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Volume 38, Number 14 | SEPTEMBER 2012

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PRACTICAL PRODUCTION TIPS FOR THE PRAIRIE FARMER

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Sulphur is essential Don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t need to worry about sulphur. Especially if you’re growing canola BY ANGELA LOVELL

A “

cross most of Western Canada, if you do grid sampling, large areas of the field can actually be sulphur responsive even when the bulked soil tests say you don’t have to worry,” says Elston Solberg, president of Agri-Trend Agrology and an acknowledged expert in sulphur nutrition. This is especially true for canola, particularly in the Parkland region. Soil organic matter is the primary source of plant-available sulphur. Soil type and topography can play a significant part in the amount of sulphur that is present. Sandy soils, soils low in organic matter and upper to mid-slope positions are especially prone to sulphur deficiency. “Because of this, sulphur is probably the most variable nutrient across the landscape and it’s a challenge to get a reliable soil test result,” says Solberg. “For example, high sulphur levels are often associated with salinity and if just one core sample in 20 is a saline patch, that core can pollute the other 19 samples and give you a false positive result for sulphur content and false confidence. If a plant is Publications Mail Agreement Number 40069240

growing in that saline patch it will have access to oceans of sulphur, but a plant growing up the slope 100 feet away may be growing in a sulphur desert. “I put virtually no confidence in soil test sulphur levels unless they come back low — then you know you have a problem. If they come back adequate to high sulphur content, you are not really sure if that’s real or you hit a hot spot, so that’s when I rely on tissue samples to tell me if the plant has enough sulphur or not.”

SAMPLING FOR SULPHUR Many fertilizer recommendations for sulphur are based on samples taken from a zero- to six-inch depth, but this can also provide a misleading recommendation because there may be additional sulphur available in the subsoil. Taking additional samples at depths of six to 12 and 12 to 24 inches will give a more accurate interpretation of the sulphur status of the soil. While getting a representative sample is a challenge, soil sampling just before seeding will determine the soil-available sulphur present. Fall sampling can provide reliable

fertilizer recommendations — again if the sample is truly representative — when taken after the surface soil temperature drops below 5 C and microbial activity slows.

SULPHUR IS CRUCIAL Sulphur is an essential plant nutrient, but it’s particularly crucial for canola, which has the highest content of sulphur amino acids and sulphur compounds than most other plants. Canola is also much more sensitive to sulphur deficiency than cereals and other crops. Sulphur is a key component of two essential amino acids, cysteine and methionine, and is needed for protein and chlorophyll production. Methionine is the initiating amino acid in the synthesis of virtually all plant and animal proteins. A lack of methionine will have a negative impact upon the formation of other essential amino acids. “In other words, when sulphur is limited, methionine production is limited and this shortcircuits overall amino acid production,” says Solberg. The ability to produce these key amino acids in the right amounts is

» CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

PHOTOS: AAFC

When canola is sulphur deficient, leaves may take on a cupped appearance.

Leaves may redden from the leaf margins. Flowers are small and pale.

In This Issue

Wheat & Chaff ..................

Features ............................

Columns ........................... 32 Cattleman’s Corner .......... 17 Machinery & Shop ............ 38 FarmLife ............................ 44

Fungicides and Soil Life

ANGELA LOVELL PAGE 6

Winter wheat can produce good returns

Crop Advisor’s Casebook

LEE HARTY PAGE 8

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12-08-24 3:37 PM

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Wheat & Chaff LEEANN MINOGUE

“It’s ‘socket science’ for a few of us ‘dim bulbs’.”

Write, Email or Fax SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (CST) 1-800-665-0502

U.S. subscribers call 1-204-944-5568 or email: subscription@fbcpublishing.com If you have story ideas, call us. You can write the article and we’d pay you, or we can write it. Phone Leeann Minogue at 306-861-2678 Fax to 204-944-5416 Email leeann.minogue@fbcpublishing.com Write to Grainews, 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, Man. R3H 0H1

HEARTS

Ask for hearts When you renew your subscription to Grainews, be sure to ask for six Please Be Careful, We Love You hearts. Then stick them onto equipment that you, your loved ones and your employees operate. That important message could save an arm, a leg or a life.

My husband is cooler than Doctor Who. Since my 13-year-old niece came to stay with us, she’s been trying to teach us about “Doctor Who,” the long-running British TV series featuring a “timelord” who gets around in a “Tardis,” which seems to be an interplanetary time machine camouflaged as a British phone booth. She was explaining to our five-year old that “The Doctor” (she’s on familiar terms with the Timelord) can program his Tardis to get to a certain planet at a certain time, but that he can’t be too specific about where he lands. “He can go to a city on a planet,” she said, “but not a specific room in a house in that city.” (Are you still with me? This is where my husband comes in.) “Aha!” I said. “Brad has better technology than Doctor Who!” My niece looked confused, so I explained that while “The Doctor” can’t get his machine to target a specific room in a house, Brad’s swather can steer itself within two inches of a target. She looked more confused than impressed, until we showed her the swather in action. I’m still not sure she’s impressed. She was pretty quick to point out that, although Brad’s technology might be more geographically accurate, our GPS system only works on one planet (as far as we know). And, the swather can’t go back and forth in time (although after a few hours in the cab, time does seem to stand still). So, while it may be a toss-up between my husband and Doctor Who, autosteer technology is impressive.

AUTOSTEER In the past, we’d always just aimed for a spot on the horizon and hoped for the best. That seemed to work just fine, so I wasn’t hugely enthusiastic about adding autosteer. “It’s hard for me to pay attention out there

if I don’t have enough to do. What if I get too relaxed while it’s doing the steering, and I forget to watch for rocks? Or miss adjusting the header for a thin spot? I might fall asleep or something.” Brad didn’t say much in response to this. I suppose he was thinking of some of the piles of canola I’ve left in his fields in the past few years, and wondering how this could possibly be any worse. He may also have been thinking about some of the wandering swaths I’ve cut into the fields, and remembering how embarrassing it is when everyone driving by can see them from the road. He went ahead with the autosteer installation, and it turned out I love it.

THE UPSIDE As I see it, here are the six best reasons to install autosteer in the cab of your swather: 6. Those long, straight swaths do look really nice from the road. 5. There’s less need for overlap, and you don’t have to make that weirdly thin swath “to straighten things out” every few hours. This has to save on fuel, and time. 4. Knowing that you don’t have to worry about making the lines look good takes a lot of the stress out of the job. Not sweating about that gives you more time to plot out how you’re going to catch every last plant at the ends of the field, when you’re meeting the outside round on an angle. 3. You’re not just limited to talking to other people on your farm with the old two-way radio anymore! Or even trying to talk on your phone with the noise of the swather in the background. On a long, straight stretch, you can send texts and emails from the cab without drifting into the last swath. (On page 37 of this issue, Toban Dyck claims to be able to post photos of his progress on Facebook while he’s cultivating, thanks to autosteer.) 2. If you’re out late and accidentally get lost in the dark when you get disoriented going around a few sloughs (not that this would happen to me), you can use the map on the monitor to get your-

self reoriented and back on track. (Again, not that this would happen to me, but another handy option is a “compass” app on a smartphone). 1. Don’t worry — your staff (or spouse) won’t necessarily use the new tool just to sleep on the job. Or, if they do, there are other ways to tell if your swather-operator isn’t paying attention. My husband’s uncle told us about the late evening in Manitoba when he was using autosteer in an unfamiliar field. It was almost too late before he realized autosteer hadn’t detected a 30-foot bank. Luckily, he was vigilant enough to notice something was up a few seconds before he went over the cliff. Things didn’t go so well for another swather operator who let his autosteer guide him (and the swather) right to the top of an old rock pile. Now that the canola swathing has gone so well, my husband is planning to install it in the combine. Just like I was reluctant to see change in the swathing operation, my father-in-law isn’t hugely enthusiastic about autosteer in the combine. I’m sure he’ll be more interested after he gives it a try. Or when we get new software upgrades that allow it to travel to other planets.

AN UPDATE Despite the fabulously straight swaths, combining the canola has been a bit of a disappointment. We had a good, thick stand, and thought it would be one of our best canola crops ever. That didn’t turn out to be the case. There was some sclerotinia damage. And those nice, hot days in July were great days at the lake, but not so great for the canola. This in-crop canola disappointment is popping up in various areas across the Prairies. Thankfully, we have good prices to keep us cheerful. And there’s always that old standby, “At least we don’t have to truck as much back to the bins.” Perhaps we’ll have better results with the durum. And no matter what sort of yield we get, after last year’s flooding fiasco, combining any crop is a welcome change. Leeann

Like us on Facebook! Grainews has a Facebook page. Find, read and comment on blog posts easily and with a thumbs up!

Find us on Twitter: Leeann Minogue is @grainmuse Lee Hart is @hartattacks Scott Garvey is @machineryeditor View from the swather cab. It would be helpful if someone would invent autowindow-clean, to go with the autosteer.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

grainews.ca /

Wheat & Chaff Farm safety

pest control

Avoiding Farmer’s Lung

ike most farmers, you’ve probably spent years kicking up dust clouds working the fields and handling your grain. If you’ve been careful, you’ve been wearing the appropriate protective equipment. But still, years of accumulated dust exposure could be wreaking havoc on your lungs. Extrinsic allergic alveolitis, or Farmer’s Lung, is an allergic disease caused by breathing in dust from mouldy crops. While mouldy hay is a big culprit, any mouldy crop, including grain, corn and tobacco, can contribute to Farmer’s Lung. In acute cases, the sufferer will experience an intense attack about four to eight hours after exposure. Symptoms could include: shortness of breath, a dry, irritating cough, fever and chills, a sudden general feeling of sickness, rapid heart rate, and/or rapid breathing. While symptoms usually subside after 12 hours, in serious cases they can persist for as long as 12 weeks. In less severe cases, the sufferer will experience vague symptoms similar to a chest cold including: coughing, shortness of breath, mild fever and occasional chills, a general feeling of sickness, aches and pains in the muscles and joints, and/ or appetite and weight loss. In chronic cases, permanent lung damage can occur. The first step in any treatment is to avoid further contact with

the irritant. But whether you have it or not, there are steps you can take to reduce your mould exposure. Start by identifying any mould risks that exist on your operation, and explore any options available for reducing spore development. In cases where mould is present, prevent exposure by ensuring workers, family members, and any other nearby individuals are wearing HEPA-filtered (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) dust respirators and are properly trained on respirator use, such as when and how to don them. Dust exposure in buildings can be reduced further through a combination of proper ventilation and spraying mouldy crop before sweeping or transportation. This latter step will help prevent spores from becoming airborne. Once hypersensitivity occurs, Farmer’s Lung could persist for years, or longer. If you think you may already have Farmer’s Lung, talk to your doctor and reference your potential occupational exposure. If you don’t, take the time now to identify and control any dust hazards. You will breathe easier. For more information on Farmer’s Lung, check out: ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/ farmers_lung.html or call the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety at 1-800-668-4284. † From the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association — www.planfarmsafety.ca.

insect control

Wait 21 days to harvest

he Canola Council of Canada reminds farmers using Lorsban or generics Citadel, Pyrinex or Nufos to wait 21 days afterwards before direct combining or swathing. When it comes to following the rules around pre-harvest intervals (PHIs), all farmers have to work together. The council’s “Canola Watch Alert” says: “Our canola industry

relies on exports, and countries that we export to have strict regulations on the types of trace residues they allow in canola. These residues are detectable and could be traced back to individual farms in parts per billion. That amounts to nine seeds in a super-B. Please protect the quality of your load and our canola exports by always following PHIs.” † www.canolacouncil.org.

photo contest

GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOT When Brad Waldner’s grain wagon got stuck while he was hauling barley out of a field, he took his four-year-old son Dylan along when he went to pull it out. Brad says, “Of course, he had never seen anything like it and was amazed that something so big could get stuck. Of course, we all know the bigger it is, the easier it will get stuck. I had my camera along and couldn’t help but snap a few shots of a bit of a funny scene.” The Waldners operate 4,500 acres of farmland and a 1,200-sow farrow-to-finish farm near Marquette, Manitoba. A cheque for $25 is on its way to Brad Waldner. To get yours, send your best shot to leeann.minogue@fbcpublishing.com. Please send only one or two photos at a time and include your name and address, the names of anyone in the photo, where the photo was taken and a bit about what was going on that day. A little writeup about your farm is welcome, too. Please ensure that images are of high resolution (1 MB is preferred), and if the image includes a person, we need to be able to see their face clearly. — Leeann

Fighting army worms

anitoba farmers are getting some free biological pest control in the form of a fungus attacking bertha army worms, says an insect and disease report from Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives. There have been several reports of substantial numbers of bertha army worm being found dead on the upper parts of plants in some areas,” the

report says. “These reports have been coming from the southwest, Dauphin and Swan River areas, and the Interlake. “This could be caused by a virus or a fungus, although in a couple of these accounts the larvae were described as looking ‘melted’ on the plants, which is something typical of infection by the virus.” † www.agcanada.com.

seed

New glyphosate tolerance traits coming

new trait that allows canola plants to tolerate exposure to higher levels of glyphosate than the current genetically modified gene pool is expected to be available for “preview” in 2014. Monsanto Canada recently announced it has picked up “full food, feed and environmental safety approval” from Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for its next-generation Roundup Ready canola trait, to be branded TruFlex Roundup Ready. Monsanto expects to be able to offer a “commercial preview launch” to canola growers in 2014. With increased crop tolerance

for glyphosate, farmers will have the “flexibility” to use the rate they need for “tough-to-control” weeds, such as dandelions and foxtail barley, said David Kelner, Monsanto’s canola technical lead for Western Canada. The wider application window, he said, will allow farmers to “deal with poor weather conditions that prevent spraying, without risk of crop injury due to late application.” Monsanto’s announcement follows a similar release at the end of May by DuPont-owned seed giant Pioneer Hi-Bred, which is in the process of rebranding itself under the new name DuPont Pioneer. The company announced it has

picked up Canadian regulatory approval for cultivation, feed and food use of its proprietary glyphosate-tolerant Optimum GLY brand canola. Optimum GLY canola was developed partly using the company’s own DNA shuffling technology to provide tolerance to glyphosate herbicide and offer “greater convenience for growers,” the company said. Pioneer said it expects to commercialize Optimum GLY canola in “mid-decade,” pending key regulatory approvals from export markets globally. † www.agcanada.com.

marketing

Protein premium added to wheat contract

innipeg commodity exchange ICE Futures Canada has moved to try and encourage open interest in its milling wheat contract through a new protein premium option. As of Aug. 14, the contract deliverable grades for ICE’s milling wheat (WA) contract now include an option to deliver No. 1 or No. 2 Canada Western red spring (CWRS) with a minimum protein of 13.5 per cent at a premium of $5 per net tonne. The change followed a meeting of the Winnipeg exchange’s board of directors and “consultation with market participants,” ICE says.

The company also announced the removal of the option to deliver No. 1 or No. 2 CWRS with a minimum protein of 12.5 per cent. Therefore, ICE said, CWRS wheat must have a minimum protein content of 13 per cent — on a 13.5 per cent moisture basis — to be deliverable against the WA futures contract. That’s on top of meeting “all other grade requirements listed in (ICE) rules” for milling wheat, such as maximum vomitoxin of two parts per million and maximum dockage of one per cent. The WA contract prices physical delivery of CWRS wheat free

on board at elevators in the par area of eastern Saskatchewan (the area east of Saskatoon, which may include Manitoba locations near the Saskatchewan border). ICE launched new milling wheat, durum (DW) and barley (BW) contracts in January following the federal government’s passage of Bill C-18, which on Aug. 1 ended the former Canadian Wheat Board’s single marketing desk for Prairie wheat and barley. The exchange last week delisted its little-used pre-C-18 western barley (AB) contract, which had seen no trade activity since April 23. † www.agcanada.com.

/ grainews.ca

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Cover Stories Soil management tissue samples can confirm the severity of the deficiency and allow a more accurate recommendation for sulphur supplementation.

» CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

sulphur is essential

1 6 6 6 D u b l i n Av e n u e , W i n n i p e g , MB R 3 H 0 H 1 w w w. g r a i n e w s . c a

Fertilization strategies

related to the ratio of nitrogen (N) to sulphur (S) in the plant. “The requirement of sulphur for optimum seed yield and quality tended to increase with increasing amount of nitrogen applied, and should be considered when planning for sulphur fertilization,” says Sukhdev Malhi, a research scientist who has led numerous research projects into sulphur fertilizer management at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC’s) Research Farm at Melfort, Saskatchewan. Generally the target N:S ratio should be 6:1 in canola, 11:1 in cereals and 9:1 in pulses. “We know from experience that the tighter the N:S ratios are in the tissues of all crops the more efficiently that crop will utilize pretty much everything,” says Solberg.

PUBLI SH ER

There are a lot of different sulphur products on the market and many different ways to apply them, whether before seeding, at seeding or in crop. But proper plant nutrition — of any element — begins with careful management. “It’s important to know what the rotation has been, what past yields have been and the fertility program that was used,” says Solberg. “If last year’s crop was an 80-bushel-peracre hard red spring wheat with high protein, that crop will have pulled out a lot more nitrogen and sulphur than a 50-bushel crop with average protein. You need to factor in the rotational effects, the yields, the past inputs and what the soil and/or tissue tests are telling you in order to make a decision about the best sources and methods of sulphur fertilization.” Elemental sulphur (ES) is inexpensive, readily available in Western Canada and is easy to transport. The fact that it’s a slow, biologically released product, which needs to be oxidized by soil bacteria into a usable form, can be either an advantage or a disadvantage depending on the immediacy of the crop needs. How long this conversion to sulphate will take depends on a number of factors, such as the particle size, dispersal area and levels of moisture and temperature. Malhi’s research at AAFC in Melfort suggests techniques to increase the oxidation rate of ES in the soil include reducing the particle size of the fertilizer product and using tillage to incorporate it

Sulphur deficiency Sulphur deficiency symptoms vary between crops. In canola, symptoms may begin as early as the one-leaf stage, with the newest leaves turning yellowish green with darkened veins. Leaves may take on a “cupped” appearance, later reddening from the leaf margins. Flowers are small and pale, and produce small, underdeveloped, purple pods. Plants that are only mildly deficient in sulphur may still have good vegetative growth, but the flowers and pods will be underdeveloped. Yellowing of newly emerging leaves in cereals and forage grasses is a strong indication that the plants are sulphur deficient. Once the symptoms are visible,

Bob Willcox Associate Publisher/ Editorial director

John Morriss

Edito r

Leeann Minogue Cattleman’s Corner Editor

Lee Hart Farm li fe Edito r

Sue Armstrong Machinery EDITOR

Scott Garvey Pro duction Di recto r

Shawna Gibson

Sulphur-deficient plants may have good vegetative growth, but underdeveloped flowers and pods. into the soil to make contact with soil micro-organisms that convert it into plant-available sulphur sulphate. Most ES is in granular form. The smaller the particles within the granules, the faster the soil bacteria will be able to convert it. It also needs to be applied far in advance of crop demand. “Elemental sulphur fertilizers were not effective in increasing seed yield and sulphur uptake of canola in the first year of application, particularly when applied in spring,” says Malhi. ES applied in the fall gave a greater seed yield in canola than spring applications of ES in three of the six years studied, but it was still not consistently as effective as sulphate fertilizers applied in the spring. One of the strategies that is often used by farmers is to broadcast large amounts — 90 to 150 pounds per acre actual sulphur as ES either in the fall, if growing canola, or early in the spring or

after seeding if growing a lowerdemand crop. Due to the slow release, this application will provide enough sulphur for crop needs for the following three to five years. Typically, farmers who adopt this strategy apply ES to a different third of their acres every year. Once it is applied, the next application converts more rapidly, which means they have the added advantage of being able to reduce application rates in subsequent years. Broadcasting ES also reduces the amount of product put down at seeding, helping to streamline seeding operations, and save time and money. Farmers can also still opt to add more sulphur in crop if the yield potential warrants it. “If you want to have a little extra insurance, especially when you are growing a high-demand crop like canola,

» continued on page 5

EXTENDED OUTLOOK FOR THE PRAIRIES Weather Forecast for the period of September 2 to September 29, 2012

Southern Alberta

Peace River Region

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

September 2 - 8 Highs reach the 20s at times, but 2 or 3 cooler nights bring a frost threat. Fair, aside from scattered rain or showers.

September 2 - 8 Fair, aside from scattered rain or showers. Highs reach the 20s at times, but 2 or 3 cooler nights bring a frost threat.

September 2 - 8 Seasonal to warm, but frost threatens on a couple of clear, cooler nights. Fair skies overall with scattered showers or rain.

September 2 - 8 Seasonable but temperatures dip to single digits with a frost threat here and there. Fair overall with scattered showers or rain.

September 9 - 15 Changeable as brisk winds and warm days interchange with cooler air and scattered rain. Some lows fall to near zero.

September 9 - 15 Seasonal to occasionally blustery and warm, but frost occurs on a couple of nights. Fair, aside from some rain on 1 or 2 days.

September 9 - 15 Variable. Sunny fair weather is interrupted by a few showers at times. Blustery. Fluctuating temperatures. Frost patches.

September 16 - 22 Generally fair but look for rain on a couple of days. Chance of snow in the north. Variable temperatures. Blustery. Frosty nights.

September 16 - 22 Changeable temperatures often in the teens. Some frost at night. Fair, other than passing rain on a couple of occasions.

September 16 - 22 Changeable temperatures with frost on a couple of clear, cool nights. Fair skies, apart from rain and brisk winds on 1 or 2 days.

September 23 - 29 Dry on most days, but showers occur here and there. Showers will be more numerous in central and northern areas. Temperatures fluctuate with some frost pockets.

September 23 - 29 Dry on most days, but showers occur here and there. Showers will be more numerous in central and northern areas. Temperatures fluctuate under brisk winds.

September 23 - 29 Frost on a few nights as temperatures oscillate from mild to cool. Sunshine dominates but look for a couple of unsettled days with rain.

September 23 - 29 Expect a couple of frosty nights as temperatures vary from mild to cool. Sunny, but rain or showers on a couple of occasions this week.

4 / 16 Grande Prairie 42.2 mms

Precipitation Forecast 3 / 17 Edmonton 41.6 mms

5 / 17 North Battleford

3 / 16 Jasper

37.0 mms

BELOW NORMAL

3 / 16

43.8 mms

Banff

3 / 17 Red Deer 54.2 mms

4 / 17 Calgary

Forecasts should be 80% accurate, but expect variations by a day or two because of changeable speed of weather systems.

48.1 mms

6 / 20 Medicine Hat cms Lethbridge 36.319mms 44.2 mms 26 cms 5 / 20

3 / 16 Prince Albert 39.8 mms

5 / 15 The Pas

57.3 mms

BELOW NORMAL

30.6 mms

5 / 18 Saskatoon 32.1 mms

4 / 17 Yorkton

5 / 18 Dauphin

62.0 mms 6 / 17 4 / 19 48.0 mms 6 / 19 Gimli Regina 5 / 18 Moose Jaw 34.4 mms 47.9 mms Swift 35.2 mms 6 / 19 4 / 18 Current Portage 6 / 19 5 / 19 NEAR Brandon 50.1 mms Winnipeg 33.7 mms Weyburn NORMAL 42.3 mms 6 / 19 50.5 mms 51.3 mms Estevan Melita 4 / 20 42.2 mms

52.7 mms

Precipitation Outlook For September Much Above Normal Below Much above normal normal below normal normal

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Your next issue! You can expect your next issue in your mailbox about October 8, 2012

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

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

grainews.ca /

Features sulphur is essential

you can then put a little bit of ammonium sulphate (AS) down at the time of seeding and that gives you an extra level of confidence that the canola will get enough sulphur,â€? says Solberg. â€œBecause AS and other sulphate formulations are immediately available to the plant, this is a strategy that is working really successfully and we can see that in crop yields and in our tissue analyses, as the N:S ratios are really tight and consistent and in the crop yields.â€? AS can present some challenges when seed placed. â€œAS has a high salt index, so it can have some negative effects when it comes to being seed placed or put near the seed,â€? says Solberg ES manufacturers have combination products of AS and ES, which can be very effective in certain situations. â€œIf a producer hasnâ€™t used ES before he can rely on the immediate availability of the AS and then the biological availability of the ES,â€? says Solberg, adding that there are also some new ES products that contain micronutrients. â€œThe idea is you can put on your sulphur requirements and look after your copper and/ or boron and/or manganese at the same time if these micronutrients are lacking in the soil.â€?

In-crop supplements Once a farmer has confirmed that the crop is deficient in sulphur, there is a very short time frame to apply supplemental sulphur and have any chance of it getting down to the root systems and into the plant to fix the problem. Sulphate formulations, such as AS, provide sulphur for immediate uptake by the growing crop. Sulphate is very soluble and moves easily with water through the soil to the plant roots. However, during dry, spring conditions, broadcast sulphate can become stranded without adequate moisture. In this case, canola establishment and growth can be impeded. With adequate or good moisture, sulphate can be broadcast in the spring with good results. Ammonium thiosulphate (ATS) is a liquid product that can be used on canola or cereal crops, which is often applied at the same time as a nitrogen application to try and maintain a good N:S ratio. â€œATS is an intermediary product in the breakdown of sulphate and so it is a great product to help protect surface-banded UAN or urea,â€? says Solberg. â€œWhen you combine it with UAN it helps protect the UAN from volatilization losses.â€? Other sulphur products that meet specific needs include potassium thiosulphate (K2SO4), which is similar to ATS but with a potassium carrier and S15 from Cargill, which contains phosphorus, nitrogen and sulphur, with half of the sulphur being ES and the other half sulphate. Gypsum is calcium sulphate and is more commonly used when there is a soil structure problem, but it can be used as a slow-release sulphur source. Manure, particularly liquid hog manure, is low in sulphur relative to nitrogen. Manure analyses have shown that N:S ratios varied from 7:1 to 17:1 for cattle manure

and from 13:1 to 25:1 for pig AS, broadcast on the soil surface, slurry. In the case of canola, the needs to dissolve and move into majority of these N:S ratios are the root system. Liquid products, too wide for optimum produc- like ATS, applied by streaming in tion. In the majority of cases, bands, penetrate somewhat, but supplemental sulphur fertilization not enough to reach the root syswill be required when using ani- tem. In all cases rainfall is needed to mal manure to fertilize canola to maintain the optimal 6:1 N:S ratio make sure that the product moves far enough into the soil, so that in plants. Identifying sulphur deficiency the roots can take it up. â€œThe earas soon as possible is crucial to give lier you can identify a deficiency sulphur time to work its way down the earlier you can respond and into the root system. Solberg did the higher the probability of gettrials in the 1990s which showed ting a rainfall to move the sulphur that putting on AS at a rate of 20 into the ground quick enough to GRACOL to 30 lbs./acre at the late-bolting get a response,â€? says Solberg. to early-bloom stages gave good Client: Broadhead Co. results. Economics Rainfall is critical following Canola more sensitive to sulphur deficiency than cereals and other crops. 69925 As with most fertilizers and application to maximize the effiđ°‚Śđ°€Ąđ°€˛đ°€˛đ°€łđ°€˛đ°€Ąđ° ‹đ° ˘đ° ¤đ° Źđ° ´đ° °đ° Żđ°€Ąđ° ”đ° ľđ°€Ąđ° ?đ° †đ°€đ°€Ąđ° ”đ° ľđ° Śđ°€Ąđ°€˛đ°€˛đ°€´đ°€Ąđ°‚Śđ°€Ąđ° Žđ° Şđ° Żđ° Żđ° Śđ° ˘đ° ąđ° °đ° đ° Şđ° ´đ°€đ°€Ąđ° Žđ° ?đ°€Ąđ°€śđ°€śđ°€ľđ°€˛đ°€´đ°€Ąđ°‚Śđ°€Ąđ°€ˇđ°€˛đ°€łđ°€Żđ°€¸đ°€ˇđ°€¸đ°€Żđ°€´đ°€ľđ°€śđ°€ś ciency of an in-crop sulphur appli- supplements the cost has to be donâ€™t have to worry about sul- in any crop, if you donâ€™t have Epson Color Profile: Gracol Swop News Supplied Lpi: balanced against the potential phur. Yes, if you are only growing adequate sulphur nutrition, you cation. â€œWhen you put sulphur and that boils down toNews30-bushel-per-acre then Pub/Swop3 do not have on as a foliar product,Approval very little Stock: return Fortune McCoy Producto Pub Supplied Epson Stock: canola, Comm/Gracol News a hope of coming will actually penetrate the leaf and how much of a risk a farm- you may not have to worry about close to those targets.â€? â€ get into the plant, so what you er is willing to take, especially sulphur,â€? says Solberg. â€œBut if are relying on is the sulphur to be with high-value crops like can- you are shooting for 50-, 60- or Angela Lovell is a freelance writer, editor and communications specialist living and washed into the soil system,â€? says ola. â€œThere are a lot of folks in 70-bushel-per-acre canola, or are working in Manitoba.Â Find her online at www. Solberg. A granular product like the industry telling people they pushing for above-average yields angelalovell.ca.

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Features Soil management

Fungicides and soil life Fungicides are great for disease management, but to beneficial soil organisms, fungicides can be more toxic than herbicides. Angela Lovell describes some of these organisms and lists 5 steps to creating soil balance By Angela Lovell

ungicides kill harmful diseases that can lower crop yield and quality. However, they also have a down side. Both beneficial and not-sobeneficial organisms living in the soil can be affected by chemical herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. “The problem is that if you kill soil fungal pathogens with fungicides, you also kill most other soil fungi,” says Jill Clapperton, a soil microbiologist and President of Rhizoterra Inc in Lolo, Montana. “Fungi are an important food source for many soil animals, and often contribute directly to plant vigour as well as soil aggregation. So, although fungicides and insecticides are eventually broken down by soil microorganisms, still they are definitely more toxic to other organisms in the soil food web when compared with herbicides.” One of the most dynamic regions in the soil profile is the zone surrounding plant roots, the rhizosphere. The rhizosphere is where the biology and chemistry of the soil are influenced by the plant root and where complex interactions take place between the plant and the microorganisms that live there. “The rhizosphere is a close relationship between the plant,

Earthworms are susceptible to the direct effects of pesticides, although increased soil moisture and texture can mitigate the effects. soil and soil organisms,” explains Clapperton. “Plants produce photosynthate which is the food source for organisms that build soil aggregates and cycle nutrients, and that soil provides habitat, water, and mineral nutrients for both soil organisms and plants.” It’s not hard to upset this delicate balance of soil life that helps

to maintain healthy, productive soil. “Any factor that changes the amount and quality of carbon- and nitrogen-based compounds going into the soil as either residue or root exudates will alter the soil biological community,” says Clapperton. Several different microorganisms and insects can be affected by fungicides.

Fungi

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Fungi break down the woody residues of plants, like stalks on corn, and wheat and also form a net to aggregate and begin soil formation. “Potentially the worst side effect of using a fungicide is that it kills most of the fungi in the soil or around the seed, many of which could actually protect the seedling from pathogens, and/ or confer other benefits,” says Clapperton. An example is mycorrhizal fungi, which form symbiotic relationships with host plants that increase plant establishment, photosynthesis and growth. The mycorrhizal fungi increase plant uptake of mineral nutrients that are less mobile in the soil such as phosphorus, zinc, and copper, as well as more mobile ones such as calcium. In exchange, the plant supplies the mycorrhizas with photosynthates such as amino acids, organic acids and sugars. Many fungicides that have been studied are not a serious problem for directly reducing colonisation by mycorrhizas. However, many widely used foliar fungicides haven’t been studied at all for their effect on mycorrhizas, including propiconazole (Tilt), azoxystrobin (Quadris), and pyraclostrobin (Headline).

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Bacteria and fungi are the principle agents in decomposition. They make nutrients available from organic matter and begin the nutrient cycling process. There has, to date, been far less research done on the effect of fungicides on soil bacteria than the effect of herbicides. The data that is available seems to suggest that, generally, most fungicide chemicals can be degraded by soil bacteria and that given

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enough time, the soil ecology can recover from the effects of fungicide application. The problem, however, is that this can take a considerable amount of time, possibly even years, which could potentially have a negative impact on crop production. The flip side of this is that fungicides can increase the population of the chemical-degrading types of bacteria, but at the expense of beneficial bacterial populations such as plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and free-living, nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Nematodes The majority of nematodes in the soil are beneficial because they are predators of fungi, bacteria and insect larvae that could cause disease. They also excrete pellets that help improve soil structure. Only a minority are plant parasites. In corn, when insects start to eat the roots, the corn sends out signals through the soil to attract nematodes to parasitize the insect larvae. One expert notes that in general, there are no research results indicating direct effects of agrochemicals on nematodes (except nematicides, and general biocides such as methyl bromide). But research does indicate that certain chemicals can have a dramatic, negative effect on all nematodes, not just plant-parasitic nematodes.

Soil animals (fauna) Most of the soil animals such as collembolan, mites and earthworms are detritivores, which means that they decompose and consume organic debris such as crop litter or residue and turn it into soil organic matter. These animals also consume bacteria, fungi and other soil fauna that are present in the residue or soil.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

grainews.ca /

Features It’s not hard to see how these animals could easily be affected by pesticide residues present in the matter they eat or their prey.

COLLEMBOLANS Collembola are soil microarthropods that feed mostly on fungi and can greatly reduce the incidence of fungal root diseases. Both insectides and fungicides have been found to negatively affect collembolans. They are particularly susceptible to the indirect effects of both foliar and soil-applied fungicides, which deplete their food source.

MITES There are very few studies to date that demonstrate the effects of fungicides on mites, but in one study mites decreased feeding seven to 14 days after exposure to the highest doses of the fungicide carbendazim. Feeding rates, however, completely recovered within 28 days. This research suggests the biggest issue with the use of fungicides and insecticides is that all mites are affected, including beneficial, predatory mites. Every time a predator population is reduced by the effects of a pesticide it allows prey populations to flourish. Farmers may then be tempted to spray a bad pest infestation before the predator species has a chance to recover and solve the problem.

EARTHWORMS Earthworms have been called “ecosystem engineers.” Night crawlers and earthworms can live for up to 10 years in the soil. They modify soil habitat and drainage capacity dramatically and pull organic matter from the surface, move it down through the soil profile and excrete nutrient rich castings. Because they need to maintain moist skin in order to breathe, earthworms are more likely to come into contact with soil solutions close to the surface, making them susceptible to the direct effects of pesticides. Studies have shown that the fungicide benomyl (Benlate) and its first breakdown product, carbendazim, directly and adversely affect earthworms at recommended field rates, although increased soil moisture and temperature can mitigate the effect by increasing the rate of pesticide breakdown. A big problem is that most studies dealing with the effect of pesticides have been performed in laboratory settings using composting worm species such as red wigglers. Almost none have been done using actual earthworms in the field. In the laboratory, earthworms seem capable of breaking down some pesticides, but also had reduced growth and reproductive rates. What is known is that the more soil organic matter that is present, the less negative were the effects of the pesticides

studied, suggesting that healthy soil creates its own defences, but that keeping a balance is crucial to maintain positive effects.

STEPS TO CREATE SOIL BALANCE 1. Take advantage of natural interaction. The first defence against fungal diseases is managing soil habitat and the rhizo-

It’s not hard to upset this delicate balance of soil life sphere to take full advantage of the symbiotic interactions that naturally occur there. This builds soil health and that translates into healthy plants that are more capable of fighting off disease and pests. 2. Consider seed treatments. Fungicides used as seed treatments are generally safer for soil ecosystems than soil applications (banded or broadcast) of the same chemistries, due to the much smaller volume of soil affected. “Personally, I still prefer seed treatments to other pesticide treatments, because non-target organisms can avoid contact, the

volume of soil affected is very small (near the seed), and the rhizosphere community (which can affect establishment and growth of the crop) will mostly recover within three to four weeks after seed germination,” says Clapperton. “But no agricultural chemical we use is without risk.” 3. Avoid unnecessary fungicide application. Clapperton recommends avoiding prophylactic use of fungicides and insecticides, and instead nurturing the buildup of a biologically diverse rhizosphere to compete with pathogens and damaging insects. “In my experience, most healthy plant rhizospheres have an adequate population of Bacillus and other bacterial species that provide some protection from insect larval grazing,” she says. “And almost anything developed from healthy plant roots can compete against any fungus pathogen.” 4. Diversify fungicide products. When fungicides are necessary it’s important to try and diversify the products being used so that no one chemistry accumulates in the soil to the detriment of key organisms. 5. Build organic matter in the soil through crop rotations and cover crops. Clapperton emphasizes the need to build soil organic matter content to mitigate toxicity. “As we move into the middle of the soil food web, the direct and indirect effects of fungicides and insecticides have significant con-

sequences on predator/prey relationships, decomposition, disease, and microbial activities,” she says. “These consequences can cascade into reduced rates of decomposition and nutrient cycling, shifts in populations of bacteria and fungi (for better and/or worse), increases in plant disease, and fewer prey and/or predators which can reduce our ability to use integrated pest management to our full benefit.” The best ways to build populations of bacteria, including PGPR, she suggests, is to use diverse crop rotations and cover crops. “If you have good crop rotations that provide lots of high-quality mulch on the surface, then the soil organisms will flourish in that habitat, as opposed to adding living organisms that may not have previously existed in your soil,” she says. Another way to increase beneficial bacteria is by introducing legume inoculants, which increase the populations of some free-living bacteria that act as PGPR. Having substantial diversity of plants (including cover crops), growing them well, providing adequate nutrients and retaining very high levels of mulch cover will allow soil ecology to flourish, which in turn minimizes many problems with pathogens and damaging insects. † Angela Lovell is a freelance writer, editor and communications specialist living and working in Manitoba. Find her online at www.angelalovell.ca.

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Features WINTER WHEAT

Winter wheat can produce good returns Higher yielding winter wheat often nets more than durum and other spring wheats BY LEE HART

he economics of winter wheat these days stand to be as good as or better as many spring wheat types, point out growers, and the fall seeded crop continues to have other benefits such as spreading out the seasonal workload for Prairie farmers. Admittedly it can be a scheduling trick to get that first winter wheat crop seeded in a rotation dominated by spring-seeded types, say farmers, but once in the ground it can have a good fit on most farms. Ideally the window for seeding is the first two weeks of September, but depending on the year, farmers have even pushed the date to early October with good success. Paul Thoroughgood, who farms just south of Moose Jaw, Sask., has grown between 320 and 480 acres of winter wheat 13 out of the last 15 years. He says most of those years his net income from winter wheat has beat or tied the net income from durum. In Alberta, Craig Shaw who farms at Lacombe, says along with a decent price for winter wheat, he likes the fact off-the-combine sales in August provide cash flow midway through the year. “Quite often at that time of year there is a shortage of wheat,” says Shaw who has had 160 to 350 aces of winter wheat in rotation since the late ’90s. “Grain companies are looking for it or a local feeder, so you can often get a 25 to 30 cent per bushel price premium, which is quite a difference.”

HIGHER YIELDS While yields and growing conditions vary from farm to farm, both farmers say, on average, winter wheat produces yields at least a 10 to 15 per cent (and as much as 40 per cent) higher than springseeded varieties. In 2012, for example, a 70 bushel winter wheat crop, off the combine, was worth about $7.20 a bushel ($504 per acre gross). If you had a 56 bushel spring wheat crop in the $8.50 to $9/bushel range, that’s a gross of $476 to $504 per acre. Winter wheat, in that example, provides as good as or better return. It is estimated Prairie farmers will harvest about 1.3 million acres of winter wheat this year. Although it varies from year to year, compared to 20 years ago when only about 135,000 acres were seeded, the crop has steadily been gaining ground. Improved varieties with increased winter hardiness, higher yield, and improved disease resistance have expanded the range of winter wheat from the southern Prairies to the Parkland and Peace River regions. Thoroughgood had his winter wheat harvested by August 12 this year. Quite often he is in the field by the August long weekend. Once the winter wheat was off, he had a short break before it was time to swath canola. He will be looking to seed the variety CDC Buteo in early September, after canola is swathed and before or during combining of spring wheats. August 25 to September 15 is the ideal window,

PHOTOS: PAUL THOROUGHGOOD

Paul Thoroughgood was impressed with the winter wheat harvested on his southern Saskatchewan farm this August. A good yield, and a price around $7.20 per bushel.

Improved varieties with increased winter hardiness, higher yield, and improved disease resistance have expanded the range of winter wheat although he doesn’t worry if he doesn’t get the crop seeded until September 25.

COMPETITIVE CROP Thoroughgood usually applies a burn-down product such as PrePass to control weeds before seeding winter wheat into canola or lentil stubble. And then in the second or third week of October he’ll also apply 2,4-D to catch any broadleaf weeds. “Winter wheat is usually such a competitive crop that you don’t have to worry about any grassy weeds,” says Thoroughgood. “One other good thing about it in rotation is that it provides another option in controlling wild oats. In the fields with winter wheat I can take a year off grassy weed control.” One of the key things about seeding winter wheat is to seed shallow, says Thoroughgood, who is also a regional agrologist with Ducks Unlimited. “Treat it like canola,” he says. “With other spring seeded cereals, often the approach is to seed to moisture, but with winter wheat you are usually seeding into dry conditions. So seed shallow and then even a quarter-inch of rain will get it going.” To guard against seedling and soil borne diseases, he recom-

Thoroughgood had his winter wheat harvested by August 12 this year. mends seed be treated with a recommended insecticide/fungicide. And he applies a standard rate of fertility, which is usually a granular fertilizer blend, side banded, at time of seeding. In-crop, he usually treats the crop with a fungicide to guard against foliar diseases. “New varieties are being developed with improved disease resistance, but for now it just makes good sense to apply a fungicide,” says Thoroughgood. “If you can gain five or 10 per cent on yield by using a fungicide it is a good rate of return.”

PLAN AHEAD Because it was a later harvest in 2011, Craig Shaw doesn’t have any winter wheat growing this year, but he hopes to seed a quarter or more this fall.

“If you have a late spring, or a late harvest it can be a struggle to get it seeded,” he says. He often seeds a winter wheat such as CDC Falcon, intended for the feed market, on barley stubble. He’ll aim to get the barley seeded by mid-May and then hopefully combined by late August or early September. “Sometimes it is just the luck of the draw, but I think it is important to plan for it and be ready,” says Shaw. “Just as you are about to start harvest it will be time to seed winter wheat, so you don’t want to be looking around then to find seed or be spending time to get the air seeder ready. Have everything ready to go before you start harvest. Most years we have everything ready, and if conditions are right we may seed winter wheat in the morning and turn to combine spring crops in the afternoon.”

Shaw says winter wheat helps spread out the risk of harvesting operations. There is usually good weather in August, which improves his chances of getting a portion of crop off with decent quality, as weather conditions often change in the last half of September. “And harvesting winter wheat in August is also a good opportunity for you to check out your combine and other harvest equipment,” he says. “We usually combine the winter wheat and then have a break before the spring crops are ready, but it gives you a chance to make sure everything is working, so you are ready to go when the rest of your crops are ready.” Lee Hart is a field editor for Grainews in CalgaryContact him at 403-592-1964 or by e-mail at lee@fbcpublishing.com.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

grainews.ca /

Features DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Aster yellows or fusarium? It can be difficult to tell if you have aster yellows or fusarium BY LES HENRY

first noticed serious disease in my midge-tolerant Goodeve wheat near Dundurn, Sask., not long after flowering. It took me a while to figure out what was going on; I now know that these diseases are widespread in the Saskatoon area. While I am a dirt-digging soil scientist and farmer, not a plant pathologist, I think the disease shown in the photo of a neighbour’s Carberry wheat is aster yellows (it hasn’t yet been confirmed by lab tests). Yes, aster yellows can be a wheat disease, and doesn’t just impact canola. Aster yellows is not a fungus — there is no spray solution. To scout for aster yellows in wheat, look for a white head, with little or no seed. The flag leaf will be curled, with little left, or it may be gone. The stem will still be green in the early stages. It’s easy to confuse aster yellows with fusarium head blight. All farmers know about FHB and what it can mean, especially in Manitoba. The thought of augering a wheat crop into the bush turns the stomach of any wheat grower. If you have head blight, the heads (or parts of the heads) will be white, but the flag leaf will still be intact, and the plant will still be green. Les Henry, a contributing columnist for Grainews and a retired soil science professor, farms and writes in the Saskatoon area.

Fusarum head blight. Note the orange/pink colour at the point of infection at the base of the glume.

PHOTOS: PAUL THOROUGHGOOD

Fusarium head blight in Carberry wheat that had been sprayed for disease.

Fusarium head blight. Note the orange-pink colour. Often, only part of the head is affected.

Aster yellows are suspected in the wheat on the bottom. The wheat on the top is infected with FHB.

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Features SOIL MANAGEMENT

The basics of soil testing It’s almost time for post-harvest soil testing. Make sure you know not just what’s in your soil, but where it is BY LISA GUENTHER

hether they’ve had a wet or dry growing season, farmers should add soil testing to their post-harvest to-do list. As Trish Meyers, DEKALB agronomist, points out, “you can’t manage what you haven’t measured.” “And even though you might not like the fertilizer recommendations part of the soil test, at least find out what’s in your soil because the last two years really we’ve had extremely wet conditions. And for some growers it’s been a disastrous crop, and for other growers it’s been a fantastic crop. So on either end of that spectrum, it leaves us with complete variability in soil nutrients, and we don’t know where we’re at,” says Meyers.

A AND B HORIZONS Meyers outlined the basics of soil science at Cavalier Agrow’s recent field day near Meota, Saskatchewan. The A Horizon is the top layer of soil, and contains most of the organic matter. The B Horizon is the pre-glacial subsoil, and lies directly below the A Horizon. Phosphate and potassium tend to stick to the A horizon because they’re positively charged, Meyers explains. However, nitrate and sulfate, which are negatively charged, will move down the soil profile, especially in wet conditions. “And as farmers well know, the rooting system of crops in extremely wet areas wasn’t substantial. The rooting system was very weak. So if you have roots that only go down a couple of inches, but yet your nutrients have gone down four, five, six, or 12 inches, then your crops aren’t getting their nutrient needs. And again, if the nutrients have leached down, growers need to know that. They need to know where in the soil profile their nutrients are.” Meyers suggests farmers in wet areas consider sampling at 12 to 24 inches, along with a zero to six and six to 12 inch sample. It’s important for farmers with crops that suffered because of dry conditions to test soils, too, Meyers adds. “So if growers fertilized to the optimum level to get the crop yield,

well you’d like to know what’s left in your soil, so you know what you’re heading into the spring with.”

POST-HARVEST TESTING Though agronomists once recommended soil testing as close to seeding as possible, Meyers said most soils can be tested after harvest. Pulse stubble harvested in early fall is an exception because nitrogen can still mineralize after harvest. Farmers can sample their own soils using a soil probe, an auger or even a spade, Meyers said. Usually

soil types farmers have on their land. Farmers can access soil survey maps through the Canadian Soil Information System website at sis. agr.gc.ca/cansis. Meyers emphasizes that soil sampling costs are minor compared to

other production costs. She puts the cost of producing canola in the black soil zone at $268 per acre, based on an economic analysis done by Saskatchewan Agriculture. “Twenty-five per cent of that total cost is attributed to fertilizer costs.

I just think spending 50 cents an acre just to get a feel for what you have in your soil is just good money spent. You’re not out a lot.” † Lisa Guenther is a communications specialist at Livelong, Sask. Find her online at www. brickhorse.ca.

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Soil sampling costs are minor compared to other production costs farmers or agronomists take 15 core samples per field, regardless of field size. Cores are mixed together to create one representative soil sample. Farmers should avoid sampling from knolls, foot slopes, and other areas that aren’t representative of yield.

BENCHMARK SAMPLING Getting a representative sample from more variable fields can be difficult. The benchmarking sampling technique is recommended for fields with more variability. Benchmark sampling involves taking samples from a small area that is representative of the whole field. Farmers can identify good benchmarks by looking for areas with topography or soil colour similar to the rest of the field. Observing early crop development can also help farmers pick a representative site. If one dominant representative area can’t be found, farmers can pick additional benchmarks. Benchmark areas should be marked so that farmers can draw samples from the same areas each year. Meyers also suggests checking soil survey maps to find out what

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Trish Meyers, DEKALB agronomist, explains the basics of soil science to farmers at Cavalier Agrow’s field day near Meota, Sask. You can see the top, black layer is the A Horizon, while the layer immediately below it is the B Horizon.

Features Soil management

Tile drainage for W grain farmers

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InVigor® growers are no different from other growers. They don’t get up earlier, work harder or longer than their neighbours.

While many farmers think of tile drainage as an unjustified cost that works for a few short months in spring, in reality, its benefits are felt year round. Tile drainage improves soil conditions, which in turn allow farmers to plant earlier and harvest later — something that is especially beneficial to farmers who have shorter growing seasons. In the root zone, it reduces excess moisture, thereby promoting longer and stronger root systems. Healthy root systems can reduce plant stress during the drier days of summer. Tile drainage can even help improve crop yields, since a drained field helps to lower the water table. The benefits of tile drainage don’t end there. Drained fields also see improved soil conditions, a long-term benefit no farmer can deny. Not only is drained soil less prone to compaction, but it can also help pesticides and fertilizers to better do their jobs. Fertilizers work more efficiently in drained soil, and herbicides better adhere to loose soil particles. When it comes time to sell, well-drained land has a higher resale value as well.

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ater resources are important to Prairie crop production, but resources must be used efficiently. Implementing management practices that offset the impact of water shortages and excesses throughout the growing season can do this. As most farmers well know, precipitation rarely meets the demands of growing crops perfectly. Imbalances, as a result, need to be managed through a combination of irrigation, drainage, and other water management techniques. While tile drainage as a water management technique has been in use in Ontario for quite some time now, it’s a fairly new concept in the Prairies. Its use has been especially popular with cash crops, such as potatoes, on lands where high water tables create drainage limitations. But tile drainage is proving beneficial to grain farmers as well.

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Sri Ranjan is leading a team of researchers at the University of Manitoba with support from Bruce Shewfelt and a team from the Morden Research Station of Agriculture and Agrifood Canada. Together, they have been conducting research to find the best water management strategy for farmers. Currently, the team is comparing the results from four model fields located on Hespler Farms, Winkler: overhead-irrigated fields with drainage; overheadirrigated fields without drainage; fields with controlled drainage and sub-irrigation; and fields without irrigation and without drainage as a control. “We have a short growing window and farmers need to get on the field early enough. Our drain tiles are flowing mainly during the springtime — in April, May — so we can drain the fields fast enough to allow us to get on the field,” says

Ranjan. “But if we have controlled drainage, we will not drain it completely, but hold the water back just enough so the machinery can get on the field. Then we can use part of the water that could have been drained away to irrigate the crop during the early part of the season. We’re going to try that treatment on another site in the coming year.” What might be of particular interest to grain farmers are the results Ranjan and his team found in terms of crop yields. The first year (2010) was very wet, so they didn’t have to irrigate a lot, but they did still have to irrigate for a three-week window in the middle of summer. “Last season, it started out very wet,” says Ranjan. “Then for the next two months — July and August — it was completely dry. Again the overhead-irrigated fields with drainage came out on top. That actually gave a yield increase of 30 per cent more than doing nothing.” Ranjan’s hopes they can continue their research — with support from farmers, and funding support from the industry groups, of course — so that they can develop the most ideal and least environmentally impactful water management strategy. His findings are currently under peer-review. He hopes the results will be published in a few months.

Tile drainage on the rise According to Chris Unrau, owner and CEO of Precision Land Solutions and Accupipe Inc. in Winkler, Manitoba, interest in tile drainage has risen considerably in the Prairies for three reasons. “I would say it’s a combination of a bunch of different things,” says Unrau. “Weather’s obviously part of it. Certainly, rising land prices are a big part of it. Good commodity prices, strong farm income. I think all of those things play a factor.” In fact, interest is so high in Manitoba that pipe suppliers can’t keep up with demand. Since the majority of pipe used in tile projects is four-inch tile, there’s been a shortage in the province. “For the last two years, we’ve had a shortage of pipe,” says Unrau, “so our company (Precision Land Solutions) started a manufacturing company (Accupipe) this year. In Manitoba, we’re going to have a lot of pipe available this year — and we’ve also got lots of installers. I think right now we are well positioned to meet the demand.” In the Prairie provinces, tile drainage started off as a luxury that mainly only potato farmers could afford. In recent years, more specialty crop farmers — corn, soybean, cereal, oilseed, and bean — are starting to look at it as well. “For the guys who are really sharp and are doing the math on it, they’re seeing that there’s a return to be had for tiling in cereal and oilseed crops and canola,” says Unrau. “It hasn’t been our primary market, but it’s coming. More and more guys are looking at it.” † Melanie Epp is a freelance writer who specializes in writing web copy for small businesses. She is based in Guelph, Ont., and can be found online at melanierepp.com.

/ grainews.ca

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Features Soil management

Wind erosion can make soil less tolerant to drought As soil scientists learn more about soil bacteria, they are finding that erosion may have a negative impact on what lives in the soil by Angela Lovell

xactly what’s in the soil beneath our feet is gaining a lot more attention than it used to. Soil microbiologists have long emphasized the importance of microbial communities and various species of soil life that help to maintain healthy soils. Many of the complex interactions between them are still being studied. But many other factors affect soil life. A soil scientist with the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, based in Lubbock, Texas, has been studying the effects of wind erosion on soil bacteria. Veronica Acosta-Martinez’ ground-breaking research is showing that certain types of bacteria which are important to soil processes are lost through wind erosion. The drought conditions afflicting the U.S. Midwest, could have a significant impact on soil health and the ability of soils to tolerate such severe weather events in the future.

Erosion research “The goal of this research is to increase understanding of how eroded sediments, produced by wind erosion, can potentially carry away, from soil sources, mobile organic matter particulates that contain key microorganisms involved in soil biochemical processes,” says Acosta-Martinez. Acosta-Martinez studied soils from Michigan, Texas, Kansas and Florida. Researchers used a wind tunnel to simulate different wind speeds and took samples of the types of sediments lost during various intensities of wind erosion. Then they analyzed the samples using pyrosequencing, a technique that gives a fingerprint of the entire microbial community in the soil and identifies specific

species of bacteria based on their unique DNA signatures. The tests studied two main types of sediments that were eroded by wind: coarse —particles larger than 106 micrometers that generally were carried only a few metres from the original soil source; and dust — particles finer than 106 micrometers that could travel thousands of kilometres away from the soil source. Each type contained different soil bacteria. The coarse sediments tended to contain proteobacteria, which are important in carbon and nitrogen (N) cycling dynamics. In dust, the researchers found bacteroidetes, cloroflexi and firmicutes — bacteria important for soil functioning. These bacteria also have the ability to survive extreme environmental conditions such as extreme dryness, high levels of gamma radiation and other harsh conditions for long periods. “It is certainly good to have bacteria like that in the soil to help it persist under drought conditions,” says Acosta-Martinez. “We don’t want to lose the different types of bacteria because they all have different roles and properties.”

“Some of the research we are doing here in Texas will help us to determine whether having cover crops, for example, might help reduce wind erosion and reduce the loss of important microbes from the soil,” says Acosta-Martinez. Wind erosion of soils is a factor that influences agriculture world-

wide, and the implications for soil health and crop production need to be much better understood. “This drought, in a way, has brought conditions that we never thought possible,” says Acosta-Martinez. “So it has given us an opportunity to look at the microbes that are there. If we know the types of

soil microbial species sustaining essential soil processes during these extreme drought conditions, we also know what we do not want to lose from the soil.” † Angela Lovell is a freelance writer, editor and communications specialist living and working in Manitoba. Find her online at www.angelalovell.ca.

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Erosion and management The next phase of the research is to compare soils that have been under different management strategies, such as monocropping, rotations, conservation tillage or fallowing, to see what effect management has on the erosion of different bacteria. This will hopefully lead to some recommendations for strategies to minimize or prevent the loss of important bacteria due to wind erosion, while taking into account different growing and weather conditions. The southern high plains area of Texas, for example, has been mainly under monocropping systems for some time. To conserve water farmers often leave fields fallow during the winter period.

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

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Researchers used a wind tunnel to simulate different wind speeds.

Wind erosion may be causing the loss of helpful bacteria from the soil.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Features Crop nutrition

The need for micronutrients There are a lot of micronutrients on the market. Not everyone needs them, but there may be a fit for your farm By Patty Milligan

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wide range of less familiar nutrients also helps to ensure healthy plant growth. According to Ross McKenzie, research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Lethbridge, zinc, copper and boron are the most well known of these, but others fall under

long with the common nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulfur combinations that farmer regularly apply to their soil in the form of fertilizer or manure, a

the umbrella of “micronutrients” as well. These include chlorine, iron, manganese, molybdenum and nickel. They are known as micronutrients because plants require them in such minute amounts. They each aid various plant functions

Unsung hero.

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InVigor® needs Liberty® the same way. Liberty herbicide is the backbone of the LibertyLink® system and together, they’re powerful partners.

— for instance, regulating plant metabolism, osmosis, building proteins, synthesizing or forming chlorophyll or changing nitrates to a form plants can use. In the case of a micronutrient deficiency, farmers might see problems such as stunted growth, bud dieback, or browning leaf tips. While plants only need micronutrients in small amounts, the absence of even one of them can undermine plant health and ultimately crop quality and yield. Micronutrients are usually provided through a granular formulation that is mixed and delivered with N-P-K fertilizer. For example, UltraYield MicroNutrients, by Agrium Advanced Technologies, are granular mixes of iron, zinc, manganese, copper and boron available in various grades to address specific soil conditions. UltraYield Micronutrients are uniform in size and dust-free, making blending and application convenient. And, according to Taurus, the company who produces them, “supplementing a regular fertility program with UltraYield can make a big difference at harvest.” Since 2002, Winnipeg-based Wolftrax has provided an alternative delivery method for its micronutrients. Instead of a granular product to be mixed with fertilizer, they’ve developed a “dry, dispensible powder that forms a permanent coating around the fertilizer granules.” Their studies show that granular micronutrients mixed with granular fertilizer can result in less than five per cent dispersion; the micronutrients are heavier and sink to the bottom, resulting in an uneven distribution throughout the field. B e c a u s e Wo l f t r a x ’ s D D P Micronutrient particles are smaller and coat 100 per cent of the fertilizer blend, Jereleen Brydon, Wolftrax’s marketing director, says, “there’s greater early plant uptake which can make a significant difference in a crop.” At the same time, the product is designed to provide “extended feeding” too. DDP Micronutrients can be applied at a smaller recommended rate than granular micronutrients — for example, a farmer might require just one pound per acre. This, Brydon, points out, reduces cost and makes handling easier. Wolftrax has over 1,000 trial results for DDP Micronutrients, which point towards enhanced plant health. In fact, if plant tissue tests from fields were products were applied indicate any deficiency, Wolftrax will give the farmer a refund. Wolftrax does business in 75 areas around the world. Their biggest market is the U.S. where “producers have more awareness of micronutrients,” Brydon says, “because they have more need.” Brydon perceives an increasing awareness of and interest in micronutrients from Canadian farmers, but she is also clear that few severe deficiencies exist in Western Canada. She cites one example from Alberta: copper deficiencies can be found in the corridor along the QEII Highway. While some areas don’t require the application of micronutrients, she

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recommends paying attention to soil tests in order to track emerging deficiencies that could result from increased crop production.

Prairie deficiencies Ross McKenzie also refers to the copper deficiencies in central Alberta. Research there in the 1980s and 1990s showed that wheat and barley grown in the area — which has a sandier soil — exhibited a copper deficiency. But, as McKenzie says, “That’s 1,000,000 acres out of 25,000,000 acres of farmland in Alberta.” As well, Mckenzie says, about 50,000 or so acres of dry beans under irrigation in southern Alberta are grown in a “sandy, coarse-textured soil which is less able to supply micronutrients to the plants.” Extensive research led to the development of a set of recommendations in the 1990s which included applying zinc. Bean producers have been following those recommendations for over a decade. Other areas of the Prairies experience deficiencies in fairly predictable patches. According to Patrick Mooleki, soil/nutrient management specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture, there are suspected deficiencies of boron, chlorine, copper and zinc in some crops in some areas. Mooleki explains that “areas with low organic matter, sandy texture, high pH and peaty and muck soils are prone to micronutrient deficiencies.” On the other hand, McKenzie says, “clay, loam, and clay-loam soils contain a greater range of micronutrients.” While farmers, in their quest to ensure the health of their crops and the quality and size of their yield, might be keen to apply micronutrients as part of their regular program. McKenzie offers a word of caution. “Soils in western Canada are young; they have been farmed for 120 years or less. As a result, most soils are quite well supplied with micronutrients.” Furthermore, he argues, most of the research shows that there is no yield response from the application of micronutrients to Western Canadian fields. While many micronutrient products are said to “improve crop health,” McKenzie maintains that is “too nebulous.” If farmers are in a marginal or deficient soil zone, or they have other concerns about micronutrients in their fields, Mooleki, like Brydon, recommends paying attention to soil tests. They also might try a plant tissue test, and scout their fields for irregular patches. If a farmer wants to try applying micronutrients, McKenzie and Mooleki both advise do a small scale, on-farm trial, before jumping right in. Once a test strip has been planted and treated, McKenzie says it’s not hard to assess the response when harvest arrives with the yield monitors on today’s combines. Then farmers can compare differences in yield and judge whether applying micronutrients makes economic sense. † Patty Milligan writes from Bon Accord, Alta.

/ grainews.ca

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Features FARM MANAGEMENT

Profiting from agronomy services This farmers runs an off-farm business while agronomists make decisions on his farm BY HARRY SIEMENS

ith his Internet businesses growing, Dwayne Leslie of Portage la Prairie relies on Munro Farm Supplies of Oakville, Manitoba, to make most of his herbicide and nutrient application decisions. “I rely on them to do it right, if not, I fire them,” says Leslie, a farmer with 2,500 acres, who has been an Internet hobbyist, enthusiast and entrepreneur for over 15 years. (Among other activities, Leslie runs Prairielinks.com).

bad job, he fires them. “We don’t worry about that too much. We do what is in his best interests. We’re here to help him grow more bushels and make more money because in the long run that is best for everybody. Obviously if it is a big decision and has to do with fertilizer, that we always run pass him to make sure he’s okay with spending the amount of money we figure is necessary to optimize yields and optimize his return. “We want his return on his

investment to be high as possible,” Melrum says. “We wouldn’t recommend anything that we weren’t confident in. There are always new products out that some of our forward thinking farmers would like to try, and we do that on a limited basis until we are sure that product has a fit for his farm and returns more than a dollar for every dollar spent.” † Harry Siemens is a farm journalist, freelance writer, speaker, broadcaster and broadcaster living in Winkler, Man. Find him at www. siemenssays.com, or 204-325-5215.

PHOTO: DWAYNE LESLIE

Dwayne Leslie runs other businesses and leaves the weed control decisions in the hands of a professional.

USING AN AGRONOMIST When asked to talk about his weed control, Dwayne Leslie says, “I have no idea. I don’t own a sprayer. I give my local agronomist a map and a seeding report with everything on it, and I say ‘deal with it. Find the weeds and go spray them.’” He started using this strategy about five or six years ago. “With my business I just don’t have time to keep on top of all the things you need to,” says Leslie. “When it comes to dealing with all these new chemicals and all these new things you need to know to do the best job, I don’t have the time to keep up with that. It’s a lot easier to hire someone.” Once he hires an agronomist, Leslie puts his trust in the expert. “I may as well let him do the deciding what needs doing. I pretty much put my total trust in him because he knows if he screws up, he’s going to get fired.” Phil Meldrum manages the Munro Farm Services outlet at Oakville which services the Leslie farm. “We don’t do everything for Dwayne Leslie. He and his dad still check some of the fields over the course of a season and still drive by them as much, if not more than we do,” says Meldrum. “With their crop plan in place, we do their crop scouting from the time they plant until they harvest, whether scouting for disease or weeds making recommendations on herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. Pretty much A to Z as far as the crop scouting goes.” Melrum also looks after the nutrients, depending on the crops, does some of the soil testing, soil sampling and comes up with fertility plans with the Leslies. “Midwinter, once we have soil test results we’ll talk about their fertility program, what their expectations are and we help them achieve that, and go from there,” he says.

A WORKING RELATIONSHIP

Revolutionizing sclerotinia control from the ground up. The DuPont Oval Logo is a registered trademark of DuPont. ®, TM, SM Trademarks and service marks licensed to Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited. © 2012, PHL. PR179_Prtctr Ad 1 V 1_AFE_JE

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Features PEST CONTROL

Oxitec’s “third way” approach to pest control U.K.-based Oxitec genetically engineered a sterile diamondbacked moth that can lower pest populations without the use of chemicals BY MELANIE EPP

LAB TESTS

U.K.-based biotech company, Oxitec, is pioneering what they call a “third way” in crop protection. Releasing Oxitec’s diamondback moths that have been genetically engineered to be sterile can lower pest populations without the need for chemicals.

Headed by Neil Morrison, Oxitec scientists have tested and retested the moths in the lab. For use in the wild, the gene would be inserted in the lab, and then the moth would be airreleased from a plane over the target area. Since the procedure is what’s called “true breeding,” the gene is stably inherited in each of the following genera-

tions. As a result, target populations can be either dramatically reduced or eliminated altogether. In the lab, an antidote of tetracycline is used to suppress the gene. Tetracycline, however, is not found in sufficient levels in the environment naturally, so the gene cannot be suppressed without human intervention. Morrison explains how they work. “Through genetic modification, the Oxitec approach cre-

ates ‘sterile’ males of the target species. The approach harnesses the natural instincts of the male insects to find females in the wild,” he writes. “After an Oxitec insect has successfully mated with a female, its offspring will not survive to adulthood (or, depending on the strain, only male offspring will survive).” As most Western farmers know, in the right conditions, the diamondback moth can

wreak havoc on crops. In 2001, for instance, more than 1.8 million hectares were treated with insecticide to control a severe outbreak. Most commonly, farmers use synthetic chemicals as a control technique. As environmentally harmful chemicals are withdrawn from use, the intensification of chemical resistance has become a stark reality. Canadian farmers grow some six million hectares of canola each year. At a value of $13 billion per year, $3 billion of which is exported, canola is a valuable commodity to the Canadian economy. Every year, though, great losses are incurred. In fact, farmers lose 20 to 40 per cent of their yields to insect pests. And one of those insect pests is the diamondback moth.

DIAMONDBACK MOTH

Sclerotinia is an expensive disease, costing Western Canada canola growers millions of dollars of lost revenue each year. Now there’s a revolutionary way to limit these losses: Pioneer Protector® Sclerotinia Resistance* – the first and only sclerotinia resistant trait on the market. It puts your first line of defense against this costly disease right in the seed, to protect your yield potential through to harvest. Control sclerotinia from the ground up. With Pioneer Protector Sclerotinia Resistance.

www.pioneer.com *Field results show that Pioneer Protector ® Sclerotinia resistance can reduce the incidence of sclerotinia in a canola crop by over 50%. Individual results may vary. Depending on environmental and agronomic conditions, growers planting Pioneer Protector Sclerotinia resistant hybrids may still require a fungicide application to manage sclerotinia in their crop.

According to Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, the diamondback moth was first introduced to North America from Europe approximately 150 years ago. Feeding primarily on plants in the mustard family, including canola, mustard and vegetable crops such as cabbage and broccoli, its larvae exist wherever host plants do. Although the moth has caused the most damage to the Canadian Prairies and north central U.S., the range of infestations has grown significantly since 1995, affecting Eastern Canadian farmers as well. It takes the diamondback moth approximately 32 days to develop fully from egg to adult. Depending on weather conditions and available food, several generations may exist per growing season. In fact, it is possible to have all four life cycle stages present in one field at one time. The damage they cause can be quite extensive; it’s heavily dependent on the size of the moth, their larval densities and the stage of the host plant’s growth. Ultimately, it is Oxitec’s goal to raise awareness and improve understanding of their approach in Canada. Although the technology has been met with considerable resistance, a similar approach, which is being used to eradicate dengue fever-causing mosquitoes, has shown great success in the Cayman Islands. Oxitec believes this approach will have strong public appeal as it reduces the need for harmful chemicals and the use of genetically altered food crops. As with all things genetically modified, though, Oxitec’s success depends heavily on the public’s acceptance of GM as a viable solution. † Melanie Epp is a freelance writer who specializes in writing web copy for small businesses. She is based in Guelph, Ont., and can be found online at melanierepp.com.

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/ grainews.ca

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Features WEED CONTROL

New option for post-harvest and chem fallow weed control BASF’s newly registered Distinct contains a new active ingredient — a Group 19 chemical BY LISA GUENTHER

istinct, a BASF product, was approved for registration earlier this spring for post-harvest and chemical fallow control of weeds like kochia, roundleaf mallow, and Canada and Russian thistle. It was previously approved in Eastern Canada for weed control in corn. “Essentially, what gives Distinct a big (advantage) here is that we’re getting control of bigger weeds post-harvest. We’re adding control of the glyphosate. So not

only is it bringing resistance management along with it, but it’s actually getting added control,” says Joel Johnson, BASF brand manager for Western herbicides. “In the past dicamba’s had that issue with follow crops, where you couldn’t seed whatever you wanted to the year after, whereas this is giving you the maximum options for follow crop flexibility.” Distinct contains dicamba, which creates a hormonal imbalance within the plant, as well as a new active ingredient, diflufenzopyr (DFFP). DFFP is a Group 19

chemical that blocks hormone movement within the plant. Hormones gather at the plant’s growing points, killing it. “You’re getting better weed control than what Rustler or what dicamba at two ounces by itself will do, and you’re getting it at a lower rate, which means you have more follow crop flexibility,” says Johnson.

NEW FUNGICIDE COMING BASF is also hoping to unveil a new fungicide for next year’s growing season.

“We’re getting control of bigger weeds post-harvest” — JOEL JOHNSON

Priaxor DS is already registered in the United States. BASF is currently seeking Canadian registration for pulses. The fungicide has two modes of action, and contains Xemium, a new active ingredient in the carboxamide family. Xemium disrupts the fungus’ energy supply and biosynthesis, halting new infections. Priaxor DS also contains F500, which is currently in Headline. “Basically, it’s a brand new mode of action for use in pulse crops. It’s also got some plant health benefits, similar to what Headline

provides. So it keeps your plants greener longer, improves harvestability of that crop, and also provides yield improvement,” says Mark Kuchuran, BASF brand manager for fungicides. Dew accumulating on the leaf doesn’t slow down the chemical either. “It’s basically a new active ingredient that has new qualities that enable it to redistribute itself on a leaf surface and reactivate with moisture when it hits the leaf surface,” says Kuchuran.

ROTATE CHEMICAL GROUPS When it comes to managing herbicide resistance, chemical companies often recommend using mixes to create multiple modes of action. Johnson adds that understanding chemical groups is also important. “I think from the rotating chemistry perspective, just knowing what chemicals you’re putting down and what groups you’re putting down onto your land is the main thing. There are so many new, I would say, names of chemicals because of things coming off patent, and generics coming into the market place, that there’s a lot of clutter there, so you need to know the group that you’re putting down,” Johnson says. †

“If my daughter was interested in farming,

I couldn’t imagine a better life for her.

Lisa Guenther is a communications specialist at Livelong, Sask. Find her online at www. brickhorse.ca.

I mean, what could be better than farming?” – Lisa Jenereaux, Nova Scotia

Distinct controlled this Canada thistle in Alberta in 2011 Research Authorization growerapproved trials.

Share the love Sure, agriculture is challenging. It’s hard work. It’s stressful. There’s so much to do and a lot to learn. But could you imagine yourself doing anything else? Canadian agriculture is full of hard-working, business-savvy people like you who love what they do, challenges and all; people who see a future in ag and can’t wait to be a part of it. But for Canadian agriculture to reach its full potential, this has to be better understood by the public and our own industry. The story of Canadian agriculture is one of success, promise, challenge and determination. And the greatest storytellers are the 2.2 million Canadians who live it every day. Be proud. Champion our industry.

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Distinct contains dicamba and a new active ingredient, diflufenzopyr (DFFP).

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

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Cattleman’s Corner MANAGEMENT

Beef development centre launched Alberta producers offer their services and experience to develop purebred bulls and heifers BY LEE HART

arl and Jonathan Scott of Crossfield, Alta. are turning a yard used for the past decade for custom feeding dairy bulls into a beef bull- and heifer-development centre. They are offering their custom management services to all purebred beef producers in Western Canada with bull calves or replacement heifer calves who might be looking for custom feeding services and care for the animals until they are of breeding age. “Our service is different than just a pure bull test centre,” says Jonathan, who along with his father, also run their own 210-head purebred red and black Angus cow and bred heifer herd. “We have long experience in the purebred beef business and also in feeding and management of purebred bulls. We’re offering a custom feeding and management package to develop these cattle to their optimum reproductive performance.”

GOOD FACILITIES With a well-constructed, welldrained feedyard including eight large 100 x 200-foot steel-pipe pens, along with processing and handling facilities, the Scotts can handle up to about 200 head of bulls and heifers. They already have about 60 bull calves from BC and Alberta breeders booked for the first winter of feeding. “We can accommodate clients whether they have two head or 50 head or more,” says Earl, who has been raising cattle and involved in the A.I. industry for about 40 years. “There may be some full

time purebred operations that just don’t have room for all their bull and heifer calves, or perhaps smaller operators or investors who don’t have the facilities, and want these calves managed to breeding age.” The Scotts will offer custom services “to whatever the customer specifications are,” says Earl. They will administer animal health care products as directed, provide veterinary care services as required, provide semen evaluation services if requested, and feed cattle at whatever rate of gain owners prefer. Their own bull and replacement heifer calves are fed a silage-based ration — 1/3 oats and 2/3 barley silage — which is all nutrient tested. Working with a herd nutritionist they formulate a ration that also includes hay and straw as roughage, but lower on the grain component. “For our own cattle, we want them to grow, but we don’t want them fat” says Johnathan. “And too much grain in the ration is also harder on feet and legs. We want these cattle to be mobile and to last.” Earl says with the genetic improvements in beef breeds over the past 20 years, a high-grain diet isn’t needed to get growth. On their standard high forage ration they are targeting about three pounds a day weight gain on bull calves, and about 1.5 pounds per day gain on heifers. They increase the plane of nutrition about six weeks before heifers are bred by A.I. to enhance overall condition and improve conception rates.

HIGH AND DRY All pens in their yard will have a deep straw pack “to keep calves

An overall view of the feedyard at Scott Stock Farm near Crossfield, Alta.

Jonathan, left, and Earl Scott (Bow, 3) make the feedyard available for custom raising of Indoor squeeze available for processing cattle individually. purebred cattle. high and dry and clean,” says Earl. They built a serpentine-style handling chute based on Temple Grandin’s design, with proper loading and unloading facilities, and there is also an indoor hydraulic squeeze for individual animal processing.

While marketing these breedingage bulls and replacement heifers isn’t a key part of their services, they will help with aspects of that as well. Clients are welcome to visit the yard at any time, and are also welcome to bring any customers to look at cattle. The Scotts will

also accommodate any customers coming directly to them, and if any sale is completed a nominal fee will be charged. They will also provide grooming and halter breaking services if requested.

» CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

THE MARKETS

Cattle outlook remains positive Some contracts at historical highs JERRY KLASSEN MARKET UPDATE

he price outlook for fed and feeder cattle looks positive into the fall and winter due to lower beef production and stronger consumptive demand. The market appears to be digesting the higher feed grain prices as the deferred live cattle futures trade near alltime historical highs. Feeder cattle prices are also expected to percolate higher longer term due to lower available supplies and stronger demand from the feedlot sector. The U.S. economy appears to be stabilizing after a slowdown in consumer spending earlier in the year. Positive economic data along with growing consumer confidence will cause retail and restaurant spending to increase over year ago levels moving forward. Cattle on feed numbers in Alberta and Saskatchewan have been running very similar to last

year while carcass weights are up 16 pounds. Feedlots are somewhat backed up with market-ready supplies but this will change over the next month as exports tend to drain off excess supplies. The number of cattle on feed in the U.S. as of August 1 totalled 10.66 million head, up nearly one per cent from last year. Despite the higher feed grain prices, dressed weights are running 16 pounds above last year resulting in larger than expected beef production. Earlier projections had third and fourth quarter U.S. meat supplies down sharply from year-ago levels but it now looks like production will be very similar to 2011. July feedlot placements were reported at 1.92 million head, down 10.3 per cent from July of 2011 but still 8.5 per cent above the five-year average. The severe drought in the Southern Plains last summer resulted in larger placements and this year, drier conditions in the Midwest also caused ranchers to move cattle off pasture sooner than normal. Feedlot marketings during July were 1.91 million head, basically the same as last

year. Given the current supply projections, the market will be very sensitive to demand in the latter half of 2012.

tures were 8.1 per cent above year ago. Limited disposable income is definitely influencing the amount spent on food.

LIVE CATTLE

ALBERTA PRICES UP

The October live cattle futures have been trading near $125 but the April 2013 contract continues to trade near contract highs of $136. The deferred contracts are making near all time historical highs. The U.S. economy continues to recover but remains fragile. Second quarter GDP came in at 1.5 per cent after a robust 2.4 per cent in the first quarter. GDP is expected to average 2.0 per cent in the latter half of 2012 due to an increase in consumer spending. Grocery store sales experience a seasonal low in September but consumer expenditures slowly improve for the remainder of the year. Unemployment continues to hover at 8.3 per cent but rising housing starts and growing consumer confidence should bode well longer term. At-home food expenditures for July were only 1.1 per cent above last year while away from home food expendi-

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $110/ cwt to $113/cwt in August, up approximately five per cent from last year for the same period. The October live cattle futures have been trading near $125 but the April 2013 contract continues to trade near contract highs of $136. The deferred contracts are near all-time historical highs as the market factors in lower beef production and stronger consumer spending. Retail beef prices are marginally higher than last year but if we don’t see an increase in income levels, the April live cattle futures will have trouble maintaining the current price structure. The previous highs for the nearby futures contract were $130. Feeder cattle prices are holding up very well given the strong corn and barley values. In central Alberta, steers weighing 700 to 800 pounds were sell-

ing in the range of $140/cwt to $150/cwt in mid-August, up seven per cent from year-ago levels. October feeder cattle futures have been trading near $145 while the March 2013 contract hovers near $152. Unlike the deferred live cattle futures, the March feeders are $10 off the contract highs. This is largely due to the feed grain uncertainty. The smaller corn crop in the U.S. has resulted in a significant feed grain deficit. Therefore, Canadian exports of all feed and food grains to the U.S. will increase next year draining supplies. Barley stocks will drop to historically low levels at the end of the 2012-13 crop year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see barley reach over $300/mt during the winter in southern Alberta. If the April fed cattle market starts to fail from the current highs, feeder cattle prices will be extremely vulnerable. Producers need to have a prudent risk management program in place given the high risk moving forward. † Gerald Klassen analyzes cattle and hog markets in Winnipeg and also maintains an interest in the family feedlot in Southern Alberta. For comments or speaking engagements, he can be reached at jkci@mts.net or 204 287 8268.

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Keepers & Culls News to report and events ahead

Write, Email or Fax Contact Cattleman’s Corner with comments, ideas or suggestions for and on stories by mail, email, phone or fax.

LEE HART

Phone Lee Hart at 403-592-1964 Fax to 403-288-3162 Email lee@fbcpublishing.com

nd it has been a busy summer of events, which greatly interrupted my goofingoff time, but I’ll recap some of the things I saw and learned over the past couple months.

Write to CATTLEMAN’S CORNER, PO Box 71141 Silver Springs RPO, Calgary, Alta. T3B 5K2

FENDT FIELD DAY The Fendt tractor company of Germany had a major field day at Lacombe, Alberta in July to introduce its new 700 series tractor in the 110 to 195 PTO horsepower range. I didn’t know much about Fendt, which is part of the AGCO machinery family, but Reid Hamre, brand marketing manager, and Carlton Self, product specialist gave me a good rundown on what these tractors had to offer. Fendt stages a field day in Germany every two years, which attracts about 50,000 people. So the company decided to take the show on the road in North America. This was the first field day in Western Canada. To be honest I thought Fendt might be a line of the cheaper foreign tractors, a notch above the made in China tractors-in-a-box, but sources — other than Fendt guys — tell me this is more like the Cadillac of farm tractors. “If I had the money, I’d buy a Fendt,” one farmer told me. That’s not to say they are over priced, but really are good-quality machines, with plenty of features you might not find in North American-built tractors. Carlton Self even let me drive one for a few minutes, and boy it is slick. While I have driven John Deere tractors a few times over the more recent years — swathing and raking hay — I’m afraid to say my last intimate contact with a tractor was driving my Dad’s Allis Chalmers WD45 he bought new from Arnold Garlough in 1957 for about $2,500. That was our farm workhorse for many years, and I was impressed because it had a hand-clutch, and later an aftermarket umbrella attached to the fender to keep the sun off. Fendt didn’t have to go to a lot of trouble to beat that, but this 700 series tractor is nice to operate. Comfortable seat, panoramic view inside a glass cab, a 10.4 inch, touch-screen computer monitor, and console with more features than I would ever remember, including a joy stick — all controls at your fingertips. The 700 series has a half-frame design which improves the turning radius making it much more maneuverable, something called VarioActive Steering, which means the tractor turns with fewer revolutions of the steering wheel, CVT or continuous variable transmission, with improved PTO and drawbar power. It has great ergonomics which improves operator comfort, which means you can do field work all day, and still have energy to go golfing or dancing in the evening. And it has great fuel efficiency — 10 per cent better than previous models.

The new 700 series tractor from Fendt turns on a dime I didn’t buy one that day, but I did come away with a nice cap and a new appreciation for Fendt.

MERCK LAUNCHES ZUPREVO And the animal health company Merck, dragged a bunch of Canadian veterinarians and farmer writers to Victoria, B.C. on a glorious summer day to tell us all about its new antibiotic, Zuprevo, which Merck says is one of the most effective treatments for Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD). Zuprevo is a novel antibiotic — tildipirosin — which Merck says is not only more effective, but less likely to develop bacterial resistance. In comparison to herbicides it would be a new mode of action. Merck research veterinarian Janice Berg says it is faster acting, working in 45 minutes; longer lasting, effective up to 28 days; has a shorter withdrawal time, 42 days compared to others at 48 days and is convenient to use at 10 ml for 1,000 pound animal; and it is effective. Cow-calf producers wouldn’t use the product a whole lot, unless they were backgrounding calves on the farm, but it may be an important tool for feedlot owners. When a new bunch of fall calves come into the feedlot, it is a stressful time and their immune systems are challenged, so they are more vulnerable to lung infections. The Merck folks said that in several studies involving feedlot cattle in the U.S., Zuprevo was equal or better than other products. Researchers found cattle treated with Zuprevo had improved average daily gains, fewer lesions or injection site reactions, there were fewer cases of relapse, and reduced mortality. One private veterinary researcher from Alberta at my table made the comment that while the numbers alllook good, but she would like to see performance data from Canadian feedlots. She didn’t quite fully trust those American figures.

ECONOMY IMPROVING The crisis has passed… the world economy is on Easy Street. That might be a slight oversimplification, but generally the North American economy and other world economies are gaining strength, Glen Hodgson, chief economist of the Conference Board of Canada, reported to the 2012 International Livestock Congress in Calgary in August. Hodgson says there are still

some challenges ahead, and of course the ongoing struggles of the economies in Spain and Greece are still a wild card, but generally he expects the Canadian and U.S. economies to have moderate, yet steady growth over the coming year. The two major forces on the Canadian economy are the loonie and the price of oil. He expects the Canadian dollar to remain about par with the U.S. dollar (between 97 cents and $1.03) — good for consumers but not so good for exporters of meat and livestock. And he expects oil will stay in the $95 to $100 per barrel range. The Canadian currency will remain strong, and he expects interest rates to remain low until at least early 2013. And labour shortages will be an ongoing concern for industries in Western Canada for the foreseeable future. The country should be

back to full employment by 2014, so along with bringing in foreign workers, industries will need to look at more technology and improved efficiencies to make up for the lack of manpower. “Overall the story is for good growth, but not great growth,” he says.

BURSARY WINNERS Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) has presented bursaries to four outstanding Manitoba students who plan to pursue post-secondary studies related to agriculture and the rural economy. The winners, all children of active Manitoba beef producers, will receive $500 toward their studies. They include: • Jared Buckley, Oak Lake — heavy duty equipment technician at Assiniboine Community College. • Melanie Eastman, Hartney — pre-veterinary medicine B.Sc. at Brandon University. • Keith Johnson, Komarno — agricultural and food sciences at the University of Manitoba. • Michel Rey, St. Claude — graduate studies, M.Sc. in animal science at the University of Manitoba.

COMING EVENTS CATTLE MARKETING — Canfax, the cattle market info division of the Canadian Cattleman’s Assoc. is staging its first cattle market forum in Calgary, Nov. 13 and 14. The event will be held at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino. Registration details can be found on the Canfax website at: www.canfax. ca by clicking on the forum poster. GRAZING CONFERENCE — The Western Canadian Grazing Conference and Trade Show is coming up November 28 and 29 at the Sheraton Hotel, Gaetz Ave. in Red Deer, Alta. Held every two years, the conference this year has an excellent line up of speakers including beef producers Neil Dennis of Wawota, Sask., Charley Orchard, grazing management specialist from Great Falls, Montana; and Glen Rabenberg, president of Soil Works, PhosRite and Genesis Soil Rite Calcium. For more information visit the conference website at: www.westerncanadiangrazingconference.com.

SPIRIT VIEW RANCH WINS ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD And on the awards front, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) has honoured Christoph and Erika Weder of Spirit View Ranch, Spirit River, Alta. with the 2012 The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA). Weder is familiar to many readers, being a long-time and often outspoken columnist in both Grainews and Canadian Cattleman Magazines. TESA is a national award that recognizes excellence in sustainable management and conservation practices that ensure a viable future for Canada’s beef cattle industry. TESA is presented annually to a beef cattle operation that exemplifies the initiatives that producers across the country undertake to preserve and care for their land. The Weders have a passion for the environment, and say that they have a responsibility to the next generation to look after the land. Their motto is, ‘Think globally but act locally, and communicate those values to other people to make a difference.” The Weders’ business plan incorporates a productive grassland on a healthy land base that supports a diverse wildlife population. This, combined with an excellent outreach program that is international in scope, is what impressed the judges, said CCA Environment Committee chairman Lynn Grant. “The quality of the nominees

PHOTO: CHRISTOPH WEDER

Cattle, grass and wildlife habitat all part of Spirit View Ranch this year was outstanding and made for an especially tough decision, but the Weders’ overall approach to maintaining a healthy eco-system while operating a successful beef program was impressive,” he said. “It’s a real honour,” said Christoph Weder as he accepted a cheque for $1,000 and silver TESA belt buckle, acknowledgements of an expanded award program made possible by the CCA 2012 TESA Platinum Partner, MNP LLP, a sponsor of the TESA program since 2009. Located north of Rycroft, Alta., Spirit View Ranch is comprised of 2,800 acres of deeded land, 4,200 acres of leased land and 640 acres of rented land. The ranch has acres of aspen boreal parkland forests and natural grasslands, and it is situated between the Spirit and Peace Rivers. Operating as a commercial cowcalf grasser operation, Spirit View Ranch is home to 1,000 breeding

females and grasser stockers. It’s also home to 150 species of birds, 45 mammals, seven amphibian and one reptile species as a result of the family’s stewardship practices. Practices here include strategically placed solar-powered watering sites, a rotational grazing system and reliance on legumes to provide sustainable forage production without the need for fertilizers, and utilizing protected forest and shelterbelts to reduce infrastructure and yardage costs. The Weders were certified by Food Alliance for their sustainable farming and land use practices. Their ranch was one of the first in Alberta to participate in the Ducks Unlimited wildlife and habitat inventory surveys, and they worked with Ducks Unlimited to restore more than 100 wetlands. This effort has helped to preserve biodiversity, retain moisture, provide a great brood habitat for ducks and geese, and increase forage production.

BUILDING TRUST IN CANADIAN BEEF

Cattleman’s Corner

Broken needles happen Do the right thing for yourself and your industry

here’s an old saying that it’s not what life deals out, but how you respond that matters. That’s certainly the way with broken needles and other foreign matter that finds its way into the beef chain. They can occur. What’s important is how we respond as individual producers and as an industry. Scientists say there are 540-plus consumers for steaks and roasts in a single beef carcass. That’s a lot of consumer confidence riding on our decisions. The Verified Beef Production (VBP) program provides specific advice on how to prevent broken needles and how to manage when one occurs. It’s important information.

Follow these steps

There are some basic, accepted steps to preventing broken needles on the farm or ranch. Securely restrain the animal. Use only sharp needles, never dull or burred, and never straighten a needle for re-use. That could result in breaking a needle and leaving a fragment in the animal. Keep syringes in good working order. That helps those doing the job and makes it less likely equipment will fail. Visually inspect needles after

use. Simple way to ensure they are intact on the syringe and not bent. Use appropriate needle size and length. This will depend on the product viscosity and route of injection. Discard used needles into a sharps container. Don’t have a risk to other cattle, animals or people. Use proper injection technique. Give injectable products in the neck and use under the skin (sub-Q or SC) method when identified on the label. Use detectable needles. Ask for them! Change needles. Try to change the needle every 10 animals if vaccinating mature animals, or use a new needle each time for sick animals. Use neck extenders on the chute. They’ll help hold the animal’s neck in place if working properly. If something goes wrong

If a broken needle is suspected, specific steps must be followed. Identify the animal and record the incident on the permanent record. If an animal is being sold, the next owner must be notified of the broken needle in that specific animal. Alternatively, the animal may be slaughtered for a producer’s own use. Most will choose a smaller plant to manage that process more easily.

“Since most incidences are only reported back to the packer, the average producer thinks they don’t occur. But they do — often enough that we must be proactive and do what we can to avoid an incidence.” — Beef Packer

Buckshot warning

Canadian meat companies have identified an issue of buckshot in beef carcasses which can lead to losses in meat processing, and potential food safety issues. The beef industry is encouraging wildlife organizations to let their members know about

this issue, particularly during goose and bird hunting seasons. For beef producers it is something they can advise hunters about who are hunting on their land. And producers may want to avoid grazing cattle in pastures behind any blinds or feeding areas for game birds.

DEVELOPED BY PRODUCERS. DEVELOPED FOR CONSUMERS

The mosT compleTe single-shot respiraTory vaccine

is back

To find out more, contact your veterinarian. TM Trademark of Intervet, Inc. Used under license. Merck Animal Health, operating in Canada as Intervet Canada Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. MERCK is a trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. Copyright © 2011 Intervet International B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. All rights reserved.

VISTA Once Canadian Cattlemen QSH.indd 1

12-08-10 1:51 PM

/ grainews.ca

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Cattleman’s Corner ANIMAL HEALTH

Vet can be part of herd processing team Make the most of that preg checking pass through the chute ROY LEWIS ANIMAL HEALTH

re-planning by the cattle producer and consultation with the herd veterinarian ahead of a major processing will accomplish many things, including overall herd improvement. Some points covered in this article may be implemented this fall, and others may jog a producer’s memory to be included in processing plans next year. With better processing facilities such as use of hydraulic chutes, extra procedures only take seconds more per animal, as long as labour is adequate. By including the veterinarian and perhaps an animal health technician as part of the processing crew, producers can assemble efficient multitasking individuals, which are more than worth the investment. And, quiet stress-free cattle handling will make cattle even easier to work with the next time. Plan to use the services of your veterinarian for more than just pregnancy-checking cows or semen-evaluating bulls. In the following example both the veterinarian and purebred cow-calf operator benefited this herd for the next six months by being prepared and open minded.

USUAL PROCESS This is a 400 head purebred herd, which calves from May

into June. Cows are usually processed in mid April and given a scours vaccination. The cows calve on grass so there is less hands-on contact then typically occurs with early spring calving. Usually the herd is pregnancy-checked much earlier and the opens (non-pregnant) cows removed. These cows swath graze in the fall and are fed in a large area so have to compete somewhat, but get lots of exercise and feeding time is the only time for close observation.

per cent expected abortion rate. Resistance to the avermectins (pour-on endectocides) was found on this herd so deworming with an oral product and a hook feeder “fenbendazole” was also given.

BE PREPARED As mentioned in other articles, always have a supply of the CCIA tags ready for cull cows so if needed they can be tagged right when the cows are caught.

REVISED APPROACH This year it was decided to utilize the veterinarian to again preg-check the herd and help with a few other procedures. Two main things were added to the protocol. The veterinarian suggested since this herd had always been vaccinated with a modified live vaccine for IBR and BVD just before breeding, they would have very good immunity. And with the cows now well into their third trimester of pregnancy, the vaccine could be added into this processing. That would save the producer from running the cows through before breeding when it is difficult to separate the calves. Also by vaccinating at pregcheck time, it would save the costs of vaccinating any open cows. The opens could be shipped directly as the price for cows had risen substantially in the last while. By the way, 12 open cows were found which is right on the two to three

Plan to use the services of your veterinarian for more than just pregnancy-checking cows or semenevaluating bulls Record the dangle tag and if possible cows can be sorted right then as well. With a herd of 400 head it makes it hard to find a few open cows at the end of the day. You as the producer should have the quick ability to sort at least two ways out of the chute. Even a few portable panels can be used to make this possible. I never like the statement “we can do that later” because often later never seems to come or a person

is too busy with other things and the details get lost. The producer had trouble reading tags in the past because of long ear hair or dirt covering the number. Having a cleaning solution and a good pair of scissors handy at the chute rectified this. Again none of these steps slowed the procedure to any degree and there will be recaptured labour and fewer mistakes made at calving when tags can be read. In the few purebred cows with tags missing, the tattoos were read and new tags made immediately. If calving on larger tracts of land, carry a good set of pocket-size binoculars and you will be amazed at how often they get used reading tag numbers.

PROCESSING DAY On this processing day an unexpected twist happened. A few cows appeared overly thin, so at the same time as pregnancy checking, the veterinarian performed a condition score and the decision was made to separate the heifers and any cows at a 2 condition score. By separating these cattle, the producer was able to bring up their condition score to acceptable levels for calving and minimize competition in the main herd — a winwin situation. This could very easily be accomplished by sorting right at the chute. A few other fringe benefits were also seen. In pregnancychecking these further-along pregnant cows a few sets of twins

» CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

BEEF DEVELOPMENT CENTRE LAUNCHED Earl was born and raised on a dairy farm at Balzac, just north of Calgary and got involved with the A.I. industry and Western Breeders in 1973. In 2002 Western Breeders was bought by AltaGenetics and the focus switched to dairy genetics. While with AltaGenetics, Earl took on a contract to custom feed what’s referred to as “Holstein shelf bulls.” These are bulls essentially “in waiting” with semen out in the marketplace for progeny testing and evaluation. But technology brought an end to the

were identified, allowing the producer to keep an extra watch on those cows at calving. Cows carrying twins ended up in the thin group, which is not surprising from internally feeding two fetuses. After examining the lists afterwards it became apparent a high percentage of the first calvers made it into the thin group, which I am sure is not surprising to anyone. What was an eye opener was the number of older cows — 10 years or more. Over half of them made it into the thin herd. The younger animals and older cows had a hard time competing. This sort was still done far enough from the start of calving to bring the cows up in condition. In doing so, these cows will produce good quality colostrums for calves, and being on a rising plane of nutrition, these cows should develop good protection to the vaccines. Many chute-side computer programs are based on individual RFID tag numbers, so this can be utilized as well to input data on the spot. Combined with past animal history the information helps with culling. With a bit of planning at processing, producers can make better use of their herd veterinarian, while hopefully making their life easier and potentially eliminating a further process down the line, making the most of one pass through the chute. † Roy Lewis is a practising large animal veterinarian at the Westlock Veterinary Center, north of Edmonton, AB. His main interests are bovine reproduction and herd health.

need to maintain this dairy shelf bulls. With DNA testing today, the genetic potential of bulls can be determined much faster, avoiding the need to hold them on feed. Accommodating up to 250 mature dairy bulls, known to be tough and aggressive, explains the well-built features of the feed yard and handling facilities. While he has always had cattle on the farm, Earl began building the purebred Angus herd 22 years ago. For more information on the bull and heifer development centre contact Scott Stock Farms at 403-946-5378 or email: ssfangus@ xplornet.com † Lee Hart is editor of Cattleman’s Corner based in Calgary. Contact him at 403-592-1964 or by email at lee@fbcpublishing.com.

Serpentine-style chute is well-built and improves handling ease.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

grainews.ca /

Cattleman’s Corner BETTER BUNKS AND PASTURES

4 factors causing temporary bull sterility Body condition, temperature, nutrition and chemicals can all affect breeding performance PETER VITTI

n this year’s breeding season, some bulls produced significant less than optimum viable sperm because they were temporarily sterilized by outside influences. Because complete sperm development (spermatogenesis) takes place inside the bull testicles and requires about 60 days for development, this temporary infertility can be blamed upon a substantial portion of open cows in some herds. Temporary sterility in otherwisefertile bulls is caused by a short list of factors, which encompass general and specific nutrition, environmental heat stress and chemical exposure. Here’s a brief explanation of each of these negative influences.

fied cattle breeder mineral with a significant portion of zinc formulated from organic Zn-sources of better absorptive and retentive Zn metabolic properties.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEAT STRESS Unlike the cow, which has fertile eggs mature in ovaries located inside her body, similar bull body temperatures are too warm for natural sperm production and is the main reason spermcontaining testes are positioned outside the bull’s body. During periods of extreme hot weather, even these naturally placed testes are not immune to the negative effects of heat stress. Excessive heat buildup causes temporary sterility or sperm damage to a point where there might not be

enough fertile sperm to fertilize an egg shed by the cow. Although, there is not much we can do about hot weather, which causes heat stress in breeding bulls, we can reduce its adverse effects by providing bulls with enough cool clean water, a good fly-control program and free access to trees and other forms of shade. Bulls suffering from heat stress will not fully recover for about eight to nine weeks after temperatures cool down (coincides with the 60 days it takes to produce viable sperm).

CHEMICAL AGENTS Common insecticide ingredients such as pyrethroid and bifenthrin (a synthetic derivative of pyrethrin) have been implicated by case studies to cause sperm defects, poor

sperm mobility, lowered ejaculate volume and decreased freezability of semen in treated breeding bulls. It is speculated that these chemical compounds inhibit an enzyme essential to convert testosterone to active dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT facilitates the proper function of bull sex glands (re: seminal vesicles, prostate and epididymedes). Once exposure to pyrethroids comes to an end, healthy sperm production should return and most afflicted bulls should become satisfactory fertile in 60 days. Because such pyrethroid-type insecticides are still part of effective insect-control programs, rather than eliminate them it is recommended to properly manage pyrethrin chemicals in order to reduce adverse effects upon optimum bull reproduction.

Several university beef specialists advocate the following corrective action: (1) pick only one method of pyrethrin control from a host of choices: spray, ear tags, and backrubbers, (2) follow strict label directions to closely maintain accurate mixing as well as avoid stronger dosages and (3) avoid dosing breeding bulls with pyrethroids six to eight weeks before the start and during the breeding season. Given that an optimum breeding season lasts about 45 to 60 days, even temporary sterility of one herd bull may take him out of the breeding program for the year and may have a significant and detrimental effect upon the annual breeding season of a cow-calf operation. † Peter Vitti is an independent livestock nutritionist and consultant based in Winnipeg. To reach him call 204-254-7497 or by email at vitti@mts.net .

www.farm-king.com

GENERAL NUTRITION Assuring bulls are in optimum body condition by the time that they are turned out with the cows is the major objective of most sound bull-management programs. Considerable research has demonstrated bulls are the most sexual active and fertile (re: highest sperm count and viability) with a body condition score of 6.0 to 6.5 (1= very thin to 9 = fat) at the start of the breeding season. In contrast, skinny bulls with a BCS lower than 4.0, have lower libido (sex drive) to breed cows and suffer from lower fertility. Similarly, over-conditioned bulls with a BCS greater than 7.0 tend to have less stamina and are frequently have lower viable sperm counts. Internal fat deposits are thought to accumulate in their scrotal sac, and raise testicular temperature, which is known to be fatal to sperm. Many of these problems can be avoided with an established feeding plan that get bulls in the right shape prior to the breeding season.

SPECIFIC NUTRITIONAL NEEDS Over the past 50 years, university and extension field trials have clearly demonstrated a zinc deficiency in cattle will lead to delayed puberty in intact calves and low sperm count in older bulls, regardless of their breed and body condition score. Zinc (Zn)plays a pivotal role in good bull reproduction for two microscopic reasons. First, it is involved in the production, storage and secretion of male hormones involved within the inner circle of male reproductive activities, namely testosterone, insulin and adrenal corticosteroids. For example, testosterone is responsible for puberty and sex drive and is needed to maintain the overall functions of the bull’s reproductive organs. Second, dietary zinc plays a crucial role at the cellular level in spermatogenesis or sperm production, and thus vital semen production. A practical zinc recommendation for breeding bulls includes feeding them a standard well-balanced cattle mineral (with 40 ppm zinc on a complete feed basis) for much of the winter-early spring period (180 days) and then switched to a forti-

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Cattleman’s Corner RANCHER’S DIARY

Hot, dry weather has its challenges Haying delayed, forest fires, yellow jackets — all come with the weather HEATHER SMITH THOMAS

JULY 24

wo weeks ago Andrea left to help Bob Minor on a forest fire at Big Piney, Wyoming (pressure washing all vehicles and heavy equipment that come and go from the fire — a Forest Service regulation to prevent spread of weed seeds). She was gone for nine days. While she was gone, Lynn and I helped Rick take care of her kids, and Emily rode with me several times to check fences and fix a couple water troughs. Em has also been earning a little money this summer helping me sort and file articles, trim the brush around my stackyard, and other odd jobs indoors and out. For a few days she helped me flush the old abscess on Sprout’s right hind heel. The mare bruised her heel in the rocks and has been lame for two weeks and we haven’t been able to ride her. Michael and Carolyn and kids chopped larkspur in the 320 in Baker Creek, so it won’t be a danger when they move their cows in there. We also need to fix the fence so the range cows won’t get in there when they get moved to the high range. The weather has turned hot and dry. Last week we finally started

PHOTOS: HEATHER SMITH THOMAS

Granddaughter Dani makes a short ride with Veggie, 26-year-old gelding through the hay fields.

haying (about three weeks later than planned, because we needed to keep irrigating some of the fields a little longer, due to the shortage of water). Saturday, Rick helped me move the rest of my hay out of the hay shed (and we made a little stack by the horse pens) so we can put new hay in the shed. Andrea started baling and Lynn stacked, and we got my hay shed filled again. Lynn put the rest of the hay in the main stackyard. Yesterday Dani rode Veggie for a short ride around the hayfields while Lynn was stacking hay. When we got done haying Andrea rode with Dani, Sam and

me. Today I rode with young Heather and Carolyn while they ponied and rode a couple of the green horses Heather is training this summer. I also made plane and hotel reservations for Andrea and Emily to fly to the World Burn Congress in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in September. Emily is old enough now to benefit from this experience. It will help her to better understand all the things that happened when her mom was burned 12 years ago — when her mom disappeared from young Emily’s life for the rest of that summer. Andrea and I have

Em, Sam and Dani out with their grandmother checking the range. wanted to attend another WBC ever since our first one in 2008, but this time it’s best that Andrea and Em do it together. We are scrambling to find the money to send them this year.

AUGUST 5 A week ago Friday, our neighbour Alfonzo told us he saw a big red steer out on the low range. Michael was missing a steer, so the next morning Andrea and I rode Breezy and Ed and checked the low range. We saw his tracks near the far corner, and found him in some brush next to the middle range fence. He wanted to go through the fence and join some range cows but we were able to get him away from the fence and around the hill, and took him two miles back to the 160 pasture where he belonged. That evening Lynn and I went to my 50th high school class reunion dinner and to another get-together picnic on Saturday and a brunch on Sunday. Andrea helped Alfonzo and Lowell move their range cows from the middle range to the high range Sunday morning. That afternoon she and I rode again to gather cattle the neighbours missed. Breezy worked 12 hours that day. We rode again the next day to move a few more cattle that got missed. Michael and Carolyn moved their cows and calves into the Baker Creek side of the 320, now that the range cows and bulls are not pressing that side (they are on the high range instead). They had to take one cow home that lost her calf the night before — it drowned in the new water trough. The cow was bulling and her calf probably got knocked into the trough and couldn’t get out. They grafted their spare twin calf onto her — the calf Michael rescued and stitched up after the cow abandoned it and the magpies ate the navel and belly skin. Weather continues hot and very dry. More forest fires are cropping up nearby. Andrea left last week to help Bob on another fire near Stanley, Idaho. Rick has been going to the woods nearly every day to cut firewood to

sell, and we’re hoping the Forest Service doesn’t close the forests to vehicles because of the high fire danger. While Andrea has been gone, Em rode with Sam, Dani and me a few times. Veggie had a close call last week. During the night the 26-year-old gelding got on his back in the ditch by the barn in the little pen where he’s been grazing. He must have struggled a while to get out, bruising his back and ribs, and neck. He probably lay too close to the ditch and rolled. Fortunately he was able to get out, or he would have died, stuck on his back. I gave him bute for several days to ease the pain, swellings and inflammation. He was feeling better enough that Sam was able to ride him again the past two days on short rides. She loves that old horse and I’m glad he survived!

AUGUST 17 We loaned Michael and Carolyn our big flatbed truck to haul hay for their horses, but yellow jackets had nested in the driver’s door — which made for an interesting challenge getting in and out of the truck! They had to spray the nest. Nick drove back to Iowa last week to start his second year of college at William Penn University. He has a running scholarship, and went a couple weeks early for cross-country practice with their team. Andrea drove home late one night after working on the fire at Stanley, to see the kids briefly, then left at 4 a.m. the next morning to drive back to work. She hopes to do that again tomorrow night; she’s been on that fire now for 18 days and is really missing the kids, and they miss her. Yesterday Sam and Dani rode with me in the morning before the smoke from the fires got too thick, and today Emily rode with us also. We try to ride in the mornings before it gets so hot and smoky. We hope to do a few more rides before school starts next week. Where did the summer go? † Heather Smith Thomas ranches with her husband Lynn near Salmon, Idaho. Contact her at 208-756-2841.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

grainews.ca /

The Dairy Corner forage products

Mouldy feed is dangerous for dairy cows BY PETER VITTI

ould contamination makes dairy feed unpalatable and has been demonstrated to reduce the digestibility and nutrient content of forages and grains. Various mould species may also produce harmful mycotoxins, which can adversely alter animal metabolism, damage organs, impede reproduction functions, and disrupt the immune system to fight disease. Dairy producers should know how moulds and their mycotoxins develop in animal feed and take corrective action when it occurs and preventative action to minimize reoccurrence. Of the many moulds that exist in nature, the three major moulds that pose the greatest dairy feed threat with deadly mycotoxins are Aspergillus Fluavus that produce aflatoxins, fusarium moulds that produce vomitoxin and zearalenone, and penicillium fungi that produce related penicillium mycotoxins.

Aflatoxins in imported feeds Most Canadian climates do not favour the growth of Aspergillus Fluavus and therefore aflatoxins are of little threat to our homegrown forages, silages, and grains.

This contaminant grows under high temperatures coupled with high humidity and sometimes in drought conditions. Dairy cattle fed alflatoxin-contaminated feed can have depressed feed intakes, consequently low milk production, and increased somatic cell counts. Imported feed ingredients from the southern U.S. such as mouldy cottonseed meal and whole cottonseed for dairy cattle are a potential source of aflatoxins coming into Canada.

zearalenone grain has been implicated in disrupting heat cycles, reducing conception rates, causing visible symptoms such as swollen vulvas, and prolapsed vaginas, and spontaneous abortions. Furthermore, zearalenone will cause liver damage and will suppress the immune system. Other fusarium mycotoxins such as T2 and fumonium will cause reproductive and health problems in cattle but are seldom found in Canadian feedstuffs.

Fusarium mycotoxins

Penicillium mycotoxins

Fusarium-derived mycotoxins are more of a threat to our livestock than aflatoxins, because they grow in cooler conditions found in Canada. Deoxynivalenol (DON), the fusarium mycotoxin commonly called vomitoxin, became widespread in Western Canada during the early 1990s, when a few years of cool summers and damp harvest weather favoured its growth in barley and wheat kernels. Initially, it was thought to be toxic to ruminants, however, field trials fed up to 66 ppm in dairy cattle rations did not result in significant adverse effects, aside from feeding lower grain quality and therefore feeding lower energy dairy feed. In contrast, zearalenone, another fusarium mycotoxin, has estrogenlike properties which will cause infertility in cattle. Contaminated

Unlike aflatoxins and fusarium mycotoxins, penicillium mycotoxins are a result of poorly stored feed or poor bunk management. They are not only been suspect in causing reproductive problems in cattle, but also have been shown to hamper feed digestion. For instance, a University of Minnesota experiment added graduated concentrations of patulin (a penicillium mycotoxin) to artificial fermenters containing rumen fluid collected from experimental dairy cows. Researchers found the addition of patulin to these cultures significantly reduced organic matter, fibre and protein digestion of an added pelleted diet as well as depressed rumen microbe populations. Such lab work is supported by practical field trials, where mould

and their mycotoxins make their biggest impact upon dairy cattle. Keith Bolson, a forage research expert from the University of Illinois demonstrated that when spoiled crusts of bunker silage replaces good-quality corn silage at 25 per cent increments in steer rations; dry matter intake, forage fibre and protein digestibility were depressed by 20 per cent. He speculated the negative effects of mouldy silage could be duplicated if the same feed were fed to highproducing dairy cows, recognizing their high dry matter intakes and high rates of feed passage.

Not always obvious Unfortunately, not all mould contamination is visible in dairy feed and their detrimental effects upon dairy cattle may be one of general poor performance without any clear explanation to the real mouldy culprit. In suspect cases, testing for moulds and mycotoxins in feed is frequently recommended. Mould count tests are rather inexpensive, but their usefulness as sound information is limited, since most moulds are not poisonous and it says little about the presence of any mycotoxins. A more reliable test called a mould-screen test is very useful in identifying and eliminating what mould species and their mycotoxins that might be present in a cattle feed.

When testing feed, always keep in mind that just because nothing was found, does not mean it is not there. Mould and mycotoxins contamination are not uniformly distributed among a load of feed and can be found in isolated spots within the load. If a test comes back positive for mould growth and is deemed dangerous to cattle, the best solution is not to feed the mouldy feed at all. A feedstuff with apparently low levels of toxic mould should be avoided because there is usually no direct relationship between mycotoxin concentration and its potential threat to dairy livestock, particularly when feeding young or pregnant cattle. Subsequently, mixing mouldy feed with “clean” feed is not a sound practice because this does not eliminate the problem and reduces the quality and safety of the good feed. In situations of desperation, commercial mould binders might offer only a temporary solution, when there are no other viable dairy feeds are available. Taking steps to ensure that highquality feed is available to dairy cattle at all times is the best measure in preventing a serious mould problem. † Peter Vitti is an independent livestock nutritionist and consultant based in Winnipeg. To reach him call 204-254-7497 or by email at vitti@mts.net.

/ grainews.ca

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Features Research

Summer research days Researchers put their field work on display at locations across the Prairies this summer By Leeann Minogue

esearchers are co-operating to create a brighter future for Prairie agriculture. This summer, the results could be seen across the Prairies, as farmers and industry players were invited to research events across the prairies to see the projects in action.

Swift Current Agronomists and scientists from Saskatchewan Agriculture, the Wheatland Conservation Area, the Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation (IHARF), the Canola Council of Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC’s) Semi-Arid

Prairie Agricultural Research Centre (SPARC) came together on July 12 to showcase their infield research work. Several long-term projects are underway that are expected to help Prairie farmers keep their competitive edge in the short term and the long term. AAFC durum wheat researcher Danny Singh explained the wheat breeding program in place at SPARC. They have already registered the first solid stem durum in Canada, currently known as DT818. This variety has been bred to be sawfly-resistant. “We’re excited to see if that helps some of the people who have wheat stem sawfly,” Singh says. Midge-resistant durum is in the final year of testing, and

could be commercially available in three to four years. Singh seemed most excited when describing new winter durum varieties. Seeding durum in the fall may one day enable Prairie farmers to harvest earlier,

lowering the risk of damage from frost and some disease. The winter durum varieties on display at SPARC are Russian types that don’t meet Canadian standards. “We’re starting to make some crosses now,” Singh says. But the

photos: leeann minogue

Clark Brenzil, Saskatchewan Agriculture weed control specialist, explains a research project.

IHARF has several research projects taking place at multiple locations. Here, IHARF research manager Chris Holzapfel explains one of IHARF’s canola projects. 27097 NodulatorXL FreeForm GrainNews_finalT.indd 2

Danny Singh (kneeling to get a better look at the growing plants) is a durum breeder at AAFC’s Swift Current research Station; Richard Cuthbert (standing, with the micropone) is a wheat breeder.

final product is “20 years away, at least.” While the end results are still uncertain, he says, “If we don’t try it, we won’t know.” Saskatchewan Pulse Growers pulse breeder Tom Warkentin

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

grainews.ca /

Features described the pulse breeding program, in which there are more varieties of all major pulse crops in the pipeline. “We’re using modern genomics to seep up our efforts,” Warkentin says. While he stresses that this is not the same as genetic modification, using genetic markers to identify traits allows for faster breeder progress. Key elements to the pulse breeding program are biofortification, efforts to breed crops with higher levels of nutrients

such as zinc or iron, and improving herbicide resistance. Other projects on display included trials of various pea inoculants applied at different rates, phosphorus uptake in wheat and canola, spraying hybrid canola at different plant stages, and new pea varieties that may be suitable for forage.

IHARF IHARF held its field day at its facility in Indian Head

on July 24. Speakers such as Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Faye Dokken-Bouchard and Clark Brenzil gave farmers advice on pulse crops and weed control. As a farmer-driven organization, IHARF is investigating several realworld questions that have implications for Prairie farmers. They refer to these trials as the “yieldbusters” program. The IHARF Annual Report for 2011 introduces “yield-busters” trials by saying: “Grain farmers across the Prairies now have access to

an unprecedented amount of new products and practices that claim to increase profitability through either higher yields or increased efficiencies. That said, relatively slim economic margins limit how much growers have to invest into their crops and still remain profitable. Furthermore, many products currently being marketed are not consistent with what has been traditionally recommended or used on the prairies. While growers are often intrigued by novel products or practices, in many cases thirdparty data is not available to help them determine which of these products are in fact worth the investment.” One of IHARF’s yield-busters projects currently underway is a multi-year, multi-site look at which hybrid canola types are best suited to straight combining. This work could save many canola growers from having to swath — lowering machinery and field costs and saving time. 2012 is the third year of an IHARF investigation into the best

hybrid canola varieties to seed, if reseeding becomes necessary. As Chris Holpfazel points out, past research has recommended using early maturing varieties, but there has been little research looking at new hybrid varieties. This study is ongoing at sites in Scott, Melfort, Swift Current, Indian Head and Saskatoon.

Summer tours Summer tours are a great way to see research in action. When different varieties are planted side by side, it’s a great opportunity to size them up and make comparisons. However, a look at the plants doesn’t tell the whole story. Researchers need time to harvest the plants and analyze their results before they can reach conclusions they can stand behind. Over the winter, as staff involved in these research trials finalize their results, Grainews will be providing information you can use on your farm. † Leeann Minogue is editor of Grainews.

Clint Jurke is an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council. These “booties” stop him from spreading disease as he looks at canola crops across the Prairies.

Tom Warkentin (left) is a pea breeder at the Crop Development Centre. Cal McDonald is a sustainable production technician at AAFC, Swift Current.

Early varieties of winter durum were on display at the AAFC plots in Swift Current. 8/27/12 4:13 PM

/ grainews.ca

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Features HARVESTING

Get the most from in-field trials Murray Lewis has developed a complete system for in-field trials that maximizes information and minimizes time and frustration in the field BY JASON CASSELMAN

or most farmers, combine yield monitors provide a good estimate of how different areas of the field compare, and an average yield for the whole field. Some farmers download their data to a computer to see the map showing variations across the field. But some farmers take things one step further, using new GPS tools to get more accurate information about yield variation and make the most from on-farm trials. Murray Lewis from Hillsboro Farms in Cleardale, Alberta, is one of these farmers. Lewis uses GPS

with RTK precision on his farm for pass-to-pass accuracy and track repeatability. This precision allows him to record yield data at a much greater accuracy.

PRE-SEED PLANNING For truly accurate in-field trials, it’s important to plan how you’ll measure the results before you get to the field. Plan out combine passes ahead of time, and line them up with the seeding equipment and the sprayer. Set up plots ahead of time, to make certain that everything can be done automatically at harvest time. In the past, Lewis used rand-

omized treatment blocks. He changed his method when he came to believe he was measuring soil variability effects more than treatment effects. Now he uses full length field strips for in-field trials, so he can compare the new treatment to adjacent full strips of normal practice. Lewis’ system begins with a plan for each field operation. He maps out the tracks where each implement will travel, and in which direction. His system is similar to controlled traffic farming, without having equipment on the same wheel tracks. To get everything lined up in the field, each piece of equipment starts at the same reference point. Seeding passes are

programmed prior to seeding, with fertility and seeding set up. Spray passes are also pre-programmed and direction of travel is predetermined. Choosing locations for trials is simplified by using field records of which treatments were in the field in the past, and exactly where they were. Knowing if there has been a previous fertility trial in a certain track helps Lewis determine whether or not to use that track in the new trial, or gives him information about what he might expect from the trial. Lewis’ fields are set up with a starting point and an initial track. Each subsequent track is assigned across the field in 90 foot increments —

this is one sprayer width and three combine header widths. His seeder width is 45 feet, so there are two passes in each sprayer width. With Lewis’ system, two out of three combine passes don’t have any sprayer tracks. This allows Murray to look at potential yield differences from tracks at spraying. Lewis’ system is designed to overcome equipment limitations and get the most information with the least effort and time in the field. He widened out his 1895 John Deere air drill to 45 feet with additional seeding units. He upgraded GPS signal accuracy with an RTK base station to ensure pass-to-pass repeatability.

TYPES OF TRIALS

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Some of the treatments Lewis has evaluated include seed varieties, seed treatments, seed placed fertilizer rates, mid row band fertilizer rates, crop protection products, insecticides, fungicides and foliar nutrition. Lewis’ fertility trials include comparing applications (fertilizing in fall versus spring, or side-dressing later in the season). When it comes to rate trials, Murray suggests using at least three rates — a standard rate compared to higher and lower rates. He’s using his fertilizer rate trials to build fertilizer response curves for different areas of the field, to determine if fertilizing with variable rates will work.

HARVEST At harvest time, there are up to three different combines and two grain carts in Lewis’ fields. Lewis has found the following steps to be helpful when it comes to getting the most from his trials: • Equip grain carts with weigh scales, and have the operators record weights and load numbers for each combine load. This information can be used later, to ensure that data is accurate. • Ideally, have combines travel in the same direction when harvesting a strip trial. This helps reduce variability from crop lean and wind direction. • Lewis has seen that having one combine per trial per field works best. There are always differences between combines with different settings and operators. • The yield monitoring system can also be used to evaluate combine performance and gather information about fuel consumption, acres per hour and bushels per hour. Lewis is still working to automate the analysis of the data he collects. Now he’s working on computer software that will automatically look at the treatments and show statistically significant results. His system continues to evolve and improve. One day, he imagines seeing a protein monitor on his combine. For farmers who want more accurate information from their yield monitor and want to compare different treatments: plan in advance. † Jason Casselman is a partner and agronomist with Dunvegan Ag Solutions Inc. (www.howtogotoagsi.com) at Rycroft, Alta.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

grainews.ca /

Features MARKETS

Straw-based copy paper A Winnipeg company is promoting straw-based paper for consumer use BY LEEANN MINOGUE

traw-based paper designed and produced by the Winnipeg-based company Prairie Pulp & Paper Inc. is now available at Staples stores across Canada and online at www.staples.ca. This paper, known as Step Forward Paper, contains 80 per cent straw from leftover by-product of harvested wheat crops and 20 per cent Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood fibre. “Paper made from leftover straw produces high quality and performance that compares with other copy and printer papers,” said Pete Gibel, vice president of merchandising at Staples Canada. “It’s an easy and cost-effective way for consumers and small businesses to conserve our world’s forests without sacrificing quality.”

STEP FORWARD PAPER Jeff Golfman, Prairie Pulp & Paper Inc. president, explains that Step Forward Paper is the first paper of its kind to hit shelves in North America, and the first step toward meeting more of our paper needs from straw instead of ancient forests. Currently, Step Forward Paper is made at a facility in India. This is phase one for the company. Phase two will include constructing a state-of-the-art eco-mill in the Canadian prairies, where millions of tonnes of leftover straw are readily available.

“Our goal is to establish a market that will support our plans to build a new state-of-the-art facility in the Canadian prairies in Manitoba, which will in turn enable us to produce this straw paper with an even smaller footprint,” said Golfman. Prairie Pulp & Paper Inc. is working in partnership with Canopy, a not-for-profit environmental organization that is collaborating with large paper customers to develop the North American straw paper industry.

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“Shoppers like you and I can pick up Step Forward Paper” — AMANDA CARR “Our market survey continues to quantify a clear and growing demand from large paper customers for paper made from leftover straw,” said Amanda Carr, Canopy’s Campaign Director. “Now we’re excited because shoppers like you and I can pick up Step Forward Paper and support a straw paper industry in North America, a key to protecting our endangered ancient forests.” † Leeann Minogue is the editor of Grainews.

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Leftover straw can be used to make high performance paper. BU27097NodXL_Gn_CE.indd 1

8/27/12 4:18 PM

/ grainews.ca

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Features Crop protection

Know your coverage when spraying Before you take your sprayer out into the field, or the neighbour’s field, make sure you have insurance By Harry Siemens

Custom applicators

hese days, even local and community professional umpires need to take out liability insurance. Is it any surprise that custom spray applicators need to make sure they’re covered in the case of potential accidents or problems? While nobody wants to see spray drift, it’s good management for Variety farmers to deregistration– make sure they’re[6”] covered by insurance before they take Grainnews 2012 that sprayer out into the field.

Rempel Insurance Brokers of Morris, Man., offers a Custom Applicators Program to protect people spraying agricultural chemicals. While the package is designed for custom applicators, it could also be appropriate for a farmer who’s started a side business, custom spraying to help pay for the spray. Colin Harbinson of Rempel Insurance Brokers says this comprehensive coverage program goes

Custom spray applicators need to make sure they’re covered in the case of potential accidents or problems. back 20 years. “It’s a package put together specifically for the very specialized business of custom applicators for custom applying, or for ground spraying crop production products,” says Harbinson. “We feel it needs to be specialized because this business those clients are in is a very specialized business.”

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Attention: Grain producers The registration for the following Canada Western Red Spring wheat variety will be cancelled effective August 1, 2013: 

Garnet

Effective August 1, 2013, this variety will only be eligible for the grade Wheat, Canada Western Feed. The registration for the following flaxseed varieties will be cancelled effective August 1, 2013:  

CDC Mons CDC Normandy

Effective August 1, 2013, these varieties will only be eligible for the grade Flaxseed, 3 Canada Western/Canada Eastern.

Working together, we all play a part in maintaining Canada’s grain quality.

For more information, contact the Canadian Grain Commission : 1-800-853-6705 or 204-983-2770 TTY : 1-866-317-4289 www.grainscanada.gc.ca Stay informed. Get updates by RSS feed about changes to variety designation lists. To subscribe, visit the Canadian Grain Commission’s web site.

Coverage under the Custom Applicators Program includes three main areas: spray drift coverage, misapplication coverage, and pollution liability. Coverage ranges from three to 10 million dollars, and can also include physical damage coverage for specialized equipment, including sprayers, trailers and pump equipment. Harbinson says spray drift coverage comes into play when the wind carries spray over to the neighbour’s property. It doesn’t have to be very windy for spray drift to happen. Many other factors affect drift, including moisture in the air, humidity and time of day. In the second category, misapplication coverage, Harbinson uses the example of an operator spraying for 10 to 12 hours straight, pushing his own limits, and ending up in the wrong field. Misapplication issues can also occur when the operator’s in the right field. “Tank rinsing could be a problem — he doesn’t quite get all the residue out, and puts something on a crop that will damage it,” Harbinson says. “So it’s actually putting the wrong product where it’s not needed.”

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. This product has been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Genuity and Design®, Genuity Icons, Genuity®, Roundup Ready®, and Roundup® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. Used under license.

An issue that’s getting more attention from bureaucrats across the country is pollution liability coverage. Laws and regulations are becoming more stringent, inching to a place where small incidents can become highlycostly affairs. “As this equipment is moving around, there is some risk, of collision, an accident on a roadway, or by the truck and or the trailer, with product potentially going into waterway,” says Harbinson. This will mean clean up costs, and possibly fines.

Coverage for farmers There are other, lower cost policies for farmers who mainly spray their own crops, but who may venture out to help a neighbour during busy times. Different policies have different coverage — in some cases, your coverage may depend on the number of acres your spray. “It would be good for the producer to check with his insurance broker let to them know what he is doing to make sure he is within his policy bounds,” says Harbinson. “Every policy has limitations and conditions, so check with your own broker.” Make sure your broker understands what you’re planning to do, and ensure you’ll be covered for any accident or problem. Helping a neighbour can turn into an expensive job if an accident occurs and you realize that spraying a few extra acres has put you over your policy threshold. “This is a business that is growing. As the machines become more technical and far more expensive, it’s not uncommon to have these sprayers and fertilizer equipment costing from $300,000 to half a million dollars,” Harbinson says. “Any time there’s a chance to pick up a few extra dollars helping a neighbour, there is potential for those people then to be outside their own insurance requirement.” When it comes to litigation, Harbinson’s says it’s unfortunate but true that every year someone makes a claim. These claims don’t always end up going through insurance, but sometimes they do. “That’s where it is good to get the agrologist experts out to actually determine what caused the damage.” † Harry Siemens is a farm journalist, freelance writer, speaker, broadcaster at Winkler, Man. Find him at www.siemenssays.com, harry@ siemenssays.com or 204-325-5215.

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/ grainews.ca

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Features LAND MANAGEMENT

Landowners and Hunters Nine things to consider before hunters come knocking on your door asking for permission to hunt on your land BY JASON CASSLEMAN

s a member of the local fish and game association and an agronomist working with farmers I’ve had the opportunity to participate in many discussions about the relationship between hunters and farmers, specifically the issue of asking for and granting permission to access private land for the purpose of hunting. Landowners typically start receiving calls in the fall just as harvest and hunting season begin. Fall is a hectic time for both landowners and hunters, and last minute phone calls for access can be time consuming, trying and a bit annoying. With proper planning by both the hunter and the landowner, the landowner can gain benefit from allowing hunters access to hunt game on their property. Landowners who allow hunters controlled access to their

or deny permission for hunters to be on their land. With some preparation and planning a landowner can benefit from allowing hunting and participating in local wildlife management efforts. And, if you’re making wildlife damage claims for crop damage you may have to prove that you’ve allow hunting on your land, and provide documentation stating who you have allowed to come and hunt on your property. When hunters call to ask permission to hunt on your land you should expect them to act in a courteous and professional manner. Hunters should ask permission from the landowner prior to hunting season, ideally in a face to face meeting. This meeting is an opportunity to check references if this person is not from the area or unknown to the landowner. Just giving permission over the phone is not good enough, and does not set expectations for either party.

If necessary, you can restrict hunters to foot access only, stipulating that they not drive through standing crop. Landowners should let the hunters know if there is anybody else with permission to hunt on

the same land, and what the hunters should do if they see somebody else on the property. In most cases, the best practice for hunters who see someone else on the land is to go to a different area. Make sure hunters are aware of

potential dangers of taking vehicles into the field or on access roads, and discuss their contingency plans if they get stuck on a roadway or need help getting out of an area that they shouldn’t be in. The last thing a landowner

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Meet the hunter face to face, outline your expectations and limits to access, and agree on communication procedures property contribute to game management efforts by natural resource management agencies. Game management helps to reduce wildlife damage to crops and can improve the biodiversity of the ecosystem. Other benefits to landowners are to help manage the wild game population and limit wildlife damage in the area. It also helps to keep wildlife moving so they don’t get too concentrated in one area, causing more damage.

SETTING EXPECTATIONS Landowners can set boundaries, requirements and expectations for anyone who requests permission to access their property. Landowners are perfectly within their rights to either grant

As a landowner, you have the right to prepare a list of conditions for hunters prior to allowing them to hunt on your property. Here are some items you may wish to consider as you prepare a list of conditions or sit down to discuss access with hunters: Your list may include a requirement that the hunters notify you when they will be on the property and let you know how many hunters will be in the hunting party. You can set out specific areas where hunting is allowed. Be specific as to which land is included when you grant permission — include legal land locations and directions. Hunter should have a copy of a local map.

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Be clear about the limits you’re setting when you give a hunter permission to hunt on your land, before he gets a shot like this lined up.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Features

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needs is to get called out to help pull a hunter’s truck out of a mud hole, but that may be better than having hunters rip and tear trying to get it out themselves. Discuss what you wish the hunters to do with the discarded animal parts. Consider where the hunter is going to park; you may need access to the field with equipment and having a hunter’s vehicle parked in the entranceway is a hassle you don’t need. Greg Sekulic, agronomist with the Canola Council, reminds landowners to consider equipment

sanitation. Hunters may not be aware of the necessity of cleaning soil from equipment when going from zone to zone. Some hunters may hunt in different areas, and could be carrying clubroot spores from one place to another. It’s important to discuss this issue with hunters, and, if you’re concerned, require hunters to clean their equipment before permitting access. Ask the hunters who are accessing your property to update permission paperwork yearly. This gives the landowner a chance to make changes to requirements.

If you wish to put up signs on your property put a sign that says, “Ask for Permission” rather than a “No Hunting” sign. If you have a “No Hunting” sign, even the landowner isn’t allowed to hunt, and this won’t help your case if you’re trying to make a wildlife damage claim on the crop. Landowners who also rent land should remember to talk with their landlord before giving hunters blanket permission to access land that they manage. Guides and outfitters can’t pay for use of land. While paid access or leasing land for hunting

is a common practice in many countries, it’s illegal in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. No one is allowed to pay a landowner for access — nor is a landowner allowed to solicit for access. Be aware of laws regarding proceeds from hunting. To maintain neighbourly relations you may wish to phone neighbours living adjacent to the property and let them know you’re allowing hunters to access the land, giving neighbours advance notice of potential unfamiliar vehicles and activity.

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Wildlife won`t respect your signs; hopefully, hunters will.

When a hunter calls you for access to hunt on your property set out your expectations and requirements. Be clear about the limits you are setting when you grant permission. By allowing hunters access to your land and managing wildlife you are helping to increase the biodiversity of the land and providing a better understanding to the ecosystem where agricultural land and natural habitats coexist. † Jason Casselman is a partner and agronomist with Dunvegan Ag Solutions Inc. (www. howtogotoagsi.com) at Rycroft, Alta.

/ grainews.ca

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Columns SOIL AND CROPS

A farmer’s view of Growing Forward 2 Canada’s ag ministers will finalize a new five-year agriculture policy agreement, Growing Forward 2, this month. Les Henry shares his opinions about Canada’s ag policies LES HENRY

he feds have been working for about a year on “Growing Forward 2” and want to put it in place by next spring. For this column I have my farmer hat firmly planted. I am not an economist but I do have definite opinions on farm programs. This is strictly my opinion.

AGRIRECOVERY AgriRecovery is designed to provide quick response when disaster

strikes, such as flooding in a few parts of the Prairies in the past few years. It is a much needed program and should be maintained with sufficient funds available to meet serious setbacks. It seems to me that our governments have responded fairly well in recent years with top-ups to unseeded acreage payments and other assistance. The Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) website lists 20 AgriRecovery projects across Canada in the past few years, from drought in the Swift Current area in 2008 to southeast Saskatchewan flooding in 2011. Farmers are always subject to whatever Mother Nature throws our way, so AgriRecovery should be maintained and improved where needed.

AGRIINSURANCE Crop insurance, in my opinion, is a good program. It is flexible — we can choose a level of coverage — and individualized, since our guaranteed yields are based on our individual production records. For my money it is essential. Any additional funds available for Growing Forward 2 should find their way into the Crop Insurance program. There does appear to be some move toward providing a form of livestock insurance, but I do not know the details. In case you wonder where extra money could come from to improve AgriRecovery and AgriInsurance, read on. There are

two significant programs that I think could be scrapped or phased out, making a lot of money available for necessary programs.

AGRIINVEST In days gone by this program was called NISA (Net Income Stabilization Account). The idea was that farmers would put money aside in good years, then withdraw it to help them get through bad years. The triggers for extracting money from NISA were cumbersome. That problem has been fixed with AgriInvest. AgriInvest is a great program — if we farmers want straight government handouts. I am enrolled in

Protect Your Investment

AgriInvest and was also in NISA. One would have to be a financial illiterate not to enroll. Where else can we get an absolute guarantee of an immediate 100 per cent return on investment? AgriInvest is not needed and serves no useful purpose. It is a great retirement fund for farmers. Most used NISA for exactly that, and are using AgriInvest the same way. I would sooner see the administrative expense and government funding used for needed farm programs. When flooded-out farmers in southeast Saskatchewan struggled in 2011, AgriInvest dollars would have been much better placed helping them. Manitoba farmers have had many such problems over the years. In the 1990s, when Western grain farmers were struggling, the federal agriculture minister of the day could not understand why their large NISA balances were not being used. The simple reason was this: farmers with large NISA balances were not in trouble — never had been and never would be. In my opinion: shut down AgriInvest. It could be wound down quickly with no serious complications.

AGRISTABILITY

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AgriStability is based on profit margin. It guarantees a percentage of some average of past years’ profit margins. I have never enrolled in AgriStability or the former CAIS (Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization) program, so am not up on the details. An agricultural economist I respect pointed out the fundamental flaw: farming is not a margin business. We give it our best shot and hope something is left over after all expenses are paid. This program has failed miserably in the past when farmers entered with a history of very low or negative margins. The horror stories I hear about the program administration makes me wonder why it has lasted so long. AgriStability is probably the most expensive program to run because it is so complicated. Its operation is a mystery, its administrative response is slow and farmers are often left hanging for months without being sure of their status. And, occasionally, after program funds are paid out, administrators change their minds and want them back. The current proposal is to reduce the percentage of average margin maintained from 85 to 70 per cent. My opinion: wind down AgriStability. It is complicated, and the wind down would be a long and complex process. But, funds would be made available for more real and urgent needs. † J.L.(Les) Henry is a former professor and extension specialist at the University of Saskatchewan. He farms at Dundurn, Sask. He recently finished a second printing of “Henry’s Handbook of Soil and Water”, a book that mixes the basics and practical aspects of soil, fertilizer and farming. Les will cover the shipping and GST for Grainews readers. Simply send a cheque for $50 to Henry Perspectives, 143 Tucker Cres, Saskatoon, SK, S7H 3H7, and he will dispatch a signed book.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

grainews.ca /

Columns FARM FINANCIAL PLANNER

Keeping the farm in the family This farm couple has made no formal plans to transfer ownership of their farm on to the next generation. It’s not too late to get started BY ANDREW ALLENTUCK

he farm in western Manitoba that a couple we’ll call Morris and Lucy built over the last 70 years has been a financial success. With 1,760 acres in all, it has a $2.2 million value and no debt. What Morris and Lucy did not do is prepare the farm, and the family, for succession. Two sons — we’ll call them George (46) and Barry (44) — have farmed with Morris part-time and worked town jobs the rest of the time. A daughter, we’ll call her Suzy (41), has no interest in farming. Morris is now 84 and Lucy is 77. They have made no formal plans to transfer ownership and operation of the farm. They have no retirement plan, no wills and no clear idea of how to keep the operation going. The family asked Don Forbes, a farm financial planner with Don Forbes & Associates/Armstrong & Quaile of Carberry, Manitoba, to develop a succession plan, to plan a retirement for Morris and Lucy and to work out a way to bring their children into the farm as a continuing operation.

RETIRING RIGHT NOW If Morris and Lucy were to retire right now, their income would be made up of two Old Age Security benefits of $545 per month each, CPP benefits of $704 for Morris and $233 for Lucy, combined Registered Retirement Income Fund payments of $671, combined investment income of $478 and combined farm income of $2,000 per month for four years and then $800 per month thereafter. That’s total family income before tax of $5,176 per month. Take off taxes at 11 per cent, and they would have disposable income of $4,607 per month — more than the $3,000 per month

they estimate they will need in retirement. Maintaining farm income is the issue. Morris and Lucy need a simple farm transfer process embedded in a will. The process should recognize the contribution their sons have made to the farm. There is no life insurance to aid the transfer process, Mr. Forbes notes. The largest issue in the transfer is tax on the accrued gains for the farm. Lucy was a farm employee and would ordinarily not be eligible for the $750,000 Qualified Farmland Capital Gains Tax. However, Mr. Forbes notes, she can file tax returns as a farm partner for the next two years. “She should meet the CRA test as a partner, for she was joint owner of the farmland for the past 20 years,” Mr. Forbes says. “Grain sale cheques were issued in both names and all farm supplies were done in joint names. In addition to doing farm chores, she was the principal combine operator in fall for more than thirty years.”

LEGACY The sons are part of the succession plan, of course. George, the eldest, should be given the family home and 320 acres of adjacent land with a market value of $480,000 on the condition that he and his wife buy the farm home and buildings for $100,000. At the death of the last parent, he should receive a further 480 acres with a market value of $290,000. Before that event, he can rent the land at $4,800 per year from his parents. Barry, the younger son, should receive a gift of 320 acres of land with a market value of $480,000 and, on the death of the last parent, he would receive an inheritance of 480 acres worth $290,000. Before the transfer, he can also rent farmland for $4,800 per year from the parents. Rental income paid to Morris and Lucy will provide $9,600 per year or $800 per month, the permanent income embedded in the farm income restructuring.

Daughter Suzy will get $100,000, paid by George for the farm buildings. She will also receive $50,000 from the sale of the family cottage. Then, at the death of the last parent, she will receive a legacy of 160 acres of farmland with a market value of $240,000. There is a condition on the gift that she rent the land to her brothers and that they have a right of first refusal if she wants to sell. Also, as a part of her legacy, she would receive any residual value of the parents’ off-farm financial assets left after taxes are paid.

FINANCIAL ASSETS Over the years, Morris and Lucy accumulated financial assets with a total value of almost $275,000. They bought mostly stocks and stock mutual funds. The trouble is that stocks are volatile and, after they retire, Morris and Lucy will be far more dependent on their financial assets than they were while they were actively farming. That is all the more reason to use bonds whose returns are fixed and knowable at the time of purchase and stocks that pay dependable and rising dividends. They need not seek growth stocks or concept stocks, trendy stocks or tax-shelter schemes. If they make sound choices, they can reinvest the income they no longer need for their living expenses in their 60 per cent bond, 40 per cent stock allocation and enhance the financial assets they use to supa-

plement public pensions and the farm income they receive from their sons. They should sell stocks and mutual funds and move money they realize into a total allocation with about 60 per cent bonds and 40 per cent stocks. Government bond yields are very low these days, but investment grade corporate bonds with terms of 10 years to maturity still yield 3.5 to 4.5 per cent.

The largest issue in the transfer is tax on the accrued gains for the farm They can also buy preferred shares with rating of P-2 or better and, for the common stock portion of their portfolio, shares of Canadian companies that have paid rising dividends for at least two decades and that have never missed a dividend payment. Shares of the big six banks and most public utilities qualify, Mr. Forbes says. In moving from mutual funds, most with fees of two to 2.5 per cent, to specific stocks or even to exchange traded funds with fees perhaps a tenth of those of mutual

funds, Morris and Lucy should be careful not to sell while penalty fees on funds with deferred sales commissions threaten to take two per cent or more (up to six per cent) on sales before the six-year penalty period is over. If they incur fees more than one per cent, which they can regard as a normal transaction fee, then they will lose much of the immediate advantage of switching to exchange traded funds, Mr. Forbes notes. Retirement means that Morris and Lucy will have fewer income sources than when they were working and drawing off-farm cash flow. They have a pension process built into their retirement through the $800 per month farm income they will receive, but that is a small part of their total retirement income. It is not indexed. “It is unusual to find a farm family that has made so little preparation for succession, but this couple can achieve a workable plan,” Mr. Forbes says. “Planning to bring George and Barry into farm ownership is important, for it paves the way for their own children to succeed them. What we really did was to formalize on paper plans that had been discussed for years by the parents and the children, to manage taxes that will have to be paid, and to find a way to keep the farm going for one or even two generations.” † Andrew Allentuck’s latest book, “When Can I Retire? Planning Your Financial Life After Work”, was published in 2011 by Penguin Canada.

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Columns OFF-FARM INVESTING

Update on stocks and working the charts Andy Sirski gives readers an update on his portfolio’s summer performance ANDY SIRSKI

rue to form, the summer doldrums have hit stocks. This summer has taught me a few things about stocks, or at least reminded me to use strategies that have worked in the past.

SILVER WHEATON (SLW) SLW is what is called a silver streamer: the company has close to a billion dollars in the bank and lends money to up and coming gold mines that have silver as a

byproduct. SLW takes the silver as payment, usually at a value of just over $4 per ounce, melts it down and sells it at market value. My farm boy math suggests that SLW tracks the price of silver at close to 100 per cent. As goes silver so goes the price of SLW. Like it or not, speculators love silver and gold. Why? I suspect it’s partly because silver and gold make up such a small part of the market that the price moves according to how many buyers and sellers are in the market. If sellers take over they can put in sell orders and then pull their bids or put in stink bids and down goes the price. At some price, sellers stop and bids come in. Then bullish speculators can drive the price up in a few days.

I used to fear and get mad at those speculators but lately I’ve decided to get in step with them. I’ll tell you what I did this summer. The price of silver goes up and down about three times a year. That pretty well matches the ups and downs of gold, but silver often drops more and rises higher than gold. Since silver (and SLW) can move rapidly, I decided to watch the price of silver and the price of SLW on the 10 day moving average (dma) chart. My general observation is that when the price of silver and SLW have gone up quite a bit, and when the price of silver drops through the 10 dma it keeps falling, and so does SLW. Give or take a few weeks, the yearly low for silver is often in June.

During the other two lows the price can drop, but not so much. Here is what I could have done with SLW: On February 28, 2012 the price of SLW was $38. When the price peaked and was falling through the 10 dma, I could have sold the shares. I could have also sold a covered call into June at what I would have called the low or the support price. SLW had dropped to $28 several times the past year or so, so I could have sold a call for June with a strike price of $28 and collected $10.50 per share. Each 1,000 shares would have brought in $10,500 in late February. That would have protected my portfolio down to when SLW dropped to $27.50. As things worked out, silver dropped a bit more than gold on a

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percentage basis and SLW dropped with it to $23 to $24 per share. I would have been out a few bucks, but the price did go back up to $26. I suppose if I had salvaged $10 per share I would not have been too upset to have the shares drop another few dollars for a few weeks. Did I sell at $38, or sell a call for June $28? No. But I did sell at around $29 on the way down and bought about 2,500 shares at $25 to $26. I sold calls on 500 shares for 92 cents for July. They expired, so I kept the money and the shares. I think I now am in step with the price of silver.

SILVER STANDARD (SSO) I also bought a bunch of shares of SSO at around $17 and sold some calls but as the price of silver dropped so did SSO. I sold at about $14. SSO’s mill broke down in November, 2011. It took three months to get it running again and it sounds like they lost some contracts. But they must have kept stockpiling silver concentrate, and eventually signed contracts to sell that. In July those contracts kicked in and SSO was selling 500 tonnes of concentrate per month. Money would be coming in. I bought 1,000 SSO shares at just under $12 on July 8 and later sold a July call with a $12 strike price, picking up a hundred dollars for a couple of days. Those options expired in July — I kept the money and the shares, and will sell calls again. I believe silver and gold are coming back in season, although European problems are pushing money into the U.S. This has pushed up the U.S. dollar and kept the price of gold and silver down. I suspect (hope) that will reverse soon.

FORTUNA (FVI) My third silver stock is FVI. I own several batches. One batch cost $4 per share. I sold a call for November for 95 cents, which makes my breakeven price $3.05. If I sell the shares for $4, I’ll make over 20 per cent for half a year on that batch. If (I hope when), the price of silver moves as it has these past few years, I suspect all of these silver shares will go up, so I’m not in any hurry to sell calls. I do try to sell a few — enough each week to bring in $2,000 to $3,000. As I write in early August, we should be getting close to the in-season. A little patience might pay off.

FRANCO NEVADA (FNV)

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FNV is another streamer, but mostly with gold. FNV’s has about 300 projects on the go, a handful that pay well and a few more coming soon. FNV stock prices have been in an uptrend for several years with few and short down times. Both FNV and SLW report a lot of free cash flow. SLW has just over 20 employees; FNV has a few less. Neither company operates mines. They lend money to would-be operators and take silver and or gold back as payment. I’ve been buying FNV and am

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

grainews.ca /

Columns up to 1,100 shares at an average cost of about $46.80. I have also sold some calls with an August strike price of $48. Both SLW and FNV expect to start up some new and very profitable projects over the next couple of years so I plan to own both.

COPPER MOUNTAIN (CUM) When I sold CLM in January, 2011 at a 110 per cent profit I got itchy fingers and just had to buy something. CUM was getting ready to start up its copper mine at Princeton, B.C. in June, 2011. This start up did not go nearly as smoothly as CLM’s did. Costs jumped, production was short and then the price of copper dropped to under $3.50 a pound. I bought shares at prices ranging from $5.50 to up to $7.23 per share, and then the price started to drop. I sold calls on some shares and sold some shares, until I was down to 3,000 shares that cost over $5. When the price was $4 back in March, I sold a call on shares with a strike price of $3 for July, collecting $1.03 per share or just over $3,000. While they were too nice to say so, some readers of my newsletter StocksTalk thought I was nuts to sell at $3. The price of CUM dropped to $2.90 or so, but the options buyers still wanted 10 cents per share for the calls that were to expire July 21, 2012. I didn’t want to pay that so I waited, hoping to buy the calls back for a nickel or less. I knew I could then sell another call for January for 50 cents but I didn’t want to pay a dime. Then a couple of things happened. First, around July 15, about one million shares traded — normal volume is around 380,000 shares per day. Often, when we see such a big, unusual trading volume, it means the price is about to change direction. If the stock is at the low end of its price range, this often means the shares are ready to go up or at least stop falling. A couple of days later, only 85,000 shares traded — the sellers had stopped. I figured it was about time to do something. The price of CUM jumped to $3.20. I paid 20 cents to buy back my calls on the 3,000 shares (I had sold them for $1.03, so I made money.) Next, I sold a put on 1,000 CUM shares with a strike price of $6 for January, collecting $2.75 per share, $2,700. Something is happening with CUM. Odds are the company is getting its act together and its outlook is improving. Estimated earnings for CUM are 69 cents per share for 2012. With any kind of price earnings ratio on those earnings, the price of CUM should be heading for $8. For 2013, estimated earnings are over $1. When I sold that put I also bought another 3,700 shares of CUM for $3.20. My account now holds 6,700 shares with an average price of around $4.40, and I collected $2,400 in cash selling puts, so my actual cost is a lot lower. Another account has 2,000 shares and, sadly, I ignored that account and so did not sell calls and missed out on a couple of thousand dollars.

URANIUM ONE (UUU) I first bought UUU after I had walked a reader through how to buy some. I paid $2.92 for 3,000 shares. I sold a call for July with a strike price of $3 and collected

40 cents per share. The share price dropped so I bought those calls back for 3 cents and sold another call with a January strike price of $3, collecting another 23 cents per share. Let’s do the math: $2.92 – 40 cents + 3 cents – 23 cents = $2.32. So by selling calls twice I have dropped my cost of UUU to $2.32 per share. The shares are around $2.20 as I write in early August, 2012. Another way to look at this is that I have collected 60 cents per share on a stock that cost $2.92. This is a 20 per cent return for nine months of the year. When the price hit $2.50, I bought another 1,000 shares. The outlook for uranium will be bullish one day soon, so I think this stock will make me money. For some reason the price of uranium stocks has kept falling. In early August the shares were trading for under $2.20, which looks like a floor price for that stock. Yes, I’m down about 72 cents per share

from my starting cost, but really, I’m only down 12 cents per share because I have sold calls twice.

STOCK RATIOS Some time ago I mentioned how investors can use a ratio of the price of the stock to the S&P index ($SPX). When the chart for that ratio is going up, the price of the stock is going up faster than the $SPX index. Some time ago charts for that ratio for both TOU and KEY were going up. TOU dropped from $34 to $15, and at $17 or so, the chart turned up. TOU is $29 in early August. KEY dropped from $52 to $37 and at around $38 its chart of the ratio turned up. Now the stock is at $45. There are no guarantees, but this ratio does seem to sniff out winners if you can spot them as the chart turns up. If the chart turns down, you should likely sell

the stock unless you know the support price very well. If you put CNQ on that chart you will see the ratio of CNQ to $SPX might be turning up. I bought another 100 shares and now have 1,100 shares. For August I sold calls at strike price $28 and collected $1.17 — around $1,200 for the month. I call this “milking my cows.” Sadly, I bought my first few hundred shares at $36. The chart was falling at the time and kept falling as I bought more shares. As you can see I like to learn the hard way.

BOLLINGER BANDS A voice from the past called me after he picked up a copy of Grainews at the Farm Progress Show and read my column about indicators. He wondered if I had used Bollinger Bands. I said I knew of them but while they often predicted a change in direction, I could not figure out which change,

up or down. He said “study with me.” So I have. Bollinger bands (BB) use a statistical indicator called “standard deviation.” When the price of a stock is above the standard deviation of two and heading for three, the odds are that the price will change. At the top end, if the price goes about two, the price will likely drop. At the bottom end, if the price pokes through two, the price will likely go up. This would have worked on SLW in late February, giving me a signal to sell one day before the daily price crossed the 10 dma going down. It looks like the BB, at the extremes, is about as close as we can get to a leading signal. Most other signals lag. I’ll write more about this in a future column. † Andy is mostly retired. He gardens, plays with his grandchildren, travels with his wife, keeps his Datsun running, and manages his own portfolio. Plus Andy publishes a newsletter called StocksTalk where he tells readers what he does with his investments and how they turn out. To read StocksTalk free for a month send an email to Andy at sirski@mts.net.

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Columns UNDERSTANDING MARKET BULLS AND BEARS

Be ready to market your grains Before you head into the marketplace, know your own business and some key terms BY BRIAN WITTAL

o market your grain successfully in the new environment, you’ll need to focus on some key components of your farming business. These include: your operation’s overall financial position, your cash flow, your debt and payment schedule and whether you operate with cash or a line of credit. These factors will have the biggest impact on your marketing decisions from a timing perspective. It is critical that you understand when you need cash from grain sales to meet your financial needs, so you can plan and market well in advance in order to lock in the best price possible. Here are a few other factors to consider: • Plans to upgrade or expand your operation. You need to know how changes will impact your cash flow and debt servicing, so you can calculate how you’re going to going to pay for the upgrade or expansion. • Grain storage. Do you have enough storage to store an average year’s crop? Or, do you have to pre-sell some grain rather than pile it on the ground at harvest? If it’s profitable, can you afford to hold grain over for a year? • What is your risk tolerance level? Are you a gambler or do you prefer to make sure the bills get paid first, then take a little risk in the markets with what’s left? What are your partner’s or spouse’s views on marketing risk? There are a number of different marketing strategies that can be used to address all of these factors, but until you put them down on paper, it’s hard to build a marketing plan that will best meet your needs. Once you’ve given some thought to your cash flow needs and your risk profile, we can talk about marketing and the pricing your grains. Let’s start with some terminology, definitions and points of clarification.

grains such as canola, barley, wheat, durum, corn and soybeans all trade. Buyers and sellers can protect themselves by using futures or options to lock in a price for their grains for immediate or future delivery. This allows for greater control of pricing. They can watch

harder to follow pricing trends. Sales don’t happen on a daily basis and forward pricing can be limited at times depending on buyers and sellers. The overall volumes of these grains are too small for a futures market to function properly — there are few buyers and sellers,

try standard contract base grade is No. 1. For wheat, there are a number of different base grades. Base grades for wheat can have different grades and different protein levels. When you’re comparing prices among companies, make sure you’re comparing the same base grades.

DISCOUNTS AND PREMIUMS A discount will be deducted (or a premium paid) once delivery against a contract has been made and a grade has been determined. A discount (or premium) will apply if the quality delivered is lower (or higher) than the contract base grade. The amount of the discount or premium is determined by the grain company at delivery, based on the current market value for that grain and grade. Don’t be afraid to try to negotiate with grain companies when they are establishing a grade and setting the discount or premium for your grain.

It is critical that you understand when you need cash from grain sales to meet your financial needs the futures markets daily to see what prices are doing and look for market trends.

CASH MARKET Grains that do not trade on a futures market are sold in the cash market. Some examples of commodities like this are peas, lentils, mustard and malt barley. In the cash market, the price is determined when a buyer finds a seller or vise versa. They determine the price through negotiation. Prices will be determined on a sale-by-sale basis. This makes it

making it hard for a futures market to be viable. When grain handling companies are acting as sellers in the cash market, once a price is reached, the grain handling company will offer farmers a cash price to buy enough grain to fill the sale.

CONTRACT BASE GRADES

OTHER ADVICE

Every contract has a base grade assigned in order to establish a price for the commodity. Each company can establish their own base grades. For canola, the accepted indus-

Take the time to review your farm management and financial plan to better develop a marketing plan that will meet all your needs. I would suggest that you spend

some time talking to representatives from the grain companies you deal with to determine what base grades they use when quoting prices, so you’ll be able to pricecompare apples with apples. I would also suggest setting up a commodity trading account sooner, rather than later. Then you’ll be ready to use it as part of your marketing strategy if you choose to hedge your grain contracts or use options for price protection. The recent turbulence in the grain markets is a perfect example of a time when you would want to consider opening a trading account and using put option contracts to set a floor price for your grain, rather than having to commit grain for delivery in a year when the risk of hail wiping out your crop seems higher than normal. This allows you to take advantage of the high futures markets without the risk of having to deliver. In the next issue I will get into the different types of contracts available and discuss marketing strategies. † Brian Wittal is a Saskatchewan raised farm boy who has spent the past 32 years in the Alberta Grain Industry. He started Pro Com Marketing Ltd in 2006 with a focus on helping grain producers better understand the markets and advise them on how to market their grains more profitably. Contact Brian at bfwittal@procommarketingltd.com.

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

grainews.ca /

Columns CAN’T TAKE THE FARM FROM THE BOY

Re-learning how to cultivate City slicker Toban Dyck and his wife are mid-way through moving from downtown Toronto back home to farm in rural Manitoba TOBAN DYCK

t had been nearly 10 years since I drove my dad’s 13-speed diesel tandem grain truck, and just as long since I had cultivated a field. I have now done both. My father, anticipating the manual-transmission finesse needed to smoothly execute the everefficient unload-on-the-go technique, urged me to take the tandem out for a test drive. So I did, returning our neighbour’s tiny tiller in the cab of a truck way too large for the task at hand. But I did so without stalling; amazing how it all comes back. Big city life is only a couple weeks behind us, but already the homesteading portion of our new life on the farm has begun.

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BACK IN THE TRACTOR I have lots of memories of the farm, but do I remember how to start a tractor that hasn’t run for a couple months (ether)? Will I learn to eyeball wrench sizes as accurately as my father? I will say, for any other 32-year-old reluctant to return to the family farm due to worry about how crooked your cultivator rows might became over the course of a day, GPS is a marvelous addition to the farming world. I was able to show everyone on Facebook what I was doing and respond to their comments, all while tilling the

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on Manitoba Kijiji from downtown Toronto, and used the few pictures available to make our decision to contact the seller. I hadn’t sent a fax since this thing called an Internet connection became something readily available to what I assumed was the entire First World, but fax was the only way to communicate with the owners of the trailer we were eyeing. By the time you read this, it will have been moved, hopefully, from near the Lake Manitoba Narrows to Winkler. The old cattle corrals, where it will sit, have been removed and, conveniently, my new neighbour, Precision Land Solutions, skimmed, scraped and graded about two acres of my parents’ backyard in preparation for our new home. Conceiving how such a large space should be designed/landscaped is tricky, when the first piece of the puzzle, a house, is not there yet. We have a sketch, but, I imagine, the yard will end up looking like a mix of my parents’ and her parents’ yards. You go with what you know.

12-08-24 3:58 PM

soil in picture-perfect rows. We did not make it to Manitoba in time for the wheat harvest, which took place in July this year, earliest it has happened in a long time. I did, however, make it home in time to flip the shovels on the cultivator and do some work cleaning up what will be our new yard. After many years away from “the land” and after working on the cultivator and then cultivating, I went to bed, tired, proud and with dirt under my nails. I have lots to learn (I hear swathing canola is a bit of a challenge) but I am enjoying every minute of it. † Toban Dyck is a freelance writer and a new farmer on an old farm. Follow him on Twitter @tobandyck or email tobandyck@gmail.com.

/ grainews.ca

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Machinery & Shop TELEMATICS

John Deere pushes its FarmSight strategy forward The company’s new website, MyJohnDeere.com, is designed to help farmers consolidate management information and coordinate machine activity SCOTT GARVEY

s data collection technology on farms has raced forward in recent years, one criticism from industry observers was there is no efficient way to consolidate all the information available from different sources into one central management system. John Deere, however, has just presented its own solution to that problem: the new, interactive website, MyJohnDeere.com.

FARMSIGHT In early 2011, Deere introduced FarmSight, which is a strategy for creating an allencompassing technology strategy for farmers. “John Deere FarmSight is the strategy or vision of what John Deere wants to accomplish,” explained Holli Brokaw, Deere’s product manager last March. “There is a suite of (current and future) products that are going to support this vision.” Using the customizable MyJohnDeere.com website, producers can access and co-ordinate all the information generated by those products. At the end of June, the company held a “technology summit” in Des Moines, Iowa, in part to introduce additions to that suite of technology products and let farmers know a little more about where it is going with the FarmSight concept. And where it’s going, in short, is toward total integration of farm management data, but with a “green-on-green” agenda. That means Deere wants to provide farmers with every piece of iron

and digital technology they need to not only get work done on the farm but manage and integrate every aspect of doing business as well, providing farmers with “a total solution” rather than just the traditional concept of selling individual machines or products. FarmSight is the digital aspect of that total solution. David Everitt, Deere’s outgoing president of ag and turf for North America, who spoke at the event, made it clear how important management at the company believe telematicsbased data collection and management options will be to farmers — and equipment manufacturers — in the future. “We are at a hugely important point in time in global agriculture,” he said. “We believe this (the all-encompassing FarmSight concept) is a huge point to the future of agriculture... the technology coming behind that is the next wave of productivity for the future. The capability to change the dynamics of productivity with technology is where we’re at today.”

MYJOHNDEERE.COM When it comes to managing the technology and realizing those productivity gains, Deere sees its MyJohnDeere.com website as a central command post for farm managers to use when running their operations. The site allows farmers to coordinate all data collected from Deere digital products and manage all aspects of machinery operations directly from a farm office. Farmers will soon be able to remotely access that website, too, with the pending release of the Mobile Farm Manager feature, which will be available by late 2012. It allows farmers to use an iPhone or iPad to access all the features of MyJohnDeere.

com outside the office. Expect that app to be available for Android devices before long as well. “We’re evaluating that as an option in the future,” said Tyler Hogrefe, a product manager for advanced ISG (Intelligent Solutions Group) tools. The technology products released so far and those to be released soon greatly expand the value offered by using MyJohnDeere.com. “This will be a new suite of technology to

Remote Display Access is very simple to use help producers plan, run and analyze their operations through the entire farming cycle,” said Nathan Greuel, product manager at Deere’s ISG. “The user can access their MyJohnDeere site to view the information that is most important to them, as well as allow access to their dealer, farm manager or other third-party individuals. Many of the new solutions and technologies that are being developed under the John Deere FarmSight strategy will be accessed from this centralized and convenient website.”

REMOTE DISPLAY ACCESS The website also makes it possible for farmers to use Deere’s Remote Display Access option. That allows remote viewing of the display screen inside working farm equipment from almost any location. “The major benefit of Remote Display Access is the ability to give farm owners, managers, and equipment dealers the ability to

remotely view the display screen to see exactly what the operator sees in the cab to ensure that the equipment is operating correctly, provide training or to trouble shoot issues,” Mulder says. “Having remote access to this real-time information saves unnecessary trips to the field, improves service from dealers, and increases the productivity of the equipment and field operations.” Operating Remote Display Access requires a GreenStar 3 2630 display, JDLink modular telematics gateway (MTG) hardware with the latest updates, a JDLink subscription with Remote Display Access, and an ethernet cable to connect the display to the MTG. It also requires a US$350-per-year subscription. “Remote Display Access is very simple to use,” Mulder adds. “From a remote computer, tablet or smartphone, users can log in to JDLink.com or MyJohnDeere. com and navigate to the Remote Display Access link that connects to the display in the cab of the equipment they select. The actual live operator’s view of the display data is sent via wireless cellular data connection from the MTG to the John Deere communications network, which the remote user can access from their device.” In addition, displays from multiple machines can be viewed at the same time, and multiple remote users can view the same operator’s display if a remote desktop sharing program is used. Remote Display Access is compatible with most web browsers, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0, Google Chrome and Apple Safari 5.0. Because a manager can view a machine’s display from a remote location, he or she can also monitor the environmental conditions where a sprayer

PHOTO: SCOTT GARVEY

Janae Tapper, a product specialist with John Deere, describes the features of the company’s Mobile Weather option for sprayers. The data from this system along with other telematics-based products can be monitored from a farm office using the new website, MyJohnDeere.com. equipped with Deere’s Mobile Weather option is operating. And while many of Deere’s telematics products have a measure of compatibility with equipment from other brands, maximizing their features is only possible when they are used with John Deere equipment. Product managers at the summit frequently referred to this as the “green-on-green advantage.” By providing a complete “solutions” package that only reaches its full potential when used with Deere machines, this strategy provides a powerful incentive to farm managers to run a single-brand, green fleet, putting pressure on the competition to keep up. † Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at scott.garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

PHOTO: JOHN DEERE

MyJohnDeere.com is a new website farm managers can use to monitor and co-ordinate all aspects of farm operations from an office, or remotely by using the mobile app which will be available for Apple mobile devices later this year.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

grainews.ca /

Machinery & Shop NEW TECHNOLOGY

Deere announces its future engine emissions strategy John Deere is the last ag equipment manufacturer to unveil its plan to meet Tier 4 Final emissions standards BY SCOTT GARVEY

uring the last couple of years, off-road engine manufacturers have been competing with each other in a marketing battle over which emissions technology is the most efficient: EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) or SCR (selective catalytic reduction). But those skirmishes will soon end as all brands have now publicly announced they will begin using SCR technology to meet the Tier 4 Final (T4F) emissions standards. Those regulations will gradually come into force by 2015 for engines over 174 horsepower. John Deere was the last manufacturer to publicly confirm its T4F strategy. Management announced the decision at the recent Commodity Classic farm machinery show in Nashville, Tennessee, in February.

engine platform will be the best solution to achieve Final Tier 4 emissions compliance...” That means Deere’s new Integrated Emissions Control system for T4F engines will build on the current IT4 engine platforms which rely on EGR. So that technology, along with existing diesel oxidation catalysts and particulate filters, will still be used, but an SCR system will be added to the downstream exhaust flow as well. Deere says its SCR system will

consume less DEF per litre of diesel fuel burned than existing IT4-compliant systems used by competing manufacturers. With a lower rate of consumption, the DEF tanks on Deere’s future machines will be smaller in comparison to diesel fuel capacity than on existing machines from other brands. The new technology will also be compatible with biodiesel blends up to B20. † Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at scott.garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

PHOTO: JOHN DEERE

John Deere’s next-generation PowerTech engines will use a combination of exhaust gas recirculation and selective catalytic reduction technologies to meet Tier 4 Final emissions regulations.

SCR TECHNOLOGY AGCO and the CNH Global brands, Case IH and New Holland, chose to meet the current Interim Tier 4 (IT4) standard by adopting SCR technology early. However, John Deere — along with Cummins, whose engines are used in Versatilebrand equipment — opted to use cooled EGR for that emissions level. Deere was a strong proponent of the advantages of a “single fluid” solution for IT4, and its engines did not require the use of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in addition to regular diesel fuel.

All brands have now publicly announced they will begin using SCR technology But during a question and answer session with members of the farm media at the company’s Waterloo, Iowa, assembly plant back in 2009, engineers acknowledged the brand may have to eventually adopt SCR in order to meet the incredibly stringent T4F regulation. That, apparently, turned out to be the case. “At John Deere, we continue to offer the right combination of technologies at the right time to meet increasingly stringent emissions regulations and customer needs,” said John Piasecki, director of worldwide marketing, sales and customer support for John Deere Power Systems, when announcing the T4F strategy in a press release. “Exhaustive research and testing determined that an application-specific SCR system that is well integrated with our proven Interim Tier 4

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/ grainews.ca

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Machinery & Shop Keep it going

Re-powered 5010 provided economical horsepower Despite being re-powered with 318 Detroit engine, this 5010 John Deere has been a reliable performer By Scott Garvey

he Glanville family, who operate Vintage Green Farms, at Walton, Ontario, are avid John Deere tractor enthusiasts. They were invited to bring some of their rare and classic machines to John Deere’s Grimsby, Ontario, facility in early June for a special event celebrating the company’s 175th corporate birthday. Among the tractors the Glanvilles brought was their repowered, 1962, 5010. This tractor is one of the few that had its original engine removed and replaced with a 318 horsepower, 8-V-71, V-8 Detroit diesel. “It was the very first 5010 sold in Ontario,” says Dean Glanville. “They (the first owners) put 2,500 hours on it in the first year.” In 1975, Dean’s father, Ken, found himself in the market for more horsepower. “In 1972, my dad bought a 4630, brand new,” explains Dean. “(In 1975) He wanted another 4630 but it just wasn’t feasible.” Instead, Ken purchased the used 5010. But with the stock engine delivering only 121 horsepower at the PTO, it wasn’t large enough for his needs, so he decided to install a larger engine. “It (the 318) was a truck engine,” remembers Ken. And it was in used condition at the time; but using a conversion kit made by Kinze Manufacturing, it was possible to retrofit that

photos: ray bianchi, classic farm photos

On display at John Deere’s 175th birthday celebration in Grimsby, Ontario, this 5010 gets its power from a 318 horsepower, Detroit diesel. model of engine into a 5010. The Glanvilles added the extra side frame rails and mated the engine to the regular 5010 transmission with the kit’s adapter plate. During the engine installation process, Ken decided to give the tractor a full going over. “The

tractor was worn out, so I rebuilt the transmission,” he says. Despite having a new engine that delivered much more power to the rear wheels, the standard transmission and rear end have been up to the job of handling the extra strain. “We

haven’t had any driveline problems,” notes Dean. Over the course of its active farm service the 5010 frequently pulled a six-furrow 18-inch plough and a 32-foot cultivator. Both Dean and his father credit careful operation as the reason

the re-powered tractor has lasted. “That’s one of the reasons it’s held together,” says Dean. “It’s only been Dad and in there (the cab).” Ken agrees; adding, “You’ve got to run it accordingly.” † Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at scott.garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

Deere throws a Canadian birthday bash By Scott Garvey

his year, management at John Deere Canada’s Grimsby, Ontario, facility decided to celebrate the company’s 175th birthday in spectacular style. The celebration lasted through an entire weekend in June. Along with special events for the roughly 500 Deere employees working in the area, the public and local dignitaries were invited to attend two days of events, and over 6,500 people showed up. There were 475 outdoor and 45 indoor displays highlighting the company’s memorable milestones through the years.

Perhaps the most notable attraction was the vintage machinery, which included 250 tractors, 11 crawlers, 40 lawn tractors and a host of snowmobile, bicycle and other products that have worn the Deere brand over the years. Most were supplied by individual collectors from the region. Capping off the celebration was a recreation of the “Deere Days” parade that occurred in Dallas, Texas, on August 30, 1960, which was the first view many people had of the “New Generation,” 10 Series tractors that helped propel the company to its current powerhouse status. Scott Garvey

Over 250 vintage tractors were on display at John Deere’s Grimsby, Ontario, offices as part of the Canadian celebration of the company’s 175th birthday.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

grainews.ca /

Machinery & Shop EQUIPMENT OPERATION

Idle thoughts John Deere executives talked about fuel economy and excessive engine idling at a recent Technology Summit in Des Moines, Iowa BY SCOTT GARVEY

n the early 1970s, the retail price of farm diesel fuel was as low as 25 cents per Imperial gallon. That was cheap, even then. Today, of course, things are different, with the farm price hovering close to one dollar per litre. While tractor engines developed during those early ’70s may not be noted for their fuel economy, today’s farm diesels squeeze more horsepower-hours per gallon out of fuel than ever before. And their emissions are the cleanest in the history of the internal combustion engine. But how little fuel actually goes through the injectors and the size of any tractor’s carbon footprint depends to a large extent on how it’s operated. That, according to engineers, is where there is still significant room for improvement. Despite the fact that fuel prices are relatively high and everyone likes to complain about them, a lot of diesel still gets wasted because of machine operators’ excessive engine idling habits, according to David Everitt, John Deere’s outgoing president of ag and turf equipment for North America.

EFFICIENCY AND IDLING “I’ve got engineers killing themselves for tenths-of-grams of fuel efficiency (improvements), and the machine idles 20 per cent of the time,” said Everitt. “We know that every 8R tractor that goes out everywhere in the world idles 20 per cent of the time.” Everitt made that statement as he and his senior executives were fielding questions from farm journalists and financial securities

analysts during a technology summit sponsored by Deere in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 27. Everitt’s point was no matter how strict government emissions regulations become and how much technology advances the efficiency of engines, the overall amount of fuel consumed and total emissions coming out of the exhaust depends on the operator. A field tractor that spends 20 per cent of its time idling isn’t using fuel efficiently, and Everitt isn’t the first to point to excessive idling trends in ag equipment use. For the last couple of years, other managers at Deere have been commenting publicly

given a few minutes to get up to temperature before being put to heavy use, and then they only need a maximum of five minutes at high idle to cool the turbocharger before being shut down, even after heavy pulling. Anything longer is unnecessary. Just as leaving the farm pickup idling at the curb gets you zero miles per gallon, a tractor left idling at the edge of the field for long periods is producing zero horsepower-hours per gallon and not doing any useful work for your operation. It’s just wasting fuel. †

They only need a maximum of five minutes at high idle to cool the turbocharger on the excessive idling patterns their research has uncovered. The company has analyzed data taken from several engine control modules on equipment that has been working in fields and looked at the usage patterns, so it has a pretty good idea of typical farm practices. The ratio Everitt mentioned

means out of a typical 10 hour work day, the average 8R rowcrop tractor designed for pulling field implements spends a full two hours doing nothing but idling.

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? The consensus among engineers is that engines should be

Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at scott.garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

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SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Machinery & Shop CANADIAN FARM PROGRESS SHOW

A hitch for all reasons If you have a semi with a fifth wheel assembly, this versatile hydraulic hitch will move anything you have sitting in the yard BY LEE HART

ne hitch for moving and transporting all types of machinery and implements. That’s the key feature offered by the Bestway Retriever transport hitch, now being marketed in Canada by Tri Star Farm Services of Regina, Sask. The heavy-duty hydraulic transport hitch, which quickly attaches to the fifth-wheel assembly of any tandem axle semi-tractor, offers both a two-point hitch and drawbar option depending on the equipment being moved. Bestway, headquartered in Hiawatha, Kansas, is expected to soon be introducing a three-point hitch option. “Whether you are a farmer with machinery to move or a machinery dealer, this is just such a very simple solution for moving equipment,” says Kellen Huber of Tri Star Farm Services. “Before this came along you pretty well had to build a different hitch for each piece of equipment. “Once the transport hitch is mounted on the semi — which takes about five minutes — you can back up, drop the pin in the drawbar and you’re ready to go. And the hydraulics to raise and lower drawbar is an excellent feature. If you have that piece of

equipment that’s sitting on a jack and it has sunk into the ground, you just lower the drawbar with the hydraulics, back up and connect, and then raise the drawbar for transport mode.”

a 12-volt motor on the left side of the hitch. On the right side is a heavy-duty 12-volt battery that plugs into the trailer wiring of the semi-tractor, for recharging. Both motor and battery are

It literally takes about five minutes to swing the Retriever transport hitch into place The hydraulics can be operated with a remote control unit.

MOUNTING THE HITCH Lifted with a hoist or a frontend loader the Retriever transport hitch can be mounted on the semi-tractor. The king pin of the hitch slides into the fifth-wheel assembly, and the hitch sits on the back for the tractor. There are tie-down bars on the sides of the hitch, and brackets at the back of the hitch clamp to the frame of the semi-tractor. The actual twopoint and drawbar hitches are mounted on the hydraulic mast, which stands upright at the back of the tractor. The hydraulics of the Retriever transport hitch are powered by

protected by waterproof compartments. “It literally takes about five minutes to swing the Retriever transport hitch into place and clamp it securely to the semitractor,” says Huber. The plug to power the hitch is connected to the semi-tractor wiring, and if you’re moving a piece of equipment with hydraulics for raising and lowering wings for transport mode, for example, the hydraulics of the equipment plugs into the remote hydraulic valve of the Retriever hitch. “So you can hook your machinery to the drawbar, plug in the hydraulics, and fold up the tillage tool bar, or air seeding system — whatever you’re moving, — and go,” says Huber.

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“With the hydraulics you can raise and lower the height of the both the two-point hitch and the draw bar, as well as operate any of the hydraulics on the equipment you’re moving.” The two-point hitch has a load capacity of 16,000 pounds, while the drawbar can carry up to 12,000 pounds. Transporting large drawn planters, seeding equipment, grain carts, tillage and fertilizer application equipment between distant farms or to and from the equipment dealership has become a considerable logistic problem for both growers and farm equipment dealers,” says David Benson, director of sales and marketing for Bestway. “The Retriever transport hitch solves this problem while

utilizing an existing semi-tractor at the farm or dealership.” Tri Star Farm Services, which markets a wide range of equipment including fertilizer application equipment, tillage and deep tillage equipment, grain carts, field sprayers and land levelers, is selling the Retriever transport hitch for about $9,800. The Retriever Hitch won the 2012 Canada Farm Progress Show Gold Innovation Award in Regina. A video showing how it works can be found online at www.retrieverslt.com. For more information on the hitch, see the Tri Star Farm Services website at www.tristarfarms.com. † Lee Hart is a field editor for Grainews in Calgary, Contact him at 403-592-1964 or by email at lee@fbcpublishing.com.

PHOTOS: LEE HART

One hitch will move and transport all machinery and implements.

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Find it fast at The Retriever hitch won the 2012 Gold Innovation Award at the Farm Progress Show in Regina.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

grainews.ca /

Machinery & Shop FARM PROGRESS SHOW

Bourgault stretches its 3320 drill The company’s new drill is now available in widths up to 86 feet BY SCOTT GARVEY

he centrepiece of Bourgault’s display at Canada’s Farm Progress Show in Regina this year was the model 3320-86 PHD Paralink hoe drill. The company introduced the 3320 Series last June as a replacement for the previous model 3310 design. A year later, the updated series sees some changes. The 3320 will now be available with a wider maximum width of 86 feet, and the largest model gets a redesigned toolbar for increased floatation. “Floatation has been an issue, so we decided to upgrade the mainframe,” says Rob Fagnou, Bourgault’s marketing specialist. To kick off production of the new, maximum-width 3320-86 PHD, the company is planning on a short production run, making only a few models available for next season. “We’re going to be releasing a limited number,” adds Fagnou. “About eight units.”

PHOTO: SCOTT GARVEY

Bourgault is stretching its Model 3320 hoe drill to a new maximum width of 86 feet. The widest model in the series gets a redesigned mainframe to provide better floatation in the field and added stability during road transport.

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“We incorporated a a hydraulic assist” - ROB FAGNOU At the front of the redesigned mainframe on the 86-foot model is a set of large, 800/65R32 tires mounted on a steerable front axle. At the rear, dual 16.5 X 16.1 tires help not only with floatation, but also with stability during road transport. To keep the wagon steeringstyle front axle from contributing to skewing when working in the field, the design includes a hydraulic assist to keep the hitch in line behind the tractor. The system applies the greatest amount of force at the start of hitch deflection, but reduces it as the towing angle increases. “With the steering, it can be prone to skewing, so we incorporated a hydraulic assist,” explains Fagnou. So far the company has no firm plans to incorporate the new highfloatation mainframe design into its narrower 3320 drill models, but it isn’t ruling out the possibility it may do so in the future. “There is consideration on putting the higher floatation on smaller model drills,” he adds. “But we’re committed for 2013. If we do that, it will start in the 2014 model year.” †

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Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at scott.garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

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/ grainews.ca

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Home Quarter Farm Life SEEDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Why aren’t you more like me? This book could help you understand your style preferences and why you respond the way you do ELAINE FROESE

s you hold this in your hands, you might be stressed by the many irritations of a long harvest, or the queries of your kids who are having a hard time adjusting to their new dynamics at school. What would it look like if you could find a tool to help you understand yourself better, and make your farm team more harmonious? This year I’ve added Ken Keis’s book Why aren’t you more like me? to my coaching tool box, along with the personal style assessments his company CRG offers. Ken Keis grew up on a dairy farm, so he can relate to the intricacies of the farm family conflicts inherent in working and living so close together. Ken’s 30 years of consulting with personal style assessments has made him a world leader in a tool that really has brought my farm family clients to attention. “Elaine, I wished we would have done this 30 years ago,” says the cattleman who now understands his son is not angry, just really expressive with his body and emotions as he gets his points across. “Wow, no wonder Mom is the best at the books, she is so high for details (cognitive analysis),

now I understand why we frustrate her when we don’t give her the receipts on time.” “Yes, this is my dad you are describing, his need to get things done (behavioural action) is twice as intense as the next generation’s!” As a farm family coach, I am using the Personal Style Indicator (PSI) as a tool to help families understand their differences in style. This affects how they impact their environment, view time, people and things. Some folks are more task focused, and some are more people focused. It also relates to those of us who are verbal, and the non-verbal types. Farm women typically are seen as the “thoughtful” style, with a high degree of interpersonal harmony needs. They are also usually “practical” and “balanced” in their style. But we are all different. Why is this important? • Less irritation: When you understand your bent towards getting things done on the farm (tasks) and how you interact with people, you will not irritate each other so badly. You will actually understand what stresses the other person out, and learn to adapt your expectations of them. When our family did the assessment this summer, we sat down as a group to discuss what we had discovered about our tendencies. This gives us a lot more patience instead of triggering anger. • Appreciation of yourself and others: Lack of appreciation on farms is a huge problem in the

human side of agriculture. When you understand that someone has a high score for interpersonal harmony, but you don’t, you can make adjustments in your speaking and your actions. My style is influential which means I “treat people with more sensitivity than many business people who focus on results but tend not to notice the feelings of others.” • Stop feeling offended and emotionally hooked: Many folks laugh when I tell the story of my husband watching me cry.

that come from curiosity and not judgment, which is a very good conflict resolution strategy. • Select the right job style for yourself: My score for cognitive analysis would be considered low at 23, which is why I, as a “good” farm wife, have never and will never do the books. Back in l995 when I started writing this column, the income was designated for a hired bookkeeper who did score high on “C,” someone who acts cautiously to avoid errors, engages in critical analysis and

What would it look like if you could find a tool to help you understand yourself better, and make your farm team more harmonious He questions me with: “Is this about me?” If my response is “No,” then he says, “Have a good cry.” Many times farm families are “driving each other crazy” with assumptions and emotional triggers that don’t have a sound base of reality. When you understand the personal styles of your farm team you get to know that what is offensive to you, might not even register on their emotional radar! So you begin to ask better nonthreatening questions like, “What does this mean to you?” or, “Is this true for you?” You are also able to have tough conversations

wants to ensure the books balance. Ken’s company www.crgleader. com also offers a job style indicator, so that you can ensure that the personal style of your employee or team member is well suited to the job’s tasks and responsibilities. • We’re happier when we live our lives based on our core values: I know that I value spirituality, independence, creativity, honesty and integrity. I also did a values test with Ken’s group. What causes stress in farm families is when core values are not aligned with actions of the farm team. If you value family harmony, then why are you not talking

to resolve your conflicts? If you value honesty, then why are people not being held accountable for unethical actions? Style assessment is complex, yet when it is approached in a systematic manner, it becomes more manageable and offers you a tool for increased clarity in self-understanding and improved relationships. I am certain that many farm families would benefit from adding a PSI to their tool box. You can go to my website to www.elainefroese. com/contact to request coaching, and to set up a call to learn more about the PSI. You can also go to www.whyarentyoumorelikeme. com to order the book, which comes with one free assessment ($30 book, assessment is valued at $45). E-book is also available. Is it worth 30 bucks to start improving relationships on your farm? YES!! Ken Keis says that it makes intuitive sense that if you understand your personal style preferences, and why you respond the way you do to others, you will generally increase the chances of reaching your potential, personally, and on the farm. I agree. If you are a farm adviser, you might want to sign up for October training to use the assessment. As farms get larger, with more employees to manage, folks need tools in their HR (human resources) box. Enjoy your team! † Elaine Froese, CAFA, is a catalyst for positive change on farm teams. As a thought leader for business continuance she wrote Do the Tough Things Right which is now available for under $15 for group orders. Visit www. elainefroese.com or call 1-866-848-8311.

WCFA competition winners Twelve competitors from across the Prairies in this year’s event BY VIVIAN NEMISH

TRIPLE or PRESSURE-RINSE

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he Western Canadian Farrier Association (WCFA) held its third annual competition earlier this year at the Equilibrium Therapeutic Riding Arena at Gruenthal, Sask. Farrier Iain Ritchie was judge and clinician for the weekend. Ritchie, originally from Scotland, is an accomplished horseman and horse enthusiast. He currently resides in Pitt Meadows, B.C. where he works as a farrier, is vice-president of the WCFA and writes columns for the association’s quarterly publication. “It is such a pleasure to have Iain here,” says Paula Morch who along with her husband Dave was instrumental in organizing the event. “We are fortunate to have Iain share his skills and experience with our 12 competitors. He is an inspiration to us all.” Competitors included: Laurie Tonita of Saskatoon, Sask.; Todd Bailey of Grandora, Sask.; Gerd Martin of Qu’Appelle, Sask.; Stuart Lambert of MacGregor, Man.; Dave Morch of Rosthern, Sask.; Spencer Hazelwood of Olds, Alta.; Greg Toronchuk of Onoway, Alta.; Melisa Mastin of St. Michael, Alta.; Patrick Cleaver of Oakbank, Man.;

Iain Ritchie examines a fitted shoe during the competition. Kurtis Hornman of Leduc, Alta; Glenn McCullough of Carman, Man.; and Austin Unruh of Dewberry, Alta. Overall high-point accumulators were: Austin Unruh, Division I; Glenn McCullough, Division II; and Gerd Martin, Division III. Martin also received the trophy for overall high-point accumulation. “The event would not have been as successful if it wasn’t for the

Gerd Martin carefully handles hot iron while shaping it into a custom-made shoe. judge, competitors, sponsors, volunteers and horses,” said Morch. The WCFA strives to improve the standards within the farrier industry by defining, maintaining and improving the quality of service within the profession. More information on the association can be obtained by visiting www. wcfa.ca. † Vivian Nemish writes from Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

grainews.ca /

Home Quarter Farm Life

Creating family farming opportunity Building up a joint operation in the ’50s, a new generation continues BY CHRISTALEE FROESE

eaving the home farm in Holland was the only way the three Van Staveren brothers were ever going to be able to have farming operations of their own. While that was the 1950s in a country with a small land base, Jasper, Nick and Pete Van Staveren knew that when they came to Canada, they would map out a future for their own children that didn’t include having to leave the family farm to make a living. “They came with the goal to create opportunity,” says Marcel Van Staveren, Jasper’s youngest son. “The three of them were all on the same page — it was all about work.” They bought what they needed for their families and homes, but the focus was on buying premium equipment and building up their land base. Forgoing fancy new vehicles, frivolous purchases and expensive vacations, the firstgeneration Canadian immigrants grew their joint operation from a small mixed farm that supported their growing families to something that will be handed down for generations to come. “They came here with $50 and a suitcase in their hand and when they were done 30 years later, they had 10 sections,” says Marcel, referring to the hard work done by his dad and two uncles to create an operation of that size. “It wasn’t a boot camp, but it was pretty close.” Jasper’s three sons, John, Vince and Marcel, have followed in the footsteps of the generation before them, creating a threeway partnership which focuses on building for the future and acquiring productive land. With 13,000 acres, three hired men and a side business in the oilpatch, the second generation of Van Staverens has proven that hard work pays off. “That’s something we learned

The Van Staveren brothers (l to r) Vince, Marcel and John carry on the farming tradition. the oilpatch, before returning in the ’80s to join the growing Van Staveren operation. Marcel always had an interest in the horticultural side of things, raising raspberries from a young age and taking over the family garden when he was in Grade 10. He earned an agriculture degree from the U of S in 1992, returning to the farm and starting a fertilizer company, Precision Ag, with university colleagues Jay and Greg Gerry. In the 1990s, the senior Van Staverens had reached the goal of creating an operation that was not only profitable, but could keep their families in the farming industry. In 2002, Jasper’s three sons formed JVM Van Staveren Farms Inc., an incorporated entity that employs the three brothers and their hired men on a full-time, year-round basis. “It’s the economies of scale that drove us to establish a partnership,” says Marcel. “To operate as a single unit was more

“They came here with $50 and a suitcase in their hand and when they were done 30 years later, they had 10 sections” — MARCEL VAN STAVEREN from them,” says Vince, Jasper’s middle son. “We saw how hard they worked and how dedicated they all were.” The oldest of Jasper’s three sons, John, recalls being in the field as early as age 12, summerfallowing, haying and trucking grain on the Creelman-area farm. His passion for farming led him to the University of Saskatchewan to study agriculture from 1979 to 1981, after which time he returned to the family farm to work alongside his dad and uncles. Vince ventured off the farm for a decade, studying mechanics and welding and working in

efficient and it spreads out the risk as well.” The original three Van Staveren brothers had an informal system of splitting their profits. “If they made $3, they each got $1,” says Marcel. While John, Vince and Marcel share in the decision-making, their profits are based on percentage of land ownership, which they say works better in a modern-day economy. “It’s still a lot of give-and-take and if one guy can’t be there because of something else or a family commitment, then one of us just steps in,” says John. With the focus being on hard

work and running the farm efficiently, the brothers agree that there is very little time to quibble and disagree. “With an operation this size, you need to get things done in a timely manner. We live for our crops and being prepared to get them in the ground, so there’s not a lot of time to do much else.” They say that if they were to be farming as individuals, they’d still be making a living, but the three-way partnership offers them a definite advantage. “We buy better and we have a

larger chunk of grain to sell to companies, so it creates efficiencies, and in the end, we gotta put up with each other’s bit of B.S. because we all see the big picture.” John says the partnership is a business one, but it’s also an advantage when it comes to challenging times. “When things are a little tough, that’s when you appreciate it and you know that at least you’re not in it alone.” In the end, the brothers agree that three heads are better than one. And with an operation

that is profitable and growing, they are eternally grateful to their forefathers for creating a foundation on which they have been able to build a business where there is enough work, profits and support for everyone involved. As for their father Jasper, who passed away in 1995, the brothers agree that he would be proud that the Van Staveren farming tradition is being carried on with hard work and passion. † Christalee Froese writes from Montmartre, Saskatchewan.

When something needs to be said, you say it.

Join the young Canadians who are speaking up for agriculture. Are you passionate about agriculture? Do you enjoy sharing your views with others? Join the upcoming Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition. As part of this unique competition, contestants prepare a five-to seven-minute speech on one of five agriculture-related topics and present it in public. Cash prizes are available for two age groups: Junior (11 to 15) and Senior (16 to 24). The 28th annual Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition takes place on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario. For competition rules, a list of speaking topics and accommodation assistance please visit www.cysa-joca.ca. The application deadline is September 30, 2012.

Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture. It’s your time to shine.

/ grainews.ca

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Home Quarter Farm Life SINGING GARDENER

Shorter days and autumn equinox Plus — what’s your experience with portulaca in the garden? TED MESEYTON

change of scenery has begun with shorter days and autumn equinox on the horizon. Reminds me of a few lyrics from a song: “The fields are high and summer’s days are few, green fields have turned to gold, the time is here for the harvesting, for gathering home into barns.”

LOTS ON THE AGENDA I’m not like a carpenter following a plan. There’s always plenty to write about. Often subject material can change in the middle of the day as a result of a conversation, phone call or email. For example a subscriber from Blackfoot, Alberta writes: “I enjoy your column in Grainews very much. I have a major problem in my garden. It is infested with the weed portulaca and I can’t get rid of it. Any suggestions?? Every year I pick bags of the weed portulaca and burn it, but it’s not getting any less. I wondered if there was a spray that might kill it. Don’t think I want to get into the portulaca business, but it is a thought. If you come up with anything I would appreciate hearing from you.” (name withheld by request) Memo from Ted: I sent a reply to the writer, but am also turning this over to our family of Grainews readers! Here’s where you can pitch in and help. Send along your thoughts and experience on dealing with portulaca in the garden.

FRESH CUT HOMEGROWN FLOWERS … make wonderful bouquets. No doubt you have favourites, whether annuals, perennials or a combination of both. When a gardener plants seeds and watches them sprout, a most wonderful green encounter with nature happens. Now that fall is on our threshold, many transitions from seedling to blossoms have happened. One such example is zinnias. They have sustained flower power

SUE ARMSTRONG

LOVE HEARING FROM YOU Do you have a story about a farm or home-based business? How about some household management tips? Does someone in the family have a special-diet need? Share some of your meal ideas. Send them to FarmLife, 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, Man. R3H 0H1. Phone 1-800665-0502 or email susan@ fbcpublishing.com. Please remember we can no longer return photos or material. — Sue

and are so attractive in a riot of colour. Yet — one thing I’ve noticed during my travels is rarely, if ever, have I seen any zinnia bedding plants for sale at garden centres and greenhouses. Perhaps it’s because they are so phenomenally easy to grow. The only downside is some varieties are prone to mildew, a type of fungi on their leaves, usually due to combined excessive moisture and humidity. This can be avoided by growing mildew-resistant zinnias, spacing the plants well and providing good air circulation in full sunlight with adequate and even watering at ground level only during dry periods. Other supports include a thin dusting of dry garden sulphur or sprinkling a liquid spray made from wettable garden sulphur on leaves. Do this when the outdoor temperature is no higher than 22 C, otherwise it may scorch foliage. There’s usually a clump or two of chives in most home gardens. Chives tea may be used as a spray against powdery mildew. Another option is a brew made from horsetail (Equisetum arvense) a healing plant that’s readily found growing in the wild. Sprinkling horsetail tea on Bergamot beebalm, roses, grapes and stone fruits such as cherries and plums helps prevent and control mildew. Best time to do any of these is early in the day or before sunset.

EXTENDING LIFE OF FLORAL BOUQUETS Harvest flowers for arrangements and bouquets early in the day using a sharp cutting tool. Plunge the bottom ends of each stem into a container of deep water and store submerged in a cool place for a few hours. Later, recut the ends under water before arranging begins, to prevent air bubbles that often get trapped in the straw-like tubes within the stems. Here are some suggestions for made-at-home recipes that may have value in extending life of floral bouquets. Mix one part sugarsweetened lemon-lime soft drink containing citric acid with three parts water (not artificially sweetened). There are several brands at the marketplace such as Co-op Gold lemon-lime and Sprite. This simple nutritional solution for cut flowers has some bacteria-reducing benefit. Some say a Canadian penny in the vase water will help reduce fungus. Or, stir an ASA tablet — that common headache remedy into the water. ASA is acidic and prevents bacteria growth just like citric acid does. Another option is to stir 1/4 teaspoon of chlorine household bleach into each litre of water as a means of bacteria control. Lastly, recut the bottom of stems and change the vase water formula daily. Remove any leaves from stems below water level. I’ve not tried all of these formulas myself so cannot vouch for their effectiveness. Indoor bouquets should not be placed anywhere near bowls of fruit. These give off a gas that can shorten lifespan of fresh flowers.

AMARANTHUS TRICOLOUR SPLENDENS PERFECTA Many of you have probably heard the country music song: “Coat of

PHOTOS: TED MESEYTON

For a stunning tropical effect in next year’s floral garden, try Joseph’s Coat Tricolour Amaranthus (l), or add impact in summer bedding displays with a combo of Joseph’s Coat and contrasting, eye-catching foliage of unique bicoloured Amaranthus Marvel Bronze shown in the forefront (r). Many Colours.” I immediately related said tune to Joseph’s Coat (its common name) when I first saw it several years back. You’re going to love Joseph’s Coat, also referred to as Tricolour Amaranthus. This 90-cm- (three-feet-) high half hardy annual bedding and greenhouse plant comes in a spectacular rainbow blend of rich red, deep yellow and fresh green. Joseph’s Coat rivals even the most colourful coleus and Christmas poinsettia, a close relative. For a phenomenal and showy foliage effect, try planting Joseph’s Coat in a circular fashion around the outside perimeter of a castor bean plant. Give it full sun with daily watering when rain is lacking. Eyes are immediately drawn toward it as people ask: “What’s it called?” You’ll probably not find started bedding plants of Joseph’s Coat at garden centres, so start your own indoors next spring about six weeks prior to transplanting outdoors. Seeds are small so sowing them thinly is important. Two seed sources are: Dominion Seed House, Georgetown, Ont. L7G 5L6; order desk 1-800-784-3037 and T&T Seeds, Winnipeg, Man. R3C 3P6; phone 1-204-895-9962.

ON TO ANOTHER EMAIL E.S. wrote in early August: (name withheld by request) “Hi, how are you? Subject: poor rhubarb. We’re getting good and wet now in northeast Sask. My question how/what is best fertilizer to use on our rhubarb? I’d like to try some horse manure. Transplanted some plants from an old stand last year. Mostly all very poor, the roots look soft and mushy. Tops turned yellowish. They are on high ground. Would like to get a solution. What to do with them and of course whatever you write up is fine. Thanks E.S. Ted responds: When planting new rhubarb plants, or relocating divided roots from an old, established bed it’s usually best to wait two growing seasons before harvesting any stalks. The two-year

establishment period allows plants to become strong and productive. Rhubarb stalks can be pulled over a four-week period in the third year. During the fourth and succeeding years, rhubarb can be harvested for about eight to 10 weeks. Rhubarb can become somewhat woody past midsummer. Continued harvest on well-established clumps beyond that time frame may weaken plants and reduce yield and quality in successive years. Keep in mind rhubarb leaves contain toxic oxalic acid and should never be eaten. Rhubarb can be transplanted in both early spring before growth begins, or fall from about mid-September through late October and does best in fertile, well-drained soil and full sun. Large clumps may be carefully dug up and divided into several sections. Each piece should have two or three buds and a portion of the root system. Transplant into the garden with the buds 1-1/2 to two inches below the soil surface. Space plants one metre (three feet) apart. Autumn-planted rhubarb should be mulched with several inches of leaf mould, compost or well-rotted manure and straw to help plants to get re-established before ground freezes. Infection and disease such as Ascochyta leaf spot or anthracnose stalk rot can be a problem, especially during cool, wet springs. First indications of Ascochyta leaf spot are numerous small, yellowishgreen areas on the upper surface of leaves. Later, leaf tissue turns brown and withers. Often the dead tissue will drop out leaving a shothole appearance as though insect feeding had taken place. The second problem can be anthracnose stalk rot. First indications are wilted leaves and large, water-soaked lesions on the stalks that can quickly enlarge and turn black. The stalks may have a twisted appearance and the whole stem may collapse. Remove and dispose of infected leaves and stalks during the summer and after first frost, as both diseases can overwinter if left in soil. Good sanita-

tion practices should control most disease problems. In addition, plants should be fertilized heavily as soon as growth appears in spring, then give another mild application as soon as stalk harvest is completed. Use a formula containing two essential minerals — phosphorus and potassium. Diseases are more prevalent in plants that are stressed. Application of garden centre products such as Bordo copper fungicide and Defender multi-purpose fungicide may also be helpful. Any measures to improve growing conditions should decrease injury caused by disease.

MOONLORE SAYS … when the new moon falls on a Saturday, the following three weeks will be mostly windy and wet, nine times out of 10. The next new moon arrives on Saturday evening, September 15, 2012. The harvest full moon follows 14 days later on Saturday evening, September 29, 2012. Whether it’s wet or whether it’s dry, On some kind of weather, we can surely rely. †

This is Ted Meseyton the Singing Gardener and Grow-It Poet from Portage la Prairie, Man. Hope your cucumber patch is still producing as I’m singing the praises of fresh cucumbers. Fisetin is rapidly emerging as a powerful tool in the arsenal against a number of diseases associated with premature aging. This unique flavonoid compound is found naturally in many fruits and vegetables including strawberries, blueberries and the skin of cucumbers. Researchers also found that fisetin is neuroprotective and helps to maintain normal memory processes while inhibiting plaque formation in the aging brain. My email address is singinggardener@mts.net.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

grainews.ca /

Home Quarter Farm Life FROM THE FARM

Meals in a jar

Using a pressure canner has opened up a whole new world of meal ideas DEBBIE CHIKOUSKY

eeding a family on a budget is never easy. Then your children hit their teen years and it really gets exciting. I am completely convinced that the only thing that can consume more food per second than a teenage boy is a locust. Since protein seemed to be the most popular food item when our neighbour suggested canning our old layers to stretch the meat supply, I was all for it but a little leery. After all, this ex-city girl knew nothing about how to safely can meat, but I was more than willing to learn. Neighbour ladies told me about filling my quart jars and boiling them for hours in my water bath canner, as I would do peaches, but it didn’t feel right so I decided to check further. Before we had a pressure canner we would kill the layers and freeze them for soup. Actually, if we were ambitious and cut them up into breasts, thighs and legs, they are very tasty cooked in farm cream and onions in a slow oven (250 F) all day. The aroma is heavenly and wonderful on a cold winter day. But I was looking for convenience food. Something the boys could come in from cleaning the barn and grab and eat with little effort sounded a little too good to be true, but with a bit of digging, it really was just that easy as long as we had a pressure canner to prevent botulism poisoning. Botulism is quite dangerous and requires respect while preserving our winter food supply. Botulism spores are resistant to heat and thrive in a moist, oxygen-free environment. It is found in the soil, and as botulism spores reproduce, they generate one of the most extraordinarily powerful poisons on earth: one teaspoon is sufficient to kill 100,000 people. Improper home canning creates the perfect environment in which to grow the botulism toxin. Also, because food contaminated by botulism may very well look and smell normal, there is often no warning. That is why home canning of lowacid foods must be done using a pressure canner, which can reach temperatures higher than boiling (212 F), which is necessary to kill the spores attainable with pressure canners operated at 10 to 15 PSIG (pounds per square inch of pressure as measured by a gauge). The higher pressure makes the boiling point rise to 240 F to 250 F, which is hot enough to kill botulism in the jars. To can food safely the food first has to be identified as low or high acid. High-acid foods include fruit, pickles, sauerkraut, jams, jellies, marmalades and fruit butters. A boiling water canner heats food to 212 F at sea level. The acid in the food prevents bacteria from growing, while this temperature will kill most yeasts, moulds and bacteria that could be present. The bacteria that causes botulism does not grow in high-acid foods. Low-acid foods include meat, seafood, poultry, soup, milk and

most fresh vegetables, except tomatoes. Tomatoes are borderline highacid food and require an acid, such as lemon juice or vinegar, to be added for safer canning. Mixtures of low- and high-acid foods, such as spaghetti sauce with meat, vegetables and tomatoes, are considered low-acid foods. Low-acid foods have to be canned in a pressure canner in order to achieve a temperature of higher than 240 F.

CANNED CHICKEN Our pressure canner is a Presto and holds seven one-quart canning jars. For that amount of chicken we need to process 12 layers. We usually keep the

breasts, legs and thighs for ourselves and the rest goes to the barn cats. Wash the chicken and pack it in the washed and sterilized jars. Add one-half teaspoon salt and one-quarter teaspoon poultry seasoning (optional) per jar. Fill to about two inches from neck of jar with water. Place the lids on the jars as per label instructions and pack the pressure canner as per manufacturer’s instructions. Process them for 75 minutes at 10 pounds pressure or as recommended by the manufacturer. For a quick meal the children used to heat up the contents of a jar and thicken the meat juice, making gravy. There are usually leftover

potatoes or rice in the fridge to add to the pot along with frozen veggies and they would have a stew in minutes. Another family favourite was Chicken Vegetable Curry.

CHICKEN VEGETABLE CURRY 1 quart canned chicken 2 tbsp. butter 1 c. finely chopped onions 1 tbsp. curry powder Reserved jelly from jar and enough boiling water to make 2 c. 3 c. peeled and cubed potatoes 2 c. peeled carrots or frozen mixed vegetables Salt to taste 1/4 c. soy sauce 1 tbsp. cornstarch Cooked rice Drain chicken into a 2 c. measuring cup. Reserve jelly. Set chicken aside. In a 3-quart saucepan, heat butter. Add onions, curry powder. Cook for approximately five minutes over medium heat, or until onion is tender. Add enough boiling water to reserved liquid to equal

2 c. Add to saucepan. Add potatoes, carrots and salt. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and soy sauce. Mix well. Stir into vegetables. Bring to a boil and cook for one minute, stirring occasionally. Add chicken pieces. Cover and heat for five minutes or until thoroughly heated. Spoon vegetables over rice and place chicken pieces on top. Life on the farm is busy and hard-working people require nutrient-dense food to fuel their bodies. Up until I found myself the proud owner of a pressure canner, we had depended on freezing for low-acid food storage, and frozen chicken or soup isn’t really a convenience food. The pressure canner opened up endless possibilities for meals in a jar. We now can soups and meats and it is truly amazing at how delicious and tender the meat is that comes out of those jars. † Debbie Chikousky farms at Narcisse, Manitoba. Email her at debbie@chikouskyfarms.com.

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/ grainews.ca

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

Features

To maximize the benefits of Roundup Transorb® HC herbicide in a preharvest application, go to www.roundup.ca to download a copy of our Preharvest Staging Guide.

CROP PRODUCTION

CROP ADVIS0R’S CASEBOOK BY TREVOR WARBURTON

fter seeding and spraying his crops last June, Glenn — a Saskatchewan farmer who farms 3,000 acres of canola, lentils, peas and wheat as well as 1,500 acres of hayland near Tribune — thought he would move on to cutting his alfalfa crop. He hadn’t been paying this field much attention, but he expected it to be flourishing and ready to cut due to the favourable growing conditions the area had been experiencing. However, Glenn’s expectations were cut short. As he approached the field he could tell something wasn’t right. “With all of this moisture and heat that we’ve been having, I thought my hay crop would be a lot thicker and lush than it is — and where are the flowers?” he asked when he called me mid-June for some advice. All of the other crops in the area were off to a good start, so the problem in Glenn’s alfalfa field was a little puzzling. Perhaps a late frost had caused the damage, the field had an infestation of grasshoppers, or root rot was the issue. As we approached it, I noticed from the road that the field appeared to have

a silvery sheen to it. The flowering of the alfalfa plants was also inconsistent and patchy. We were able to eliminate frost as the cause of the damage because all of the other crops that were seeded near this field — canola, peas and durum — were in good shape. We could also dismiss root rot simply by looking at the plants because their bases were healthy. However, the plants appeared to be defoliated throughout the field. In the least affected areas we found pinholes in the leaves and in the severely affected areas the plants were taking on a skeletonized appearance. Clearly we were dealing with an insect problem. After a quick scout of the immediate area only a few grasshoppers were found — nowhere near the economic threshold. Grasshoppers had not been an issue this season in the region, and I didn’t think they were causing the trouble in Glenn’s field. “Could this be one of the culprits?” Glenn asked me as he held up a bright green worm, just shy of one centimetre, with a black head and a white stripe down its back. “I think you’ve identified your intruders,” I said.

CROP ADVISOR’S SOLUTION BY DAN FRIESEN

he conditions were perfect for planting at the end of May in 2011 for many soybean producers in southern Manitoba — warm weather, timely precipitation, optimal soil conditions and just a slight chance of rain in the forecast. As he finished planting, James, who farms 2,700 acres of wheat, oats, canola and soybeans southeast of Winnipeg, had a good feeling about his crop. However, only three weeks later he called me about the sporadic emergence of the plants in this field. “Compared to my neighbour’s, my soybean field looks off,” he said. He thought he’d

WHAT THE HAY?

set his air seeder controls incorrectly or that there was something wrong with the seed lot. James’ neighbour’s soybean crop was thriving. It had been planted at the same time, under similar conditions and with an air seeder, as James’ crop had. The crop, located in an adjacent field, was developing normally and was not experiencing poor germination. Meanwhile, emergence was spotty in James’ field with no apparent pattern, resulting in low plant density. James had planted uncertified seed. The the soybean field’s low germination rate could be a result of poor seed quality. He hadn’t performed a germination test, which would have provided key informa-

Trevor Warburton What insects are making a meal out of Glenn’s alfalfa and what can be done to save his hay crop? Send your diagnosis to Grainews, Box 9800, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 3K7; email leeann.minogue@ fbcpublishing.com or fax 204-944-5416 c/o Crop Advisor’s Casebook. Best suggestions will be pooled and one winner will be drawn for a chance to win a Grainews cap and a one-year subscription to the magazine. The answer, along with the reasoning which solved the mystery, will appear in the next Crop Advisor’s Solution File. † Trevor Warburton is an area marketing representative for Richardson Pioneer Ltd. in Weyburn, Sask.

PHOTO: FRANK PEAIRS, COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

The culprit seemed to be a bright green worm, just shy of one centimetre, with a black head and a white stripe down its back.

HANDLE WITH CARE tion on the seed lot’s viability. A germination test is essential when using uncertified seed, I explained to James. His neighbour confirmed that he had used certified seed, which led me to believe we had solved one piece of the puzzle. However, I felt it was important to look for other sources of poor seedling emergence, which could be compounding the low germination rate in James’ field. It was easy to rule out herbicide carryover, disease and poor nodulation as possible sources hindering seedling emergence. James had not used any residual herbicides on this field the previous year and a seed treatment and inoculant had been applied at planting. We also checked the

settings on James’ air seeder, and they were all correct. It was when we dug up some of the seed row that we found another factor contributing to the poor germination rate — a few of the non-germinated seeds were cracked! When I asked James to explain the circumstances surrounding the seeding of this field he told me that because the short-term forecast had been for rain, they had augered the soybean seed as quickly as possible in order to finish the field before the rain. Mechanical damage to the soybean seed from the auger had also decreased the seed lot’s germination rate. Soybean seed must be handled gently to prevent damage

and ensure an optimum germination rate. I recommended that James use a belt conveyor while loading seed to reduce cracking. Using a planter rather than an air seeder would further increase the germination rate due to improved seed placement. It is important to note that all large-seeded dicot crops, such as field peas, are susceptible to seed damage like this. The soybean crop yield at harvest was reduced by 20 per cent. However, I assured James that planting certified seed and replacing the auger with a conveyor on his air cart would prevent any further germination issues. † Dan Friesen is a sales agronomist for Richardson Pioneer Ltd. in Starbuck, Man.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING. ROUNDUP TRANSORB® HC HERBICIDE. Preharvest is the best time to control perennial weeds such as Canada thistle, quackgrass, and sowthistle. But, it’s important to get the timing of your application just right to be effective.

For tips on how to better assess weed and crop staging, and how to effectively apply Roundup Transorb® HC herbicide, go to www.roundup.ca. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Transorb®, and Roundup® are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC, Monsanto Canada, Inc. licensee. ©2012 Monsanto Canada, Inc.