Saskatchewan cattlemen’s connection (current issue)

Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s

Connection The voice of saskatchewan’s cattle producers

Vol. 5 No. 5

COVER STORY:

WHAT’s LUCK GOT TO DO WITH IT? | P. 6

October / November 2015

Connection is published in Saskatoon in partnership with Western Producer Publications. Mail Agreement No. 40069240

PLUS:

Fail to plan, plan to fail | P. 12

The Real Dirt tells the real story | P. 14

KEEPING YOU PRODUCTIVE Redhead Equipment’s dedicated team offers you big iron power and performance with the mid-size Case IH Puma™ tractor. The new generation of Puma™ tractors offer intuitive innovation through their Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) - requiring no programming’ adjusting to deliver the best possible balance of power and fuel efficiency. Just set your speed and let your equipment do the work for you.

KEEPING YOU PRODUCTIVE

ESTEVAN

redheadequipment.ca

2

redheadequipment.ca

| connection

LLOYDMINSTER

866.659.5866

ESTEVAN

866.659.5866

LLOYDMINSTER

800.535.0520

800.535.0520

MELFORT

844.494.5844

PRINCE ALBERT

844.323.3003

MELFORT

844.494.5844

SASKATOON

800.667.9761

PRINCE ALBERT

844.323.3003

SWIFT CURRENT

800.219.8867

october / November 2015 Vol. 5 Issue 5 Published for the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association www.saskbeef.com

19 farm and food tour A pair of tours hosted by Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan saw almost 100 people travel to Saskatoon and Regina areas to experience Saskatchewan agriculture.

contents

Publisher: Shaun Jessome Editor: Bonnie Warnyca Art Director: Michelle Houlden Advertising Director: Kelly Berg Creative Director: Robert Magnell Marketing Manager: Jack Phipps SCA Representative: Ryder Lee

Editorial: P: 306-695-3976 C: 306-539-9381 Editorial fax: 306-665-3587 bonniest@sasktel.net Advertising: 1-800-667-7776 Advertising fax: 306-653-8750 connection.advertising@producer.com Retail sales: Trevor Malkoske 306-665-3553 National sales: Lisa Graham / Denise Bott Suite 201-300 Willow Road Guelph, ON N1H 7C6 Tel: 519-836-4072 Fax: 519-836-2499 Subscriptions: 1-800-667-6929 Subscription fax: 306-244-9445 subscriptions@producer.com

10

agribition adds taste to the lineup

Canada Beef will offer cooking demonstrations and be on hand to answer consumer questions at Agribition this year. | Canada Beef PHOTO

SaSkatchewan cattlemen’S

ConneCtion The voice of saskaTchewan’s caTTle producers

Vol. 5 No.5

CoVeR stoRy:

14

The real dirt tells the real story

A new presentation helps producers like Krissy Fiddler, executive director of the SHF, learn how to communicate the beef message.

4 Chair report 5 News briefs 6 What’s luck got to do with it?

whaT’s luck GoT To do wiTh iT?

11 What’s new at Agribition

| P. 6

12 Fail to plan, plan to fail 18 BIXS continues to evolve 21 Back to reality PLUS:

Fail to plaN, plaN to Fail | P. 12

the Real DiRt tells the Real stoRy | P. 14

On the cover: Justin Morrison and his family on their ranch near Radville, Sask. | dave furman photo

@saskcattlemens

22 Securing social licence 24 Driving innovation 26 SCA bulletin board

Send inquiries to: Connection Subscriptions, Box 2500, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4.

Connection magazine is published in partnership with Western Producer Publications.

Contents copyright 2014. All rights reserved.

No part of Connection magazine may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent from Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association.

The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or staff. Connection and Western Producer Publications do not take responsibility for any unsolicited materials. Advertising in Connection does not indicate an endorsement by the SCA. We strive for accuracy in presenting articles and charts. However, we are not responsible for errors or liability in the event of losses resulting from readers’ use of our magazine and website.

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, 102-2255 13th Ave., Regina, SK., S4P 2M6.

30 CEO report ™

Printed with inks containing canola oil

October /Publications November 2015 | Mail Agreement No. 40069240 Registration No. 10676

3

chair report

pay attention to politics

BY BILL JAMESON | SCA CHAIR The definition of politics,

according to Webster, is as follows: “The activities, actions and policies that are used to gain and hold power in a government.”

As I write this, we are in the middle of the longest federal election campaign in the history of Canada, and I suspect that total money spent by each party will be at record levels. It is difficult to comprehend what may happen on Oct. 19; however, by the time this is published, we will know where we stand federally. At the moment, I am keeping my fingers crossed for status quo. Hope it works!

On the provincial front, it appears we are headed for a spring election. We are in the fortunate position of having the most forward-thinking free enterprise provincial government in Canada. It is a government that pays attention to agriculture and a government with an excellent

team within the department that understands the issues of our industry. Our business was dealt a “wake-up” call recently with the Alberta debacle, so let’s not get complacent.

Perhaps the most interesting political arena at the moment, and one that can have a profound effect on the Canadian cattle industry, is the upcoming

Donald Trump: an unlikely lead in the presidential race? | photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore

U.S. election.

The race for the nomination both on the Democrat and GOP side is nothing short of fascinating. It appeared Hillary Clinton was running away with the Democratic nomination until Email-gate. Now she is certainly not a shoe-in, with Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders closing the gap.

On the Republican side, it’s entertainment at its best, with Donald Trump in the lead in spite of himself.

However, it is somewhat refreshing to hear someone who says exactly what he is thinking (well, maybe). One thing is for sure: The Obama administration has been a disaster for Canada. I can’t help thinking back to the Mulroney-Reagan years. A great relationship developed and trade deals were made that still exist today.

So my thought for the day: Let’s support the ones that support our industry. And I think we all know who they are.

bid online DECEMBER 7-10 sale closeout DECEMBER 10 5:30 PM MST / 6:30 PM CST

&

on-line/on-farm

BULL & HEIFER SALE

-On the farm, 12 miles north of Maidstone, SK on offer bull calves, 2 year-old bulls and bred heifers

sires represented

C Stockman 2059 ET • Big-Gully 611 Bounty 517U • PDHR 20J Stanmore 47R • C Cruz O248 EY • C Fantastic 2165 • SLDK Vendetta V-9 • NJW 73S W18 Homegrown 8Y ET • WLB Bull 90X 6Z • C 88X Ribeye 2011 • WCC/CC 1009 Great Divide 102 BULLS WINTERED FREE

Live Auctions TV

contact us

Lance & Shari Leachman 306-903-7299 Frances Leachman 306-893-2879 biggullyfarm@gmail.com

W W W. B I G G U L LY FA R M . C O M

4

| connection

District 1:

Ryan Beierbach • Whitewood, SK P: 306-532-4809 C: 306-735-1341 E: shophighplains@me.com

NEWS IN BRIEF

District 2:

Philip Lynn • Marquis, SK P: 306-788-4421 C: 306-361-9299 E: Philip@bpcattle.com

District 3A:

Laurie Disney • Rockglen, SK P: 306-476-2729 C: 306-476-7522 E: odiznee@gmail.com

District 3B:

Larry Grant • Val Marie, SK P: 306-298-4901 C: 306-741-9867 E: drylake@sasktel.net

District 4:

Rick Toney • Gull Lake, SK P: 306-672-3703 C: 306-671-7900 E: rtoney@xplornet.com

District 5:

Levi Hull • Willowbrook, SK P: 306-641-6271 E: levihull507@msn.com

District 6:

Garret Hill • Duval, SK P: 306-725-4909 C: 306-725-7451 E: lbranch.ghill@gmail.com

TPP welcome news The announcement that a deal had finally been reached in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement came as welcome news to Saskatchewan’s beef producers.

The agreement will significantly reduce tariffs for Canadian beef in the Japanese market, which could result in doubling or even tripling the amount of beef exported to that country. Tariffs on beef exports to Vietnam and Malaysia have also been dropped, which will mean considerably more opportunity for export growth.

If Canada had not been an initial member of the TPP Agreement, we would have seen the U.S., Australia and New Zealand gain their preferential access, and we would have lost the Japanese market and future opportunities as well. This could theoretically still happen if the Agreement is not ratified for some reason.

Once the hurdles have been cleared, our challenge is to take advantage of this agreement and find the buyers overseas. This also means preparing to increase our production here in Saskatchewan. Our producers are well placed to meet the demand from this new market, and the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association will continue to work to keep improving Saskatchewan’s competitiveness. Capitalizing on these new opportunities is also a major focus of the National Beef Strategy, which is currently being developed.

District 7:

Funding announced for Growing Forward 2 Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart committed $10 million in funding under Growing Forward 2 for a new Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence at the University of Saskatchewan. The University of Saskatchewan committed an additional $7 million for construction costs in addition to providing the land. The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association (SCA) is also contributing $1 million to the project.

The centre will be based in two locations: a new Beef Cattle Research and Teaching Unit near Clavet, and the Forage and Cow-calf Research and Teaching Unit at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s existing research farm near Floral, east of Saskatoon.

The Centre of Excellence will incorporate and build on the collaborative work of University of Saskatchewan government researchers in areas such as herd health, animal welfare, disease prevention, nutrition, management, public health, environmental stewardship, food safety and security, forage utilization, breeding and development.

Paula Larson • D’Arcy, SK P: 306-379-4523 C: 306-221-0509 E: larsonranchphoto@sasktel.net

District 8:

Michael Spratt • Melfort, SK P: 306-752-6336 C: 306-921-7175 E: mspratt@sasktel.net

District 9A:

Arnold Balicki • Shellbrook, SK P: 306-468-2935 C: 306-468-7240 E: balickiangus@yahoo.com

District 9B:

Dean Moore • Paradise Hill, SK P: 306-344-5370 C: 306-344-7981 E: dsmoore@bellevista.ca

SCFA

Bill Jameson, Board Chair • Moose Jaw, SK P: 306-692-4911 C: 306-631-0005 E: billjameson@jglcattle.com Brad Welter . Viscount, SK Phone: 306-365-4281 E: welter@pound-maker.ca

SSGA

Lloyd Thompson • Estevan, SK P: 701-340-5133 E: tfourranches@xplornet.com Harold Martens • Swift Current, SK P: 306-741-3961 / SSGA: 306-757-8523 E: mranchltd@shaw.ca

Staff Ryder Lee, CEO

P: 306-585-2333 E: ceo@saskbeef.com

Christina Patterson, Policy Analyst

For more on the Trans-pacific partnership, see the CEO report on page 30. >>

P: 306-585-2333 E: policy@saskbeef.com

Scott Sakatch, Communications Specialist

P: 306-585-2333 E: communications @saskbeef.com

October / November 2015 |

5

cov er story

WHAT’s LUCK GOT TO DO WITH } IT? { The harder you work, the luckier you get

At 34, Justin Morrison of Brooking Angus Ranch at Radville, along with wife Tawnie and son Kordel, has already made a name for himself in the purebred Angus industry.

Justin Morrison checks on his cattle at his Radville, Sask., ranch. | Dave Furman photo

6

| connection

By Bonnie Warnyca | EDITOR Born in Drumheller, Alta., Justin Morrison spent holidays and special occasions at his grandpa’s farm near that community. Later, he recalls many happy times at his aunt and uncle’s farm at Sedley, Sask.

“Grandpa and my Aunt Dawn Lasby helped me a lot when I worked with my first couple of 4-H steers in Alberta,” says Morrison. “When I moved to Levi and Carmen Jackson’s (uncle and aunt) at Sedley in Grade 9, it was an opportunity for me to get closer to the cattle.”

“They raised Red Angus cattle and were very competitive in the show and sale ring.”

Morrison says he learned much about animal husbandry from both Levi and Carmen.

When Levi was away trimming cattle feet, the daily chores were then left to Morrison and Carmen. He credits her with teaching him how to move around the cattle and to care for them, while Levi taught him how to fit and show the cattle. The couple took him, along with their own children, to junior cattle shows so he could gain more showmanship experience.

While in high school, Morrison used his 4-H steer money to purchase a couple of Red Angus commercial and purebred cows and borrowed from the bank to purchase a third.

Once he got out of high school, he went to WTK Farms at Montmartre, Sask., to work for Tom Warnyca and the family’s purebred Polled Herefords.

“The first job he handed me was to spend the day burning flax straw; I think he wanted to test my work ethic,” he says with a chuckle. “He seemed a little surprised when I showed up again for work the next day.

“The second thing that Tom did was to have me write down all the cows’ names and pedigrees so I could get to know the cattle.

Tom taught me more about the business side of the purebred cattle industry. He talked to me about how to treat others in the industry and to study pedigrees and philosophies to develop my skills as a marketer.

“It wasn’t about just how you present your cattle, but how you present yourself. It’s as much a people industry as a cattle industry.”

Morrison pored through stacks of old sale catalogues and listened carefully to Tom’s own philosophies about the cattle business. Looking at pedigrees and seeing the cattle that did continued on page 8 ››

October / November 2015 |

7

Morrison has honed his breeding lines and built up an extensive list of possible customers along the way. | Dave Furman photo

›› continued from page 7 well helped him make a few cow purchases.

“My best cow turned out to be the first purebred cow I bought from Levi and Carmen,” he recalls proudly. “With her progeny, I paid the banker and the Jacksons allowed me to work off my feed bills. After establishing a bit of a credit rating, I was able to borrow money to buy three cows at the Angus Pride Sale.”

For the next few years Morrison formed a partnership with Radville native Nate Marin. Together they spent months on the road travelling across Canada and the U.S. clipping and fitting show and sale cattle.

One of their customers was Soo Line Cattle Co. at Midale, Sask. Roger Hardy, the owner of Soo Line, saw a lot of possibilities in the young Morrison and offered him a job to manage his 500-head Angus cow herd.

It was a job that began in February of 2007, and was a major turning point.

“Roger had many other businesses to attend to and before long I was handling most of the decision making regarding the management of the cattle. We had a number of

8

| connection

good quality cattle, resources to take fairly large show strings on the road and good quality facilities to work in.

“It was a dream job. I quickly realized that the more responsibility Roger gave me, the harder I worked to earn the trust. We were very competitive and won a lot of shows in Canada. We were also the only Canadian purebred breeder to win the champion pen of bulls at the Denver Stock Show.”

As part of his contract with Soo Line, Morrison was allowed to keep 15 cows on the farm and he wanted to make sure they were good ones. It was another decision that propelled him into a higher category when, a couple of years later, he went out on his own.

Morrison says that while winning is great, it’s still only one judge’s opinion on one day.

The true test of your cattle program is when you can get people to invest in it.

Soo Line had two major sales with its mature cow herd dispersal in 2011 and the rest of the herd in 2012.

“I bought some cattle in the Soo Line dispersals and having some of the same genetics, brought many of their old customers to my

door. The time was right for Tawnie and me to go on our own,” says the young entrepreneur.

After extensive traveling and meeting so many North American purebred and commercial cattle customers, Morrison knew the cattle he liked and had built up an extensive list of possible customers along the way.

Tawnie came from a PMU farm near Radville and her mom was ready to sell the young couple the farm. It included a house and seven quarters of land. The first year, until the couple got their funding in place, she welcomed the young family and their cattle home.

“I had saved some money and was able to purchase some Soo Line cows and financed some from Farm Credit Canada,” says Morrison. “When we moved to Radville we had 60 Angus cows.

“But, in hindsight, I should have bought the land first and the cattle second. I thought my purebred cows would be enough to use as collateral for a farm loan from the bank. But banks don’t value purebred cattle much different than they would commercial cattle and they refused our loan to buy the property.

Brooking Bank Note 440 sold at auction for $125,000 and helped Morrison get his name on the map. | Justin morrison photo

“I had had a good year with Soo Line and could scrounge enough for a down payment and qualify for the (FCC’s) Young Farmer’s Loan. In the spring of 2012, we calved out our first group of baby calves at the new location.”

In the fall of 2013, the young couple used an online sale to sell their first group of heifer calves. They mailed out catalogues and Morrison spent many long hours on the phone with potential customers. His determination and lengthy potential customer list paid off.

They averaged $13,000 for the eight heifer calves, selling two for $30,000 each.

Two of those calves were tremendous and went on to win their divisions at Canadian Western Agribition. One was the first Harvester-sired female to sell in Canada.

“This bull had an exciting pedigree and I was lucky to find him,” says Morrison.

In 2014, their online spring bull sale averaged $7,800 and they sold one bull calf for $44,000.

“We were lucky those first couple of years, being able to sell some higher-priced calves,” he says. “When you go on your own, you don’t own anything. If a tree falls in the yard, you don’t even have a chain saw to deal with it. We were fortunate to have the PMU barn for calving and over the next two years built a number of corrals, making use of portable panels and upgraded some equipment.”

In the spring of 2015, the young couple had their first on-farm sale and it was explosive.

Forty-three lots averaged $13,000, and a young bull calf by the name of Brooking Bank Note 440 sold for $125,000. There were

[Brooking Bank Note 440 is] a power bull. He’s rare in his makeup. He moves well; has a lot of shape and a pile of muscle.

Justin Morrison

four different bidders on him over $90,000.

What made him special?

“He’s a power bull. He’s rare in his makeup.

He moves well; has a lot of shape and a pile of muscle. The bull’s mom is an amazing cow, which I was lucky enough to find when I was visiting a ranch in North Dakota. I happened to see a group of month-old calves along the laneway and I loved them. I quickly called the place and ordered semen on the sire and the result was Brooking Bank Note 440,” says Morrison.

“I used the semen on some cows I thought would make a good match. I hadn’t seen a photo of the sire, but when I did I wasn’t in love with him, even though he eventually sold for $235,000. But his progeny has sure helped our program.”

The young bull drew in a number of out-ofbreed visitors to the ranch, and the winning partnership included Simmental breeder Barry LaBatte of LaBatte Simmentals at Gladmar, Sask.

By the end of September, more than 1,000 semen straws had sold in Canada and before Brooking Bank Note was even U.S. qualified, there were more than 300 semen straws

sold in the United States.

With the help of FCC and strong purebred calf sales, the Morrisons have been able to increase their cow herd numbers to 130. Besides adding to their cow numbers at the ranch, they also partner with co-operator herds using embryo transplants.

Their philosophy is to not keep all the good replacement heifers for themselves and will offer some for sale each year.

“Lots of folks like to keep their top-end heifer calves, but they bring in much needed cash flow. Plus, selling top-end heifer calves is good promotion when those cattle turn out good for other breeders.

“We use a lot of AI and embryo transplant to continually improve our genetics. And if a calf isn’t good enough, then the cow isn’t good enough. Commercial cattlemen need all their calves to turn out well. But if the cow is a good mom, we give her another chance with an embryo.”

Believing you’re only as good as your next calf crop, the Morrisons are super excited to see what the stork has in store come February and March of 2016. As luck would have it, they are expecting about 50 calves sired by Brooking Bank Note 440.

October / November 2015 |

9

agribition

Agribition adds taste to the 2015 lineup

By Bonnie Warnyca | editor Heading into its 45th year, the Canadian Western Agribition announced the addition of The Food Pavilion presented by Mosaic to be located in Arena 3 at Evraz Place.

The Food Pavilion will feature 16,600 square feet of food-focused trade show booths with food sampling, recipes and cooking demonstrations. It’s designed to offer an eclectic mix of protein suppliers including beef, poultry, bison and pork. But the show doesn’t stop there - a wine garden and a cooking stage will also be part of the new area.

“Like any other business, we’re looking for the next opportunity,” admits Marty Seymour, Agribition CEO. “Agribition is an event-based business and our challenge is staying relevant.

“In the ‘90’s, the growth focus was on specialty livestock like the elk and alpacas. Post 2003, the show was adjusting to suppressed beef prices and a retraction on the industry.

In 2011, we added the First Nations Pavilion and transformed the Agri Ed area into an inviting venue for both young and old. With BSE behind us and prosperous beef prices, it’s time to deliver the beef story in a much more meaningful way.”

“Much like our Agri Ed design, we will tell our food story in a passive learning environment where consumers can interact with the people that produce their food. The cooking demonstrations will focus on delivering the most economical and nutritious meal ideas for the family.”

Seymour is quick to point out that the beef and livestock show is still the anchor, but in order to bring more consumers through the turnstile, they continue to build on that anchor.

He says that each pavilion and new program is built around the strategy of engagement.

“Food connects people and is the catalyst that we believe will bring more urban and rural folks to the show,” continues Seymour.

“While each person comes to the show with something in mind - whether it’s the beef shows, the goats, commercial cattle, the stock dogs, the rodeo, the jousting or the shopping - the show is laid out in such a way that everything is interconnected and the consumer can’t help but take it all in.”

Every theme, whether it is the agri-business trade show or the First Nations Pavilion, ultimately connects the visitor to agriculture. It’s difficult to see one element without seeing the others.

Seymour compares the Agribition style of delivering its message to the auto industry.

If you watch many of the car and truck ads, they don’t focus on the many attributes of the vehicle, but convey the driver’s experience. In a similar way, they try to deliver a lasting experience for every person that attends Agribition.

Marty Carpenter, Canada Beef director, Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence, and Joyce Parslow, Canada Beef director, consumer relations, will be on the demonstration stage at Agribition. Joyce will be on hand Tuesday and Wednesday showcasing beef roasting techniques and preparation of fall and winter meals. Marty will be taking the stage Thursday and Friday to focus on lesser-known cuts of beef such as flat meat, tri-tips and cutting medallion steaks, as well as other tips geared more towards folks working with larger volumes of beef.

SCA will partner with Canada Beef to offer beef-related consumer information and samples of beef jerky.

New attractions for 2015 Besides the obvious feature billing of the new Food Pavilion, CWA is introducing a new Bull Classic called the President’s Classic presented by Semex. It is patterned after the success of the First Lady Classic presented by Merck.

In the yards, the space sold out early. With the bull pen alley component and the improved venue, it helps to make the commercial cattle program more alive and vibrant.

A barrel horse sale has been included in the traditional Ranch Horse Sale. The full armour jousting, which made its first appearance at the 2014 show, is back. continued on page 20 ›› Marty Carpenter demos beef cutting to Ag Minister Ritz and Minister Rempel at the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence in Calgary. | Canada Beef photo

10

| connection

agribition

What’s new at agribition?

By Bonnie Warnyca | editor While much of the agribusiness trade show, food and shopping occurs on the east end of Evraz Place during the Canadian Western Agribition, there has been a shift on the west end of the grounds where the livestock are stalled.

Industry insiders suggested years ago that there would be a steady decline in the number of purebred and commercial live cattle in the show, but that hasn’t happened. The show strings are still coming to town, but they are using their show space to include a trade show portion to promote their breeding program.

“Walking through the cattle barns, you now see couches and chairs, coffee pots, photos and brochures to provide a casual area where customers and consumers can stop to chat,” says CWA chief executive officer Marty Seymour.

“We originally anticipated that once the rinks and soccer arenas were built on the east side of the grounds, they would house the livestock. We soon recognized that even though it enlarged our footprint, it was a huge victory for the show in a much different way.

“The business acumen is simple. We live on trade show revenue, sponsorship revenue and ticket sales.”

The new arenas provided Agribition with more trade show space attracting new exhibitors including those with bigger dryland farming equipment. The space brought in more revenue and allowed CWA to reinvest that revenue on the livestock housing side of the grounds.

The show added a wall in the

“It’s important that people understand that while Agribition played a role in helping this to happen, the Farm Progress Show is another big anchor event in the same market.

When you combine the two, it represents a big case for funding dollars.”

The construction time table isn’t yet complete but Agribition is already planning for next year’s show to exclude the wellworn stadium.

“The International Trade Centre will be a multi-purpose facility to be used year round. It’s like owning a combine and not having enough acres to justify the expense,” says Seymour.

“The more days the City of Regina can keep the new building active, the better upkeep they can do and it helps to keep our rent at an affordable rate.”

commercial cattle barn and heated one side to hold the commercial cattle show and sale. The addition of more heat and additional lighting transformed the commercial cattle barn into the new Stock Exchange arena.

Pavement was added to the Agribition CEO Marty Stockman’s Arena, which im- Seymour. | leader-Post photo proved the overall look and feel in the purebred barns.

“This support would never Additional capital invest- have happened if the two minisments couldn’t come soon ters hadn’t recognized the urenough since the Pasqua and gency to build new infrastrucHarlton barns, located on the ture,” says Seymour. “The agrisouthwest corner of the grounds, culture dollars catapulted us were crumbling and had to be much further ahead. retired from housing livestock.

They were removed from the Agribition footprint about four years ago and cattle were moved to the Stockmen’s Arena and the Stock Exchange.

“The move out of the old buildings changed the dynamic and operation of the show. It made us more efficient and created more net revenue,” says Seymour.

First Lady Classic November 24 “We just re-plotted the show. It Bred heifer show presented by wasn’t a win-win for everyone and some folks are squeezed a President’s Classic November 24 little tighter than we would like, Bull calf jackpot show presented by but we had no choice but to move out of these inferior structures.”

Commercial Cattle Show & Sale November 27 & 28 Including Bull Pen Alley sponsored by The announcement of the International Trade Centre investProspect Steer & Heifer Show & Sale November 28 ment in late July of this year, will sponsored by certainly beef up that end of the grounds. With funding from Junior Beef Extreme November 28 Growing Forward 2, federal agMulti breed female show for youth sponsored by riculture minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan minister Lyle RBC Beef Supreme Challenge November 28 Steward announced a commitChampion of Champions - the purebred nale ment of $22 million for the construction of a new 150,000 sq.

Visit www.agribition.com for the full schedule of events foot multi-purpose facility at including all breed show and sales.

Evraz Place. Soon after, the City of Regina committed another ------------------------------------------$11 million and by 2017, the catFor more information call 306.924.9589 // www.agribition.com tle will have a new home during ------------------------------------------CWA.

BEEF EVENTS

October / November 2015 |

11

f e e d i n g s t r at e g i e s

Fail to plan, plan to fail

By Naomi Paley and Bonnie Warnyca This past spring, most producers in

the province hit the panic button over low moisture conditions and lack of forage and pasture. But, when the rains came in late June and July, second-cut hay was plentiful and a lot of greenfeed and crops were taken off for forage.

While the province doesn’t necessarily have an oversupply of forage, there appears to be enough for most producers. Producers on the east side of the province have even been able to ship forage west to Alberta.

Producers will still have to rely on straw and lower quality slough hay to help to stretch their winter feed supplies. Silage feeders will tub grind straw or use oat hulls in their mix. But for each way of feeding, it will take a balanced ration to get cows and their unborn calves through the winter in good condition.

Taking stock of resources and making a plan to effectively use those resources should begin now. Here are a few critical factors to review: • Numbers, types and body condition score of cattle • Production and management records Take into consideration the number of cows, bulls and calves you will be wintering.

Each has different energy, protein and mineral requirements which will determine the

12

| connection

amounts of the different feed resources you will use for the season.

The body condition score (a measure of fat reserves) of your breeding herd can greatly affect the amount and quality of feed you will need to have available. It takes twice as much feed to improve the body condition score of thin cows after winter than it will be before. Even when extra feed is provided, thin cows have a hard time maintaining their body condition during extreme cold periods.

Once you review your production records and body condition scoring, fall is a great time to determine which cows may need to be culled.

Body condition scoring key to the success of a winter ration Many producers assume they know what condition their cattle are in, but unless they actually feel the fat cover over the short ribs, it’s just an assumption.

Even in late October and into November, there is still time to bring some of the leaner cattle into better condition to help them get through the winter.

The calves are usually weaned by now and spring calvers are at their lowest point of energy requirements.

If there are only a small number of cattle that require additional energy to improve their condition, it’s better to isolate them in-

to one feeding pen for a few months. You can then put some decent condition on them in short order. Grain is the best way to achieve quick results and barley and pellets can also offer a lot of energy in the ration.

Inventory your winter feed supplies Feed testing of forages is an essential step in moving toward a successful winter feeding program.

If forage resources are scarce, purchasing energy and protein feeds like barley, oats, grain screening products, distillers dried grains, and commercial feeds can help to supplement cattle rations. It is important to do some research and compare the cost of like-feeds. For example, compare energy feeds with energy feeds and protein feeds with protein feeds. It is also important to compare value based on price per pound of energy or per pound of protein.

• Financial resources: Review cash flow and/or availability of operating credit in the event that additional feed resources need to be purchased.

• Equipment & labour resources: These factors will often dictate winter feeding methods & plans.

After an assessment of these factors, you need to also consider matching your feed resources to your cow herds’ changing energy requirements.

For a spring or summer calving herd, a

Feed costs account for roughly three quarters of the cost of your cows throughout the year, and overfeeding or underfeeding will show up in next fall’s calves. | file photo

cows move closer to calving and their requirements increase, the plan should be to transition to better quality forage and additional energy and or protein supplements. A complete mineral and vitamin program should be provided throughout the winter and through calving.

Help available to balance winter rations

simple strategy is to use lower quality feeds early in the winter feeding period when the cow’s nutritional requirements are lower. As

While ration balancing may seem daunting to some producers, once feeds have been tested, inventories taken and herd assessments done, there are Regional Livestock Specialists in ten offices across the province to help you to work through the finer details of your winter feeding plans.

But they can do little if your forage hasn’t

been tested.

Feed costs account for roughly three quarters of the cost of your cows throughout the year, and over feeding or underfeeding will show up in next fall’s calves.

There are cattle nutritionists for hire to help you develop a ration and keep you on track with a program, or you can call a local regional livestock specialist. Their services are free but it’s critical to have your forage tested before they can accurately help you create a nutritionally balanced winter feeding ration.

Naomi Paley is the regional livestock specialist, Ministry of Agriculture located in the Yorkton office.

October / November 2015 |

13

c o m m u n i c at i o n s t r at e g i e s

The real dirt tells the real story

By Rebeca Kuropatwa Consumers today have more ac-

cess to data than they know what to do with.

And, with that information overload, comes confusion about where the truth lies.

In an effort to clear the fog, Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan (FFC-SK) created a pamphlet and is putting together public presentations where farm professionals share the real dirt on farming in Saskatchewan.

“Our goal at Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan is to help consumers make connections between food and farming,” says Adele Buettner, FFC-SK CEO in Saskatoon.

“With less than two percent of the population in Canada now directly involved in agriculture, it’s important to let others know the efforts we take in making safe and responsibly produced food.”

14

| connection

Real Dirt’s beginnings This approach began with the Ontario Animal Council about 10 years ago, when they started putting out the publication, The Real Dirt on Farming. It focused on food and farming in Ontario, providing consumers with more information on different management processes.

Over the years, the publication gradually grew to a national level. In the fall of 2014, following a survey done across Canada identifying consumers’ concerns, the FFC put together a new and expanded edition of The Real Dirt on Farming.

“It is truly a national publication, with Saskatchewan and other provinces providing support for it, financially and with content,” says Buettner. “And, it’s based on the top 10 areas of interest from consumers across the country.

“It’s a 52-page edition in which FFC Saskatchewan produced a 12-page digest addition with more specific information about Saskatchewan agriculture, food, and production.”

The publication was launched in October, which is agriculture month. To help to spread the word, FFC-SK has partnered with the Federated Co-op in Saskatoon to carry it instore with the goal of reaching 350,000 readers. The publication also ran in the Ministry of Agriculture’s October newsletter.

Public presentation FFC is preparing a public presentation that will be led by local agriculture experts, inviting industry people to learn more about the presentations before they take it to the nonfarming community.

The first topic is farming 101. Additional

As a cattle producer, Krissy Fiddler constantly answers questions about beef and cattle. She says people are interested in how the animals are raised and about topics such as hormones and antibiotics. Fiddler says the Real Dirt on Farming provided the tools to simplify the production story. | krissy Fiddler photo

presentations will include farming myths, farming and the environment, food and farming, and animal care.

“The goal for the FFC national strategy is to have a similar message from coast to coast on many of these same industry issues,” says Buettner.

Krissy Fiddler, executive director of the Saskatchewan Horse Federation (SHF), was one of the first to review the presentations.

Besides her work for the SHF, she and her husband operate a commercial cattle operation under Edwards Ranching Limited.

“I attended a couple sessions of the Real Dirt on Farming with FFC-SK because I’m passionate about our industry and want to improve my communication skills to teach oth-

ers about how and why we manage our land and animals the way we do,” says Fiddler.

“I realized during the training sessions that, as industry leaders, we talk in our own jargon which doesn’t work when talking to someone outside our industry.

“When talking to consumers, we need to explain it to them in more consumer-friendly terms.”

As a cattle producer, Fiddler constantly answers questions about beef and cattle. She says people want to know how the animals are raised and about topics such as hormones and antibiotics.

“The Real Dirt on Farming provided the tools to simplify our production story and will help to dispel any myths or confusion about how food is produced,” says Fiddler.

“As a farmer, a producer of livestock or crops, we have an obligation to ensure the safety of what we grow. And these sessions provided the statistics to back up our safety nets.”

Gordon Rogers, senior sales associate at Elanco, also attended the training sessions and is looking forward to his first presentation.

“A couple things jumped out at me,” says

Rogers. “The session was sold out. They couldn’t have put another chair in the room.

And, I was impressed by the diversity of the people in the room. There were cow-calf producers to senior executives in corporate agricultural firms.

“Typically, the bulk of the communication we have is directly within our respective industries, so we are talking to fellow cattle producers, swine producers, and the like.

Our messages are a little more technical and scientific, whereas the message of this organization [FFC] is broader and across all segments. It’s a nice way of pulling everyone together onto one team.”

Rogers was also impressed with the FFC material to ensure that presentations are consistent. “So often, we shoot from the hip, but this provided a more harmonized media-type communications package for us,” he says.

“The big thing I find impressive about this initiative is that it’s so proactive. We’re not responding to a crisis. We’re making an effort to spread this message proactively and positively. We’re not putting out a fire.”

| screen captures from www.realdirtonfarming.ca

The big thing I find impressive about this initiative is that it’s so proactive. We’re not responding to a crisis. We’re making an effort to spread this message proactively and positively. We’re not putting out a fire.

Gordon Rogers | Elanco

October / November 2015 |

15

50% UP TO $750/PRODUCER

50% UP TO $1,000/PRODUCER

50% UP TO $2,000/PRODUCER

Eligible equipment includes:

Eligible items include services provided

Eligible equipment remains the same

by a vet to conduct and develop:

as food safety funding. To be eligible,

•

Squeeze with neck extender

•

Individual livestock scale

•

Biosecurity Assessment

producers must have their cattle

Record Keeping Software

•

Disease prevention practices

operation registered with VBP.

•

TOWN

DATE

FACILITY & TIME

KENOSEE LAKE

DEC 1, 2015 (TUE)

KENOSEE LAKE INN – 12:00PM

ROSTHERN

DEC 2, 2015 (WED)

LIONS HALL – 12:00PM

KINDERSLEY

DEC 3, 2015 (THU)

ELKS HALL – 12:00PM

ATTENTION PRODUCERS:

PREECEVILLE

DEC 8, 2015 (TUE)

LEGION HALL – 12:00PM

•

PRINCE ALBERT

DEC 9, 2015 (WED)

LLOYDMINSTER

DEC 10, 2015 (THU)

producers need to complete the VBP

EAST HILL COMMUNITY CENTRE – 12:00PM

training.

•

MICROTEL INN & SUITES – 12:00PM

PIERCELAND

JAN 26, 2016 (TUE)

JOSIE BRITTON CENTRE – 12:00PM

VISCOUNT

JAN 27, 2016 (WED)

COMMUNITY CENTRE – 12:00PM

EARL GREY

JAN 28, 2016 (THU)

SKATING/CURLING RINK – 12:00PM

More workshops planned for February and March 2016. Watch our website for details.

In order to be eligible for any funding,

For Biosecurity Funding, producers must attend a Workshop.

•

For Food Safety Funding, producers must attend a Workshop or take the Online Course.

•

All Workshops and Online Courses are offered at no cost!

•

Please RSVP for the Workshop you plan on attending!

industry news

BIXS continues to evolve & deliver

By Deborah Wilson | Sr. vice-president, BIXSco Inc.

18

| connection

The Beef Info Xchange System (BIXS) has been making strong inroads with all of the stakeholders in the beef industry.

In July, an agreement was reached with Cargill, Canadian Beef Breeds Council and Canadian Cattlemen’s Association to have case studies conducted to demonstrate the value of carcass data to the cattle/beef industry.

The groups conducting these studies have been selected and include seedstock as well as commercial entities. These case studies will explore the correlation of carcass data to genetics, but in general will explore what it brings to the industry.

The time frame for these studies is very short, to be completed in early November and presented to the next Beef Value Chain Round Table meetings.

We were pleased to receive the commitment from these groups to co-operate on this project and expect to see some real progress resulting from this.

As one of the stakeholders in this industry, we expect to see many different value propositions to evolve out of these co-operative case studies.

As an industry, we have insisted we needed, or demanded, the right to carcass data, but we have never explored value propositions for the various stakeholders, including the packers. I see this as connectivity and collaboration within an industry that has historically struggled to have the various stakeholder groups co-operate and work together.

Our industry research conducted in June indicated that BIXS needs to become a winning proposition to everyone in industry.

Our IT department has continued to collaborate with the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency’s IT department to work out data flow issues and glitches as they arise, as well as preparing for an anticipated increase in data flow moving forward.

It has been inspiring and encouraging to see these two departments, from two important industry organizations, work collaboratively.

Having a functional data flow with the Canadian Livestock Tracking System is key to the success and credibility of BIXS. Any age verifications entered in CLTS will automatically flow into BIXS, provided the producer is registered in BIXS. Additional information can be uploaded

into BIXS featuring management protocols, breed, color, etc. We also have some collaboration happening with the pharmaceutical industry to track producers enrolled in health programs.

The BIXS data management system continues to evolve, with the ability to apply an action to many animals at once, as opposed to entering the action one animal at a time.

This was one issue identified as a priority early on. This “fix” is nearly completed and expected to be functional soon.

We also have added the ability to recognize operations involved in the McDonald’s Verified Sustainable Beef Pilot Project enrolled and verified. Our IT director has continued to meet the deliverables required of the pilot project, which has pleased the project manager and McDonald’s. BIXS has demonstrated the ability to track cattle through the production chain.

Why is this necessary? Animal traceability is not unique to Canada nor to the cattle industry. Countries around the world struggle with how their traceability systems should work and what is required of producers.

The requirement for food animal traceability is being driven by consumers, who want to know where their food comes from, how it is raised and that it is safe.

The consumer is demanding a basic right to have access to that information. As an industry, we can no longer ignore this requirement on the part of our customers, nor can we ignore the advent of the ethical eating movement and the value branding that is being utilized by major retailers How far has BIXS come? I feel that there is a total shift emotionally and mentally by producers as well as the other stakeholder groups. Connectivity in industry is apparent. It’s less about cattle and more about people and organizations co-operating.

Visit the BIXS booth at Farmfair and Canadian Western Agribition this fall, or look for us at many of the industry meetings that will be held early in 2016.

Stay tuned for the launch of the new BIXS website in the coming months. Or register on BIXS to see for yourself at www.bixs2.ca.

All you need is your CCIA account number (not your PID), and a few more details that you already know.

e d u c at i o n

scenes from the 2015 Farm & Food Care tour A pair of tours hosted by Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan

saw almost 100 people from across the province and North America converge on Regina and Saskatoon this summer.

The Taste The Land of Living Skies tours brought together chefs, culinary students, bloggers, media and others with local producers who gave them an up close and personal look at how modern farms grow their food.

From beef, dairy, chicken and eggs to vegetables and grains to processing and even distilling were all in the spotlight. Guests came from as far as Boston and Alabama.

Participants were also treated to gourmet meals provided by some of Saskatchewan’s top chefs, prepared with ingredients grown right here in Saskatchewan. Organizers hope to make the popular tour an annual event.

TOP LEFT: John Cote of Black Fox Distillery shows off their German-made distilling equipment at Tierra Del Sol farm.

TOP RIGHT: Visitors snap photos of cattle at the Triple A Hereford Ranch near Moose Jaw. MIDDLE LEFT: A selection of gourmet fare from the chefs of the Radisson Saskatoon. MIDDLE CENTRE: A barn cat steals the show at the Duh farm north of Saskatoon. MIDDLE RIGHT: Tour participants on the Saskatoon bus.

BOTTOM LEFT: Darren Duh of the Duh farm answers questions from guests. BOTTOM CENTRE: A young dairy calf takes a drink at the Riverside Dairy outside Saskatoon. BOTTOM RIGHT: A baling demonstration. | farm and food care photos

October / November 2015 |

19

Agribition adds taste to the lineup ›› continued from page 10 While organizers had planned for about 2,000 to attend this event last year, the numbers climbed to more than 5,500.

With parking a perennial headache for show organizers, last year’s introduction of the free bus service and free admission to the show was highly successful. Instead of busing an estimated 2,500 visitors, it delivered more than 13,000. Additional buses have been added this year to handle the estimated increased usage. There will be two bus stops in the City of Regina at the Northgate and Southland Malls. There will be a $3 cost-recovery fee to ride the bus and admission to the show is still free.

Mosaic, the funding partner for the food pavilion, is sponsoring a free rodeo night on the Tuesday evening of the show. It’s the first night of the CCA rodeo and it is expected to draw new visitors to the show.

The CCA Rodeo has been a part of Agribition for the past 11 years but will move to Swift Current in 2015. Will that mean the end of rodeo at the show?

“Agribition is 45 years old this year and rodeo has been a huge draw at the show for 44 years,” says Seymour. Our rodeo numbers have grown to 22,000 over five nights and I guarantee that rodeo will continue to be part of this great show.”

DARREN IPPOLITO • KISBEY SK

[tel] 306-462-4836 [cell] 306-577-8970

[email] moose.creek@sasktel.net

www.moosecreekredangus.com find us on youtube & facebook

20

| connection

agribition photo

markets

back to reality

By Joe Jackson last time, I suggested calf prices would be higher this year than last year. However, I followed that up by saying that the only event that would prevent this from happening would be

Dodge

2200 8TH STREET EAST 1-800-667-4755 WWW.DODGECITYAUTO.COM

HARVEST SPECIALS

2015 RAM 1500 CREW CAB SPORT 4X4

CLEAR OUT ALL REMAINING 2015’s

2015 RAM 3500 MEGA CAB LARAMIE 4X4

0% 72 mo.

8 spd Trans

Joe Jackson is responsible for contracting, risk management and cattle management for JGL, Moose Jaw.

City Auto 0% 72 mo.

Loaded With Leather

Stock #R8309

2015 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4X4 8 spd Trans

Stock #R9402

Was $59,900

Loaded With Leather

$

Was $86,030

45,925

$

Save $18,032

$258 Bi-Weekly

Stock #R5958

67,998

2015 RAM 1500 CREW CAB 4X4 SXT

0% 72 mo.

$

35,588

Mark Walcer

Keith Monette

Fleet Manager

Lianne Rae

Finance Manager

$

Stock #R5015

0% 72 mo.

25,998

$148 Bi-Weekly

$200 Bi-Weekly

New Sales Manager

Kerry Kelly

Finance Manager

Wayne Fast

Used Manager

Dave Dash

Used Manager

C H R Y S L E R

WE WON’T BE UNDERSOLD

8 spd Trans

Backup Camera Bluetooth

WWW.DODGECITYAUTO.COM

Tatum Bourdages

Sales Consultant

Gary Polishak

Sales Consultant

Bill Elliott

Sales Consultant

Financing Special, 3.49% Full Term Financing up to 9 96 months on 2015 models O.A.C. See dealer for details.

$

Stock #R8033

Mike Zogheib

Sales Consultant

Wayne Harron

Sales Consultant

Dave Larkins

Sales Consultant

N the

8th St. E.

Do City dge Auto

Yellowhead HWY

Stock #R7241

39,888

$224 Bi-Weekly

2015 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT 4X4

2015 RAM 1500 QUAD CAB SLT 4X4

$

$379 Bi-Weekly

Preston Ave S.

O UP T 0% MONTH 72 OAC

not correct itself overnight. You do not clean up big, fat, overfed cattle overnight.

The bright spot is packer margins are big — they will be trying to process as many cattle as possible to maximize profits. Once these cattle are “cleaned up,” prices will increase and the market will heal itself into the summer.

Will fed prices get back to $2.00 live? Don’t count on it.

The Canadian fed cattle inventory is not in the overfed state that exists in the U. S. We’re not in great shape, but certainly better than what exists in the midwest U.S. However, like it or not, the Canadian markets will be pulled down by the U.S. market, no doubt about that.

ing. However, the total inventory of packer controlled cattle continued to grow. All of these factors have gotten the cattle industry into quite a pickle.

Since mid-August, fed cattle prices fell about $350 per head, yearlings about $30/cwt and calf prices are about $40/cwt lower — not per head but per 100 lb. — over $200 per head. But calf and feeder cattle prices need to fall another $8 to reach export level.

Speculative futures traders are having a hey-day with the cattle industry. On a Friday after a week of lower trading, traders decided to switch direction and behold, futures prices went limit up. All the cattle guys went into the weekend believing this was the signal that the worst was over. But by Wednesday of the next week, the cattle market had fallen another $9/cwt.

This fallout in the market will

slaughter cattle prices at or below $175 and barley at or around $210 to $220. Well, slaughter cattle prices are under $170 and barley is still over $200/tonne. Sure enough, calf prices are a lot lower and under the current conditions will drop even further.

What went on since the middle of August to cause such havoc?

It began with the Dow dropping 2,000 points. This in turn got the market to pounce on cattle futures, which pressed the physical cattle market to start dropping.

But don’t blame it all on the above. For the last two years, U.S. cattle feeders have been feeding cattle to bigger and bigger out weights with no ill effects.

In July, cattle feeders were beginning to experience some losses, but as long as the cost to put on a pound of gain was around $0.85 and the price for a pound of live animal was $1.53, they kept feed-

Sale Price

33,874

$190 Bi-Weekly

Phil Holmes à Court Sales Consultant

ORE BIG ST

on 8th Street

Vidhin Shah

Sales Consultant

2200 8th Street East Saskatoon SK Corner of 8th & Preston

1-800-667-4755 306-374-2120 DEALER LICENSE NUMBER 911673

+Bi-weekly payments are plus taxes and fees. All discounts & rebates applied. *All prices are plus taxes and fees. Selling price reflects all discounts rebates. +++ Conquest or Loyalty cash. Bonus Cash or n/c options used in all prices advertised. ***See Dodge City for details. Plus applicable taxes and fees dus at signing.

Vehicles not exactly as illustrated. Some exceptions should apply. **Payments bi-weekly, with $0 Down plus taxes and fees. 3.49% Full Term Financing up to 96 months. All prices include Freight and PDI. See Dealer for Details. Some conditions apply. ++See Dealer for Details. Vehicles may not be exactly as illustrated + the interest options. 0% financing applies to Caravans and 1500s.

October / November 2015 |

21

industry

securing social licence

By Shelley Jones You can’t open up an agricultural

publication or scan a conference agenda these days without seeing a reference to the term “social licence.” Despite the recent attention given to the topic, much uncertainty

and some skepticism remains, and how we, as an industry, build and maintain it, remains.

Social licence is defined as society’s trust in and support of agriculture. This includes supporting the use of the resources, tools and technologies we employ to produce food. But in a world of instant messaging and social media, the public holds the power in defining what’s right. Often what’s accepted one day is not okay the next — food recalls or the release of a “hidden” video can quickly change the public’s perception of food safety and animal handling practices.

Consumers influence the business of food production. Perceptions that surround agriculture along with pressures put on legislators from activist groups, have resulted in policies and regulations being put in place that aren’t based on science. In some cases,

producers have had to change how they do things, regardless of whether the changes are actually beneficial. The threat to our social licence is very real.

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture is working to assist industry to help understand the need to secure social licence. In fact, improving the public perception of agriculture is a strategic theme of the ministry’s strategic plan. An Agriculture Awareness Strategy was developed in 2013 in consultation with industry. Resources have been committed to deliver the strategy and annual check-ins with industry are held to ensure we are still on track.

When the strategy was developed, it was recognized that both industry and government had a role to play. Industry acknowledged its responsibility to do the right thing, support sustainable practices and have the

Support sustainable practices, adopt best management strategies and follow industry codes. And when someone isn’t following them, call them on it — one bad apple can ruin it for the entire industry.

22

| connection

tough conversations when necessary.

At the Ministry of Agriculture we have been working on increasing “agriculture awareness,” with the goal of securing ‘’social licence.” Earning social licence isn’t a new effort, just new words.

Industry and government have been working on it for years, without giving it much thought. Producers do the right thing; industry oversees production practices and represents producer interests to government. In turn, government develops policy, regulation and legislation to ensure industry compliance and support industry growth.

Earning social licence is not impossible, but it isn’t easy. It takes time, a sustained and well-resourced effort and a commitment to constant improvement. And it takes all of us.

As producers, you have the largest responsibility. Not only do you need to do the right thing, but you need to ensure everyone else does too. Take responsibility. Support sustainable practices, adopt best management strategies and follow industry codes. And when someone isn’t following them, call them on it — one bad apple can ruin it for the entire industry.

Research shows that farmers and ranchers are trusted spokespeople — use that to your advantage. Transparency and authenticity are key, as is conforming to industry codes of practice.

Demonstrate your willingness to listen to consumers’ questions and, most importantly, answer them honestly.

In the words of Charlie Arnot with the Centre for Food Integrity, “if you’re not prepared to have the public see what you do, you probably shouldn’t be doing it.”

As an industry, you must be proactive in updating codes of practice. Advocate for policy and regulation that is science-based, ensure compliance of industry stakeholders, and seek out opportunities to talk to consumers about what you do. Commit to constant improvement and strive to be even better, environmentally and socially.

Now, more than ever, people are interested in the food story — and if they don’t get it from you, they’ll get it from someone else.

Support organizations that speak directly to consumers, like Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan, as well as those that resource students and teachers, like Agriculture in the Classroom.

As government, we support your efforts. Our role is as legislator, regulator, educator and communicator. Our responsibility to you is regulation based on sound science, extension services and technology transfer on best management and sustainable practices, and ensuring industry understands what the “right thing” is.

Are our collective efforts making a difference? Is the public’s understanding of what we do improving? I think we’re making progress. Acknowledging we need to do something is the first step. But building public trust is hard work and the job is never complete.

Ask anyone in the forestry, oil and gas, or mining sectors.

My request to you is, do the right thing. Make sure others are doing the right thing. Get engaged. Attend Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association and other industry organization meetings. Listen to what people inside and outside of agriculture have to say.

And, be prepared to speak up for your industry. Because if you don’t, someone else will.

Shelley Jones is manager of agriculture awareness with Saskatchewan Agriculture.

FEATURED AGROLOGIST The future of your business deserves a professional.

Guardians of the Food System Stewards of the Environment Innovators in the Economy

Leah Clark, PAg Regional Livestock Specialist SK Ministry of Agriculture Watrous, SK Leah’s speciality is cattle nutrition and she works closely with producers during the fall to determine winter rations. She supports livestock producers through on-site visits, provision of resources materials, and facilitates learning opportunities for producers through extension events and the consumer public through awareness events.

“Being professional agrologist (PAg) shows that I am held to a higher standard that includes continuous training and connection to other professionals to the benefit of the producers and the consumer public.”

Leah was raised on the University farm in Saskatoon, SK. She received a Bachelor’s Degree from the U of S College of AgBio, majoring in animal sciences. She joined the Ministry of Agriculture following convocation.

Kathryn Tonia, MSc, PAg Animal Health & Welfare Specialist SK Ministry of Agriculture Regina, SK Kathryn provides information to livestock producers on biosecurity management practices to prevent the spread of disease. Kathryn has a role in emergency preparedness and response in the event of an animal disease outbreak. She also works in the area of animal welfare.

“Being a professional agrologist (PAg) provides me with access to information about the entire agrology sector outside my scope of practice, and provides the opportunity to network with other professionals.”

Kathryn was raised in Regina, SK. She received her BSA in animal science and MSc in animal nutrition from the U of S. Kathryn joined the SK Ministry of Agriculture in 2009.

www.sia.sk.ca/find-a-member Agrologists | Qualified. Committed to Ethics. Regulated. Professional.

By Saskatchewan law, only a registered member can practice agrology.

Supported by:

Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association

October / November 2015 |

23

research

Driving innovation

Research and market development are top priorities at the Sask. Cattlemen’s Association

By Scott Sakatch | SCA communications specialist

The term “innovate or die” has become a buzz phrase for business development seminars and self-help books in recent years, but Canadian producers have been living the philosophy for generations. Constantly coming up with new ideas and methods is absolutely critical because, when it comes to the ag industry, the saying isn’t just a metaphor. If agriculture fails, people starve.

That’s why innovation is a key part of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association’s mandate.

The SCA took over the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Development Fund (SBIDF) from the previous Cattle Marketing Development Fund when it was formed in 2010. Since that time, the SBIDF has supported more than 30 projects here in the province.

“Research and market development are top priorities,” says Brad Welter, SCA board member and chair of the SBIDF committee. “The beef cattle industry is changing constantly, and we need to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to help it develop and continue to grow.”

Projects invested in by the SBIDF cover a wide variety of innovations, from development of the Saskatchewan Forage Network to the CanFax marketing

24

| connection

app, a marketing calculator for Canadian cattle producers. SCA has partnered with other organizations on a number of diverse projects, including the Prairie Conservation Action Plan with the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, and the Canadian Feed Research Centre with SaskMilk. Processes are also studied through the SBIDF. For example, a partnership project with the Western Beef Development Centre studied the use of residual feed intake to improve lifetime productivity of beef cattle under forage-based production systems.

Current projects include a study on new forage legumes for sustainable summer pasture with the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute, and a partnership with the University of Saskatchewan on a project to develop policy to support carbon sequestration through sustainable livestock grazing.

“We’ve always believed that, if a project is worthy of doing, regardless of what area it may be in, then we’ll look at it,” says Welter. “There’s no shortage of people coming up with great ideas for the industry. It’s our job as a committee to do what we can to help those people.”

Education is another key priority for the SBIDF. The fund supports a number of research projects at the U of S that focus on both science and market

Brad Welter is chair of the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Development fund. | SCA photo

There’s no shortage of people coming up with great ideas for the industry. It’s our job as a committee to do what we can to help those people.”

Brad Welter | Chair, SBIDF

Projects invested in by the SBIDF cover a wide variety of innovations, from development of the Saskatchewan Forage Network to the CanFax marketing app, a marketing calculator for Canadian cattle producers. For more information on SBIDF, or for an application form, call the SCA office at 1-877-908-2333.

development, and a large portion of the fund goes towards projects aimed at raising awareness of the cattle industry. Agribition, Ag In The Classroom, the Western Canada Feedlot Management School and the Young Cattlemen’s Council have all benefited from SBIDF funding.

Money also goes to Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan to help in its efforts to combat some of the misinformation about large-scale agriculture that seems rampant these days on social media.

“Education is one of the best ways to keep the industry moving forward and be proactive instead of reactive,” says Welter.

“We have to look at every possible tool we have in the box to drive the industry now and in the future, and education is a large part of that.”

Many of the projects also benefit from SBIDF in another way through matching grants from other funding organizations.

Some of them rely on SCA support in order to access larger pools to drive their projects over the long term.

The deadline for fall applications to SBIDF is Nov. 20. Once all applications are in, the SBIDF

committee, along with the research committee and members from the Beef Cattle Research Council, will evaluate them and come up with recommendations for the SCA board, which has final approval. Welter says anyone with an idea is welcome to apply, but all applicants should do their homework first.

“You have to be able to show that you have the ability and background to carry out a project which will benefit the industry in some way. How are you going to get your findings out there? Is the project well thought out with plenty of detail? Is it unique or is someone else doing the same thing elsewhere? I recommend you get some outside help to look at whether it’s a valid project. The ones with the most detail are usually the ones that get the most consideration by the committee.”

There was a good crop of applicants in the spring, says Welter, and he hopes to see more good projects come forward this fall.

“The work being done by these people with SBIDF money is really critical to moving the beef cattle industry into the future.

It’s one of the main reasons the SCA exists.”

There are ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES when you become a PUREBRED CHAROLAIS BREEDER November 26 NATIONAL CHAROLAIS SALE at Canadian Western Agribition, cattle right from the show string December 4 STERLING COLLECTION SALE Over 30 years of Tradition & Quality, at Saskatoon Livestock Sales December 5 JORDAN RIVER CHAROLAIS DISPERSAL SALE Over 110 head including a great set of bull calves, at Saskatoon Livestock Sales December 8 NO BORDERS SELECT SALE 50 head from 13 Manitoba and Saskatchewan breeders at Heartland Livestock, Virden December 14 WILGENBUSCH CHAROLAIS PRODUCTION SALE 35 Bred Heifers & 10 Heifers Calves from Saskatchewan’s largest breeder, at the farm at Halbrite

Catalogues available online at www.bylivestock.com or call...

306-584-7937 Helge By 306-536-4261 Candace By 306-536-3374 charolaisbanner@gmail.com

October / November 2015 |

25

s av e t h e d at e

b

u

l l e

b

o

a r

t i n

d

Follow us on Twitter: @SaskCattlemens Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/saskbeef

• The SCA’s annual general meeting will be held during the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference at the Saskatoon Inn in Saskatoon Jan. 20-22. The AGM will take place the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 21. The conference will feature a National Beef Strategy “beef pit” session that SCA members will want to attend. All Saskatchewan beef producers are strongly encouraged to attend the conference in general and the AGM in particular. For more details on registering, go to: www.saskbeefconference.com.

• The deadline for new applications to the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Development Fund is Nov. 20! Please call 1-877908-2333 or email info@saskbeef.com to find out more or to request an application form.

• The Canadian Forage & Grassland Association (CFGA) Conference and AGM will take place Nov. 17-19, 2015 at the Sheraton Cavalier Hotel in Saskatoon. The conference will highlight the profitability of intensive forage production systems

and the potential of forages to provide ecosystem goods and services for all Canadians. To find out more, visit the CFGA conference website at www.saskforage.ca.

• Farm Management Canada (FMC) will host the Agricultural Excellence Conference (AgEx) in Regina, Nov. 25-27. This will be a great learning opportunity for Canadian farm managers in 2015. This is a one-of-a-kind event in Canada. It focuses on bringing diverse industry experts and stakeholders together from across disciplines, regions and commodity sectors. The conference will feature beneficial farm management practices, advice, and insight from leading farm business thinkers. See more at www.fmc-gac.com.

Don’t forget • Drop into our booth at Agribition for beef jerky and tons of information on the SCA and Canada Beef.

Get your Bale King Bale Processors at Glenmor

Old Hwy. #2 South Box 1654 Prince Albert, SK S6V 5T2

26

| connection

PH. 1-888-708-3739

306-764-2325 | Fax: 306-922-1912 www.glenmor.cc Email: glenmor@sasktel.net

directors and districts

SCA district map DISTRICT

Jane

9B

DIRECTOR

1

Ryan Beierbach

2

Philip Lynn

3A

Laurie Disney

3B

Larry Grant

4

Rick Toney

5

Levi Hull

6

Garret Hill

7

Paula Larson

8

Michael Spratt

9A

Arnold Balicki

9B

Dean Moore

9A

8

7 5

6

3B

4

3A

Available Bachelorettes - Age: 43 Jane is a beautiful, sweet girl who is a nurse and looking for the right man. Jane has never been married, has no children, and no baggage. She loves football, hockey, going to concerts, and just being outdoors. She is very down to earth, and easy to get along with. She is a great listener and always wants to help others. Jane is a very charitable person, she donates and volunteers for many causes including children’s charities and animal shelters. Jane does not drink or smoke, she is not one to go to bars, and she has had a hard time meeting the right person in her small community. She is always up to try new things and open to new experiences. Jane is a bit shy at first, and she is nervous about dating, but really wants to meet the right person to settle down with. She is very open and accepting of people, very non-judgmental, and cares more about who someone is on the inside rather than on the outside. She is looking for a good man who is energetic, fun, adventurous, has a good sense of humor, downto-earth, and a little bit romantic.

Cynthia

2

HUMANE BLOODLESS DRUG FREE CATTLE GOATS SHEEP

“

The CALLICRATE ‘WEE’ BANDER is well worth the investment.

”

JOHN BLEVINS CALIFORNIA

MADE IN USA

1

Get our app for Android or iPhone.

N

AS YC RL

- Age: 51

Cynthia is a beautiful, positive, caring person with a gorgeous smile. She is an interior designer, is successful, owns her own home and is financially secure. She is a divorced mother of 2, both her son and daughter are grown and living independently. She is a very neat and organized person and takes very good care of herself and her home. She is a great cook, enjoys home cooked meals with a glass of red wine, cuddling up with a good book, live music, picnics, and going on cruises.

Cynthia is looking for a charming man, who is clean-shaven, healthy, has no young children, is a non-smoker, keeps fit, and most importantly, can bring a smile to her face.

Matchmakers Select 1.888.916.2824

Successfully introducing people for over 15 years - rural, remote, agricultural, ranch, farm, small town, isolated communities, customized memberships, thorough screening process, guaranteed service

www.selectintroductions.com

IO AT

TR

EA

ALL NEW! VERSION 5 UPDATE NOW AVAILABLE DE

L AY

ED

CA S

TRA TIO

N

CALLICRATE “The BANDER is phenomenal. ” GEORGE CHAMBERS CARROLTON, GEORGIA

HORN REMOVAL

CALL FOR A DISTRIBUTOR NEAR YOU

800-858-5974 www.CallicrateBanders.com

www.producer.com |

October / November 2015 |

27

marketplace

Made Especially For You!

Proveta Nutrition Ltd. located in Bruno, SK is now taking bookings for

FALL/WINTER

FEEDING PROGRAMS.

Canadian Manufactured Modular Homes • Multi Section • Single Section • Motel Style • Duplex Family Units

Large Inventory to choose from or Factory Order to your specifications

We manufacture all types of pellets including:

Selling and Servicing Across Western Canada for Over 40 Years!

Check out our inventory at: www.medallion-homes.ca Still Time To Have Your New Home Before Christmas

• Backgrounding • Finishing • Range • Cow Pellets

• Dairy • Horse • Poultry

Proveta is a Multi-Species Feed Manufacturer.

Stop in anytime to view our show homes, no appointment needed

FOR MORE INFORMATION GIVE US A CALL!

306-369-2911 WWW.PROVETA.CA

306.764.2121 or 800.249.3969

MR TIRE 8 OR MORE TIRES • FREE DELIVERY IN SASKATCHEWAN

NEW KORYO 16 PLY TIRES 11 x 24.5 semi trailer tires @ $299 K211

FULL WARRANTY

K216 K516

K528

K518

CALL MYLO 306•921•6555

CHOOSE THE BERGEN ADVANTAGE:

mrtirecorp@gmail.com website: www.mrtirecorp.com

Quality Canadian manufacturing with safety for livestock and handler emphasized. Four year limited warranty.

BAXTER

Custom trailers available.

BERGEN 306-363-2131

WWW.BERGENINDUSTRIES.COM 28

K305

| connection

BLACK

Cowboy, Poet & Humorist

Listen to Baxter at

www.bertradio-online.com

marketplace Join us for SBIC 2016!

January 20-22, 2016 Saskatoon Inn

SASKATCHEWAN’S PREMIER BEEF EVENT

Beef & Forage Symposium Trade Show Industry Meetings

For more information and to register visit: www.saskbeefconference.com

Affordable Livestock Equipment 1-844-500-5341

www.affordablelivestockequipment.com Continuous Corral Sections Heavy Duty $189.

Freestanding Corral Panels

priced $199.-$259.

10’ Corral Panels, Windbreak Frames, Framed Gates, Continuous Corral Sections, Round Pen Kits, Bison Panels, Bale Feeders, plus lots more...

Horse Haysaver $459 Also Sheep & Goat Model

20’ Bunk Feeder Panel $399

Windbreak Frames $399. less boards

Organic Sainfoin Seed

Europe’s “Healthy Hay” - sainfoin.eu An ancient, non-bloating, nutritious, low input, perennial forage loved by all animals.

Recent research from Utah State University indicates both better meat flavor and nutrition from sainfoin supplemented forage.

(306)739-2900 primegrains.com/prime-sainfoin.htm jhusband@primegrains.com

CATTLE RATTLE Robert and Jessie Izyk

RR 1 Blackie, AB Canada T0L 0J0

Ph/Fax 403-684-3696 Cell 403-888-8301

thecattlerattle@gmail.com

For all your livestock handling needs

SUBARU WINS A HAT-TRICK!!

CONSUMER REPORTS picks Subaru for 3 of the TOP 10 picks in 2015

action satisf nteed guara 2015 LEGACY BEST SEDAN!

2015 IMPREZA BEST COMPACT CAR!

2015 FORESTER BEST SMALL SUV!

ELITE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP INC. O/A

SUBARU OF SASKATOON 471 CIRCLE PLACE • 665-6898 OR 1-877-373-2662 MORE VEHICLES AT WWW.SUBARUOFSASKATOON.COM *MSRP does not include Freight, PDI,Taxes & Fees *See dealer for details

FEEDING SMARTER SAVES YOU MONEY. A HEALTHY HERD MAKES YOU MONEY. The only cost effective feeders on the market.

Saving you more on...

HAY * FUEL * NUTRIENTS * REPLACEMENTS www.superiorbalefeeders.ca email: farmgate@bcgroup.net

dealerds wante

Superior Bale Feeders are designed to increase animal safety and last 20+ years.

October / November 2015 |

29

C EO r e p o r t

continue to prioritize the industry during trade talks AN OLD PEARL of wisdom

goes along the lines of “if you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always gotten.”

This only applies to simple, solitary pursuits. When you get to more complex situations such as selling cattle and beef, it’s only half true.

If you keep doing what you’ve always done in selling and marketing cattle and beef, you’ll eventually get less and less because competitors keep moving forward.

You keep doing the same thing, talking the same way, seeking the same customers while your competitor finds new customers, introduces new product lines, educates buyers on different ways to use their beef (or other protein) and eventually, you lose market share.

Or a competing country negotiates a new market access deal that leaves you out in the cold.

You may have a superior product but when you’re starting with a seven, 10 or 20 percent differential, you won’t be winning many battles.

That’s often too big of a price difference to overcome with other features if your products can be reasonably substituted.

With the United States and Australia negotiating a free trade deal with South Korea before Canada did, we saw that tariff differentials cost Canadian exports.

Canada was able to negotiate and implement our own agreement with South Korea in time to keep pace with Australia.

The United States will have a tariff advantage for the 15-year phase out of the Canada-Korea agreement because the phase out for Canada and the U.S. is the same: 15 annual reductions for fresh and frozen beef. The U.S.

30

| connection

also had a three-cut head start so they stay 8.1 percent ahead for 12 years until they are at zero, and Canada has its last three cuts to follow. We will get there eventually but South Korea is a reduced opportunity market until we catch up to the same tariff level as the U.S. Japan has a 38.5 percent tariff on beef imports. Japan is a huge importer of beef, usually third in volume behind the U.S. and Russia. Australia holds a large market share in Japan and has been growing that market share due to a free trade agreement that has given it a tariff lower than 38.5 percent.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement reached on Oct. 5 will put Canada back on an even footing with Australia.

On day 1 of the agreement coming into force, tariffs into Japan for beef from other beef exporters (Australia, Canada, Mex­ i­co, New Zealand and the U.S.) will be lowered to 27.5 percent.

This will catch Canada up to Australia and keep everyone on a level playing field.

Then it will be up to the marketplace to show how this will affect beef flows. It will make an already profitable Japanese market more attractive for exporters. It will probably divert some product flows.

Brazil, Australia, the U.S., India, New Zealand and Paraguay all export more beef than Canada. Countries inside the EU such as Ireland export a lot of beef within Europe.

Keeping up to these countries in market access is a big part of growing the opportunities for Canadian cattle and beef producers.

Only when we have competitive access to a country can exporters make deals that move our product into stores and res-

taurants abroad. When we have access, the marketing experts at the companies and at Canada Beef can work their magic.

Meanwhile, Canadian cattle producers can continue to improve the genetics, production attributes and consistency of our beef cattle herd. These improvements, together with improving market access, will mean we improve our outcomes instead of getting the same old (or worse) results over time.

It was striking to me how some provincial governments reacted regarding the TPP negotiations.

It appears some provinces haven’t grasped the opportunity the rest of the world presents to food producers here in Saskatchewan and across Canada.

Premier Brad Wall and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart have been consistently championing our export potential and should be acknowledged for this position, as they seem to be bucking the trend.

I hope our future governments at both the federal and provincial level continue to prioritize opening markets and improving competitiveness of Saskatchewan and Canadian production.

Our future profitability and resilience require continued improvements by producers and by governments working on their behalf.

As for producers, negotiations are complete but that doesn’t mean TPP is implemented. MPs, MLAs and cabinet ministers will need to hear support from producers to get this done.

Reach out and let them know of your support for getting this implemented and other ways they can help improve outcomes for your industry.

Ryder Lee | SCA CEO

Featuring Purebred Black Angus Calving in April Bred Black Angus

F1 Black Angus x All heifers calving Tarentaise to low birth weight Calving in April Burnett Missing Bred Black Angus Link Bulls

Sunday December 6, 2015 - 2:00 pm

Swift Current, SK 8 miles south on Lac Pelletier Trail 4 miles west (at the Ranch) Email: Bryce: Wyatt: wburnett@xplornet.ca 306-773-7065 306-750-7822

Bruce Switzer: 306-773-4200

32nd Black Angus Bull Sale - Sat. April 2, 2016

Brian just marketed his calf crop—on his terms— while checking fence.

AGRICLEAR LETS YOU BUY AND SELL YOUR CATTLE WITH ANYONE, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME As a livestock producer today, you need every advantage to succeed. Now you can operate more profitably and efficiently 24/7 with the AgriClear online platform. AgriClear enables you to market your cattle to anyone with payment assurance, market-based pricing and no listing fee. In other words, AgriClear is Cattle Marketing on Your Terms.

Learn more and register for free at Cattle.AgriClear.com