Ontario Beef - August 2019

AUGUST 2019

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE BEEF FARMERS OF ONTARIO

Starting a

Beef Farm

Final Farewell from Executive Director Dave Stewart Meet BFO’s Newest Directors Heading to Huron for Beef Youth Development Program Where the Maple Leaf Flies: Trade Updates from CCA Reducing the Risk of Ringworm Fall Stocker Sales Reduce Your Risk of Summer Equipment Fires

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Number 0040007029

ON TAR IO BEEF • AU GUST 2019

1

UTA 2019 ad_Layout 1 7/31/2019 4:37 PM Page 1

CHAROLAIS SALE

NEW DATE & TIME: Friday, October 18, 2019 • 7:00 PM Maple Hill Auction, Hanover, ON

50 Select Purebred Charolais Female Lots • Heifer Calf Show Prospects • Bred Yearlings • Flush & Recipients • 3 in 1 cow/calf pairs JUNIOR INCENTIVE PROGRAM Cash incentive program for a project animal purchased from the Uppin’ the Ante Female Sale • $500 to the Grand Champion at the CCYA National Junior Show • $500 to the Supreme Champion at the Canadian Junior Beef Show (Royal Winter Fair) • $250 to the Reserve Grand Champion at the CCYA National Junior Show • $250 to the overall Grand Champion at the Junior Exhibitors Regional 4-H Show • $100 for the completion of the 4-H project

SCHEDULE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17 - Viewing of the cattle all day followed by a social in the evening FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18 - Viewing of the cattle all day, supper and refreshments begin at 5:00 p.m. and run until sale start at 7:00 p.m.

CONSIGNORS

SALE STAFF

Bridor Charolais ........................................................519-323-2538

Chester Tupling, Sale Chair, Blockman......................705-627-0672 Billy Elmhurst, Ring Service......................................705-765-0896 Helge By, Ring Service ..............................................306-536-4261 Carl Wright, Auctioneer ............................................519-369-7489 Andy McCulloch, Sales Barn Manager ......................519-379-1370

Cornerview Charolais................................................613-646-9741 Medonte Charolais ....................................................705-835-3310 Rollin’ Acres Charolais ..............................................705-627-0672 Saunders Charolais ..................................................519-986-4165 Whiskey Hollow Cattle Co. ........................................905-931-5436

GUEST CONSIGNORS

ACCOMMODATIONS Travelers Inn, Hanover ..............................................519-364-1911 Best Western, Walkerton ..........................................855-436-3030

Dudgeon-Snobelen Land & Cattle ............................519-385-1023 Echo Spring Charolais ..............................................705-487-5840 Moyer Cattle Co . ......................................................519-993-5010 Sunrise II Charolais ..................................................705-351-8504

Contact the breeders or sale staff for a catalogue or view it online at www.charolaisbanner.com

contents

COMPLIMENTARY, MEMBER SUPPORTED PUBLICATION August 2019

Volume 60, Number 3

6 Final Farewell from Executive Director Dave Stewart 7 Interim Ontario Animal Protection Model Announced 10 BFO Welcomes Three New Directors to the Board 12 Heading to Huron for Beef Youth Development Program 18 Where the Maple Leaf Flies: Trade Updates from CCA 24 Starting a Beef Farm 28 Reducing the Risk of Ringworm 34 Fall Stocker Sales 41 Reduce Your Risk of Summer Equipment Fires departments 4 Ahead of the Heard – by Joe Hill, BFO President 6 The Beef Beat – by Dave Stewart, Senior Advisor, BFO

ON THE COVER

8 Between You, Me and the Fence Post – by Jennifer Kyle, Editor, Ontario Beef

While the last stretch of summer is upon us, many are already thinking ahead to fall.

Fairs, fall harvest and stocker sales will soon be here, making fall one of the busiest and most anticipated seasons on the farm.

14 Rural Ramble – by Dan Ferguson, Manager of Producer Relations, BFO 18 Where the Maple Leaf Flies – by Gina Teel, Communications Manager, CCA 24 OMAFRA Update – by Barry Potter, Regional Economic Development Branch – Agriculture Development Advisor, North Region, New Liskeard, OMAFRA

28 Vet on Call – by Katharine Found, DVM 30 INSIGHTS – by Jasper Munro, Manager of Research and Innovation, AgSights 32 Beef Brief – by Michele McAdoo, Executive Director, Brand & Communications, Canada Beef

Don’t miss out on submitting your photos for our December 2019 issue. Please send your spring inspired photos by October 15 to be considered for the cover.

Digital photos that are at least 300dpi are preferred and can be emailed to info@ontariobeef.com.

36 Market Information – by Jamie Gamble, Market Information Coordinator, BFO 40 Calendar of Events 41 Spotlight on Farm & Food Care Ontario – by Bruce Kelly, Program Manager, Farm & Food Care Ontario

ONTARIO BEEF • Beef Farmers of Ontario 130 Malcolm Road, Guelph, ON N1K 1B1 • Phone: 519-824-0334 • Toll Free (for Ontario callers only) 1-866-370-BEEF (2333) Fax: 519-824-9101 • info@ontariobeef.com EDITOR Jennifer Kyle CIRCULATION COORDINATOR Bethany Storey ADVERTISING MANAGER Cathy Lasby, Preferred Agri-Marketing Services Guelph, ON Phone: 519-763-8833 • Fax: 519-763-8833 pams@sentex.net DESIGN and LAYOUT Prism Studios Advertising and Design Inc. Guelph, ON PRODUCTION and PRINTING Beck’s Printing Services, Brantford, ON

PROVIDING A FORUM FOR THE ONTARIO BEEF INDUSTRY Ontario Beef is the official publication of the Beef Farmers of Ontario. Contents of this publication may be reproduced only by permission of the Editor and with credit acknowledged.

Opinions expressed herein are those of the author and/or editor and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Beef Farmers of Ontario. Publication of advertisements does not constitute endorsement or approval by Ontario Beef or the Beef Farmers of Ontario of products or services advertised.

Advertising deadlines are January 10, April 15, July 15, September 15 and November 15. The publisher reserves the right to refuse or cancel any advertising, including advertising that is inconsistent with BFO’s Sponsorship Policy, available at www.ontariobeef.com. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published, however no responsibility can be assumed for advertising not received in clear, type-written form.

C an a d i a n P u b l i c a t i o n s M a i l P r o d u c t S a l es A g r eem en t Nu m b er 0 0 4 0 0 0 7029 POSTMASTER: Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Beef Farmers of Ontario, 130 Malcolm Road, Guelph, ON N1K 1B1

A h e a d o f t h e Heard • By Joe Hill, BFO President

info@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

Fake Meat Just Our Latest Challenge I

am

seldom

been satisfied by trying it…it will simply

consumer engagement team has been

at a loss for

become another option, but beef will still

hard at work building the work plan and

words.

But

be the preferred choice. I also believe that

building the resources and tools to take

when the topic

consumer groups will start to ask more

the story of Ontario beef to our consumers.

of fake meat,

questions about how these products are

Recognizing that collectively the money

plant-based

manufactured, what are the nutrient

spent

protein, or as I like to call it manufactured

sources and real nutritional value, and

products each day is likely more than our

food substitute comes up, I find myself a

what are the long-term implications of

entire consumer relations budget for the

little tongue tied. I think this stems from

consuming these products. We do have to

year, we need to be strategic and focused

the simple disbelief that people would

accept that these alternative proteins are

on the target audience, which is not you

actually eat it. To be clear, I have complete

likely here to stay. Most chain restaurants

and me. We are not going to waste money

respect for a person’s right to choose to

will carry some version of manufactured

talking to ourselves. Don’t get upset if you

be a vegetarian, but with that I expect

food substitute. There is nothing that we

can’t find ads in farm papers or at the

my right as a meat lover to get the same

can do about that, they are businesses

feed store, please have some faith that

respect. And for the most part, that has

chasing markets.

the story is being told where the urban

been my experience. These new products however,

are

targeting

meat

What we can do is work with regulators

promoting

these

manufactured

consumer will find it.

eaters,

to ensure it is clear to consumers what’s

The Ontario beef industry operates

not vegetarians, and that‘s what I find

in the package or on the plate. We can

within a very competitive market for

offensive. They are producing something

monitor marketing and ensure these

inputs,

on

that has a similar appearance, texture and

products don’t misrepresent themselves.

capital

investment,

taste as meat, but with one long-term goal

These things are happening with Canadian

and relatively limited tools, private or

– to replace animal agriculture.

Cattlemen’s

Canada

government run, to manage risk. Yet,

Association

and

tight

margins massive

with

high

volatility

I believe that once the buzz settles

Beef. And the most important thing we

despite everything that has been thrown at

down and fake meat is no longer

can do is tell our story. We offer great

us over the past couple of decades, we are

newsworthy, when it’s not the new item

nutrition, at great value and with a great

still here. This is just another challenge to

on the menu that gets all the ad space,

environmental story behind it – if the

and when the curiosity of consumers has

truth can get past the fake news. Our

get through. We will. OB

BFO BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2019 Joe Hill (Feedlot Director) - President Phone: 519-843-3202 • Email: joe@roberthillfarm.ca Rob Lipsett (Background Director) - Vice-President Phone: 519-371-9850 • Email: lipsettrob@yahoo.ca Don Badour (Cow-Calf Director) Phone: 613-762-2161 • Email: don.badour@ripnet.com Jason Reid (Cow-Calf Director) Phone: 807-935-3224 • Email: reidridgefarm@tbaytel.net Craig McLaughlin (Cow-Calf Director) Phone: 613-646-7820 • Email: cmblackhorse@gmail.com Mert Schneider (Feedlot Director) Phone: 519-343-2849 • Email: nschneider@wightman.ca Jack Chaffe (Feedlot Director) Phone: 519-348-4607 • Email: jdchaffe@quadro.net Jason Leblond (Northern Director) Phone: 705-724-1887 • Email: jsacres5@gmail.com Dave Cavanagh (Eastern Director) Phone: 705-740-5212 • Email: homestead_herefords@msn.com Ron Stevenson (Southern Director) Phone: 519-887-6677 • Email: ron@metzgervet.com Dan Darling (Director-At-Large) Phone: 905-375-4019 • Email: dmdarling13@gmail.com Jordan Miller (Director-At-Large) Phone: 289-686-1124 • Email: b.jordan.miller@gmail.com

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O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

BFO STAFF Executive Director Richard Horne • richard@ontariobeef.com Executive Assistant Cathy Golubienko • cathyg@ontariobeef.com Senior Advisor, Special Projects Dave Stewart dave@ontariobeef.com Senior Policy Advisor Katherine Fox • k atherine@ontariobeef.com Manager of Communications & Marketing LeaAnne Wuermli • leaanne@ontariobeef.com (on maternity leave) Senior Communications Specialist Jennifer Kyle • jennifer@ontariobeef.com Communications Coordinator Bethany Storey • bethany@ontariobeef.com Market Information Coordinator Jamie Gamble • markets@ontariobeef.com

Accountant Amber McIntyre • amber@ontariobeef.com Office Administrator Tammy Purdham • tammy@ontariobeef.com Manager of Producer Relations Dan Ferguson • dan@ontariobeef.com Producer Relations Specialist Jaclyn Horenberg • jaclyn@ontariobeef.com Check-Off Inspector Chris Millar • chrism@ontariobeef.com Provincial Supervisor, Ontario Feeder Cattle and Beef Breeder Co-op Programs Cheryl Russwurm • crfeederfin@wightman.ca Water Quality Specialist Chris Attema • chris@ontariobeef.com

ON TAR IO BEEF • AU GUST 2019

5

The Beef Beat

•B y Dave Stewart, Senior Advisor, Special Projects dave@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

A Fond Farewell to BFO T

his will be my last Beef Beat.

I have decided that it is time for me to leave BFO. As a result, the board formed a sub-committee under President Joe Hill’s leadership. An open, honest and broad search process was conducted. There were many qualified candidates to choose from, and I am very pleased that the board has selected Richard Horne to be your next executive director. Richard began his new role July 22, and my last day in the office will be August 30. I will continue as an advisor to BFO on special projects this fall. I have every confidence in Richard’s ability to lead BFO for the best interest of all of our members.

This column is my chance to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to be the top staff person in your organization. It is a responsibility that I always approached seriously, mindful of the dedicated visionaries who preceded me.

The best part of my job was travelling Ontario’s roads and airports to meet so many of our fine beef farmers. I truly appreciated how hard you worked to do the best with what was facing you at the time. Your personal courage and fortitude gave me the inspiration to keep fighting for you.

I strongly believe in the direction the board has set for the organization, and am

very happy that the organization has a clear mandate and the funding to go forward. I look forward to both the marketing efforts, and the consumer engagement efforts that will strengthen our Ontario market.

I’ll remember the dark early days of BSE when many of our government employees worked so closely with us to bring us help to ride through the storm. I’ll remember the year and a half spent designing and selling the concept of the RMP program for beef.

Although I am a fiscal conservative, I do believe that our industry is valuable to the province and worthy of support until we get to a better place. I’ll always remember that Carol Mitchell was the Minister of Agriculture who installed that program to help our industry. We owe her so much.

Thank you, Minister!

I’ll also remember with satisfaction the better relationship developed with the OCFA, as Jim and I built our friendship and worked well together.

Deputy Ken Knox and Senator Rob Black convinced our board that delivering a leadership program, designed to strengthen not just our association, but also so many of the clubs and associations our members donate their time to in their own counties, was the right thing to do. Our board accepted the challenge and it has been tremendous.

Many of our directors have graduated from this program, and it has given them the confidence to step up and provide solid leadership. They have developed into a

great collective strength for BFO, and I am often caught bragging about how great our board is.

I’ll also remember all of the years we spent promoting the expansion of the cow herd, including working to get the government to make crown land readily available for agriculture in northern Ontario. This is an idea that is so easy to explain to our elected leaders. I did have a recent report of someone finding the process smoother now. I know that in 10, 20 and 30 years we will look back and say we gave the spark to make that really happen. It is the right thing for our province to do.

It’s the fine people of our industry who I will miss the most. I’m sorry I can’t name you all here. It has been a wonderful honour to get to know so many of you.

I have had the opportunity to work with many of the leaders of our industry over the past 15 years. They are great people who gave their time to make our industry better.

They all deserve your thanks and support. Our industry needs people to step forward and guide it. That’s the structure of BFO. We are open, transparent and accountable. We have strong governance. You should be proud of your organization.

My staff has been incredible, and all of the directors I have worked with have been committed and wonderful. Everyone here is focused on making your industry better for you. And I am so proud of them all.

Thank you all so much. OB

For 15 years, BFO Executive Director Dave Stewart traveled across Ontario serving members. Congratulations on your retirement Dave.

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O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

Interim Ontario Animal Protection Model Announced E

arlier this summer, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) withdrew from animal welfare enforcement services in the province. As a result, the Ontario

government has announced interim protection measures to keep animals safe until a permanent animal welfare model is implemented.

BFO, along with representatives from

Ontario’s livestock sector, have been working with the Ontario government to develop new animal welfare legislation and processes.

In the meantime, the temporary measures include: • A new toll-free number available 24/7 to report animal welfare concerns: 1-833-9ANIMAL (1-833-926-4625) • An interim chief inspector, appointed by the Solicitor General, to provide leadership on animal protection in the province • New temporary animal welfare inspectors, many from local humane societies and Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, appointed by the chief inspector In addition, specialized inspectors with subject matter expertise in livestock and agriculture, horses, zoos and aquariums have been appointed to provide support to other inspectors and police services. Police services will also continue to enforce animal welfare laws. OB

14% TEXTURED BEEF GROWER

ON TAR IO BEEF • AU GUST 2019

7

Between You, Me and the Fence Post •

By Jennifer Kyle, Editor, Ontario Beef info@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

Knowing Our Audience A

s many of you know, BFO has spent considerable time and resources on consumer research over the past couple of years. Historically, this has not been the case, which makes this a whole new space for our team to work in. Combing through research results is both fascinating and insightful. While we were entertained by some of the feedback throughout the research process, it is clear we need to change the way we engage with our consumers.

We (the agricultural industry) are excellent at talking to ourselves. For example, I run our consumer-facing social media channels, and review the analytics. If I post something related to recipes or beef as a food, these posts are well- received and there is good engagement by chefs, foodies, restaurants and general consumers. Great, right? In contrast, if I post something related to farming on this same channel, they are also well-received but the vast majority interacting with the post are beef or agricultural industry people. Sure, you – our farmer members – love to see the farming-related posts, but if these posts aren’t resonating with the consumers on the consumer-facing channel, who cares? We do!

How do we package the farming, animal care and environmental content in a way that entices consumers to care and engage with it, and how do we balance that information with the food part, which we already know resonates? Essentially, we need to reach them with messaging that THEY can relate to. “Who are ‘they’?” you might ask. One of the most insightful pieces of information gleaned from the consumer research results was a breakdown of which demographic groups provide the biggest opportunity for our engagement efforts.

• Women • Parents of children and teens • Those under 35 years old • Ontarians born outside of Canada • Residents of the Greater Toronto Area 8

O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

By coincidence, I happen to fall into a few of those categories – but not all – and that is not the point. The important takeaway here is that most reading this article will fall into few or none of these demographic groups. The moral of the story is that we are not the audience we need to target with our messaging, and we cannot continue to formulate our messaging in a way that is relatable to us.

So, what’s the plan? Bring in the experts!

Our team is in the final stages of hiring an agency to help us find our voice, develop our “brand” identity, craft our messaging and start engaging with consumers in a meaningful way, and to do so by making creative use of our small budget. Our goal is to build awareness and generate excitement for the idea of Ontario Beef. This will lay the groundwork for all Ontario beef, provide a starting point for other individual Ontario beef brands and future market development opportunities, and work in support of the new Joint Marketing Committee.

Over the coming months, our efforts will be focused on a new consumer-focused website and e-newsletter, a consumer engagement campaign, event participation, photography and video development, research, education, and updating, collecting and creating resources and promotional materials.

As President Joe eluded to in his message, with our new targeted and strategic approach, you may not physically see a lot of our efforts, depending on what and where those activities may be. That said, because of our small budget, we will also focus quite heavily on digital. While our digital efforts will be targeted as well, I would encourage you to follow us on our consumer social media channels, as social media will play a key role in the campaign. You will be able to see our posts and get a great snap shot of what the entire campaign looks like. For those not online, fear not. We are also committed to providing regular updates on our consumer engagement activities through this magazine.

Stay tuned as we work to excite Ontarians about Ontario beef to ultimately have them ask for it, buy it, cook it and eat it. It’s a big goal and we will get there.

An integral part of BFO’s consumer research and re-branding process was the development of a new consumer-facing logo to be used in all of our consumer engagement initiatives and activities, including our new consumer website. We are pleased to share the new consumer logo with you, a logo that was developed via a thorough creative process using the consumer research and live focus

group feedback. Our new logo resonates with consumers and the Ontario Beef logo tells the story of local, quality and trustworthy products. Ontario beef is delicious, nutritious and a healthy protein source. The logo supports the promise that consumers can trust that Ontario beef is responsibly raised by local family farmers and in buying local, they are supporting and strengthening their communities. Watch for our new website (www.ontbeef.ca) to launch later this month and new promotional items featuring the new branding to be available soon. OB

BFO Welcomes Three New Directors to the Board T

hree new directors, each serving a threeyear term, joined the BFO board in February 2019. Each new director brings a wealth of industry knowledge, experience and leadership to the organization.

Don Badour, Cow-Calf Director Raising beef cattle has always been a highlight of Don Badour’s farming career.

Carrying on the family tradition of raising beef cows for more than 100 years in Lanark County, Badour now farms with his wife and two young sons outside of the town of Perth. The family raises 60 Red Angus X Charolais cows, and farms more than 1,000 acres of pasture, hay, corn, soybeans, barley and wheat.

Badour joined the Lanark County Cattlemen’s Association when he graduated from college and started farming, and he’s been on the board for more than 25 years.

He’s also active in local agriculture advisory groups and has been involved in the local federation of agriculture, formerly serving as provincial director for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

“Beef farming is what I love,” says Badour.

“And now my kids are old enough to help out and are taking an interest in the cattle too.

That’s what a family farm is all about.”

The recent increase in BFO check-off and new Ontario beef marketing initiatives sparked Badour’s interest in joining the board. “We need to find a way to deliver more value to beef

farmers and branding a new product to attract consumers might do the job,” he says, noting the cow-calf sector could use a boost.

“I’m concerned about the shrinking number of cow herds in Ontario. We need to find a way to encourage more young farmers to consider beef cows and support those who are currently part of our industry.”

Badour himself has adjusted his calving schedule to make the workload more manageable on his farm, calving in August and September, rather than the traditional winter and spring months. “I don’t miss the midnight barn checks on freezing cold nights anymore,” he says. “The calves aren’t as heavy when I sell them in May, but the stronger spring market makes up the difference in dollars.”

Increasing government regulations and the rising cost of land also concern Badour.

“We are seeing some young people coming back to the farm, but it’s more difficult now,” he says. “And that’s how groups like BFO can help our farmers, working on their behalf to promote our products and our industry.”

BFO director, Don Badour farms with his family in Lanark County.

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O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

Mert Schneider, Feedlot Director A long-time local politician, Mert Schneider has served his community in Perth County for nearly 40 years as a member of municipal and county councils. He’s also active in his local agricultural society and has been involved with the Perth County Cattlemen’s Association for more than 25 years.

Schneider farms with two sons, operating a feedlot near Palmerston, where they finish about 600 steers annually and market the animals through the Ontario Corn Fed Beef Program. The family runs approximately 1,000 acres, growing corn silage and high moisture corn for the cattle and cash cropping wheat and soybeans.

“I was looking for a new challenge and decided to join the BFO board,” says Schneider. “I feel that as an industry, we’re making progress with our government leaders, they are hearing our concerns and requests for support for our industry. The next step will be to see these discussions translate into action and assistance for the livestock sector and I want to be a part of that development.”

Schneider is also keeping a close eye on consumer trends, noting public perception, a lack of education about beef farming, and comparably priced plant-based protein products as concerns he believes need to be addressed. “Ongoing trade disputes

and the lack of packing plants to keep our beef moving through the marketplace are also issues our industry should be addressing,” he says.

While Schneider has some industry concerns, he’s also optimistic about the direction of Ontario’s beef industry.

“We have a good reputation for producing a very desirable product,” he says. Schneider says he’s proud to be a beef producer, raising a high-quality protein product that consumers know is part of a healthy diet.

When he’s not busy on the farm, Schneider enjoys taking day trips with his wife Nancy, admitting they often include crop surveys, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Ron Stevenson, Southern Ontario Director Ron Stevenson joined the Huron County Beef Producers in 1998 and hasn’t looked back. Passionate about beef farming and the agricultural industry, Stevenson runs an 80-head commercial cow-calf farm, grazes yearlings and operates a small feedlot. His animals are divided between the home farm in Walton, and a grass farm in Lions Head.

Fifteen years ago, Stevenson collaborated with some like-minded producers and joined the Bruce Peninsula Calf Producers Association calf sale. The group, including three other calf clubs, the Central Ontario Calf Producers, the Georgian Bay Charolais Producers Association and the Bluewater Black Calf Producers Association, offer a pre-vaccinated and pre-sorted calf sale at Keady Livestock Market every fall.

“We found a way to market our animals through reputation, preparing and providing the healthiest animals we can to enter a feedlot,” he says.

Working together towards a common goal is important to Stevenson, who says he’s interested in advocating for factual, sciencebased regulations and policies for Ontario agriculture. “Our voices are less than two per cent of the population today, and we’re at a pivotal point where we can’t let social groups and social pressures set the agenda for how we farm and raise our animals,” says Stevenson. “I joined the BFO board to be part of those science-based discussions, and when it comes to consumers making food choices or a politician developing a policy, I want to ensure everyone is making an educated decision.”

Despite growing social pressures in livestock farming, changing consumer demands and a lack of science-based policy decisions, Stevenson believes Ontario offers huge potential to increase the customer base for beef. “We have a superior product, and Ontarians know it. We just have to keep building our brand, because we know our customers want quality, local products,” he says.

An agricultural enthusiast from a young age, Stevenson says he was lucky to work alongside his grandfather, learning from him and earning his mentor’s support when he started his own farm.

“My grandfather saw a lot of changes in his time, and we are seeing our fair share now as the majority of the consumer population moves further from the farm,” he says.

Stevenson is also a firefighter with the North Huron Fire Department, volunteers with the Brussels Optimist and local sports groups. And in his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family. OB

ON TAR IO BEEF • AU GUST 2019

11

Heading to Huron for Beef Youth Development Program

By Bethany Storey, BFO Communications Coordinator

B

eef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) was excited once again this year to be hosting the Beef Youth Development Program (BYDP), offered to beef enthusiasts between the ages of 18-35. BFO continues to support and encourage the involvement of young producers in the Ontario beef industry and programs such as the BYDP are an excellent way for young producers to get involved and share ideas. This year the program welcomed 15 participants to Huron County to take part in farm tours, hear from industry speakers and analyze farms to share ideas.

Our participants began the morning by hearing from two informative speakers, offering practical information that participants could apply on their own farms. Our first speaker was Amanda Hammell, senior finance Beef Youth Development Program participants touring specialist for southwestern Ontario with RBC, who provided the group with and son partnership of Ron and Bob Bennett. tips for financial planning and strategies.

Our tour was hosted by Bob, who provided This was a popular topic for the group, our group with a thorough breakdown of and Amanda was happy to answer questions the Bennett operation. He began the tour both during and after her presentation. with his feed storage bunker, with in-depth As our second speaker of the morning, information regarding the farm’s feeding we welcomed Dr. Jenna Funk, a veterinarian and record keeping systems that promote practicing with Metzger Veterinary Services. feed efficiency, followed by plenty of great Dr. Funk discussed the relevant topic of questions from the group. Bob also toured lameness in the beef cattle industry, strongly us through his barns, providing great pointing out that it is not always caused information to the participants they may by foot rot. She made sure to point out the find useful in the future. other common causes that can show up in Following the Bennett operation, we Ontario beef herds, and some of the most travelled to the Hoggart family farm, a coweffective ways to prevent and treat them. calf operation. Our tour was plenty of fun, Our speakers were followed by lunch, with the father and son team of Harvey allowing participants the chance to network and Dan taking us on a wagon ride around and learn more about the backgrounds and the farm. Dan discussed many different operations of their fellow attendees. It was aspects of the farm, ranging from rotational a great opportunity to learn more about grazing and land rentals to cattle genetics different aspects of the operations of young and succession planning. The Hoggart farm producers from across the province and the provided an excellent example of utilizing strategies they are using to help enhance the different resources available on-farm for their farms. After lunch, our group set out activities and projects. for the program’s farm tours looking forward We were happy to enjoy the evening at to an informative afternoon. the Hoggart farm with the Huron County The afternoon began at Bennett Wm & Beef Producers, who kindly sponsored Sons Farms Ltd, a feedlot run by the father and barbecued an Ontario Corn Fed Beef 12

O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

farms in Huron County. supper for us. It was an excellent, delicious opportunity for our young producers to network with beef farmers from across the province.

As we wrapped up dinner, the group made its way back to the hotel to begin work on their presentations for the next morning.

These presentations included information on the positive on-farm practices, what could be improved and how they would go about implementing those improvements.

These presentations provided a chance for participants to expand on current practices and apply their own ideas to different operations. It also allowed others to provide feedback and promote new ideas within the group.

BFO welcomed presentation judges Georgina Johnson – a feedlot operator in Perth County, James Byrne – OMAFRA Beef Specialist and Tim Prior – cow-calf producer, and owner/operator of Brussels Agri-Services to evaluate each presentation and award the winning team. The judges asked thoughtful questions, allowing the group to demonstrate what they learned from the previous day. Once each group had presented their findings, the judges had the

Fifteen young beef farmers participated in the 2019 Beef Youth Development Program. hard task to award the first place and second place teams.

While the judges deliberated, Kelly Daynard, executive director of Farm & Food

Care Ontario joined us to discuss positive approaches to deal with consumers. This was a very interesting topic, as consumer issues continue to grow within the industry

and it is important for our producers to understand and know how to deal with different situations.

The judges returned after much consideration to announce their winner. They provided excellent feedback for the participants to use in future presentations and discussions.

First place was awarded to Robert McKinlay and William Major. Second place was award to Meredith Closs, Laura Scott and Tom Aikins. All teams did a fantastic job providing excellent insight on each of the farms!

The BYDP was a great success again this year with young producers demonstrating their enthusiasm for the Ontario beef industry and the eagerness to take advantage of the resources available to them. They had the chance to meet and gain insight from established farmers, as well as network with other young producers from across the province. Thank you once again to all those who helped make this program possible and to our sponsors for the event. OB

ON TAR IO BEEF • AU GUST 2019

13

Rural Ramble

• B y Dan Ferguson, Manager of Producer Relations dan@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

A Springtime Escape T

his past spring was pretty busy on Centre Oak Farm. We prepared for our final on-farm wedding set for May 18, which required the calving cow herd to move out of the barnyard months earlier than usual. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise as my unassisted calving percentages went way up and my treatments went way down. But I was also forced to start a more committed rotational pasture protocol as per Jack Kyle, Tim Prior and Doug Gray recommendations, working with a roughly five-day limited acreage grazing period followed by a move. The biggest challenge this year is getting the newborns to stick at moms’ side for the move.

Worse case is when mom has calved and hidden the calf and 33G comes to mind.

My farm is not the tidy footprint of a Brussels demo farm and I have many natural hiding spots like overgrown fence bottoms, retired machinery, along with thorns, thistles and burdock. 33G, a two-day old calf had exceptional instincts to tuck and hide, and had hidden in deep grass just outside the

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O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

electric fence line by an old car. I noticed her as the herd was moving away to new grazing and thought she should join them before they went out of sight. At first, she played dead and wouldn’t rise but nestled lowered in the grass. Then, when I attempted to pick her up, she came wildly to life and took off under the fence wire, down the steep bank toward the moving cowherd on a wild-eyed gallop. Her mom, first calf heifer was along with all the other cows and more focused on the new lush grass, so was disinterested in this sprinting calf. The moose-eared calf pranced near the cattle but galloped in a wide circle to the east under another electric line and onto the sideroad a quarter mile away.

As I watched I thought she would swing back in the direction of her kind but she continued up the sideroad and out of sight behind trees. I jumped in my trusty Canyon and got on the sideroad tracking her erratic little hoof prints until they disappeared into the poison ivy and thorny ditch on the far side of the road a half a kilometre away from the cows. I had to go in and find her or the coyotes would. Knee deep in the poison patch, she suddenly jumped up out of nowhere on the dead run again and down the road, head held high and into faraway fields where no cattle can survive. I used the Canyon like a well-trained quarter horse and tried to turn her and cut her off from her mission

to escape protection. The calf was relentless and even bellowed at my truck with flared nostrils on one near miss. My Canyon created a midfield block once, so I leapt out and grasped her back leg. Her obvious vocalization should have brought the herd, but they were out of range. I was laying in the mud with her other feet flying around but I knew I couldn’t lose her as this was my one and only chance to save her. She was 90 pounds of fight and all I had to tie her up was my VBP+ vest in the Canyon. I “gently” wrapped her up and tried to calm both of us down as I positioned her on my passenger floorboard.

I retraced our trail to the disinterested and grazing-focused cow herd. I got her out of the truck and my vest but not before she left a generous fecal sample smeared on both. I held her firmly as we got over the 5,000 volt fence line without testing it and held her near the grazing cows for a few calming minutes. I faked a calf distress call to get the momma’s attention and released 33G near her mom.

Again, she bolted from the group and under the wire into the vacant pasture and was on a path toward the muddy field again. I was certain she had a death wish and decided the only way to save her was to eliminate her flight risk. I recaptured her, re-vested her, and she rode shot gun as I relocated her to the escape proof pen in the shed, or the maternity pen. This occurred on a Saturday afternoon. I was expected back in the house to clean up for a night out, but my patient wife understood how the cattle come first. Lucky for me, her elevated stress levels subsided without side effects and by 10:30 all was good. I am referring to the calf, as I made a check on her and her maternal mother had made her way to the maternity pen. I opened the gate, allowing her in and kept the pair there to bond and not bolt for three more days. They eventually reintegrated with the herd without issue.

A springtime escape sounds good, but it is not always the best plan. I was happy this one resulted in contentment, containment and a 33G that was not part of the wildlife damage compensation plan. OB

Sickle Farms Receive Award in Recognition of Environmental Stewardship 2019 Environmental Stewardship Award Recipient

T

his year’s Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) was presented to Steve Sickle, owner of Sickle Farms in St. George, Ontario. The award, sponsored by the RBC Royal Bank was presented to Steve and his wife, Amanda, at BFO’s 57th Annual General Meeting in Toronto in February.

Operating their family farm in the sandy loam hills of South Dumfries Township in Brant County, Sickle and his family own 350 acres, farm 900 acres and provide custom work for another 500 acres, while also pasturing 25 cow-calf pairs. The crop rotation includes corn, soybeans, wheat and hay, and almost always includes a cover crop to help prevent erosion.

Sickle has always been an early adopter and ambassador for soil and water conservation on his farm. They are practices that began with his father Bill in the 1970s and 80s – that Sickle continues and improves on today. Fencing the cattle out of the watercourses and wetlands on the farm, installing a solar powered water bowl on

the corner of three fields and transitioning to rotational grazing are just a few of the projects he has completed in the last 10 years.

An intensive cover crop and intercropping plan and no-till farming practices have also been implemented. All of these projects and plans have led to the improved resiliency of his crops and infiltration of his soil, and lend themselves well to Sickle’s belief that it is better to have living roots in the soil year-round.

“The forest never dies, so let’s not let the cropland ever die either,” says Sickle. “It seems like we’ve been leaving the farm in better shape with each generation. The land is what grows the crops, so let’s leave it better than we found it.”

Over the years, Sickle has taken advantage of funding through the Grand River Conservation Authority’s (GRCA) Rural Water Quality Program, and Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association’s Species-AtRisk Farm Incentive Program to implement a number of projects on the farm. Sickle

Steve (right) and Amanda (centre) Sickle of Sickle Farms in Brant County receive The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) at the 2019 BFO Annual General Meeting. Amanda Hammel presented the award on behalf of RBC Royal Bank.

Farms has had an Environmental Farm Plan in place for years, and he has held leadership roles with the local, regional and provincial Soil and Crop Improvement Associations, the Brant Federation of Agriculture and Brant Cattlemen’s Association. Sickle is also a member of the Ontario Soil Network and a former member of the Brant County Agricultural Advisory Committee. OB

ONTARIO ANGUS ASSOCIATION

Julie Townsend, Secretary-Treasurer P.O. Box 311, Fergus, Ontario N1M 3M7 Phone: 519-787-2397 • Fax: 519-787-2306 Email: secretary@ontarioangus.com • www.ontarioangus.com

ON TAR IO BEEF • AU GUST 2019

15

Industry Leaders Recognized with University of Guelph Alumni Awards B

FO congratulates two major award winners from Ontario’s beef industry that were recently recognized as part of the University of Guelph’s Awards of Excellence Gala on June 21, 2019.

Tony and Anne Arrell Founders of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph, Tony and Anne Arrell received the 2019 Alumni of Honour Award.

Tony, an investment analyst, established Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. in 1992 and serves as chairman of the board today.

Anne, a former secondary school teacher for the Hamilton and Toronto Boards of Education, played a significant supportive and advisory role in the development of Burgundy Asset Management. Together, Tony and Anne have honourably served their community and given generously of their time, talent

and financial support to numerous not-forprofit organizations, for which they are being honoured with this award of distinction.

The Arrells have actively farmed, running a cow-calf farm for more than 40 years in the Dundalk and Creemore areas of Ontario, spending their weekends and summers at the farm.

Nancy Brown Andison The University of Guelph Alumni Association awarded Nancy Brown Andison the 2019 Alumni Volunteer Award. With a distinguished career including national leadership positions at PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM Canada, Nancy made important contributions to policy and strategy relating to food, agriculture, forestry, environment, transportation and trade. Nancy holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Guelph, an

MBA from Queen’s University and is also a graduate of McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business. Outside of her role on the University of Guelph Board of Governors and Chair of the Finance Committee, Nancy’s aggie spirit shines through. She serves on the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF) Board of Directors, is chair of the RAWF’s Agriculture and Food Committee, volunteers as a guest speaker in OAC undergraduate classes, and is involved in the Brown Family of Glenrothes in Beaverton, Ontario who raise purebred registered Shorthorn beef cattle.

The Beef Farmers of Ontario values its relationship with the University of Guelph and commends the University of Guelph Alumni Association for its recognition of those who excel in their post-graduate work and volunteerism, and who contribute to the success of others. OB

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O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

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Where the Maple Leaf Flies: National Update

CCA Action News

By Gina Teel, CCA Communications Manager • teelg@cattle.ca • www.cattle.ca the global trade regime, among other issues.

CETA came into force nearly two years ago, and during that period Canada has seen increased beef exports to the EU, while CCA continues working to address issues that have restricted Canada’s ability to realize the full potential for beef access. On the positive side, beef exports to the EU are gaining traction, growing from 340 tonnes in 2016 to 1,059 tonnes in 2018, with 653 tonnes reported in the first five months of 2019.

During that same two-year period, EU beef exports to Canada have grown from 1,719 This summer, Prime Minister Justin tonnes in 2016 to 3,237 tonnes in 2018, Trudeau and International Trade and 2,641 tonnes in the first five months of Diversification Minister Jim Carr met with 2019. Despite the current 4:1 advantage for European Council President Donald Tusk, and the EU in volume exchange, the gap on value EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström is much narrower with the EU selling $18.9 for a two-day summit in Montreal to discuss million of beef to Canada in 2018 and Canada the Canada-European Union Comprehensive selling $15.5 million to the EU. It is also Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and significant to note the dynamics in Canada’s global beef trade in 2019 – global exports are up 18.5 per cent by volume and 31 per cent by value while global imports are down 16.3 per cent this year. In a context where increased exports and decreased imports combine for 41,000 fewer tonnes of beef available in the Canadian market, the growth in EU beef imports GLEN ISLAY MAGGIE 23F has little impact on Co-Top Selling Female with Glen Islay Pride 2F at the 2018 Blue Water Sale, both selling to Adam Irwin.

Canada’s domestic THIS YEAR, we are consigning two more outstanding heifer calves market, while at the including a maternal sister to 23F AND two very special Bred Heifers same time provides to the BLUE WATER ANGUS SALE on OCTOER 19.

Thank You to all our new and repeat customers for good political value purchasing our 2018 Bull Crop. for CCA’s efforts to We are already taking orders for this year’s bull calves. seek cooperation from NO ONE EVER REGRETTED BUYING QUALITY. EU policy makers and Visitors Welcome influencers.

DON & JEANNETTE CURRIE R R # 1, Nottawa, Ontario L0M 1P0 There is good Phone/Fax: 705-445-1526 reason to be

Exports to EU Increase as CCA Works to Realize Full Potential for Beef Access Under CETA

Cell: 705-715-2234 • Email: doncurrie@glenislay.com

18

O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

optimistic about increasing growth for Canadian beef in the EU. On a recent mission to Europe, CCA Executive Vice President Dennis Laycraft and Director of Government and International Relations John Masswohl met with representatives selling Canadian beef in Europe who reported that they have turned a corner from introducing EU meat buyers to the benefits of Canadian beef to now having beef as a regular product in several restaurants and retail chains in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Sweden.

They stressed that their main constraint to selling more Canadian beef in the EU is the limited supply of EU-eligible cattle in Canada.

Building that supply requires work on both sides of the Atlantic. In addition to encouraging more Canadian veterinarians to seek training from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to become authorized to oversee enrolment of more Canadian cattle in the existing Growth Enhancing Product (GEP) Free Program, CCA has also proposed creation of alternatives to the GEP-Free Program.

For example, there are approximately 400,000-500,000 beef and 200,000 dairy cull cows each year available that are GEPfree – but are unable to have a veterinarian fulfill the required sign-off that they have overseen animals their whole lives. The CCA also believes there is potential to utilize Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) auditors to oversee and certify young cattle as GEPfree for the EU. CCA’s proposals will have to be translated by the CFIA into workable protocols and then presented to EU officials for agreement that they provide robust assurance that such cattle meet the EU requirements.

To keep these issues moving forward, the CCA – directly and through the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) – sought to ensure that Prime Minister Trudeau and the European leaders would indeed place a priority on finding ways to increase trade at their recent meeting. The focus was on increasing the trade of agri-food products

that benefit both sides of the Atlantic and provide Canadian agri-food exporters with commercially viable access to the EU market to fulfill the promise of CETA. In advance of the Summit, CCA signed on to a CAFTA statement pressing this point, and Masswohl had the opportunity to speak directly with the Prime Minister and International Trade Diversification Minister Carr at a reception during the Summit. When speaking with Masswohl about beef exports, Prime Minister Trudeau was aware of the challenges and was emphatic in saying that we need to get the numbers up and that it is critical to not only sign agreements, but also to follow through on addressing the nontariff issues. Masswohl noted that there is work to do on both sides, to which the Prime Minister agreed.

CCA’s hope is that the Summit will deliver positive results for our proposals to take root and facilitate the further growth of beef trade with the EU.

China Update CCA has met with the federal Agriculture and Agri-Food and International Trade Ministers regarding the suspension of the issuance of Canadian meat export certificates to China on June 25, 2019. The Government of Canada is currently investigating the fraudulent export certificates for Canadian pork which led to the suspension.

CCA has been informed that the Government of Canada is in contact with Chinese officials daily to resolve and rectify the technical issue. The CCA will continue to work alongside the Government of Canada to resume stable trade as quickly as possible.

It remains unclear why beef products have been included in this suspension, however CCA’s understanding is that the suspension should be temporary.

Shipments of Canadian beef to China represented 2.6 per cent of Canada’s total beef exports last year. In 2018, Canadian beef exports to Mainland China were up 19 per cent in volume and 15 per cent in value at 10,300 tonnes valued at $97 million. In the first quarter of 2019, exports to Mainland China were up 445 per cent in volume and 428 per cent in value at 5,300 tonnes valued at $48 million.

CCA Priorities Document for the 43rd General Election Now Available Online

lands that contain both native and tame grasses and forages – providing 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon sequestration annually. The recognition of the value of these ecosystem services to society is an area of focus for CCA. Underpinning current and future progress will be enforceable rules-based trade. Also, it is the CCA’s view that any regulatory change affecting the industry in Canada be based in scientific evidence and utilize outcome-based guidelines that focus on the animal. Proper cattle care and welfare are paramount in the Canadian beef industry and producers understand science-based best practices are the best tool to ensure and safeguard animal welfare.

The beef industry is Canada’s largest agriculture sector, contributing $17 billion to GDP. Beef production supports strong rural communities and conservation outcomes from the agricultural landscape. With the right tools in place, Canada’s beef industry is well positioned to continue to grow the economy.

The CCA’s priorities document with information for all candidates running for Parliament in the upcoming 43rd General Election on October 21 is now available at www.cattle.ca. The document outlines CCA’s key recommendations to further position the beef industry as a key sector of sustainable growth in Canada. CCA’s recommended actions ensure the regulatory, access and environmental infrastructures are in place to enable the industry to successfully compete in and navigate through an increasingly fractious international trade system.

Specifically, CCA recommendations for the Government of Canada on trade include improving the capacity and efficiency of the industry through reducing regulatory burden and improving regulatory efficiencies; increasing access through trade advancements in current key markets including Asia for the 50 per cent of Canadian beef that is currently exported globally. The CCA also encourages the ratification of the Canada, U.S, Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) to further ease the flow of the beef trade in the highly integrated North American market.

Other priority areas of focus that will support the economic resiliency of Canada’s beef sector include increasing access to COMING SOON labour, adjusting the livestock tax deferral program and having a sufficiently funded Innovative technology. Made easy. and responsive business risk management suite.

In addition, Canadian beef producers protect and sustainably use 44.2 million acres of grasslands – perennial

Continued on page 20.

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Continued from page 19. – CCA

Action News

CCA Shares the Importance of CUSMA Ratification with Standing Committee on International Trade CCA Vice President, Bob Lowe, and CCA Director of Government and International Affairs, John Masswohl, appeared before the Standing Committee on International Trade recently to discuss Bill C-100, known formally as An Act to implement the Agreement Between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican States.

CUSMA, as the updated and modernized North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is known in Canada, will allow beef producers across the three countries to continue to thrive and the industry in turn, to maintain a positive impact on the Canadian economy.

The CCA strongly encourages the Government of Canada to swiftly progress CUSMA ratification. In his remarks to the committee, Lowe said the North American beef industry is a highly integrated market

and enables the ability to sell specific cuts of beef to the customer most willing to pay for it. Having access to markets around the world, including the North American market, means that each beef carcass is on average worth $602 more that it would be if sold only to the Canadian market, he noted.

The importance of CUSMA is illustrated through statistics gathered since the implementation of NAFTA. Under NAFTA, Canadian beef exports to the U.S. grew 300 per cent in total value to $2 billion in 2018 from $500 million in 1995. Similarly, beef exports to Mexico grew to $110 million in 2018 from $3.7 million in 1995. In addition, Canada exported 630,000 head of live cattle to the U.S. in 2018 worth approximately $1.2 billion, for a total amount of beef exports worth $3.2 billion per year.

CUSMA will also ensure the preservation of dispute resolution provisions that are vital to ensuring fair and transparent processes are in place for when disagreements arise.

Mexico was the first country to ratify the agreement. The new NAFTA will come into force the first day of the third month of all countries completing their respective

ratification process. In Canada, legislation to ratify the agreement was agreed to at second reading in the House of Commons and referred to the International Trade Committee.

The Liberals said they would recall Parliament over the summer if needed to get the bill passed. The path to ratification in the U.S. is a topic Prime Minister Trudeau indicated he would discuss with President Donald Trump.

CCA believes Canada is well positioned to grow the green economy and the continued free trade between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico increases our ability to do so. Other topics discussed with political leaders included trade and market access, agriculture and agrifood workforce shortages and the changes in the transportation of animals’ regulations.

Proper animal care and welfare is paramount in the beef industry and the CCA implores the Government of Canada to consider the scientific and outcome-based studies being conducted over the coming months.

The CCA will keep the priorities of cattle producers top of mind as the Parliament adjourns for the summer in the coming weeks. OB

!

CHECK-OFF DEDUCTION REMITTANCE FORM Every cattle seller (including sales by private treaty) is required under Regulation 54 of the Beef Cattle Marketing Act (BCMA) to pay a $3.00 per head Ontario license fee and a $1.00 per head national levy, for a total of a $4.00 per head check-off. Breeding stock, cull dairy cows, and beef calves are included. Exemptions exist only for cattle sold for the production of milk and veal. Fees are payable by the 15th of the month following deduction. Please note: Licenced Livestock Dealers who sell cattle within seven business days of having purchased them may apply for a rebate with proper documentation.

Firm or Individual Producer Reporting

Forward cheque payable to the Beef Farmers of Ontario with this report. Please retain one copy for your files.

HST Registration No: Period Covered by this Report: a) Number of Head Sold:

Finished:

Stocker:

Breeding Stock Females:

Culls:

Breeding Stock Bulls:

Calves:

I declare that this information represents a true and accurate statement of check-off deductions required to be made under Regulation 54 of the BCMA and the Canadian Beef Cattle Research Market Development and Promotion Agency.

b) Total BFO Check-off ($4.00xa)

Date:

c) HST on BFO Check-off (bx13%)

Signature:

d) Total Amount Owing (b+c)

Print Name: Mail to: Beef Farmers of Ontario 130 Malcolm Road Guelph, Ontario N1K 1B1

20

O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

Address:

HST# R107797128

Does How a Cow is Fed During Pregnancy Impact the Life-long Performance of her Calf?

Beef Fetal Programming Project is Underway at University of Guelph

By Lilian Schaer for Livestock Research Innovation Corporation

W

ork is underway at the University of Guelph to see whether the nutritional treatment of cows during the third trimester of pregnancy has any kind of impact on their calves. Researchers will follow the calves throughout their lives right until processing to assess their health, growth and other production parameters.

Specifically, they will be measuring the impact of protein and methionine supplementation on both cow performance and subsequent calf health and performance, Prof. Katie Wood told participants at the 2019 Beef Symposium this past winter.

“Fetal programming is a new way to think about how to manage beef cows and in this project we’re looking at what we can do to cows in the last two months before calving that might have positive benefits to the calves,” she said.

Approximately 60 cows at the University of Guelph’s research facility in New Liskeard and 150 cows at the Elora station were fed a series of applied treatments during the last eight weeks of gestation, calving in spring 2018.

In Elora, cows were fed a controlled diet matched to the individual animal to meet their energy requirements but with varying levels of protein: 10 per cent under their requirements, at their required needs and 10 per cent above requirements. Each group was then split again, with half of the animals also receiving a methionine amino acid supplement.

“Feeding an animal amino acids might mean we can get away with feeding a bit less protein,” she said.

“You can maybe feed a lower total protein diet but still benefit from increased absorption and use; this could reduce nitrogen emissions and may be a cheaper way to supplement protein.”

The heifers and steers from those cows are now on trials at Guelph for long-term performance evaluation and will be finished later this summer; final results on calf performance are expected this coming winter.

To date, preliminary results have shown that cows getting only 90 per cent of their protein requirement but with a ration supplemented by methionine seemed to perform as well as those animals receiving

protein at or above requirements. By and the University of Guelph research comparison, the cows at 90 per cent protein partnership with the Ontario Ministry of but without methionine lost body weight.

Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) According to Wood, methionine are funding this fetal programming study. supplementation is already used in the dairy It’s a project that is tied closely to the industry, and although it hasn’t been used construction of the new beef research facility much to date by beef farmers, the cost is in Elora, Wood said, as funding for the study relatively inexpensive. has enabled the purchase of some top of the “We are looking at about 20 cents per line research equipment for the barn that animal per day so if we’re pressed up against will allow data to be captured on individual nutrient-loading rules, this could be a way to animals instead of just on groups of cattle. reduce nitrogen losses,” she said, adding this “We are very excited to have a new worldwould also depend on the cost of soybean class research facility to be able to improve meal and dried distillers’ grains (DDGs). all aspects of beef production, including The research team did see some interesting continuing research on fetal programming in results on the colostrum side: cows fed beef cows,” she said. OB methionine had lower urea levels in their This article is provided by Livestock colostrum, and their calves showed lower Research Innovation Corporation as part of total protein and Immunoglobulin G (more LRIC’s ongoing efforts to report on Canadian commonly called IgG for short) levels. IgG is livestock research developments and responsible for passive immunity. outcomes.

“We’re still looking into why we are seeing these results, 17TH ANNUAL but what might be happening is that the cows are keeping the protein themselves and putting less into the colostrum,” Wood said.

“Our Saturday, September 14, 2019 – 1:00pm results are really At Maple Hill Auctions, Hanover, Ontario interesting because they show that cow (located on Bruce Rd. # 4 between Hanover & Walkerton) diet in late gestation INCLUDING GENETICS FROM can have a major Norwood Family Farm, Vail View Farms, impact on colostrum composition.”

MacCrostie Livestock, Brooksland Farms, Colostrum not only Maple Key Farm, Far-L Farms, contains antibodies Locust Hill Farms, Dobbie Simmentals, important for passive Rovin Acres, Waydamar Farms, Kade Earley, immunity, but also many other growth Weppler Cattle Co., Bar 5 Stock Farms, factors and bioactive Car-Laur Simmentals components, which may also have an For more information contact impact on future calf health and growth.

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CELEBRATI

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BEE ZEE ACRES Mary Anne & Bill Zwambag RR #4, Glencoe, ON N0L 1M0 519-287-3219

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Co-Operators Insurance Company Limousin365.com.

RAIL LINE FARMS Paul and Brad MacIntyre 221 Bruce County Rd. 1 RR #3, Lucknow, ON N0G 2H0 519-528-2423 pcmacintyre@hurontel.on.ca

SMART LIMOUSIN Garry and Sheila Smart 137606 Grey Road 12 RR#2, Meaford, ON N4L 1W6 519-538-4877 www.smartlimousin.com

NEW LIFE LIMOUSIN 261269 Conc. 18 Hanover, ON N4N 3B8 519-270-5415 New.life.limousin@gmail.com

TOP MEADOW FARMS RR # 1, Clarksburg, ON N0H 1J0 519-599-6776

Ontario Limousin Association

Mike Geddes, President • Phone: 519-502-8864

WINDY GABLES LIMOUSIN Bryce & Nathan Allen RR #4, Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0 705-924-2583

Check out our Website for LimoNews: www.ontariolimousin.com ON TAR IO BEEF • AU GUST 2019

23

OMAFRA Update

•B y Barry Potter, Regional Economic Development Branch – Agriculture Development Advisor, North Region, New Liskeard, OMAFRA www.omafra.on.ca

Starting a Beef Farm F

or the past few years, a good portion of my time has been spent working with Beef Farmers of Ontario to promote northern Ontario as a viable place to start beef farming.

Those involved with the Beef North program have had many calls from people interested in starting a farm. But how do you go about starting a farm?

A study of beef farms in northern Ontario and Quebec provides some examples of different farm start-up situations.

OMAFRA Beef Farm Start-up Study Results

24

O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

The simplest solution to starting a farm is to be born on one – almost half of the beef farmers in our study had a family farm transferred to them. However, nearly 20 per cent of all farms in Ontario, and a third of the farms in Quebec started from scratch.

In between inheriting and scratching to start out, around 20 per cent purchased an ongoing operation.

Make a Plan Whatever method you use, starting with a strong business plan sets a base for planning and development of a farm. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has a business information bundle designed to provide the information needed to get your farming operation off on the right foot, or hoof.

In northern Ontario, the most common question we get is, “where is the free money?”

Upon learning that there is no “free money” to start a farm, some of the tire kickers quickly depart. There is some government programming that could help with purchasing some assets, but there is a lot of work and thought required, and a strong business case must be developed before any funding is accessed.

OMAFRA has many resources to assist you as you triage or develop your farm plans.

Several factsheets included in our business information bundle provide guidance on business planning.

So why is it important to have a strong business plan? A business plan is a critical management tool for the creation or expansion of any business. It is a game plan – a concise, written record of objectives and how to obtain them. It describes, at a minimum, a product or service, customers, competition, management and financial arrangements.

It should also outline production and marketing plans.

Planning is essential to: • Define goals • S et benchmarks to record and compare progress • Provide essential documentation that is typically required by financial institutions and for agricultural government assistance programs

Do Your Research Information on starting a farm in northern Ontario is available on OMAFRA’s website. Click on the link to Growing the Agri-Food Sector in northern Ontario: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/ northernagrifood/ed.htm.

There are many resources, including a link to an OMAFRA course called “How to start a farm in northern Ontario.” This course consists of eight modules, providing information on farming in the north. More than 250 people have signed up for this free course in the last year.

You can also access general information about starting a farm in Ontario by going to

the Agriculture Business Management page on OMAFRA’s agriculture section of the site.

There you will find resources to help with a decision tree of what type of farm to operate.

6.

Am I prepared to work long hours and weekends to make the farm work?

Ask Questions

8. Is this the right time to start a farm based on my life and on the industry?

Farming can be a good business and a wonderful lifestyle. But asking yourself some basic questions before embarking on this adventure is important.

1. What are the main reasons I want to own and/or operate a farm in Ontario?

2. What are the pros and cons of starting a new farm?

3. Do I have the personal and business skills to take on the challenges and opportunities that are required of a farmer? And if not, am I willing to seek out the necessary advice and skills?

4.

Does my personality suit the farming lifestyle that often includes waiting several years to see a return on investment?

5. If necessary, am I prepared to lower my standard of living to start the farm?

7.

How will I handle the seasonality of farm work?

9.

Have I discussed my farming idea or proposed plan with an advisor and considered any advice?

10. Do my family and/or friends support my interest in farming and will they support me in becoming a farmer?

In the northern beef study, two-thirds the Ontario beef farmers had more than 25 years experience in beef farming. A strong suggestion for new farmers is to observe how current farmers are surviving in the geographical area you want to farm in and emulate the good points of their operation.

Finding a mentor can make all the difference between making big mistakes or learning from someone who has “been there and done that.”

Continued on page 26.

ON TAR IO BEEF • AU GUST 2019

25

Continued from page 25. – Starting

a Beef Farm

Get to Know the Land Beef cow-calf operations typically operate with low margins. One of my mentors, beef specialist Tom Hamilton, always said a cowcalf farmer should be a low cost operator but use as much technology as makes economic sense.

Different production models require different amounts of investment. But beef cows require significant amounts of land for grazing and for the production of forages required to feed them during non-grazing periods. Estimates of total acres per cow-calf pair in Ontario conditions range from five to eight acres.

26

O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

Once you have decided where in the province you wish to start a farm, understanding what type of farmland you are buying can be very beneficial.

OMAFRA Agmaps, a GIS portal, has layers of information showing soil type, drainage, topography, etc. You can find out a lot about a property with some investigative work.

Actually being on the ground and physically observing the farm, even soil testing the fields before purchasing, can provide some further information. I once had a client buy a farm in the north in January when the ground was frozen and snow covered, move all his cows to the site, and when spring thaw occurred, found out his farm was a major swamp.

I suggest reviewing the Environmental Farm Plan and Nutrient Management Strategy if they exist.

Obtaining as much information as possible before purchasing a farm not only helps with understanding your farm, but helps build a business plan.

In the end, there are many different ways to start a farm. Spending time to think through your life goals, develop a business plan and review potential opportunities will increase the likelihood of a successful start-up. OB

Vet on Call

• By Dr. Katharine Found, DVM

Reducing the Risk of Ringworm S

ummer is here, and for many families that means preparing calves for 4-H shows and county fairs.

With all of the time and effort put into getting cattle ready for the show, the last thing anyone wants to discover is ringworm. It causes little, if any permanent damage or economic loss, however it can derail any and all plans for a successful show season. Preventing infection is key and that involves adhering to strict biosecurity protocols.

Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin caused by Trichophyton verrucosum, and is one of the most commonly diagnosed skin conditions in cattle. It is highly contagious and spreads quickly and easily between animals, as well as to humans. Ringworm is most commonly seen in younger animals, but can appear in susceptible adult cattle as well, if their immunity has been compromised for some reason.

Fungal spores from an infected animal can spread to another animal through direct contact with that infected animal, but they can also remain viable on objects such as headlocks, gates, mangers, combs and brushes, halters, and even hands and clothing of human handlers. If an uninfected animal rubs up against any of these objects that harbour the fungal spores, the fungus becomes established on the skin of the susceptible animal and infiltrates the hair follicles. These spores are very hardy and can remain viable, and a source of infection, in a dry environment for many years.

How it Develops The classic ringworm lesions develop about three weeks after the animal is exposed. The spores germinate and attack the shafts of the hair and the surface layer of the skin. Exudate oozes from the damaged skin and mixes with skin and hair debris to form a crusty scab.

The scab is usually raised in the centre and then the infection spreads outwards in a circular pattern. Lesions are generally less than five centimetres in diameter, but can appear bigger when adjacent lesions overlap.

It is most common to find lesions on the head and neck areas, but in severe cases they can be found all over the body. As time progresses, the scab will fall off or crust away, leaving a 28

O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

hairless, thickened patch of scaly gray lesions, which is extremely itchy. This leads to the animal using posts or gates to rub on to relieve the itch, which allows the spores to transfer to those objects and increases the likeliness of more animals coming in contact with them.

It’s a vicious cycle of infection!

The good news is that once an animal becomes infected and clears the infection (which can take at least one to four months), immunity in most animals is lifelong. This is why adult cattle rarely show clinical signs of ringworm, despite encountering the fungus just as often. Young animals, less than six months of age are most susceptible because of a lack of previous exposure (unable to build an immunity) and a still somewhat inefficient immune system. If ringworm infections are happening in older animals, or re-occurring in animals, management issues are often to blame. Overcrowding, poor nutrition, mineral deficiencies or other ongoing disease pressures can also lead to ringworm outbreaks in a herd. And finally, environmental factors such as hot, humid climates; calves kept indoors or exposed to foggy weather with little or no sunlight can also allow the spores to germinate and multiply easily and rapidly.

No Treatment Options The bad news is, there is no good treatment for cattle. The disease will eventually resolve without treatment. Sunlight, keeping the area dry and adequate levels of vitamin A in the diet may help to speed up the healing process, but the more important management decisions should revolve around trying to keep it from spreading. Various solutions, including betadine, chlorhexidine, diluted bleach as well as antifungal ointments, are sometimes used.

For these to be effective, however, crusts and scales overlying the active infection must be removed by brushing, scraping or scrubbing prior to applying the topical solutions. Alternatively, griseofulvin, an oral anti-fungal, can be fed to animals, but is expensive and therefore may be impractical.

More essential treatment is to analyze and correct the underlying management issues that need to be addressed that are leading to the issue in the first place. This is where your veterinarian can help to provide guidance and advice.

If your animals do show signs of the condition, the infected animal should be isolated to prevent contact with others and

potential spread. When handling infected animals be sure to wear gloves and wash your hands and clothing before dealing with uninfected animals. Ringworm is zoonotic so improved hygiene is necessary to prevent human handlers from contracting the infection.

Managing Exposure Like most things in veterinary medicine, prevention is the goal. Improve biosecurity by limiting the purchase of new animals, especially if they show signs of ringworm.

Disinfect pens and handling equipment routinely, and certainly after an infected animal has had contact. Disinfect halters and any grooming equipment used on cattle, even if used on cattle that do not show signs of infection. Most common disinfectants can be used, including chlorine bleach. If animals are going to a show, prevent contact with animals from other farms and do not share equipment while at the show. If your animals are showing any signs of a ringworm infection, they should not leave the farm. The risk of exposing the trailer, all other animals on the trailer and all other animals at the fairgrounds, only to be sent home immediately at the time of vet check/trailer inspection, is simply not worth it. When a show animal arrives back home on the farm, it should be isolated once again to ensure it does not start showing signs of ringworm, due to unintended exposure when it was out and about.

Talk with your veterinarian about the prevention steps that are necessary on your farm and with your animals. If your animal does develop signs of ringworm prior to the show season, devise a plan that aims to speed healing and discuss a plan for determining at what point the lesions are no longer active so the animal can go back to a show. Usually this involves, at minimum, the presence of new hair growth through the lesion. Create a plan of attack to minimize ringworm outbreaks throughout the rest of the herd as necessary.

Just because a disease doesn’t pose a welfare or economical risk, doesn’t mean it should be ignored. Tackling the issue head on, being aware of the potential causes and having prevention measures in place will help to minimize the problem in your cattle, as well as relieve emotional and mental stress on your family, so you can enjoy the show season and all of the hard work you put in to get there! OB

ON TAR IO BEEF • AU GUST 2019

29

By Jasper Munro, AgSights Manager of Research and Innovation jmunro@agsisghts.com • www.agsights.com

VO LUM E 12 • I SSUE 3

Death and Taxes

Insights

Y

30

ou’re going to to see a new face writing these articles, so it may be a fitting start to hear a younger, “greener” face’s take on the livestock industry. It’s a rather interesting time to enter or consider entering this industry and many questions begin to fly through one’s head. With a cow herd that has continued to shrink over the past 10 to 15 years, a young producer can’t help but sit there and wonder…

(1) is this industry sustainable? (2) Will this industry grow? But maybe most importantly, (3) in an industry full of change what is certain?

If you asked these questions to a typical beef farmer what answers would you get? I wouldn’t be surprised to hear (1) maybe, (2) no, and (3) death and taxes.

Well that’s a positive start. But the good news is that with the fast pace at which this industry continues to change – more engaged consumers, pressure from animal rights groups, growing competition, other conventional and alternative protein markets, and the unknown wonder (or to some monster) of advancing technologies – it is difficult to rely on our past to predict our future. However, if we look close enough at these industry trends, there is an underlying driver – data.

We often hear the term “the consumer is always right.” We may not always agree with the consumer, but that is where our demand comes from and we should strive to meet their wants and needs. And they want to know the story of their food. This is already happening in more integrated protein industries or alternative protein industries where information travels more easily and at a lower cost from the producer to the consumer, compared to the beef industry.

How will the beef industry respond? The good news is technology is here to help make this possible, but cost will remain key. We can argue till the cows come home if the emerging markets of organic, non-GMO, raised without antibiotics, locally grown, natural or “fake meat” are here to stay or whether they are just fads. But the fact is that price still remains the major factor in a consumer’s buying decision.

O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

What happens when plant-based meat is cheaper than the beef we raise? Many of us don’t see these emerging competitors as a threat, but I’m not sure we should be so naïve.

Take a look at chicken. Since 1991 chicken demand has been greater than beef and they continue to head in opposite directions, due in large part to the price tag. So, as we work to better connect our industry to the consumer through data, we must remember that price is a key demand driver.

This movement to data has already started and for proof you need to look no further than the golden arches. It is encouraging to see large retailers such as McDonalds promote Canadian farmers. To do so, they need information, as agreed to through the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB), to use as a backing to their verified product claims. These claims are likely to become a new standard and not just a whim.

These initiatives can also serve as an entry point into the world of data, where tools such as Go360|bioTrack can be used to capture CRSB and VBP+ information along with production and reproductive records that create value for your business. But where will the beef industry go from here?

In 10 years we could be sitting in our electric self-driving F-150, watching our cows graze on fenceless pastures, where we can see, in real time, the entire diet they are eating come across our Google Glasses. While at the same time, we’re receiving a notification that the robot just finished feeding our 4,000 head feedlot, ceiling cameras are measuring cattle weight and body composition that a pen robot uses to sort cattle based on the real time needs of five specialized meat markets we service, and where they blend our beef 50:50 with lab-cultured meat.

Think it’s possible? Anything is possible but two things are for sure – (1) the future will include beef, and (2) this future will depend on data. Sure sounds better than death and taxes.

Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off Agency Update T

he Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency (the Agency) is focusing on the proper remittance and collection of check-off across the country this year, and the Agency’s three federally-appointed inspectors recently completed a live training audit with the help of Gateway Livestock Marketing Ltd. (GLM).

The half-day training audit was conducted on April 24 in Taber, Alberta at GLM’s head office, after a day of learning more about cattle dealers and marketing companies.

GLM’s Chief Financial Officer Richard Sargent provided beneficial insight for the Agency’s inspectors to better understand the transactions that occur, and the records available through the chain of custody of beef cattle in Canada.

“The audit went very smoothly and professionally,” says Sargent. “The inspectors were able to pinpoint a few examples of remittance changes that may even create efficiencies in our own internal processes. We were happy to help the Agency learn more about our business.”

The Agency’s lead inspector Brad McCallum was pleased with the training audit process and results.

“Conducting a live audit on actual dealer and broker transactions on cattle in Canada helps us become more in tune with the records available to us during audits, and working closely with Richard at GLM before, during and after, helped us improve

our process with input from the client side,” says McCallum.

The Agency’s inspectors are confident all check-off was collected and remitted appropriately.

“Training audits provide our inspectors insight into the records and transactions available in different regions, and to help promote the appropriate collection and remittance of check-off in Canada,” says Melinda German, general manager of the Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency.

Going forward, the Agency will be conducting additional audits, both to increase the depth of knowledge of inspectors, and to ensure check-off is being deducted and remitted appropriately. With two inspectors stationed in Alberta and one in Nova Scotia, the Agency can focus on regional remittance and work directly with the provincial associations to include any provincial service charges or check-off audits in conjunction.

“Producers expect a strong return in research and marketing for their investment, and we want the administration of the checkoff, like auditing and inspecting for proper remittance and collection, to provide value too,” says German. “Every dollar we can help get remitted properly can bring $14 in benefits to Canadian producers.”

Provincial check-off or service fees are administered by the provincial cattle associations in each province and are primarily invested in provincial programming and policy or lobby work. The national checkoff, administered by the Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency, is invested in research, market development and promotion activities with national benefit.

Over the next year, the Agency will continue working with the provincial cattle associations to identify areas where collection and remittance may need additional attention, and to increase the awareness of check-off collection and remittance procedures across the country.

The Agency would like to extend a sincere thank you to GLM for hosting the inspectors.

For more information about the collection and remittance of checkoff in Ontario or across the country, visit www.ontariobeef.com/about/check-off or the Agency’s website at www.cdnbeefcheckoff.ca. OB

LOOK FOR GALLOWAYS AT YOUR LOCAL FAIRS THIS FALL.

Eastern Canadian Galloway Association For additional information, please visit our website: www.easterncanadiangalloway.ca

ON TAR IO BEEF • AU GUST 2019

31

Beef Brief

•B y Michele McAdoo, Executive Director, Brand & Communications, Canada Beef

Canada Beef Update

CBCE Brings Together Young Ranchers and Chefs to Create #CDNbeef Champions Earlier this year, the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence (CBCE) brought together the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders (CYL) and the Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship program to provide participants with a completely different experience as they explored the Canadian Beef Advantage together.

Pairing the next generation of great Canadian chefs with young beef producers will help to develop peer relationships between the groups as they learn about beef and culinary perspectives from each other.

The three-day event in June included multiple opportunities for the young chefs to learn why Canadian beef is a superior product and how it is raised by producers who are passionate about what they do.

The group toured ranching operations, and heard from environmental experts, including representatives from Ducks Unlimited, soil

and forage champion Doug Wray, and wild plant expert Julie Walker.

As food influencers, chefs have an opportunity to help tell the Canadian beef story. Through building relationships with future chef leaders like the Hawksworth group, Canada Beef hopes to find more champions for Canadian beef. The goal of the program was to demonstrate to the Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship group the passion for the product and love of the land that Canadian beef producers possess.

Highlights of the event were captured and promoted on Canada Beef’s social platforms.

The Hawksworth team took over the @LoveCDNbeef Instagram account and used Instagram stories to highlight the ranch tour, pasture walk, chili competition and beef innovation sessions at the CBCE facility.

John Baker of Ontario Corn Fed Beef presented an educational seminar along

CBCE Presents at Canadian Chef Federation

Canada Beef Collaborates with Ontario Independent Meat Processors

The CBCE culinary team, Chef Mathieu Pare and Chef Cameron Pappel, attended the CCFCC conference in Niagara in May. The team worked with the Ontario Corn Fed Beef program to promote Canadian beef using their products for butchery ideation sessions. The attendees were chefs from the Canadian Chef Federation and the World Chef Federation. Members of these associations include industry professionals working in food service, product and service representatives, and culinary educators.

with Jack Chaffe (Canada Beef Committee member). The CBCE also highlighted culinary innovation samples and Canada Beef resources through product showcase trade show.

Canada Beef has aligned with Ontario Independent Meat Processors (OIMP) to provide additional value to members of OIMP through value-added Canadian Beef tools – access to the Canadian Beef Interactive Carcass, Canadian Beef elearn program, Marketing Library and Round Up app. These resources will assist smaller processors and retailers to tell the powerful Canadian beef story, and to help guide and support them in communication and marketing initiatives.

RED BALDY HEIFERS AVAILABLE F1 RED ANGUS X HEREFORD Bred to a calving ease Red Angus bull Red Vancise Cool 733D. (Seen in picture) Heifers have been exposed since June 5/19 Also Available Private Treaty: Red Angus Bulls and Females

VANCISE CATTLE COMPANY INC.

John Vancise Jr. • 705 351 2442 • johnvancise4@hotmail.com • Stayner, ON 32

O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

National Education Pasture to Plate Event for Gordon Food Service The Canada Beef team recently hosted an educational session with Gordon Food Service (GFS) sales members. This event was held in collaboration with Certified Angus Beef. The two-day pasture-to-plate learning experience

included a tour of Cudlobe Ranch, Cargill High River and Cattleland Feedlot in Strathmore, Alberta, as well as a product innovation and sampling session at the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence. The goal of the program was to provide the GFS sales team with an understanding of how Canadian beef is raised and provide fact-based information to allow them the ability to effectively communicate and build strong marketing programs.

“I can tell you that even after 28 years selling in the foodservice industry with GFS in BC, I still learned some valuable information on this trip to take back to my peers and customers,” says Andrew Maclaren, District Sales Rep., GFS.

New Nutrition Tab on Think Beef Website In light of the “plant-based” media storm, the Think Beef team has beefed up (pun intended) ThinkBeef.ca with a new nutrition tab. This section includes information on the nutrients beef champions, such as protein and iron, other vitamins and minerals, and other beefy benefits.

This new nutrition tab has the most up-to-date information, all revised to be complementary with the new food guide recommendations. So, if you want to know what claims you can make about beef, this is the place to learn more and understand the benefits of beef nutrition.

Increased Canadian Beef Interest with Japanese Media Capitalizing on the extensive media interest in Canadian beef resulting from the implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade agreement, Canada Beef International Institute Japan (CBII) invited media to a seminar supported by and conducted at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo on April 23, 2019.

Thirteen representatives from newspapers, food magazines and industry newspapers attended the seminar. In addition to the presentation made on the Canada Beef Advantage by CBII/Yuko Onizawa, representatives from Cargill, JBS and Global Vision (sole importer of veal from Montpak) also made presentations on the benefits of the CPTPP tariff reductions and their individual companies, their presence in Japan and the world, and promotional messages for their products.

There is significant media and public interest in Canadian beef as a result of the CPTPP, and the surge in exports is both a result and a cause of this heightened interest.

The purpose of this event (the first time CBII Japan has conducted such a seminar), was to convey to media the Canadian beef advantages for quality and food safety (100 per cent tracking, among other attributes), the export situation, and the companies exporting Canadian beef to Japan.

CBII handed out materials on the brief overview of Canada’s meat inspection system provided by the Canadian Embassy that contained information on Japan’s reviews of age restriction on beef.

Messages successfully conveyed included the Canadian Beef Advantage, the heightened interest in increased trade generated by the CPTPP and the integrated support provided

by CBII Japan, packers, the Canadian Embassy and the CFIA. OB

SMALL COMMERCIAL SHORTHORN HERD FOR SALE Cattle ranging in age from 1 year old to 8 year old.

Generations of AI breeding with a wide variety of top bulls.

Cattle have been worked with often and are quiet to work with.

Calving for next year would range from March to August bred to Shorthorn and Red Angus.

Contact Charles McAlear • 17145 County Rd. • St. Andrews West, Ont. (Cornwall area)

613-938-6588 • csmcalear@hotmail.com

ON TAR IO BEEF • AU GUST 2019

33

2019 FALL STOCKER SALES

Schedules are subject to change given the conditions of the industry. Please call the sale contact or check the BFO website www.ontariobeef.com – Market Info – Stocker Sales – Ontario Fall Sales or Northern Sales – to confirm details.

Date

Time

Location

# Head

Kind

Aylmer Stockyards Inc. Barn - 519-765-2672

Jim Doan - 519-777-9389, Mike VanNoord - 519-808-0904

aylmerstockyards@amtelecom.net • www.aylmerstockyards.ca Regular sales every Wednesday at 12:00 noon.

Fall stocker sales to be announced at a later date. For updates, visit www.aylmerstockyards.ca Brussels Livestock Sales Barn - 519-887-6461, Mark Ferraro - 519-492-0181 Matt Ferraro - 519-313-0583, Kevin McArter - 519-357-0594, info@brusselslivestock.ca www.brusselslivestock.ca Regular stocker sales every Friday at 10:00 am.

Oct 12

10:00 am

Brussels

4H Show and Sale

Oct 16

7:00 pm

Brussels

Bred Cow-Calf Sale

Oct 25

10:00 am

Brussels

Vaccinated Stockers & Hereford Influence Sale

Nov 8

10:00 am

Brussels

Vaccinated Stockers & Angus Influence Sale

Nov 20

7:00 pm

Brussels

Bred Cow-Calf Sale

Cargill Auction Market Inc. Brian Kirkland - 519-797-1668

Alan Anstett - 519-366-2214 Calvin Anstett - 519-881-6623

Regular sales every Wednesday at 7:00 pm - Stockers and Feeders.

Date

Time

Location

# Head

Denfield Livestock Sales Ltd. (continued)

Nov 2

11:00 am

Denfield

Kind Stan Rees - 519-666-1140 Cell: 519-871-5968

Local Calf Sale – No cows please

Nov 16 11:00 am Denfield

Stocker & Bred Cows & Cow-Calf pairs

Nov 23 11:00 am Denfield

Special Bred Cows & Cow-Calf pairs ONLY

Dec 7 11:00 am Denfield

Stocker & Bred Cows & Cow-Calf pairs - final clean up sale

Embrun Livestock ottawalivestock@bellnet.ca

Steve Spratt: 613-821-2634 or 613-822-1351 www.ottawalivestockexchange.ca

Regular sales every Monday – Embrun Livestock Exchange @ 12:30 pm. Dates for special Stocker Sales and Bred Cow sales for the fall will be posted at www.ottawalivestockexchange.ca or by calling the Auction Market at 613-821-2634 or visiting the BFO website listed above.

Kawartha Lakes Community Sale Barn Inc. Sale Barn: 705-439-4444 Fax: 705-439-3145 www.klcauction.ca email: klc@xplornet.com Regular stocker sales and bred cow sales call: Bruce Woodrow - 705-879-0507

Kevin Barker - 705-878-2947 Peterborough Sales - Wayne Telford - 705-292-9531 Purebred Sales - Glen Kerry - 905-852-6887 Regular sales every Saturday.

Sept 25

10:00 am

Woodville

KLC Stocker Sale

Oct 2

10:00 am

Woodville

KLC Stocker Sale

Oct 9

10:00 am

Woodville

KLC Stocker Sale

Oct 16

10:00 am

Woodville

KLC Stocker Sale

Oct 23

10:00 am

Woodville

KLC Stocker Sale

Oct 30

10:00 am

Woodville

KLC Stocker Sale

Nov 6 10:00 am Woodville 1,000

Peterborough Cattlemen/ Victoria Beef Farmers Certified Calf Sale – 100% Vaccinated

Nov 13

KLC Stocker Sale

10:00 am

Woodville

Nov 20 10:00 am Woodville 750

Peterborough Cattlemen/ Victoria Beef Farmers – 500 calves & 250 yearlings, 90% vaccinated

Sept 6 7:00 pm Cargill

Char. & Exotic Cross Yearlings – Steers & Heifers

Sept 27 7:00 pm Cargill

Char. & Exotic Cross Yearlings – Steers & Heifers

Nov 27

7:00 pm

Woodville

Bred Cow Sale

Oct 4 7:00 pm Cargill

Char. & Exotic Cross Yearlings – Steers & Heifers

Dec 11

10:00 am

Woodville

KLC Stocker Sale

Jan 15 ’20 10:00 am

Woodville

KLC Stocker Sale

Oct 25

7:00 pm

Cargill

Local calf sale

Nov 1

7:00 pm

Cargill

Local calf and yearling sale

Carson’s Farms & Auction Services David Carson & Brad Carson - 519-291-2049

Oct 28 1:00 pm Listowel 600

info@davidcarson.on.ca www.davidcarson.on.ca Fall Stocker Sale – All preconditioned, bunk – adjusted, age verified, various breeds.

Live video day of sale at www.davidcarson.on.ca. See website early October for list of consigned stockers.

Community Livestock Exchange (Hoard’s Station) Dave DeNure - 705-653-3660 Sponsored by: Quinte Cattlemen’s Association Brad DeNure - 705-653-8763 Regular sales every Tuesday. www.hoardsstationsalebarn.com Quinte Sales Contact - Denton Meiklejohn - 613-395-2008 Email - dentlynnefarms@yahoo.ca Farm fresh cattle only!

Feb 12 ’20 10:00 am Woodville 900

Peterborough Cattlemen/ Victoria Beef Farmers, Stockers 90% vaccinated

Mar 18 ’20 10:00 am

Woodville

KLC Stocker Sale

Apr 15 ’20 10:00 am

Woodville

KLC Stocker Sale

May 6 ’20 10:00 am Woodville 1,000

Peterborough Cattlemen/ Victoria Beef Farmers, Stockers 90% vaccinated

May 13 ’20 10:00 am

Woodville

KLC Stocker Sale

May 20 ’20 10:00 am

Woodville

KLC Stocker Sale

May 27 ’20 10:00 am

Woodville

Keady Livestock Market Ltd. Garry Kuhl - 519-934-1626 www.keadylivestock.com

KLC Stocker Sale Sales Barn Scott Kuhl Tom McNabb Marvin Weppler

-

519-934-2339 519-477-2339 519-794-3072 519-477-1016

Sept 20 11:00 am Campbellford 700

90% Vaccinated, catalogued – Farm Fresh

Regular Stocker Sales every Tuesday at 9:00 am. All cattle on ONS & fully catalogued. Check website for details.

Note Tuesday, October 29 is not a regular cattle sale.

Oct 18 11:00 am Campbellford 700

100% Vaccinated, catalogued – Farm Fresh

Sept 27 9:00 am Tara

Grass yearling steers & heifers selling ONS

Nov 29 11:00 am Campbellford 700

Calf Sale – 100% Vacc, catalogued – Farm Fresh

Oct 4 9:00 am Tara

Grass yearling steers & heifers selling ONS

Jan 17 ’20 11:00 am Campbellford 800

100% Vaccinated, catalogued – Farm Fresh

Oct 11 9:00 am Tara

Grass yearling steers & heifers selling ONS

Mar 13 ’20 11:00 am Campbellford 700

90% Vaccinated, catalogued – Farm Fresh

Oct 18 9:00 am Tara

Grass yearling steers & heifers selling ONS

May 1 ’20 11:00 am Campbellford 900

100% Vaccinated, catalogued – Farm Fresh

Denfield Livestock Sales Ltd.

Stan Rees - 519-666-1140 Cell: 519-871-5968

Oct 26 9:00 am Tara 1,000 - 1,200

Bruce Peninsula Charolais Calf Club vaccinated & presorted calves

Oct 29 9:00 am Tara 1,000 - 1,200

Georgian Bay Charolais Calf Club, mainly Char., vaccinated & presorted calves

Regular sales every Tuesday at 12:00 noon.

Sept 21 11:00 am Denfield

Stocker & Bred Cows & Cow-Calf pairs

Oct 31 9:00 am Tara 800 - 1,000

Bluewater Black Calf Sale – vaccinated & presorted calves

Oct 5 11:00 am Denfield

Stocker & Bred Cows & Cow-Calf pairs

Oct 19 11:00 am Denfield

Stocker & Bred Cows & Cow-Calf pairs

Nov 2 9:00 am Tara

Central Ontario Calf Producers – All breeds, vaccinated & selling in owner lots

Nov 8 9:00 am Tara

Special Calf Sale, selling in owner lots – vaccinated & non- vaccinated, all fully catalogued

34

O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

Date

Time

Location

# Head

Date

Kind

Time

Location

# Head

Kind

.

Keady Livestock Market Ltd. (continued) Garry Kuhl - 519-934-1626 www.keadylivestock.com

Sales Barn Scott Kuhl Tom McNabb Marvin Weppler

-

519-934-2339 519-477-2339 519-794-3072 519-477-1016

Nov 15 9:00 am Tara

Special grass and yard yearling steers & heifers – selling in owner lots – fully cataloged steers & heifers

Nov 22 9:00 am Tara

Special Calf Sale, selling in owner lots – vaccinated & non- vaccinated, fully catalogued

Nov 29 5:00 pm Tara

Special Bred Heifer & Cows Sale – see website

Dec 6 5:00 pm Tara

Special Bred Heifer & Cows Sale – see website

Dec 17

Tara

Last Regular Sale of 2019!

Tara

First Sale of the New Year!

9:00 am

Jan 14 ’20 10:00 am Maple Hill Auctions Office: 519-506-1400

Rainy River Cattlemen’s Sales - Stratton Sales Barn

Sale Barn week of sale - 807-483-5354 James Gibson - home: 807-487-2731 Cell: 807-271-2005 Email: katjames24.kg@gmail.com Sept 7 8:30 am Stratton Majority yearlings & some early

calves, cows etc. Protocol

cattle will also be on offer

Andy McCulloch Cell: 519-379-1370

1:00 pm

Hanover

Ontario Autumn Simmental Classic

Sept 28

1:00 pm

Hanover

Lone Spruce Hereford Dispersal

Oct 12

1:00 pm

Hanover

Bluewater Angus Sale

Oct 19

1:00 pm

Hanover

“Upin the Ante” Charolais Sale

Nov 9

1:00 pm

Hanover

Ontario Livestock Exchange Larry Witzel - 519-741-6333 Office 519-884-2082 or 1-800-265-8818 Email: dropp@olex.on.ca

Later season calves & some yearlings, cows & a Bred Cow Sale. Protocol cattle also on offer

Nov 2 8:30 am Stratton

Calves, Yearlings, Cows, Bred Cows, etc. (one day delivery of cattle for this sale – Fri. Nov 9)

Temiskaming Livestock Sales

Bill Stewart -705-647-5415 or Cell: 705-544-3508

Regular Sales every Monday.

Oct 11

12:00 pm

New Liskeard

800

Calves and yearlings

Vankleek Hill Livestock Exchange

613-678-3008

Stocker sales will be included in the last Wednesday sale of each month beginning in August.

Bred Heifer Sale David Ropp - 519-749-5072 Allen Colwell - 519-501-0147

Aug 28

2:00 pm

Vankleek Hill

Stocker sale

Sept 25

2:00 pm

Vankleek Hill

Stocker sale

Oct 30

2:00 pm

Vankleek Hill

Stocker sale

Nov 27

2:00 pm

Vankleek Hill

Stocker sale

Northern Cattle Sales Network

www.olex.on.ca

The Northern Cattle Sales Network is now on Facebook. www.facebook.com/ NorthernCattleSalesNetwork View cattle on offer at upcoming sales or post pictures or descriptions of your own cattle that will be on sale at upcoming Northern auction sales, free!

Visit the Facebook link above to get started! Or send pictures and information to Gord Mitchell at mitchg@vianet.on.ca for uploading. If you need assistance call Gord Mitchell at 705-571-1033.

Live Sales – Special vaccinated stocker sale – every Wednesday at 1:00 pm. Regular stocker sale – every Thursday at 11:00 am. Bred Cow Sales – following regular stocker sales on Thursdays.

Western Sales – daily internet presort sales and direct from ranch sales. Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Provost, Lloyd Minster, Vermilion, Yorkton, Maple Creek, Meadow Lake, Prince Albert and Mankota. Call OLEX for details.

Ontario Stockyards Inc. Wayne Small - 705-435-1423 www.ontariostockyards.on.ca

Oct 19 8:30 am Stratton

Stocker sales will be held every Tuesday with the regular sale. Bred cow sales will be announced prior to sale date.

Ontario Autumn Angus Classic

Sept 21 1:00 pm Hanover

Majority spring calves & some yearlings, cows etc. Protocol cattle will also be on offer

Renfrew-Pontiac Livestock Ltd. Matt Dick - cell: 613-633-1598

Cobden – contact: Ben Dick - 613-646-7335 or cell - 705-498-8056

Sales every Monday at 7:00 pm starting September 10, through the fall.

Aug 31

Sept 28 8:30 am Stratton

Community Livestock Exchange (Hoard’s Station) www.hoardsstationsalebarn.com Sponsored by: Quinte Cattlemen’s Association Quinte Sales Contact - Denton Meiklejohn - 613-395-2008, dentlynnefarms@yahoo.ca Farm fresh cattle only!

Office - 705-458-4000 Brian Pascoe – 705-878-7026 Email: simcoecounty12@bellnet.ca

Regular weekly stocker and feeder sales held every Thursday at 11:00 am. All regular sales will start with the vaccinated cattle first. Bred cow sales will be announced at a later date. Visit www.ontariostockyards.on.ca for updates.

Sept 20 11:00 am Campbellford 700

90% Vaccinated, catalogued – Farm Fresh

Sept 12 11:00 am Cookstown

Special Fall Yearling Sale in conjunction with the regular sale

Oct 18 11:00 am Campbellford 700

100% Vaccinated, catalogued – Farm Fresh

Oct 1

Special Fall Yearling Sale

Nov 29 11:00 am Campbellford 700

Calf Sale – 100% Vaccinated, catalogued – Farm Fresh

Jan 17 ’20 11:00 am Campbellford 800

100% Vaccinated, catalogued – Farm Fresh

Mar 13 ’20 11:00 am Campbellford 700

90% Vaccinated, catalogued – Farm Fresh

May 1 ’20 11:00 am Campbellford 900

100% Vaccinated, catalogued – Farm Fresh

11:00 am

Cookstown

Oct 10 11:00 am Cookstown

In conjunction with regular Thursday sale – CDN Angus Program/CDN Hereford Assoc. Sale

Oct 17 11:00 am Cookstown

Leeds/Grenville Calf Sale in conjunction with regular Thursday sale

Oct 22

Cookstown

Special Fall Yearling Sale

Nov 5 11:00 am Cookstown

11:00 am

Ontario Stockyards All Vaccinated Sale

Nov 19 11:00 am Cookstown

Ontario Stockyards All Vaccinated Sale

Nov 6 11:00 am Woodville 1,000

Certified Calf Sale – 100% vaccinated

Dec 5 11:00 am Cookstown

Special Fall Yearling Sale in conjunction with the regular sale

Nov 20 11:00 am Woodville 750

90% Vaccinated – 500 calves & 250 yearlings

Dec 12 11:00 am Cookstown

Ontario Stockyards All Vaccinated Sale in conjunction with the regular sale

Feb 12 ’20 11:00 am

Woodville

900

90% vaccinated

May 6 ’20 11:00 am

Woodville

1,000

90% vaccinated

Ottawa Livestock Exchange ottawalivestock@bellnet.ca

Kawartha Lakes Community Sale Barn Inc. Wayne Telford - 705-292-9531 Peterborough- Victoria County Cattlemen’s Association

Sale Week - 705-439-4444

Thessalon Sale Dennis Kirby - 705-842-2249 (Sponsored by Algoma Co-operative Livestock Sales)

Steve Spratt - 613-821-2634 or 613-822-1351 www.ottawalivestockexchange.ca

Regular sales every Thursday – Ottawa Livestock Exchange at 11:00 am with stockers starting at approximately 2:00 pm. Dates for special stocker sales and bred cow sales for the fall will be posted on website www.ottawalivestockexchange.ca, or by calling the Auction Market at 613-821-2634, or by visiting the BFO website listed above.

Sept 17

10:00 am

Thessalon

900

Yearlings, 90% vaccinated

Oct 19

10:00 am

Thessalon

400

Calves

May 2 ’20 10:00 am

Thessalon

200

Stockers

Wiarton Sale (sponsored by Grey-Bruce Livestock Co-operative) Oct 4 May 7 ’20

10:00 am 10:00 am

Terry Moser, President - 519-375-7957

Wiarton

500

Calf Sale – 90% vaccinated

Wiarton

500

Stockers

ON TAR IO BEEF • AU GUST 2019

35

Market Information

T

he first half of 2019 has been very similar to the first half of 2018 in the fed cattle market, with a narrow trading range and limited spring rally. Railgrade prices the first half of 2019 ranged from $244-$258.50, a $14.50 spread, with the top prices occurring in late April to early May at $258.50 dressed. The first half of 2018 saw prices range from $244-$256.50 dressed, with the high price of the range occurring in the first week of January. Prices did rally a little in April 2018, but the spring months saw prices trade narrowly from $246$249 dressed. Since the week ending June 20, 2019, prices have dropped below last year at this time, 2017 and the five-year average.

Historically, fed cattle prices decline moving into August and September, and even October, before starting to rally in late fall. In 2018 there was a 10.7% price decline from the spring high of $256.50, to the fall low of $229. In 2017, markets saw a decrease of 30% from the spring high of $298 to the fall low of $208.75. Looking at the five-year average, prices have declined 15% on average from the spring high to the fall low. If 2019 sees a price decline of 10%, the fall low is estimated at around $232.65, however if the percent decline is up to 15%, the estimated price would be $219.73 in the fall.

Ontario federal and provincially inspected processing volumes are up over 2018 for the first half of 2019, with year to date volumes for steers, heifers and cows at 289,493 head as of June 30. This is up 1.37% from 2018 and 5% higher than June 30, 2017. Breaking down a little further, steer volumes were up 1.9% from June 30, 2018, up 5.5% from 2017 and up 8.9% from the five-year average as of June 30, 2019. Heifer processing volumes as of June 30, 2019 totaled 80,064 head, up 5.9% from the same time in 2018 and 2017.

Compared to the five-year average, heifer processing volumes so far in 2019 are up by 2.95%. Processing volumes of cows as of June 30, 2019 are reported at 51,048 head, down 7.8% from the same time in 2018 and up 0.5% from 2017. In comparison to the five-year average, cow processing volumes as of June 30, are up 16% in 2019.

Carcass weights for steers in Ontario, as of June 30, 2019, are averaging 963 lb., which is up 9 lb. from last year at the same time and is 36

O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

•B y Jamie Gamble, BFO Market Information Coordinator markets@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

in early April of this year, while the heavier the second highest average carcass weight in cattle started out the year at the strongest this 20-year data set. The year 2016 saw the prices. Over the last couple of months feed largest average weight at 970 lb. As of July prices have been soaring, which has put some 2019, the weights are trending seasonally pressure on the stocker pricing. That, along lower, however they are still above weights with the backlog of fed cattle reported to be a year ago by around 12 lb. Weights should sitting on farms waiting to move, resulted in start to decline as feedlots become more an inconsistent demand for replacements. current, along with higher feed prices which At time of reporting (mid-July) most prices will encourage producers to market cattle were rebounding, some with steers starting earlier if possible.

Larger volumes of cull cows have sold to trend steady to slightly higher than 2018, through auction markets in Ontario in 2019, while heifers continued to struggle as most totaling 63,679 head as of June 30, 2019 weight categories were selling below a year (Noting the addition of an action market this ago, 2017 and the five-year average. Moving year to the data collection). The 2019 YTD forward into the fall, prices should increase volume is the largest since 2014. Exports of seasonally as demand for cattle coming off cull cows to the U.S. through Ontario ports grass should be strong. Many factors could are down with total numbers as of May 31, still influence the direction of the pricing 2019 at 21,981. This compares to 25,251 trend, such as feed prices, fed cattle prices, in 2018 and 21,120 in 2017. The average boxed beef prices and the ongoing trade war prices for cows this year have traded below between the U.S. and several countries. the previous two years and five-year average, The complete fall listing of all Ontario until early May when prices were steady Auction Markets is available in this edition to last year. Since early June of this year, of Ontario Beef, and are posted on our cow prices have been trading sideways and web site under Market Information. The above last year at this time, however they Northern Sales Network line-up is included are considerably lower than in 2017 and the and is now on Facebook at www.facebook. five-year average. Seasonally, cow prices com/NorthernCattleSalesNetwork. Any of start to decline in the summer months, the special stocker sales affiliated with the however at time of reporting the prices are Northern Network encourages sellers to post holding steady. pictures and descriptions of their cattle that The volume of stocker and feeder cattle will be on offer at a specific Northern Network sold through Ontario auction markets as of sale, free of charge. Any interested buyers will June 30, 2019 is sitting at 117,483 head, be able to view the uploaded pictures prior to which is up 11,061 from the same time in any upcoming sales. However, you have to 2018, but 4,216 less than June 30, 2017. load them for them to be viewed. If you have Breaking it down further, in 2019 all weight any questions or need assistance uploading classes are showing larger volumes than pictures to the page, please email Gordon 2018, with the exception of steers 500 lb.

Mitchell – mitchg@vianet.on.ca or call Gord and under, along with heifers under 499 lb. at 705-571-1033. OB Compared to June 30, 2017, steers 500-700 lb. were up in volume with all other steer categories lower. The volume of heifers sold through auctions in 2019 was up from 2017 in all weights under 699 lb., while all weight categories 700 lb. and over were steady to lower in volume.

Stocker prices in 2019 have been bouncing up and down on a week to week basis. The The information provided on this report is based on weighted averages for actual data collected.

Input costs are a guideline only and will vary from producer to producer. BFO does not take any lighter weights and responsibility and accepts no legal liability arising from or connected to damages or losses grass types peaked experienced by producers when using this information. This is to be used at your own risk.

Continued on page 38.

ON TAR IO BEEF • AU GUST 2019

37

Continued from page 37. – Market

38

Info

O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

BEEF EXPORTS - CANADA

United States

Mexico

Jan. 1 - May 31

Jan. 1 - May 31

Total

47,661 tonnes

2,509 tonnes

Jan. 1 - Jul. 13, 2019

Last Year Same Time

Fed

542,644 tonnes

502,121 tonnes

+8%

Non-fed

98,122 tonnes

93,541 tonnes

+5%

BEEF PRODUCTION - CANADA

% Change

BEEF IMPORTS - CANADA

Jan. 1 -Jul. 13, 2019

Last Year Same Time % Change

US

56,465 tonnes

67,127 tonnes

Non-NAFTA

22,233 tonnes

29,701 tonnes

-25%

EU-28 (beef/veal total) 2,892 tonnes

1,044 tonnes

+177%

102,329 tonnes

-16%

Total

85,648 tonnes

-16%

LIVE CATTLE - CANADA IMPORTS

EXPORTS

EXPORTS

Jan. 1 - May 31

Jan. 1 - July 6, 2019

% Change

Slaughter steers & heifers 250,988

+33%

Purebred

1,953

Non-Purebred

76,729 Feeder steers & heifers

Cows & bulls

145,342

+8%

21,785

+3%

LIVE CATTLE EXPORTS - ONTARIO

Week ending Jun. 20, ‘19 Week ending Jun. 22, ‘19 Year to Date

Total to US.

1,956

2,673

68,184

Steers, Heifers, Cows 1,676

2,316

60,583

357

7,601

Bulls

280

ON TAR IO BEEF • AU GUST 2019

39

Calendar of Events August 13-15 - Canadian Beef Industry Conference, Stampede Park, Calgary, Alta.

September 10-12 - Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, Woodstock, Ont. September 14 - 17th Annual Ontario Autumn Simmental Classic Sale, Hanover September 17-21 - International Plowing Match and Rural Expo, Verner, Ont. September 20 - River Valley Polled Herefords Genetic Designs XV Sale, Newburgh September 21 - Source For Success XVIII Hereford Sale, Indian River September 22 - Medonte Highlands Polled Herefords Autumn Alliance XXXVII Sale, Orillia September 26 - Gilbrea Farms Bull and Female Sale, Hillsburgh

October 5 - Junior Blonde d’Aquitaine Show and National Blonde d’Aquitaine Show, Markham Fair, Markham October 5 - Fall Roundup Hereford Sale, Lindsay October 6 - Quality Control Simmental Sale, Indian River

October 26 - Cream of the Crop Blonde d’Aquitaine Sale, Campbellford, Ont. October 26 - Partners for Progress Hereford Sale, Shelford, QC November 1-10 - Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto, Ont.

October 10 - Hereford and Hereford-Influence Stocker Sale, Cookstown

November 1 - Masterfeeds National Junior Beef Heifer Show (Showmanship), Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto

October 18 - Uppin The Ante Charolais Sale, Hanover

November 1 - Limousin 50th Anniversary Banquet, Chelsea Hotel, Toronto

October 19 - Blue Water Angus Sale, Hanover

November 1 - National Charolais Sale, Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto

October 20 - M&L’s Open House, Beef Day and Charolais Female Production Sale, Indian River October 25 - Canadian Blonde d’Aquitaine Association Annual Meeting, Trenton

November 2 - Masterfeeds National Junior Beef Heifer Show (Conformation), Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto November 2 - Royal Elite Beef Sale, Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto

September 28 - Macks and Dang Charolais Production Sale, Campbellford

October 26 - Ontario Blonde d’Aquitaine Association’s Cream of the Crop Sale, Campbellford

November 3 - National Limousin Show, Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto

September 28 - Lone Spruce Polled Herefords 1st Production Sale, Hanover

October 26 - Hereford and Hereford-Influence Stocker Sale, Brussels, Ont.

November 4 - Junior Limousin Show, Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto

BEEF BUSINESS LEADERS HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT ONTARIO Whole Farm Planning Courses Healthy Land...Healthy Profits Tony & Fran McQuail, Cert. Educators 519-528-2493 www.meetingplaceorganicfarm.ca/holistic Sold ario nt in O

Livestock Watering for All Seasons “Qualifies for Environmental Farm Plan Grants”

Since 1973

GENETICS

Quality Proven Fleckvieh Simmental Breeding Stock

Bulls and Heifers FOR SALE. DNA verified for carcass and feed efficiency.

Ross & Betty Small & Family R.R.#3 Harriston ON N0G 1Z0

Tel: 519-338-2077 • 1-800-461-3504 • Email: doraleegenetics1@sonicwaves.ca See our new website: www.doraleegenetics.com

R.R #5 HOARDS STATION Campbellford, Ontario SALE BARN Dave DeNure 705-653-3660 • Auction Sale Since 1949 • Sale Every Tuesday 12 p.m.

• Three Rings – Beef, Dairy, Pigs • Quinte Cattlemen’s Stocker Sales • Spring and Fall Member of O.L.A.M.A

40

O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

Plaunt’s Farm Service

Doug Plaunt • 705-328-5794 • dgplaunt@gmail.com 160 Cricket Hollow Rd. • RR#2 • Little Britain, ON • K0M 2C0

Semen Available!

Bob Wilson 519-855-4990 bob@leachman.com Leachman Cattle Co. in Canada

Changes to OBCFPP Licenced Dealers List Now Licensed

Country Dealer Hamilton Livestock Inc., Almonte, ON 33 Mile Cattle Corp., ON Gingerich Veal Transport, Harriston, ON

No Longer Licenced Abattoir Bilal Farms Inc., Ottawa, On Country Dealer Richard Patenaude, QC Edward Hackbart, ON Dawson’s Livestock, Athens, ON Johnson Meats, Alymer, ON Pittsburgh Farms, 901769 Ontario Inc., Joyceville, ON Henry van der Byl, Alexandria, ON

BEEF FARMERS OF ONTARIO PRIVACY STATEMENT

Robert Campbell, Ashton, ON K & E Farms, Dunchurch, ON 9117-0654 Quebec Inc., St-Apollinaire, QC Holstock, Harriston, ON Beretta Farms Cattle LP, Etobicoke, ON Auction Market Galetta Livestock Sales, Fitzroy Harbour, ON The entire OBCFPP list can be found on the OMAFRA website at http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/ food/inspection/fpu/fpu_lists.htm Or For more information: Toll Free: 1-888-466-2372 ext. 64230 Local: (519) 826-4230 E-mail: foodinspection@ontario.ca OB

The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of producers’ personal information in compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

Subscribers to Ontario Beef magazine, the official publication of the Beef Farmers of Ontario, do so on a voluntary basis. By subscribing, subscribers are consenting to have their contact information used for the purposes of receiving the magazine and developing an BFO mailing list.

This mailing list will be used for the distribution of the BFO magazine.

The BFO will not sell, trade or otherwise share its Ontario Beef mailing list under any circumstances. A service may be provided whereby items are submitted to the BFO and mailed internally with the magazine but all materials must be approved by and acceptable to the BFO. In rare instances where external, non-commercial organizations, like the provincial or federal government, wish to use the Ontario Beef mailing list to distribute information, the government must provide their mailing materials in a finished format to BFO and/or its mailing house.

BFO will then coordinate the mailing, at the requesting organization’s cost, thus maintaining confidentiality of the list. In cases where the BFO may commission a mailing, the company providing the service is required to sign a mandatory confidentiality agreement.

Subscribers to the Ontario Beef mailing list who wish to have their names removed, should call 519-824-0334 or email bethany@ontariobeef.com. Please allow 15 business days to allow us to update our records accordingly.

BFO’s complete privacy statement, covering areas of information including the electronic update system, Website, membership list and market information can be viewed on its Website at http://www.ontariobeef.com/privacy.asp

Maple Haven

Garry & Sheila Smart

Quality Belgian Blue Cattle

Bred for Calving Ease BREEDER BULLS FOR SALE

“Industry Accepted since 1978”

Sharon & Joe Daniel Tina & Ben Daniel

Breeding Stock Available at All Times.

Tel: 519-423-6722 • Cell: 519-421-4393 • RR#5 Ingersoll, ON N5C 3J8

North AmericAN LiNcoLN red AssociAtioN Looking for Easy fleshing, Dark red, and a Great temperament? Try a Lincoln Red.

www.lincolnred.org

Miller Land & L iv es tock

Sunny Meadows Charolais

Selling progressive quality genetics since 1975 ~ polled with French influence.

Tel: 705-887-5142 Fax: 705-887-2341

Andy Millar

109 Bulmer’s Rd. R.R.#2 Fenelon Falls ON K0M 1N0

SUNRISE ANGUS (since 1995)

We source Canadian genetics to produce quality breeding stock.

Charolais Bulls, Hay, Straw, Feedlot George & Dianne, Dwayne, Ashley and Cowal Miller

Joel & Irene Thomas 477285 3rd Line Melancthon ON L9V 1T5 Phone: 519 925 5661• Cell: 519 940 1258 Email: sunriseangus@xplornet.ca

RR 1, Jarvis, ON N0A 1J0

Ph (519) 587-2755

137606 Grey Rd. 12, RR # 2, Meaford, Ontario N4L 1W6 Phone: 519-538-4877 Cell: 519-372-7459 smartlimo@bmts.com www.smartlimousin.com

Cell (519) 429-5902

Commercial Angus Purebred Red Angus Purebred Black Angus Purebred Hereford

The Seed Family- Greg: 705-648-4274

Greg Wilson 519-590-2348 • Dennis Robinson 519-892-3316

seesonranch@outlook.com 845040 Morrow Rd, New Liskeard Ontario, P0J 1P0

Silver Springs Farms James & Joan McKinlay R.R. 1, Ravenna, Ontario N0H 2E0 Tel: 519-599-6236 jmckinlay@bmts.com

Breeders of Quality Cattle Simmental • Red Angus • F1 Crosses

P: 519-760-0892 E: uspecs@roievents.ca FB: UNDERHILL SPECS

Performance live/frozen genetics available!

Wright’s R.R#1, #402144 Hanover, ON N4N 3B8 Tel: 519-369-3658

Carl Wright Cell: 519-369-7489 Ben Wright Cell: 519-374-3335 Laurie Wright Ofc: 519-369-3658

ON TAR IO BEEF • AU GUST 2019

41

Spotlight on Reduce Your Risk of Summer Equipment Fires

VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 3

By Bruce Kelly, Program Manager, Farm & Food Care Ontario bruce@farmfoodcare.org • www.farmfoodcare.org

S

ummer’s hot, dry and dusty conditions can increase the risk of fire anywhere on a farm. Unfortunately, those are also the conditions a lot of farm equipment operate in during the late summer and early fall. Balers and combines are among the most common types of farm equipment to catch fire. While they are designed to safely operate in dry, dusty conditions, they still need extra attention before going to the field and close monitoring while operating.

Make a Maintenance Routine Inspect equipment regularly for excessive debris, dirt and chaff, oil leaks, loose electrical harnesses or signs of worn bearings. Doing so will reduce many fire risks. Refreshing yourself with maintenance records as well as the lubrication and cleaning recommendations from your owner’s manual is time well spent. Many farms have multiple equipment operators; don’t assume that everyone knows all the safety checks and maintenance routines that go into maintaining equipment over the long harvest season.

“Prevention and maintenance are your best defence against a fire in the field, but accidents can still happen quickly,” says Jim Gowland, a cash crop farmer in Bruce County, whose combine was completely

42

O N T A R I O BE E F • AUGUS T 2 0 1 9

engulfed in fire in less than three minutes while harvesting wheat in 2016. The Gowlands take pride on how they handle maintenance and cleaning – combines are regularly blown out and washed every four to five days with complete top to bottom cleanings between each crop of wheat, soybean and corn. Despite Gowland’s maintenance efforts, though, the two available fire extinguishers on the combine were not enough to hold the fire till responders arrived that fateful day.

Bryan Long, a licensed agricultural equipment technician and shop foreman with Stoltz Sales and Service in Listowel, Ontario, has seen the unfortunate results of too many farm equipment fires and provides this list of tips.

In-season Fire Prevention Tips • Every piece of equipment and tractor should have a properly sized fire extinguisher attached that has been regularly inspected.

• Keep equipment clean and free of debris.

Keep a leaf blower with the combine or baler and use it daily, or even twice daily in extremely dusty conditions.

• Inspect equipment before and during use, especially on long days in the field. Look for leaks and dust or debris build ups.

• Consider installing fans or blowers to continuously clean problem areas during operation.

• Reversing or variable pitch fans can be installed to change the direction of air flow through the radiator and coolers to keep them clean. This also helps keep

engines cooler, preventing high operating temperatures.

• Pay attention. Listen and watch for anything abnormal while operating the equipment.

Monitor the instrument cluster gauges to ensure normal operating conditions and stop to inspect the equipment if you’re unsure.

• Keep equipment greased. Balers and combines have a lot of moving parts and are prone to bearing failures that can generate enough heat to cause a fire, so make sure bearings are lubricated by greasing them regularly, and in accordance to equipment operator manuals. Make the time to inspect the bearings for possible problems or failures.

For more farm fire prevention information visit www.farmfoodcareon. org/livestock-emergencies or omafra.gov. on.ca to read the full resource, 10 Ways to Reduce the Risk of Barn Fire.

This article was produced as part of the Farm & Food Care Ontario: Livestock Emergency Preparedness Project and the Reducing the Risk of Barn Fires Advisory Panel (2016) – a group of concerned Ontario farm commodity groups, Fire Prevention Officers, electrical safety professionals and Government of Ontario staff.

This project was funded in part through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership), a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. The Agricultural Adaptation Council assists in the delivery of the Partnership in Ontario.

Ontario

HEREFORD ASSOCIATION

Ontario

HEREFORDASSOCIATION

THE 2019 SUPER DUTY®

TONS OF TORQUE FOR TONNES OF HAULING. MAX. TOWING

35,000 LBS

MAX. DIESEL TORQUE 935 LB-FT

MAX. PAYLOAD

7,640 LBS

FULLY BOXED HIGH-STRENGTH STEEL FRAME

FOR DETAILS, VISIT FORD.CA/SUPERDUTY. Vehicle may be shown with optional features. ©2019 Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. All rights reserved.

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