Ontario Beef - December 2020

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE BEEF FARMERS OF ONTARIO

BEEF ON T A R I O

TALK ABOUT FEELING SAD IN THE WINTER MONTHS • AUCTION MARKETS’ HOLIDAY SALES SCHEDULE • OCFB QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM BECOMES CERTIFYING BODY FOR CRSB • DECEMBER 2020

LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS HOST

CREATIVE EVENTS AMID PANDEMIC

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Number 0040007029

A CROSS-BRED FEMALE

=THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER!

At this time the Ontario Hereford Association would like to wish you all a Happy Holiday Season. Our prayer for you is that all your dreams come true and that you all have a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year.

With the added advantages of

- longer herd stays resulting in more calves - 8% more feed efficiency - 7% advantage in pregnancy rate - faster post weaning growth and begins cycling earlier

CORP CREEK FARM Bill and Jill Corp and Family OMEMEE, ON 705-799-7488 (Bill’s cell) 705-772-9345 (Jill’s cell) corpcreekfarm@hotmail.com Registered Breeding Stock HIDDEN-VIEW POLLED HEREFORDS Joe & Karen Paszternak NORWOOD, ON 705-957-3739 or 705-957-7470 karen.paszternak@gmail.com Cows & heifers for sale

www.ontarioherefords.ca

WHISKEY LANE LIVESTOCK Hereford and Angus Scott, Paula, Jason and Shelby Cornish INDIAN RIVER, ON 705-295-2925 705-878-3248 (Scott’s cell) 705-341-3220 (Paula’s cell) wll@nexicom.net Visitors Always Welcome

LIAN MOR POLLED HEREFORDS Wallace & Fern Pugh & Trevor & Amy Pugh MONO, ON Wally &Fern lianmor@sympatico.ca • 519-941-8515 Trevor & Amy tpugh27@yahoo.com • 519-939-7486 Breeding stock available O’SHEA FARMS Jamie and Mel O’Shea DENFIELD, ON 519-477-1238 osheafarms@hotmail.com Bulls & Females for Sale

Lois Batty,ON President – 705-328-4302 KAREN PASZTERNAK Dr. | Norwood, • 705-957-3739 • karen.paszternak@gmail.com www.ontarioherefords.ca PRESIDENT JILL AND BILL CORP | Omemee, ON • 705-772-9345 • ontarioherefordassociation@outlook.com SECRETARY MANAGER

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE BEEF FARMERS OF ONTARIO

BEEF ONTARIO

December 2020

Volume 61, Number 5

COMPLIMENTARY MEMBER-SUPPORTED PUBLICATION

CONTENTS 4

Ahead of the Heard

5

2021 County & District Annual General Meetings

6

The Beef Beat

8

Between You, Me and the Fence Post

10

10 Connecting with Consumers 11 Canada Beef Update 12 Ontario Beef Market Development Update 14 OMAFRA Update

ON THE COVER

18 Local Associations Host Creative Events Amid Pandemic 20 AgSights Update 22 Research Update 24 Farm and Food Care Update 27 Auction Markets’ Holiday Sales Schedule 28 Market Information 33 Calendar of Events

18 As we reflect on a such a difficult year, we can also reflect on our ability to be resilient and adapt to new ways of communicating, doing business and engaging with our stakeholders. In this issue of Ontario Beef, you will find a summary of our newest Ontario Beef campaign, which included some innovative advertising in transit shelters, and a positive story on how some local associations hosted creative events amid the pandemic this year. You will also find a listing of the auction markets’ holiday sales schedule to help you navigate cattle sales through the holidays.

Don’t miss out on submitting your photos for our February 2021 issue. Please send your winter-inspired photos by January 10 to be considered for the cover.

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

34 Wellness on the Farm 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 LeaAnne Wurmli 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 adi an 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 7 0 2 9 POSTMASTER: Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Beef Farmers of Ontario, 130 Malcolm Road, Guelph, ON N1K 1B1

AHEAD OF THE HEARD

By Rob Lipsett, BFO President info@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

That’s a Wrap hat a year this has been. As I write this and reflect on the last 12 W months, it’s difficult to comprehend what has transpired since March and how different life has become for all of us. I was prepared for a lot of

things when I made the decision to let my name stand as president for BFO, but navigating a global pandemic certainly did not make my shortlist. That being said, BFO directors and staff have learned how to adapt over the last several months and we continue to be active on a number of important files, on which I am happy to share details and provide you with an update.

In the fall, our executive team and I met with the Ontario Minister of Finance, Rod Phillips, to discuss the Risk Management Program, processing capacity support, and eligible funding activities under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. During our meeting, Minister Phillips was very interested in looking at ways to support the processing sector in Ontario, which was positive. As follow-up to this conversation, BFO then submitted a fall budget proposal that captured our provincial lobby priorities.

Speaking of priorities, to provide more effective risk management support for beef farmers, BFO and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association have been lobbying aggressively for enhancements to the AgriStability program and an increase in the interest-free portion of the Advanced Payments Program. BFO believes a number of program-specific enhancements to the AgriStability program would address equity challenges and improve the effectiveness of the program for beef farmers.

Leading up to the federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) ministers of agriculture meeting in late November, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food released a report, titled “Facing the Unexpected: Enhancing Business Risk Management Programs for Agriculture and AgriFood Businesses”, which reinforced industry’s position on the program and needed changes to AgriStability and the Advanced Payments Program. I had previously presented to this committee earlier this year, and we appreciated their recommendations leading into the FPT discussions.

Coming out of the FPT meetings, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, committed to improving AgriStability by removing the reference margin limit and increasing compensation rates from 70 to 80 per cent. While we were disappointed that a firm commitment could not be made on all our asks, we do remain hopeful

BFO BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2020 Rob Lipsett (Background Director) - President Phone: 519-375-2080 • Email: lipsettrob@yahoo.ca Jack Chaffe (Feedlot Director) - Vice-President Phone: 519-301-3034 • Email: jdchaffe@quadro.net Don Badour (Cow-Calf Director) Email: don.badour@ripnet.com Jason Reid (Cow-Calf Director) Email: reidridgefarm@tbaytel.net Don Hargrave (Cow-Calf Director) Email: dchargrave@gmail.com Joe Dickenson (Feedlot Director) Email: joe@dickensonfarms.com David Millsap (Feedlot Director) Email: davidwmillsap@gmail.com Jason Leblond (Northern Director) Email: jsacres5@gmail.com Craig McLaughlin (Eastern Director) Email: cmblackhorse@gmail.com Ron Stevenson (Southern Director) Email: ron@metzgervet.com Dan Darling (Director-At-Large) Email: dmdarling13@gmail.com Jordan Miller (Director-At-Large) Email: b.jordan.miller@gmail.com

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that progress will be made to ensure our members are soon provided with additional risk management protection.

The need for processing sector support continues to be communicated to all government and industry stakeholders. We were pleased to hear that in late November, the governments of Canada and Ontario made a financial commitment of $4 million through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership for a new “Meat Processors Capacity Improvement Initiative”. This initiative will provide up to $150,000 per project for improvements to product handling and processing equipment at Ontario’s meat processors and abattoirs. It will also cover consulting and engineering costs associated with planning future projects. The initiative opened to applications on December 4, and eligible projects must be completed with equipment delivered by March 1, 2021. Recipients will have until May 31, 2021, to have their equipment installed. This is a positive step forward for providing support for the struggling sector, but we know more needs to be done to ensure our industry as a whole remains viable and competitive.

CFIA has launched a consultation on their proposed changes to the guidelines for simulated meat and poultry products. This is positive movement on a number of resolutions that have been passed at the BFO AGM over the last couple of years. We strongly support this review and the intent of creating clearer guidelines to help consumers distinguish meat and poultry products from simulated meat and poultry products. BFO has submitted our comments and significant concerns on the proposed changes, and I invite you to view those comments by visiting our website.

Lastly, on a positive note, Ontario’s Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act was brought into full force earlier this month. While some concessions were made, this piece of legislation is very much needed by the entire agriculture sector to protect farmers and their families, farm animals, and our food supply.

In closing, I wish all our members and their families a safe and happy holiday season. I’m not going to venture a guess at what 2021 will bring us, but I look forward to hearing how it’s going at our local association annual meetings in January. Whether your meeting is to be held in person or virtually, please consider joining to support your fellow farmers. OB

BFO STAFF Executive Director Richard Horne • richard@ontariobeef.com Manager of Policy and Issues Katherine Fox • k atherine@ontariobeef.com Policy Advisor Darby Wheeler • darby@ontariobeef.com Policy Advisor Evan Chaffe • evan@ontariobeef.com Director of Communications LeaAnne Wurmli • leaanne@ontariobeef.com Manager of Public Engagement and Digital Strategy Jennifer Kyle • jennifer@ontariobeef.com Communications Specialist Bethany Storey • bethany@ontariobeef.com Market Information Coordinator Jamie Gamble • markets@ontariobeef.com

Accountant Amber McIntyre • amber@ontariobeef.com Office Manager 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

2021 County and District Annual General Meetings C

ounty and district annual general meetings, held across the province in the month of January, are traditionally an excellent opportunity for BFO members to meet with fellow farmers and neighbours, as well as directors and staff from BFO. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, local associations have had to adapt to public health gathering guidelines and some have opted to host a virtual meeting with the assistance of BFO. As you can understand, plans for in-person meetings may change quickly over the next several weeks.

A complete listing of meetings, both in-person and virtual, can be found on the BFO website. They will also be posted in an issue of the Ontario Farmer newspaper in the month of December. Before you plan to attend, please refer to the BFO website for an accurate listing, or as always, you can contact the office.

During these important meetings, voting delegates will be elected to participate in BFO’s 2021 virtual annual general meeting. If you are interested in pursuing a position on the BFO Board of Directors or becoming a member of the BFO Cow-Calf or Feedlot Committees, you must be a voting delegate named by your county or district. In 2021, we have the following positions open for election: • Cow-Calf Director

• Cow-Calf Committee (3) • Backgrounder on the Cow-Calf Committee (1) • Feedlot Committee (3) For details on the nominations process and requirements, please visit the BFO website or contact Darby Wheeler at the BFO office.

Initial nominations are due by Monday, January 25, 2021. Nominations will no longer be accepted after Tuesday, February 2, 2021. OB

SAVE THE DATE BFO’s 2021 Virtual Annual General Meeting

Leading Through Uncertainty February 17 & 18 Visit the homepage of the BFO website for program details and to register.

• Feedlot Director • Northern Director • At-Large Director

ON TA R IO BEEF • D EC EMB ER 20 20

5

THE BEEF BEAT

By Richard Horne, BFO Executive Director richard@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

Resolutions Update A

ctions on the 2020 BFO resolutions are well underway. The BFO Board of Directors and standing committees have provided input and direction on actions taken to date. The below update includes work completed up to the end of October.

20-02 CFIA Enforcement Consistency

Submitted by Bruce County Beef Farmers Be it resolved that BFO lobby CFIA and the federal government to make sure procedures and requirements are the same from inspector to inspector, and that BFO has input as to training and prerequisites necessary for theses inspectors.

Action Update: BFO continues to raise this concern with CFIA officials whenever our transport working group meets. With respect to disclosing CFIA inspector training and allowing industry input on training, BFO received a positive response from CFIA. However, there has been no follow-up on the CFIA commitment at this time. We strongly recommend that producers report cases of inconsistency to BFO so we can flag these concerns when meeting with CFIA and OMAFRA officials.

20-03 BSE Risk Status

Submitted by Grey County Beef Farmers’ Association Be it resolved that BFO and CCA will make a strong effort to have this application completed on time at the next opportunity to make application for a reduction in BSE risk status.

Action Update: BFO was pleased to hear the COVID-19 pandemic did not affect the application process for changing Canada’s BSE risk status from controlled to negligible risk at the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The first deadline was met in May 2020, and the full application was sent as of July 31, 2020. The OIE’s final decision on changing Canada’s BSE risk status is expected in the spring of 2021. We expect the decision to be in our favour.

20-05 SRM Removal Requirements

Submitted by Beef Farmers of Durham Region Be it resolved that BFO, in conjunction with CCA, work with local politicians to lobby Agriculture Canada to work with CFIA on the issue of SRM removal.

Action Update: BFO forwarded a motion at CCA’s semiannual meeting to prioritize modernizing Canada’s SRM removal requirements. This was adopted as CCA policy. In September, an industry-government working group was created to look at the removal requirements in Canada, with an aim to harmonize or better align Canada’s rules with those in the U.S., which are much less costly to industry. BFO was the only provincial organization to receive a seat at this table.

20-06 RMP

Submitted by Perth County Beef Farmers’ Association Be it resolved that BFO lobby for more money for the Risk Management Program.

Action Update: BFO was very pleased the Ontario Government moved up their promise of an additional $50 million from 2021 to 2020. BFO appreciates all the grassroot support on this lobbying effort. We will continue to lobby for a stronger Risk Management Program that benefits all Ontario beef producers.

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20-08 Premises Identification Number

Submitted by Huron County Beef Producers Be it resolved that BFO encourage and support all beef producing operations to obtain a Premises Identification Number (PID) for their production locations.

Action Update: BFO has publicly recommended all producers obtain a PID, and has told the province we would support mandatory PID if it were implemented.

20-09 Meat Education Programs

Submitted by Lanark County Cattlemen’s Association Be it resolved that BFO in conjunction with the Canadian Professional Meat Cutters, pursue with University of Guelph and other Ontario colleges the possibility of creating more meat cutting programs in Ontario to service the growing need with the Promotion of “Ontario Beef” and report back to this meeting in 2021 on progress with the education of meat cutters and livestock inspectors for the Ontario and Canadian beef industries.

Action Update: BFO reached out to academic institutions and other industry organizations to gain a better understanding of current and future meat-cutting-related education programs in Ontario. Aside from the two programs that exist today at Fanshawe College and the Seaway Valley Meat Cutting Institute, Canadore College and Mohawk College are in the process of developing meat-cutting programs and intend to start accepting students at some point in 2021. Meat and Poultry Ontario is also developing a “Meat-Tech Centre of Excellence”, which will act as a learning and skills development hub for meatcutting and will include a meat-cutting/butchery certificate program.

BFO is encouraged to see more meat-cutting education programs are being developed throughout Ontario.

20-10 Beef and Environment Classroom Programs

Submitted by Bruce County Beef Farmers Be it resolved that BFO employ a professional to educate teachers and deliver classroom presentations on the environmental benefits of pasture and hay crops, and the environmentally sustainable practices currently being used by Ontario beef farmers.

Action Update: BFO investigated the feasibility of an educator program similar to that of Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) and met with DFO staff to discuss their program. It was determined that a similar program for BFO would cost approximately $700,000 annually and would take several years to develop. A province-wide educator program is not feasible for BFO at this time, but we are involved in various education-related initiatives. BFO launched its consumer engagement and education website in 2019 to showcase Ontario beef, which includes information about nutrition, animal welfare and the environment, and an Ontario beef product locator. In addition, BFO pays an annual membership to AgScape, which is an organization with a mandate to provide factual, balanced, career-driven and curriculumlinked resources and educational programs about agriculture and food production to elementary and high school classrooms.

BFO also decided to increase its annual contribution to AcScape’s Teacher Ambassador Program in 2020 from $5,000 to $15,000 per year. This program allows Ontario-certified teachers who are knowledgeable about agriculture to visit grades 7 to 12 classrooms and deliver lessons pertaining to the environment, animal welfare

and food safety. Tailored lesson plans focused on beef are currently in development for a 2021 roll-out.

given production year.

20-11 Meat Terminology

Submitted by Grenville County Cattlemen’s Association Be it resolved that BFO work towards a structure for co-ops that allow for underserviced areas and new additions to be covered by the same lending criteria that current Breeder Co-ops provide.

Action Update: BFO is exploring options to establish new co-ops or an umbrella lending organization to provide financing to underserviced areas. BFO has been in discussions on a potential partnership with Ontario Sheep Farmers. In the interim, BFO recommends that any producer having difficulty finding a local co-op reach out to the BFO office. There may be opportunities for participation with neighboring co-ops.

20-18 Breeder Co-ops

Submitted by Grey County Beef Farmers’ Association Be it resolved that BFO and CCA work with other meat commodity organizations in lobbying all levels of government to legislate the removal of meat-based language and terms from plant-based protein products.

Action Update: BFO has worked consistently with CCA on the meat terminology issue. In conjunction with Canadian Meat Council and Canadian Pork Council, a letter was sent to the CFIA president in July outlining BFO and CCA’s position on plant-based protein labeling. In November, BFO submitted comments and concerns on the simulated meat labelling guidelines consultation, and will be sending a letter to the CFIA president reinforcing those concerns.

20-13 Hay and Forage Research

Submitted by Dufferin County Cattlemen’s Association Be it resolved that BFO consider encouraging hay and forage research and extension in Ontario.

Action Update: Hay and forage research is very important to the beef industry and BFO continues to push for more forage research and innovation. The BFO Research Committee’s 2019-2020 research priorities included forage and environmental sustainability, and of the nine projects approved for funding in 2019-2020, two related directly to forage research with another related to feed efficiency and foragefed animals. BFO intends to work with various organizations, including the University of Guelph and OMAFRA, to ensure research results are translated into practical information producers can implement on their farms. We continue to encourage funding agencies to maintain forage research as a priority. BFO director, Joe Dickenson, represents BFO on the Ontario Forage Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and supporting forage research.

20-20 Advance Payments Program

Submitted by Peterborough County Cattlemen’s Association Be it resolved that BFO work with other farm organizations to lobby an increase of the interest free portion of the Advance Payments Program from the Agriculture Credit Corporation.

Action Update: Ontario directors at CCA presented a motion that was carried at the CCA semi-annual meeting in August requesting that CCA lobby the federal government to increase the interest-free portion of the Advance Payments Program (APP) from $100,000 to $500,000.

This would align with the increase that canola growers received in 2019. The federal government has yet to make this change, but BFO will continue to advocate for the need to increase the interest-free portion of the APP in discussions with CCA and federal officials. BFO was pleased to see this recommendation reflected in the House of Commons Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee report on business risk management programs, which was released in late November. OB

20-14 Beef Curriculum in Classrooms

Submitted by Norfolk County Cattlemen’s Association Be it resolved that BFO work with the Ministry of Education to find a solid way to dispel the fake ideas being put in our future consumers’ heads about beef and replace it with factual science-based curriculum teaching beef’s benefits to health and environment.

Action Update: See action update under resolution 20-10 Beef and Environment Classroom Programs. In addition, BFO offers a variety of printed and virtual resources to supplement classroom learning. The resources are offered free of charge. with topics including but not limited to the environment, animal welfare, antibiotic and hormone use, and nutrition. Furthermore, BFO and its partners at CCA and Canada Beef collaborate to respond to media articles, documentaries and classroom lessons that appear to misrepresent our sector. This is done on an ad-hoc reactive basis to complaints that are brought forward.

20-16 Forage Insurance

Submitted by Renfrew County Beef Be it resolved that BFO lobby the provincial government to address the risk of hay and pasture shortages due to the lack of rainfall late in the season.

Action Update: For many years, BFO has advocated for a yieldbased forage production insurance program, similar to what is offered under production insurance plans for grains, oilseed and other crop commodities. In 2020, BFO partnered with CCA, OMAFRA and Agricorp on a project investigating the use of satellite technology for measuring forage yield. The intent is to see if satellite imagery of hay stands and pastures will provide accurate enough yield data to build a new insurance product. Satellite imagery has the potential to allow forage insurance to be based on yield instead of rainfall, which will allow for a more accurate compensation system because forage yield is affected by multiple factors, including but not exclusive to rainfall.

Furthermore, remote analysis of forage yields will allow producers and organizations to monitor provincial hay and pasture production, which would provide early identification of shortages/surpluses within a

ON TA R IO BEEF • D EC EMB ER 20 20

7

BETWEEN YOU, ME AND THE FENCE POST

By LeaAnne Wurmli, BFO Director of Communications leaanne@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

A New Look for BFO’s Annual General Meeting T

echnology is all around us. From our phones, computers and tablets, to Alexas, Echos and Nests, it’s near impossible to escape the love-hate relationship these communication devices inflict upon us. Fortunately – or unfortunately, depending on who you ask – these devices and the exploding popularity of Zoom have become invaluable tools over the last several months as we navigate the isolation of COVID-19. Many will likely agree with me that technology is great when it works, but panic, anxiety, frustration and anger ensue when things go sideways – not to mention the added challenges from a lack of broadband internet, which is a whole other important issue for rural Ontario. While we recognize all the valid arguments for why we should resist technology and the havoc it can potentially wreak, there’s also the flip side to consider, such as efficient use of time, no need for travel, and embracing new ways of tackling problems.

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As Rob mentioned in his article, we have had to adapt over the last year to find new ways to communicate, lobby and function as an association, and based on the current climate, the adapting will continue into the new year. As a result, BFO’s 2021 annual general meeting (AGM), appropriately themed “Leading Through Uncertainty”, will be hosted virtually, like many other organizations’. The AGM will be held over two days in the afternoons of February 17 and 18. The usual business activities of the association will be presented and reviewed by voting delegates, including the financials and resolutions, but the mechanics of the meeting will operate differently. Elections for BFO director positions and BFO committees will be conducted in advance by the voting delegates, and a vote to ratify the election results will be presented at the AGM. We look forward to sharing more details with our local associations and voting delegates as the details are confirmed, and I would also encourage you to visit the homepage of the BFO website for more information and a registration link when available.

Another event that’s taking on a new look in 2021 is the annual Beef Symposium. Traditionally held in conjunction with the FarmSmart Conference at the University of Guelph, this winter the program will move on its own to a virtual format over two days on January 23 and 30. Speakers from across Canada have been confirmed and will cover a range of topics, including beef’s role in regenerative agriculture, soil health and pasture management, vaccination programs, and marketing and market updates. There is no cost to attend the program and you can register by visiting the BFO website.

This winter, our bfoUP webinars will resume their usual rhythm with a focus on the increased demand for local beef during the pandemic, and considerations for adapting your business model to capitalize on new opportunities. These webinars are targeted to beginning and young farmers, but everyone is welcome to attend.

Information on these webinars will be posted to BFO’s website and on social media as they are confirmed in the new year.

So, while the use of technology can be daunting and it certainly doesn’t replace the feelings of comradery when meeting in person, at this point it’s the best option we have to continue with some normalcy in a time when nothing is normal. I would encourage you to embrace many of the unique virtual meetings and event offerings this winter from the comfort of your own home – free from having to blow snow, struggle with winter roads and do chores in the dark. There’s always a silver lining, we just have to look for it. OB

CONNECTING WITH CONSUMERS 2020 Year in Review

By Jennifer Kyle, Manager of Public Engagement and Digital Strategy jennifer@ontariobeef.com • www.ontbeef.com

W

hile the world has been grasping to get life under control this past year, our Ontario Beef consumer engagement strategy has flourished. Already planned as a social media-heavy strategy, we were able to quickly adapt the rest of the plan to be executed online and we hit the ground running. Sure, we certainly missed interacting with the public at events like the CNE or the Royal, but all-in-all, Ontario Beef has had a fantastic first year with our consumer engagement strategy in place.

Let’s take a look!

Ontario Beef by the numbers Early in the year, we launched our first paid social media. While we still continue to post our content organically across all our channels, we have been strategically putting dollars behind the content that performs well or that we want in front of the most eyeballs. This allows us to target our messaging and who sees it. Constantly monitoring the analytics on our social channels and website, we are able to determine who is most likely to interact with our content, what types of content and messaging resonates the most with them, and how they are interacting with it when they see it. This allows us to be very intentional with our spending and stretch the most out of our dollars. 2020 – or Year #1 – has certainly shown us the impact made by putting money behind our content.

So, where are we at?

In 2020 so far, our content has: • reached over 3.7 million people • delivered over 780,000 engagements • driven 55,000 visits to the website • made over 18 million impressions It should be noted that a significant portion of these numbers came through the “Ontario Beef Burger Battle” campaign in the summer. As our “Ask Your Local Butcher” campaign gets underway as this issue goes to print, we anticipate these numbers will continue to expand even more significantly before year-end! Our butcher shop campaign includes similar tactics as the burger battle with paid social and influencer partnership, while also including our first out-of-home advertising. We have secured a number of transit shelter ads in the GTA and Ottawa and KitchenerWaterloo areas near butcher shops we know are carrying Ontario beef products. We look forward to seeing how this campaign performs.

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What we have learned this year is that our audience is very engaged and there is a big appetite for Ontario Beef content (pardon the pun!). We will continue to capitalize on that by ensuring we continue to have meaningful calls to action, and by providing value to the consumers.

We’ve got “stuff”!

After months of planning, we finally have some Ontario Beef swag and promotional items available for those interested.

We’ve got hats, face masks, t-shirts, window clings, recipe books, kids’ colouring books and more. All of these are great for a retail setting, at events, or simply for beef farmers to showcase their pride in their products! We have plans to continue expanding this offering as the brand evolves. If you are interested in obtaining promotional items, or if you have ideas for other things we should look into, please contact Jenn at the BFO office.

What else are we up to?

We have also been hard at work on a number of projects and activities, including a new TESA video, recipe videos, and a virtual-360 video tour of two beef farms (feedlot and cow-calf) that launched at the virtual Royal in November. For more of the virtual tours, be sure to check out the Farm and Food Care article on page 24.

Speaking of the Royal, we participated in the virtual event with our own “booth” in the Agriculture Zone. While the live event is now over, you can still “visit” our booth and access the great content and resources for a full year, so be sure to check it out. It’s also a great resource to share with the teachers in your networks!

One of our most exciting upcoming projects is our new partnership with AgScape to develop beef-specific lesson plans to be used by us, as well as by AgScape as part of their Teacher Ambassador Program offerings. Developed with an Ontario-certified teacher, each of the three lesson plans will have direct Ontario curriculum links and will focus on topics such as the environment, animal care and careers within the broader beef industry. The lessons will be geared towards students in grades 7-12, and will be ready to launch in time for the new school year next fall.

Lastly, please remember that between these updates, the best way to keep up with our current activity is to follow us on our social media channels and check out ontbeef.ca. If you have questions, concerns or ideas, please reach out any time. We are always happy to chat! OB

CANADA BEEF UPDATE Make-it-Beef Club Still Going Strong

By Michele McAdoo, Executive Director, Brand & Communications, Canada Beef

T

he Make-it-Beef (MIB) club was launched in October 2007 to over 7,000 consumers. Developed as an educational tool, the program was first delivered to a dedicated audience accessed through the Heart and Stroke Cookbook’s giveaway contest, as featured in Reader’s Digest Magazine. Its goal was to help consumers with meal planning and the preparation of heart-healthy and flavourful beef-centred meals at home, informed by the latest nutritional science.

Today, the focus of the MIB club has evolved into a monthly newsletter with many different styles and choices of recipes along with information about all things beef. And membership has grown to a whopping 40,000 readers.

While some experts predicted the end of email marketing programs in light of the popularity of social media, a closer look at the MIB marketing strategy demonstrates that email has a strong place in delivering the brand message, along with the recruitment and retention of a loyal customer base.

With this in mind, Canada Beef recently surveyed MIB club members to determine how to continue the enthusiasm for the initial MIB initiative, and further engage and increase the MIB audience. The survey netted over 2,000 survey respondents who shared their thoughts and impressions.

Significantly, 95% of respondents read some or all issues, which indicates that newsletter reach is effective and readership is highly engaged. Furthermore, 87% of MIB subscribers refer back to newsletters for cooking inspiration and meal planning, demonstrating significant loyalty to content.

In addition to the recipes, members value the information on the Canadian beef industry and cattle production practices. In fact, many Canadian beef producers are MIB members and share MIB information with friends and family.

Members value the recipes and industry information, but they also appreciate the specific information on buying and cooking beef. Many people are intimidated by the variety and options for beef cuts, and the information provided helps educate home cooks about how to buy, cook and serve beef.

Want to join “the herd”? If you aren’t already a member of the Make it Beef e-newsletter, sign up at www.canadabeef.ca/sign-mib-club/ OB

GALLOWAY

(Photo courtesy of Creamery Hill Farm)

Happy Holidays

Stay Healthy and Safe from The Eastern Canadian Galloway Association For additional information, please visit our website: www.easterncanadiangalloway.ca

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ONTARIO BEEF MARKET DEVELOPMENT

By John Baker, Director of the Ontario Beef Market Development Program john@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

OCFB QA Becomes Approved Certifying Body for CRSB’s Certified Sustainable Beef Framework

T

he market demand for beef raised according to sustainability standards, as set by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB), continues to increase. With the recent certification of the Cargill Guelph facility to process and track cattle originating from CRSB-certified farms and ranches, the Ontario beef industry is well positioned to meet this increasing market demand.

“The Ontario Corn Fed Beef program has a long-standing partnership with the Cargill Guelph facility, and we look forward to leveraging this partnership to build its supply of beef from certified sustainable farms,” says Jim Clark, Executive Director of Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association and the Ontario Corn Fed Beef program. “With over 500 feedlots in Ontario already certified under the Ontario Corn Fed Beef quality assurance program, and strong retail and foodservice partners who have been very clear in their desire to source certified sustainable beef in Ontario, we have a strong base to start with.”

“We were very pleased to hear that the Ontario Corn Fed Beef Quality Assurance program was recently approved to become a certifying body for the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef,” says Richard Horne, Executive Director of the Beef Farmers of Ontario. “As a result of this announcement, Ontario’s feedlot sector and the bulk of finished animals in the province will be well positioned to take advantage of sustainable programming. Local beef raised under a quality assurance program was identified through our public research as an important purchasing driver for consumers, so having a made-in-Ontario program that is also recognized nationally will serve our members and consumers well.”

Meeting the increased market and processor demand for sustainable beef by increasing the number of certified sustainable feedlots also increases demand for calves from certified sustainable cow-calf and backgrounding operations.

“We are pleased with the Ontario Corn Fed Beef program’s commitment to supporting their producers in demonstrating sustainable practices in Ontario feedlot operations by adding this element to their already successful quality assurance program,” says Anne Wasko, CRSB Chair. “Incorporating CRSB certification into their program is a win-win for Ontario’s beef industry with a single streamlined audit process, and will help meet consumer demand for sustainably raised beef.”

“This partnership aligns with Cargill’s commitment to responsible and sustainable beef production,” says Matt Gibney, General Manager at the Cargill Guelph facility. “In collaboration with the Ontario Corn Fed Beef program, we are pleased to be able to deliver more beef from CRSB-certified sustainable farms to our customers.”

The vision of the Ontario Corn Fed Beef program since its inception in 2001 is to ensure the long-term viability of cattle production in the province of Ontario. The program has grown to over 500 registered members who produce over 300,000 cattle annually, becoming one of the largest farmer-owned beef programs in Canada.

Tell your sustainability story through CRSB certification Consumers are increasingly interested in how their food is produced and are seeking reassurance about the practices used to raise beef in Canada. From land and water stewardship to supporting local communities, and from animal care to innovations that improve efficiency and productivity, CRSB certification provides producers with recognition for the sustainable practices they already employ on Canadian beef farms and ranches.

Continued on page 16.

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13

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Ontario Charolais breeders.

to everyone who purchased Ontario Charolais Bulls and Females in 2020.

THANK YOU

Check out www.ontariocharolais.com OR contact our secretary Doris Aitken at 519–323–2538

LEADING THE WAY TO PROFITS

CHAROLAIS

OMAFRA UPDATE 2020 Forage Seasonal Summary

By Christine O’Reilly, Forage and Grazing Specialist, OMAFRA • www.omafra.on.ca

2019/2020 Winter Conditions Much of the province had a mild 2019/2020 winter with average amounts of precipitation. Areas of Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Huron, Grey, Bruce, Timiskaming, Cochrane, Rainy River and Kenora received below-average winter precipitation.

Forages broke dormancy early in much of the province with green-up starting in mid-March in the southwest. Overall, reports of winterkill were normal or below normal levels, except in Prescott and Russell, where high amounts of alfalfa winterkill occurred. Alfalfa snout beetle could be a contributing factor in these winterkill reports as it is known to be present in these two counties, as well as in fields in neighbouring counties in eastern Ontario. Alfalfa snout beetle larvae girdle the taproot, often completely severing the root. Signs of injury are apparent in late fall but can go unnoticed and be reported as winterkill the next spring (Figure 1).

Hay and Haylage Planting intentions were up compared to 2019 in response to the previous year’s winterkill issues. Much of the new seeding in southwestern, central and eastern Ontario was planted by the end of April due to early snow melt and average or below-average rainfall.

Despite early green-up, cool conditions persisted until late May this year, which reduced GDD accumulation and slowed forage growth. Yields varied across the province with earlier-cut fields generally yielding lower than expected. First cut on dairy farms was fully underway by the first week of June in the southwest and the northwest, and by the second week of June in central, eastern, and northeastern Ontario.

For second and subsequent cuts, yield reports reflected rainfall patterns. Potato leafhopper pressure was high in these stunted crops as “hopperburn” reduced yields in affected fields. Increased rainfall in much of the province in August increased disease pressure in alfalfa, which could affect crop yields and persistence.

Many producers harvested alfalfa during the fall rest period to boost forage inventories going into winter. This added stress on the crop increases the risk of winterkill. Producers should monitor these fields 14

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with plant counts in the fall and at green-up. Plant count thresholds decrease with stand age and can be found in Table 1. Fields with plant counts below the threshold have significantly reduced yield potential, so it is most economical to terminate those fields, rotate them into a non-alfalfa crop, and establish new stands elsewhere.

Table 1. Alfalfa Plant Count Guidelines Age of Stand

No. of Healthy Plants/Square Foot

New seeding

20+ plants

Year 1

12-20 plants

Year 2

8-12 plants

Year 3+

5 plants

Pastures Pastures that had adequate rest in fall 2019 looked good in the spring, and pastures that were overgrazed in the fall grew very little by comparison. Cool spring conditions meant grass growth was slow, and some pastures were hard-pressed to carry livestock until the delayed first cut of hay came off.

Spring grazing management and summer rainfall affected the duration and severity of the summer slump on farms. Many farms were forced to start feeding stored forage soon after first cut was harvested, and in some places fed livestock for several weeks.

Much of the province received average or above-average rainfall in August, which along with cooler temperatures, encouraged pasture regrowth that enabled producers to graze into the fall.

Annual Forage Crops Cereal rye forage yields were average to excellent and helped extend forage inventories to first cut.

Some producers were forced to take silage corn off early due to low inventories.

Reports suggest yields were average to good. Fields that have been in corn for three or more consecutive years with repeated use of Bt rootworm hybrids are at high risk of developing Bt-resistant corn

rootworm populations. Corn rootworms can cause significant silage yield losses even before symptoms like lodging and goose-necking appear (Figure 2). To reduce corn rootworm populations, producers should rotate out of corn for at least one year, but ideally for the next two to three years. More information on managing Bt-resistant corn rootworm in silage corn is available on FieldCropNews.com.

Sorghum-sudangrass acres were down from 2019 but remained higher than past normal levels. An early frost in mid-September challenged harvest and grazing plans by increasing the risk of prussic acid poisoning in livestock.

Annual forages and cover crops established after winter wheat generally yielded very well.

These crops helped boost forage inventories going into winter or extended the grazing season.

BULL AND FEMALE SALE AT THE FARM Sunday, March 21st, 2021, at 2:00pm Open house and brunch 11:00am – 2:00pm

2 year old, long yearling and yearling bulls – horned and polled Many calving ease options for use on heifers Follow yearling bull and heifer evaluations at www.agsights.com Many thanks to those who have supported and shown an interest in the program

Roger Maloney and Helen Lynett 2420 Jermyn Line, Indian River, ON K0L 2B0 705.295.6439 Roger: 705.761.7316 roger@mlcattleco.com

Agricorp The Forage Rainfall Plan, delivered by Agricorp, paid out $6.6 million under the insufficient rainfall option due to the dry spring and early summer conditions. Another $1.4 million has been paid out under the excess rainfall option. This makes 2020 the highest payout year to date ($8 million), followed by 2016 ($7.5 million) and 2012 ($5.7 million).

Over 94,000 acres were insured under the standard and premium options of the New Forage Seeding production insurance program in 2020. Total claims paid were $960,000.

www.mlcattleco.com

Upcoming Events March 9, 10 & 11, 2021 – The Profitable Pastures conference will take place as webinars. Details will be made available on the Ontario Forage Council website. OB

Changes to OBCFPP Licenced Dealers List Now Licenced

No Longer Licenced

Country Dealer Gingrich Veal Transport, 1267388 Ontario Incorporated Harriston, Ont.

Country Dealer Simon Bourbonnais Moose Creek, Ont.

Holstock Farm Ltd. Harriston, Ont.

Maple Row Farm Addison, Ont. The entire OBCFPP list can be found on the OMAFRA website at 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

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Continued from page 12. – OCFB

QA Becomes Approved Certifying Body for CRSB’s Certified Sustainable Beef Framework

Retail and foodservice companies want to satisfy consumer demand for responsibly raised products by sourcing beef that has been raised according to sustainability standards while telling the story of sustainable beef production to their customers.

Producers can get involved in the program, which connects the whole supply chain from primary producers to retailers, and reap the benefits of participating in sustainable beef supply chains.

“TrustBIX provides third-party chain of custody for the live animals as they move through the supply chain from farm of origin to point of harvest, as well as anonymized data analysis, supporting Cargill in their sustainable beef program. We are excited to have Ontario Corn Fed Beef program recognized as an approved auditing body to increase program capacity and volume. Collaboration between our two groups is moving forward to provide seamless data flow,” shared Deborah Wilson, Chief Industry Engagement Officer for TrustBIX Inc. How can I get my feedlot eligible for CRSB certification?

Whether or not they are currently certified under the Ontario Corn Fed Beef quality assurance program, feedlots simply need to contact the Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association office to schedule a training session and an on-site audit with an Ontario Corn Fed Beef quality assurance auditor.

There are no fees for audit services for feedlots wishing to become certified under the Ontario Corn Fed Beef quality assurance program

and/or the Ontario Corn Fed Beef quality assurance CRSB certification.

For more information, contact info@ontariocornfedbeef.com How does this affect the cow-calf and backgrounder sectors in Ontario?

Increased market demand for CRSB-certified beef and increased processor demand for fed cattle from CRSB-certified feedlots also increases demand for calves from CRSB operations certified under Verified Beef Production Plus or Where Food Comes From.

Certified sustainable producers throughout the beef supply chain can ensure their cattle stay in the certified sustainable supply chain by marketing cattle to other known CRSB-certified farms, ranches or feedlots in the supply chain.

What do I need to do to ensure my calves are eligible for certified sustainable supply chains?

To qualify for a CRSB claim on beef produced in the Ontario Corn Fed Beef quality assurance program, animals must come from cow-calf and backgrounding operations that are CRSB-certified by an approved certifying body (Verified Beef Production Plus or Where Food Comes From). Certified operations must also register for TrustBIX, ensure their contact information is up to date, and authorize their auditor and TrustBIX to include their cattle’s data in anonymous aggregated reporting.

Do I have to share my data with TrustBIX? Producers do not need to share their data with TrustBIX in order to be recognized as a CRSB-certified feedlot or to have their cattle contribute to a sustainable beef supply chain.

However, in order to be eligible to receive the financial credit payments awarded to certified producers by Cargill on behalf of their participating customers, producers do need to register with TrustBIX and share basic information (contact information and RFID ear tag movements within the CCIA database). No additional information is required to be eligible.

According to TrustBix, the Cargill sustainable beef sourcing program has paid over $1 million in financial credit payments to producers since its inception in 2018. Visit www.trustbix.com for more information.

For questions regarding cattle qualification or other aspects of Cargill’s sustainable beef sourcing program, visit CargillSustainableBeef.ca. OB

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Local Associations Host Creative Events Amid Pandemic

By Jeanine Moyer

D

espite event cancellations and COVID-19 restrictions across the province, a number of agricultural events and promotional activities took place in rural communities in 2020. For event organizers, it was a challenge, and for the attendees, the events were something to look forward to at a time when it felt like everything else was cancelled. Here’s a look at three local associations that took creative approaches to host and participate in events that safely brought their local communities together to celebrate their local agricultural communities.

Drive-thru festival offers fall fair ‘feel’ More than 800 carloads of Prince Edward County residents and visitors enjoyed a new experience this year: a fall drive-thru festival. Hosted by the Prince Edward Agricultural Society, the event replaced what would have been the annual Picton Fair.

From 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on October 3, 2020, vehicles traveled around a racetrack on the fairground and through a large event shed to experience local agriculture and entertainment. Organizers featured agricultural displays, performers, livestock and animals, and even included a food court featuring a local favourite, Mrs. Mini Donuts and chocolate milk donated from local dairy farmers.

The safari-type event was organized to adhere to phase two COVID-19 provincial regulations by requiring all attendees stay in their vehicles and limiting the number of volunteers and organizers at the event itself.

“We brought the fall fair feeling to the community at a time when everyone needed a little distraction and safe entertainment,” says Tina Hiddink, Secretary-Treasurer for the Prince Edward Cattlemen’s Association and agricultural society volunteer. “Every other event in our area had been cancelled in 2020, and our agricultural society wanted to stay active, so we surveyed the community looking for ideas and came up with the drive thru-event.”

A highlight of the event and winner of one of the best displays was the Prince Edward Cattlemen’s Association exhibit. Hiddink says their display provided visitors with a genuine “fair atmosphere” as they travelled through the livestock shed. The group arranged a visual presentation of pictures from steer shows hosted at the fair over past years, complete with audio of an auctioneer calling at a cattle sale.

Quilting, canned preserves, horticulture and youth colouring contest 18

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displays completed the “fall fair feel” as vehicles drove through the shed. Antique tractors, farm equipment, fire and rescue displays, and a lumberjack entertainer rounded out the drive-thru experience.

Volunteers were overwhelmed with positive feedback from the event. While admission was free, donations were accepted, enabling the agricultural society to donate $5,000 to food banks and a local hospital fund.

If you serve beef, they will come For 48 years, Bruce County Beef Farmers has hosted an annual beef barbecue, and they weren’t going to let a pandemic cheat them out of their 49th year. That’s why a group of local volunteers began planning the July 24, 2020, event in late spring, despite the ongoing provincial lockdown at the time. “We knew we wanted to do something for the community in 2020, but it needed to be safe and adhere to COVID-19 rules and restrictions,” says Jen Legge, Bruce County Beef Farmers Secretary. “We had lots of ideas and the one that made sense was a drive-thru barbecue to replace what would have traditionally been our annual beef barbecue and social event.”

Organizers were shocked at the speed tickets sold out for the barbecue, and while the annual event usually draws 575 people, the 2020 event was capped at 500 tickets. “We didn’t know what to expect so we stopped selling tickets at 500,” says Legge, explaining they were concerned about how long it would take to serve meals, the risk of long wait lines on a hot summer day, and concerns that people might get out of their vehicles to socialize and break gathering restrictions.

Legge says 120 vehicles passed through to pick up their Bruce County beef dinner, with some travelling from more than an hour away. The group took advantage of an audience confined to their cars, offering literature on beef and local agriculture. They also handed out a flyer advertising event sponsors from previous years. “We didn’t ask for sponsorship for our 2020 event, but wanted to recognize our community sponsors and encourage everyone to support those local businesses,” explains Legge.

The event was a highlight for organizers and drive-thru diners, and the funds raised allowed Bruce County Beef Farmers to donate $1,000 to the local Meals on Wheels program. Legge says they look forward to celebrating their 50th Bruce County Beef Farmers barbecue in 2021, “no matter what happens.”

Mystery car tour caravan a success On a sunny Sunday in September that would have otherwise been filled with fall fair events, Lambton Cattlemen’s Association drew the interest of 60 producers to participate in a mystery car tour of three local beef farms.

“We couldn’t have done this event in any other year,” notes Blair Williamson, Lambton Cattlemen’s Association Vice President and BFO Advisory Council member. “Producers were eager to attend an event and we drew attendees from Lambton, Middlesex, Grey and surrounding counties.”

Organizing an event under COVID protocols was challenging enough, and the Lambton committee was tested further with new provincial restrictions implemented the day before the event. So

instead of a travelling caravan Looking for Community of vehicles touring around the Engagement Ideas for 2021? county together, attendees were • Create a social media platform divided into three groups that or website rotated through three farms • Submit a column or and abided by provincial advertisement to a local gathering restrictions. newspaper “It was a challenge, but • Sponsor 4-H and local youth everyone was required to programs register ahead of time and we really kept the farm tour - v irtual judging or drive-by achievement programs locations a mystery to prevent additional people from showing • Sponsor scholarship or up and breaking gathering bursaries limitations,” says Williamson.

• Run advertising with a local Despite the last-minute radio station setbacks, the event was a • Develop an e-newsletter success. Each group safely • Secure urban/highway toured through three farms: billboards or road signs Mooregrove Farms, a cow-calf • Develop a community operation and home of Chad cookbook focused on beef and Debbie Anderson; Eyredale recipes Farms, a feedlot and home • Create a farm-themed of Ralph and Brenda Eyre; community “photo booth” Bearcreek Farms, a birth-to-beef • Host a virtual cooking operation and home of Murray demo featuring a local chef and Sandy Shaw. highlighting Ontario beef Boxed lunches were catered • Partner with a local butcher and delivered to each location shop to engage with customers by the Plympton-Wyoming • Host a drive-thru, farm-themed Agricultural Society, and were Christmas light tour enjoyed from the socially • Consider running a beefdistanced comfort of themed “Meals on Wheels” lawn chairs. service “Everyone enjoyed themselves • Host a farm-themed front and was happy to get out to porch or barnyard drive-by visit the farms,” says Williamson. photo contest “And we are so grateful to the tour hosts who, due to the last-minute changes, gave three tours that day, one to each of the groups.” OB

THANK YOU! Bidders Buyers

To all the and who supported the Vancise Cattle Company and Walnut Drive Farms Production Sale.

We are proud to say we sold cattle into three provinces.

If anyone is looking for stocking stuffer ideas, we have Red Baldy Heifer Calves available private treaty.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.

VANCISE CATTLE COMPANY INC. • John Vancise Jr. • 705 351 2442 • johnvancise4@hotmail.com • Stayner, ON

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19

AGSIGHTS UPDATE Virtual Farming

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

S

ince 1993, AgSights (formerly BIO) has been dedicated to creating and supporting innovative tools that will advance the beef industry.

At that time, our sole focus was providing industry-leading genetic evaluation services to Ontario’s commercial beef industry through the orchestration of private and central bull tests. Fast forward 27 years, and you find the same company, now called AgSights, with the same double helix logo, offering a suite of innovative solutions built around our values of trust, value and integrity. Although much has changed in our industry over the past 27 years, the need for innovative solutions that help farmers create value and ensure integrity has never been greater. Markets continue to demand documentation and accreditation to satisfy the increasing number of consumers who want to know more. We recognize the need for our industry to become more integrated and standards-driven if we wish to remain competitive in domestic and international markets. Industry needs are top of mind as we refine, redesign and grow our products and services.

AgSights Genetic Evaluations Meeting the demands of consumers begins with the inclusion of consumer-driven traits in the animal selection process. This begins with AgSights’ genetic evaluations. Recent refinements to our genetic evaluations system have now enabled us to offer both 84-day and 112day test length options to better meet the time and cost constraints of commercial and seedstock operations.

Bull and heifer test data (ADG, across-breed EPDs, etc.) was classically offered in BIO (AgSights) Test Reports. We recognize that many interested buyers and consignors did not understand these reports, and often did not use them. We’ve heard this feedback and are now focused on designing new reports and tools that will make it easier to identify animals that meet your and your clients’ needs. This has included the launch of Amplify, a free online tool that simplifies the animal selection process (read my previous article to learn more).

Currently, we are collaborating with major breed associations and others to make it even easier for both commercial and seedstock producers to access the tools and information they need to easily make informed selection decisions. There is even more in the pipeline that will ensure we are able to continue to offer genetic solutions that are ready for the future of the Canadian beef industry.

May your days be

M & B erry

right

Happy holidays from the Ontario Angus Association

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Go360|bioTrack Now that you’ve selected the animals that meet the needs of consumers, how can you “prove it” to your market? This is where Go360|bioTrack and bioLinks come in. Since HerdLink in the 1990s, AgSights has been designing and supporting herd management software that saves time, tracks pertinent information and helps you make informed business decisions.

Go360|bioTrack is our latest rendition.

In 2017, we began designing a herd management software that would prepare beef producers for today and tomorrow. The

focus of Go360|bioTrack is ease of use, mobility, integration and customization. Whether it be capturing chute-side information, calving in the rolling hills of Grey County, or looking to meet the requirements of verification programs, Go360|bioTrack is able to help. The software is able to record information from birth to death, including genetic evaluations, birth, performance, health, reproduction, movements and more on any device. Information that feeds customizable reports helps to empower your business decisions. Collaboration with various industry groups and initiatives such as Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) will ensure you capture all information needed to enter their associated markets.

bioLinks You’ve made the right selection decisions and captured the necessary information throughout the animal’s life to add value to your products. The final piece is offering your products and their attributes to the consumer. There are a variety of options available to do this. Larger operations will simply use auctions or order buyers to market their cattle, but often the value of the captured information is not recognized. The growth of VBP+ and CRSB provides an option to capture this value.

Smaller operations may be looking for direct-to-market or local options for marketing their products. This is where bioLinks comes in. bioLinks is a web-based production, inventory and sales tracking software, coupled with point-of-sale tools and online store. With

bioLinks, businesses can track the production and inventory of individual cuts that come out of each carcass. Products can then be offered over the counter, at farmers markets, or through a customizable online store. You can focus on meeting the needs of your customers and leave the paperwork to bioLinks as it records and tracks any type of sale (cash, debit, credit card) in real time. Currently, we are improving bioLinks to add more online store features to assist businesses with the new world of online food purchases.

Putting it All Together In the near future we will be creating an automated connection between Go360|bioTrack and bioLinks. With this connection you will be able to see the specific carcass data in Go360|bioTrack of an animal you harvested in bioLinks. This will help equip you with information that directly affects your bottom line. At the same time, you will be able to attach product attributes to your individual products in bioLinks by linking into Go360|bioTrack. This could include antibiotic-free or environmentally friendly claims based on the production or AgSights genetic evaluation records you keep in Go360|bioTrack. Whether used separately or together, AgSights products and services are designed to be flexible and customizable to meet the needs of any business.

Although much has changed since the inception of “BIO� in 1993, we are still focused on designing and supporting innovative solutions that create value for our clients.

Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season and all the best in the new year. OB

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21

RESEARCH UPDATE

Beef in the Spotlight on Farm Tour Day for New Guelph Faculty Members

By Lilian Schaer, Livestock Research Innovation Corporation

B

eef Farmers of Ontario Past President Joe Hill’s farm was the first stop on a farm tour day organized by Livestock Research and Innovation Corporation (LRIC) for new University of Guelph faculty.

The tour was part of a new mentorship program launched earlier this year by LRIC to connect early-stage faculty with the Ontario livestock industry. The initial cohort includes nine participants who have all recently come to Guelph as faculty in the Ontario Agricultural College, Ontario Veterinary College or College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.

“There is a growing number of faculty who work on research for the livestock sector but who are unfamiliar with the issues facing the industry,” says LRIC CEO Mike McMorris. “This new mentorship program gives them a chance to gain some insights that will hopefully help them in their work.”

According to McMorris, innovation requires many things, including sound research rooted in industry needs, strong working relationships between university faculty and industry, and effective technology transfer involving many organizations. LRIC’s mission is to help drive innovative thinking and adoption of innovation in the Ontario livestock industry.

Hill, who runs a feedlot operation near Fergus with his family, is also a past chair and board director with LRIC. He’s an advocate for innovation and building ties between industry and the academic community for meaningful research.

On the tour day, he answered questions from the visiting researchers on a wide range of beef topics, from cattle diets and lifespan to housing, welfare, disease problems and environmental issues.

“I’m happy there is a genuine interest on the part of research faculty to learn more about our industry,” Hill says. “It’s part of LRIC’s mandate to try to connect farmers and researchers, so I was pleased to host this group on our farm.”

Being able to meet farmers face to face to start to build a personal connection was a key benefit of the tour day for Heather Murphy, an associate professor with the Ontario Veterinary College who is working in the area of One Health.

“It lets me be able to put myself in their shoes, in terms of Name Jennifer Ellis Amin Komeili Huiyan Li Heather Murphy Erica Pensini Dave Renaud Rafael Santos Charlotte Winder Samuel Workenhe

22

identifying priorities that will improve their lives, their farming environment, and the environment for the well-being of their animals,” she says.

The mentorship program includes 10 sessions in a mix of webinarstyle education and visits to Ontario livestock and poultry farms. And although the original goal was to roll out all sessions this year, the programming for the first cohort is being spread out over a longer time span due to COVID-19.

In the first session, participants met each other and heard presentations from coalition industry groups including LRIC and Poultry Industry Council for a high-level overview of the sector.

The second session introduced mentees to Ontario livestock and poultry organizations where representatives, including from Beef Farmers of Ontario, each presented an overview of their sector, their support for research, and their advice for early career researchers.

“We had exceptional industry participation,” notes McMorris. “The key advice for researchers was around the importance of building a relationship with industry and a need for much-improved technology transfer.”

For Rafael Santos, an environmental engineering professor who works in carbon capture, use and sequestration, as well as solid waste and wastewater treatment and environmental remediation, the mentorship program is offering a unique opportunity to learn more about a specific sector - something no other industries are making available to faculty.

“I decided to participate in the mentorship Faculty Research interests program to get to know the work of others Department of Animal at University of Guelph, whom I may never Dairy nutrition and poultry modelling Biosciences, OAC meet under normal circumstances, and to School of Engineering, CPES Soft tissue mechanics get better insight on the local and regional School of Engineering, CPES Medical biosensing and micro/nanofabrication research needs related to livestock,” says Santos. “I also want to seek inspiration Department of Pathobiology, OVC Water quality and public health for possible future research topics or Green process engineering, soil remediation, School of Engineering, CPES collaborations and learn the language of water treatment those in the livestock industry to write better Department of Population Dairy calf health and welfare project proposals in the future.”

Medicine, OVC In addition to the Hill farm, participants Carbon capture, use and sequestration; also visited a sheep and beef grazing School of Engineering, CPES solid waste and wastewater treatment; operation near Melancthon in Dufferin environmental remediation County as part of their tour.

Department of Population Dairy cattle and small ruminant health and More information about LRIC’s mentorship Medicine, OVC pain management program is available at livestockresearch.ca Immunotherapies for cancer; vaccine and or by contacting LRIC at 519.766.5464 or by Department of Pathobiology, OVC antiviral development for livestock diseases email at info@livestockresearch.ca. OB

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LIMOUSIN THE NATURAL GENETIC ADVANTAGE FROM BIRTH TO PLATE

250 HEAD COW/CALF Craig and Lorna Marr 2013 MB Commercial Breeder of the Year SILVER RIDGE, MB

Year after year, we buy Limousin bulls because they give us great calves that we get a premium for. Raising superior calves is why we farm.

500 HEAD BLACK COW HERD Gord Kozroski 2013 SK Commercial Breeder of the Year

700 HEAD COW/CALF

Connor Bros Ltd HANNA, ALBERTA

Using Limousin bulls on our black cows gave us calving ease and a cross breeding advantage. Our ranch was able to sell market topping 1000 pound grass yearlings in late July.

GULL LAKE, SK

We use quiet Limousin bulls for the big beefy calves with great hair and hip. They have been our terminal cross for over 20 years and the calves are vigourous at birth, do well in the feedlot, and have great carcass yield.

ATTENTION PRODUCERS Marketing Limousin influence calves this fall?

List them on our website and contact the CLA for marketing assistance!

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and Happy New Year.

Contact any of these Breeders to arrange for a private viewing of Cattle For Sale 3 RIDGE FARMS Jon Bell 217294 Conc. 3 Owen Sound, ON N4K 5N5 519-378-4006 roundbale14@hotmail.com BEE ZEE ACRES Mary Anne & Bill Zwambag RR #4, Glencoe, ON N0L 1M0 519-287-3219 CLARK CATTLE CO. David Clark 2280 McCullough Rd. Port Hope, ON L1A 3V7 905-449-0149 clarkcattle1@hotmail.ca DARLING FARMS 4172 County Rd 25 Castleton, ON K0K 1M0 905-375-4019 dmdarling13@gmail.com

AFTER HOURS LIMOUSINS Rob & Erin Weppler 117078 Grey Rd. 3 , Tara, ON 519-375-6108 Rob@gbtel.ca LAKESIDE FARM Wayne and Nancy Lawrence 263657 Southgate Rd. 26 RR#4 Durham, ON N0G 1R0 519-369-2806 PINCH HILL LIMOUSIN Paul, Brandon & Chad Homer Stittsville, Ontario 519-339-9659 or 613-987-0822 pinchhill@gmail.com POSTHAVEN LIMOUSIN John and Ena Post #7396 Sideroad #20, RR #2, Alma, Ontario N0B 1A0 519-846-9320 ejpost@posthavenlimousin.com

GIBSON FARMS Dave and Emily Gibson 2148 Concession 4, RR1, Ripley Ontario N0G2R0 Dave-519-357-6174 Emily 519-440-9907 HILLSIDE FARMS Ray and Stacie Stanton 4250 King Road, King City, ON, L7B 1K4 416-505-0707 rays@londonproperty.ca KOYLE FARMS LIMOUSIN Dwight & Catherine Koyle 33429 6th Line, RR#3 Iona Station, ON N0L 1P0 519-764-2697 • cdkoyle@gtn.net

Ontario Limousin Association

Chad Homer, President • Phone: 519-339-9659

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 NEW LIFE LIMOUSIN Justin and Melissa Burgess 261269 Conc. 18 Hanover, ON N4N 3B8 519-270-5415 New.life.limousin@gmail.com SMART LIMOUSIN Garry and Sheila Smart 137606 Grey Road 12 RR#2, Meaford, ON N4L 1W6 519-538-4877 www.smartlimousin.com 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 TA R IO BEEF • D EC EMB ER 20 20

23

FARM & FOOD CARE ONTARIO

Virtual Food & Nutrition Forum Addresses Misconceptions in Beef Industry

By Kelly Daynard, Executive Director, Farm & Food Care Ontario

F

arm & Food Care hosted the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair’s virtual Food & Nutrition Forum on November 10. The event was supported, in part, by Canada Beef and attracted 250 educators, registered dietitians, students and professional home economists from across the country.

The kick-off speaker for the day was Dr. Sara Place, Chief Sustainability Officer for Elanco, based out of New York.

Dr. Place’s topic focused on “The Real Impact of Livestock Farming on the Environment”. Her presentation addressed many commonly heard myths about livestock farming and ruminant agriculture, covering issues like environmental sustainability, feed vs. food competition, and climate change.

The first question she posed was “are livestock eating what could be human food?” She took the audience through research from the UNFAO and noted that about 86 per cent of feed eaten by livestock globally can’t be consumed by humans. She also highlighted many examples where cattle are able to eat by-products from other industries (called up-cycling), like canola meal, wheat millings or vegetable peelings.

Dr. Place estimated that for every 100 pounds of human food that come from crops, 37 pounds of by-products are generated. She used examples of citrus pulp from orange juice and almond hulls from almond milk, both of which can be mixed into rations and fed back to cattle.

She also explained the challenges that can come from different land types. Showing photos of rangeland from southern Arizona and Colorado, she noted these areas aren’t suitable for growing vegetables or other crops, but they’re ideal for grazing animals.

Dr. Place also addressed the North American trend of offering plant-based meat substitutes on menus. “What’s unique is that these companies are really leaning into this climate change message…that’s one of their marketing materials.” She asked the question, “what difference would changing diets make on greenhouse gases? It would make some difference but not to the magnitude that is expected.” She then went on to show a U.S. study that showed if every American went vegan and all livestock disappeared in the country, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 2.6 per cent – which is 0.3 per cent of 24

O N T A R I O B E E F • DE CE M BE R 2 0 2 0

global emissions. Overall, the removal of animals would result in diets that are unable in the long or short term to support the nutritional needs of the U.S. population without nutrient supplementation.

Wrapping up, Dr. Place talked about how important it is that plant and animal agriculture work together. “It’s not either or in agriculture.

It’s about how these things are connected and strengthening these connections. Livestock can add to the bounty. We can make it even better by improving animal health and welfare and improving the environment at the same time.”

Other speakers included Melissa Joy Dobbins, a registered dietitian out of Chicago on the topic of “From Science to Soundbites – Connecting the Dots and Communicating the Facts.” A farmer panel featured beef rancher Melissa Downing of Alberta, as well as canola and mushroom farmers from Saskatchewan and Ontario. The final speaker of the day was John Jamieson of the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity, who unveiled the results of their 2020 consumer research.

All presentations from the day can be seen at www.farmfoodcareon. org/royalfoodforum/

Beef Virtual Reality Tour Added to www.FarmFood360.ca The beef industry has a new resource to help Canadians learn more about how their food is produced on family beef farms. Beef Farmers of Ontario and Farm & Food Care have partnered to develop a new virtual reality tour, filmed this summer on two Ontario beef farms. The tour went live in November, joining 18 others on the site, including chicken and turkey farm tours also filmed in 2020.

The new beef farm tour features the Brown family’s Woodville feedlot and the Nesbitt family’s cow-calf farm near Nestleton. In the 360 virtual reality tour filmed in the feedlot and through four traditional videos filmed on both farms, the families talk about how they care for their cattle, what the animals eat, environmental sustainability on beef farms, and more. In a video entitled “Caring for Beef Cattle”, the Browns’ vet, Dr. Lois Batty, also appears on camera, talking about the role a veterinarian plays in ensuring optimal

animal health. People can access the tours on tablets and desktop computers, as well as through mobile phones and virtual reality devices. Already in 2020, the tours have received more than 2.5 million views from 750,000 users. This is a 300 percent increase compared to the same time period in 2019, and reflects Canadians turning online for their education and entertainment needs.

Fifth Edition of The Real Dirt on Farming The fifth edition of The Real Dirt on Farming was released in November. The nation-wide initiative, produced by Farm & Food Care, is designed to help Canadians connect with their food and the farmers who produce it.

New this edition will be a classroom resource currently being developed by Agriculture in the Classroom Canada. This resource will be completed in the winter of 2021 and will be delivered, along with the booklet, to classrooms across Canada. The publication is currently available online, in French and English, on a newly developed website platform at www.RealDirtonFarming.ca. Copies can also be ordered from that site.

In total, more than 25 companies and agribusinesses across Canada supported the 2020 initiative. Champion-level partners ($20,000+) included Cargill, Canada Beef, Canola Eat Well, CropLife Canada, Farm Credit Canada and Wallenstein Feed & Supply Ltd. Staff from both Beef Farmers of Ontario and Canada Beef served as content experts for the project. OB

ON TA R IO BEEF • D EC EMB ER 20 20

25

WHY

SHORTHORNS?

Ray & Beatty Ann Arthur along with their daughter & son-in-law Lori & Mick Lacharity operate Rocky Ridge Farm near Pakenham in the Ottawa Valley. Ray crops 200 acres, producing hay, corn silage, and oats on his clay ground to feed his 50-mother cow herd.

Calving spring and fall, they zero graze everything, feeding cattle year-round on the front 30 acres of the farm which is flat bedrock and makes a great feed yard.

Ray milked Ayrshire’s until 2005 when he switched over fully to beef. Initially, he tried some Exotics, and some other British breeds, but he got tired of “being pushed, smashed, beat and kicked”. Looking for something more docile, Ray started buying Shorthorn bulls and breeding up his cow base.

After 9 years using Shorthorn bulls, many of his cows are very high percentage Shorthorn. Ray was told he’d lose on weaning weights, but as he stated “there was no difference in weaning weights with the Shorthorns”.

Ray also finds the Shorthorn cows easier doing, with higher feed conversion allowing him to keep more cows.

For the last 6 years, Ray has sold his stocker calves which average 700lbs direct to a large 4000 head feedlot. The barn manager there says “we don’t have many shorts in here, but we are really happy with them”, which is a particular compliment considering Ray’s calves are only 40 out of 4000 in the feedlot. The manager finds their daily gains are good, and they are easy to finish, no special ration is needed to get the shine on them.

Ray has found that he is covered from all ends with Shorthorns!

Happy Holidays!

Blair Williamson, President - 519-808-0516 email: ridgeviewshorthorns@hotmail.com 26

O N T A R I O B E E F • DE CE M BE R 2 0 2 0

Follow us on Facebook and check our website for current news at

www.ontarioshorthorns.com

Auction Markets’ Holiday Sales Schedule 2020 The Beef Farmers of Ontario office will close at noon on December 24 and will be closed from December 25 - 28. The office will also be closed on December 31 and will re-open on January 2, 2021.

Aylmer Stockyards Inc.

Dec. 23 - Regular Sale Dec. 30 - Regular Sale & Stocker Sale

Ontario Livestock Exchange Inc.

Dec. 22 - Regular Tuesday Sale - Veal, Cows, Sheep, Lambs, Goats Dec. 23 - Special Wednesday Stocker Sale Dec. 24 - Regular Thursday Sale - Fed Cattle, Cows, Stockers, Dairy & Bob Calves Dec. 25-27 - Closed Dec. 28 - Closed, but receiving livestock after 3:00 p.m. for Tuesday’s sale Dec. 29 - Regular Tuesday Sale - Veal, Cows, Sheep, Lambs, Goats Dec. 30 - Special Wednesday Stocker Sale Dec. 31 - Regular Thursday Sale - Fed Cattle, Cows, Stockers, Dairy & Bob Calves Jan. 1-3, 2021 - Closed Jan. 4 - Closed, but receiving livestock after 3:00 p.m. for Tuesday’s sale Jan. 5 - Regular Schedule Resumes

Brussels Livestock

Dec. 22 - Fed Cattle & Cow Sale Dec. 23 - Veal & Lamb Sale Dec. 24-28 - No Sales Dec. 29 - Fed Cattle & Cow Sale Dec. 30 - Veal & Lamb Sale Dec. 31 - Jan. 1, 2021 - No Sales Jan. 2, 2021 - Stocker Sale Jan. 5 - Regular Schedule Resumes

Ontario Stockyards Inc. Dec. 21 - Regular Sale - Veal, Lambs, Goats, Sheep

Community Livestock Exchange Hoards Station

Dec. 15 - Regular Sale Dec. 22 - No Sale, Closed Dec. 29 - No Sale, Closed Jan. 5, 2021 - Regular Schedule Resumes

Ottawa Livestock Exchange/ Embrun Livestock

Dec. 21 - Embrun Regular Sale Dec. 22 - Open Dec. 23-27 - Closed Dec. 28 - Embrun, Regular Sale Dec. 29 - Open Dec. 30 - Jan. 1, 2021 - Closed Jan 4 - Regular Schedule Resumes

Denfield Livestock Exchange

Dec. 22 - Regular Sale Dec. 29 - Regular Sale

Renfrew Pontiac Livestock

Dec. 15 - Regular Sale Dec. 22 - No Sale, Closed Dec. 29 - No Sale, closed Jan. 5, 2021 - Regular Schedule Resumes

Kawartha Lakes Community Sale Barn Inc.

Dec. 19 - Regular Sale Dec. 25 - Jan. 1, 21 - Closed Jan. 2, 2021 - Regular Schedule Resumes

Temiskaming Livestock Dec. 14 - Regular Sale Dec. 21 - No Sale, Closed Exchange

Keady Livestock Market Ltd.

Dec. 15 - Regular Sale- Last sale of 2020 Dec. 16 - Jan. 11, 2021 - Closed Jan. 12, 2021 - First sale of the new year begins at 10:00 am.

Vankleek Hill Livestock Exchange Ltd.

Maple Hill Auction Market

Closed for the holiday season.

Sales will resume in the new year, for more information call 519.506.1400

Dec. 23 - Fed Cattle, Cows, Bulls & Stockers Dec. 24-27 - Closed Dec. 28 - Veal, Lambs, Goats & Sheep Dec. 30 - Fed Cattle, Cows, Bulls, Stockers Dec. 31 - Jan. 3, 2021 - Closed Jan. 4 - Regular Schedule Resume

Dec. 28 - No Sale, Closed Jan. 4, 2021 - Regular Schedule Resumes Dec. 21 - Regular Sale Dec. 23 - No Sale, Closed Dec. 28 - Regular Sale Dec. 30 - No Sale, Closed Jan. 4, 2021 - Regular Schedule Resumes

Wishing you and yours a very happy and safe holiday season!

ON TA R IO BEEF • D EC EMB ER 20 20

27

MARKET INFORMATION UPDATE

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

T

he fed cattle market for most of 2020 has been volatile as the market reacted to just about everything, from COVID-19-related plant closures to panic buying, backlogs and lockdowns. Fortunately, Ontario did not experience plant closures due to COVID-19.

The last couple months, the Ontario fed cattle market has been following the five-year average price trend, only at a lower level.

In fact, over the last three years the fed cattle market has traded basically sideways in the fall months, with this season showing no exception. However, prices are currently below the last two years by $6.00 to $12.00 cwt, but above the U.S. price and the Alberta price since March of this year. Moving forward, the estimated breakeven prices are sitting from $240.00 to $260.00 until the new year.

Beginning in the new year, the breakeven prices are estimated around $253.00 to $275.00 cwt from January into April 2021.

Ontario federal and provincial processing volumes are down this year with the total for steers, heifers and cows at 516,642 head as of October 31, 2020. This volume is down 11.5% from 2019 and 9.8% lower than October 31, 2018. Last September, the closure of the Ryding Regency plant reduced the Ontario capacity by around 11%, which is approximately the difference in this year’s decline. Ontario packers, both federal and provincial, have worked hard through the pandemic to keep numbers moving. Breaking volumes down further, the fed steers are at 341,355 head, down 6.72% from 2019 and 5% lower than 2018 as of October 31 (noting that fed steer processing volumes are still the fourth highest in the last ten years). Fed heifer volumes have declined by 17.6% from October 31, 2019, at 105,333 head, also down 10.5% from the same time in 2018. Cow processing volumes as of October 31, 2020, are at 69,954 head, down 22.4% from 2019 and 26% from 2018 (but above 2011, 2015 and 2016).

Carcass weights in Ontario have been averaging steady to lower than the last two years on a month-to-month basis, with the October 2020 average weight fully steady to 2019 and 2018. Canada-wide carcass weights are a different story. Generally, Canadian carcass weights are lighter than those in Ontario, but for the last two to three months the Canadian weight is steady to higher than the Ontario weights, mostly due to the backlog in the west.

28

O N T A R I O B E E F • DE CE M BE R 2 0 2 0

Exports of fed cattle and cows to the U.S. through Ontario ports are down from last year after starting out the year stronger. Once the pandemic hit, the demand for Ontario cattle declined and exports to the U.S. dropped considerably as the U.S. struggled to keep up with domestic volumes. However, on a week-to-week basis, the volumes going south of the border in October and November have increased but final tallies are not currently available.

The cull cow market has held its own this year, with prices above the last two years but below the five-year average. Volumes sold are steady with last year, although they started out considerably higher.

Since June, the ranges have been within the same as what’s been seen over the last five years.

The Ontario feeder and stocker cattle market saw strong prices for most weight categories for the first two quarters of 2020. Since August 2020, the heavier steers have been below 2018 prices and above 2019 prices, until September when the market started trending lower. Heavier heifers peaked in September with average prices well above the last two years, but from September onward have taken a downward turn. The lighter weights this last quarter of 2020 have traded stronger than 2019, but steady to slightly lower than 2018 prices. Most weight categories have seen stocker and feeder cattle prices drop in October and November as the price for feed increased. Volumes of replacements were down very slightly from last year but up from 2015 through to 2018. Markets continue to note that vaccinated and protocol cattle bring higher prices than nonvaccinated cattle, which sell on a tougher demand. OB

Continued on page 30.

ON TA R IO BEEF • D EC EMB ER 20 20

29

Continued from page 29. – Market

30

Info

O N T A R I O B E E F • DE CE M BE R 2 0 2 0

BEEF EXPORTS - CANADA

United States

Mexico

Jan. 1 - Sept. 30 % Change

Total 228,043 tonnes

Jan. 1 - Sept. 30 % Change

-28%

8,691 tonnes

Japan

Jan. 1 -Sept. 30

Total

33,425 tonnes

-48%

China Jan. 1 - Sept. 30

-32%

6,948 tonnes

-42%

BEEF PRODUCTION - CANADA

Jan. 1 - Nov. 14, 2020 Last Year Same Time

% Change

Fed

928,385 tonnes

940,587 tonnes

-1%

Non-fed

121,555 tonnes

151,784 tonnes

-20%

BEEF IMPORTS - CANADA

Jan. 1 - Nov. 14, 2020

Last Year Same Time % Change

US

98,344 tonnes

95,493 tonnes

Non-NAFTA

46,428 tonnes

35,283 tonnes

+32%

EU-28 (beef/veal total) 13,177 tonnes

2,931 tonnes

+350%

141,304 tonnes

+19%

Total

168,703 tonnes

+3%

LIVE CATTLE - CANADA IMPORTS

EXPORTS

EXPORTS

Jan. 1 - Sept. 30

Jan. 1 - Nov. 1, 2020

% Change

Slaughter steers & heifers 420,510

+5%

Purebred

2,954

Non-Purebred 173,222 Feeder steers & heifers

103,536

-42%

37,370

-8%

Cows & bulls

LIVE CATTLE EXPORTS - ONTARIO

Week ending Nov. 7, ‘20 Week ending Oct. 31, ‘20 Year to Date

Total to US.

2,815

2,839

107,791

Steers, Heifers, Cows 2,508

2,599

96,411

240

11,380

Bulls

307

ON TA R IO BEEF • D EC EMB ER 20 20

31

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 $4.50 per head Ontario license fee and a $1.00 per head national levy, for a total of a $5.50 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:

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.

Stocker:

Breeding Stock Females:

Culls:

Breeding Stock Bulls:

Calves:

b) Total BFO Check-off ($5.50xa)

Date:

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

Signature:

d) Total Amount Owing (b+c)

Print Name: Address:

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

HST# R107797128

!

BEEF BUSINESS LEADERS HAMMER MILLS FOR RENT Call today for all your feed processing needs.

BLUE MOUNTAINS FARM

BAR 5 STOCK FARMS

AgRig • Moorefield, Ontario • Ed Koster Jr. • 519-501-3624

Ron Sr. & Carla Nolan (905) 330-5299

Greg Nolan (416) 616-8834

NOLAN ANGUS FARMS

WHITTON-BROOK FARMS

Ron Jr. & Mike Nolan (416) 993-3218 / (519) 803-0555 WWW.BAR5.COM OFFICE: (519) 986-1330

Mitch & Brooke Whitton (647) 297-1517 WWW.ARTISANFARMS.CA

OFFICE: (905) 670-3450

636077 EUPHRASIA-HOLLAND TOWNLINE RR #3 MARKDALE, ON, N0C 1H0

Seeking Ontario Beef!

Fats & stockers for premium beef programs throughout Ontario!

Bar 5 Stock Farms

Brad Curran

bradc@artisanfarms.ca

519 357 7600

ArtisanFarms.ca | Info@ArtisanFarms.ca

636077 Euphrasia-Holland Townline RR #3 Markdale, ON, N0C 1H0

R.R #5 HOARDS STATION Campbellford, Ontario SALE BARN Dave DeNure 705-653-3660

Very reasonable rates! Deadline for February issue is January 10.

• 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

Call 519-763-8833 for information

32

www.bar5.com

Advertise in

BEEF BUSINESS LEADERS

O N T A R I O B E E F • DE CE M BE R 2 0 2 0

Charolais Bulls, Hay, Straw, Feedlot George & Dianne, Dwayne, Ashley and Cowal Miller RR 1, Jarvis, ON N0A 1J0

Ph (519) 587-2755

Cell (519) 429-5902

Ron Sr. & Carla Nolan Mobile: (905) 330-5299 Office: (519) 986-1330

CALL BRAD TODAY! P 905.670.3450 |

M i ller La n d & Li vesto c k

Advertise in

BEEF BUSINESS LEADERS Very reasonable rates!

Deadline for February 2021 issue is January 10.

Call 519-763-8833 for information

CALENDAR

Ontario Beef Industry Events December 21 - Blairs. Ag Opportunity Knocks, Saskatoon, SK December 31 - New Year’s Resolution Frozen Genetics Sale, Olds, AB January 6 - Grey-Bruce Farmers’ Week 2021 Virtual Beef Day. Visit www.gbfw.ca to register January 6-7 - Ontario Agriculture Virtual Conference. Visit www.southwestagconference.ca for program details January 13 - Dairy Farmers of Ontario Virtual Annual General Meeting.

Visit www.milk.org to register

January 23 and 30 - Virtual Beef Symposium. Visit www.ontariobeef.com for more details February 17-18 - BFO’s 2021 Virtual Annual General Meeting.

Visit www.ontariobeef.com for registration details March 21- M&L Cattle Company Bull and Female Sale, Indian River March 28 - Gharsha Farms Polled Herefords, Darling Farms Limousin and Worth-Mor Angus Farms’ Open House and Private Treaty Bull Sale.

April 3 - Source for Quality Bull and Female Sale, Indian River Cattle Company, Indian River

BEEF FARMERS OF ONTARIO PRIVACY STATEMENT

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

Garry & Sheila Smart

Advertise in

BEEF BUSINESS LEADERS Very reasonable rates!

Deadline for February 2021 issue is January 10.

Call 519-763-8833 for information

“Industry Accepted since 1978”

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

Breeding Stock Available at All Times.

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.

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

Advertise in

BEEF BUSINESS LEADERS Very reasonable rates!

Deadline for February 2021 issue is January 10.

Call 519-763-8833 for information

Commercial Angus Purebred Red Angus Purebred Black Angus Purebred Hereford

The Seed Family- Greg: 705-648-4274 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 TA R IO BEEF • D EC EMB ER 20 20

33

WELLNESS ON THE FARM

By Bethany Storey, BFO Communications Specialist and Darby Wheeler, BFO Policy Advisor

Talk about Feeling SAD in the Winter Months T

he days are growing shorter and darker, and while we’re heading into that merry holiday season so many people look forward to, this year will certainly be different from past years. Not only are families having to worry about the cold and flu season, but we continue to worry about the challenges and restrictions that COVID-19 has created. Add to this our likely Christmas shopping stress and the possibility that we might not be seeing many of our family and friends over the holidays this year. Have we put you in the joyful spirit yet?

This edition of Wellness on the Farm is going to explore the seasonal and, for some, inevitable mood changes that the cold “winter blues” bring on. Unfortunately, this time of year can hit some people a little harder than others, and so we thought it was appropriate to talk about “seasonal depression” or what is typically referred to as “Seasonal Affective Disorder” (SAD). SAD is caused by a decrease in the production of our serotonin (influenced by a decrease in vitamin D productivity) and an increase in our melatonin (influenced by an increase in darkness).

SAD affects about three per cent of Canadians each year, with another 15 per cent being affected with milder symptoms. A research study from the Journal of Affective Disorders found that higher levels of depressive symptoms were reported in winter months compared to summer months. It has also been found that SAD is experienced by those of all ages, but more frequently by younger people, especially those aged 18-35, as well as children and teenagers, while women are affected more often than men. Those who have a history of depression in their families may also have a higher risk of experiencing SAD. There are a number of symptoms that those suffering from SAD may experience: • Weight and/or appetite changes • Avoidance of people or loss of interest in activities • Difficulty concentrating • Feeling tense or stressed • Insomnia • Feeling constantly tired • Irritability • Sadness, guilt, easily embarrassed • Suicidal thoughts A balanced lifestyle is always key in managing stress and helping to reduce symptoms of depression. Adapting some aspects of your life 34

O N T A R I O B E E F • DE CE M BE R 2 0 2 0

and implementing various self-help tools can help to minimize SAD and improve one’s overall health and well-being.

Everyday tips to ease winter SAD • Research has shown the most useful tool for treating SAD is light therapy and exposure to bright light therapy within the first hour of waking up, which can help stop the overproduction of melatonin.

• Since getting sun exposure is more difficult in the winter months, changing your diet to get more vitamin D or taking a vitamin D supplement can help. Increasing your vitamin B intake, as well as avoiding excess carbs and ensuring your diet is high in protein and Omega-3s, can help regulate SAD. • Stay hydrated and don’t overdo it on the coffee and alcohol. Excess caffeine or alcohol intake can affect your sleep, as well as make you feel groggy and grumpy.

• Go outside! Try to work into your schedule getting outside for a little bit. Sometimes it can be hard if working all day inside to make it outside before it gets dark, so try to arrange some time during lunch. Spending time outside for 30 minutes can help your body absorb enough vitamin D to help your mood.

• Get in the habit of physical exercise before the “winter blues” months. Establishing a healthy lifestyle may help limit and prevent SAD symptoms occurring later in the year.

• Try to make sure your workspace has some natural sunlight. Open the curtains, face the windows and enjoy that natural light.

In addition to some of the tips above, many people find counselling services helpful in overcoming symptoms of SAD. Seeking support from a qualified healthcare practitioner who can provide resources and advice about how to handle SAD might prove to be very beneficial. A practitioner can provide tools to avoid or minimize symptoms in the SAD months.

As our Canadian winter arrives and as COVID-19 continues to linger in our lives, we hope you and your loved ones stay healthy and safe, and that if your or someone close to you experience SAD, that you are able to find the tools or supports needed to get through the winter months. As always, seeking the support of your doctor or a mental health professional is the best course of action when it comes to your mental health. OB

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CANADIAN CATTLE IDENTIFICATION AGENCY

Whenever you need help, the new CLTS Resource Centre is your “how to” destination for everything Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS).

Here you’ll find comprehensive step-by-step guides to easily navigate your way through the CLTS, on your computer or on your mobile device.

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Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS), captures regulated and volunteer livestock traceability data such as birth dates, move-in and retirement, data essential to a first line of defence in the event of an emergency.

Led by representation from 16 livestock organizations from across Canada, CCIA is the responsible administrator for beef cattle, bison, sheep and pending regulation cervids and goats in Canada (with some exemptions in Quebec).

Tags and tag accessories when you need them, 24/7. All approved beef and breed-specific breed tags, preapproved cervid and goat indicators, management tags, and readers available for purchase.

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