Saskatchewan cattlemen’s connection (current issue)

Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s

The voice of saskatchewan’s cattle producers

Diverse strategies at the

December 2015

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

inside:

Vol. 5 No.6

Little rainbow ranch

national beef strategy | P. 12

| P. 6

managing dystocia | P. 18

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| connection

december 2015 Vol. 5 Issue 6 Published for the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association www.saskbeef.com

28 NEW COLUMN! Food for thought Dinner is ready when you come home and you can turn value-priced beef options like blade or cross rib into something that you could serve to company.

contents

Publisher: Editor: Art Director: Advertising Director: Creative Director: Marketing Manager: SCA Representative:

Shaun Jessome Bonnie Warnyca Michelle Houlden Kelly Berg Robert Magnell Jack Phipps 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 under attack (again) The WHO has classified red meat in the same category as glyphosate.

12 The five-year plan

4 Chair report

Don’t get too comfortable with these high prices - the beef industry needs a plan to face future challenges.

6 Diverse Strategies

5 News briefs 16 CCA president 18 Managing dystocia

SASKATCHEWAN CATTLEMEN’S

THE VOICE OF SASKATCHEWAN’S CATTLE PRODUCERS

VOL. 5 NO.6

22 Canadian Cattlemen’s Foundation

24 GF2 funding 26 Conference agenda DIVERSE STRATEGIES AT THE

LITTLE RAINBOW RANCH | P. 6

INSIDE:

NATIONAL BEEF STRATEGY | P. 12

MANAGING DYSTOCIA | P. 18

On the cover: It takes more than one strategy to keep the Rasmuson family profitable. | DAVE FURMAN PHOTO

30 SCA profile 31 2015 district meeting resolutions

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.

34 Save the date 38 CEO report @saskcattlemens

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Printed with inks containing canola oil

December 2015 |

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240 Registration No. 10676

3

chair report

tough sledding for fed cattle market Never before have we seen the magnitude of volatility that has besieged the cattle complex in the past six months and never before have the tools of risk management become so important that they cannot be ignored.

Let’s take a look at the August 2016 live cattle contract.

This is the contract that encompasses fat cattle marketed in the months of July and August.

This is also the time frame when 50 percent of our Canadian calf crop of 2015 will be marketed as fat cattle.

On July 8 of this year, the August 2016 live cattle contract hit $145 per cwt U.S. On July 27, this contract had dropped to $136.75 per cwt.

Then by Aug. 8, it had rebounded to $140 per cwt. It then took a dramatic turn for the worse with a low of $121.35 per cwt as of Oct. 1. On Nov. 9, it sat at $122.60 per cwt.

To put that in perspective, that contract has had a swing of $23.65 per cwt U.S., on a 1,450 lb.

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fat steer that is a negative swing of US$342.92, and at current currency rates that’s C$456.

If we assume that feed costs remain static over the feeding period, there is only one place to right the ship and that just happens to be the North American calf crop.

And keep this in mind — this has nothing to do with MCOOL and nothing to do with BSE or any other disease-related or regulatory issue.

This is a result of huge players, including mega-buck hedge funds that have found success as market movers, throwing fundamental facts such as supply and demand out the window like dirty dish water.

It has been my experience that the Canadian cattle feeder is the epitome of eternal optimism.

But even they must, at some point, step back into a reality check.

This was no more evident than what has happened in the past six weeks. Most classes of fall calves have dropped in value by $50 per cwt or $275 per head on

a 550 lb. steer.

And, according to my calculation, even at this new level, the cattle feeder is still in a significant loss position.

Typically, the western Canadian cattle feeder cannot get into a position of exercising a profitable hedge until western Canadian feeder cattle reach a price level that allows them to be exported to the U.S. To date, this has not happened, so something still has to give.

There are several ways to protect the value of your inventory.

You can explore a variety of hedge options or contracts through an experienced cattle dealer or brokerage agency, and you can take advantage of the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP), or do a combination of both, depending on your situation.

My advice: explore your options. This may be the most important tool you have going forward.

BILL JAMESON | SCA CHAIR

NEWS IN BRIEF District 1:

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

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:

Proposed International Trade Centre | STANTEE AGRICULTURE RENDITION

Scholarships available The 2016 Saskatchewan Agriculture Student Scholarship has been announced with the theme, Stewards in Sustainability.

Interested students can apply for the scholarship by submitting a creative, three minute video or well-researched 1,000 word essay based on topics surrounding agriculture and sustainability. These topics include technology’s role in agricultural sustainability, sustainable production practices, youth’s role in sustainability and environmental success stories.

One winning scholarship of $4,000 and three runner-up scholarships of $2,000 will be awarded to students in Grade 12 and recent graduates entering agriculture-related post-secondary studies in 2016.

The application deadline is March 1, 2016.

For more information on the Saskatchewan Agriculture Student Scholarship and to view last year’s winners, visit saskatchewan. ca/thinkAG.

Funding announced for trade centre The Regina Hotel Association (RHA) and Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) recently announced $4 million in funding towards the construction of the International Trade Centre at Evraz Place in Regina.

The total cost of the 150,000 square foot facility is estimated at $37 million.

The RHA will invest $3 million from its Destination Marketing Program into the new multi-use facility. CWA will contribute $1 million.

In a previous announcement Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture committed $22 million towards the project with another $11 million coming from the City of Regina.

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

District 7:

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

letters to the editor

SCFA

two types of politics To the Editor: I was surprised to see the coffee-row drivel that passed for this month’s chair report (October/November issue, “Pay attention to politics”.)

While Bill Jameson might find it refreshing to hear someone who says exactly what he is thinking, it scares me a little to hear his thoughts.

There are two types of politics.

The first are the tools of the good old boys, using inherited power, influence and money to keep supporting those who support us.

The second are the tools of the underdog: collaborating, prioritizing asks, finding common ground, and marketing your position into that common ground.

I hope our SCA chair is as good at the latter as he appears to be at the former.

Cattle producers lost our inherited, esteemed position about the time I lost my baby teeth, probably back in those MulroneyReagan glory years.

Let’s stop reliving the past, quit discounting half of the present leaders as “disasters” or “debacles,” and learn how to work with them.

The good old boys’ club is dying. Relegate its eulogy to coffee row, and move on.

Margaret Leigh, Melfort, Sask.

If you’d like to send in a letter to the editor, email it to bonniest@sasktel.net.

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

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

Scott Sakatch, Communications Specialist

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

December 2015 |

5

cov er story

(Left to right) Blake, Perry and Kaleb Rasmuson head out with Ryan Hodgson to check cattle on a cool November day. | DAVE FURMAN PHOTO

diverse strategies 6

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Perry Rasmuson shares some of the history of the Little Rainbow Ranch and the challenges he faced when he took over his father’s cattle operation when he was just 18.

By Bonnie Warnyca Growing up on a grain, hog and commercial cattle operation near Wetaskiwin, Alta., Perry Rasmuson was given the reins to the day-to-day cattle chores at an early age.

His dad, Ralph, had a Masters degree in animal science and worked fulltime as a farm consultant. It gave his son a front row seat to hundreds of producer’s challenges and the many options to help his clients through some tough times.

Rasmuson had a curious mind and at every opportunity questioned his dad about vari-

ous production and marketing strategies.

“I remember Dad had a large map of Alberta on the wall with tacks showing all the farmers he had worked with and there were many,” he says. “The high interest rates of the 80s and the off and on droughts took their toll on many good livestock and grain operations.

“We were able to increase the value of our own cattle by selling first calf heifers with calves at side to a regular customer. We calved out between 100 to 150 first-calf heifers annually. We also had a feedlot and backgrounded calves to that 900 pound range.”

But in 1993, tragedy struck the family and Rasmuson lost his dad and his only sibling in a car accident just a few miles from home.

At the age of 18, he was left to carry on his dad’s legacy.

After working on the farm for a year and a half, he was the third generation to attend Olds College and obtained a degree in agriculture production. Soon after, he married Kristy Mastel, a Bow Island, Alta., farm girl whom he had met a few years earlier at a 4-H gathering. continued on next page ››

December 2015 |

7

We found that the long and short of it is that the more you put into a feeding strategy, the more you get out of it.

— Perry Rasmuson

Perry Rasmuson and his horse, Loony, are a team when it comes to roping a heifer calf that needs treating for pneumonia. | DAVE FURMAN PHOTOs

›› continued from page 7 The couple incorporated the operation in 1996 when cow prices were low and they were able to purchase cow-calf pairs for $700 and then sell the calves in the fall for $600. By 2000, they looked east to expand.

“Dad (had) farmed with his two brothers, and while one (brother) wanted to expand the hog operation, the other was looking to retire,” explains Rasmuson. “Kristy and I wanted to raise cattle, but our farm was surrounded by dairy farmers and it would have been too costly to ever try to expand.

“My cousin had moved to Moosomin and there was a land marketing promotion in that part of the province called ‘The Last Cattle Frontier’ which I wanted to check out. We were in a drought situation here in Alberta and at the very least I thought I could buy some hay.”

As it turned out, Rasmuson bought more than hay. He found a ranch near Moosomin with eight quarters of partially fenced grain land under-seeded to grass. The owner had begun the switch from grain to grass hoping to attract an Alberta buyer.

“We brought 350 cows to Moosomin and were able to get some transportation costs reimbursed through the Alberta government’s drought program which included freight or feed costs. Once the cattle were hauled — we stayed.”

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The couple named the ranch Little Rainbow Ranch after Rasmuson’s granddad’s Alberta Rainbow Ranch where he raised horned Hereford cattle for over 50 years.

The Little Rainbow Ranch is located east of Moosomin with some of the acres on the Manitoba border. The mostly Angus-Simmental herd has grown in numbers to 2,200 breeding females thanks to BSE. Through the BSE years, the family allowed the herd numbers to continue to double up while waiting for the cattle market to return.

To try to add value to the calves, the couple built a backgrounding lot. Initially, the pens were built using barbed wire, but that has since been replaced with pipe and slab. The lot holds 2,500 head of heifers and steers and they are fed to 900 lbs.

When Rasmuson buys outside cattle, he uses his dad’s marketing philosophy, which was to sell and buy in the same week. That way, if you sell into a high market, you buy into a high market and vice versa.

This past year the family purchased a 40-head Angus dispersal herd to raise a few of their own bulls.

“We run about 70 purebred bulls and replace roughly 20 bulls annually,” says Rasmuson. “We keep our bull battery young and replace them after three or four seasons. We’re hoping to use some of our own bulls as clean-up bulls or use them in some of the heavier bush pastures. If we can raise a few bulls, it will allow us to spend more on outside replacements.”

With so many mouths to feed, Rasmuson has tried various feeding strategies to try to mitigate the high costs of feed. From swath grazing to bale grazing, standing corn and swathed corn; snow for winter watering, nose pumps and solar pumps.

“We found that the long and short of it is that the more you put into a feeding strategy, the more you get out of it, “ says Rasmuson.

“When we tried swath grazing and used snow for water, we had more open heifers and cows. It’s unclear whether that was due to this way of feeding or that the weather was particularly tough on the cattle or lack of fresh water was part of the problem.

“We had a fair amount of waste with both grazing standing corn, swathed corn, and bale grazing. We now harvest about 6,000 tonne of corn and roughly 4,000 tonne of barley and alfalfa for silage.”

Rasmuson also grows 500 or 600 acres of yellow feed (desiccated green feed) and desiccates oats and barley in August when the crops are at their peak. He then leaves the crop for about two weeks and cuts it with a 30-foot swather. For years, the family used a pull-type chopper but have since bought a self-propelled chopper. On average, the yellow feed yields 2,000 round bales with above average nutrition.

He solved the winter water issue by digging two wells about 100 feet deep which pump about 30 gallons per minute.

With 2,200 Angus-Simmental females and a backgrounding lot, there’s always something for Perry Rasmuson to check out.

Managing risk is a priority Rasmuson first added a business risk management program to his business in 2002. It paid out during a tough time due to drought and feed shortages.

“After seeing how a safety net program could help us, I made it a priority to review other programs to see how they could benefit us in the event of a market downturn,” says Rasmuson. “I also stopped relying on my accountant to fill out the paperwork. I realized that I knew my operation the best and by tailoring some management decisions with the program in mind, I would get the most benefit.

“I use AgriStability even though the government has made some changes to it in the past couple of years. On an annual basis, the premium is only between $500 and $1,000 and can provide a return of over one hundred fold.

“I’ve had a few audits over the years, which provided the opportunity to ask a lot of questions. The auditors helped me to understand how to best adapt the program to my operation. It’s important to provide accurate numbers, weights and values of feed including age of the feed and quality.”

The Rasmuson family has grown over the past 19 years to include three boys — Kaleb, 14, Blake, 13, Dwight, 12, and daughter Alyssa, 10. And even with help from Kristy and the kids, the labour shortage is dictating the number of cows the family can handle. Out of the 2,200 females on the ranch, 650 are bred heifers.

“I have had up to five hired men but I’m down to one,” says Rasmuson. “Labour continues to be a huge issue. Until that is solved, we’re going to sell some females.”

While it’s become even more difficult to get away from the ranch, there are two reasons Rasmuson will travel. All four kids play hockey and the two older boys play AA

hockey. The couple is busy driving them to the various rinks in the countryside.

Rasmuson also makes time to fulfill his duties as a director of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.

“There are so many issues facing producers and many of them don’t have short-term answers,” he says. “I get frustrated at times with the focus on files such as the sustainability file. To me, it seems the industry is getting bogged down trying to include so many indicators under this one heading.

“Sometimes when you try to please everyone, you please no one. But if you’re not part of the discussion, someone outside our industry will determine our fate.”

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December 2015 |

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industry

under attack (again) Hazardous to your health? Hardly.

A recent WHO study suggests eating up to 100 grams of red meat per day could increase your risk of getting cancer by 17 percent. But Canadians already consume, on average, only half of that amount. | michelle houlden photo illustration

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On Oct. 26, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), said there was sufficient evidence to link consumption of processed meat with colorectal cancer and classified it as Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans).Then it classified red meat as probably carcinogenic, or Group 2A, putting it in the same category as glyphosate.

The statement from the WHO made for dramatic headlines, but the vast majority of Canadians already eat meat in moderation.

— Mark Klassen | director of technical services, Canadian cattlemEn’s association

By Bonnie Warnyca

events.

“The conversation has changed from “yes” or “no” to shades of grey in terms such as the cancer hazard categories where they talk about “possibly”, “probably” or “probably not”. While science is changing the best advice continues to be – “everything in moderation.”

Savour that thought.

The outcry from the live-

stock industry could be heard globally. The industry cried foul to the accusations and the WHO answered the cry the following day with: “Some foods need to be limited as part of a healthy diet but do not need to be completely eliminated,” says the assistant directorgeneral of the WHO Oleg Chestnov. “It’s important not to eliminate foods but rather to limit and manage them correctly. The document linking red meats to cancer was aimed mainly at politicians, so that they can regulate the sector appropriately within their borders.”

Needless to say the first release certainly got the world’s attention with some media outlets using such colorful and provocative headlines as “Red meat now in the same category as arsenic and cigarettes”.

Mark Klassen, director of technical services, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association countered that comment saying, “We know less than a teaspoon of arsenic will kill you and the steak sandwich you had for lunch – did not.”

So, how do they compare?

“The answer is that both examples of what the WHO considers a hazard did not consider the odds,” says Klassen. “In this particular study they pointed out that red meat up to 100 grams a day might increase your risk of getting cancer by 17 percent. I talked with a physician that told me if you smoke cigarettes then

Mark Klassen | CCA PHOTo

your risk of getting cancer goes up 2,000 or 2,500 times.

“For Canadians it’s a bit of a moot point. Our fresh red meat consumption is about 50 grams per day and about 25 grams per day, on average, for processed red meat. Therefore, our consumption is approximately half the levels cited in the study.”

Klassen acknowledges that the original statement from the WHO made for dramatic headlines, but the vast majority of Canadians already eat red meat in moderation. And, he says, if you’re going to a sporting event, he doubts that a couple of hot dogs will change your life.

“It seems these days we are having more and more discussion about relatively small risks,” he says. “Much of this is happening because science is becoming more capable of finding small risks whether they are related to low levels of bacteria in meat, chemical residues or other

Fast facts There are some facts surrounding processed meat — especially hot dogs: • In 2014, consumers spent more than $2.5 billion dollars on hot dogs in the U.S. • The top hot dog consuming cities were Los Angeles (more than 39 million hot dogs annually) followed by New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago, Birmingham, Boston, Detroit, Pittsburgh and San Francisco.

• More than 18.5 million hot dogs and nearly 4.2 million sausages were expected to be eaten at baseball parks during the 2015 Major Leagues Baseball season.

Source:National Hot Dog and Sausage Council

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n at i o n a l b e e f s t r at e g y

The beef industry’s five-year plan With beef prices at their highest level ever, producers may be feeling they’ve finally come out the other side more than a decade after the “BSE crisis” slammed the U.S. border closed to beef imports from Canada.

By SCOTT SAKATCH | SCA COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

While it’s a time to feel good about

the industry, it’s also a time to make sure the industry is prepared for the future and ready to tackle any challenges that lay ahead, says Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association CEO Ryder Lee. “The Canadian beef industry has weathered the storm and bounced back to the point where it’s strong and ready to grow,” says Lee. “The question now is how do we ensure the industry stays that way? And how do we make sure we’re positioned for growth? The answer is pretty simple: we need a plan.”

That plan is the National Beef Strategy, a road map that will guide the industry to higher profitability, growth and continued production. The Strategy is a partnership between the Canadian Cattlemen’s Associa-

tion, the Beef Cattle Research Council, Canada Beef, the Canadian Beef Breeds Council and the National Cattle Feeders Association. Provincial beef organizations, including the SCA, are also partners.

The plan proposes a united path forward that will allow the beef industry to meet challenges and take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves, with the goal of benefiting all sectors of the beef industry. Essentially, says Lee, the strategy is laying the foundations for what the industry needs in terms of research, marketing and promotion.

“We’re looking at a five-year plan that will set out the metrics for improvement — how to improve our competitiveness, to improve our market share and to improve our productivity. And we need to be able to measure that. With the strategy, we’re looking at increasing production efficiency by 15 percent, reducing the cost disadvantages compared to our main competitors by seven percent, and increasing carcass cutout value by 15 percent.”

“The deadline for all these goals is 2020, so we need to act quickly.”

The question now is how do we ensure the industry stays that way? And how do we make sure we’re positioned for growth? The answer is pretty simple: we need a plan.”

—Ryder Lee | CEO, Sask Cattlemen’s Association

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The timing of the strategy is also important in light of the recent completion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. The TPP, if ratified, would lower tariffs on Canadian beef exports to Japan and allow Canada to compete head-on with other beef suppliers from Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and the United States. Meanwhile, the majority of markets closed due to BSE have been reopened. As demand for highquality protein increases around the world, Canada will need to reverse the trend of a contracting herd to meet that demand.

Cattle numbers are down across much of the world; Canada alone saw one of the largest liquidation phases in history with beef cow inventories dropping by 30 percent between 2005 and 2015. The recent record high cattle prices would usually drive expansion, but there is greater competition for acreage and expansion is expected to be slower than we have seen in previous cattle cycles.

However, growing the herd isn’t enough.

Consumers are also voicing concerns about

production practices and impacts, such as environmental stewardship, animal welfare and sustainability. Consumers also have more choice than ever on how to spend their food dollars. Consumer confidence, affected by food safety, food quality and production practices, is essential to maintain current customers and attract new ones.

Lee, whose family runs a cattle operation at Fir Mountain, says it all combines to an unprecedented opportunity for Canadian beef producers, if they’re willing to get on board. If they’re not, the industry risks not just stagnating but actually shrinking.

“The National Beef Strategy isn’t just about taking advantage of new opportunities,” he says. “It’s about holding onto what we already have. If we allow other countries, and other protein suppliers, to overtake us in these new markets, we could easily find ourselves in a situation where we can’t keep up, let alone get ahead.”

Legacy Fund served producers well The Canadian Beef and Cattle Market Development Fund was an important part of the recovery of the Canadian beef industry after the BSE crisis, but its day is now past, says Travis Toews.

Also known as the Legacy Fund, the money was a $110 million investment by the federal and Alberta governments ($50 million and $30 million, respectively) to help support long-term market development in the beef, beef cattle and genetics industries. The fund was a 10-year project that began in 2005, which means it comes to a close this year. continued on page 14 ››

continued on page 14 ››

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13

›› continued from page 13 Funding the strategy will require an increase of $1.50 to the national checkoff, bringing it to a total of $2.50 per head. Lee says this would generate approximately $1617 million, which would be dispersed as follows: Canada Beef (marketing), $9.5 million; Beef Cattle Research Council, $3.3 million; issues management: $1 million; administration, $525,000; and provincial investments in research and marketing, $2 million.

This check-off increase will also go toward other areas, says Lee. First is funding the industry portion of the next beef science cluster. That application will depend on what industry will have allocated to research over a five-year period in the next Growing Forward. The funds from the increase will also replace the $80 million Legacy Funds allocated to the beef industry over 10 years by the Government of Canada ($50 million) and Government of Alberta ($30 million). This money was used for marketing and promotion activities over the course of the last 10 years and is now gone.

“Government has grown increasingly forceful that they will be there to partner

›› continued from page 13 “All the federal funds have been expended,” says Toews, a past-president of the CCA and current chair of the Canadian Cattlemen Market Development Council (CCMDC). “We still have a small amount of the Alberta fund, so the council is still active, but in effect, the fund is done.”

A recent independent third-party examination of the administration of the fund concluded it was money well spent.

“It was a 10-year investment, and it played out exactly as expected. We recognized at the time that Rome was on fire and we needed a fire truck. The Legacy Fund was established during the industry’s greatest need, and if you look at it in terms of returns to producers, we hit a triple home run. The fund played a very positive role in where we are today.

“A big role was identifying Canadian beef and branding it with consumers.

Branding can’t be emphasized enough — it was the key to reopening those markets.”

However, says Toews, the key word is

14

| connection

with industry where industry is investing, but will not be there on their own,” says Lee. “Matching levels have also come down requiring industry to put up more cash to access government match. It has been noted by governments that the share of receipts the beef industry invests in marketing and research is less than others.”

The National Beef Strategy, and the corresponding increase in national checkoff, was met with enthusiasm from Saskatchewan producers at the SCA’s district meetings this fall, says Lee. Several resolutions to bring the issue to a vote were made at the meetings, which means the next step is to go into further discussion and vote on the strategy at the annual general meeting during the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference in Saskatoon in January.

“We recognize that this is an important decision for cattle producers in Saskatchewan,” says Lee. “That’s why it was important to lay out the case that has been made so far for the National Beef Strategy at our district meetings.”

For more information on the National Beef Strategy, go to www.beefstrategy.com.

still “spent.” If the industry is to keep moving forward with expanding markets and taking advantage of new opportunities, there needs to be another infusion of money. That’s the goal behind the proposed $1.50 increase in national checkoff and the implementation of the National Beef Strategy.

“The Legacy Fund was guided by the Strategic Marketing Plan that was developed in 2006, and it was what we needed at the time,” says Toews. “But as we move into the future, we must take a longer look at things and recognize that the industry needs to be as competitive as possible in order to be sustainable. Market development and research are absolutely critical to making that happen.

“This time around, though, the process needs to be not only guided but funded by the beef cattle industry if there is to be any hope for success.

“The industry has to step up to the plate for front-line funding. We can’t depend on the government for that.”

NEWS IN BRIEF provincial crown land for sale Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart announced a new incentive program to encourage the sale of eligible occupied agricultural Crown land. The program, which comes into effect immediately, offers purchase incentives on the sale of the land to current lease-holders.

All agricultural Crown land including cultivated, grazing and hay land that is deemed to have no public and low environmental benefit will be eligible for the program.

The Ministry of Agriculture estimates that approximately 600,000 acres of land will be sold under this program. From now until March 31, 2016, a 15 per cent discount will be applied to all sales.

The incentive drops to 10 per cent on April 1, 2016 and five per cent on January 1, 2017.

If a lessee does not purchase the land, they may continue leasing.

However, rental rates on cultivated lands and previously cultivated lands will increase for the 2016 cropping season by approximately 15 per cent over the formula rate and by 30 per cent over the formula rate for the 2017 cropping year.

This program allows Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers,

individuals who have managed the land for the better part of a century, to purchase this land and realize the benefits of ownership.”

Land that is designated as having high ecological value under

Sales associated with public tenders and Treaty Land Entitlement are not eligible for the program. Any parcel of land that has previously been determined as ineligible for purchase will remain as such.

The Wildlife Habitat Protection Act (WHPA) is not eligible for sale and discounts will not be applied to land classified as having moderate ecological value.

Lands classified as low are eligible for the incentive program.

Lessees interested in purchasing their leased agricultural Crown land can contact the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 or visit www. agriculture.gov.sk.ca/crownland-sale.

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December 2015 |

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C a n a d i a n C at t l e m e n ’ s A s s o c i at i o n

Message from the CCA president Canada’s beef industry faces many complex issues and we saw a good example of that this fall with a couple of high profile events occurring within days of each other. The industry response to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Review of Red Meat and Processed Meats, led by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), did an excellent job of putting the findings into proper context for the consumers and producers while ensuring the Canadian perspective on the issue was well understood.

We also saw Subway come forward with a strong position on antimicrobial use in food animals. Once again, industry answered back and an outreach effort on social media, including comments from producers, animal health experts and veterinarians, resulted in Subway clarifying their position on the use of antibiotics in food animals and acknowledging the important role of antibiotics in animal welfare.

Beef industry representatives, including the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders, CCA’s youth mentorship program, were successful in their outreach to City of Edmonton elected officials and representatives which involved sharing information and peer-reviewed, science-based facts regarding sustainable beef production in Canada. Council ultimately decided not to vote on a proposal seeking support of

a vegan menu for Council’s catered meals, demonstrating the need to promote a broader understanding of issues under public scrutiny.

I keep these instances in mind as I travel the country talking about the National Beef Strategy and the value of producer investment.

Issues management is a key aspect of the Social License pillar of the National Strategy and recent events are an excellent reminder of just how important it is for industry to have a proactive approach to issues such as antimicrobial use and resistance.

Unfortunately and in spite of the concerted efforts of industry to date, this area remains largely misunderstood by the consuming public. Education and awareness would be a primary area of focus under a fully supported National Strategy.

The desired check-off increase is needed as funding for programs is being challenged due to not only decreased cattle marketing and check-off collections but also decreased government funding, including the Legacy Fund which drew to a close in

2015. Through this initiative, $80 million in government funding and an additional $31 million in industry contributions through partner investment and the national checkoff paid by beef producers were entrusted to the CCA to administer in a strategic manner over 10 years. A recent independent examination of the CCA’s allocation of the funds found that these dollars were well managed and benefitted industry. The National Beef Strategy will continue this tradition and provide a wide range of opportunities for stakeholders across the industry.

Progress has also been made on major files that will benefit beef producers. In December, we expect to hear from the World Trade Organization (WTO) on a retaliation dollar amount Canada is authorized to impose against U.S. exports with regard to Country of Origin Labeling (COOL). We are working with the new Liberal Government to ensure they carry on from their predecessors and protect Canadian producers through a retaliatory tariff, if the U.S. has not already removed

Canada’s beef industry is on the cusp of something great and I believe the vision outlined of the National Beef Strategy can take us there if we let it.

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the incentive to segregate imported livestock.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a good example of beefproducing nations working together to pursue common trade issues. This format is gaining

much interest from beef-producing countries and in fact, the Five Nations Beef Alliance was rebranded as the International Beef Alliance after endorsing the membership of producer representatives from both Bra-

zil and Paraguay. The inclusion of these two nations will see the Alliance grow to represent 46% of global beef cattle production and 63% of global beef exports.

Canada’s beef industry is on the cusp of something great and

I believe the vision outlined of the National Beef Strategy can take us there if we let it.

Until next time,

Dave Solverson | CCA President

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a n i m a l h e a lt h

Managing dystocia

More research is underway at the University of Calgary

By Shirley Byers Dystocia is not synonymous with as-

sisted calving, says Dr. Claire Windeyer, assistant professor at the University Of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. “It can be prolonged unassisted calving or calving that requires human intervention.

“Assisted calvings fall under three categories: easy pulls (one or two people), difficult pulls (three people or using a calf jack), and C-sections.

“Causes of dystocia include maternal-fetal disproportion (big calf, little cow), inadequate heifer growth, under or over conditioning of cows, twins, mineral deficiencies, congenital abnormalities or malpositioning.”

Windeyer led a 2013 dystocia-related study of western Canadian cow-calf operations that included a survey of 267 respondents, which found the frequency of intervention was: never 1.2 percent; rarely 52 percent; occasionally: 43.3 percent; frequently: 2.4 percent; always 1.2 percent The study found that on farms where ranchers never intervened at calving, there was an increase in the amount of scours in the herd. But, does this mean they’re not assisting calves when they should, which could result in weak calves? Or does it mean that the calves aren’t getting their colostrum and are at risk for disease?

According to U.S. numbers, 12 percent of beef heifers and four percent of beef cows require assistance. Researchers hope to get more Canadian numbers through the Western Canadian Cow-calf Surveillance Network, Windeyer says.

Managing dystocia Although other studies have shown that

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Dr. Claire Windeyer, assistant professor at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, is studying whether NSAIDs might help to reduce mismothering. | B. STOVER PHOTO

dystocia is one of the most painful conditions in adult cattle , few survey respondents reported administering pain medication to the cow (typically non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as meloxicam, flunixin or ketoprofen) at calving, and even fewer reported giving NSAIDs to the calf.

This may be because the effects of dystocia are perceived as being more painful for the cow than for the calf. Nevertheless, we suspect calves hurt too, says Windeyer.

“It is not unusual for them to sustain serious injury including bruising, inflammation, or even fractures, which can affect vitality, health and performance. A cow and calf in pain are less likely to want to get up and find each other.

“We suspect cows and calves that go through a difficult calving are less likely to

bond as quickly and this may impact when and how much colostrum a calf consumes.

We’re looking at whether a NSAID might help to reduce mismothering; we’ve still got to collect more information on that.

“Cost and availability of NSAIDs are likely limiting factors influencing usage in both cows and newborn calves. There have been no studies done on the frequency of NSAID use at calving in beef cattle and more research is needed on the health, welfare and economic benefits of using NSAIDs in beef cattle for pain management after dystocia.”

The role of the producer Previous studies have shown that most calf losses occur in the first 24 hours of life. Good resuscitation techniques are critical to ensure survival of the newborn. Although there are many methods and tools that can aid in resuscitation, there is little data on the most effective and appropriate techniques.

The practice of suspending newborn calves by their hind legs to drain fluid from the lungs needs to be discontinued, Windeyer says.

“It seems to get results; fluid drains out of the calf’s mouth but most of that is actually coming from the stomach and to make matters worse, the pressure on the diaphragm from the calf’s internal organs when it is held upside down, actually makes it more difficult for the animal to expand its lungs and breathe.

“Vets know this. We need more producer education programs so they can know it too and understand the negative effects of this practice.”

It is essential that all calves get colostrum within the first six hours of birth. | file photo

It is essential that all calves get that first colostrum within the first six hours of birth and this can be more of a challenge when dystocia is a factor. A hurting or lethargic calf will be less likely to get up and suckle. Producers can assess the udder for fullness to verify colostrum consumption. In the study, this practice was associated with a reduced incidence of mortality in the first seven days of life, and continued to reduce the incidence of death from seven days to weaning.

Assisting with colostrum intake has been associated with reducing the risk of failed transfer of passive immunity. Alternatively, the practice of verifying udder fullness may be an indicator for other management practices or an overall high level of attention to detail during calving that might also influence the herd-level mortality during early life.

On the other hand, if producers intervened if abnormal colostrum was noticed, the incidence of death in the first seven days was

increased.

Windeyer speculates that this may be because alternative products such as dairy colostrum or colostrum supplement were fed. “Dairy colostrum has been shown to have a much lower IgG concentration than beef colostrum. In addition, calves fed colostrum replacer or supplements may have lower serum IgG concentrations than calves fed fresh colostrum, which may be due to lower IgG concentrations per dose in some cheaper product or insufficient amounts being fed. Also, if these substitutes were not immediately available, the delay may have affected IgG absorption. Feeding frozen colostrum from an offfarm source was associated with increased herd-level incidence of stillbirths.�

Down the road, Windeyer wants to look into the longevity and future reproductive success of beef heifers. However, they already know that dairy cattle pre-weaning health and growth can have important impacts into the first lactation.

In the meantime, avoid dystocia through good breeding management. Monitor calving cows and intervene when they need it, and ensure compromised calves get colostrum.

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c a n a d i a n c at t l e m e n ’ s f o u n d at i o n

canadian Cattlemen’s Foundation seeks support

By Rebeca Kuropatwa The Canadian Cattlemen’s Founda-

tion (CCF) first launched in June 2015, at the Canadian Cattlemen’s Foundation Golf Tournament (held in conjunction with Canadian Beef Breeds Council, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, and Canada Beef), is still in its early stages of development.

And to help build visibility, the CCA called upon cattle industry leaders such as Brad Wildeman, manager of Pound-Maker Agventures Ltd., and past-president of the CCA to lend a hand.

“This foundation will increase our ability to train more young people in cattle politics and equip them to work as strong advocates for the industry — countering some of the negative images and stories present in social media,” says Wildeman.

The vision of the foundation is to provide a means for on-going donations and the investment of those gifts can provide the resources to fund a proactive, sustainable cattle industry that addresses industry issues while growing trust and support from consumers worldwide.

The mission is to build an endowment that

will provide funds into perpetuity for the growth and betterment of the industry.

The foundation has three focus areas: • Create and/or support education, leadership development, and outreach programs to serve youth involved with beef cattle; • Facilitate and encourage stewardship practices and conservation activities that preserve and/or enhance the environment, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat on working agricultural landscapes; • Support the beef industry’s sustainability through research and awareness.

This program, says Jill Harvie, program manager of the CCA in Calgary, is patterned after some of the U.S. initiatives which are well established.

“The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association for instance, has a large foundation called the National Cattlemen’s Foundation that has developed strong support over the years.

It’s something that helps the industry to continue to propel itself forward,” she says.

“In addition, many U.S. states have established foundations to support research initiatives as well as youth development and environmental stewardship.”

The cattle group hopes to raise money to fund a sustainable industry and build consumer trust and support.

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This foundation will increase our ability to train more young people in cattle politics and equip them to work as strong advocates for the industry.

Brad Wildeman | CCF

Brad Wildeman believes the creation of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Foundation is a major step to help to ensure a prosperous future for the next generation in the industry. | CCA PHOTO

Reaching future industry leaders “There is already training available for these young leaders through the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders (CYL) program which is financially supported by government and corporate partners,” says Wildeman.

“But government funding usually has a three-year span and then programs must find their own way. The challenge now is to secure funding for the longer term which is more difficult because it doesn’t have the same appeal as a new big impact announcement.

“Over the next decade, the battle for sustainability in our industry is not only about winning the minds of consumers, but it’s also about capturing the hearts of consumers. The way we achieve this is by telling our good story and using Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and other social media platforms.

“This program is just one of the many examples in which the foundation can be of great service,” says Wildeman.

“We know the CYL program

has a proven track record, enhancing leadership and retaining talent within the beef industry. So, we want to sustain the program well into the future.”

How to contribute Foundation donations can be made for general use or can be specific to what donors feel is most needed.

Wildeman says a growing segment of people are buying life insurance payable to the foundation upon their death.

“Oftentimes, when you hear about somebody leaving large sums of money to a foundation, they aren’t writing a check,” he says.

“They are committing monies from life insurance policies that will pay out down the road.”

To date, the foundation has collected $40,000 in pledges with the goal of reaching $1 million which will provide them with about $50,000 annually to carry out the work.

“We also want to work with flow-through funding,” says Harvie. “For instance, if a donor wants a particular project to get

off the ground or go toward a certain area, then we would look at funds flowing through the foundation – being sure to kick-start some of that work within a short period of time.

All donations are eligible for considerable tax benefits of well over 50 percent.”

Wildeman understands that

this foundation will not happen without a buy-in from industry members.

“I think the foundation is one of the first major steps to ensure we’re building the future to be as prosperous for the next generation as it was for us,” he says.

“We believe that to be a pretty honourable endeavour.”

For more information or to donate, please visit www.canadiancattlemensfoundation.ca.

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GF 2 f u n d i n g

building blocks for success: A review of Growing Forward 2 funding

By Bonnie Warnyca Almost mid-way through the five-year Growing Forward 2 agreement which began in 2013, the Ministry of Agriculture will soon begin a period of review to assess the outcomes from the initiatives that have been funded to date.

The GF2 five-year program provides a $3 billion investment across Canada by federal, provincial and territorial governments focusing on innovation, competitiveness and market development for the agriculture and agri-food sector.

In Saskatchewan, the total GF2 investment is $388 million and the Ministry of Agriculture developed a comprehensive and diverse livestock strategy involving three pillars of reference to guide the livestock program and policy development. Under the three pillars: Competitiveness, Safeguards and Market Expansion, there have been a number of strategic initiatives approved focusing on increasing the economic success of the livestock industry in this province.

“The Ministry came up with a target of increasing annual livestock farm receipts to more than $2 billion by 2020; an increase of more than 25 percent relative to 2012,” says Grant Zalinko, manager, livestock development, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. “Industry met that goal in 2014 and significantly exceeded that recording $2.7 billion of livestock farm cash receipts.

“GF2 funding has supported a number of business risk management programs in the province for the cattle industry including AgriInvest, AgriStability, AgriInsurance and AgriRecovery which all fall under the Competitiveness pillar. And in 2014, the Western Livestock Price Insurance program was introduced as a pilot project across west-

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Grant Zalinko, manager, livestock development. | SASK AG MINISTRY PHOTO

ern Canada. It provides producers with a strategy to manage a drop in market prices beyond their control.”

Also under this pillar came the $10 million commitment to the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence project at the University of Saskatchewan. The Centre has a total budget of $25 million.

“It’s important to note that the initial $1 million commitment from the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association was a very important catalyst for this broader livestock and forage centre of excellence concept,” says Zalinko. “Leveraging of the producer investment in seed capital attracted a lot of funding through GF2 which will have a generational impact on cattle producers.

Another initiative under the Competitiveness pillar is the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program offering producers funding to support on-farm water development.

The second pillar under the Ministry of

Agriculture’s livestock strategy is Safeguards which focuses on the protection of not only the public health but animals and the environment.

The programs that specifically support this pillar include the On Farm Food Safety Program which consists of the Saskatchewan Verified Beef Production Program. In this program, producers that attend workshops are eligible for biosecurity funding and equipment funding for farm

Growing Forward 2 is a five-year policy framework for Canada’s agricultural and agri-food sector and represents a $3 billion dollar investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments. | istock illustration

and ranch food safety.

Producers are also eligible for funding through the Farm Stewardship Program under the environment component of GF2.

Producers should check the list of management practices to see what would be a good fit for their operation.

Then there is the Livestock Traceability Rebate Program

which provides funding for the adoption of traceability technologies by livestock handlers. The funding covers such traceability-related equipment as handheld readers, panel readers, traceability software and traceability equipment training.

“Producers probably aren’t aware that two important disease surveillance programs to help cattle producers detect production limiting diseases have been put in place under the GF2,” suggests Zalinko. These include the Johne’s disease surveillance program and the bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) provincial screening and control program.

Johne’s is present in at least two-thirds of Saskatchewan dairy herds, and in 10 to 15 percent of beef herds. Animals are infected as young calves, but it can take years before the disease is apparent.

Seemingly unaffected animals have reduced feed efficiency and milk production resulting in lighter weaned calves. Once an animal develops clinical disease, it will eventually die. To date, there is no treatment or effective vaccine for Johne’s.

Under the third and last pillar, Market Expansion, $22 million in GF2 funding was announced this past summer by the then federal Ag minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan Ag minister Lyle Stewart. This funding goes towards the building of the new International Trade Centre at Evraz Place. This 150,000 square foot multi-purpose facility is expected to be in operation in 2017 and will be a key component of both the Canadian Western Agribition and the Farm Progress Show.

The City of Regina has also

committed another $11 million towards the project.

This pillar also provides industry with additional GF2 funding for market expansion initiatives such as trade missions.

Since 2013, GF2 funding has helped to expand industry’s reach in markets across Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Ongoing activities include attracting qualified international buyers to attend Canadian Western Agribition and supporting industry to participate in Canada Beef, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and Federal Government

trade missions such as Agriculture and Agri-food Canada’s trade missions to China in June 2014 and 2015.

“Initiatives under the three pillars were designed to allow flexibility for the province to invest in priority programing to assist the livestock industry in reaching their goals in the global marketplace,” says Zalinko.

Producers looking for more GF2 program information can call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 866-457-2377 or go online to www.saskatchewan.ca and search for Growing Forward 2.

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NATCO-0005A_SCA_print_3.5x4.625_110915.indd 1

2015-11-10 1:13 PM

December 2015 |

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conference agenda

Sask. Beef Industry Conference The beef & forage symposium will be held Jan. 20-22, 2016 at the Saskatoon Inn & Conference Center in Saskatoon. This is their agenda: Wednesday, Jan. 20 9:30 a.m. Registration and Coffee 10:00 a.m. Saskatchewan Beef & Forage Symposium and Industry Trade Show with greetings from: The Honourable Lyle Stewart, Minister of Agriculture; Mary Buhr, Dean, College of Agriculture & Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan; Dr. Kim McLean, Sask. Beef & Forage Symposium Co-Chair

10:15 a.m. Saskatchewan Forage Insurance Program Update Presenter to be announced 10:45 a.m. Saskatchewan Beef Centre of Excellence Update Dr. Abdul Jalil, Director of Research, Ministry of Agriculture 11:15 a.m. Pain Management Best Practices (with findings from the Western Cow-Calf Survey), Dr. Reynold Bergen, Science Director, Beef Cattle Research Council 12:00 p.m. Luncheon and Trade Show 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions Session One: Salon B Performance and Persistence of Current Varieties Dr. Surya Acharaya, Research Scientist, AAFC

MAKING SEEDING SIMPLE.

YEARS

New Alfalfa Varieties: Dr. Peter Reisen, Director of Plant Breeding, Forage Genetics

Legume Use: a Producer’s Perspective Nathan Siklenka, Glaslyn, SK

Session Two: Courtyard Room

Technology for Early Disease Detection Dr. Edouard Timsit, University of Calgary

Grading Updates Cindy Delaloye, General Manager Canadian Beef Grading Agency

Liver Scoring and Profitability Relationship Dr. Eric Behlke, Feedlot Health Management Services 2:30 p.m. Networking Break and Trade Show

Celebrating 20 years Seeding into sod made easy Helping farmers limit risk Learn more:

www.technotill.com call: (780) 352-9890 email: info@technotill.com

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3:00 p.m. Where are we in the Cattle Cycle?

Brenna Grant, Manager, CanFax Research Services 3:30 p.m. Marketing Opportunities to Meet Alternative Markets William Torres, Cattleland Feedyards Ltd. 4:00 p.m. Cross-Sector Practices: from a veterinarian’s perspective Dr. John Campbell, University of Saskatchewan 4:30 p.m. Linking the Players: producers and practices mutually benefitting cow-calf and feeder sectors Ryder Lee, CEO, Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association

5:30 p.m. Social hour, followed by dinner With guest speaker Alanna Koch, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Province of Saskatchewan

SBIC scholarship presentations

Fund-raising auction for the SBIC scholarship fund

City, MO is recognized as a thought leader in food and agriculture. He is highly regarded as both a writer and sought-after speaker who engages audiences across the globe. Charlie has more than 25 years of experience working in communications, public relations and issues management within the food system. He serves as CEO of The Center for Food Integrity, a non-profit organization dedicated to building consumer trust and confidence in today’s food system.

Thursday, Jan. 21 7:00 a.m. SBIC Breakfast and Registration 8:00 a.m. The Beef Pit: National Beef Strategy Panel Tim Oleyksyn, Chair, Beef Cattle Research Council Dave Solverson, President, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Jack Hextall, Chair, Canada Beef Larry Schweitzer, Chair, National Cattle Feeders’ Association David Bolduc, President, Canadian Beef Breeds Council

12:30 p.m. Closing Luncheon and SBIC Trade Show

Friday, Jan. 22 9:00 a.m. Saskatchewan Livestock Association Breakfast and Annual General Meeting

Saskatchewan Cattle Breeders’ Association Annual General Meeting

10:00 a.m. What’s the Mineral Status of Your Herd?

Dr. Cheryl Waldner, University of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Livestock Marketers Association Annual General Meeting

10:30 a.m. Mineral Supplementation Strategies Dr. John McKinnon, University of Saskatchewan

11:00 a.m. Saskatchewan Angus Association Annual General Meeting

11:00 a.m. Impact of Calf Mineral Status for Newly Received Feedlot Cattle Dr. Stephanie Hansen, PhD, Associate Professor of Feedlot Nutrition, Iowa State University

12:00 p.m. Saskatchewan Hereford Association Board of Directors’ Meeting

Saskatchewan Simmental Association Board of Directors’ Meeting

11:30 a.m. Keynote Speaker Charlie Arnot, CEO of the Centre for Food Integrity, Kansas

Saskatchewan Limousin Association Board of Directors’ Meeting

9:30 a.m. Networking Break and Trade Show

Upcoming Sales Dec. 11 - Heartland Virden in the Beyond boarders bred hfr sale (50 hd Bred hfrs).

Dec.17 - Swift Current Heartland with 60 bred hfrs, 90 2-3 calf.

Bred cows and 90 4th and older bred cows.

Dec. 18 - Heartland Virden 60 bred Hfrs, 90 red and tan bred cows

Contact Perry Rasmuson Cell: 306-435-6994

All cows bred to start April 23rd and Hfrs synchronized and AI’d for may 1st.

Many more Hfrs and Cows for sale off the ranch.

December 2015 |

27

food for thought

Slow-Cooker Savvy

With slow cooker

Greek Beef Pot Roast, dinner is ready when you come home and you can turn value-priced beef options like blade or cross rib into something that you could serve to company.

What’s the best cut to use for the slow cooker? We did our homework, testing cuts in the new Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence in Calgary. Using an inside round cut, which is categorized as marinating steak or oven roast versus a blade, which is labelled as a simmering steak or pot roast, we braised them both at the same time in the same sauce.

The result: if you didn’t do a side-by-side comparison, the inside round would be totally edible. However, when tested compared to the blade, the blade was the winner hands down.

The blade had a richer, juicier mouth feel and every strand of beef was so tender and had big beefy flavour. The inside round was drier and took more chewing - and wasn’t as flavourful.

There’s good reason that round steaks are marinating steaks and blade steaks are simmer steaks.

We’ve found the same holds true with pot roasts and oven roasts. If you braise any cut from the round, it will indeed be tender, but not nearly as flavourful, tender and juicy as a pot roast like blade or cross rib.

For more recipes and knowhow on slow cooker beef, visit our e-store at MakeitBeef.ca to order our slow cooker recipe booklet.

For the Greek Pot Roast video, visit LoveCDNbeefYouTube.

Joyce Parslow is a home economist with Canada Beef. She champions all things culinary when it comes to buying, handling and cooking beef at home.

28

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Slow-Cooker Greek Beef Pot Roast

| serves 8

Make this easy, slow cooker recipe with your favourite pot roast: cross rib or blade. If you want to make in the oven, brown and cook the roast in a heavy covered dutch oven pot or cast-iron roaster at an oven temperature of 325°F (160°C) for three hours or until fork-tender.

Prep: 15 min

Cook: eight hours

boneless Beef Pot Roast (e.g. Cross Rib or Blade), trimmed vegetable oil tomato pasta sauce sliced pitted Greek kalamata olives dried oregano leaves

3 1/2 lb 1 tbsp 1 3/4 cup 1/2 cup 1 tbsp

1.59 kg 15 mL 425 mL 125 mL 15 mL

Brown roast on all sides in hot oil in large skillet. Place roast in 4 or 5-quart (4 or 5 L) slow cooker.

Combine pasta sauce, olives and oregano; pour over roast in slow cooker and turn meat to coat well. Cover and cook on low for eight to 10 hours.

Let roast stand for 15 minutes or more; carve and serve with sauce and Garden Orzo Salad.

FEATURED AGROLOGIST The future of your business deserves a professional.

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

Naomi Paley, PAg Regional Livestock Specialist SK Ministry of Agriculture Yorkton, SK Naomi works with beef cattle producers to complete annual production planning that includes nutrition ration balancing, production economics, and introducing new technologies. Along with her colleagues, Naomi helped to start the first pizza farm project in the province providing agriculture awareness and education to school children.

“The professional agrologist (PAg) designation distinguishes me as a professional that is bound to a code of ethics that conveys trust to the general public.”

Naomi was raised on a cattle farm near Canora, SK. She received a bachelor’s degree from the U of S with a major in animal science. Naomi previously worked with United Grain Growers.

Leah Pearce, PAg

Research Technician Western Beef Development Centre a division of PAMI Lanigan, SK

Leah is part of a team that conducts collaborative applied research projects for the profitability and sustainability of the cow calf industry in Saskatchewan. The centre’s research focuses on forages, winter feeding, and cow calf nutrition.

Garden Orzo Salad

1/2 cup 6 tbsp 1/2 c.

1 1/2 c.

1 1/2 cup 1 1/4 c.

| makes 6 cups (1.5L)

orzo pasta 125 mL vinaigrette dressing 30 mL sliced red onion halved grape tomatoes 375 mL medium cucumber (approx. 2 cups) 500 mL EACH crumbled feta and halved kalamata olives 125 mL clove garlic, finely minced torn fresh basil leaves 50 mL

“Being a professional agrologist (PAg) is important because it gives credibility to my work and assures those I work with in the industry that I am committed to ethics and continual learning as a professional.”

Leah was raised on a grain farm near Marquis, SK. She received her BSA from the University of Saskatchewan with an animal science major. Leah previously worked at the Lakeland Agricultural Research Association (LARA) before joining the Western Beef Development Centre in 2005.

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:

Cook orzo pasta until tender; drain. Toss with 2 tbsp vinaigrette dressing while still warm, in medium-sized salad bowl. Add red onion, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta and olives. Add in garlic, basil leaves and an additional 4 tbsp vinaigrette dressing; toss together to combine; season with salt and pepper to taste.

For more recipes, visit beefinfo.org.

December 2015 |

29

SCA p r o f i l e

an eye for detail SCA’s new policy analyst Christina Patterson is hard at work on topics ranging from forage insurance and rural municipality taxation to drainage and traceability.

By Scott Sakatch, SCA | communications specialist

Are you a big-picture

thinker? Do you like the wide view, the “elevator speech” version, the meat-and-potatoes and nothing else?

If so, Christina Patterson is your polar opposite.

As the policy analyst for the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, it’s her job to track down the devil in the details, to look at things from every angle and to figure out what’s going to work and what’s not going to work. “(Policy analysis) is really about making sure that you’ve researched things exhaustively, that you’ve gotten every last little scrap of information, that every single ‘i’ is dotted and ‘t’ is crossed,” says Patterson.

“It’s a long and painstaking process to take an idea from the ‘We really should do this’ stage to the ‘All right, it’s done’ stage, and there are a lot of roadblocks along the way. It’s my job to make sure we clear those hurdles, or at the very least identify them and mitigate them, so we can make things better for our producers.”

The SCA’s policy agenda is set by the board of directors. It decides

30

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the association’s priorities, then task Patterson with making sure the plans are feasible and works with other stakeholders to make things happen. The first stage is to research all the factors involved in the potential plan and to determine whether or not it can work.

“There are a lot of questions you have to answer along the way,” she says. “First, obviously, is what are we trying to do? Will it work? Will it help achieve our goals for the cattle industry? All of those have to be answered before you can even start the framework. And then there’s a whole new series of questions to answer. Once everything has been figured out and the ducks are in a row, then it’s presented to the SCA board for decision.

“Basically, we want the board to be as informed as possible without having to do the legwork themselves, so they can make the right decisions and still be able to run their operations and do their day jobs.”

It’s not glamorous work, but it’s something Patterson loves. She’s been a policy director with the federal government in both agriculture and aboriginal affairs, an agriculture specialist with the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, and has

extensive experience as a consultant in the ag sector. She comes by the job naturally, as a Manitoba girl with a passion for politics.

Patterson began her career in Ottawa after earning a BSc in agriculture and a Masters in natural resource management. She started working for Howard Hilstrom, a Manitoba cow-calf operator who was also an MP and agriculture critic for the Canadian Alliance at the time. That began a several-year stint in government and politics that took her from Ottawa to as far away as China.

Throughout her career, she’s cultivated relationships with a number of key stakeholders, which is a large part of her job. She needs those people to help her do research, but their help can also manifest itself in other ways.

“You can do all the research in the world and have excellent, well developed policies,” says Patterson. “But without the right people on side, you’re wasting your time.

Decisions are made by people, not computers, and unfortunately, everyone has their own agenda. You have to understand that you’re not always going to get everything you want out of stakeholders, because everyone is going to be looking out for their own interests. There has

to be compromise.”

It helps when you approach those stakeholders with an open hand and a smile, she says.

“When you walk in with your back up, or with nothing but demands, you’re not going to get very far. There’s an art to the negotiation of policy that not everyone appreciates.”

Of course, as the analyst for the SCA, it’s Patterson’s duty to advance the agenda of the province’s cattle producers, and she’s already deep into the work after just a handful of months on the job. Some of the policy topics she and SCA CEO Ryder Lee are working on include forage insurance, rural municipality taxation issues, drainage, traceability and more. That’s not including the national issues that will affect local producers as well.

Patterson says she plans to work on communicating SCA policies to members as they move forward, so that everyone is on the same page as to what the SCA is doing and where their check-off dollars are going. The process is often long and arduous, but she says the success at the end makes it worthwhile if it means making things easier for producers.

sca 2015 district meetings

2015 district meeting resolutions The following resolutions were passed at the SCA district meetings the last week of October and on Nov. 4. These 11 local meetings offered a chance for producers to hear from the SCA and to provide input.

These resolutions will be reviewed by the governance committee and brought to the floor at the annual general meeting on Jan. 21 at the Saskatoon Inn in Saskatoon.

Motion supporters are encouraged to be at the annual meeting to speak to their resolutions.

At the AGM, resolutions can also come

from the floor and from the Board for the consideration of the attendees.

It is important to consider the multiple resolutions below pertaining to supporting an increase in the national check-off levy from $1 to $2.50.

There will be a “beef pit” session the morn-

ing of Jan. 21 to discuss the National Beef Strategy.

There will be representatives in attendance from Canada Beef, Beef Cattle Research Council and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association to answer questions about the strategy before the resolutions session.

{District 1 - resolution #1} That SCA investigate the feasibility of product liability to protect producers from liability suits brought against their product.

»»

Moved: Thomas Mould Seconded: Barry Schorr {District 1 - resolution #2}

»»That SCA move that for those producers who are involved in custom grazing of private land or grazing associations should be able to participate in some program covered through forage insurance in order to protect their financial risk.

Moved: Barry Schorr Seconded: Perry Rasmuson {District 1 - resolution #3} That SCA continue to engage the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation to work towards more equality in insurance programming by allowing livestock producers to defer payments tied to the expiration of their policy.

district 2

»»

Moved: Garth Woods Seconded: Perry Rasmuson _________________________________ {District 2 - resolution #1}

»»That SCA lobby the government on behalf of Livestock Services of Saskatchewan, to extend enforcement and investigative powers to LSS to enable them to address the issue of cattle theft.

Moved: Bill Jameson Seconded: Ken Demyen

{District 2 - resolution #2} That SCA lobby the provincial government to create an appeal process for suspected losses due to predators and to address how the compensation paid to producers is determined.

»»

Moved: Dave Spooner Seconded: Phillip Lynn {District 2 - resolution #3}

{District 2 - resolution #4} Whereas the administrative costs required to enforce the collection of fees on cattle with horns far exceeds the revenue generated and whereas the marketplace already discounts the value of those animals, be it resolved that SCA supports the repeal of the Horned Cattle Purchases Act.

»»

Moved: Phillip Lynn Seconded: Deb Spooner

»»That the SCA lobby the provincial

government to remove the designation of fur bearing animal, as it pertains to wolves in the agriculture areas of the provinces.

Moved: Rick Swenson Seconded: Dave Spooner

continued on page 32 ››

December 2015 |

31

district 3

district 4 {District 3B - resolution #1}

»»Whereas BSE testing numbers are dropping below OIE requirements, be it resolved that SCA investigate the feasibility of doing inspections at provincially inspected slaughter plants.

Moved: Doug Gillespie Seconded: Gerald Schultz {District 3B - resolution #2}

»»Whereas a viable cattle industry relies on a

productive grass and forage resource base, be it resolved that SCA increase its effort (both funds allocated and lobbying effort), to ensure increased research and breeding activity in grass and forage production.

Moved: Doug Gillespie Seconded: Troy Laforge {District 3B - resolution #3} Whereas we cattle producers believe in our industry and are committed to ensuring our continued profitability, therefore be it resolved that we support the increase in national checkoff to implement the National Beef Strategy.

»»

Moved: Doug Gillespie Seconded: Lynn Grant

32

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{District 4 - resolution #1}

»»Be it resolved that SCA District 4 support an

district 5

increase of $1.50 to the national checkoff to fund the National Beef Strategy.

Moved: Gord Kozroski Seconded: Tim Anderson {District 4 - resolution #2}

»»Be it resolved that Western Livestock Price

Insurance Program update their technology to allow producers to better manage the time sensitivity of the program.

Moved: Tim Anderson Seconded: Rick Toney {District 4 - resolution #3} That SCA investigate the feasibility of paying $350 per head for BSE tested cattle.

»»

Moved: Leif Brost Seconded: Chad Weiss

{District 5 - resolution #1} Whereas the cattle industry is currently underfunding marketing and research efforts and, whereas the industry now has the ability to fund, be it resolved that SCA support the National Beef Strategy including the $1.50 per head increase in the national checkoff.

»»

Moved: Bob Ivey Seconded: William Tyson {District 5 - resolution #2}

»»That SCA explore a means to increase

the salvage amount on BSE test cows via directing a portion of checkoff to funding a salvage price of $500 per head.

Moved: Todd Britton Seconded: Rory MacDonald

the SCA annual general meeting will be held Jan

9B

SCA district map DISTRICT

9A

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

8

7 5

6

4

3B 3A

2

1

district 6 {District 6 - resolution #1} Whereas some producers receive check-off refunds on the advice of their accountants, whereas accountants can use a blank refund form to give to producers, be it resolved that the SCA begin only allowing check-off requests on forms issued from SCA’s office and accomplish this by numbering request forms.

»»

Moved: Brent Johnson Seconded: Garrett Johnson

an. 21, 2016 in Saskatoon.

{District 9A - resolution #1} That SCA support the increase to the national checkoff to $2.50 to support the National Beef Strategy.

{District 9B - resolution #1} That SCA lobby that the U of S Board of Governors contain members with agriculture backgrounds.

»»

»»

Moved: Ryan Sommerfeld Seconded: Brandon Armstrong

Moved: Dave Kerr Seconded: Tom Hougham {District 9B - resolution #2}

{District 9A - resolution #2} That SCA lobby the provincial government to include wolves that are located along the forest fringe in the provincial draw system, similar to other big game animals.

»»

»»That Saskatchewan increase the national

checkoff to $2.50 in support of the National Beef Strategy.

Moved: Dave Kerr Seconded: Terry Adamson

Moved: Brandon Armstrong Seconded: Ryan Sommerfeld.

December 2015 |

33

s av e t h e d at e

b

u

b

t i n

l l e

o

a r

The Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan (SK PCAP) is organizing the Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference Feb. 16-18 in Saskatoon, SK. For information on the conference visit: www.pcesc.ca. _________________________________ The 18th Western Canadian Feedlot Management School will be held Feb. 2-4 at the Travelodge in Saskatoon featuring “Keys to Backgrounding”. The workshop will cover such topics as nutrition, animal health, economics, labour issues and risk management. For more information, contact the Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association at 306-969-2226. _________________________________

d

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

An inspiring workshop on strategies for effective communication about food and farming will be held in Saskatoon December 9 – 10.

To register call 306-477-3663 or email office@farmfoodcaresk.org.

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 conference will feature a National Beef Strategy “beef pit” session. All Saskatchewan beef producers are strongly urged to attend the conference in general and particularly the AGM and “beef pit” session. For more registration details go to www. saskbeefconference.com.

To check out the workshop agenda go to: www.farmfoodcaresk.org _________________________________

NOTE: If you register for the conference by Dec. 18, you are eligible for a chance to win a free registration and two nights’ accommodation.

Hotel rooms at conference rates are held until Dec. 18.

Call 306-242-1440 and quote SBICRO for the discount.

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A cattlemen’s financial planning workshop is scheduled for Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cultural Centre in Yorkton. The agenda includes investing for the future, budgeting, financial projections and income statements, plus updates on the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program, Agristability and the Farm Business Development Initiative Program. Pre-register by Jan. 25 by calling 306-786-1531.

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CEO r e p o r t

Risk is all around us — ignore it at your peril Risk has been the under-

lying theme of many stories from the recent past. Each has a little different message.

The first is the saddest. The three kids drowning in canola in Alberta is hard for anyone to imagine. Trying to put myself in the shoes of those involved in that situation is too difficult to do for long. But there were other stories of lost lives lately including trucking accidents, ATV riding and too many others.

These are stark reminders of the risks all around farm production and outdoor life. These are real risks and not all of them can be eliminated. Vigilance around machinery, animals and with our own training, fatigue and awareness levels are ways to address these risks. We are all vulnerable, even the most experienced. My dad had some broken ribs because of some unpredictable cows. My family is thankful that is all that got broken.

Less mortal risk exists on the price and production side of the cattle business. Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation staff, including Jodie Griffin and Janelle Kuntz, attended all of our fall district meetings to talk about the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP) and about hay and grass insurance programs.

Cattle producers face a large risk by owning cattle for a long time before the price they will get for those cattle is set. There are many ways people manage this risk. Some are better than others. A partial list includes forward pricing, options, hedging, being in the market every week, selling at the same time every year and in recent years taking a position in the WLPIP. After prices were flying high in mid summer they have backed off significantly and many people in WLPIP have been in claim positions in recent weeks. SCIC

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staff did a good recap of the parameters of the program.

On the production side, cattle producers are at the mercy of the weather for much of their forage production results. You can manage risk a bit with diverse geography, or stockpiling when feed is plentiful. When frost hits late or rain does not come, or oddly, when it will not stop to get off a quality crop a producer can be short of feed. Then the decision comes: Is it time to downsize or buy expensive feed?

With hay and forage insurance, government will share the cost of insuring against these weather events. The programs for hay and grass are several.

Some are very similar to crop insurance (multi peril and yield based) and some are different (rainfall based). The idea is the same on all of them though, when production is low enough to trigger a payout the program helps the subscriber replace some of that production shortfall with the indemnity (payout).

The goal of having SCIC at the meetings was to make sure attendees were up to date on these risk management programs.

The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association continues to work with the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure these programs are the best they can be and then to communicate the programs to producers. SCA does not have a goal for uptake but we do want producers to know what tools are available and how they work so they can make informed decisions about managing price and production risks.

The last risk-based story is very frustrating. This is the story of the United Nations International Agency for Research on Cancer classifying red meat as “probably carcinogenic to humans” and processed meat as “carcinogenic to humans.”

Much media and social media

hoopla has been made of these classifications. It remains to be seen what consumer reaction will be. Consumer patterns roll in media, price and so many other factors it can be impossible to tease out the effects on consumption. It is still illustrative of how hazards and risk levels are communicated in many stories in the media.

A decent Q&A on the findings can be found at bit.ly/1Mmdxep.

As in so many stories the focus is often on sensational portions of a report and not on other more boring pieces. Canada Beef added context and perspective at bit.ly/1OtX2zk.

I did not see talk of the risk of reduced meat consumption.

Anyone making their dietary decisions hopefully will look beyond these stories. Red meat is one of the most nutrient dense foods available. Given a limited amount of caloric intake if you are going to maximize the impact you should choose nutrient dense foods like beef. Elderly people are a growing demographic that have lowering caloric intake. Are they getting the zinc, iron, protein and other vitamins they need with the calories they consume? Cattle producers know well that nutrient shortages can be problematic for health. This nuance in food choice decision making was not part of the media storm. Balance or opportunity cost or the mathematics of risk are rarely part of a good media storm.

Risk is all around us. We ignore it at our peril, sometimes we can manage it ourselves, sometimes there is help and sometimes we are frustrated with risk and how it is portrayed or acted upon. Do what you can to keep you and yours safe out there and keep in mind all sides of the story.

Ryder Lee | SCA CEO

December 2015 |

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