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INSIDE: OYF winners use social media
p. 5 Foliar-applied micronutrients
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FarmFORUM volume 25 | issue 3 | Summer 2011
contents >> PRINT TECHNOLOGY
BUSINESS
PRODUCTION
FARM LIFE
FarmFORUM www.farmforum.ca Publisher Bayer CropScience Editor Sherry Butt Associate Editor Dave Wreford
COVER STORY
10
‘Crash cart’ speeds repairs
Portable welding cart goes where it’s needed
8
20
6
Make the most of New fungicide CWB pricing options takes on fusarium head blight Tips to get the best return
Check well water health with a TC test
with least amount of risk
Spring floods prompt renewed interest in well water safety
Prosaro research trials show good results
4 Editor’s note: make the most of the remaining season 5 Foliar-applied micronutrients: good medicine or snake oil?: answer lies in profits 16 Richer consumers signal better times for farmers: global food trends equal opportunities 22 OYF winners use social media: online promotion leads to international following
look for crop talk starting on page 24
contents >> WEB
CropTalk
FarmFORUM.ca
Contributors Clare Stanfield, Jennifer Barber, Kim Langen, Gerald Pilger, Onnolee Nordstrom and Genesis Studio. Graphic Design Aaron Mumby Design Farm Forum is published seasonally by Bayer CropScience. Contact Farm Forum at: Bayer CropScience Suite 200 160 Quarry Park Blvd SE Calgary, AB, T2C 3G3 T. 1 888-283-6847 F. 1 888-570-9378 E. farmforum@bayercropscience.com www.bayercropscience.ca Contents of this publication are copyrighted and may be reproduced only with written permission of the publisher, Bayer CropScience. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. Publications Mail Agreement Number 40743517 Registered in Canada Copyright 2011 Website www.farmforum.ca Return undeliverable copies to: Bayer CropScience Suite 200 160 Quarry Park Blvd SE Calgary, AB, T2C 3G3 On the cover Reg Baumle farms near Kelsey, AB and is a journeyman welder in the winter. He offers some valuable safety tips for the DIY welder.
Winter wheat comeback
Field check
Tweets, tags and walls
Is this the year for winter wheat?
Here’s what’s top of mind for local agronomists
4-H in the 21st century
www.farmforum.ca/winterwheatcomeback
www.farmforum.ca/fieldcheck
www.farmforum.ca/4Hnow Farm Forum.ca | 3
s h o r t ta k e s
Each month we send you an email from Farm Forum that contains three short articles you may find interesting, a couple of blog headlines and a link to our Twitter page. Our goal is to provide you with information that is quick and easy to read. You can sort through the headlines quickly, read what interests you and move on. We put a lot of different items on the page so you can see what else might interest you after reading an article or blog. There’s also depth if you want it. If technology is of interest just click on the “Technology” tab and you’ll find a wide variety of articles to choose from, all on one page. To stay connected please follow us on twitter: @farmforum. FF
4 | Farm Forum | Summer 2011
Editor’s note After a very long, cold winter, then an equally miserable spring, prairie farmers do what they do best — pick themselves up, brush themselves off and get on with it. And to help you make the most of the remaining season, Farm Forum brings you some great stories, starting with our new column, Consultant’s Corner. Every issue in this column, industry experts offer information, advice and/ or solutions to a variety of farming challenges. This time, Steve Larocque, ag consultant with Beyond Agronomy, talks about the key factors to consider when deciding whether or not to use foliar-applied micronutrients and how to assess their need. Our cover story shows you the benefits of creating your own mobile welding rig, that we’ve called (with a tip of the hat to the medical profession) a “crash cart.” Its value lies in an ability to go anywhere it’s needed on the farm, whether to help modify or repair a piece of equipment or to build gates and corrals. And, if you’re going to do your own welding, proper safety equipment is a must. Journeyman welder Reg Baumle, talks about the essential tools to outfit your crash cart and how to stay safe on the job. After such a wet spring, if you haven’t been testing your well water annually, now’s the time to get into the habit. Many events, including flooding, can contaminate well water. By conducting an annual TC test and boiling your water if you suspect contamination, you’ll help ensure your family’s safety. Turn to page 6 to learn how. Although there’s talk of more marketing choices for non-feed wheat and barley, you’ll still have to go through the Canadian Wheat Board for this year’s crops. On page 8, we’ll show you how to make the most of CWB pricing options. We wrap up this issue with our Outstanding Young Farmers profile. The Klippensteins, BC/Yukon region OYF winners, demonstrate how they make use of social media including Facebook and Twitter to build their business, Klippers Organic Acres. FF
Photo (opposite page) ©istockphoto.com/BamBamImages
More at farmforum.ca
business
Foliar-applied micronutrients: good medicine or snake oil?
Cons u l t a nt ’ s Co r ne r With Steve Larocque
Discussion around the use of foliar-applied micronutrients can get pretty complicated pretty fast. There are a million questions, no standard answers, and the number of variables affecting the decision-making process is mind numbing. While it’s easy to get caught up in the minor details, what it boils down to for most growers is this: does it work and will it make me money? The short answer is yes, and yes. But don’t expect the results to be dramatic or, in some cases, even measurable. “You never know what kind of response you’re going to get,” says Steve Larocque of the ag consultancy Beyond Agronomy. “That’s why the price point is where it is. Most of these products cost between $4 and $6 and acre, which is low enough to say, ‘I’ll just throw it in the tank for insurance.’” That’s not a bad approach, particularly with grain prices where they are these days. But if you do want to get down to the nitty-gritty of foliar-applied micronutrients, Larocque has a few pointers. Art meets science Key factors to consider when deciding whether or not to use foliar-applied micronutrients include soil type, soil condition, compaction, weather (current and forecast), crop type, growth stage, maturity outlook, crop quality, disease and
By Clare Stanfield
So even if field history along with soil and tissue tests indicate adequate boron, everything changes if your canola is on sandy soil and gets a heavy rain at flowering. Another good mid-summer example is copper deficiency in wheat. A lack of copper during flowering creates pollen sterility that leads to sterile florets, which can result in ergot and a reduction in yield. “A well-timed foliar application can work well to correct a deficiency, reduce lodging and ergot bodies and help achieve higher kernel weight and protein,” says Larocque. insect pressure, field history and soil and If you suspect copper deficiency, altissue test results. ways tissue test to confirm it. Ideally, a Larocque outlines a basic four-step split application is the way to go: once process growers can use year-over-year at late tillering and again at flag leaf. to help assess the need for foliar-applied But, if you missed the former, you can micronutrients: still do the latter. “A one-time application 1. Refer to field histoof foliar copper is What it boils down to ries for a sense of effective at flag leaf typical crop quality. for most growers is: but you have to be 2. Understand soil fercautious of phytodoes it work and will it tility and soil qualtoxicity, especially make me money? ity status (ie: OM, when mixing with pH, soil texture). fungicides,” says Larocque. “There are a lot of copper 3. Tissue test in the spring. products out there, so be sure to consult 4. Look at current growing conditions to the manufacturer about tank mix opmake a final determination. tions and product rates. At the heart of the issue is the fact that “You should consider foliar applicamicronutrients are, well, micro. “Soil and tion of micronutrients when crop qualtissue tests that show a deficiency may ity considerations come into play,” says not be representative of an entire field,” Larocque. “Disease, protein, maturity, says Larocque, adding that nutrient de- lodging — a lot of these problems relate ficiencies tend to occur in patches, and back to nutrition, but it’s not always can occur even when all the tests indicate clear-cut. So many things affect nutrithere is no problem. ent availability. He gives the example of boron in “It’s a process of elimination,” he canola. “Let’s say it’s July: fungicide time. adds. “You can make it as simple or as Canola requires boron the most dur- complicated as you want.” FF ing flowering to help with pollen tube growth,” he says. “Boron is highly mowww.farmforum.ca/fieldcheck bile in the soil so if your soil is low in orWant more Consultant’s Corner? Find out ganic matter, or coarse-textured, a heavy what’s top of mind for local agronomists. rain can leach boron away from the roots and make it unavailable to the crop.” Farm Forum.ca | 5
fa r m l i f e
Check well water health with a TC test By Kim Langen
After such a wet spring, especially in flood-stricken Manitoba, many farmers are concerned about the safety of their well water. They’re right to be worried. With all the surface water swirling about in farmyards, it’s not difficult to imagine that some domestic wells might have been compromised. But flooding isn’t the only cause of well contamination. Other culprits include shallow wells, wells built in porous materials such as sand or gravel, and wells located in pits and low areas where surface water
6 | Farm Forum | Summer 2011
can collect and sit. Wells with unsealed casings, casings that do not extend at least 30 cm (12 inches) or more above ground, or casings that are rusted out in spots are also vulnerable. At risk, too, are wells located near septic tanks or fields, barns, feedlots, or near old, abandoned wells that have not been properly sealed. “Poorly constructed, old, shallow wells, and those located in depressions with water pooling around are more vulnerable to contamination,” says Gilbert Bushati, senior regional drinking water officer with Manitoba Water Stewardship. Wells that are overtopped with flood water are a particular source of concern, he adds. Sometimes wells may look normal, but there may be other warning signs of contamination, such as a change in water colour, clarity, smell, or taste. Once the floods recede, the fastest way to ensure your drinking water is safe is to test it, something experts say should be done yearly, whether you’ve had a flood or not. A well water test called a total coliform or TC test looks for the presence of coliform bacteria, especially E. coli, a type of fecal coliform bacteria commonly found in the intestines of animals and humans. The presence of E. coli in water is a strong indication of recent sewage or animal waste contamination. “Our primary concern is human or animalrelated fecal contamination of well water as shown by the presence of E. coli,” says Bushati. “In very general terms,
samples that fail testing for total coliform show that the well is vulnerable to contamination, whereas the presence of E. coli means the well is contaminated with fecal bacteria.” Drinking water should contain zero total coliform bacteria per 100 ml, and there are labs in every province that can do this test.
The best place to take your sample is actually from an outside tap, rather than inside the house Paul and Sally Calcott, who operate an 800-acre cattle and grain farm in southwest Manitoba, always check their well water annually. And, until this floodridden year, they were used to seeing an all-clear on their test. “It’s the first time we had a failure. I was surprised because we have always passed,” says Sally, who received the lab results back at the end of May. “This time we had a total coliform reading of three, but our E. coli was a pass, so that’s good. We didn’t actually flood around the house, but there was a lot of flooding on the other side of the road. We did have some well repairs and some work on our pressure tank earlier this year, so we think that might have stirred things up.” Receiving a “fail” on a water test does not necessarily mean you or your family members will get sick. There are ways to correct water quality and safety deficiencies, and help and advice are available when a sample does not make the grade. “Different people have varying degrees of resistance,” said Bushati. “Any presence of total coliform or E. coli in a water sample is technically a failed sample, though consuming that water may or may not result in sickness,” he explains. “Some species of E. coli can be harmful. However, there may be other organisms
PHOTOs (left) ©istockphoto.COM/Worytko Studio ; (right) Kim Langen
in contaminated well water that are cause for concern.” Sometimes well water might fail a TC test simply because of the way the sample was collected. You may be getting a one, two or three on your total coliform reading because of how the sample was taken,” says Bob Kitlar, well water specialist with Winnipeg’s ALS Environmental, a division of ALS Group that provides a full range of environmental testing services. “The best place to take your sample is actually from an outside tap, rather than inside the house.” Wells that have been overtopped with flood water may have suffered structural damage, in addition to the influx of bacteria and other types of contaminant. People living in a flooded area are advised to boil their well water until floods recede and testing confirms that the water is safe to drink. You’ll also have to boil your well water if it fails the TC test. Boiling is simple, quick and very effective. It’s also cheap and doesn’t involve any costly apparatus. “It’s a full, rolling boil, for a minute,”
says Kitlar. “That’s a temperature of 212º F, or 100º C, and it kills most things, such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa (another group of microorganisms that can cause human illness).” Effective boiling means putting water in a pot, or an electric kettle without an automatic shut-off, and bringing it to a rolling boil for one minute. At elevations over 2,000 metres, water boils at a slightly lower temperature and should be boiled for at least two minutes. The water is then cooled, poured into a clean container and refrigerated until you are ready to use it. If you still have a problem, even after re-sampling, you could look at devices to help clean up your water. Chlorinators and iodinators can kill most diseasecarrying organisms, while an ultra violet
Beware the pirate of the prairies
(UV) device can combat bacteria and viruses. Ceramic or glass fibre filters remove bacteria and protozoa from mildly contaminated waters. Distillers can reduce chemicals in water, and ozonators can kill pathogens. Shock chlorination is another do-ityourself procedure that can be used to control many kinds of bacteria in wells, especially iron bacteria that create a reddish-brown slime as well as an unpleasant taste and odour. The Calcotts, like many other farmers across the prairies, don’t take any chances when it comes to the safety of their drinking water. This time, they followed the boiled water advisory received along with their TC test results and disinfected their well with a shock chlorination treatment. FF
S
clerotinia – the scourge of Saskatchewan, Manitoban menace, the annihilator of Alberta – no matter what you call it, sclerotinia can lay waste to your canola, plundering your yield and pillaging profits by up to 40 percent.
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business
Make the most of CWB pricing options
If news headlines are any indication, you’ll have more marketing choices for your non-feed wheat and barley in the 2012-2013 crop year. All well and good, but this year’s crop still has to go through the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB). And in what’s shaping up to be a fairly volatile market, you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of various CWB pricing options to get the best return with the least amount of risk. At least that’s what Allen Jones is doing. Farming at Balzac, AB, Jones expects to harvest 5,000 acres of HRS wheat, canola and barley this year. He says it’s not always easy to know what the right decision is when it comes to CWB pricing options. “You’d think supply and demand alone would drive wheat prices,” says Jones. “But if things go south in Europe or the debt crises around the world gets worse, things could change a lot.” For him, it comes down to choosing the pricing option that locks in some of his crop’s potential value while mitigat8 | Farm Forum | Summer 2011
By Clare Stanfield
ing the risks of global price drops and/or poorer than anticipated crop quality. Over the years, the CWB has developed a partial pooling system that gives growers more pricing flexibility than the original onesize-fits-all approach. Today, growers not wanting to sell directly into a pool have four main options:
4. FlexPro: year-round contract that offers a daily cash price, plus separate sign-up and lock-in dates. (Sign-up period ended July 2010.)
Jones has used the first three at one time or another. “They’ve all succeeded and they’ve all failed,” he laughs. At the heart of it, the pros and cons of each 1. Early Payment Option option depend on your in(EPO): access a percentage dividual operation, risk tolof the Pool Return Outerance and willingness to look (PRO) on delivery. play the game. “We’ve done EPOs beAllen Jones, 2. Basis Price Contract: lock fore,” says Jones. “But “All contracts carry risk.” in basis and futures valyou’ve got to watch the ues for your wheat at four costs associated with them.” times throughout the season (NovemIt’s nice to have a little cash flow when you ber, February, April and June). deliver grain, but if the market increases, 3. Fixed Price Contract (FPC): secure a flat you can lose a lot on the premium. It’s a risk with all contracts, he says, price for your crop and sign up tonnage between the end of February and the but can be particularly brutal with EPOs where you’re at the mercy of the market end of January the following year.
PHOTOS (bottom LEFT) Allen jones (top left) Genesis studio
and nothing is locked in. “The premium can be as low as two or three cents a bushel, but I’ve seen it as high as 30 cents a bushel on an EPO. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but that cream is your profit.” Basis Price Contracts can be quite lucrative if you’re an avid market watcher and know exactly when to hit the button. Go when wheat supplies are short and the basis is narrow and you stand to make some money. But if you miss and go when the basis is widening, you’ll have to absorb higher marketing costs. “The downside of basis contracts is trying to identify what a high or low basis price is,” says Jones. It can be a tough call, particularly if there is a big difference between the CWB basis and what you’re seeing on other grain exchanges. For a number of reasons, Jones feels his best bet is with the Fixed Price Contract (FPC). “We went with that option because I don’t have any idea if the basis is going to narrow or widen — I just don’t feel equipped to properly make
that call,” he explains. ized and the CWB isn’t obligated to pay. “As soon as you put the crop in the “It costs $5 a tonne, but it gives us some ground, there’s a risk. Anything can piece of mind.” happen and you lose some of it, or it The FPC also gives Jones some flexidoesn’t grade well and with the fixed bility to play the market a bit because he price contract we’re always at risk on doesn’t have to commit all his producthe quality issue,” he tion at once. “We’ll says. “You can never price throughout the predict the spreads year,” he says. “We You can never predict the CWB is going to watch the Minneapogive you, but if you lis futures a bit and the spreads the CWB is can tag a high enough try to get some sign going to give you, but price, it takes some of where the market of that risk away.” is going, and we use if you can tag a high different market serThat’s because enough price, it takes vices as well.” with this pricing opHe knows there tion, Jones can lock some of that risk away is a huge degree of in some of his prounpredictability no duction based on anmatter what option ticipated grade and quality. If the grain he delivers has higher you choose. “Best guesses are all we protein, he’ll get an additional payment. have, really,” he laughs. “At the end If markets go down, he’s protected. He of the day, if you have the fixed price also adds on a force majeure (act of and the market drops, you’ve mitigated God) clause, so that if he can’t deliver some of that risk. I still think it’s not a what he’s promised due to a disaster, the bad option, and hopefully the markets whole thing’s a wash — he isn’t penal- will stay strong.” FF
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Farm Forum.cA | 9
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Mitch Currie farms with his dad, Sam, near Morrin, AB. He’s standing beside the mobile “crash cart” his dad built to handle in-field repairs.
10 | Farm Forum | Summer 2011
‘Crash cart’ speeds repairs T Cover Story By Gerald Pilger
o save time and money, many farmers do their own welding so it’s not unusual to have welding equipment on hand. However, all too often equipment breakdown happens out in the field, far from the shop.
Farmers Sam and Mitch Currie of Morrin, AB, addressed this problem by mounting their shop welder on a trailer to create a portable “crash cart.” Sam built his first portable welding rig years ago for mobile repairs to the bulldozer he owned and operated. He mounted a welder powered by a Chrysler inline-6 engine on a home-built, bumperpull trailer which he towed behind his truck to construction sites where he was working. He also used the same unit on his farm for all welding needs, including modifying and repairing equipment and building gates and corrals.
PHOTOS Genesis studio
Continued on next page >
Farm Forum.cA | 11
The beauty of a “crash cart” is it can go where it’s needed. Mitch heads out to fix a broken shank on a seeder.
12 | Farm Forum | Summer 2011
cover story Continued from page 11 >
“Mounting the welder on a trailer made it a lot more versatile,” says Mitch, Sam’s son. “The welder can go where it is needed. Instead of bringing equipment that needs fixing to the welder, we could take the welder to the equipment. Some of our land is 12 miles from the main farmyard so it is often quicker to tow the welding trailer to the equipment than the reverse.” He also points out that onsite welding is very important when equipment cannot be moved until it is welded. Six years ago the Curries replaced the original welder with a new, higher amp model. A portable generator was added to the trailer to provide power to run a grinder, other power tools, and floodlights. Since then, a MIG welder has been added to the crash cart. A cabinet on the cart provides storage for welding accessories, welding helmet, gloves, lights, extension cords and hand tools such as a chipping hammer and clamps. Various pieces and sizes of steel that may be needed for repairs are also kept on the cart, as well as a gas cutting torch and stands. The crash cart usually remains at the main farmyard and is moved only when needed. This provides the Curries with both the advantages of a yardbased stationary welding system as well as a mobile welder. Since the trailer is bumper pull, it can be moved very quickly with any half ton to where it is needed. The Curries minimized their investment by building their own trailer and adding tools and equipment over time. Mitch estimates that to replace their cart by buying everything new would likely cost more than $15,000 now. Still, he does have a wish list of further improvements. Top priority is a heavy-duty vice mounted on the trailer deck. He’d also like to add a bolt cabinet stocked with common-size bolts, as well as a chain rack. He says more storage capacity and more hand tools are also needed.
The welder can go where it is needed. Instead of bringing equipment that needs fixing to the welder, we could take the welder to the equipment. Reg Baumle, who farms at Kelsey, AB, is also a self-employed journeyman welder in the oil patch during the winter months. Since he has a fully equipped welding truck, he does not need to set up a crash cart like the Curries did. But he does have some advice for farmers who are considering building a mobile welder. “Besides the welder, the number one tool you need is a good quality grinder to prep the metal before welding,” says Baumle. “Have a one-eighth inch disk on the grinder. You might also want a zip cut disk and buffing wheel, although these are not necessities. And make sure you have a good quality, heavy extension cord for the grinder.” Baumle also stresses the importance of matching cables and stinger to the welder. A common mistake, he finds, is to buy a good quality welder but then go with the cheapest cables and stinger available. “If you have a 250-amp welder, you need a 250-amp stinger,” Baumle says. If you are going to have 50 feet or more of cable, he suggests 2/0 welding cable. Undersized cables are hard on a welder and, given the size of equipment today, Baumle recommends at least 50-foot cables so you do not have to move the welder when working on a large implement. Baumle also believes a majority of farmers do not understand the differences in welding rods. He says they should be using 7018 low-hydrogen, dynamic welding electrodes. This rod provides the weld strength (70,000 pounds) needed in farm applications and can be used in any position — flat, horizontal, vertical or overhead. He suggests farmers have two sizes of this rod: 1/8 and 3/32 inch. Finally, Baumle says, the welding area must be protected from wind, so consider adding a canvas, or even a sheet of plywood, that can be used to block the wind. FF
Farm Forum.cA | 13
Safety first
A key tool in any welder’s arsenal is a good quality grinder to prep the metal before welding.
14 | Farm Forum | Summer 2011
When welding in the field, fire is an ever-present danger. That’s why Mitch Currie has equipped his crash cart with a shovel and fire extinguisher. If at all possible, he moves the equipment he will be welding onto bare ground or a green area before starting any cutting, grinding or welding. Reg Baumle suggests having both a 20-pound dry ABC extinguisher and a water-filled extinguisher when working in straw covered fields. As a professional welder, Baumle is also very conscious of personal safety and encourages anyone welding to make sure they have the proper clothing and gear. He says leather gloves are a must and also highly recommends a leather coat along with a welding beanie worn under the welding helmet. According to Baumle, you only have to burn your scalp once to wish you’d worn a beanie. Most importantly, Baumle says you need double eye protection. This means wearing safety glasses under the welding helmet. And the helmet itself should have a clear lens on each side of the shaded lens. So, in fact, you are looking through three clear lenses and one welding lens. As for the welding lens, Baumle says Number 10 is the standard, but some people may need a darker lens, especially if they see spots after welding. FF
cover story Continued from page 13 >
When working in straw-covered fields, Baumle suggests both a 20 lb. dry fire extinguisher and a water-filled extinguisher.
Baumle recommends 50 ft. cables when working on a large implement.
Farm Forum.ca | 15
business
Richer consumers signal better times for farmers By Onnolee Nordstrom
Making sense of global food trends can get a bit overwhelming, what with volatile pricing, rapidly changing demographics and new food trends springing up almost every day. It’s little wonder many growers simply tune out. But Rob Saik, CEO of Agri-Trend, an agricultural consultancy in Red Deer, AB, says it makes more sense to tune back in and prepare for the new opportunities and challenges of food production in today’s brave new world. Changing global demographics, he explains, are opening new markets and boosting demand in established markets. The 100-mile diet concept, for example, has reinvigorated local farmers’ markets in developed countries, while the rise in disposable income around the world is creating an enormous (and ever-growing) demand for livestock products and exotic crops. These shifting and changing patterns in global and local food demands, Saik believes, can mean some excellent opportunities for farmers right here at home. 16 | Farm Forum | Summer 2011
Think big Think local The “local” movement is a market niche Canadian farms have been growing in that smaller lifestyle farmers can capital- size and sophistication. But even here in the world of bulk commodity producize on, Saik suggests. Consumer demand and awareness tion, staying on top of global trends can about food production has created a lead to interesting opportunities. Saik predicts that food is going to need vibrant farmers’ market industry cato become more nutritering to those who ent dense, balanced, have the money and and less about calotime to establish a A great opportunity ries alone. “Canadian connection with the farmers could grow people growing their to enter high-end a variety of different food. In Alberta, food markets with no grains that focus on for example, farmproviding different ers’ market sales inmiddlemen and a lot of benefits,” he says. creased over 30 per consumers who are not Take selenium, for cent between 2004 example. Research and 2008, and show highly price-conscious suggests that increased no signs of slowing. selenium intake might That means farmlead to better overall ers with decent proximity to cities, where the majority of health and decrease the incidence of some Canadians now live, have a great op- diseases. High-selenium wheat varieties, portunity to enter high-end food markets therefore, could present an opportunity with no middlemen and a lot of consum- to capitalize on the movement toward health-specific food products. ers who are not highly price-conscious.
PHOTOS (opposite, left) ©istockphoto.COM/gregobagel; (opposite, right) courtesy bayer cropscience; (top left) ©istockphoto.COM/Bim; (right) courtesy martin munchies
Think people Far beyond the borders of Canada, changing global demographics are influencing agricultural markets everywhere. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global meat production and consumption is forecast to rise to 300 million tonnes by 2020 from 233 million tonnes in 2000. In the same period, milk consumption will go from 568 to 700 million tonnes, and egg production will increase by 30 per cent. Globally, that’s an opportunity for feed grain producers, but closer to home, changing demographics are having an impact too. Every five years, for example, 1.1 million immigrants come to Canada from countries where vegetables are a big part of their diet and where consumers are used to spending a larger portion of their income on food. That’s why scientists at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Ontario are researching different vegetables that may present new ethnic market opportunities. Examples include Indian kaddu (a type of squash), Chinese red hot peppers, fuzzy melon (a type of zucchini), yard long beans, callaloo (a leafy green), okra, and Asian eggplant.
New food from an old crop For four generations, the Martin family has farmed near Watrous, SK. During that time, agriculture has changed a lot but this generation has embraced the challenge by creating a new niche market for an old farm product. “We were looking for ways to add value to our operation and become part of the whole food chain, rather than just the first step of production,” says Garnet Martin. Ultimately, the idea for Martin Munchies was born in 2006 when Martin heard a scientist talk about the health benefits of barley and wondered why it wasn’t being used in more innovative ways. Martin went home and started his family brainstorming. “I thought it was a cool idea,” says Lesley Kelly, Martin’s daughter. “I had just completed my Bachelor of Commerce and was keen to put my new marketing skills to work.” Kelly says the key was the focus on health. Numerous benefits are claimed for barley. They include possible reductions in the risk of cancer and heart disease, lower cholesterol, and better regulation of blood sugar. She spent two years researching and developing the concept, then decided to target four market segments. “The first is the 55-plus ‘do-or-dies’ who need to eat better for health reasons. The second is the health guru; third, the soccer mom looking for a healthy convenient snack food; and the last is the healthy ‘wannabes’ who are turning to healthier foods.” Martin Munchies (whole grain roasted barley clusters) was launched in 2009 and has been wildly popular. “I am having trouble keeping up with demand,” says Kelly. “Sales are up over 200 per cent www.farmforum.ca/martinmunchies this year.” Want more information on Twice a month, the family travels to Martin Munchies? Visit online. the Saskatoon Food Centre where they make and package the product. As sales increase, Kelly is looking to develop new distribution channels. She currently has 16 new retailers on board and her expansion plans include penetrating into the B.C. marketplace. FF
Think retirement age Statistics indicate that before long, one person in three will be retired, and nearly one person in 10 will be over 80 years old. Seniors are living longer and represent an enormous market with specialized food needs: smaller portion sizes, specific nutritional requirements and cost will all factor into meeting the needs of this rapidly growing market. For Rob Saik, agriculture’s ability to rise to the challenges of population growth, changing demographics and increased wealth, will take new and innovative ways of looking at farming — from “nutrient production” to better use of GMO technology. In this century, everyone is looking to agriculture for solutions to big global challenges. It means opportunity will be right around the corner for many years to come. FF Farm Forum.cA | 17
The yield And InVigor® is proud to take full responsibility. With its superior genetics, early season vigor and great performance under stressed conditions, InVigor canola hybrids continually set higher standards for yield. This season we’ll do it again with the launch of the InVigor “L” series. So don’t be afraid of the yield gap. Just make sure you are on the right side. For more information visit
BayerCropScience.ca/InVigor
BayerCropScience.ca or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative. Always read and follow label directions. InVigor® is a registered trademark of Bayer. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.
18 | Farm Forum | Summer 2011
gap just got wider.
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pr bo u ds u i ncetsi os n
New fungicide takes on fusarium head blight
By Jennifer Barber
As fusarium head blight (FHB) creeps further west every year, Garry Leibrecht is taking no chances with his winter wheat. An innovator by nature, he looks to new products and technology to give his crop the best chance possible against yield-robbing diseases. “In years past people didn’t put much effort into keeping their winter wheat clean and getting the most from it that they could,” says Leibrecht. “But I like to say I give it the ‘full groceries.’ I make a list of everything that can go wrong and I make sure the crop is protected.” Last year he took part in research trials for Bayer CropScience’s fungicide, Prosaro, now available for the 2011 growing season. It contains prothioconazole, the active ingredient in Proline, and tebuconazole, the active ingredient in Folicur, for control of leaf and stem diseases plus suppression of FHB in wheat and barley. Leibrecht crops 11,000 acres just outside Yorkton, SK. He divides his rotation in thirds — canola, barley and winter wheat. Recently he stopped growing spring wheat in part because of problems with FHB. “Last year was so wet we weren’t able to seed our whole crop — we left 1,800 acres unseeded,” says Leibrecht. “By growing winter wheat we aren’t at 20 | Farm Forum | Summer 2011
as much risk for the crazy spring weather we seem to get. This year we are behind as well in our spring seeding. So we need to protect the winter wheat crop.” FHB is a problem for growers around the world. In 2010 the moist conditions across much of western Canada led to high disease levels across all three prairie provinces, even in southern Alberta where dry weather has kept FHB at bay in the past. Whether or not the disease develops still depends on the weather. This year, growers face heightened chances of an outbreak. The reason: FHB is capable of surviving over winter on crop residue, which becomes a reservoir of inoculum the following year. Then a spell of low temperatures and high humidity, can trigger the discharge of spores, which often happens during crop flowering.
As part of the research trial, Leibrecht treated 20 acres with Prosaro, and an additional 20 acres with BASF’s fungicide Headline. Following harvest, the results were 63.2 bu/ac in the Prosaro field, 60.1 bu/ac on the Headline field and 55.1 on the untreated check. “Prosaro has been available in Europe and the U.S. for several years and it’s been very successful in those markets,” says Graham Hastie, manager of cereal crops fungicide/insecticides and seed treatments for Bayer CropScience Canada. “It’s currently the number one FHB product globally so we are pleased that we can bring this to Canadian growers this year.” Hastie says that with products like Prosaro, Bayer is trying to change the way growers think about disease control. Traditionally they’ve waited until the last minute to invest in a fungicide when they
Leibrecht’s 20 acre research trial results
Prosaro Headline Untreated
50
63.2 bu/ac
60.1 bu/ac
55.1 bu/ac
55
60
65
feel the weather warrants a treatment. However, a three-year study by Bayer showed that a good crop will produce a positive return to a fungicide investment regardless of environmental conditions. “Even in areas where disease pressure was low, yield was higher if a fungicide was applied,” says Hastie. “We are seeing increasing awareness by growers of the need to protect their crops, and those growers are fitting a fungicide application into their budget earlier in the season.” Hastie says Prosaro has a distinct advantage over the competition because of the way the two active ingredients complement each other. Tebuconazole enters and translocates through the plant for quick action on any disease present. Prothioconazole is slowFusarium-damaged wheat has thin or shrunken chalker and lasts longer, like kernels with a white or pinkish fibrous growth. protecting the plant I’m a firm believer in This growth is generally visible only when magnified. against future disease giving the plant the best activity. Put together possible chance it can effective over a period preventative measure to try to protect his they work better than of time, it works at flag yield potential. the active ingredients get if you want to get leaf on leaf disease, “I’m a firm believer in giving the used alone. the bushels and head stage on leaf plant the best possible chance it can get “Prosaro is both disease and FHB.” if you want to get the bushels,” says protective and curaLeibrecht says that if he gets the seed Leibrecht. “Not only did we get higher tive, so you have options on when to spray,” says Hastie. “With the surfactant in the ground, he always protects it. yields on Prosaro fields last year, they we’ve chosen, the product hits the leaf While products like Prosaro allow him to had better protein and higher bushel and sticks, which makes it immediately wait until he sees some signs of disease weight. That means more dollars in my available to the plant. And because it is before application, he uses fungicide as a pocket.” FF
PHOTOs (left) courtesy bayer cropscience; (right) courtesy Canadian Grain Commission
Fusarium-damaged kernels don’t make the grade Last year’s weather was ideal for the spread of fusarium head blight (FHB) across the prairies. As growers delivered their damaged grain to elevators, they awaited word on whether it made the grade. Fusarium-damaged grain can be visually assessed, if you know what to look for. “We have definitions and procedures that allow us to conclusively determine the percentage of damaged kernels in a given delivery,” says Daryl Beswitherick, an inspection specialist with the Canadian Grain Commission. “Fusarium-damaged kernels are typically thin or shrunken and chalklike, with a white or pinkish mold or fibrous growth in the crease.” These visual symptoms are known collectively as fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK). In Canada, FHB is caused by four species of fungus, the most relevant being Fusarium graminearum. This species has been found mostly in black soil zones — areas that receive the most precipitation. Rain encourages development of funguses such as fusarium. Grain inspectors take a representative sample of grain (ap-
proximately 1,000 grams) and divide it down into sub-samples of 50g to 100g. Next, they go through the sample and pick out suspect kernels, and look for the white mold. They confirm mold growth in the crease using 10-power magnification. “A whitish color doesn’t always mean FDK,” cautions Beswitherick. “Sometimes there will be small or thin kernels with a whitish appearance, but unless there is mold growth the kernels will not be considered as FDK.” Once the percentage of fusarium is identified, a grading table is used, to determine grade for the entire delivery. Tolerances for red spring wheat are 0.25 per cent for a number one grade, 0.8 per cent for number two, and 1.5 per cent for number three. FDK is also a predictor of the level of the fungal toxin known as DON in a sample. “We can’t see DON, but we know that certain species of fusarium produce DON,” says Beswitherick. “While the relationship between fusarium and DON varies field by field, when you look at blended grain from primary elevators the relationship is very close.” FF
Farm Forum.cA | 21
fa r m l i f e
OYF Winners Use Social Media To Build Business By Jennifer Barber
Knowing how to market your business is key for any entrepreneur. And for Kevin and Annamarie Klippenstein, combining new marketing tools with tried and true ability has brought them business success and recognition as BC/Yukon region’s 2011 Outstanding Young Farmers. “Our plan from day one was to work directly with consumers,” says Annamarie, who together with husband Kevin runs Klippers Organic Acres at Cawston, BC, in the south Okanagan. “We adapt
Kevin and Annamarie install solar panels on the roof of their apprenticeship accommodation/drying facility. 22 | Farm Forum | Summer 2011
what we grow each year based directly on feedback from those who buy from us.” Their business began when the Klippensteins bought a farm with a five-acre orchard and small greenhouse in 2001, with the intention of meeting local demand for organic produce. They spent the first three years in business slowly gaining entry into the busy, high profile farmers’ markets in the Vancouver area. They bought and leased more land as their business grew, and now work 40 acres. In addition to selling at farmers’
markets, they have expanded into valueadded fruit products such as dried fruits, herbs, jams and salsa. They have also established a summer and winter Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box program. Through the CSAs, community members purchase memberships from local farmers to help cover the production costs on the farm. Members in turn receive a weekly share of the harvest during the growing season. Through growth and diversification the Klippensteins doubled their revenue every year for the first four years in business and then grew by about 50 per cent every year after that. While they had already developed a website to further Klippers Organic Acres’ profile, they jumped on the social media bandwagon a year ago, using Facebook and Twitter to promote their products. This led to an international following. In an effort to teach what they’ve learned, they provide apprenticeships for up to 10 people each year. This year, one of their apprentices is blogging about her experience, further spreading the virtual word about their business and production methods. “Because we’ve been successful at what we do we want to give back,” says Kevin. “We take young people and we teach them the full range of what they need to know to get their crops off the ground and run a farm like ours — from how to get the best yield, to how to access land, to accounting and pest control. Our goal is to prepare them to run their own business.” Their apprenticeship program has produced so many graduates interested in going into business for themselves, the Klippensteins are now helping those people find land to farm. They’ve amassed a database of available land for new producers, often from older farmers who have nobody to take over their farms. “They are true ambassadors for agriculture,” says Karen Brown, one of the BC/Yukon region OYF judges, and an alumnus of the program. “In terms of judging we’re always comparing apples with oranges. No two operations are alike
— in fact they’re often not even similar. So we have to judge on other criteria such as how a nominee improves the business of agriculture,” she adds. “Through their knowledge and their apprenticeships, the Klippensteins promote what they do — not just their products.” To be eligible for the OYF award, farmers must be between 18 and 39 years of age and earn at least two thirds of their annual income from the farm. They also need to demonstrate progress throughout their careers. Judges look at conservation practices, management practices, production history, financial issues and contributions to the community. Seven regional competitions are held across the country, with two national winners chosen from that group each year. “OYF judges each come at the process with a different perspective,” says
PHOTOS COURTESY Klippers Organic Acres
They jumped on the social media bandwagon a year ago, using Facebook and Twitter to promote their products. This led to an international following Brown. “In our region, we have a judge who looks at the financial aspects of the business; one who looks at it from an industry perspective; and an alumnus (me) of the program. We look for a regional representative who can meet all of our expectations.” Brown says that it was evident the Klippensteins knew their business and also were aware of some of the most efficient ways to spread the word about their products to customers. “One of the things we look for is an awareness Lauren and Ryan Maurer of the business side of agriculture and I working on their farm, Land think their knowledge of how to be good and Sky Grains, in Grenfell, SK. business people is one of the things that makes them so successful.” Brown adds that judges want to see farmers who are excited about agriculture, and the Klippensteins easily meet that criterion. Today’s OYF winners also give back to the industry and to the next generation of young farmers. On that count, too, the Klippensteins qualify in spades. In addition to their apprenticeship program, they are supported by up
Annamarie shows Kiarah how to cut back onions prior to transplanting.
The Klippenstein family: Back L to R: Brayden and Azalya. Front L to R: Kiarah, Landen, Kevin and Annamarie.
Winter farmers’ market in Vancouver at the Nat Bailey stadium. Runs every weekend from November to end of April (except Christmas and New Years).
to 30 volunteers who help them at farmers’ markets. Brown also commends the regional winners for their innovation and leadership savvy. Klippers Organic Acres was the first organic farm in BC to have a certified Environmental Farm Plan. It’s also the first to be certified “salmon safe”, a designation signifying the operation’s minimal impact on the salmon in the rivers that run through their land. In addition, the Klippensteins installed solar panels to heat water, have geothermal heating in their house and are looking into solar power for their cooling needs as well.
While the Klippensteins have been finalists three other times since 2005, they believe they just needed a little more experience and a little more time to prove themselves before taking home the regional award. “The feedback we always received was that the judges wanted to see how we tackled a bad year,” says Kevin. “We have had tough weather and other issues on the farm and we have come out on top. We’re diversified enough that when we have an issue somewhere, we have a success somewhere else. We’ve been farming 10 years, and each year is better than the year before.” FF Farm Forum.cA | 23
CropTalk
Volume 20 | Issue 3
What’s new with Bayer CropScience products
A logical approach to protect canola W
ith many pests in your crop, you scout for the problem and then make a decision on how to deal with it. But with sclerotinia stem rot on canola, to get the best control you have to apply a fungicide before you even know it’s going to be a problem. The decision of whether or not to spray is difficult for many farmers, yet the wrong decision can result in a sclerotinia outbreak severely affecting your yield at harvest.
So how do you decide if a fungicide application is worth the investment? First, look at last year’s disease incidence as sclerotinia overwinters in the soil. Second, look at your crop health. Given the widespread incidence of sclerotinia across the Prairies, if you have a thick, healthy crop, you are at risk. Finally, take a look at the online tool developed by Bayer CropScience to help calculate your potential return on investment from a Proline fungicide application on your canola. The Proline Logic Calculator will ask you to input agronomic, environmental and economic factors, and then it will calculate how Proline fungicide can protect your crop’s yield and make you money. The simple-to-use calculator walks you though the decision step-by-step, taking into account the variables that should be considered. These include yield potential, the estimated price of canola, application costs and acres of InVigor and Proline purchased. It also provides a chart for entering potential disease pressure based on past and current regional environmental conditions. Once all your information is entered, the calculator will provide you with a suggested return on investment from a timely application of Proline. You can expect more from your crop when you choose Proline, and the Logic Calculator will help show how it can protect your investment. CT
http://www.bayercropscience.ca/products/fungicides/proline/logic-calculator/
24 | Farm Forum | Summer 2011
A Newsletter from Bayer cropscience
With the right tools in hand, disease protection is all in the timing L
ast year it was wet on much of the prairies. Really wet. including canola and pulses. It belongs to a class of chemisAnd that meant a jump in disease across most of west- tries which protect, cure and eradicate essential components ern Canada. You saw first hand how disease could take of the disease growth. a good-looking crop and turn it into a poor FUNGICIDE TIMING quality, low-yielding STRATEGO FOLICUR performer. This year PROSARO you can expect more from your crop with a timely fungicide flowering application. late vegetative Bayer CropScience early vegetative Canada offers a family of fungicides for different crops, including Prosaro®, ® Folicur EW and ProGermination End of Beginning First node Node 2 Flag leaf Flag leaf First awns Beginning End of Flowering Grain Ripening tillering of stem at least at least just visible, stage: flag visible of heading heading filling line®. Each product elongation 1 cm above 2 cm above still rolled leaf fully tillering node node 1 unrolled has unique properties to meet your crop’s Proline offers high levels of control against sclerotinia needs. To get the maximum return on your fungicide investment, you need to pick the fungicide that will work best – when stem rot in canola, especially when applied at 20-50% flower. While the symptoms of stem rot don’t appear until later you need it to work. in the crop’s growth, getting it early is key to preserving yield. Prosaro is the latest On average, canola treated with Proline in the early stages cereal fungicide from saw a 15% yield advantage over the untreated check. Bayer CropScience. Proline is also a proven performer against ascochyta Using the two best blight in chickpeas and lentils, which can result in yield active ingredients losses in excess of 70%. Proline can be applied to pulses available, it has pre- at the first sign of disease, and can be sprayed three times ventative and curative properties in the fight against leaf dis- in a crop year. ease and fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat and barley. When applied at early flowering of the wheat head and Folicur EW has a just after head emergence in barley, Prosaro protects against flexible window of FHB through the grain fill period, while curing any existing application, a wide leaf disease on the plant. range of application For optimal protection of both leaf disease and FHB, Prorates and an imsaro can be applied to wheat when at least 75% of the wheat pressive spectrum heads on the main stem are emerged up until 50% of the of disease control on wheat, barley and oats. As with most heads on the main stem are in flower. For barley, apply when fungicides, the best results come from application prior to at least 70% of the barley main stem heads are fully emerged infection, or in the very early stages of disease development. with 50% of the florets exposed. To best combat both leaf and stem diseases, Folicur EW ®
®
®
PHOTOs coutesty bayer cropscience
PROSARO
Providing systemic control, Proline is a fast acting fungicide for broad-spectrum disease control in a variety of crops
should be applied at ¾ rate from the late vegetative state to the end of the flowering stage. For suppression of FHB and control of septoria glume blotch, Folicur EW should be applied when a minimum of 75% of the heads on the main stem are fully emerged, up until 50% of the heads on the main stem are in flower. CT
Farm Forum.cA | 25
CropTalk Keeping on top of sclerotinia risk now can mean better yields at harvest N
ow that your crop is in the ground, it’s time to start thinking about in-season control. Sclerotinia stem rot struck western growers hard last year, and to keep it from wreaking havoc this season, growers have to be on top of the disease. “Once the crop is in the ground the only way to keep sclerotinia under control is with a fungicide,” says Roger Rotariu, Manager, Oilseed Crops Fungicides, Insecticides and Seed Treatments with Bayer CropScience. “If you have a good, thick crop you have to assume that if the weather conditions are right, you will have sclerotinia in your crop.” Most fungicides on the market control about 65-70% of sclerotinia stem rot. Proline from Bayer CropScience, however, is one of the only products available with consistent 80% control. Sclerotinia can affect yield on all broadleaf crops. A rule of thumb is that yield loss equals disease incidence divided by two. In 2010, many fields saw a 30-40% infection rate, meaning a 15-20% yield loss. High levels of disease last year also meant higher than normal levels of disease inoculum left overwintering in the soil. “Higher incidence of disease does not necessarily mean higher severity, but it’s a good start,” says Faye Dokken-Bouchard, a plant disease specialist with the Province of Saskatchewan. “The growth of the disease is heavily dependent on in-season moisture, especially two to three weeks before flowering.” In 2010, the Province of Saskatchewan collected information on the incidence and severity of sclerotinia stem rot. They found that 91% of the 265 fields reviewed had some signs of the disease, and in moist areas they found sclerotinia on up to 93% of the plants.
Think ahead While rotation is an important crop management tool, the sclerotia that cause stem rot can live in the soil for up to five years, and can affect or
26 | Farm Forum | Summer 2011
be hosted on many crops. However spacing out affected crops will reduce the build-up of the disease inoculum in the soil. Seed choice can also help reduce disease risk. Bayer CropScience will launch a new InVigor hybrid next year that will offer built-in defense mechanisms to fight against sclerotinia. “After one year of trials we saw a significant reduction of sclerotinia,” says Rotariu. “We anticipate when you combine this seed with a fungicide like Proline you’ll be able to reduce your infection rate by over 90%.” There are also soil treatments available for application in fall to kill off the overwintering sclerotia. But growers will need to look at the situation around them. “While crop rotation and disease incidence in their own field is most critical, spores can also spread from field to field through the air,” DokkenBouchard says. “Growers need to be as aware of what’s in their neighbour’s field as they are with their own.” CT
Disease Cycle of Sclerotinia Stem Rot
A Newsletter from Bayer cropscience
PROSARO
Text to win with Prosaro! It couldn’t be easier to enter. Just text PROSARO1 to 32075 for your chance to win an all-expense paid trip to the 2011 Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. Enter now – contest closes July 30th! The winner will be selected by random draw on August 8, 2011 and contacted by phone. Visit Prosaro online at BayerCropScience.ca/Prosaro for complete contest rules and regulations.
Do you know what fusarium head Premium Protection New Prosaro fungicide from Bayer CropScience delivers blight is costing you? premium protection for your wheat and barley. When ap-
PHOTOs coutesty bayer cropscience
Fusarium head blight (FHB) infections are increasing throughout the Canadian prairies. FHB reduces kernel weight, quality and ultimately the yield of your wheat and barley.
The Canadian Grain Commission announced that as little as 0.2% infection rate could mean the difference between malt barley and feed, with a 0.8% infection rate costing you a full grade.
plied at early heading, Prosaro protects against FHB, reduces DON levels and other mycotoxins, and stops all major leaf diseases. Prosaro contains two leading active ingredients – tebuconazole for fast activity and prothioconzole for future defense. Prosaro will deliver the highest level of control and curative activity on leaf diseases and the highest level of protection against FHB in wheat and barley. With Prosaro you can protect your wheat and barley against the threat of FHB. CT
Always read and follow label directions. Folicur®, Proline®, Prosara® are trademarks of Bayer. All other products mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.
Farm Forum.cA | 27
SBC11001.Pros.1.01.indd 1
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Always read and follow label directions. Prosaro® is a registered trademark of Bayer. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.
BayerCropScience.ca or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative.
COULDA SHOULDA WOULDA DID
06/11-SBC11001
For unparalleled yield and quality in your wheat and barley crops, choose NEW Prosaro® fungicide. It delivers premium disease protection against fusarium head blight (FHB), reduces DON levels and controls leaf diseases. Two leading actives – tebuconazole for fast activity and prothioconazole for future defense – bring curative and preventative properties to your crop. Prosaro is truly the complete package for protecting both cereal crops and your peace of mind. Rest easy with Prosaro. To hear the Prosaro debut songs visit YouTube.com/BayerCropScienceca
PROSARO