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A TRIP BACK IN TIME

NOT IN ONE BASKET

Horse power makes a return for Foodgrains Bank fundraiser » PG 3

Diversification a lifesaver for Eagle Creek Farms » PG 20 Publications Mail Agreement # 40069240

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How the pork sector survived the attack of a killer virus PEDv decimated the U.S. hog herd, but Canada showed how to do biosecurity right

Open Farm Days:

This is how you connect with consumers Yes, there were questions about GMOs and hormones in meat, but the farm visitors were just ‘amazed’ by what they saw and learned

By Alexis Kienlen AF STAFF / LACOMBE

f you want expert advice on biosecurity, talk to a Canadian hog farmer — and cattle producers should probably do just that. The country’s outstanding record on controlling the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus has a host of lessons for the cattle sector, says a swine veterinarian who was deeply involved in Alberta’s battle against PEDv. Start with the fact that everyone got on board, Dr. Egan Brockhoff told attendees at Livestock Gentec’s field day here. “Almost every single pork producer in Canada took part in a national biosecurity training program and was audited,” said Brockhoff, a swine veterinarian with Prairie Swine Health Services. “That’s never happened before in the world. There’s never been a case where every single farmer who owned pigs participated.” This sort of co-operation was spread across the entire sector. “Canada was quite fortunate because we had the Canadian

see swine virus } page 7 Terry Banack asked her Open Farm Days visitors what is made from the little black seeds in her hand. Their curiosity about modern farming was ‘refreshing,’ she said. PHOTO: Alberta Federation of Agriculture BY DIANNE FINSTAD AF contributor

s farm leaders, Humphrey Banack and Kent Erickson are well aware that consumers are increasingly critical about how their food is produced. So they were expecting tough questions when they put up the ‘Come On In’ sign for this year’s edition of Alberta Open Farm Days. But that’s not what happened. “They were amazed at the scale of the equipment, and the variety of products which hit their table that we produce,”

said Banack, who is vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. “We got questions like, ‘How do the black seeds become oil?’ And, ‘Why are the peas hard?’ added his wife Terry. “We did not have many of the tough questions we expected. People were generally more concerned about what it was, what it looked like, and how it got there. It was actually refreshing.” About half of the 50 or so visitors — who travelled from Camrose, Lacombe, and Edmonton to see the Round Hill operation — rode with Humphrey in the combine while he harvested peas. Then they got to scoop

out and take home a bag of peas they ‘helped’ harvest along with information on how to use them. It was Erickson’s first time in the August event and he wasn’t sure if he’d get visitors to his farm near Irma in eastern Alberta. But five groups turned up — including two young couples who made the nearly 200-kilometre-long trip from Sherwood Park, stopping along the way to visit a feedlot, dairy, and winery. “They were really engaged, and we learned a lot from them,” said Erickson, chair of the Alberta Wheat Commission. “I thought, ‘Why would anyone

want to come to a boring old conventional grain farm?’ “But really, why not? We take things for granted.” Most of the 70-plus families who welcomed the public to their operation are engaged in direct marketing or agri-tourism, but there are a handful of conventional producers. Among them, for the second time, were Barry and Simone Reese, who are purebred Charolais breeders. Although he wasn’t expecting any visitors to take home stock, it’s an important day on their mixed farm for several reasons, said Barry.

see OPEN FARMS } page 6

news » inside this week

inside » DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD High cattle prices are good news, but building the herd is expensive

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

livestock

crops

ON THE CUTTING EDGE

READ BEFORE SIGNING

Pay attention to these three things before signing a grain contract

A SHINING LIGHT Stan Grad earns Alberta’s highest honour for his support of STARS

columNists

Spring Creek Colony finding ways to reduce antibiotic use

brenda schoepp Oil or agriculture: Which is more important?

Laura Rance Guess who is driving the bus on food policy?

Daniel Bezte Will El Niño really bring a warm, dry winter?

A genealogical mystery brings a family together Winnie Benson wanted to know the fate of her great-great-grandmother, but she found something much more By Johnnie Bachusky AF contributor

or more than a quarter of a century Winnie Benson had dreamed of this moment. With Carstairs’ Dawn Taylor at her side, she knelt down on the sunscorched ground of a long-forgotten southern Alberta cemetery and caressed the ancient etchings of a flat gravestone marking the final resting place of Drusilla Ennis, the pair’s greatgreat-grandmother. “I feel like a whole new world has opened up as if all the research Dawn and I have done has come full circle,” said Benson. The 68-year-old Minnesotan had spent most of the previous 25 years painstakingly collecting pieces of information about her ancestor, a pioneer homesteader who settled in South Dakota more than a century ago and then seemingly vanished without a trace. Benson, adopted at the age of two, had a longing to find out more about her bloodlines. But she was frustrated in her attempts to find out what happened to Ennis despite searching stacks of government records and enlisting the help from genealogy contacts. She finally gave up, but six years ago, she had an inspiration to Google the name of Drusilla Ennis. Within seconds, she was looking at a picture of her great-great-grandmother’s gravesite taken by Stirling heritage enthusiast Cody Kapcsos. It turned out Drusilla had settled in a southern Alberta hamlet called Masinasin, located 18 kilometres from the American border, and died there in 1921. The mystery was solved, but the story didn’t end there. Last year, following a newspaper article on her discovery of Kapcsos’s photograph, she was contacted by three Albertans who read about her mission. They were cousins she never knew she had — all great-great-grandchildren of Drusilla Ennis. Last month, Benson and husband Jim made their way to Raven, 34 kilometres west of Innisfail, to hold a most unusual family reunion. While waiting inside the hamlet’s historic Union Church for a heavy rain to subside, Slave Lake’s Lorne Larson arrived with his wife Patricia. Dawn was already there with Winnie, as was cousin Marilyn Taylor of Irricana.

The only known photograph of Drusilla Ennis, great-great-grandmother of Minnesota’s Winnie Benson and three Albertans. Photo: Submitted “I call this warm and fuzzy days,” said Dawn. “I really think God has worked through this whole thing. There have been too many things that have happened. It is like, ‘Wow.’” Almost immediately, the gloom of the overcast and wet midsummer day gave over to brilliant sunshine, slicing its way through the old window panels of the historic church. It was a clear signal for Benson’s newly found cousins to take the emotional American outside to the cemetery, where another piece of Benson’s long mystery was waiting to be solved. It was the gravesites of Brice Ennis, Drusilla’s oldest son, and his wife Lillie. Brice and Lillie are the great-grandparents of both Taylor and Larson, and Benson’s great-uncle and -aunt. “To find Brice and Lillie and to fill in the blanks it really almost puts the puzzle together,” said Benson. But not quite. Three days later Benson and Dawn walked into the cemetery near Masinasin, now a deserted ghost hamlet. All around, amidst the drought-stricken and empty landscape, there was only harsh reminders of the toils Drusilla must have faced. But Benson rejoiced. “I told you that I knew,” she said. “This is fulfilment of that, that I was led here. We were meant to be a family and to know who family is. The blessings will go from there.”

Minnesota’s Winnie Benson (left) and cousin Dawn Taylor of Carstairs examine the grave marker of their great-great-grandmother at ghost hamlet of Masinasin. Photo: Johnnie Bachusky

The grave marker of southern Alberta pioneer Drusilla Ennis. Photo: Johnnie Bachusky

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

It’s been a very special year in Ponoka The horse-powered era of farming has come back to life for Foodgrains Bank fundraiser BY DIANNE FINSTAD

AF contributor / Ponoka

hey brought in the right ‘team’ and dusted off the ‘know-how’ to complete the first stage of harvest for the Growing with Horses project near Ponoka. Sharing the experience of what farming was like a century ago was a big reason why Ken and Verna Pohl came up with the unique take on the popular Growing Projects for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. This spring, a five-acre plot near their farm was seeded to Morgan oats (a variety developed at Agriculture Canada’s research centre in Lacombe) using draft horses and equipment from the early 1900s. As the crop turned golden, it was time to call back the horses, bring in the binder, and line up a ‘stooking’ crew who arrived on Aug. 23. “Lots of people here didn’t even know how a binder works, didn’t realize that it ties a bundle,” said Ken Pohl. “That’s pretty special, when people come out and get to experience that.” Brett Fulford of Haynes provided his team of well-matched Percherons, and hooked them four abreast to his 1938 John Deere binder. With the assistance of his neighbour Cam Anderson, they cut the crop and it was up to the eager volunteers to ‘stook’ the ‘bundles’ coming off the binder. “You have to jam the first bundle down hard, and then angle the rest of them around,” instructed Don Campbell, one of the more ‘experienced’ observers, as he helped the first-time stook builders. “You put on six of them, nice and tight, with two on each end. That’s the way we did it,” he added. “The last year we did it, my brother and me stooked 400 acres.” “Setting the first bundle is the most important thing,” agreed Pohl. “You want the stook to be in a tripod formation, so it stays standing. If they fall over, the grain’s not going to dry and cure properly.” That means, of course, that all the heads of grain in the bundles need to be up as well. The big stooking technique debate in the field that day was using a pitchfork versus hand placement for the bundles. “If you go by hand, you can set two bundles at once. With the fork, you can only do one at a time, but you don’t have to bend so far,” said Campbell. “I’m too old to bend over,” Pohl said with a chuckle while leaning on his pitchfork. A few dozen people participated or dropped by during the event. While even the youngest ‘stookers’ were clearly enjoying the experience, it was people in their 20s and 30s who seemed most captivated. “I heard the words in school,” said one participant. “But I didn’t ever know what they meant.” “I’ve got blisters already!” added another. Pohl was delighted to see the turnout, both at the stooking, and earlier at the seeding day as well. It was his involvement with the Bar U Ranch’s horse farming project that gave him the idea for this initiative. “Last year, they harvested their first-ever crop, all done with horses. When Verna and I were coming home from the threshing, I said to her, ‘We are going to do this at our place,’ and here we are.” Deciding to donate the proceeds from the sale of the crop to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank just seemed a natural fit.

Vic Almond shows how to hand tie a stook that wasn’t bound properly by the binder. PHOTOs: DIANNE FINSTAD “The government kicks in $4 for every $1 we raise, so it will go a long ways to help a lot of needy people in the world,” he said. Pohl is a longtime heavy horse enthusiast, and even competes in the Canadian Cowboy Challenge events on his Percheroncross horse. It was the tie, back to his own past, that stirred the desire to use the majestic work animals for farming once again. “I was a very young teenager the last time I pitched bundles. It brought a tear to my eye when we were loading a bundle rack, and throwing them into a threshing machine. We had our team there, and that made it even more special. That was what attracted me to do this here.” The Pohls want to deliver those same kind of memorymaking moments for folks when they complete the harvest — weather permitting — on Sept. 19 (see accompanying story for details). “Brett has a threshing machine and some bundle racks, and we’ve got more lined up. We can certainly use as many racks and teams as want to join us.” The LA Vintage Machinery Club has also been contacted to bring out some old threshing equipment to help with harvest day. “They have a restored tractor that used to belong to Verna’s dad, so we’re hoping they’ll bring it. It would be pretty cool for her to have his old Rumley threshing machine running here.”

Farming the old-fashioned way is ‘pretty special,’ says Ken Pohl.

Brett Fulford (in black T-shirt) operates the 1938 John Deere binder with the assistance of Cam Anderson.

Grab your pitchfork, it’s threshing time!

Candace Ebeling tries her hand at stooking.

ant to take a trip back in time? The Ponoka Ag Society will be hosting a Farming With Horses threshing party on Saturday, Sept. 19 starting around noon. People are invited to bring a pitchfork (three tine) to help load bundles on the racks and a lawn chair. They can purchase beef on a bun (as well as ice cream and water, or bring

a picnic). All proceeds, including the sale of the oats, will go to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. The threshing site is eight miles north of Ponoka’s UFA store or east off Highway 2 on Menaik Road and then three miles to Range Rd. 254 and north one-half mile (on the west side). For more information contact Ken Pohl at 403783-1290.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

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What’s a more important sector: oil or agriculture?

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AF columnist

s we drove through the blueberry fields and cranberry bogs in southern B.C., I thought of economic generators. What, I wondered, was a bigger sustainable economic generator to our nation: oil or agriculture? An environmental scan of an industry must include the long-term effects on people and the planet. The structures that we employ for our short-term gain cannot be straw houses that rot and decay without adding to the longevity of our people. As every civilization is born from agriculture or some form of harvesting food, it is best to look at the analogy from the ground up. Agriculture in Canada directly employs more than 305,000 people and the entire ag industry employs 2.2 million persons — supplying one in eight Canadians with work. Oil and gas employs 190,000 people directly and just under 400,000 persons as an industry. And while the oil and gas sector is currently laying off workers, the agricultural industry is estimated to be short 74,000 workers by the year 2022. Canada is the fifth-largest exporter of agricultural products in the world and holds the No. 1 spot for peas, lentils, wild blueberries, maple syrup, canola, mustard seed, malting barley and flax. It produces four per cent of global petroleum and has six per cent of world exports. Oil and gas produce 2.9 per cent of GDP while all of energy, including electricity, is 7.5 per cent of GDP.

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transportation (30 per cent) industrial (38 per cent) residential (17 per cent) and commercial (13 per cent). Not only is agriculture a massive economic generator for Canada, it also does so with one of the smallest environmental footprints. As for tax, the oil and gas industry pays approximately $23 billion in tax each year which is matched by consumers (including farmers) who paid $21.5 billion in tax in 2013. To say that the sector is a huge contributor as a stand-alone is not correct as it is Canadians who match the tax at the pump. Canada is viewed as having an abundant supply of the safest food in the world. It does this with a smaller environmental footprint and while conserving land; building rural communities and families; adding value to commodities; employing one in eight persons; and preserving water. The oil and gas sector does not trump agriculture and food on any front — including GDP. We can build sustainable food systems in the breadbasket of the world when governments understand, appreciate, and support agriculture. Agriculture is where it is at in terms of being an economic generator today and the food basket of tomorrow. I vote for a strong economy and the future of Canada. I vote for agriculture. 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

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eign investment in the sector is 36 per cent and key players are from China, Malaysia, UAE, U.K., Qatar and the U.S., with China being the big gun in Canadian oil and gas. Food imported into Canada comes from all corners of the globe and has a value of $24 billion. Canadians spend about eight per cent of their net income on food and eight per cent on fuel. From an environmental perspective, there is no question agriculture leads in the reduction of greenhouse gases and in land preservation. As an example, biodiesel, a product of agriculture, reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 99 per cent over conventional gasoline. In 2013, 26 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions came directly from the oil and gas sector, followed by transportation, buildings, and electricity and emission-intensive industries. Agriculture was estimated to contribute 10 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas. Changes in farming practices continue to contribute to the reduction of environmental degradation. Minimum tillage saves more than 170 million litres of fuel annually and the dairy industry has reduced emissions by 21 per cent. The proper placement of fertilizer and the use of liquid fertilizer direct to the seed have had huge impacts in conventional crops. Since 1987 soil erosion has been reduced by 65 per cent in corn, 49 per cent in soybeans and 50 per cent in wheat. The argument by those outside of agriculture is that it takes fossil fuel to farm. That is a fair statement but statistically agriculture uses three per cent of these fuels compared to

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Agriculture and agri-food accounts for 6.7 per cent of GDP — bigger than auto manufacturing, the once sacred cow in Canada. Canada owns 3.5 per cent of the total value of agri-food and agricultural exports in the world. The fundamental differences in the two industries are in environment and ownership. The Canadian grocery cart contains 70 per cent of Canadian product grown in Canada and produced from family farms. A full 98 per cent of farms in Canada are family farms supporting the continuation of the rural infrastructure and the protection of rural cultures. More than 25,000 of these farms are owned and operated by men and women under age 35. Agriculture attracts youth and rural investment. This is of fundamental importance as it is the strength of a Canadian electorate to have a sound secured and emerging middle class, often found in rural communities. Forty per cent of agricultural commodities are value added to in Canada in more than 6,000 facilities, and the industry has room for growth (meat processing alone employs 79,000 persons). A small percentage of oil has further value add within our borders in 15 refineries. The cost to our economy of exporting rather than processing on bitumen alone is estimated at $19 billion. In the oil and gas sector, 12 per cent of product is imported. Imports into Canada come from the U.S., Algeria, Iraq, and Norway. Algeria and Iraq both have ongoing human rights issues and these imports have often been referred to as ‘blood oil.’ For-

BY LAURA RANCE

Manitoba Co-operator Editor

here was a field day a few years back where organizers asked the 20 or so people in attendance to introduce themselves by sharing something they’ve learned about agriculture in the past year. “Be careful what you say about the competition, because tomorrow you might be working for them,” piped up an employee for one of the big chemical companies. It was sage advice in the era of mergers and acquisitions, which judging from the news of late, is far from over yet. But those words also come to mind in the context of the 2015 federal election, the end result of which, at this point, is anybody’s guess. There’s some concern among farmers and agricultural industry that farm and food issues are getting the short shrift. On one hand, agriculture should be at the top of any politician’s list. After all, without it, we don’t eat. But on the other, it’s understandable why it falls off the political radar. Farmers have done their job so well, consumers have the luxury of taking the availability of food for granted. And let’s face it. Topics that are important to farmers, such as the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership and

its implications for supply management, research and business risk management are a tough sell against Mike Duffy and a sliding Canadian loonie when campaign organizers are coming up with catchy sound bites. So there is a concerted effort right now to get farmers engaging with candidates. It’s not just about deciding who you should support. The days are long past when the farm vote could determine who ran the country. The reality today is that farmers make up less than two per cent of the population. They must work with who they get. Which brings us back to the premise so wisely spoken by that chemical company employee. Your future depends on how well you connect with all the candidates, not just the favoured ones, or the ones deemed by the latest polls most likely to succeed. As Preston Manning once said, it’s not good enough to tell politicians why your proposal is good for you; you must spell out why it’s good for all their constituents, whether or not they come from a farm. There is another dimension to this reaching-out business that bears careful consideration in the era of social media. We’ve observed before that farmers and their organizations are pretty

good at lobbying the policy-makers. And there is no question that they are an important constituency when it comes to setting the business, environmental, social parameters under which farmers operate. But events of late leave us wondering whether politicians any longer have much say in the “how” in food production, especially when it comes to farmers’ so-called “social licence.” In the era of social media, you don’t have to be an expert, or a journalist or an important public figure to gain an audience. You only have to produce a message that people are receptive to hearing. People with something to say were once restricted to coffee clutches and letter-to-the-editor campaigns. Now they have the potential to reach millions through blogging, tweeting or posting on Facebook. They aren’t targeting the politicians. They are aiming at the hearts and minds of the people who eat — knowing they will vote with their dollars. It’s rewriting the book on marketing and changing the dynamics of public engagement. The Mercy for Animals videos that capture animal abuse in intensive farming operations are changing industry practices, and not only because the abusers are caught and charged under the law. These videos’

impact on people’s opinion of food producers brings about change far quicker than the courts or politicians can deliver. As a result of the most recent exposé of workers stomping birds on a Tennessee chicken farm, McDonald’s, through its Tyson Foods Inc. cancelled the operation’s contract. That operation is no longer in business. This wasn’t a political or legal decision. It was market based. It’s swift, unchallengeable, non-negotiable and irrevocable. Efforts by agribusiness to get laws enacted to protect farmers from this kind of undercover activity are being successfully challenged in the courts. Idaho’s ag-gag law was recently struck down by a judge who ruled it violated the right to free speech. He also found the “how” of food production is a matter of important public interest. On a brighter note, the Petersen Bros., three Kansas farm boys who became famous worldwide with their parody rap “We’re farming and we grow it,” are examples of how social media outreach can work in agriculture’s favour. People don’t want slick PR, they don’t want official or expert opinions. They want to connect. It’s a two-way street. laura@fbcpublishing.com

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Science lacking in alarmist report on beef safety The numerous misleading statements in a new report are no reason for consumers to lose confidence in the safety of Canadian beef The Beef Science Cluster

onsumer Reports’ Food Safety and Sustainability Center released its Beef Report last month. A number of questions, concerns and criticisms have been raised by the North American Meat Institute, the International Food Information Council, Business Insider, and others. Rather than answer the specific questions raised, Consumer Reports encouraged people to read the report more closely. Unfortunately, reading the report more closely simply raises more questions about the expertise and/or integrity of Consumer Reports and its “policy and action arm,” Consumers Union. Here’s one example: The Danger of Superbugs heads a section on Page 10 and 11 detailing the health hazards posed by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) such as E. coli 0157. This section implies antimicrobial resistance will make

STEC infections more difficult to treat. This is not true. Antibiotics are not used to treat STEC infections in people. Instead, treatments for STEC infections focus on replacing fluids due to diarrhea. In fact, antibiotic use is strongly discouraged in both Canada and the U.S. because they could make the situation worse. Antibiotics are not used to treat STEC infections in people, so antibiotic resistance will not make STEC infections more difficult to treat. If antibiotics are not used to treat STEC infections in people, why is E. coli used in antimicrobial-resistance surveillance programs? Antimicrobial-resistance surveillance programs in Canada and the U.S. use E. coli as an indicator organism for several reasons. First, E. coli is found in all warm-blooded animals and birds, and survives to some extent in the environment. Although some E. coli (like the STECs) are dangerous, the vast majority of E. coli is perfectly

harmless (and some are even beneficial). Because E. coli is found almost everywhere, E. colibased surveillance programs can always find it, and it is easy to grow and identify in the lab. Second, although antibiotics are not used to combat STEC infections in humans, E. coli is exposed to antibiotics that are used to treat other bacterial infections. This makes E. coli a valuable indicator of how antimicrobial use can affect the overall bacterial population. Third, bacteria can trade antimicrobial-resistance genes with each other, so rates of antimicrobial resistance in E. coli can indicate the degree to which antimicrobial-resistance rates may be changing in the overall bacterial population. What are the actual rates of antimicrobial resistance in E. coli in Canadian beef? The Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) has collected E. coli samples from retail beef since 2002. The 2013 CIPARS report indicates that 74 per cent of E. coli isolates from retail beef

could be killed by every antimicrobial tested, while four per cent were resistant to three or more antimicrobial classes. Canada’s beef industry remains focused on ensuring the safety of Canadian beef. Research funded through the Canadian Beef Cattle Industry Science Cluster has clearly demonstrated that large Canadian beef processors do an excellent job of producing dressed carcasses that are essentially free of microbial contamination. As well, Canada’s beef industry has supported antimicrobial use and resistance research for nearly two decades. This research gives strong evidence that Canada’s beef producers are using antimicrobials responsibly. They have good reasons for doing so. The beef industry needs to ensure that these veterinary products remain effective to prevent or treat illness in cattle for economic and ethical reasons. Like everyone else, beef producers also need to ensure that medical antimicrobials continue to work when

they or their family need to use them. We need cattle to remain healthy so that they can produce safe, high-quality beef. We also need to ensure that consumers can have confidence that they are buying safe, affordable, highquality beef that was raised in a responsible and sustainable manner. The numerous misleading statements in the Beef Report are no reason for consumers to lose confidence in the safety of Canadian beef, or the Canadian beef industry’s ongoing commitments to keep it safe. Provided consumers continue to cook ground beef to 71 C, science says that the beef for sale in Canadian (and American) grocers is a safe, nutritious, responsible and sustainable food choice. The Beef Science Cluster is funded by checkoffs, Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, industry, and other governments to advance research and technology transfer supporting the Canadian beef industry’s vision to be recognized as a preferred supplier of healthy, high-quality beef, cattle and genetics.

What Consumer Reports said about beef safety The organization claims that drug-resistant bacteria pose a serious and growing health threat The following is excerpted from The Beef Report produced by Consumer Reports’ Food Safety and Sustainability Center. The full report can be found by Googling ‘consumer reports beef report.’

The danger of superbugs

Foodborne illness caused by drug-resistant bacteria, such as the antibiotic-resistant strains of salmonella that have caused beef-related outbreaks in recent years, are also a major cause for concern. Infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria can be more difficult to treat and are a major public health problem. In fact, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that each year more than 23,000 people die as a result of an infection caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Despite the importance and prevalence of that problem, the government does not have requirements related to antibiotic-resistant bacteria in any meat product. Two of the most important bacteria responsible for outbreaks attributed to ground beef are toxin-producing E. coli and salmonella.

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli

Although most cases of foodborne illness are simple cases of vomiting and diarrhea that resolve after a day or so, some bacteria found in ground beef, such as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) can be very dangerous. STEC produces Shiga toxin and can cause severe illness that can last five to seven days and even be so severe that infections require hospital treatment. Additionally, some people can be left with a life-threatening condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which damages the kidneys. STECs are also concerning because they can cause those serious infections at relatively low infectious doses. The STECs can live in the cattle’s gut and are often found on hides, but they cause disease only in humans, not in the cattle. Recent data published by the CDC show that incidence of illness caused by E. coli 0157:H7 in the U.S. decreased in 2014 to 0.92 cases per 100,000 people, compared with the incidences measured in 2006 to 2008 or 2011 to 2013; the incidence of infections caused by non-0157:H7 STECs

and other pathogens did not decrease and remained higher than target rates defined in the government’s Healthy People 2020 goals. Since 1994, the USDA has considered E. coli 0157:H7 in ground beef to be an adulterant, and in 2012, it added six of the most common non-0157:H7 E. coli STECs (the “Big 6”) to the list of adulterants. That means that if those bacteria are found during processing in ground beef or in intact beef destined to become ground beef, the product cannot be sold unless it is to be further processed (cooked). Controls for those toxic STEC E. coli are included as part of Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) at processing plants, and if any are detected, the product is considered adulterated and must be discarded, and the plant must report the result to FSIS. FSIS does not actually require plants to do regular testing for E. coli 0157:H7 or other pathogens that may cause severe food poisoning, but only for generic E. coli. Generic E. coli is considered by FSIS to be a measure of fecal contamination and a

measure of the effectiveness of sanitation in plants, yet there is no performance standard for generic E. coli. Consumer Reports believes there should be performance standards for filth indicator organisms such as generic E. coli, as well as required tests for STECs. FSIS conducts its own testing for E. coli 0157:H7 and other STECs in beef at processing plants, but there are important limitations, including the frequency and prior notice of inspection to establishments regarding sampling, which could allow plants to temporarily alter procedures. Interestingly, there are a number of factors related to the way cattle are raised that may affect their levels of generic E. coli and E. coli 0157:H7 within and shed from their intestines. For example, cattle eating grain-based diets appear to shed higher levels of generic E. coli than forage-fed animals. Studies of 0157:H7-specific shedding are suggestive of the same, although there are mixed results. Stress and feedlot confinement also foster poor hygiene practices that can increase contamination.

Salmonella

Although the reported prevalence of salmonella is low, the morbidity and mortality caused by foodborne illness from salmonella is significant, and drug resistance is particularly concerning because outbreak strains found in beef have been resistant to several important clinical antibiotics, including first-line agents prescribed to treat salmonella and other infections. Among the recent, large multi-state outbreaks that have been caused by salmonella-contaminated ground beef, the strain responsible for the 2011 outbreak was notable for its resistance to multiple antibiotics, including amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid, ampicillin, ceftriaxone, cefoxitin, kanamycin, streptomycin, sulfisoxazole, and tetracycline. Ceftriaxone is an example of a recommended antibiotic prescribed for salmonella infections in humans, and strains resistant to those agents would be more difficult to treat, even in the hospital. FSIS has a performance standard of 7.5 per cent for salmonella in ground beef.

Off the front

september 14, 2015 • Albertafarmexpress.ca

Want to be part of Open Farm Days? Here’s some tips Show the link between farm and fork, line up the equipment in the yard, and take people’s breath away by talking technology BY DIANNE FINSTAD AF contributor

rganizers of Alberta Open Farm Days are always looking for more farm families to participate. But what can you offer visitors if you have, as Kent Erickson puts it, a “boring old conventional grain farm” or ranch? Here are some of the things conventional producers did this year. Terry Banack created a display using common grocery store items, and posters with pictures taken from an entire growing season, to help visitors see the link between the field and the fork. There was even a matching game with plant samples and harvested grain. “For sure, they could see the connection,” she said. “Last year, we had some retired farmers visiting, but this year those who came had no farm experience. It felt rewarding to be able to show them from seed to sale. “We’re really in the same boat as them. We sell our grain, but we buy the products from the store too.” The Ericksons lined up their equipment in the farmyard, with Kent and his father on hand to explain how they worked. It was a simple thing, but a real highlight for their visitors. “They were all fascinated by the technology, and couldn’t believe how high tech farms are,” said Erickson. “They were curious about how it had changed. I guess some people still believe we’re all farming 50 acres and have all sorts of animals.” The family also had a display showing the eight different crops they grow, outlining where they’re

sold, and how they are used. Mel and Laurie Anne Erickson also created a brochure on the farm’s history, and that sparked a lot of questions. “They were asking about how costs have changed, and the volume of grain we produced,” said Kent Erickson. There were so many questions on economics that he plans to do some homework and have more of the numbers at his fingertips for next year. Having the whole family on hand is also key, said Barry Reese, who was joined by his brother and father so there was always someone available when there was a surge of visitors. The Stamps, too, had a display with small bags of seed, as well as information on the various processes used on the farm and about irrigation. And they were also able to show off a farm habitat project that saw one hundred thousand shrubs planted in riparian areas for habitat protection. And stock up on brochures and recipe handouts from commodity commissions, said Terry Banack. “It helps if they can go home with some reminders.” And don’t be surprised if being part of Alberta Open Farm Days leads to unexpected things. This spring, the Reeses got a call from some German farmers who were visiting their part of Alberta and found their name and contact info at www.albertafarmdays. ca. The visitors, who are custom sprayers and manure spreaders, spent about four hours on the farm. Then they invited the Reeses to visit them in Germany one day and learn about agriculture in that country.

The little ones like the little toys — but everyone got a kick from the big ones at the Reese Cattle Company, a mixed farm near Didsbury. PHOTO: REESE FAMILY OPEN FARMS } from page 1 “The first one is helping with the awareness that your food doesn’t come from the grocery store,” he said. “Visitors are also surprised at the investment and the technology that is used to get their food from the farm to the processor. It is also great for our kids. They get an opportunity to meet some of our (end) customers.” Son Parker, 11, thrived on the opportunity to share his passion for farming and led a wagon tour to help guests learn about the farm. And it was a busy day, with close to 85 visitors to the Didsbury operation, many of them recent immigrants to Canada. “We learn a lot from them about how different coun-

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It was a family affair as Marian Stamp and her husband, kids, and even her grandkids welcomed visitors to Stamp Seeds near Enchant. PHOTO: STAMP FAMILY tries farm and what they grow,” said Barry. They were asked about hotbutton issues such as GMOs and hormone-free meat, but most wanted to know more basic things, such as how machinery worked, and what they fed the cattle. “We get to show we are good stewards of agriculture,” he said. The Stamp family also wanted to connect with the people who ultimately buy the food made from the crops grown from their pedigreed seed, said Richard Stamp. And he, too, found people were deeply curious about basic things. “People were amazed at the record-keeping involved in pedigreed seed production, and the technology,” said Stamp, who can use his phone to program irrigation pivots. It’s great to get those sorts of questions because it’s an opportunity to talk about today’s agriculture, he added. “We want to show that we have well-educated young people involved on the farm, and the next generation needs to make a good living, no different than anybody else,” said Stamp. “We need to be open to the general public. We’re open to scrutiny about anything, and always will be. We don’t do anything different now than we do on any regular day.” It’s good for their family to get to talk about what they do, he added. “Our grandkids were the most excited to tell people. My nine-

“We get to show we are good stewards of agriculture.”

Barry Reese

year-old granddaughter knows all the crops and could talk about them.” That was a highlight for Erickson, too, who was joined by his parents, Mel and Laurie Anne, and wife Tausha in welcoming visitors. “It was interesting, because Dad and I are business partners together, but at different stages in life. So we were able to give different perspectives on the future of agriculture,” he said. “Tausha and Mom talked about the benefits of raising children on the farm and having the kids spend time with us and (special times) like meals in the field.” Reaching out to consumers is “the biggest thing” for Humphrey Banack. “The consumer is the person deciding to buy the product or not, so understanding their thoughts and opinions is important, the same as in any business,” he said. “It gives us some food for thought as well.”

Albertafarmexpress.ca • September 14, 2015

SWINE VIRUS } from page 1 Swine Health board that was dedicated to nothing other than keeping the health of the Canadian pork industry at the top in the world,” he said. “That was their job, and they had huge co-operation across the country.” The numbers tell the story. In the U.S., the virus, which kills piglets and severely weakens sows, spread like wildfire — infecting thousands of farms and killing eight million pigs. Based on the relative size of its hog sector, Canada should have had about 1,000 cases. But the total is just 109. And a fifth of those came right at the start of the crisis in January 2014, when the virus showed up at 20 Ontario farms in a short period. All turned out to have purchased feed tainted with infected porcine plasma from the same feed mill. “That’s not the first time this has happened in the Canadian livestock industry,” said Brockhoff. “But the lesson learned is, ‘How often do we talk about feed biosecurity?’”

transports on the road than anything else in the North American livestock industry and we’re trying to make sure we wash every single one of them.” Canada is fortunate because it uses fresh water in truck washes because recycling water (which is done in the U.S.) helps spread viruses and bacteria (see story on page 12). But even then, washing and disinfecting can’t completely eliminate viruses. So thermalassist drying is recommended — which means putting a trailer inside a building heated to 35 C for at least 90 minutes. In Alberta, there’s now a new mobile baking unit for trailers that heats the trailer’s surfaces to 70 C. While baking the viruses effectively kills them, freezing has no impact. “Only when you clean, wash, disinfect, and dry these transports do you make them virus free or as close to that as possible,” said Brockhoff. The washing of livestock transports in the pork industry is now audited.

A surprising danger

But it’s not just the big and obvious sources of potential contamination that have come under scrutiny. “The smartphone has become

“Almost every single pork producer in Canada took part in a national biosecurity training program and was audited. That’s never happened before in the world.”

one of our greatest disease-carrying agents. There was a supercool study published in the U.K. a couple of years ago… 25 per cent of the cellphones sampled from people who lived in the city of London had fecal material on the surface. “Those are Londoners, so I don’t know what that means. But for those of you who work with livestock routinely, I’m going to guess those numbers are even higher, if you’re hanging out with livestock all the time.” One of the big things that helped prevent the spread of PEDv was communication across the sector. The Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network, which monitors data on pig health, was key and so were education initiatives. But the two most vital things were having the right attitude and being determined to do whatever it took to fight PEDv, he said. “Of the 109 sites that have been affected in Canada with PEDv, about half of them are now negative,” said Brockhoff. “We are going to kick this virus out of Canada. It’s endemic to the U.S. and will be there for a long time but in Canada, we expect to have this virus gone.” akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

That wasn’t the only question being asked, Brockhoff told the field day attendees at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lacombe research station. “The risk factors are something that we started to identify early on. This is where I ask you to think about your own industry: How can you mitigate risk factors?” The single biggest thing you can do to lower risk is to be cautious when purchasing new animals. “That is the absolute king,” said Brockhoff. “You go out, buy a new animal, bring it to your farm and what it has, you now have. And vice versa. That’s a No. 1 risk.” So what does being cautious mean? For Brockhoff’s clients that means having him call the vet of the producer who is selling pigs. The two vets will talk about health and herd compatibility and if there’s any risk, the sale doesn’t happen and the pigs don’t move. Another huge change is transport biosecurity. Brockhoff, who grew up on a large feedlot and cow-calf operation in central Alberta, has never seen a cattle liner that’s been properly washed, dried and disinfected in his 40-plus years. But that’s the standard in the hog sector even though “it takes a lot of work to wash out every pork livestock trailer in Canada and the United States.” “Canada produces nearly 30 million pigs, the U.S. nearly 10 times that. There are more swine

PHOTO: Alexis Kienlen

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SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Poisonous weed found in Alberta canola fields Devil’s trumpet is highly poisonous, but poses little risk when processed into canola meal or oil By JENNIFER BLAIR AF staff

here’s still more questions than answers after a highly toxic prohibited weed was found in canola fields in three counties in north-central Alberta. Devil’s trumpet — also called jimsonweed — has been confirmed in Barrhead, Leduc, and Westlock counties, but how it got there and how widespread the problem is remains a mystery. “It would only be complete speculation on my part,” said Curtis Rempel, vice-president of crop production and innovation for the Canola Council of Canada. “I have no idea what the distribution is like in other fields in the area. The best thing I can say right now is that we’re studying it and trying to figure out how we got to where we are at right now.” The common denominator seems to be fields seeded to canola this year and last, but that has yet to be confirmed. “Where we’re finding it right now is in canola. They’re trying to verify where the seed has come from, but nothing is confirmed yet,” said Barrhead County’s agriculture fieldman Marilyn Flock, adding devil’s trumpet has been found in two fields in the county as of Sept. 8. “Producers should check fields from last year that had canola in them. Even if it’s not into canola this year, still keep a lookout if the field’s in wheat or another crop.” It’s the same story in Leduc County, where the weed was found in one field, and Westlock County, where four fields have been affected. “It has been found in canola fields, but it has also been found where canola was grown in 2014,” said Jacolyn Tigert, manager of agricultural services for Westlock County. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are investigating how the weed seeds got into the fields, said Rempel. Neither Alberta Agriculture nor the CFIA were available for comment at press time. Producers should “look for the distribution” of weeds if they find devil’s trumpet in their fields, said Rempel. “Are you finding it in one pocket in a low spot? Are you seeing it fairly infrequently but in an even distribution across the field? Does it look like it was blown at an angle across parts of the field? Does it look like it moved in with a rainfall event or corner flooding? Are there lots of plants clumped in an area or is it very sporadic?” he said. “That would give us a good indication (of where it came from.)”

the seed pods mature and explode, now you’ve got 600 or 700 seeds per pod, so you want to try to get it before you have that seed source,” she said. “Sometimes if you bury that seed, it can last in the ground for up to 20 years. Hopefully, you can get them out before you have more plants that produce mature seeds.”

Highly poisonous

Devil’s trumpet is highly poisonous to both livestock and humans if ingested or inhaled. “It’s very dangerous because low levels of it can result in death for livestock and humans,” said Tigert. But it poses “very, very low risk” when processed with canola, said Rempel. “The views of the Canola Council at this point in time are that there wouldn’t be concerns, just based on dilution factors,” he said. “We don’t know how much of the weed seed would actually be in a canola shipment if it’s been lying in a swath for three weeks, but based on the fact

Photo: Westlock County that the pod likes to explode fairly quickly, I would think that the risk would be reduced.” As well, the heating process in canola oil and meal processing denatures toxic alkaloids, so there isn’t a health concern in processed canola products, he said. Because all parts of the plant are poisonous, producers should exercise extreme caution when handling it.

“Go out in gloves and a longsleeved shirt, hand pull it, and bag it right away. That’s the best line of defence right now,” said Tigert. “From there, it should be taken to the landfill, and it can be buried.” The plants can also be incinerated, but do so carefully, cautioned Flock. “You want to make sure you’re not breathing in the smoke.”

Producers should report any suspected sightings of devil’s trumpet or any other unidentified weed to their agriculture services board or municipal fieldman. “As with any plant that they don’t recognize, they should have somebody either come out and look at it, or pull it up with gloves on, put it in a bag, and bring it in so people can identify it for them,” said Flock. “If you don’t recognize it, it’s better to find out what that stuff is before it becomes a major problem for you. It’s better to be safe than sorry.” But at this point, producers shouldn’t panic, said Rempel. “We don’t want to overreact. We don’t want to underreact,” he said. “We want to keep everything in perspective and contain the weed in the fields that we find it in. We’re looking at containment and control and careful management going forward.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

READY FOR ANYTHING

Easy to spot

Devil’s trumpet is “a very easy plant to identify” because of its height, said Tigert. “The plant is very tall. It’s typically around four to six feet, so right now, it’s above the canopy of the crop,” she said. “Producers are picking it out very easily.” The plants have thick red or purple stems, with large pointed leaves and white and purple trumpetshaped flowers. The seed pods are egg shaped and spiny, and each plant has between 20 and 40 pods. Each pod contains up to 700 seeds, which could cause serious problems if the weeds reach maturity. “The main concern right now is the maturity of the plants. The seed pod could mature, explode, and spread the seeds,” said Tigert. Producers need to “catch it right now to nip it in the bud,” said Flock. “It may be only a few plants, but if

ALWAYS FOLLOW GRAIN MARKETING AND ALL OTHER STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES AND PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Details of these requirements can be found in the Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers printed in this publication. ©2015 Monsanto Canada, Inc.

Albertafarmexpress.ca • september 14, 2015

Biocontainment plan can be a lifesaver during a disease outbreak The to-do list is a long one in a crisis — and it’s better to have it all set down in writing By Alexis Kienlen AF STAFF

When a disease crisis hits, you need a written biocontainment plan, says consultant Heather Carriere. PHOTO: ALBERTA PORK

There’s no way to know what Mother Nature is going to throw at you, but there is a way to be ready for it. With built-in technology that helps you tackle tough weeds in tough conditions, Genuity® Roundup Ready® canola can be the most valuable tool in your field. It’s the foundation for a family of high-yielding canola hybrids that offer diverse disease resistance and enable progressive farming practices such as straight cutting. You can’t anticipate everything, but you can prepare for anything. Get ready for next season; talk to your retailer about booking Genuity Roundup Ready canola for 2016.

o one wants an infectious animal disease outbreak on their farm — but every producer should be ready for one, says an expert on biocontainment plans. “When we get into crisis mode, we tend to forget the important steps and communications pieces that need to be there — by having it all documented ahead of time, we found that there was a lot more reassurance for producers,” Heather Carriere said during a recent Alberta Pork telephone town hall. Having an emergency to-do list would benefit any livestock producer, said the Abbotsford, B.C. ag consultant, who helped develop biocontainment plans for BC Pork

in response to the porcine epidemic diarrhea threat. “It’s a document that can save a lot of angst and speeds up the response process as well,” said Carriere. “The idea was to create an information package so in the case of emergency, they don’t have to go searching for all that information.” The value of a biocontainment plan becomes evident when you start listing everything that needs to be done: Contacting processors, plant contacts, tradespeople, suppliers, and anyone who might be coming to the farm. A checklist of things to do before or during deliveries. Different ways to isolate sick animals from the main barn. Managing a break in production. Who will handle pickup of deadstock, garbage, recycling, and manure. Alternative transportation routes in order to avoid contaminating other nearby hog farms. “By having these things written down ahead of time, it saves the producer from having to search when they are busy with other aspects of traceback or the biosecurity measures that they are implementing,” said Carriere. “By identifying every single possible contact who could come onto their farm, it gave producers peace of mind that they did have due diligence and were doing their best to be prepared.” B.C. pork producers either worked with Carriere or their herd veterinarian to ensure the plan was complete. A copy was kept in a place where it could be accessed by all farm employees — a key measure because workers need to make decisions and take immediate action, even if the farm owner happens to be away.

“By having it all documented ahead of time, we found that there was a lot more reassurance for producers.” Heather Carriere

As part of the biocontainment plan, producers signed a statement that said that they would inform BC Pork and their vet of their disease status and allow them to share the information with all necessary industry partners. “This assists in the traceback processes that have to happen,” said Carriere. “They’ll only identify the farm to necessary industry partners. It’s not meant for general broadcasting and is not publicized anywhere. It’s mainly for traceback purposes to help minimize the spread of any virus.” Once the herd vet had reviewed and signed off on the plan, it was then signed by the producer and BC Pork. All of the signatories were given copies of the plan. Not only did creating the plan give producers a sense of what they would do at their farm, it also reaffirmed their role in keeping the entire industry safe and gave them ownership for the biosecurity of the entire province, said Carriere. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

NEWS » Markets

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Wheat, canola supplies surprise Supplies of wheat and canola at midsummer were bigger than expected, although much smaller than a year ago, says Statistics Canada. StatsCan pegged all-wheat stocks at 7.1 million tonnes, down 32 per cent from last year, but well above the average trade expectation of 6.5 million tonnes. Canola supplies reached 2.3 million tonnes, shaving 23 per cent from the year-earlier total, and far surpassing the average trade estimate of 1.4 million tonnes. Stocks of durum wheat, oats and barley fell sharply year over year. StatsCan surveyed farmers from July 22 through Aug. 3. — Reuters

Syngenta sells most profitable division Syngenta will sell its most profitable seed division to fund a $2-billion share buyback and boost shareholder returns after rejecting a takeover approach from Monsanto. Its vegetable seeds business has gross profit margins of well above 60 per cent compared with about 45 per cent for all seeds last year. The company’s finance chief said a sale was the best way to exploit the strength of that business. He also noted the company wants to develop and sell seeds in tandem with crop chemicals, but vegetable seeds were mostly grown in greenhouses with pesticides applied more precisely than on crops grown outdoors. — Reuters

StatsCan’s stocks estimates bearish for canola Outside markets keep the pressure on commodities By Dave Sims

anola contracts on the ICE Futures Canada trading platform suffered losses the week of Sept. 4 due to a mix of volatile market conditions, as well as a bearish report from Statistics Canada. Sentiments were mixed as nearby contracts found themselves generally locked in a range of $460-$480 per tonne. The November contract sunk below the technically important $460 range by late week, with speculators holding short positions. Earlier in the week, China’s stock market again found itself in troubled waters, suffering steep losses as investors panicked in the face of bearish industrial data. The losses spilled over to North American markets, while crude oil also finished weaker, which weighed on agricultural commodity markets everywhere. From a technical standpoint, canola found itself $7 down on the second day of the week (Sept. 1), with losses in the vegetable oil market and seasonal harvest pressure also adding to the pressure. From there, the most-active and frequently quoted November contract attempted to correct itself, but ran into technical selling, which again weighed it down. Thursday’s report from Statistics Canada made life even more difficult for canola traders, as it found there was a lot more canola out there than anybody knew. Heading into the report, analysts expected to find canola stocks of 800,000 to 1.7 million

tonnes. However, the final tally, as of July 31, was 2.322 million tonnes. Other factors that influenced canola throughout the week include recent wet conditions in parts of the Prairies that kept a weather premium in the market and ideas that the futures have been oversold. Traders say crush margins may show slight signs of improvement too. Questions over China’s appetite for oilseeds remain a key worry for many in the market, as there seem to be some traders who firmly expect the Asian giant to step up at some point, while others aren’t as certain. U.S. soybeans also found themselves pressured, after a report by Informa Economics predicted this year’s harvest would be slightly bigger than initially thought. Informa pegged soybean output at 3.924 billion bushels on yields of 47 bushels an acre, which was above the previous forecast. Corn prices hit a one-year low after a mix of disappointing sales data and crop predictions. Informa raised its outlook for corn output this year to 13.688 billion bushels, up from last month’s estimate of 13.412 billion bushels, which was bearish for values. The strength of the U.S. dollar continues to cause headaches for exporters of U.S. wheat. Cheaper supplies are readily available from companies in the Black Sea region and France. Dave Sims writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

Photo: Thinkstock

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9/1/15 4:44 PM

news » livestock 11

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Cow-Calfenomics agenda

Livestock welfare funding available

Sustainability, keeping a social licence, human resource strategies, and leasing for cattle are on the agenda for this year’s Cow-Calfenomics. As well, the one-day event will feature Brian Perillat from Canfax, who will give a marketing outlook and speak about herd expansion while forage business specialist Grant Lastiwka will give a presentation on economic grazing solutions. Cow-Calfenomics will be held on Nov. 3 in Vermilion, Nov. 4 in Westlock, Nov. 5 in Olds, and Nov. 6 in Lethbridge. For more information, visit www.agriculture.alberta.ca/cowcalfenomics. — AAF release

The Livestock Welfare Producer Program is now accepting applications. The program offers reimbursement for 50 per cent of approved capital and non-capital costs to a maximum of $50,000. The main areas covered by this program are implementation of humane methods of livestock euthanasia, adoption of mass destruction technologies for compromised livestock, and adoption of low-stress livestock-handling systems. Applicants must have completed a Livestock Welfare Risk Assessment and applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information and to apply, go to www.growingforward.alberta.ca and click on the Programs tab. — AAF release

Colony leading the charge in bio-based feed additives Walsh Hutterite colony has almost eliminated antibiotics by adopting enzymes and other bio-based feed supplements BY BRAD BRINKWORTH

Meristem Land and Science

armers around the world are feeling the earth shift beneath their feet as a new landscape of expectations takes hold for agriculture. Sustainability issues from environmental stewardship to animal welfare are becoming critical to market acceptance and social licence. This includes use of antibiotics, as Tyson, Walmart, and a host of others implement restricted-use policies. It’s daunting terrain for many, but one of the leaders in this area is Spring Creek Hutterite Colony in Walsh. The Hutterite colony has quietly shifted to increased use of feed enzymes and other feed supplements based on natural processes to reduce antibiotic use and increase health and productivity benefits from feed. “We spend a lot of time looking ahead,” said Paul Hofer, the colony’s swine manager. “We’re always thinking about not only how we can improve on the farm but what the consumer wants and how we can provide that. You have to do that in this business. If it works on the farm and it fits what the consumer wants, that’s the direction we go. Our philosophy is, if you’re not moving ahead, you’re moving behind.” Members of the colony — one of the largest Prairie landholders and a major swine and poultry producer, as well as dairy and beef producer — focus on relationships with trusted farm advisers and suppliers. “It’s all about being connected,” said Hofer. “We attend a lot of meetings — all the major ones in North America and some in other parts of the world. We hear all the new knowledge, meet all these different connections and also email back and forth on what’s coming out, what’s new and what the packer wants, what the consumer wants. We need to be out there and alert to be on the cutting edge.” The colony takes the view that “the consumer is always right,” he said. “We have to listen to them and we have to work with them,” he

Spring Creek Colony near Walsh is on the leading edge when it comes to reducing antibiotic use while increasing herd health and productivity. PHOTOS: COURTESY SPRING CREEK COLONY said. “We’re not producing pigs or cows or chickens, we’re producing meat and we need to provide the meat that the consumer wants. The closer we are in our thinking to the supermarket and the dinner plate, the better off we are. Our thinking is to be as much natural and antibiotic free as possible.”

More profitable

Feed enzymes and other biological-based feed supplements offer efficiency and productivity benefits that make sense in their own right, said Hofer, who oversees the colony’s feed mill. “We’ve used enzymes for a long time and we use a lot of enzymes now,” he said. “We get more nutrition and energy out of the feed and it really makes a difference. With the top options we use, it’s not hard to get $10 to $15 more per pig from that investment. Plus, it fits what the market wants today and is better environmentally.” Hofer currently uses several enzyme products, which become active once ingested. One is a phytase product, which is used for managing phosphorus nutrition for swine, optimizing performance and health, and

reducing phosphorus excretion. He also uses multi-carbohydrase enzyme products, which break down particular feed components that otherwise would be hard or impossible for the animal to digest. A multi-carbohydrase approach requires developing unique formulations where the different activities complement one another. “There are five to seven enzyme activities in the main feed efficiency products we use, and that’s why we use them,” said Hofer. “You get more feed breakdown with more activities so the efficiency and value is much higher... Part of the reason we go with multiple activities you just get more happening during what we sometimes forget is a small window of opportunity. You have to keep in mind the animals only have so much time to digest and the clock is ticking.” The colony also uses another bio-based feed supplement designed to mimic the activity of beneficial nucleotides to stimulate intestinal development and improve immunity, particularly in young animals. The product improves average daily gain and feed intake, while enhanc-

ing nutrient absorption and gut health, said Hofer.

Learning curve

The colony isn’t totally antibiotics free, but is operating that way much of the time. “As much as we liked antibiotics for a number of reasons in the past, today we only want to use them when we really need them for health issues. And overall, we don’t end up needing them very much. So we’re pretty much there. And it’s good because we keep getting pressure and we can expect more demands like we’re seeing from Walmart.” But the shift came with a major learning curve. “There’s not one size fits all so you need knowledge and you need people you trust who have the expertise,” said Hofer. “There is something new coming out every day and a lot of it is good, but you need to be careful because there is also a lot of garbage coming out. “You need to see the research and the data. You have to be careful how you spend your dollar because the margins are pretty slim and mistakes are expensive.” Sophisticated record-keeping is also critical, and the colony

uses the latest software and technology to collect real-time data to measure performance. “For example, as soon as we started using multi-carbohydrase technology, we could see health and productivity shot up. It’s better for the animals’ digestive system so you get far less issues. And you get clearly better growth performance and feed efficiency — average daily gain is amazingly better.” When it comes to health, a lot of the focus is “prevention is the best medicine,” he said. “We can see a small investment in prevention is really not a cost at all because it avoids expensive problems. A lot of this has become routine now for us — for example, we do a lot of acidifiers in the water for gut health — the healthier that animal is, there’s less chance of getting different bugs.” While he expects there will be greater restrictions on things such as antibiotics in the years ahead, there will also be new alternatives. “You never know what will turn up next. I was in a meeting (recently) in Regina and there’s a product out there now that has the same effect as a glass of wine — it will calm the sows and it’s a natural product. Europe is there already with a lot of unique approaches and there’s a lot we can learn. “I’m an optimist and I think that’s how our industry needs to approach things. When one door closes another one opens. When you look at all the new tools emerging, it’s a great time to be in this business. I am looking forward to the future.”

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Regulatory wrangling ups the threat of PEDv in Canada

Don’t let this on your rangeland

potted knapweed has been reported in many areas of the province, especially ones with lots of vehicle traffic. Calgary, major highways, and border crossings are just a few areas with high densities of this prohibited noxious weed. The plant skeletons get caught in vehicle undercarriages, contributing to its spread. It also thrives in disturbed sites with little to no shade and can tolerate poor soil and moisture conditions. Infestations are often found in gravel pits, roadside ditches, and rangeland. A single spotted knapweed plant can produce up to 140,000 seeds per year and they can remain viable for up to a decade. It also has another trick — its roots release a chemical that inhibits the growth of other plants, allowContact your local fieldman at www.aaaf.ab.ca

Livestock trailers coming from the U.S. could spread the virus across Western Canada, say pork officials By Alexis Kienlen AF STAFF

Spotted knapweed thrives in harsh conditions. PHOTO: Kendra Tippe ing it to quickly displace native species and forages. It takes years to eliminate an infestation. It has a pinkish-purple flower with black-tipped (spottedlooking) bracts at the base of the flower. Contact your local Agricultural Fieldman if you think you’ve seen this nasty invader. For more information on noxious weeds: www.abinvasives.ca

ashing hog transports in the U.S. before they return to Canada sounds good in theory — but it may actually increase the threat of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus here. “We are extremely concerned about this because essentially we’re going to be sending trailers to be firehose washed at some point in the U.S. where they will probably pick up some PED virus and will be adding to the viral load that our producers currently have to deal with in this province,” Andrew Dickson, general manager of the Manitoba Pork Council, said during a recent Alberta Pork telephone town hall.

As of Oct. 1, trucks returning to Canada after dropping swine off in the U.S. will be required to be disinfected and cleaned at American facilities before entering Canada. Previously, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency allowed these trucks to be sealed in the U.S. and disinfected once in Manitoba. Most of the swine carriers pass through Manitoba, but with no wash required when trucks pass between provinces, the threat applies to all three Prairie provinces. “If no further washing or disinfecting of trucks is done in Canada before the truck is being brought to an Albertan farm, there will be significantly higher risk for Alberta producers,” said Dickson. Manitoba has had five cases of PEDv — with none in the rest

National Agriculture Leaders Debate to be held September 30, 2015 The Canadian Federation of Agriculture will be hosting a National Agriculture Leaders debate in lead up to the Federal Election. The debate will highlight issues facing Canadian farmers and give an opportunity for each party to outline its platform positions as they pertain to Canada’s farm and food future. WHEN Wednesday, September 30, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. WHO  Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Hon. Gerry Ritz  Malcolm Allen, NDP Agriculture Critic  Mark Eyking, Liberal Agriculture Critic  Bruce Hyer, Deputy Leader, Green Party  Bloq Québécois, representative TBC WHERE Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel, the Laurier Room, Ottawa RSVP & WEBCAST REGISTRATION Please register in advance for the webcast and RSVP if attending in person. Registration information, as well as details on farmers’ priorities for the upcoming election, can be viewed here: www.cfa-fca.ca Debate questions will be posed via pre-taped video segments from farmers across Canada. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country’s largest national general farm organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations, national and interprovincial commodity organizations - representing over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families through its members. Founded in 1935 to provide Canada’s farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the CFA works on behalf of Canada’s farmers to ensure the continued development of a viable and vibrant agriculture and agri-food industry in Canada.

For further information visit: www.cfa-fca.ca CFA General Inquiries: Email: communications@canadian-farmers.ca Phone: 613-236-3633

Inadequate U.S. truck-washing standards could see the PED virus trucked into Canada, says Andrew Dickson, general manager of the Manitoba Pork Council. PHOTO: SUPPLIED of Western Canada — but it’s endemic in the U.S., with about half of its sow herd infected. The problem is that there are few truck washes along the major U.S. highways used by livestock truckers. And they have poor water quality, and lower standards for cleaning and disinfection. “Many of them couldn’t handle the types of trailers that we were sending down to the U.S. because they had bedding material in them and a lot of U.S. transporters don’t use bedding material,” said Dickson. A recent study found few American truck washes on major transportation routes were able to meet the wash, disinfect and dry standards recommended by the Canadian Swine Health Board. Since February of 2014, Canadian Border Services has been tagging empty livestock trailers and submitting the tag numbers to the CFIA. “Then the trailers would proceed to a certified wash station in Canada and be washed and disinfected according to rules laid out by the Canadian Swine Health Board,” said Dickson. “This had worked relatively well for the last 18 months. You can see from the number of cases that we got in Manitoba, that we had relatively few cases compared to other parts of Canada and compared to the United States.” But in early 2015, the CFIA said it had a legal obligation to maintain the old regulations and was going to discontinue the tag system. Transports returning from American farms will now have to be washed and disinfected in the U.S., while transports returning from American processing facilities will only have to be scraped out. The province of Manitoba tried to negotiate a deal to administer the program, but the negotiations were fruitless. “Essentially CFIA demanded that the province accept full liability for introduction of all farm animal diseases into Canada,” said Dickson. “The province is not financially in a position to do that.” The Manitoba Pork Council has proposed detailed, amended regulations on truck washing to reduce the risk of PEDv catching a ride north on transport trailers. Pork organizations, including Alberta Pork, are urging producers to speak to their MP about the threat. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Albertans a big part of researcher mentorship project Program connects up-and-coming applied researchers with beef sector

everal Albertans will be playing a key role in a Beef Cattle Research Council initiative that connects up-andcoming applied researchers with players in the beef sector. Four beef scientists were selected from applicants across the country for the 2015-16 edition of the Beef Researcher Mentorship Program, which had a successful pilot phase in 201415. Each is paired with an innovative cattle producer and another industry professional for a oneyear mentorship along with a travel budget to attend industry meetings, producer workshops, and farm tours. “We have been so pleased to hear last year’s participants explain all of the industry learning and networking they experienced thanks to this program,” said Tim Oleksyn, BCRC chair and a producer from Shellbrook, Sask. “We look forward to continuing to work with them and

What to ask when purchasing hay From Alberta Beef Producers Grass Routes newsletter

Hay supplies and prices have been at a premium, but when purchasing hay it is important to keep quality in mind. There is always a risk when buying hay from unknown sources, including poor nutritional quality; a different species mixture than you expected; excessive dust or mould; or a high proportion of weeds. Here are some questions to ask when purchasing hay, especially from an unknown source: • How long has the hay been stored, and was it stored under cover or outside? More storage losses will occur with hay stored • Where was it cut? Ditch hay tends to contain more weeds and garbage. • Did it get rained on? If so, how much? If the hay was not dried properly before baling it will likely be overly mouldy. • Was the hayfield fertilized and/ or sprayed for weeds? If so, this likely indicates good management, and herbicides sprayed on hayfields are safe for cattle as long as label restrictions regarding harvest times are followed. • Are there weeds in the hay? How many and what type? • How mature is the hay? This affects nutritional quality. • What species are present in the hay? Legume or legume/grass mixtures will have different nutritional quality than pure grass hay. • What is the average weight of the bales? This is important when buying hay by the bale. If you end up with hay you suspect may have inadequate nutrition, make sure to get it tested. (For more information on feed testing, go to www.beefresearch.ca, search for ‘feed testing explained,’ and then click on the Blog Search tab.) If hay is excessively weedy try to feed it in a confined segregated area, and avoid spreading the manure from cows fed that hay on other areas to limit the spread of weed seeds.

supporting this new group with many opportunities to discuss and observe our industry’s challenges, which will be so valuable for them and the industry as they plan, conduct, and communicate their research.” Shaun Dergousoff is a research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge research station whose work is focused on better understanding the risks associated with different arthropods (ticks and biting flies) that transmit livestock diseases of current and potential concern. His mentors are the Coaldale Veterinary Clinic, and the Allied Marketing Group, a partnership formed in 2010 by Lethbridgearea feedlot owners Ryan Kasko, Les Wall, Ed Stronks, Leighton Kolk and Shawn Murray, who collectively manage 11 feedlots with a combined capacity of 110,000 head. Daniel Doerksen, a cow-calf producer near Gem, will be

Daniel Doerksen

Shaun Dergousoff

mentoring Angela Canovas, a recently hired assistant professor of beef cattle and small-ruminant genomics at the University of Guelph. She is researching animal systems biology combining statistical genomics and bio-

informatics with further functional validation of regulatory target genes. Canovas will also be mentored by Mike McMorris, general manager of the Ontario organization, BIO (Beef Improvement Opportunities).

Mauricio Arcila, food safety quality and regulatory superintendent for Cargill Meat Solutions in High River, will be comentoring Claudia Narvaez Bravo, an assistant professor at the University of Manitoba examining pre-harvest and post-harvest interventions to reduce the presence of pathogenic organisms within meat production. Her other mentor is Manitoba cow-calf producer Tom Teichroeb. The other mentee is Argenis Rodas González, an assistant professor in meat science and food safety at the University of Manitoba. His research is focused on the evaluation of meat composition and quality, with special interest in meat shelf life and palatability. His mentors are Betty Green, provincial co-ordinator of the Verified Beef Production program in Manitoba, and Manitoba producer and Canada Beef vicechair Trevor Atchison.

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SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Tapping into nutrients and tackling compaction with tillage radishes The forage brassica has big-time potential for rejuvenating tired, compacted pastures — but there’s a learning curve By Alexis Kienlen

AF STAFF / CLEARWATER COUNTY

ow effective are tillage radishes in rejuvenating poor soil and pastures? Staff at Clearwater County have been experimenting with tillage radishes to see if their theoretical benefits hold up in the real world. The fast-growing brassica can be used in forages as a cover crop and as feed for cattle; its long taproot can open and loosen soil where machinery can’t reach; and it can also suppress fall weeds. “The big root goes down into the soil profile and pulls up nutrients from below, farther down than your regular crops can pull nutrients from,” Annie Bertagnolli, administrative assistant with Clearwater County Agricultural Services, said during a recent agriculture tour. “These nutrients are stored in the root over winter and in the winter, when it rots, the tillage radish releases all those nutrients, making them available to the next crop.” Its root, which can grow up to 14 inches in length, resembles a daikon radish. It grows through compacted soil and hardpan, and when the roots rots, they leave thumb-sized holes in the ground, which allow for air and water infiltration. And that’s just what it did in a trial last year. “It all worked beautifully,” said Bertagnolli. “The nitrogen in the soil went from 10 (pounds per acre) to 75. It worked really well. We know we can grow them in Clearwater County and it’s a success.” This year, county researchers tried to grow tillage radish on several pastures. Radish seed, a l o n g w i t h gr a s s s e e d , w a s drilled directly into the pastures at three sites. At the first site, dandelion, plantain and white clover had completely taken over the pas-

Tillage radish growing in a pasture in a Clearwater County trial.

Tillage radishes bring many benefits, but “we’re learning as we go,” says Clearwater County official Annie Bertagnolli. PHOTOS: Alexis Kienlen

Tillage radish growing in Marty Winchell’s pasture.

ture, which was divided into five plots. Radishes were seeded at a quarter-inch deep, but that turned out to be too shallow. “We should have gone a lot deeper in a drought year,” said Bertagnolli. “The plants should be bigger than they are and there are very few that established.” With seeding around July 24, getting seed-to-soil contact was also an issue but planting the fast-growing plants earlier wasn’t an option. “If you plant them too early

because they had no competition. The fifth plot was conventionally tilled, with plowing, disking and harrowing before seeding. “We got a few showers on the first week they were seeded,” said Bertagnolli. “Some of them didn’t germinate, but quite a few did. When we walked through them, we had hope. But then we had a week of 32 C to 35 C heat. A radish at the cotyledon stage cannot take those conditions, and they turned yellow.” Her group has been in touch

and they start to bulb, then you’re not going to get your big roots. And it’s the roots that we are aiming for,” she said. One plot was seeded without fertilizer; a second with fertilizer; and a third with fertilizer and grass seed. “Most of the species you see in this pasture, the dandelion, plantain and alfalfa, have sucked most of the moisture out of the soil already,” she said. A fourth plot was doused with Roundup before seeding, and the radishes came up best there,

6th Annual CFGA Conference November 17-19, 2015 • Sheraton Cavalier Hotel, Saskatoon, SK

Canadian Forage in the International Year of Soils Capture the Intensity!

with American researchers who have had success by turning cattle into a pasture for two to three days right after seeding. The hoof action punches the seed into the ground, allowing for better seedto-soil contact and germination. “Next year, I think we’re going to try that. We’re learning as we go,” said Bertagnolli. Tillage radish is an excellent feed source as the plant’s stems and leaves have about 27 per cent protein. “It’s almost too rich and you should probably put it with a ryegrass or something to mix it up a bit,” she said. The tillage radishes were also seeded at Marty Winchell’s place. Before seeding on Aug. 2 the area was grazed heavily by sheep and cattle and also benefited from the soil disturbance caused by a hailstorm two days later. They didn’t emerge until after the 35 C weather and seemed to flourish in the fresh manure left on the fields. “When I look at how this would fit into my own operation, I’m excited about it from a grazing standpoint,” said Winchell, agricultural program supervisor with Clearwater County. “When you look at what Annie got in the cultivated area, with the huge amount of top growth and the 24 per cent protein, if you can graze that at the end of the season and get your animals on a highprotein diet in the field, I think they’ll finish off quite nicely.” akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

The 6th Annual CFGA conference will explore intensive forage management systems, their impact on soil health and how forages generate ecosystem goods and services for on-farm users, exporters and the Canadian public.

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Aging horses by their teeth A method of determining the age of horses by the wear on their teeth has been widely accepted for 130 years BY CAROL SHWETZ DVM

n 1885, Sydney Galvayne published a book in Glasgow outlining a system which claimed to accurately age horses by identifying distinct features of wear on the teeth. Galvayne’s treatise became widely accepted and uncontested amongst horsemen for over a century. The Galvayne name even became memorialized when a distinct groove which travels down the side of the corner upper incisors was aptly named Galvayne’s Groove. This yellow-brown groove was said to appear at the gum line of the upper corner incisors at the age of 10 and would lengthen as the horse aged. It would span the entire tooth by the age of 20, then leave the gum line and advance toward the bottom of the tooth until it wore out at age 30. Recently Galvayne’s treatise was taken to the test by the scientific world where the century-old system was discovered to hardly be the science that we once were led to believe, and that the practice of aging horses using dental characteristics has a degree of uncertainty. Researchers in Britain and Belgium compared the traditional marking system as outlined by Galvayne against the horse’s accurately known date of birth and/or true age as recorded in the horse’s registration papers. The researchers discovered surprisingly significant discrepancies in their comparisons, placing the reliability of a century-old practice for aging horses by their dentition under marked scrutiny. The studies showed that specific ages could not be assigned to individual horses according to the dental criteria outlined by Galvayne’s treatise due to the tremendous variation amongst individuals. Researchers found there to be no consistency in dental traits amongst horses within specified age groups and that horses showed marked variability from the “textbook” findings. Knowing the age of a horse can be important for a number of reasons. Not only does age determine the dollar value of a horse in horse-related transactions, age also determines what type of handling and care the horse will receive. Although registration of horses is a common practice today, there exists a surprising number of horses without a paper trail identifying their date of birth. As a result, veterinarians are commonly called upon to identify the age of a horse. For example a 10-year-old gelding will be a better riding investment than a 20-yearold gelding, a two-year-old will require different handling than a four-year-old, and a six-yearold brood mare has more foaling potential than a 16-year-old mare. Without argument, significant changes do occur in the teeth of horses as they pass through time. Dental maturation of the horse progresses over a five-year period taking the horse from toothless at birth, through 24 baby teeth and ending with a count of between 36 and 42 permanent teeth. Horses, just like human children, shed their baby/milk teeth at a highly predictable pace.

Young horses lose their central incisors at 2-1/2 years, the ones next to the middle at 3-1/2 years and the corner incisors at 4-1/2 years. Due to the timely nature of tooth shedding and eruption a strong correlation exists and the age of horses by inspection of the teeth can be developed to a considerable degree of accuracy when identifying horses under five years of age. As the horse ages beyond five years errors in judgment tend to increase as a number of variables play a role in how the horse’s teeth age, thus making it more difficult to specifically age the horse. For example, breeds such as the Arabians are known to have slower wear patterns than draft horses due to the increased hardness of their enamel, thus presenting their mouths to be more youth-

ful than they actually are. Other variables affecting tooth wear include diet, grazing conditions, management practices, vices, and more recently, dental work. The probability of error increases as age advances and becomes an informed guess as the horse enters its late teens and 20s. Good reliability exists when distinguishing the difference between a six-year-old horse and a 16-year-old horse. However, correctly identifying whether a horse is 15 or 16 years of age is not too likely. Galvayne’s system for assigning dental features to specific ages of horses offers more of a guideline than an absolute for age determination. Carol Shwetz is a veterinarian focusing on equine practice in Millarville, Alberta.

Cultivating the Entrepreneurial Farmer November 25–27, 2015

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A farm boy turned world traveler, has set out on his latest adventure bringing his “If I Can” message global.

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Grit & Grace – Women who Lead, Feed & Beautify our World

Lyndon Carlson

• National Farm Business Management Innovation Roundtable

Nikolas Badminton

Brenda Schoepp

SVP Marketing, Farm Credit Canada • The Great Debate: Are we losing our social license to farm?

Innovations that will Rock your Farm

Futurist, Regional Director, Freelancer.com

• Panel Discussion: Farming in 2050 – What can we expect? How can we prepare?

• Bridging the Gap Forum: Young Farmer Bear Pit & Young At Heart Forum

• Farm Management Initiatives Showcase

• Concurrent Sessions: Choose 3 of 6 to attend!

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SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Drought costs soar

El Niño impact here unknown

Global economic losses from drought are likely to reach more than $8 billion in the next few months as the El Niño weather pattern intensifies, says reinsurance broker Aon Benfield. Drought costs in the U.S. are likely to reach at least $3 billion, mainly due to agricultural damage in California, the broker said. “As we continue to see the prospect of El Niño becoming one of the strongest in decades, more and more impacts will be apparent around the world,” said Steve Bowen, associate director of Aon Benfield’s catastrophe modelling team and meteorologist. The current El Niño weather phenomenon is expected to peak between October and January. — Reuters

The current El Niño, expected to peak by January, could be one of the strongest on record, say experts from the World Meteorological Organization. Surface waters in the east-central Pacific Ocean are likely to be more than 2° warmer than average. But the impact of this El Niño in the Northern Hemisphere is hard to forecast because there is also an Arctic warming effect at work on the Atlantic jet stream current. “Will the two patterns reinforce each other? Will they cancel each other?... We really don’t know,” said David Carlson, director of the World Climate Research Program. — Reuters

How will El Niño affect Alberta weather this winter? In theory, this weather phenomenon should bring a warm, dry winter to the Prairies, but the historical record tells a different story

BY DANIEL BEZTE

n the previous articles we discussed how the “normal” flow across the tropical Pacific Ocean is from east to west. This flow results in water being pushed away from the coasts of North and South America, where it travels across the Pacific, warming as it goes, then piles up on the western side. Where the water is being pushed away from the coast, cold water from below moves up to replace it (upwelling). These general patterns result in wet conditions over western parts of the Pacific and generally dry conditions over the east. Figure 1 shows the typical or “normal” setup over the Pacific Ocean. During an El Niño event — for reasons still not fully understood — the pattern of winds and pressure over the Pacific Ocean changes. The easterly winds weaken, and in some cases, even reverse themselves. The cold upwelling is slowed or even blocked and warm water starts to build up in the eastern Pacific. This results in the movement of the area of clouds and precipitation from western regions to more eastern locations. Figure 2 shows a typical El Niño event. During a La Niña event, the “normal” pattern is amplified, as colder-than-average water temperatures occur over eastern regions of the Pacific. So how does this changing of weather patterns over the Pacific Ocean affect us? Well, to make a long story short, the overall pattern of pressure across the Pacific is altered in an El Niño or La Niña year. This change in pressure patterns is reflected downwind, as the path of the jet stream is altered. When the jet stream is pushed northward, warm air is allowed to flood northward. When the jet stream is sent plunging southward, cold air follows right along. The general consensus about El Niño patterns is that

Figure 1

Figure 2 they tend to bring warm, dry winters to the Prairies; overall summers are not affected as much. El Niño is also the stronger of the two different patterns, that is, it tends to have the greatest impact on our weather. La Niña winters tend to be snowier, and again, like her big brother, the effect during summer is not as noticeable. With that said, I figured it would be interesting to look back to five previous winters where strong El Niño events occurred, much like we are seeing this year, and then check to see what type of winter it was. I compared the data from both Calgary and Edmonton and (surprisingly for me) there were some differences between them. 1957-58: Both cities had a warm December and January and a colder-than-average February. All three months saw above-average precipitation in Edmonton, with Calgary reporting slightly belowaverage amounts in December and January but well above

average in February. Overall, a warmer- and wetter-thanaverage winter. 1965-66: Both cities had a cold winter with belowaverage temperatures during all three winter months, with January being extremely cold. Edmonton saw wellabove-average snowfall whereas Calgary saw nearaverage amounts. 1972-73: Both cities saw nearaverage temperatures during this winter with a colder-thanaverage December and aboveaverage January. Precipitation was near average in Edmonton during all three months. Calgary had well-above-average snowfall in December and February, but was dry during January. Overall, Calgary saw above-average precipitation. 1982-83: Both cities saw wellabove-average temperatures during this winter with all three months coming in above average. Precipitation in Edmonton was well below average during all three months whereas Calgary saw near-average amounts.

This map shows total amount of precipitation for Alberta compared to the long-term average during the 90-day period ending on Sept. 2. The southern region, northern region, and northern Peace saw dry conditions, with some areas seeing very low to extremely low amounts. The central region was the only area that was wet, with areas to the northeast of Calgary seeing moderately high to high amounts of rain.

1997-98: This was an interesting winter with a very warm December and February in both cities. January on the other hand was very cold, especially in Calgary where temperatures were 12° below average. Along with the warm weather in December and February it was also very dry. The cold January brought average amounts of snow, resulting in a drier-than-average winter.

So, looking at these years and then trying to predict what this winter will bring is a bit of a mixed bag — El Niño doesn’t necessarily guarantee us a warm, dry winter. 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.

Trim: 10.25”

Soil conference brings in leading experts Ten leading experts will present current information on concepts for improving soil health at the Western Canada Conference on Soil Health in Edmonton on Dec. 8-10. Among the speakers are Gabe Brown, Jill Clapperton, and Martin Entz. The topics include building healthier soils through grazing, cover crops, soil health assessment, and ecological farm management. The conference is being put on by member associations of the Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta. For more information on the conference and to register, go to www.albertasoilhealth.ca or email Tom Fromme: tom@npara.ca or Nora Paulovich: nora@npara.ca. — ARECA release

Three things to watch for when reading your grain contract Two-part contracts, delivery terms, and extended delivery periods can cause problems down the road if you don’t read your grain contract carefully By JENNIFER BLAIR AF staff / Olds

“For every grain buyer out there, the terms can vary substantially.” Janelle Whitley

Before the hauling comes the contract with the grain company — and most never get read. FILE PHOTO Last August, the federal government ruled grain companies must pay farmers to store their grain as protection against unaccepted grain deliveries. “Every grain company has to offer storage or receive a penalty if they do not accept your grain within the original or extended delivery period,” said Whitley, adding the provision only applies to companies licensed under the Canadian Grain Commission. “If you happen to have a contract where it doesn’t offer storage payments, I would recommend contacting the Canadian Grain Commission.” Producers must negotiate their own storage payment, however. “The way the bill was written was

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to allow flexibility in terms of being able to negotiate what works best for you, but also flexibility for some of the commercial buyers to be able to manage their storage.” But, again, you won’t be able to raise these types of matters if you haven’t read that contract. “The devil’s in the details,” said Whitley. “It is important for you to read your contract from start to finish.” If you ask for changes and the grain company rep agrees, then put it in writing, she added. So why is someone’s word not good enough? That’s in the contract, too. “Every single grain contract out there contains language that says the company is not bound by anything their representative says,” said Whitley. “If your elevator manager or the person you’re dealing with on the phone offers you special delivery terms, get it in writing, because if there’s a conflict, they’re not bound by what is said on the ground.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

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o you read your grain contracts from front to back? If so, you’re one of the few who do. A University of Manitoba study found only 17 per cent of Canadian farmers read their whole grain contracts — and that’s a mistake, says a grain industry expert. “For every grain buyer out there, the terms can vary substantially,” said Janelle Whitley, manager of policy development for the Canadian Canola Growers Association. “There isn’t just one company offering the same thing across the board. There’s a lot of variability.” Most farmers are just too quick to sign a contract without understanding what it means, she said. “Your signature essentially means that you have read and understand it, and once you sign, it’s very difficult to back out or cancel a contract. It is a legal, binding document, and you are locked into it.” So what should you look for? That’s the question Whitley’s association tried to answer during a review of grain contracts it undertook last year. The first potential pitfall is that the document you’ve been handed to sign may not be the entire contract. “Often there are two parts to the contract,” said Whitley, adding the second part typically lists with terms and conditions. “You see language such as, ‘This contract incorporates the terms that are available on request.’ There may

be another part of your contract that you’re not seeing when you go in and sign it.” Delivery terms were another frustration for farmers. “This is not so much an issue this year, but last year with the rail transportation issues, delivery was a huge problem, and there were lots of complaints,” she said, adding delivery terms “vary substantially” between grain companies. In some cases, contracts give grain companies the right to change delivery location, so producers need to be prepared for that by asking the right questions. “You might want to ask questions like, ‘How much notice am I going to get if I change locations? How far am I going to have to go? Can I get some compensation for that if I have to haul to a different location?’” But companies being able to extend the delivery period is the “most common frustration that we hear,” said Whitley. “Almost every single grain company does have the right to extend the delivery period,” she said. “When you sign the first page of your contract, you’ll have a delivery month normally, and in the fine print on the back of the page, the contract will say that the buyer has the right to extend the delivery period if the grain cannot be accepted within the original period. “There’s a lot of variability out there, right from 30 days extension to 180 days extension. That’s quite different in terms of how you manage your time and how you manage your storage.”

} SOIL HEALTH

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

When storing grain, remember to SLAM Paying attention to sanitation, loading, aeration, and monitoring is key to avoiding storage problems By JENNIFER BLAIR AF staff / Olds

his fall when you’re preparing your grain for storage, all you need to do is remember to SLAM. That’s short for sanitation, loading, aeration, and monitoring. The first step — removing any dust or debris from your bins before harvest — is “obviously important,” said Ryan Braun, Canadian sales manager for OPI, a grain storage monitoring company. Producers should also seal any cracks to prevent moisture from getting into the bin, he added. Loading is next, and that needs to be done right so that air can flow through the grain. “Gravity takes all the light stuff and flows it to the outside and leaves all the heavy stuff in the middle,” said Braun. “That’s all your high-moisture grain, weed seeds, dirt — basically all the stuff you want to put air through. And the more grain there is and the deeper it is, the more pressure there is.” Airflow “takes the path of least resistance,” he said. And by overloading the bin without levelling the grain out, producers are pushing the air away from the moist centre of the bin. “You want air moving through the middle, but instead you’ve got air going everywhere but through that middle,” said Braun. “You’re peaking the bin up and not getting any airflow through. By stacking it higher, you’ve basically put 10,000 bushels at risk by getting another 500 bushels in on top of it.”

Producers risk their whole bin when they overload their grain, says Ryan Braun of OPI. PHOTO: JENNIFER BLAIR Producers can remedy that by levelling out their bin with a spreader, shovelling the grain flat, or coring each bin at the end of harvest. “Whatever you’ve got to do to get those bins flat, it’s going to really help your ability to get air through the grain.” The next step is aeration and drying — and venting is “critical” to that process. “When you open a manhole cover on a bin, you shouldn’t have that air blast that blows your cap off. That’s not a good thing,” said Braun. “I know it feels like a lot of airflow, but you’re actually restricting that airflow. You want that air to be

cycling through the bin as fast as possible, so you need venting.” One square foot of venting per 1,000 cubic feet per minute (cfm) is the rule of thumb, he said. “Just be aware of how many cfm you need. If you’re unfamiliar with what your vents are currently putting out and there’s no label on them, the Grain Guard brochure at UFA or CPS has all the cfms and horsepowers of all the fans listed,” said Braun. “You can very easily figure out how many cfms you have, how much venting you need, and what you can actually be doing with those fans.”

Producers also need to understand equilibrium moisture content — “basically what the ambient air temperature will do to the grain in the bin.” “If we have a corn kernel that’s 18 per cent moisture and the moisture content of the bin is 14 per cent, over time that kernel will move to 14 per cent,” said Braun. But that isn’t static, he added. It changes with the temperature and humidity throughout the day. By understanding equilibrium moisture content, producers can adjust their management to maintain the right moisture levels in their grain. “It allows you to know when the best time to run your fans is,” he said. The last step is monitoring. “A lot of guys I talk to, as soon as it goes down below -10 C, they think they should go back out and check the bins again or they’ll run the fans for a couple of days,” said Braun, adding that that’s the right thing to do. “Steel is a great conductor, and it cools down the air on the inside of the bin,” he said. “Warm

air rises and cold air drops, so you’ve got cool air dropping down the outside of the bin, and it gets warmed by the grain and comes up through the centre.” Because the centre has a lot of moisture and warm air holds more moisture than cold air, air “picks up all kinds of moisture as it works its way up to the top of the bin.” “When it gets to the top of the bin, it cools down in the headspace, and just like a pop can that you pull out of the fridge, it condenses and sweats,” he said. “That’s when you have to shovel the crust off the top of the bin.” Vents will help let some of that moisture out, said Braun. “That’s why we try to cool that grain down a little closer to ambient temperatures before winter hits,” he said. “I don’t recommend running fans when it’s -30 out. You should be running your fans before that. When it gets to zero or -10, run your fans for a day or two.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. Commercialized products have been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship.

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Opportunities abound in horticulture, says provincial specialist The financial startup costs are typically lower and a host of information resources is available Alberta Agriculture and Forestry release

ore people are interested in a career in agriculture these days and horticulture offers many opportunities, says a commercial horticulture specialist. “Increased interest in local production as well as the desire to know where and how food is grown means more people are looking to get into agriculture and primary production,” said Dustin Morton. Horticulture is an appealing choice because it can be practised on virtually any scale in nearly any location, with very

few inputs, and has a broad range of production areas, including fruit, ornamentals, trees, and vegetables. “One of the biggest hurdles facing new producers is a lack of resources,” said Morton. “While typically this refers to financial resources, information on trends in the industry, considerations for startups, and even credible information on how to grow a crop can be equally difficult to find. “Further complicating matters is that horticultural production is largely done in warmer climates than our own, including Ontario, British Columbia, Washington and California. This can make extrapolating

varieties and growing practices to Alberta’s climate and growing conditions challenging to say the least.” Alberta Agriculture and Forestry tries to reduce this gap through many of the specialists and programs available. “Specialists such as newventure coaches can work with new producers to help them to develop a business plan, find their niche market, and look at opportunities for grant funding,” said Morton. “Commercial horticulture specialists deal with primary production in this broad and diverse industry and can discuss production considerations, pest concerns, and best management practices. Farmers’ market

“One of the biggest hurdles facing new producers is a lack of resources.”

and food safety specialists can help with food safety concerns both on farm and in the market, ensuring a safe product.” Alberta Agriculture also has numerous online resources on

Manage residue with next year in mind Alberta Agriculture and Forestry release

How you harvest, what you are using to harvest, and what you do with the residue will have a huge effect on what happens next spring. “Crop residue isn’t trash as it has a significant amount of fertilizer value,” said provincial crop specialist Harry Brook. “The straw has probably the lion’s share of this, as it contains about 80 per cent of the potassium used by the crop. If you remove it repeatedly, you can develop a soil deficiency over time.” It’s important to get an even distribution of the residue over the back of the combine. “If you don’t, you’ll end up with rows which will provide an insulating layer and the soil underneath will warm up later in the spring,” said Brook. “With our short growing season, this can delay emergence by one to two weeks. If the crop is in the ground a long time, it can be weakened by disease. Also, heavy crop residues take a significant amount of nitrogen away from the crop to break down the residue.” This year saw shorter crops and less residue. “As such, the soil-warming issue isn’t as important as it would be after wetter years. But it’s still important to get the residue evenly distributed.” There are also implications for soil health. “The chaff and straw will add a lot of lignin and cellulose to the soil,” said Brook. “If you have an especially big crop, it’ll take a lot of nitrogen to build up the levels of bacteria and fungi to break that cellulose down into sugars to be cycled into the soil organic matter. It’s really all tied into organic matter levels which are your bank account of nutrients in the soil.”

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topics such as commercial vegetable production, direct-marketing regulations, and food safety for farmers’ markets. The province is also currently running its Explore Horticulture workshop series. The final two workshops are Sept. 19 in Red Deer and Sept. 26 in Lethbridge. While workshops, webinars, and much reading can all help in the beginning stage, nothing beats the experience and wisdom of a seasoned grower, said Morton. “Networking with these growers at every opportunity will not only grow one’s knowledge of the industry but also of the players in it, improving the chance of success in your venture,” he said.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Farm family weathers Mother Nature’s worst through diversification Bowden farm has branched out from grain, cattle, and seed potatoes into agri-tourism and community-supported agriculture By JENNIFER BLAIR

“With the CSA model, there was room for me to go from three acres up to 40 acres in a matter of three years.”

AF staff / Bowden

n a bad year, the Great White Combine does a good chunk of the harvesting in Hailstorm Alley — a little pocket of central Alberta that sees more than its fair share of hail. And there have been more bad years than good in John Mills’ farming career. “I’ve been back on the farm for 10 years, and we’ve had hail every year,” said Mills, who operates Eagle Creek Farms near Bowden with his father Stan. “Not every year has it been devastating, but last year was absolutely devastating. It flattened the farm to the ground. We didn’t harvest anything for two weeks after that while the crops recovered.” But the Mills family has managed to weather those storms — and even prosper despite them. “We’re quite diversified, and that’s fortunate,” said Mills. “If we were just focused on one crop, the hail might have wiped us out. Since we’re doing a number of different things, we’re still here standing today.” Diversification isn’t a new notion at Eagle Creek Farms, which was settled by John’s great-grandfather in 1921. “My father’s always been experi-

John Mills

When John Mills returned to the family farm, he knew diversification would be the key to creating a financially viable operation. PHOTO: JENNIFER BLAIR menting with other crops, so we’ve always had a bit of diversity on the farm,” said Mills, noting his dad was one of the first producers of seed potatoes in the province. When Mills came back to the farm, the family decided to pare back their seed potato business, and put those acres into a sunflower maze, U-pick operation, and vegetable patch. Now, the family grows around 40 acres of vegetables and 30 acres of seed potatoes — as well as some grain — as “insurance” against whatever Mother Nature throws at them.

“We’re spread over about a mile and a half now. We’re not only diversifying the number of crops we have for security, but also the land base.”

Scaling up

Even so, Mills knew early on there would be a limit as to how much he could expand his maze and U-pick operation. “We’re out in the boonies here,” he said with a laugh. “We’re not really close proximity-wise to a big city. In our best year, we might have attracted around 9,000 people to the farm through festivals. A corn maze

around Calgary will get upwards of 100,000 people.” With a wife and three small kids, Mills found hosting festivals to be a “big drain” on his time, and he wanted a better way to support his family — his primary goal when he returned to the farm. So Mills shifted his focus to vegetables and started a communitysupported agriculture program five years ago. “How we grew from three acres of U-pick to 40 acres of vegetables was through community-supported agriculture,” he said. “The idea is that families that want to support small, local farms invest in the small, local farms. They give the money up front, and in return, the farm harvests and provides food to those families.”

Every week, Mills delivers between seven and nine different vegetables to around 370 families in Calgary that have bought a share in his program. And while the customers get a share in the bounty, they also share in the risk — a real benefit to Mills in years like the last one. “Last year when we had the hail, there was a week where we didn’t deliver anything to our share families,” said Mills. “The people who signed up for this communitysupported agriculture program understood that that was part of the risk. They wanted to support local farms, whether in good times or bad times. “If we were selling in a farmers’ market, like many of our neighbours were who were devastated by hail, when they had no product to sell, they had no income, but they still had all the expenses.” By sharing the financial risk with his customers, Mills has been able to diversify and expand his operation quicker than he ever expected when he started farming full time a decade ago. “With the CSA model, there was room for me to go from three acres up to 40 acres in a matter of three years. It was a way that I could expand the farm in a hurry and generate the income.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

What do you really think about AgriInvest? — CFA wants to know Web-based survey is intended to help encourage governments to improve the program under the next Growing Forward framework BY ALLAN DAWSON staff

ow do farmers use AgriInvest and how can the business risk management program be improved? That’s what the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) wants to learn from a survey of farmers as it prepares for replacement of Growing Forward 2 in April 2018. “We want to make sure we are ready and as informed as we can be early in the process because negotiations and discussions around the frameworks start quite early,” said Scott Ross, CFA’s director of business risk management and farm policy.

U.S. farm incomes could reach their lowest level since 2002 U.S. farm incomes will drop by more than half from their peak two years ago, according to new U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that signal deeper pain for sellers of agricultural equipment and land. The USDA projected farm incomes this year will drop 36 per cent from 2014 to $58.3 billion due to declining crop and livestock prices. The forecast is down 20 per cent from the USDA’s February estimate of $73.6 billion. If realized, the decline would bring farm incomes to their lowest level since 2002 when adjusted for inflation. Income will be down about 53 per cent from a record high of $123.7 billion in 2013. “The data confirms the deteriorating fundamentals in the farm economy,” said JP Morgan analyst Ann Duignan. Corn futures have lost about 30 per cent on the Chicago Board of Trade over the past two years following bumper harvests, while soybean futures are down about 37 per cent. — Reuters

CFA has set out in broad terms policies it wants the next federal government to implement on behalf of farmers, but more work needs to be done on the details. “This is where we feel the survey will feed in to it — getting those details and making sure that we have the most accurate picture we can of how producers use the program and how they want to use the program and the challenges they face with it right now.” Under AgriInvest, farmers can deposit 100 per cent of their allowable net sales annually into a savings account with up to one per cent of their deposit, to a maximum of up to $15,000, matched by the federal and provincial governments. (Governments in the past matched 1.5 per cent of allowable net sales.)

“We want to make sure we are ready and as informed as we can be early in the process.” Scott Ross

AgriInvest is a self-managed producer-government savings account that allows producers to set money aside so it can be used to recover from a small drop in income, or to make investments to reduce onfarm risks.

It’s up to farmers if they want to withdraw money from the AgriInvest account. When they do they must withdraw the government contribution first and it’s taxable. CFA is proposing the following changes to the program: • Increase the maximum matched producer contribution rate to 4.5 per cent of allowable net sales. • S et the maximum allowable matching contribution to $100,000. • Encourage investments into a set of pre-approved, proactive risk mitigation and income generation investment opportunities by allowing producers to access their own AgriInvest contributions without triggering taxable government funds. The changes would help farmers

“manage a whole wide array of different issues that are coming up in terms of on-farm costs,” Ross said. “But we wanted to get a better understanding of what kind of assets and investments they are making right now with the program to see how it has been used to date, and also get some insights as to whether the current amounts are sufficient to really meet the goals.” Farmers are busy with harvest now, but the web-based survey, which can be done on a mobile device as well as a computer, takes just three to five minutes to complete, Ross said. It can be found at www.cfa-fca. ca. allan@fbcpublishing.com

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SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Being ‘shrink wrapped’ in a grain bag a narrow miss U.S. farmers Joel and Jeff Dewitz are lucky to be alive after being trapped in a grain bag BY ALLAN DAWSON Staff

arm accidents can sneak up on you. Just ask Joel Dewitz, who is telling his story to warn other farmers of the dangers of grain bags and grain vacuums. “I’m not proud of what we did, but I thought if maybe one person would happen to read the article and not do the same stupid thing we did, it would be worth it,” he said from his farm near Steele, in southcentral North Dakota. In late July, Dewitz and his son Jeff found themselves trapped inside the grain bag they were suctioning out with a grain vacuum. Deer had punctured holes in the 10x300-foot grain storage bag filled with wheat. Some of the grain at the end of the bag was wet and spoiled. Dewitz wanted to remove a semiload of dry grain using a grain vacuum and shovel out the wet wheat on the bottom. As he wanted to close the bag up again, he didn’t cut the end of the bag. Normally, a grain bag unloader would be used, which extracts grain using an auger while rolling the bag up. The end of the bag was opened and the father and son propped it open with scoop shovels. They entered the bag, one on each side of the grain vacuum hose, to feed grain into it. The shovels loosened and fell over as grain was removed. Suddenly, the plastic bag sucked in around the hose entrapping them. They could still breath as a small amount of air was circulating from the hole where the tube entered the bag, but they

Joel Dewitz (l), his wife Nancy and son Jeff farm near Steele, North Dakota. Joel wants other farmers to know the dangers of entering a grain bag when extracting grain with a grain vacuum. PHOTO: supplied could hardly move. Dewitz said it made him think of being grabbed by a python — the more you struggle the worse it gets. “Our feet were probably 18 inches from the end of the bag but we were closer to the vacuum hose, which was seven or eight feet into the bag,” Dewitz said. “My son got caught stretched out flat so he could hardly move at all. I was on my knees and elbows and I did not have enough power to push back against the bag where my feet would come out the end and release the vacuum.” Joel and Jeff could communicate, but not well over the roar of the grain vacuum. “I had a phone in one pocket and a knife in the other pocket. I could feel them in the bottom of my pocket, but I couldn’t get to the top of my pocket to get them out,” Joel said.

Grain bags are increasingly popular for surge grain storage. PHOTO: ALLAN DAWSON

“The suction can ‘shrink wrap’ a person so he or she cannot move and will limit space for breathing.” North Dakota State University

“My arms were pulled down so tight I couldn’t get my elbow back alongside my body to get into the top of my pockets.” Dewitz had his finger pushed into the bag wall up to his knuckles trying to poke through, but it was in vain. Jeff put an arm into the hose trying to reduce the suction. Luckily Joel was able to break an arm off his eye glasses and used it to puncture the bag. He signalled to

his son to pull on one side and Joel pulled on the other making the hole bigger. The seal was broken allowing them to escape. Dewitz said he was relatively unscathed, but his son went into shock. He recovered quickly after having his legs elevated and was given something to drink. They weren’t sure how long they battled to get free. Dewitz thought it

might have been almost an hour; his son guessed 25 minutes. “The concept of time didn’t mean anything to us,” he said. “It would have been real easy to just go to sleep and not fight.” They suggest one way to prevent a similar accident would be to use the cage from a chemical tote to prevent the bag from collapsing around the vacuum hose and always having someone on the outside ready to shut off the grain vacuum if necessary. However, North Dakota State University says no one should enter a grain bag when using a grain vacuum because of the suffocation hazard. “The suction can ‘shrink wrap’ a person so he or she cannot move and will limit space for breathing,” an NDSU extension release says. allan@fbcpublishing.com

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This year’s Value Bonanza sales event gives you more SMART WAYS TO SAVE! It starts with BONANZA BUCKS – it’s like bonus cash just for buying select New Holland tractors and equipment. And, your savings continue with 0% FINANCING or CASH BACK in lieu of financing. But hurry! The clock is ticking. See us before this offer ends on November 30, 2015. See all the SMART deals at nhvaluebonanza.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 November 30, 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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2012 New Holland CR9090E Combine, 775hrs, Excellent cond., loaded

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

2011 New Holland 9070 Combine, 550hrs, 640HP, Excellent cond., loaded

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

2005 New Holland CR960 Combine, 1320HP, Good cond., deluxe cab.electric mirrors,2 speed rotors

2013 New Holland 840CD Header, head site, cross auger,transport, 2000 acres

2004 New Holland 94C Header, Good cond., NH adapter

2013 New Holland T7.235 Tractor, MFD, 1750hrs, 155HP, Good cond., loader, suspended cab, 3 hyd, 3 pt

$315,000

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0% 30 MON USED COMBINES 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 NH 840CD-30 like new,cross auger . . . . . . . . . . . . . $64,500 NH 840CD-30, header height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $59,500 MacDon 972-30’ header,TR/TX adptr . . . . . . . . . . . . $20,000 NH 971-30’,header,batt reel, trspt (2) TR-TX adapter $6,500

NH T9.450HD,2014,1000pto,620hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . $299,500 NH T9.450HD,2013,1000PTO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $265,000 NH T9.450HD,2013,2250hrs,1000pto . . . . . . . . . . . $250,000 NH T7.235,2013.PS,ldr,grpl,4 hyd,1750hrs . . . . . . . $135,000 NH T7.235,2260hrs,ldr,3pt,2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $131,000 NH T7.235,2575hrs,ldr3pt,2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $129,500 NH T7.200, 2013,1650hrs, ldr, grpl . . . . . . . . . . . . . $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 846 6200hrs,12 spdd std,14’ blade. . . . . . . . . . . $49,500 Steiger Panther 1000, PS, 14’ blade . . . . . . . . . . . . . $58,500 NH l175 Skid Steer,1200hrrs,cah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,500

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

LAWN GARDEN 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

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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $39,500

AUGERS

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 Farm King 1370, Farmking 8x51xhyd swing . . . . . . . . . offers Brandt 5000 grain vac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,900 Turbo 990 grain vac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,900

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Railways up their game — but could have done better, says report Data collected for the Ag Transport Coalition says the railways deliver most of the cars grain shippers order but many arrive late BY ALLAN DAWSON staff

ailway service for Western Canada’s grain shippers was “highly variable and timeliness of delivery was an issue,” in the 2014-15 crop year, says, the Ag Transport Coalition. CN and CP Rail supplied shippers with 69 and 43 per cent of cars ordered either in the week they were ordered for or earlier, said the executive director of the Western Grain Elevator Association. Overall CN and CP delivered 93 and 95 per cent of the cars shippers ordered. “On the surface that looks good, but grain companies

U.S., Mexico open first new rail link in over a century The U.S. and Mexico opened their first new rail link in more than a century as part of plans to update infrastructure carrying nearly $600 billion a year in bilateral trade. The West Rail Bypass International Bridge connecting Brownsville, Texas with the city of Matamoros across the border will largely carry freight. Since the North American Free Trade Agreement was implemented over 20 years ago, trade with Mexico has increased sixfold and Mexico has become one of the biggest trading partners with the United States, said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. “But the infrastructure has not improved,” she added. Before the new bridge opened, there were eight rail crossings between the United States and Mexico. — Reuters

FARMING IS ENOUGH OF A GAMBLE...

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

would like more cars delivered in the week they were ordered for,” said Wade Sobkowich. The transport coalition said there is a “lack of timeliness and predictability in rail car delivery has an impact on the performance of Canada’s logistics system.” Every order for a grain car means “there is farmers’ grain to move and a domestic or overseas customer expecting its timely delivery,” it added in its report. The coalition includes the elevator association, the Canadian Canola Growers Association, the Alberta Wheat Commission, Pulse Canada, the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association, the Inland Terminal Association of

“On the surface that looks good, but grain companies would like more cars delivered in the week they were ordered for.” Wade Sobkowich

Canada and the Canadian Special Crops Association. It hired QGI consulting to collect grain-

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shipping data and measure rail performance. While the two railways collectively fulfilled 94 per cent of the car orders, the remaining six per cent shortfall represents more than 23,000 cars that were requested but never delivered, said a summary report prepared for the coalition. However, the level of net unfulfilled demand at year-end is significantly lower — approximately 1,400 cars — 320 for CN and 1,090 for CP. “These orders will likely be carried over to the new grain year and supplied by the railways early in the year,” the summary report states. Both railways were relatively prompt when shipping grain to

is put to the test by farmers to ensure it performs best where it counts — on large-scale, producermanaged fields. See for yourself at provenseed.ca/performance-trials. FACT #29: Seed production is a priority for Proven Seed. We work with CSGA growers to produce,

Vancouver and Thunder Bay, but less so to the U.S. and Mexico. During the 2014-15 crop year, 33 per cent of bulk grain shipments sat at grain elevators (something called ‘dwell time’) for 24 hours or less after being loaded. CN’s performance was nearly twice as good as CP’s in this area, the summary said. However, CP had shorter dwell times at port than CN. This year’s smaller harvest doesn’t necessarily mean more timely rail service because the railways adjust capacity and could cut back service, Sobkowich said. allan@fbcpublishing.com

FACT #10: Proven Seed set the bar in standability. New hybrids, like PV 200 CL, build on this world class standard while offering high yield potential and a non-GMO premium contract option with the Clearfield® production system. FACT #51: Manage your acres and harvest timing. PV 531 G brings strong yields, excellent standability and early maturity so growers can manage harvest windows without sacrifice. Suitable for the short growing zones of the Prairies, this Genuity® Roundup Ready® hybrid lives up to the name Proven Seed.

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FACT #88: Clubroot is a potentially devastating soil-borne disease that causes swelling or galls to form on roots in canola, ultimately killing the plant. The next generation of advanced CPS-bred Brassica napus canola hybrids demonstrate high levels of resistance to clubroot pathotype 5X, and will mark a first in the fight against the growing threat of this disease. FACT #133: The Proven Performance Trials program is the largest retail comparison program in Western Canada. With over 200 trials in 2015, the Proven Seed portfolio

clean and test our seed to ensure the highest level of quality control. Through an accredited seed laboratory, we screen every seed lot extensively for disease, purity and germination — to give you confidence in your seed investment.

FACT #47: Proven Seed products are only available at CPS retail locations across Western Canada. Your CPS advisor will guide you through seed, fertility and crop protection requirements to find a solution tailored for your farm. Find a retailer near you at provenseed.ca/find-a-retailer.

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FACT #46: Proven Seed PV 533 G is a new Genuity® Roundup Ready® hybrid allowing you to push your yield potential, while getting excellent standability and blackleg resistance. PV 533 G is a great choice for your best performing fields. See for yourself at provenseed.ca/canola.

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SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Don’t let new drone rules ground producers Manitoba’s main farm group says rules in wide-open rural areas should be sensible BY ALLAN DAWSON Staff

anitoba’s main farm group supports more regulation of drones, but says the rules shouldn’t be so onerous as to prevent farmers from flying them. “This is supposed to be another tool for farmers,” said Dan Mazier, president of Keystone Agricultural Producers. “If they make it too onerous to get a licence or to use it they just won’t do it and there will be a lost technology that we just won’t be able to access because it’s just too much hassle.”

The Canadian Aviation Regulations Advisory Council — a joint effort of Transport Canada and the Canadian aviation industry — is consulting with the public on regulations on unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). Transport Canada says it will amend regulatory requirements next year for UAVs 25 kilograms or less that are operated within visual line of sight. The changes will establish classifications, including a proposal for the possibility of having a very small (lower threshold) category of aircraft. It will also deal with aircraft marking, registration requirements, licensing and training, and flight

rules. Transport Canada is also proposing pilots flying small UAVs engaged in complex operations be properly trained and obtain a pilot permit by taking a test. Thanks to lower prices and improved technology UAV use has taken off. In 2014 Transport Canada says it issued 1,672 Special Flight Operating Certificates (SFOCs) compared to 345 in 2012 — nearly a fivefold increase. UAVs are increasingly popular among farmers and farm consultants. To accommodate this growth, Transport Canada adopted an interim strategy last November, issuing two exemp-

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

FS:8.35” F:8.7”

tions to the SFOC requirements and guidance material for lowerrisk UAVs operating within specific conditions and weighing 25 kilograms or less. Users operating a UAV weighing more than 25 kilograms, or operating in higher-risk environments, still must apply for an SFOC. The exemptions are valid until December 2016. Tighter regulations make sense close to large urban areas where air space is busier and there are more people and buildings, said Mazier. But less oversight is needed in rural areas with lower populations and less congested skies, he said.

His organization favours utilizing different categories of operational requirements based on use and risk, and also having geographic limitations outlined in operational requirements. It also wants exemptions for farmers who wish to use UAVs in close proximity to limited use aerodromes while still fulfilling the operational requirements of small UAVs (Limited Operations). It says farmers shouldn’t have to obtain an SFOC if they meet the UAV Operator Certificate Requirements for the UAV they intend to use. allan@fbcpublishing.com T:17.4”

Albertafarmexpress.ca • september 14, 2015

Optical sorters can add value to grain by taking bad stuff out With the cost going down and performance improving, optical sorters may soon be standard grain-cleaning equipment BY ALLAN DAWSON Staff / Oakville, Man.

ptical sorters, used to remove unwanted material in grain, are constantly improving and becoming more affordable, says Dale Alderson of Intel Seed. Nowadays a sorter can remove

nearly 100 per cent of the ergot in a cereal crop, take wild oats out of tame ones, and dramatically reduce the percentage of fusarium-damaged kernels in wheat. “One of the markets that we see as a pretty good opportunity is taking gluten — wheat and barley — out of oats,” Alderson said during a recent visit. “We can do that very effectively.”

There’s a premium price for gluten-free oats in the celiac market, Alderson said. Intel Seed, a relatively new pedigreed seed seller and custom grain cleaner, also sells AMVT optical sorters. Prices for the Chinese-built machines run at US$175,000 for a 10-chute version to US$99,000 for a threechute model. Seven- and five-

chute machines cost US$147,000 and US$128,000, respectively. Each chute can clean about 100 bushels of grain an hour, although volumes vary depending on how much material has to be removed and how difficult it is to do, said Don Campbell, another Intel Seed partner. Ergot bodies, which are black, are easier to remove than fusariumdamaged kernels, for example. Intel Seed runs all the grain it cleans through traditional graincleaning equipment first, including a gravity table, which helps separate heavier material from lighter. “You clean ahead of it so at the end of the day you get the colour sorter to do one or two jobs,” Alderson said. “Our sorter also sorts by shape.”

Becoming standard

T:11.428”

Years ago, gravity tables were a new innovation but eventually became a standard part of the grain-cleaning process. “Now nobody runs without one and I think colour sorters are becoming the same way,” Campbell said. “As the technology gets better and the price comes down, it makes it more affordable for cereal grains, whereas before it was more for speciality niche markets.” This winter Intel Seed was busy processing winter wheat infested with kernels damaged by fusarium head blight. It would come in with 12 per cent damaged kernels and go out at one per cent. “It’s really used for upgrading grain,” Alderson said. “It’s increasing the selling value of the grain.” Pedigreed seed growers and retailers and inland terminal operators are potential optical sorter buyers, but Alderson said they’re a natural for organic farmers because they can’t use herbicides for weed control. Moreover, organic grains earn big premiums adding incentive to get as much salable product as possible. Intel Seed automated its sevenchute sorter, so it can operate unattended. However, a limiting factor is bin space.

The barley on the right started off as ergot-infested screenings with no value and an optical sorter virtually removed all the ergot turning it into grain that could be fed to cattle. The bag on the left is what was left. Monitored remotely

The sorting process can be monitored remotely via cellphone or laptop. Sensors shut the system down if there’s a problem. Automating the system cost Intel Seed about $40,000. Alderson said it probably paid for itself in a year through reduced labour costs. Besides its seven-chute sorter, Intel Seed has a three-chute model for demonstration and training purposes. Prospective buyers can bring in a five-gallon pail of grain and run it through to see how it performs. Alderson said their sorter is user friendly. An operator can hand pick material to be removed and do the same with what’s to be removed, then the machine takes a picture of both. “The machine automatically calibrates itself for the initial setting and then you just increase or decrease the sensitivity,” Campbell said. “They have a camera in front and back so if a kernel is bad on one side you can detect it. Plus you can put in shape and length and thickness. Besides the colour sort I believe there are eight different parameters that you can put in and it can sort just one or all eight at the same time.” allan@fbcpublishing.com

O-66-08/15-10406655-E

Dale Alderson (l) and Don Campbell of Intel Seed beside the company’s seven-chute AMVT optical sorter. PHOTOs: ALLAN DAWSON F:8.7”

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

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Water management key to achieving sustainable development goals The world faces a 40 per cent shortfall in water supplies within 15 years By Magdalena Mis

Stockholm / Thomson Reuters Foundation

s demand for water grows, the world must focus on how the precious resource will be shared among farmers, the energy sector, and cities if it is to achieve the United Nations’ new development agenda, a World Bank expert said. The world faces a 40 per cent shortfall in water supplies in 15 years due to urbanization, population growth and growing demand for water for food production, energy and industry, according to a United Nations report published in March. The UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which had focused attention on the needs of poor nations for the past 15 years, included boosting access to clean water and sanitation. The Sustainable Development Goals, due to be adopted at a UN summit in September to replace the MDGs, broadens water from a narrow access issue to a “fundamental rethink” of how it is managed, said Junaid Ahmad, director at the World Bank’s water global practice. “We’re headed into a perfect storm in which over the next 20 years we will see the demand for water growing significantly, driven by thirsty agriculture, thirsty energy and thirsty cities,” Ahmad said on Sunday on the sidelines of a global water conference in Stockholm. “If we are to achieve these goals of food and energy security, sustainable urbanization, and ensure service delivery of water and sanitation to citizens, we now need to figure out how water is going to be allocated across sectors.” Some 2.6 billion people have

gained access to clean water since 1990, but more than 660 million still live without access, say UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Ahmad said achieving the new water goal and scaling up access means not only building pipes, but also fixing institutions and improving governance. Another challenge, he said, is putting a price on water. “We are in a world in which we are trying to price carbon, but we do not know how to value water,” he said, adding that because water is a human right, there is an assumption that it should be free. “Free water is probably the most expensive water for poor people, because whenever you give out free water it’s captured by the politically powerful, not by the poor.” Other challenges include climate change, which has made the water supply patchy, and the management of groundwater. “Groundwater is the biggest source of stored water that we have, and yet it has been progressively abused,” extracted at a faster rate than it is being recharged, he said. More than two billion people still lack access to toilets, but Ahmad is optimistic that the new goal of universal sanitation coverage by 2030 can be achieved. “It took developed countries many years to achieve universal access,” he said, noting that a World Bank simulation showed countries such as France took 25 to 30 years to provide toilets for everybody. “If we look at history and the pace in which developed countries have changed, then what developing countries are doing today is pretty historic. They are catching up at a very fast rate.”

Dutch elm disease on the march, so check your trees Both the number of beetles carrying the disease and the number of municipalities with infected beetles are increasing Albertans are being urged to check their elm trees for symptoms of Dutch elm disease (DED). “All species of elm trees in Alberta are susceptible to DED,” said Janet Feddes-Calpas, executive of the Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease (STOPDED). “If a tree is infected with this fungus, it must be removed immediately to prevent further spread.” Symptoms of DED infection are leaves first wilting and then curling, turning yellow and then brown. “This is also referred to as flagging,” said Feddes-Calpas. “Leaf symptoms are usually accompanied by brown staining under the bark. Suspicious elms must be tested at a lab for the presence of the fungus. Lab costs are covered by STOPDED.” The fungus is primarily spread from one tree to another by

elm bark beetles. The beetles are attracted to weak and dying trees, which serve as breeding areas. Once the beetles have pupated and turned into adults they leave the brood gallery and fly to healthy elms to feed, thus transporting the fungus on their bodies from one tree to the next. Elm bark beetle numbers have not only increased in recent years, but the number of municipalities, especially along the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, finding beetles is also increasing. “For this reason, it is important that elm firewood not be transported into or within Alberta as the wood may be harbouring the bark beetles,” said Feddes-Calpas. “Firewood is confiscated at all the AlbertaMontana border crossings.” To report elms showing DED symptoms, call 1-877-837-ELMS (3567). More information can be found at www.stopded.org.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

App offers instant link to bee disease info

Alberta Barley seeking directors and delegates

The free app will be enhanced to allow picture uploads, and that will boost the bee pest surveillance database

lberta Barley is asking barley farmers to stand for upcoming director elections. “I first joined Alberta Barley as a delegate to learn about my industry,” said chairman Mike Ammeter. “Over the years, I have learned how important it is for farmers to have input in the decisions that affect their livelihood. That’s why we are asking Alberta’s barley farmers to consider getting involved in the commission.” Directors and delegates are chosen from the province’s six growing regions, which amounts to nine directors and 32 delegates. The elected representatives direct the commission through its committees and determine how best to promote the long-term profitability and sustainable growth of Alberta’s barley sector.

Alberta Agriculture and Forestry release

Mike Ammeter This year there are two regional director positions (Regions 5 and 6), one directorat-large position (eligible from Region 1, 2, 5 or 6) and 14 delegate positions available. The current directors in Regions 5 and 6 are eligible to serve a second term if re-elected. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 30. Nomination forms are available on www.albertabarley.com or by calling 1-800-265-9111. — Alberta Barley release

lberta beekeepers will have better access to bee disease and treatment information through a new mobile app developed by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. The free app for iPhone and Android is an easy-to-use tool that will link beekeepers to pictures and current information about pests, diseases and recommended management practices. “Our province has one of the healthiest bee populations in the country, and the app will help keep it that way,” said provincial apiculturist Medhat Nasr. “This app will assist beekeepers in quickly identifying potential bee disease and treatments. It will also help our staff collect essential pest surveillance data

Uploaded pics of diseased honeybees will boost pest surveillance. and enhance our understanding of bee health in our province.” An extra feature is being developed to allow registered Alberta beekeepers to submit bee pho-

*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 November 30, 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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tos directly to provincial apiculture staff, who will assess health issues and recommend treatment options. Findings will also be recorded in the provincial bee pest surveillance database. Alberta’s 283,000 honeybee colonies — about 43 per cent of the Canadian total — generate $75 million annually from honey sales and pollination service fees. They also pollinate about $650 million worth of canola each year. In 2014-15, Alberta had its lowest winter mortality rate in the past eight years, with only a 10 per cent bee loss in the 165,000 wintered honeybee colonies surveyed. That compares to the national average of a 16 per cent loss and the American average of 23 per cent. The app can be downloaded at www.programs.alberta.ca (click on the Mobile Apps tab).

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2009 New Holland 94C

2187/1629 hrs, Singles, 2009 Macdon pw7 pick

36’ Header, 36ft Auger, Trans, Cr Adapter, PU reel

$149,000

$49,000

USED COMBINES *0% – 60 month (interest free)

2013 Case IH 9230, 847/615 hrs, duals, loaded ...................$379,000 2013 Case IH 9230, 822/603 hrs, duals, loaded ...................$379,000 2013 Case IH 9230, 831/595 hrs, Guidance, L/A, duals, PU header ...............................................................$339,000 2013 Case IH 9230, new cab, 660/529 hrs, loaded ...............................................................................$389,000 2013 NH CR9090, 520/350 hrs, L/A, duals, guidance ...........................................................................$350,000 2012 NH 9090, loaded, 670/500 hrs ....................................$310,000 2012 NH CR9090, 1147/827 hrs, Guidance, DSP, diff, duals .....................................................................$299,000 2012 Case IH 8230, 800/580 hrs., L/A Duals ...................... $315,000 2011 NH CR9090Z, 1026/724 hrs, L/A, duals, guidance ...........................................................................$289,000 2010 NH CR9090Z, 850/650 HRs., Guidance, L/A, PU header ..................................................................$289,000 2010 Case IH 8120, Guidance, 1424/1126 hrs, sm tube RT, fine cut chopper .............................................$249,000 2009 Case IH 8120, 1744/1189 hrs, L/A, duals, hopper top ..............................................................$210,000 2009 Case IH 8120, duals, L/A 1643/1357 hrs .....................$210,000 2009 NH CR9070, 1350/1200 hrs, Duals, L/A, .....................$215,000 2009 NH CX8080, L/A, 1750/1300 hrs .................................$189,000 2009 NH CX8080, L/A, 1770/1330 hrs ................... SOLD $189,000 2008 Case IH 7010, duals, fine cut chopper, L/A, 1661/1249 hrs ...........................................................$210,000 2007 NH CR9070, L/A, 1542/1264 hrs .................................$199,000 2007 Case IH 7010, duals, new chopper, 2360/1766 hrs, P/U header, L/A.........................................$169,000 2006 NH CR960, 1887/1343 hrs .........................................$129,000 2005 JD 9660, 2187/1629 hrs, guidance .............................$149,000 2004 Case IH 8010, 2006 2016, L/A, singles, 2663/1968 hrs .....................................................$169,000 2004 Case IH 2388, AFX rotor, chopper, AFS, 2357/2028 hrs., L/A, 2015 swathmaster PU ......................$110,000 1999 Case IH 2388, hopper top, 4100/2876 hrs, 1015 PU header, L/A............................................................$89,000 1998 Case IH 2388, hoptop, PU, L/A, 3428/2535 hrs ...................................................................$75,000 1992 Case IH 1680, 4033 hrs, L/A, 1015 PU header ..................................................................$25,000

725012

2013 Case IH 1903 Windrower, 50hrs, 36 ft, shears deluxe cab

$139,000

USED WINDROWERS

2013 Case IH WD1903, 36 ft, shears, deluxe cab, 110/60 hrs .....................................................$114,000 2012 Case IH WD2303, 36 ft, 550 hrs, shears ......................$110,000 2011 MacDon M205, 30 ft, 950/686 hrs ..............................$125,000 2008 WD1203, 36ft, hyd roller, 550/403 hrs...........................$95,000 2008 Case IH WD1203, 36ft, 753 hrs .....................................$69,000 2006 Praire 4940, 30ft, DS, shears, Split reel, 1019/754 hrs ......................................................................$69,000 1998 Macdon 4920, 30ft, PU Reel, 1700 hrs ..........................$45,000 1998 Prairie Star 4930, 2 spd, turbo, 30ft, 972 header, 2800 hrs ............................................ SOLD $49,000

USED 2WD TRACTORS

2012 Case IH Farmall, 140A, Loaded, MFD, 700 hrs ...............$89,000 2012 Case IH Farmall, 140A, Loaded, MFD, 800 hrs ...............$88,000 2011 NH T7.250, MFD, loader/grapple, CVT, 1500 hrs....................................................................$139,000 2008 Challenger MT565B, MFD, Loader/Grapple, powershift ...........................................................................$79,000

USED HAYBINES

725013

725014

2013 Case IH 9230

2013 Case IH 9230 Combine, loaded, 822/603 hrs, duals, spreaders

Combine, hopper top, 4100/2876 hrs, 1015 PU header, L/A

$369,000

$89,000

Combine, Loaded, 847/615 hrs, duals, spreaders

2008 Case IH 535 Quad, 3030 hrs, diff lock, 2009 Case IH 4420, Guidance, 120ft, Aim, auto box, guidance, PTO ...................................................................$239,000 2 sets tires, 2200 hrs ........................................................$239,000 2007 NH TJ530, triples, 2650 hrs, 16ft blade, 2008 Case IH 4420, 100’ Aim, 2 sets of tires, PS, HO hyd, PTO ................................................................$239,000 2420 hrs ................................................................................. CALL 1998 NH 9882, 4850 hrs, 710 duals, weights ........................$89,000 2007 Rogator 874SS, 3100 hrs, 320-50, 800 gal, fenders, 480/42 1993 Ford 876, 5800 hrs, duals .............................................$49,000 tires ..................................................................................$119,000 1981 JD 8440, 9400 hrs, 18.4/38 duals, 4 hyd ......................$19,000 2007 NH SF216 PT, 100 ft, 1600 gal, screens, auto rate ............................................................... SOLD $22,000 2 - 2014 Case IH 3162, 45’, auger, transpeed ........................$89,000 2007 JD 4720, 90ft, Guidance, 1490 hrs..............................$189,000 2011 Case IH 2152, 40 ft auger, single knife, 2005 Rogator 1074, Auto Boom, 2 sets of tires, no adapter ..........................................................................$40,000 3700 hrs, 100’ ..................................................................$115,000 2008 MacDon D60, 40 ft, adapter, auger, trans ......................$38,000 2008 NH 94C, 36 ft, adapter, trans, auger ..............................$45,000 2005 NH 994-30, 30 ft U2 pickup reel, tx adapter ..................$27,500 2011 Case IH PH800, 60on10, DS, VR, 2005 NH 94C-30, 30 ft hyd fore/aft.,trans, TBT 2010 3430 ................................................................$200,000 gauge wheels .....................................................................$39,500 2005 NH 94C - 42 ft., transport, auger, CR adapter ................$39,000 2010 Case IH P800/3430 Tank, 70ft, 12inch, DS ..................$149,000 3 - 2004 MacDon 973, headers, auger, 2008 Case IH SDX40/ADX3430 tank, VR, 40ft, transport, CR adapters ........................................................$35,000 liquid kit ............................................................................$139,000 2004 Honeybee, GB36, 36 ft, Split Reel, transport ..................$39,000 1994 Macdon 960, 30ft, tr adapter .......................................$10,000 2008 Seedmaster 50ft, 10”, NH P1060 430 B, tank, DS, liquid tank on board ....................................................$169,000 2007 Seedhawk 66’, 12”, Bourgault DS ...............................$110,000 2008 Riteway 8168, 68 ft, Hyd. Pressure ...............................$35,000 1997 Bourgault 4300 Tank, DS ..............................................$35,000

USED HEADERS

USED AIRDRILLS

USED HARROWS

2009 NH H7460 discbine, 16 ft, 1000 PTO, rubber/rubber......................................................................$29,000 2007 NH 1475, 18 ft, rubber rollers, HS18, *24 months interest Free 1000 pto .............................................................................$26,000 2014 Case IH 3230, loaded, 100 ft., no Aim, ........................$279,000 1999 NH 1475, 18ft ...............................................................$11,999 2013 Case IH 4430, 120ft, loaded, dividers, 1999 NH 1475, 16’, rubber rolls .............................................$16,000 2 sets of tires, 1005 hrs ...................................... SOLD $310,000 2013 Case IH 4430, 120ft, loaded, 983 hrs ..........................$329,000 2012 Case IH 4430, 120ft, 1082 hrs, AIM, Guidance, Dividers, 2 sets tires..........................................$299,000 2006 Highline 8000, 1000 PTO ..............................................$12,900 Hesston BR25, tub style ...........................................................$3,999 2012 Case IH 3330, 100ft, Aim, 2 sets tires, autoboom, accuboom, 1300 hrs ........................................$269,000 2012 Case IH 4430, 120 ft aim, viper, guidance, loaded, 1184 hrs ...............................................$279,000 *0%/60 months or 3.95 for 84 months 2011 Rogator 1194, 120 ft, sectional, viper, 2250 hrs, 2013 NH T9.615, 1020 hrs, luxury, 36” Tracks, 2 set tires..........................................................................$205,000 HID, Cab Susp, guidance ...................................................$389,000 2009 Case IH 4420, 120 ft, Aim, 2 sets tires, 2013 Case IH 600 Quad, PTO, 1387 hrs ...............................$399,000 viper, 2550 hrs ..................................................................$239,000

USED SPRAYERS

BALE PROCESSORS

USED 4WD TRACTORS

1999 Case IH 2388

USED DISCS

2010 Lemken, Rubin 12S/1200, 40ft new blades .................$139,000

PLANTERS

2012 Case IH, 1240 Pivit Planter 16/31 rows, bulk fill ..............................................................................$110,000

NEW GRAIN CARTS

2014 Unverferth 1610, U-Haruost, scale, tarp, tracks........................................................................$149,000 2013 Unverferth 9250, scale, tarp ............................ SOLD $52,000 2013 Unverferth 9250, scale, tarp ............................ SOLD $52,000 2013 Unverferth 9250, scale, tarp ..........................................$52,000 2013 Unverferth 1315, scale, tarp ..........................................$82,000

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Northern Quinoa aiming for 100,000 acres Quinoa growers wanted — with the right location and right rotation By Shannon VanRaes STAFF

G This year’s Value Bonanza sales event gives you more SMART WAYS TO SAVE! It starts with BONANZA BUCKS – it’s like bonus cash just for buying select See all the SMART deals at nhvaluebonanza.com

See us before this offer ends on November 30, 2015.

USED EQUIPMENT 702455

$14,500

708844

$95,000

2008 New Holland SF216 Sprayer, Good cond.

2008 New Holland H8080 Mower Conditioner-SP, 1230hrs, Good cond.

713233

$14,500

713234

$35,000

2008 Rem 2700 Grain Vac,

2011 Renn RGU1214 Grain Extractor,

Good cond.,

Good cond. 720027

720029

et ready to see more quinoa waving in the Prairie breeze. Saskatchewan-based Northern Quinoa Corp. is preparing to increase its acres nearly twentyfold over the next three years. The company has about 5,250 acres of the ancient grain under contract this summer, but it would like to see 100,000 acres across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba by 2018. “We plan on increasing acres, for sure, as our customers grow, as we educate customers, we’re trying to increase demand,” said general manager Michael Dutcheshen. “I think our goal next year will be 20,000 acres, and we will move from there.” It’s been more than two decades since quinoa moved from the mountain plateaus of South America to the Canadian Prairies. But Dutcheshen said it really only began to gain widespread popularity after celebrity endorsements in the late 2000s. But a consistent and economical supply from South America has resulted in cautious and calculated growth in Canada. “Part of the reason we screen farmers is because there has to be a demand built up for their product as well,” he said. “It’s still a fairly niche grain compared to other crops, a lot of the manufacturers are still figuring out how to use it, and until that happens we’re not taking every single farmer who comes to us.” With one exception.

“We never turn down an organic acre no matter where it is, even if it falls outside of our prime growing area, because we have such a strong demand for organic,” said company founder and president Joe Dutcheshen. The biggest determinate in which applications are accepted is location, said Michael Dutcheshen. “They don’t do well in the southern part of Saskatchewan and the drier areas of Manitoba, so we try to stay north of Highway 16,” he said. “Following that, we look at crop rotations, we don’t follow canola, or wheat — wheat is a gluten crop and we try and sell quinoa to a gluten-free market.” Certain residual chemicals can hinder growth in quinoa, Joe Dutcheshen adds. The company also has Canada’s only registered quinoa variety that’s specially suited to the Prairie climate. “It’s a product of about 15 years of natural selection, so non-GMO, and we’ve developed it to be the earliest-maturing most vigorous variety for Western Canada,” said Joe Dutcheshen. While it will still be a number of weeks before this year’s quinoa is ready to come off the fields, so far it’s looking good. “Overall it’s been a very good year for quinoa, it’s a cool dry-season crop, and although it hasn’t been that cool, it likes that it’s not as wet as it has been in previous years,” said the general manager. “In Edmonton and the Lloydminster area it’s been bone dry, so the crops aren’t very good there in general, not just quinoa, but everything… But in Manitoba crops are actually looking very, very good this year.” shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

Blame falling loonie for rising price of fertilizer Prices are down about 10 per cent from a year ago

$32,000

By Dave Sims

$29,000

2010 New Holland L180 Skid Steer, 4WD

CNS Canada

2011 Renn FBU1014 Grain Extractor

720144

$37,000

720339

$375,000

2006 New Holland 94C

2013 New Holland CR9090

36 Header

Demo Combine, 114hrs

TRACTORS Agco 9650, ‘94, FWA, 155 PTO HP, 6800 hrs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Coming in Agco 9635, ‘96, FWA, 135 PTO HP, 8900 hrs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Coming In

SPRAYERS & SEEDING FC 2340 variable rate air cart . . . .$19,500 FC 5000 57’, w/3450 TBH air cart $46,000 NH P2070, ‘11, 60’ precision drill$112,000

HAYING EQUIPMENT

NH 2300, ‘99, 18’ header . . . . . . . . $9,000 CIH 8580, ‘97, 4x4 Square Baler $22,000

NH 688, ‘00, bale comm., 17, 694 bales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$12,000 NH 688, ‘00, w/auto tie . . . . . . . . .$10,000 NH BR780, ‘03, w/net, wide PU $20,000

COMBINES/SWATHERS NH H8080, ‘08, w/25’ draper hdr & 18’ disc hdr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$121,000

OFF ROAD UTILITY Honda TRX500 Foreman, ‘07 . . . . . $4,500

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

Claresholm, AB 403-625-3321

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

rices for nitrogen and potash have weakened over the first half of 2015, but according to an industry analyst, the relationship between fertilizer prices and commodity prices is pretty much in line with the 10-year average. “I think we’ve seen some stabilization in fertilizer markets of late, which is promising,” said Andy Jung, director of market and strategic analysis with the Mosaic Co. in Minneapolis. The fertilizer market has stayed relatively calm, he said, despite recent crashes in financial markets and wild swings in the price of crude oil. At the same time, he said, devaluation in some currencies has put fertilizer import economics under strain and likely contributed to some downward pressure on prices in the past couple of weeks. If a given country is an exporter of commodities, “the local currency price of those commodities will increase, which offsets the higher prices for inputs like fertilizer.” This means the price for fertilizer has been generally rising in Canada since last fall, when the loonie began its descent relative to the U.S. dollar. However, Jung said, from a global (US$) basis, fertilizer prices are actually down from 2014.

“They’re down from a year ago, a rough average of 10 per cent,” said Jung, adding that while the Canadian farmer has been paying more for fertilizer than a year ago, technically, he was getting a better exchange rate for his grain. “It’s an inverse relationship with a number of moving parts,” he said. While fertilizers are still in line with their historical norms relative to prices for corn, soybeans and wheat, the affordability metrics differ among nutrients. According to Jung, nitrogen is relatively cheaper than average, potash prices are right in line with the historical ratio and phosphate is generally less affordable than average. Supply issues elsewhere are also impacting production in 2015. Availability so far hasn’t been an issue, but that could change once harvest begins, said Jung. “If farmers delay purchases for too long, there’s a big rush in season once the crop is off the field and you’ll get these localized shortages,” he said, though that’s less likely with most crops coming off earlier than usual. Producers should also keep an eye on yields, said Jung. Good yields point to “a pretty significant draw on nutrition in the soil, which must be replaced, or it will become a limiting factor.”

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Higherquality wheat likely in store for Prairies

HANGING OUT

Early harvest data suggests quality will be higher, but that narrows the premium BY JADE MARKUS

COMMODITY NEWS SERVICE CANADA

A small band of horses takes an afternoon siesta in the corner of the pasture, north of Burmis, Alta. Photo: Wendy Dudley B:8.125” T:8.125” S:8.125”

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Western Canadian farmers are seeing higher-quality wheat crops this year, which will meet pent-up demand within the market. However, producers might not reap the rewards as much as they would like, a market analyst says. Wheat buyers will be looking for better-quality and higherprotein wheat, since Canada disappointed on some of those fronts last year, said Neil Townsend, director of market research at G3 Global Grains (formerly the Canadian Wheat Board). “But on the other hand when there’s more of it around you see that the premium for protein and the premium for quality gets kind of narrowed, and that’s probably the situation that we’re in, in Canada,” he says. He says demand still exists, but since supply looks like it will be fairly heavy, this year might not be as profitable as farmers would hope. Townsend says assumptions that this year will be higher quality and protein is primarily based off anecdotal reports as harvest is about 30 per cent done in the Prairies. “Looks like it’s going to be a better-quality profile than last year. So far the results would support that,” says Townsend. Crops are not seeing as much adversity during harvest as they did last year, as many farmers have been able to get crops off, dry them and maintain quality. “In parts of the West obviously drought has an influence on smaller yields, but the drought also is positive in terms of quality when you get a smaller crop,” he says. Statistics Canada predicts this year’s production will be around 24.6 million tonnes, compared with last year’s 29.3 million tonnes.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

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 E016122 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $49,500 Kubota RTV-900 2010 SidexSide 1180 E015145 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,500 Woods CZR2652 2012 52” Zero Turn Mower E014133 . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,100 Kubota B7510 4wd, 60” Sweeper, 60” Mower, 60” Blade & 48” Tiller 500 E011076 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $13,000 JD 4020 Loader 5500 E016278. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,500 NH TV140-TV6070 Loader, Grapple, 105 PTO HP Starting At: . . . . . $32,900 NH T6.165 2013 105 PTO HP, Loader, Grapple, FWA, Michelin Tires, Clean, DEMO UNIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $117,000 Steiger CM280 1984 Good Shape. 7110 E015984. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $26,000 Cat 75 E016131. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $38,700 NH T9060 Triples 1300 E014421 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $225,000 NH T9.670HD 2011 800 Duals, 600hp, GPS, Lux Cab, Mega Flow Hyds 325 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 E015883 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $159,900 Wilmar 8100 1997 Coming In E016135 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35,000

FEEDING Haybuster 2650 With Grain Tank E013339. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $18,600 Haybuster 2650 With Grain Tank E015596. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,900 Haybuster 2650 No Tank E015141 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $13,900

TILLAGE & SEEDING Summers 60ft Heavy Harrows E014008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $22,900 Sunflower 1433 32’ Disc E016333 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $29,900

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 E015372. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $22,000 FC 5000/1720 33’x9”, Single Shoot, TBH, 4” Rubber Packers E015789 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30,000 FC 5000 45’x9”, Double Shoot, TBH, 4” Rubber or Steel, Two To Choose From Starting At: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40,000 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. E013197 . $125,900

SWATHERS

COMBINES & HEADERS

NH 488 1996 9’3” Side Pull Haybine E015827. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,900 NH 1411 2003 10ft Sidepull E014170 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $11,900 CIH 8360 12ft Hydroswing Two To Pick From: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,500 CIH 8380 16’ Hydroswing E016393 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,500 NH 1475 2006 16ft Hydroswing E014022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $17,500 NH 1431 13’ Discbine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20,000 Sitrex MX12 12 Wheel V-Rake E016379 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,500

0.0% Interest For Up To 60 Months Available!!! NH 94C 25’ Draper to fit 2388 E014946 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000 NH CX8070 2008 1000 T Hours 1300 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 E013496 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $325,000 NH CR9090 2012 c/w Pickup Header, RWA, GPS, Luxury Cab, 690 T Hours 870 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 E015728 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $124,900 New Units Also In Stock at Great Pricing!!!

GRAIN CARTS Demco 850 & 1150 2014 850 & 1150 Bu, Black or Blue, PTO & Hyd. Drive, 900 Tires, Tarp & Scales Starting At: New . . . . $47,900 United Farmer 750bu. Hydraulic Drive Used . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $13,700

CaseIH 6000 25’ Draper & 14’ Mower Conditioner, Excellent Condition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,900 Premier 2930 1998 25’ 960 Header, 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000 MacDon 4952 2000 30’ 972, New Drive Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $47,900 MacDon M105 2013 25ft D65, Single Knife, Triple Del. 225 E014431. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $127,900 MacDon M150-M155 30’ & 35’ D60/D65, Double Knife, Trans, Triple Del, Swath Rollers Available Starting At: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $97,900

DISCBINES/HAYBINES/RAKES

BALERS JD 567 2006 Twine Wrap, Wide P/U. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,900

CONSIGNMENTS JD 530 John Deere Round Baler E016207 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,400 FK Y720 Farm King 72” Rotary Cutter E016017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,700 Wheat-Belt Never used 20’ Electric Bale Elevator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,900 Kub ZG227 54” Zero-Turn Mower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,500 DR Pro Lawn Vac & Chipper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,600 NH Boomer 3040 2012 40hp, Loader, Skid Steer Q/A, CVT Trans. E016441 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $39,000 JD 701 10 Wheel V-Rake E016365 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,900 *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 November 30, 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.

USED EQUIPMENT

USED TILLAGE

(2) Flexicoil 2070 Precision Hoe Drill, ‘12, 60’, 10” spacing, Dutch Side Band, Dlb Shoot,pneumatic packers, intelliview 4 monitor, w/ Flexicoil P1060 Cart 430 bushels, variable rate - tbt, dual fan . . . . . . . . $241,500

See all the SMART deals at nhvaluebonanza.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 November 30, 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.

USED HAYING

BR 7090, ‘10, BC, net, twine, low bale count . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $26,500 BR 7090, ‘09, BC twine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000 Case IH RBX562, ‘03, $230/mth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reduced $10,500 NH 1475 Mower conditioner, 18’, w/new knives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $19,000

USED COMBINES

0% FOR 30 MONTHS

NH CR9080, ‘11, rotary, GPS full yield/moisture monitor, 0% - 30 months . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $270,000 NH CR9070, ‘10, 932 hrs, 76C, 16’, p/u, duals, crop catcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $209,000 NH CR9070, ‘09, 750 hrs, duals, GPS, Y&M, w/header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $200,000 JD 9600, 3100 sep hrs, clean. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $48,000 Case 2188, w/PU, 2750 hrs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40,000 76C, NH pickup header w/PU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $17,000 NH 72C hdr, ’11, 25’, w/new Trailteck transp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $24,500 Case 2388, ‘02, 2034 hrs w/2015 axial flow p/u, very clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $95,000 TX66, Mechanic’s Special. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20,000 TX36, ‘92, Swath master p/u, 1992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $19,500 ‘11 72C Header, 25’, 1 Available w/new trailteck transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $24,500

Bills

FARM SUPPLIES

4004 44th Ave. – Stettler, AB Phone: (403) 742-8327 Fax: (403) 742-1282

www.billsfarm.com

Flexicoil 5000 Hoe Drill, 39’, 9” spacing, steel packers, 3.5” Dutch Paired Row Boots, Double Shoot Primary Blockage w/2340 Variable Rate Cart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$55,000 Flexicoil 5000 Hoe Drill, shortened to 37’ have wings for 51’, 7.5” spacing, 2” stealth boots, single shoot, 2.5” rubber packers, w/ Flexicoil 2320 cart, 230 bushels, mechanical - tbh, fan . . . . . . .$57,000 Flexicoil 820/1330 Cart, 12”–29’ single shoot, 4 bar harrow, 75 packer bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$27,000 Morris Maxxim 2, ‘05, 40’ airdrill w/8336 cart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$75,000 Concord Drill, 47’, 10” spacing, 4.5” GEN Paired Row, dbl shoot, pneumatic packers, w/Case IH 3400 cart, 340 bushels, Mechanical - tbh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$25,500 Bourgault 330 Series Air Seeder, 42’, 8” spacing, 1.75” Bourgault openers, single shoot, 2” steel packers, granular kit, w/ Bourgault 180 cart, 180 bushels, mecanical - tbh . . . . . . . . . . .$17,000

USED TRACTORS NH T9040 HD, ‘10, 435 hp, 710/42 rubber, 2765 hrs, w/Degelman 4 way blade/silage guard, 0% - 12 month waiver . . . . . . . . . . . .$235,000 NH T9020, ‘10, 4WD, 2635 hrs, 335HP, 14’ 6 way Degelman Blade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$185,000 JD 7800, ‘95w/loader, FWA, quad shift/grapple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40,000 JD 8640 4WD, w/14’ 6 way blade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $26,500

USED SWATHERS HB 30’ fits NH 8000 Series Swather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $37,000

YOUR POWER TEAM HEADQUARTERS Terry Jobs – 403-740-9473 Parts: 403-742-8327 Kevin Koustrup General Manager: Tracey Peters Service Manager: Regan Finlay 403-740-6494 Sales: 403-820-4703

AFTER HOURS TELEPHONE

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Federal farm politicians lining up for debate

Smoke gets in their eyes

The Ottawa debate will focus on current farming issues Staff

Canada’s incumbent agriculture minister and two of his federal critics are so far confirmed for a preelection debate on farming issues later this month. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture, working with media partner and Alberta Farmer publisher Glacier FarmMedia, will host the national agriculture leaders’ debate on Sept. 30 in Ottawa. Western Saskatchewan Conservative MP and incumbent minister, Gerry Ritz is confirmed to attend, as are the Liberals’ agriculture critic, Nova Scotia MP Mark Eyking, and Green Party deputy leader and Thunder Bay MP Bruce Hyer. The New Democrats’ lead agriculture critic, Niagara-area MP Malcolm Allen, and a representative from the Bloc Quebecois remain to be confirmed. CFA says the bilingual debate, “will highlight issues facing Canadian farmers and give an opportunity for each party to outline its platform positions as they pertain to Canada’s farm and food future.” Debate questions will come from Canadian farmers in pre-recorded video clips. Following the event, video of the debate will be available for viewing on sites across the Glacier FarmMedia digital network. Farmers can pre-register at www.cfa-fca.ca, either to attend the event at Ottawa’s Fairmont Chateau Laurier from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET, or to watch the live webcast. Public affairs cable channel CPAC plans to rebroadcast the farm debate but hasn’t yet confirmed if it will broadcast the event live. Cable or satellite subscribers will want to check their listings nearer the debate date.

Southern Alberta was in a fog as smoke from wildfires burning out of control in Washington state recently drifted northeast, resulting in poor air quality warnings. Western Feedlots, west of High River, Alta., rises out of the haze. Photo: Wendy Dudley

BUILT TO HANDLE TRASH IN HIGH RESIDUE CROPS

VISIT WWW.FARM-KING.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION OR VISIT YOUR LOCAL FARM KING DEALER.

Buy and Sell

anything you need through the

1-800-665-1362

FARM KING TANDEM DISCS ARE BUILT TO HANDLE TRASH AND INCORPORATE HEAVY RESIDUE. Utilizing a one of a kind floating hitch, Farm King tandem discs leave a more level finish when compared to competitive units. Farm King discs are also built using the best bearings in the industry, so you stay in the field until the job is done. Farm King offers a full line of offset and tandem discs, in addition to a line of cultivators, chisel plows and chisel cultivators. ©2015 Buhler Trading Inc. | info@buhler.com | www.farm-king.com

www.farm-king.com

SEPTEMBER 14, 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’ 1999

2012 MACDON M155

MACDON 2920 • Comfort Ride™ cab suspension for a #W22404C. 2657HRS, 30’ smooth ride 962 HEADER, CENTRE DELIVERY, PU REEL, • Optional chassis suspension for ultimate GUAGE WHEELS, 21.5 productivity in the ﬁeld LUG FRONT, 9.5 FORKED

36,500

REAR, KINISTINO.

#W22651A. 236 HRS, 30’DRAPER, D50 SINGLE #HW3387A. 551 HRS, AIR REEL FORE/AFT, 16.5L-16.1 SPRING SUSPENSION, FULL TAIL WHEELS, *For 600-65R28 commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Capital America LLC CAB W/AC,requirements. CAB DELUXE DRIVE WHEELS, HYDCanada Ltd. See your participating New Holland dealer for details and or CNH Capital eligibility Down payCENTERLINK, SLOW UPGRADE, 36’forHEADER, ment may be required. Offer good through November 30, 2013. Not all customers or applicants may qualify this rate or term. SPEED DOUBLE KNIFE, SINGLE CNH Capital America LLC or CNH Capital CanadaTRANSPORT, Ltd. Standard terms and conditions will apply. This transaction will be unconditionally interest free. Canada Example - 0.00% ALBERT per annum for a total contract term PRINCE of 36 months: 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 SWATH PU REEL, TRANScustomer provides down payment of C$26,212.70 and finances the balance of C$104,904.00 at 0.00% per annum for 36 months. There will be 35 equal monthly installment 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,

150,000

158,000

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.

2013 MACDON M155

2012 NEW HOLLAND H8060

#W22645A. 442HRS, 40’ TRIPLE DELIVERY DRAPER, 16.5L-16.1 TAIL WHEELS,60065R28 DRIVE WHEELS, HYD CENTER LINK, ROTO SHEARS HYDRAULIC ROLLER. PRINCE ALBERT

2012 NEW HOLLAND H8060

125,000

#HW3388A. 509 HRS, AIR SPRING SUSPENSION, FULL CAB W/AC, EZEE PILOT GUIDANCE, 36’ HEADER, DOUBLE KNIFE, SINGLE UII REEL. HUMBOLDT

2011 MASSEY FERGUSON 9435

92,000

© 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

#W22643A. 572 HRS, 2010 D60 HEADER - ONLY 407 HRS, HYD SHIFT DECK, ALWAYS SHEDDED. KINISTINO

54,000

2007 MASSEY FERGUSON 9430

72,000

#W22408A . 1108 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.

2006 MASSEY FERGUSON 9220

2005 NEW HOLLAND HW325

#W22410D. 1359 HRS, 30’ DBL SWATH DRAPER, 30’ PU REEL UII, FIXED GAUGE WHEELS, SINGLE KNIFE DRIVE. KINISTINO

#HN3123B. 1637 HRS, DELUXE CAB UPGRADE, CAB AND REAR AXLE SUSPENSION, HB36 HEADER, GAUGE WHEELS, SINGLE KNIFE DRIVE, UII PICKUP REEL. HUMBOLDT

72,500

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

2006 MASSEY FERGUSON 9420

52,500

#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.

NEW! 2014 & 2015 NEW HOLLAND SPEEDROWER 36’ FULLY LOADED & READY TO GO!

CALL FOR DETAILS!

VISIT

2015 MACDON M155

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

#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.

Bi-annual payment

WITH D65 35’ HEADER

12,310

(OAC, some restrictions apply)

+ GST

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Livestock Marketing FOCUS 2015

Building the herd: The downside of strong cattle prices Cattle prices are expected to remain strong into 2016, but what does that mean for replacement cattle next year? BY JEFF MELCHIOR AF contributor

ext year could see continued strong or even stronger cattle prices — and that’s a double-edged sword for producers who’ve reduced their herds this year and plan to buy replacements in 2016. Producers in prescribed drought regions who have reduced their breeding stock by at least 15 per cent can tap into the Federal Livestock Tax Deferral program. The idea is to replace cattle next year, but StatsCan’s latest estimate has Alberta beef cattle numbers down 4.4 per cent and heifer retention is down 1.6 per cent as of July 1. And those numbers have fallen since then, said Ted Nibourg, business management specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “Those cows are not going to be available for purchase next year,” said Nibourg. “If there’s a wholesale subscription to the deferral program, there’s going to be a lot of people looking for replacement cows or they’re going to have to pay the tax. The thing is: Does it become economically viable to stay in the cow business?” The severity of that dilemma may ultimately come down to Mother Nature. Recent moisture throughout Alberta has eased the situation, said Brian Perillat, manager and senior analyst with Canfax. “It seems the drought cycle has kind of broken and we’ve seen some pretty good moisture coverage in a lot of areas,” he said in an interview in late August. “It looks like they may be able to weather the storm better than they did just a month ago. “The high calf prices overall more than offset the rise in feed prices so cow-calf producers are still going to be profitable, maybe not as profitable as they would have liked but compared to the past couple of decades it’s still going to be one of the more profitable years for cow-calf producers.”

Feed factor

There is some room for optimism, particularly when it comes to feed price and availability, said Coronation-area rancher Tim Smith. “No doubt there was a big shortage on the hay side and a lot of

Ted Nibourg

The drought and resulting feed shortage saw a big sell-off of breeding stock — and they’ll be expensive to replace. FILE PHOTO producers feed only hay. However, I think the alternative feeds are starting to come in at higher volumes,” he said. “We’re seeing green pastures again in certain areas. Some areas are still suffering badly, but in some pockets we’ve seen some relief and we’re not really that short of moisture.” Feed prices are more of an issue right now than availability, said Smith, who predicts sellers will eventually drop their prices, which are rumoured to have hit as much as $300 a tonne during the worst of the drought. “With the better cattle prices everybody seems to think the rancher can bear a little more cost,” said Smith. “My prediction is there will be more alternative feed sold but it will just be sold later in the year. People who are trying to get that extremely high dollar from producers will in the end find it hard to sell for that much money and sell for less.” Producers should also continue to see strong cattle prices, said Perillat. “The No. 1 driver of beef demand is wealth,” said Perillat.

“If there’s a wholesale subscription to the deferral program, there’s going to be a lot of people looking for replacement cows or they’re going to have to pay the tax.” Ted Nibourg

“Consumers in poorer countries tend to spend more on non-meat. In some of the developing countries they look to pork and poultry and as wealth grows they add more beef to their diets. ” Another major reason is that there are simply fewer producers growing cattle. The overall Canadian herd stands at a 23-year low of 13.7 million head, down about five per

cent from 2010 and down almost 25 per cent from the peak of nearly 17 million head in 2005 (although that figure was partly distorted by BSE and the closed border). It’s no surprise many producers left the business when prices finally rebounded, said Nibourg. “We have an older generation of cowmen, 55- to 60-year-old range,” he said. “All of a sudden they have cows that are worth anywhere from $2,500 to $3,500 which is a far cry from the $500 they had a few years ago. “They think now’s the time to get out. They faced 15 years of bad prices, BSE, border closures, stuff like that. It’s the potential revenue side that’s triggering liquidation.”

Looking ahead

Better moisture next year may result in some modest growth of the Canadian herd, said Perillat. “We’ve had drought up here but the U.S. has had very good moisture and is showing signs of expansion. If demand keeps growing along with very modest beef supply growth it should bode well for cattle prices.”

A weak dollar is also supportive, but don’t expect any additional price surge, he added. “Most of the price rise has already occurred and if anything there could be some pressure on prices.” Still, rebuilding the herd is going to be an expensive proposition. That’s why producers should be seeking the advice of a financial adviser, said Nibourg. They should also make use of online tools at www.agriculture.alberta. ca (look under the Decision Making Tools tab). “AAF has a number of calculators on its website that allow you to determine what you can afford to pay for cows based on a fiveyear projection of what calf prices are going to be,” said Nibourg. “By factoring in expenses you can come up with a pretty accurate figure for what you can afford to pay. “That will be your baseline. If you start paying more than that because there’s a greater demand, you have to ask yourself if it makes economic sense.”

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Livestock Marketing

FOCUS 2015

Tax deferral an option — but is it your best one? Experts say you should run the numbers and get expert advice before deciding how much tax to defer BY JEFF MELCHIOR AF contributor

t’s a classic ‘good-news, badnews’ story. The bad news is: If you’re a producer reading this in Alberta, chances are you live in one of the vast majority of Alberta municipalities devastated by drought or other inclement weather. The good news is you may be eligible for the Federal Livestock Tax Deferral, which allows producers of breeding cattle, bison, goats, sheep, deer, elk, and horses to defer taxes on up to 90 per cent of their sales to 2016. Aside from operating a farming business in a prescribed drought region, the only condition is the breeding herd must have been reduced by at least 15 per cent. But for some producers, there may not be a need to make full use of the program, said Ted Nibourg, business management specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. It’s worth working with an accredited professional adviser to discover other tax reduction strategies, such as deducting feed expenses, which can be used in concert with the program, he said. “With such high hay prices,

even if a person sold off 30 per cent of their herd they may have enough offsetting expenses just in feed purchases alone for the remaining 70 per cent,” said Nibourg. “Realistically, you probably don’t have any income at that point — so deferring at 90 per cent would put you in a negative situation. What you want to try to do is at least have enough income to cover your personal deductions.” Some are concerned about the long-term implications of the program because it’s focused on breeding stock. “We’re looking at a cow herd in Alberta that’s at 20-, maybe 25-year lows and the government has their deferral of taxes on the sale of breeding stock available,” said Tim Smith, a Coronation-area rancher and chair of Alberta Beef Producers’ cow-calf council. “That’s not what the industry should be doing. If anything we should be selling the feeder cattle. There should be encouragement the other way.”

How it works

The tax deferral allowed depends on the difference between yearend breeding herd numbers and the opening inventory at the start of the growing season.

For example, if a herd is reduced by at least 15 per cent but less than 30 per cent, producers can defer up to 30 per cent of the net sales amount. Producers who sell off more than 30 per cent of their herd can defer up to 90 per cent of the net sales amount. Participating producers do not have to defer all their income — they can include any amount they wish in the current income taxation year and defer the balance. Two calculations determine the deferral amount. The first step is to determine how much the breeding herd decreased — if there was at least a 15 per cent reduction, you can defer part of your income. The next step is to determine the net sales amount. To do this, take the proceeds from the sale of breeding animals and deduct the cost of breeding animals purchased in the current fiscal period. Here’s an example. Farmer A sells 42 head of breeding cattle at $2,800 per head for a total of $117,600. He buys five head at $2,000 per head for a total of $10,000. Deducting his purchases from his sales gives him net sales of $107,600. Because he owned 120 head of breeding cattle at the

beginning of the growing season and 78 at the close, that 65 per cent reduction in his breeding herd allows a deferral of 90 per cent. Ninety per cent of $107,600 is $96,840, which is the amount he is allowed for deferral. Normally tax can be deferred for one year, but if the producer’s municipality is declared a prescribed drought region for consecutive years, he or she may defer sales income to the first year in which the area is no longer designated (or the year the farmer dies, or the first year the producer is a non-resident of Canada).

When it helps

The tax deferral program will be helpful to cattle producers in a number of different situations, said Nibourg, and in some cases it may only take the sale of a few extra cows to put them in the 90 per cent deferral range. “Say you had 100 cows but you only sold 29,” he said. “Realistically, you’re only going to be able to defer 30 per cent of that income. Selling that one extra cow puts you over that threshold. “You may not need that 90 per cent deferral but the 30 per cent may not be sufficient for you. So you could defer 40 or 50 per cent if you choose.”

Because it can get complicated, it’s important to get expert advice and ensure any tax deferral usage synchs with other government programs such as AgriInvest. “The deferred income does not become part of a producer’s Allowable Net Sales (ANS),” said Nibourg. “A producer is allowed to contribute one per cent of his or her ANS to their AgriInvest account up to a maximum annual contribution of $15,000.” Another option for some producers is the Optional Inventory Provision (OIA). “Typically the OIA is used to bump up income in order to take advantage of personal exemptions. However, where a producer anticipates very high income levels in subsequent years that producer may opt to bump up their income further — pay tax at a lower rate to offset the high rate the future years’ high income would generate.” However, most producers would likely use the livestock tax deferral before the OIA as the tax deferral potential is greater, he added. “The OIA would only effectively shelter tax up to the personal exemption level whereas the tax deferral could defer up to 90 per cent of the income from the sale of breeding stock.”

USED EQUIPMENT USED COMBINES/HEADERS

M&S suspended boom sprayer, 1000 gal, 86’ booms auto rate $15,500

2 - 2012 CR8090 Combines, c/w Stone trap and GPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Choice @ $295,000

1 - MacDon 18’ multi crop header, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,500

2011 NH CR9070, Auto Steer, 900 hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMING IN 2013 NH CR8090, DSP, Steering, duals, 300 hrs . . . . . . . . . . COMING IN 2011 NH CX8080, 900 hrs, GPS, deluxe chopper . . . . .$199,900 SOLD 2012 94C, 30’ head. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$58,000 SP30N Honeybee Header, fits CNH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$45,000 NH 74C, 36’ auger flex headers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$37,500

USED TRACTORS

MacDon 14’ hay header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Call NH SF215, suspended boom sprayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$28,500

USED FORAGE & HAYING NH 1431, discbine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coming In NH BR780, baler twine and net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coming In

LIVESTOCK EQ 2002 Supreme 900T,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $42,500 SOLD

2011 NH TV6070 Biderectional, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $89,000 Cockshutt 1850, cab FEL 90 hp, no GST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,750

Haybuster 2650, bale buster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$17,900

SKID STEER

USED SWATHERS/SPRAYERS

2006 NH C185, compact track loader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$32,500

2011 NH SP365F, 1600 gal, 120’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $295,000

2009 NH L170, 4300 hrs, new tires open cab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$26,500

MacDon 9352i, C/W 30’ header Very low hours . . . . . . . . . . . . .$89,000

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Livestock Marketing

FOCUS 2015

Moving along: Institute developing super-fast fencing tool The device has been designed to allow one person to string half a mile of four-strand, 3D fence in just two hours BY JEFF MELCHIOR AF contributor

ny producer who has put up a temporary fence knows what a tedious process it can be. However, a new device may soon save producers some headaches by halving both the time and labour spent on installing temporary fencing. “Based on some surveying we did of farmers, it takes four to eight hours to put up a half-mile of fencing with two people,” said Joy Agnew, project manager with the Saskatoon-based Prairie Agriculture Machinery Institute. “Our goal is to develop a tool that can allow a single person to put up a half-mile, four-strand, three-dimensional fence in two hours.” The goal in developing the asyet-unnamed tool is to allow more producers to enjoy the benefits of temporary fencing, such as access to crop residues and opportunity feeds. “The added benefit of our equipment is it will be more robust,” said Agnew. “It will be a four-strand fence and will incorporate 3D attributes to keep wild animals out and livestock in.” The typical routine today sees a producer go out on a quad and pound stakes into the ground, followed by wiring and attaching to an electrical supply. The institute’s new tool automates the process somewhat by releasing A-frame stands from a dispenser on the back of a trailer as the operator strings the wire. Almost no post pounding is required. “It can be set up on frozen ground because it doesn’t require posts to be pounded into the ground except for the corner posts to anchor it,” said Agnew. “All the

This as-yet-unnamed device aims to halve the time and labour when setting up temporary fencing. PHOTO: Prairie Agriculture Machinery Institute

controls will be controlled by the driver of the truck or tractor. We’re testing in various field conditions to make sure that everything works as planned in a variety of terrains and soil conditions.” The project is being funded by the Alberta Livestock Meat Agency and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture with commercial distribution in mind. “That’s something we haven’t talked about in a lot of detail yet but the designers working on it are very cognizant of the fact that if it were to be commer-

cially produced it will need to be scaled up and commercialized,” said Agnew. The new tool could be on the market in a couple of years if there’s sufficient interest.

“We have one more year of testing and to develop our prototype so by the fall of 2016 we will be ready to start discussions with commercial partners if there’s interest,” she said.

“Because it’s publicly funded it would be a pretty easy transition to go to commercialization.” If there’s a go-to person in Alberta about fencing it’s probably Albert Kuipers, a forage and grazing specialist with the Grey Wooded Forage Association. The idea sounds interesting, but will only win farmers over if the final commercial design is simple, effective, economical, and quick to set up, he said. A four-strand design depends on individual producers’ needs, he said. “Most temporary fences are usually single-strand electrified and that is quite sufficient for keeping cattle in. Having said that, if my goal is to keep wildlife out, I’d consider putting up four strands in a 3D configuration, provided I’ve seen enough evidence the fence design actually does keep the intended wildlife out.” Also, research by his organization has found there is still room for improvement in the field of 3D fences, he added. “We’re experimenting with some 3D fence designs and have found so far that deer and elk can be quite resourceful if they’re hungry,” said Kuipers. “So far, we’ve found that popular 3D fence designs are not completely foolproof.”

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SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

AAFC Lethbridge library takes a hit The department says it is modernizing information delivery, the union says it is trashing valuable research By Alex Binkley AF contributor

he library at the Lethbridge Research Centre of Agriculture Canada has been stripped of years of valuable research documents, according to the union representing 15,000 federal scientists. However, the department insists the dispatch of the library’s collection for recycling is part of “modernizing the delivery of library services by moving towards a digital service delivery model.” The Agriculture Canada email was not attributed to anyone and didn’t say how much of

the discarded material had been transferred to electronic records. Serge Buy, president of the Agriculture Institute of Canada, the national organization of agriculture scientists and researchers, couldn’t comment on the specifics of the Lethbridge library. “However, we strongly believe that there is a need to preserve past research and archive information for future research,” said Buy. “Canada is well positioned to become a global leader in agricultural research, and it is vital that past information be accessible for future scientists and researchers.” And digital subscriptions

New tool assists identification of PBR varieties

don’t replace everything and are more susceptible to future budget cuts, said Debi Daviau, president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada. “It doesn’t make access easier for either scientists or the public when remaining physical copies — the work of decades of accumulation of published science and research — are deliberately dumped in the trash or removed from a local centre’s library,” she said. The library served 48 Agriculture Canada scientists, 85 technicians, and gave numerous visiting workers and students access to decades of valuable, specialized agricultural and scientific information, she said.

“While some items appear to have been shipped to government facilities in Ottawa, most of the library’s contents had been either discarded in a dumpster outside the building or sent to recycling. The loss will make access to relevant research more difficult for scientists working in areas as varied as the study of beef, soil chemistry and ecology, rangeland, wheat, canola, potatoes, beans, insect pests, and greenhouse gases.” Sixteen federal science libraries have been hit with major cuts, closures or consolidations since 2012. “The Harper government continues to target government science at every turn,” said

Daviau. “It is time Canadians understood the cumulative loss to federal science — and this week to agricultural science, in particular — of a government whose priorities are clearly out of step with both public scientists and the public interest.” But the government email said scientists, like the public, favour digital documents. “The increasing presence of information online, including electronic scientific journals, enables the department to consolidate and enhance its library resources by adding new material on an ongoing basis. It said loans and requests from the print collections have declined by more than 83 per cent over the years.

A BIG THANKS!

To the Founding Exhibitors at Ag in Motion 2015

The database is searchable by crop kind, variety name, and type of PBR protection CSTA release

A new database to assist seed sector stakeholders to easily identify PBR protection on crop varieties registered for sale in Canada has been launched. The Crop Varieties Registered in Canada and Plant Breeders’ Rights Status database was created by the Canadian Seed Trade Association with the assistance of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Variety Registration Office and the Plant Breeders’ Rights Office. Using the database, seed sector value chain members can easily identify the PBR status of a crop variety with a few simple steps. Users can search specifically by crop kind, variety name, and type of PBR protection, or they can view the full database (http://cdnseed.org/library/ crop-kinds-database/#all). The type of PBR protection is indicated by two certification marks: UPOV 1978 or UPOV 1991. The database is easily accessed from the library of cdnseed.org (http://cdnseed.org/library/ crop-kinds-database/). “The Canadian Seed Trade Association created this landmark database to make sure timely and important information that can impact seed operations is readily available,” said Scott Horner, CSTA president. “We encourage members and stakeholders to check the database frequently. We also hope everyone continues to visit www.pbrfacts.ca to review the opportunities and obligations relevant to all of us under the new Plant Breeders’ Rights legislation.”

Western Canada’s first annual outdoor farm expo was a success! Ag in Motion would like to thank the founding exhibitors that were dedicated to helping launch this inaugural event. Ag in Motion allowed farmers to see technology up close and in action, thanks to the interactive exhibits and demonstrations our exhibitors delivered. This unique hands-on learning experience empowered farmers by providing the information they needed to help make decisions for their farms. This marks true success.

See you next year - July 19 – 21, 2016 15 min. NW of Saskatoon ™

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Albertafarmexpress.ca • September 14, 2015

CFIA clears more states for poultry traffic

FLY-FREE ZONE

Poultry and eggs are still blocked from eight states Staff

This cow, pastured near Millarville, Alta., takes a swipe at biting flies. No flies on this mama cow. Photo: Wendy Dudley

The Ag in Motion 2015 Founding Exhibitors 4-H Saskatchewan Adair Sales & Marketing Company Inc. Affinity Credit Union Ag Business & Crop Inc. Ag Growth International (AGI) Ag More Than Ever AGCanada.com AgChemExpert Ltd. Ag-Chieve Corporation AgDealer AgEagle Canada Inc. Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan Agri-King Inc. Agrimatics Agri-Prize Agri-Trend AgSky Technologies Inc. Alberta Farmer Express Allen Leigh Security and Communications Alliance Seed Alpine Amsoil and Aggrand Liquid Fertilizer ATP Nutrition Ltd. BASF Canada Inc. Bayer CropScience BKT Tires Canada Inc. Bond Industrial Direct Incorporated Bovine Bucket BP Trailer Sales Brandt BrettYoung Britespan Building Systems Canadian Association of Farm Advisors (CAFA) Inc. Canadian Cattle Identification Agency Canadian Cattlemen Canadian Grain Commission CANTERRA SEEDS Cargill Carrot River Agri-Environmental Group Plan CJWW Radio Clark Ag Systems / Farmer Automatic College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan Conqur Industries Convey-All Industries Inc. Co-op Cordna Twine & Cordage Inc. Corner Equipment Country Guide

Coverco Buildings Ltd. Crop Production Services CWB Colonsay d3h Hotels Degelman Industries Ltd. DEKALB DeLaval Dairy Service DionCo Sales and Services Ltd. D&H Equipment Ltd. Doepker Industries Ltd. Double HH Ag Sales & Services Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc. DuPont Pioneer / DuPont Crop Protection Dutch Bunning Distribution Ltd. Dutch Openers Dynamic Ditchers Inc. Eagle Creek Watershed Agri-Environmental Group Plan Eastwood Products Easy-Kleen Pressure Systems Ltd. EkotuningCom Canada ELIAS reliaBELT Elmer’s Manufacturing Ltd. EMB MFG. Inc. EMF Nutrition Engage Agro EZlid Fabrication S. Houle Farm Business Communications Farm Business Consultants Farm Credit Canada Farmers Edge FastCover Fabric Structures Ltd. Flaman Sales Fort Garry Industries Ltd. Frontlink Inc. Full Line Ag Sales Ltd. Gem Silage Products GlenMor Equipment Golden West Radio Golden West Trailer Sales Goodon Industries Ltd. Gowan Canada Grain Bags Canada Grain Shark Grainews Great Northern Growers Green Aero Tech Green Lea Ag Center Inc. Grober Nutrition Hammond Realty

Hi-Tec Ag/New Direction Equipment (NDE) Horst Welding Houston Seed Saver Huber Ag Equipment Ltd. Hunter Implement Supply Ltd. IAP Group Ltd. Input Capital Integrity Post Structures Ltd. Intelligent Agricultural Solutions Interlake Resources Inc. IntraGrain Technologies Inc. Janzen Steel Buildings Ltd. JD Skiles Company KNR Ag Sales & Service Inc. Kongskilde Industries Inc. Kubota Canada Ltd. Lakeland Group Lambert Distributing Landoll Corporation Le Bulletin des agriculteurs LEMKEN CANADA INC. Leon’s Mfg. Company Inc. Lone Pine Cattle Mandako Agri Marketing (2010) Ltd. Manitoba Co-operator Manulift EMI Ltd. Matrix Environmental Solutions Meridian Manufacturing MiEnergy Monsanto Canada Inc. Morand Industries Ltd. Mr. Tire MTZ Equipment Ltd. Multione Equipment (Canada) Neeralta Manufacturing Inc. New Leader New Vision Agro NORAC Systems International Inc. Norheim Ranching North Sask River Basin AgriEnvironmental Group Plan Northern Plains Drainage Systems Ltd. Nufarm Agriculture Inc. Nuhn Industries Limited Oat Advantage OPIsystems Inc. Pneu-Tek Tire Tools Poettinger Canada Inc. Power Up Lubricants

Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) Prairie Steel Products Ltd. Prairie Storehouse Promat Inc. R.D. Sales & Service Rack Petroleum RBC Royal Bank RE/MAX Blue Chip Realty Real Estate Centre Renn Mill Center Inc. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Rite Way Mfg. Co. Ltd Road Boss Grader Rogers Sprayers Inc. Rostech Electronics Royal Hotel Group Salford Group Inc. Saskatchewan Association for Resource Recovery Corp. Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Saskatoon Motor Products SeCan SeedMaster Select Holidays Shymko Farm Sales South Sask River Agri-Environmental Group Plan Springland Manufacturing Stoller Enterprises Ltd. Tama Canada Terog Mfg. Co. The Container Guy The Co-operators The Orthotic Works The Water Clinic The Western Producer Top Krop Fertilizers Inc. Toyota Canada Inc. Tuff Livestock Equipment Valmetal/Jamesway Farm Equipment Value Tire Versatile Walinga Inc. Wall Grain Handling Systems WeatherFarm Western Ag Professional Agronomy Willsie Equipment Sales Inc. Zak’s Agricultural Building

Travellers entering Canada from the U.S. may now bring in uncooked poultry products, live poultry and eggs from seven of the 15 states that have had outbreaks of avian flu since December. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on Sept. 1 confirmed it now considers the states of Washington, Idaho, California and Oregon free of highly pathogenic (“high-path”) avian influenza. Montana, Indiana and Arkansas, which each had just one property confirmed with high-path avian flu, were declared avian flu free last month. CFIA’s restrictions on cross-border poultry traffic still apply to poultry, birds and eggs from Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Items still subject to CFIA’s restrictions from those states include live birds and hatching eggs, eggs, yolks, egg whites (albumen), poultry meat, feathers, poultry manure, poultry litter and raw pet foods containing poultry products. Travellers “may not bring these items into Canada.” The four hardest-hit states — Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska, which between them saw over 46 million birds affected — remain under government restrictions for poultry transit and exports. USDA has already lifted its restrictions on imports of poultry and related products from Ontario and British Columbia, which respectively saw three farms hit by high-path avian flu in April and 13 farms affected in December and February.

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SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Community news and events from across the province

Tragedy spurs lifelong devotion to STARS By Alexis Kienlen AF STAFF

nstead of dealing with his grief privately after his youngest daughter Kristine died in a car accident, Stan Grad turned his efforts to fundraising for the Shock and Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS). In 1990, Grad wrote to STARS about the loss of his daughter, who had been airlifted to the Foothills Medical Centre. “With this tragedy, as a family, we became immediately aware of how critical air ambulance service is to each and every member of rural Alberta,” wrote Grad. Supporting STARS soon became a passion for the successful oilman and rancher. It began in 1991 when Grad donated a completely restored 1929 quarter-ton Model A truck to STARS. He assembled a team of volunteers and took the truck to 53 towns and villages in Alberta, telling people about STARS and selling raffle tickets for the antique truck. That first year, his efforts raised $125,000. Only 20 per cent of STARS funding comes from the provincial government — the rest must be fundraised every year — even though it’s vital to get

a critically injured person to hospital as soon as possible. “There is no expeditious way, whether you’re farming or in the oilpatch, that you can get to a trauma ward in that golden hour (after an accident) without the helicopter,” said Grad, who was chairman of STARS for 14 years. His efforts were honoured this year, when Grad was admitted to the Alberta Order of Excellence, the province’s highest honour. He has also contributed to Alberta in a variety of other areas. Born in Vancouver in 1944, Grad was raised in the Calgary area, studied petroleum technology at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, and became a very successful oilman, holding a variety of high-ranking positions in the industry. In 1983, he started a private oil and gas company with Willard Walker (the first store manager hired by Sam Walton and a major shareholder in Walmart). Grad & Walker Energy Corporation was the first of several oil and gas operations established by Grad. But he also has a passion for agriculture, and was a founding member of the Calgary Stampede Foundation. He developed an interest in cattle while working on a dairy

farm in his youth and later for Harvey Trimble, a well-recognized seed stock cattleman who became one of his mentors. Later, he partnered with other individuals and bought a quarter section of land near Airdrie to start Soderglen Ranch — now the largest seed stock producer in Canada. It has steadily expanded over the years, and now has 2,600 breeding cows on 22,500 acres at the original site as well as locations near Fort Macleod and Cardston. He’s had many honours, including an honorary degree from SAIT and a place in the Calgary Business Hall of Fame. But the Order of Excellence is special because many of his former mentors, who have since passed on, are members. “To be in their league, I feel proud of that. For me, I’m coming 71 and so I’m still trying to help out,” he said. Grad’s current projects include the creation of a health centre in Airdrie that combines urgent care with a wellness centre and end-oflife care. He’s also involved in the expansion of a medical clinic in Mexico and helped raise money to send seven Mexican doctors to Texas for training. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

SUPERIOR MIXING OF WET BYPRODUCTS AND DISTILLERS GRAINS

Stan Grad has been awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence, one of eight Albertans admitted to the order this year. PHOTO: SUBMITTED

what’s

Send agriculture-related meeting and event announcements to: glenn.cheater@fbcpublishing.com 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. 23: Discover the Soil Below Your Feet, Mark Metejka’s pasture, Ponoka County. Contact Grey Wooded Forage Association, 403-844-2645

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Sept. 30: Facility Design Workshop, Evans Cattle Co., Airdrie. Contact: Cassandra Kirkpatrick 403-6524900 Oct. 2-4: Rural Alberta Innovation and Learning Commons, Augustana Campus, Camrose. Contact: Trish Macklin 780-679-1672

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Oct. 21-22: Natural Health Product and Functional Ingredients Industry conference, AITF Auditorium, Edmonton. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry 780968-3513 Oct. 22: Getting into Farming Information Session For the Aspiring Farmer, Leduc Agriculture and Forestry. Contact: Ag-Info Centre 1-800-387-6030 Oct. 26-30: Return unwanted or obsolete pesticides and livestock medications campaign - Alberta Clean Farms, various locations across southern Alberta (list and dates at www.cleanfarms. ca). Contact: Clean Farms 877-622-4460 Nov. 2-3: Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue - Awereness Level Course, Executive Royal Inn, Leduc (also Nov. 4-5 in Drumheller). Contact: Alberta Farm Animal Care 1-403-652-5111

Oct. 3: Ponoka Women’s Conference, Ponoka Community Centre, Ponoka. Contact: Lauraine Weir 403-783-3713

Nov. 3: Cow-Calfenomics Series, Vermilion Regional Centre, Vermilion (also Nov. 4 in Westlock, Nov. 5 in Olds, and Nov. 6 in Lethbridge). Contact: Abby 780422-1834

Oct. 6: The #RealDirt on Farming — Speakers’ Bureau Training, Red Deer Public Library, Red Deer. Contact: Alberta Farm Animal Care kristen@afac.ab.ca

Nov. 6: Succession Planning Workshop, Vulcan Lodge Hall, Vulcan. Contact: Cassandra Kirkpatrick 403-652-4900

Oct. 15-17: Alberta Sheep Breeders’ Association 2015 Value of Health Symposium, Holiday Inn and Suites South, Red Deer. Contact: Linda Brandes 1-866-967-4337

Nov. 8-10: Flourishing Rural Economies Conference, Pomeroy Inn and Suites at Olds College, Olds. Contact: Lori-Jo Graham 403-556-4244

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

STARS fundraiser strands Manitoba farmer BY JENNIFER PAIGE staff

anitoba producer Colin Penner will leave his tractor cab mid-harvest to be dropped on a remote island hoping he gets enough support from the agricultural community to get home. “It’s not every day you get to participate in a phenomenal fundraiser like this. It does make me nervous to be away during our busy season, but I am hopeful that the ag community will get behind me so I can get off the island and back in the tractor,” said Penner. Penner, along with six other participants, agreed to take part in a ‘Rescue on the Island’ fundraiser put on by the Manitoba chapter of the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS). “This will be our third Rescue on the Island event we’ve held. The last two years we raised around $500,000, so we are hoping to beat that goal this year,” said Betty Lou Rock, vice-president of operations with STARS. Participants were to be flown via helicopter to a remote loca-

Colin Penner, farmer and farm management instructor with the School of Agriculture at the University of Manitoba, will be participating in this year’s Rescue on the Island fundraiser that takes place on September 15. Photo: Submitted by STARS

Along with scene calls, STARS also performs inter-facility transfers of critically ill and injured patients. Photo: Jennifer Paige tion on Sept. 15 to compete in a series of challenges while trying to raise pledges through their personal networks. “They will be left on the island until they reach their goal,” said Rock. Other participants include a vice-

president of MacDon, a mayor, and a former Winnipeg Blue Bomber. Penner, who is also a farm management instructor at the University of Manitoba, said he has never had a personal interaction with STARS, but has seen the service active in his community.

“I know that there have been a few accidents and injuries around here where the helicopter has landed within 10 miles of the farm,” said Penner, who farms at Elm Creek, 50 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg. “I live, work and play in the middle of nowhere

and if something were to happen, an ambulance would take quite a while to get here.” STARS was originally established in Calgary in 1985 and has since expanded to Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Regina, and Saskatoon. The Manitoba government signed a 10-year funding agreement in 2012 to set up a base in Winnipeg.

Marketplace WITH THE WARM RECEPTION WE RECEIVED FROM SELLERS AND BUYERS ALIKE AT OUR SUMMER EVENT, WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE OUR SECOND HAVRE AREA EQUIPMENT & TRUCK

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• PROVEN WIDE AREA MARKETING AND SALES PROMOTION We spend a substantial amount of money to get buyers and sellers to the auction. Mailing lists, trade publications, web based promotions, etc. • EXCELLENT EQUIPMENT SELECTION We consistently have a wide variety of top quality late model units seldom seen at other area consignment auctions. • RESULTS We run a fast paced, informative auction and get things SOLD!!!

We Can Arrange Transportation And Cleaning Of Your Equipment! ADVERTISING DEADLINE is September 25th, so Call 701-757-4015 For Proper Placement in All Promotions! WE WILL ALSO CONDUCT ON-SITE FARM & RANCH AUCTIONS IN MONTANA

www.resourceauction.com • 2702 17th Avenue South, Grand Forks, ND 58201 • FAX: 701-757-4016 Dennis Biliske 701-215-2058 • Travis Zablotney 701-721-2188 • Mark Jones 701-317-0418 • Office 701-757-4015 CANADIAN SELLERS…..TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE STRONG U.S. DOLLAR AND OUR NEAR BY MONTANA MARKET!!! Most units move easily across the border, feel free to ask in advance for document assistance if necessary.

September 14, 2015 • Albertafarmexpress.ca

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September Update FOr mOrE InFOrmATIOn 165, 6815 – 8 Street nE Calgary, AB Canada T2E 7H7 tel 403.275.4400 fax 403.274.0007 www.albertabeef.org famoustaste.albertabeef.org

Canada’s beef produCers outline eleCtion priorities The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) released a Federal Election Priorities document (http://www.cattle. ca/assets/CCA-Federal-ElectionInformation-2015-final-draft.pdf) with information for all candidates running for Parliament in the upcoming 42nd General Election on October 19. The election priorities document outlines a number of issues that can help create the operating environment for beef cattle herd expansion in Canada, such as fully funding programs that help producers manage risk and investing in infrastructure. Once expansion takes place, secure access to high value and growing markets and policies

that ensure the competitiveness of Canadian producers are the key to keeping the good times rolling. Investment in research and sustainable practices are major priorities for the beef sector. Access to sufficient labour to work on farms and to process the meat is a critical issue that needs to be alleviated. With insufficient numbers of Canadians willing to take these jobs and insufficient access to immigration, increasing numbers of live cattle will leave for processing in the U.S. and Canada will need to import more food. CCA will be sending its election priorities to all the national parties along with a questionnaire seeking feedback on how they intend to address the various challenges for beef producers. As the responses are received, the CCA will post them, verbatim, on its website, www.cattle.ca, for cattle producers to assess for themselves.

Gf2 livestoCk Welfare produCer proGram aCCeptinG appliCations The Livestock Welfare Producer Program is now accepting applications from producers looking to adopt best management practices and technologies that improve animal welfare. The main areas covered by this program are: • Implementation of humane methods of livestock euthanasia • Adoption of internationally recognized mass destruction technologies for compromised livestock • The elimination of injury and distress through the adoption of low stress livestock handling systems

Successful applicants are eligible for reimbursement for 50 percent of approved capital and non-capital costs to a maximum amount of $50,000 per applicant, and must have completed a Livestock Welfare risk Assessment (available on the website) along with the funding application. Applications are reviewed on a first come, first served basis. For more information and to apply for this program, please visit the Alberta Growing Forward 2 Livestock Welfare Producer Program (www.growingforward. alberta.ca/Programs). You can sign up for our weekly news updates online at www.albertabeef.org/page/ news/ or by contacting katelynl@albertabeef.org. ABP is on twitter and you can find us @albertabeef.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

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

inDEx Tributes/Memoriam Announcements_ Airplanes Alarms_&_Security_Systems ANTIqUES Antiques_For_Sale Antique_Equipment Antique_Vehicles_ Antiques_Wanted Arenas AUCTION SAlES BC_Auction AB_Auction_Peace_ AB_Auction_North AB_Auction_Central_ AB_Auction_South SK_Auction MB_Auction_Parkland MB_Auction_Westman_ MB_Auction_Interlake MB_Auction_Red_River_ Auction_Various_ U.S._Auctions Auction_Schools AUTO & TRANSPORT Auto_Service_&_Repairs Auto_&_Truck_Parts Autos Trucks Semi_Trucks Sport_Utilities_ Vans_ Vehicles_Various_ Vehicles_Wanted BEEKEEPING Honey_Bees_ Cutter_Bees Bee_Equipment Belting_ Biodiesel_Equipment_ Books_&_Magazines_ BUIlDING & RENOVATIONS Building_Supplies_ Concrete_Repair_ Doors_&_Windows_ Electrical_&_Plumbing Insulation Lumber_ Roofing_ Buildings Business_Machines_ Business_Opportunities_ BUSINESS SERVICES Crop_Consulting Financial_&_Legal_ Insurance/Investments_ Butchers_Supply_ Chemicals Clothing/Work_wear_

Clothing/Western_Specialty_wear_ Collectibles_ Compressors_ Computers_ CONTRACTING Custom_Baling_ Custom_Feeding_ Custom_Harvesting_ Custom_Seeding_ Custom_Silage_ Custom_Spraying_ Custom_Trucking_ Custom_Tub_Grinding_ Custom_Work Construction_Equipment_ Crop_Inputs Dairy_Equipment_ Electrical_ Engines_ Entertainment_ FARM MAChINERy Aeration_ Conveyors_ Equipment_Monitors_ Fertilizer_Equip_ Grain_Augers_ Grain_Bins_ Grain_Carts_ Grain_Cleaners_ Grain_Dryers_ Grain_Elevators_ Grain_Handling_ Grain_Testers_ Grain_Vacuums_ Hydraulics_ Irrigation_Equipment_ Loaders_&_Dozers_ Parts_&_Accessories_ Potato_&_Row_Crop_Equipment_ Repairs_ Rockpickers_ Salvage_ Silage_Equipment_ Snowblowers/Plows_ Specialty_Equipment_ Machinery_Miscellaneous_ Machinery_Wanted_ hAyING & hARVESTING Baling_Equipment_ Mower_Conditioners_ Swathers_ Swather_Accessories_ Various_ COMBINES Belarus Case/IH Cl_ Caterpillar_Lexion Deutz Ford/NH_ Gleaner_ John_Deere_ Massey_Ferguson_ Versatile_ White_ Combines_Various Combine_Accessories

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

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

display Classified

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

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

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

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

(2 weeks prior)

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

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

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

NAME_ ___________________________________________________________ ______PHONE_#_______________________________ ADDRESS_____________________________________________ ______TOWN_____________________________________________ PROVINCE____________________________ _____POSTAL_CODE__________________________

All classified ads are non-commissionable.

advertising deadline Wednesday noon

Livestock_Equipment_ Livestock_Services_&_Vet_Supplies_ Miscellaneous_Articles_ Miscellaneous_Articles_Wanted_ Musical_ Notices_ On-Line_Services_

CERTIFIED SEED Cereal_Seeds Forage_Seeds Oilseeds Pulse_Crops Specialty_Crops

AD ORDER FORM

adveRtising Rates & infoRmation

RegulaR Classified

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

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

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

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

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SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

2004 ROGATER 1264, 1200-GAL., 80-ft outback auto steer, Raven auto rate, Raven GPS w/mapping, rear duals, 2 sets of tips, $75,000. 1990 Kongskilde 700 Grain Vac, $3,000. Call: (403)665-2341, Craigmyle, AB.

RON SAUER

BUNNING - MK4 - 105 Vertical Beater Manure Spreader - Pre Owned

(780) 928-0096 www.dseriescanola.ca

with flared extensions (12-13 tonne capacity), 2008/09 model yr, in excellent condition.

AUCTION SALES AUCTION SALES Auctions Various

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....$50,000 265 MF Tractor & Loader, diesel, multi power, 3 pth, Eeze-On loader, looks & runs great ................... $13,000 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 ..........$1,250 8” Wheat Heart Transfer Auger, hydraulic drive .......$1,500 New Outback RTK BASE stn............ Clearance Price - 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

KUBOTA 60-IN BELLY MOUNT mower, fits all “B” series tractors, used only 4-hrs. Asking $1999.00. (403)318-1667.

La Crete, AB

1142 D-Series Alberta Calssifieds.indd 1

(403) 540-7691 ronsauer@shaw.ca

CASE 621 LOADER 8-FT. bucket; 1981 GMC 17ft. B&H; 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

Agland Seed & Chemical Ltd.

15-08-19 9:58 AM

Hobby Farm Auction September 19th & 20th 2015. Will be the First annual Hobby Farm Auction Held in Portage La Prairie, MB. This Auction is For anyone to come buy or sell animals, whether you only have a couple animals in the back yard, or a couple hundred. (204)872-2850, (204)981-9738 ambergerbrandt@hotmail.com

Asking $47,000.00 OBO Call - Ken at Central Alberta Machinery Sales & Service Ltd. Red Deer, AB. 403-550-3313 or kflendvay@hotmail.com FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

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

**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**

BUSINESS SERVICES

Available at:

BUSINESS SERVICES Crop Consulting

FARM CHEMICAL / SEED COMPLAINTS 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

Back-Track InvesTIgaTIons

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

FARM MACHINERY

SPOOLER

Ryley, AB

www.dseriescanola.ca

AG EQUIPMENT

CAN BE CONVERTED TO:

15-08-19 9:58 AM

DEALS ON THE GO!

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

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 COMBINES Accessories

TracTors TRACTORS Various JD 4430 c/w loader JD 4440 FWA, c/w loader JD 4450 c/w loader JD 4455 FWA, c/w loader JD 7130 FWA, with loader, 3 pth JD 7410 FWA, with loader, 3pth JD 7600 FWA, 740 loader with 3 pth JD 7800 FWA, 740 loader with 3 pth Clamp on Duals, 20.8x38-18.4x38 FINANCE, TRADES WELCOME 780-696-3527, BRETON, AB

Available at:

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

Sturgeon Valley Fertilizers

Big Tractor Parts, Inc.

Legal, AB

Geared For The Future

(780) 961-3088

STEIGER TRACTOR SPECIALIST

RED OR GREEN 1. 10-25% savings on new replacement 1142 D-Series Alberta Calssifieds.indd 11 15-08-19 9:58 AM parts for your Steiger drive train. axles, transmissions IS ENOUGH OF 2. Weandrebuild dropboxes with ONE YEAR WARRANTY. A GAMBLE... 3. 50% savings on used parts.

• Hydraulic Drive (roll or unroll);

BUILDINGS

SPRAYING EQUIPMENT Sprayers

www.dseriescanola.ca

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

SCAN TO DOWNLOAD THE APP »»

SPRAYING EQUIPMENT Sprayers

FARMING

(780) 663-3583

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.

Barb Wire & Electric High Tensile Smooth Wire

Andrukow Group Solutions (Ryley) Inc.

1142 D-Series Alberta Calssifieds.indd 14

Spraying EquipmEnt

MACHINERY LTD.

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

Available at:

Spraying EquipmEnt

• Mounts to tractor draw bar, skidsteer, front end loader, post driver, 3 pt. hitch or deck truck (with receiver hitch & rear hydraulics);

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

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

• Spool splits in half to remove full roll; • Shut off/Flow control valve determines speed;

1-800-665-1362

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

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

$29,418 When you go with steel you get the right deals!

Pioneer One Steel Buildings

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

CONTRACTING Custom Trucking

BUIT CUSTOM SERVICES LTD

Available at:

• Swath grazing or rotational grazing

Wetaskiwin Co-op

The Level-Winder II

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

Wetaskiwin, AB

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

Central Alberta Machinery Sales & Service Ltd Red Deer, Alberta e-mail: kﬂendvay@hotmail.com www.levelwind.com

Lethbridge, AB

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Wanted

Fax: 403.885.4237 RR#1 Blackfalds, AB T0M 0J0

Shane: 403.588.11.46 Lawrence: 403.588.4787 Email: s-s-buit@hotmail.com

www.dseriescanola.ca HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING 1142 D-Series Alberta Calssifieds.indd 13

(403) 360-9191

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

HAYING & HARVESTING

Custom Manure Hauling on pasture and hay land. We run with 3 trucks with vertical beaters, equipped with GPS. And A JD 544 loader equipped with a scale.

Available at:

Agro Plus Sales and Service Ltd.

Ken Lendvay 403-550-3313

HAYING & HARVESTING Baling Equipment

(780) 352-9191

www.dseriescanola.ca SPRAYING EQUIPMENT Various

1142 D-Series Alberta Calssifieds.indd 2 2004 Tank

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

15-08-19 9:58 AM

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

www.penta.ca

Combines

1-800-587-4711

SEED / FEED / GRAIN

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

15-08-19 9:58 AM

2000L/1300L compartment,tank is in good condition,it would be great for hauling water out to your sprayer.Truck mounting brackets included. $8,500 (403)846-7628

SEED/FEED/GRAIN Feed Grain 1,600 WINTER WHEAT GRAIN feed bales 3x4x8, bales are 1,345-lbs, $200 short Ton in the stack. (403)362-6712

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

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

TRAILERS

TRAVEL

TRAILERS Trailers Miscellaneous

PERSONAL

TRAVEL

AVAILABLE BACHELORETTES

RURAL & CULTURAL TOURS

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.

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

Name: Ruth Age: 46

Ruth is a beautiful woman with a kind heart and no baggage. She works as a recruitment consultant, owns her own home and is • Competitive Prices financially • Prompt Movement stable. She has no • Spring Thrashed kids, and is divorced, she “ON FARM PICK UP” has been 1-877-250-5252 divorced for 3 years, and while she has gone out on Stretch your a few dates since then, and had a ADVERTISING DOLLAR! relationship, she hasn’t found the right person yet, partially because she did LOOKING FOR EQUIPMENT? 1-800-665-1362 not feel ready before to really commit to 1142 D-Series Alberta Calssifieds.indd 16 15-08-19 9:58 AM someone, but she feels ready now and is excited to find love again. Ruth is a very outdoorsy person, she enjoys playing BOW VALLEY TRADING LTD. sports, especially tennis, and golf, she also enjoys going to the beach, swimming, WE BUY DAMAGED GRAIN SCAN TO DOWNLOAD THE APP »» dancing and backyard barbeques. She is a non-smoker, social drinker, has a very healthy lifestyle and works out regularly. Ruth has a great sense of humor, is 1142 D-Series Alberta Calssifieds.indd 17 15-08-19 9:58 AM Wheat, very easy to talk to, down to earth, nonjudgmental, loving and generous, and is Barley, Oats, looking for a man who is the same. SEARCH Peas, etc.

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

BUYING:

HEATED CANOLA & FLAX

*Portion of tours may be Tax Deductible

Available at:

Beaver Creek Coop Association Ltd. Lamont, AB

Select Holidays

Edberg Crop Management Inc.

www.selectholidays.com

Edberg, AB

CAREERS

(780) 877-0003

CAREERS Help Wanted

1-800-661-4326

www.dseriescanola.ca TRY

(780) 895-2241

www.dseriescanola.ca

Memory assistance.

Green or Heated Canola/Flax

1-877-641-2798

Hit our readers where it counts… in the classifieds. Place your ad in the Alberta Farmer Express classifed section. 1-800-665-1362.

Search news. Read stories. Find insight.

TRAVEL

www.milliganbiofuels.com

Foremost, AB

Matchmakers Select

1-888-916-2824 www.selectintroductions.com

2016 Canada Cuba Farmer Tour

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.

Webb’s Crop Services Ltd.

CANOLA WANTED

CALL 1-866-388-6284

W. Buis Holdings Ltd.

Network

Available at: Buying Tough, Heated, Green, Canola, Freight Options, Prompt Payment Bonded and Insured

Available at:

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Vermilion, AB

(780) 853-6565

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www.dseriescanola.ca

1142 D-Series Alberta Calssifieds.indd 15

(403) 867-2436

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