Call for Local Dealers in Sask., Alta. and B.C.

Central Alberta Machinery Sales & Service Ltd Ken Lendvay 403-550-3313

www.penta.ca

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Wanted

HAYING & HARVESTING Baling Equipment

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

25’ 725 CIH (MacDon) PT Swather .........................$3,000 (3) CIH Late Model High HP Tractors, 1 with pto .......... CALL Wanted - 30’ to 40’ JD 9450 Hoe Drills, complete with mover .................................................................... CALL 40’ Morris 3100 Hoe Drills, mover and hitch ............$10,000 946 Versatile Ford Tractor, 5,000 hrs, 24.5 x 32 D....$50,000 275 MF Tractor & Loader, diesel, multi power, 3 pth, new 18.4 x 30 rears, looks and runs great.................... $13,000 MF Cab, fits models 255, 265, 275 tractors ......................$1,000 B275 IHC Tractor & Loader .....................................$3,500 560 Hesston Round Baler, 1,000 PTO ................... $5,500 660 NH Round Baler, 540 pto, nice shape ...............$5,500 New NH 1060 TBT Air Tank, on duals ................... $85,000 NH P1060 TBH Air Tank, as new ........................... $69,500 30’ 4590 EEZEON Double Disc, good condition .... $36,000 44’ 820 F.C. Deep Till Air Seeder, harrows ................. CALL 2320 F.C. TBH Air Tank, complete with 320 - 3rd tank ... CALL 40’ 340 F.C. Chisel Plow & 75 Packer Bar, P30’s... $33,000 62’ F.C. S75 Packer BAR P30’s, good condition .... $13,500 48’ F.C. S75 Packer Bar, P30, as new ....................... $35,000 2003 4300 IHC Service Truck, 466 diesel, 5 speed Allison auto, crane, compressor, welder, nice ................ $50,000 Degelman Dozer Frame MF 4000 Series 4WD .....$1,000 41’ Flexicoil 300 B Chisel Plow, 3 bar harrows ..... $12,500 Flexicoil 6 Run Seed Treater....................................... $750 100’ 65XL Flexicoil Sprayer, complete with windguards, elec. end nozzles single tips, auto rate, excellent condition ... $12,500 29’ 225 DOW Kello- Bilt Tandem Disc, 28” smooth front & rear blades, 10.5” spacing, oil, bath bearings, as new .... $60,000 47’ 820 Flexicoil Chisel Plow, 4 bar harrows ......... $67,500 2009 GMC Topkick 20 ft. Grain Truck, automatic, silage gate, air ride suspension,approx. 7,000 kms ....$105,000 New E-Kay 7”, 8”, 9” Bin Sweeps available .......... CALL 13 x 70 Farm King Grain Auger, complete with spout, Brehon elec. winch & swing, full bin alarm ....... $10,500 HD 12 x 1200 (39.37’) Sakundiak Grain Auger, Kohler Diesel, Hawes Mover, clutch, reverser & lights, excellent condition ................................................... $14,500 HD 8 x 1600 (53‘) Sakundiak Grain Auger, 24 HP Onan eng., E-Kay round about mover, clutch & spout .......$4,500 HD 8 x 1600 (53’) Sakundiak Grain Auger ..........$1,250 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** $1250 New Outback VSI Steering Wheel Kits .................. In Stock Used Outback E-Drive Hyd. kits .................................. $500 **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**

1-800-587-4711

Matchmakers Select

1-888-916-2824 www.selectintroductions.com Thorough screening process, customized memberships and guaranteed service. Est 15 years in Canada & US. We are a full service permanent relationship firm with a success rate of 87%. Testimonials available.

LIVESTOCK LIVESTOCK Cattle Various

SEED/FEED/GRAIN Grain Wanted

REGISTERED POLLED HEREFORD & Black Angus 2-yr old bulls, no grain. Double N Ranch, Sundre AB. Call Gerald or Shelley (403)638-2356, www.doublen.ca

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

ORGANIC Organic – Certified WANT THE ORGANIC ADVANTAGE? Contact an organic Agrologist at Pro-Cert for information on organic farming: prospects, transition, barriers, benefits, certification & marketing. Call:(306)382-1299, Saskatoon, SK or at info@pro-cert.org

ADVERTISING DOLLAR!

1,600 WINTER WHEAT GRAIN feed bales 3x4x8, bales are 1,345-lbs, $200 short Ton in the stack. (403)362-6712 FEED GRAIN WANTED! ALSO buying; Light, tough, or offgrade grains. “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252

ORGANIC

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

Stretch your

RON SAUER

Jane is a beautiful, sweet girl who is a nurse and looking for the right man. Jane has never been married, has no children, and no baggage. She loves football, hockey, going to concerts, and just being outdoors. She is very down to earth, and easy to get along with, she is a great listener and always wants to help others. Jane is a very charitable person, she donates and volunteers for many causes including children’s charities and animal shelters. Jane does not drink or smoke, she is not one to go to bars, and she has had a hard time meeting the right person in her small community. She is always up to try new things and open to new experiences. Jane is a bit shy at first, and she is nervous about dating, but really wants to meet the right person to settle down with. She is very open and accepting of people, she’s very non-judgmental, and cares more about who someone is on the inside rather than on the outside. She is looking for a good man who is energetic, fun, adventurous, has a good sense of humor, down-to-earth, and a little bit romantic.

SEED / FEED / GRAIN

Red Deer, Alberta e-mail: kﬂendvay@hotmail.com www.levelwind.com

HAYING & HARVESTING

1-800-665-1362

WE BUY DAMAGED GRAIN

Name: Jane Age: 43

HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING

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

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

BOW VALLEY TRADING LTD.

STEIGER TRACTOR SPECIALIST

• Hydraulic Drive (roll or unroll);

• Swath grazing or rotational grazing

A GAMBLE...

AVAILABLE BACHELORETTES

Geared For The Future

CASE 621 LOADER 8-FT. bucket; D7F Cat Dozer ripper; Ford Major loader 3-PTH, $6,500; 25-ft. UII reel; 16-ft. OMC boat & 60-HP motor trailer, $2,500; 18-ft. 1,800-gal vac tank & pump; 1981 Ford gravel truck tandem gas, $7,500; MF 860 PU & straight cut $5,500; 1999 GMC T8500 DSL tow truck 20-ft. $14,500. (306)236-8023

IS ENOUGH OF

TRACTORS Various

Big Tractor Parts, Inc.

CAN BE CONVERTED TO:

• pulling out old wire (approx. 3 to 5 minutes to roll up 80 rod or ¼ mile)

FARMING

SEED/FEED/GRAIN Grain Wanted

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

ACREAGE EQUIPMENT: 3-PT. CULTIVATORS, Discs, Plows, Blades, Harrows, Etc. (780)892-3092, Wabamun, AB.

MF 820 TANDEM DISC, 33-ft, $7,000; 2004 Rogater 1264, 1200-gal., 80-ft outback auto steer, Raven auto rate, Raven GPS w/mapping, rear duals, 2 sets of tips, $80,000. 1990 Kongskilde 700 Grain Vac, $4,000. Call:(403)665-2341, Craigmyle, AB.

PERSONAL

JD 4440 FWA, c/w loader JD 4450 FWA, loader available JD 7130 FWA, with loader, 3 pth JD 7210 FWA with loader, 3 pth JD 7410 FWA, with loader, 3pth JD 7600 FWA, 740 loader with 3 pth JD 7800 FWA, with 3 pth JD 7810 FWA, with 740 loader Clamp on Duals, 20.8x38-18.4x38

BUSINESS SERVICES Crop Consulting

We also specialize in: agricultural complaints of any nature; Crop ins. appeals; Spray drift; Chemical failure; Residual herbicide; Custom operator issues; Equip. malfunctions. Licensed Agrologist on Staff. For assistance and compensation call

TracTors

1-800-665-1362

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

BUYING:

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

“ON FARM PICK UP”

1-877-250-5252

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

1-877-641-2798

Where the stories go. Network

Search news. Read stories. Find insight.

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

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

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

TRAILERS TRAILERS Trailers Miscellaneous FOR SALE: 2006 PETERBILT 379 hiway tractor; 70-in bunk, moose bumper, very good rubber, 13-spd, 40 rears, 475 ISX, 1.2million kms. Excellent condition. $52,000 OBO. 1997 Lodeking tridem 3 hopper grain trailer with almost new Michaels aluminum augers, VGC. $30,000 OBO. Call:(780)926-0983 or (780)841-2984.

TRAVEL

RURAL & CULTURAL TOURS Italian Villa ~ Oct 2015 Spain & Portugal ~ Nov 2015 European River Cruise ~ Multiple dates Australia/New Zealand ~ Jan 2016 Costa Rica/Panama Canal ~ Jan 2016 Tanzania/Zimbabwe ~ Jan 2016 South America ~ Feb 2016 India ~ 2016 *Portion of tours may be Tax Deductible

Select Holidays 1-800-661-4326

www.selectholidays.com CAREERS CAREERS Help Wanted MUST HAVE FARM EXPERIENCE, mechanically inclined, be able to do any structural repairs to buildings, must be able to run combine, swather, tractor, balers, haybines, farm equipment. Mixed farm. Wages are negotiable depending on experience, potential to make $50,000 plus per year, for the right individual. (204)738-2716.

HAYING & HARVESTING Various 2015 Hay Trailer Hauls 17-22 Rd Bales, 5th Wheel Style Steering, Turns on a Dime, 11x22.5 dual tires, Heavy Build Trailer, 9’ 9"x36’ Steel Deck, $6,400 Delivery Available in MB (204)362-7480

Combines COMBINES Accessories

Buy and Sell

anything you need through the

1-800-665-1362

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

SPRAYING EQUIPMENT Sprayers

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

Prairie-Wide Display Classifieds SPRAYING EQUIPMENT Sprayers

S670/680/690 JD Combine low hrs 4730 JD Sprayer, 100 ft. 854 Rogator SP Sprayer, complete with JD auto steer, swath pro Special 450 CIH Quadtrac with big pump 554 Rogator Sprayer SP 4840 JD 2WD, low hours, new tires GOOD SELECTION OF JD & CASE SP SPRAYERS AND 4WD TRACTORS

“LIKE MANY BEFORE, WE’LL HAVE YOU SAYING THERE’S NO DEAL LIKE A KEN DEAL” • Phone: (403)330-7847 • Cell: (403)504-4929 • Email: kendeal@shaw.ca

MORE OPTIONS TO SAVE YOU MONEY

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

Contact Sharon

Email: sharon.komoski@fbcpublishing.com

AUGUST 17, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

NEW

What we do, is in our name. Trust Pioneer ® brand canola hybrids with Pioneer Protector ® traits to give you the peace of mind you need when growing canola. There are two new hybrids this year: Pioneer Protector ® Plus – the first and only canola seed with built-in resistance to both sclerotinia and clubroot. Pioneer Protector ® HarvestMax – reduces the risk of harvest losses in canola. To find out more, talk to your local Pioneer Hi-Bred sales representative or visit pioneer.com.

@PioneerWCanada Pioneer ® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents. ®, SM, TM Trademarks and service marks of DuPont Pioneer or their respective owners. © 2015, PHII.

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