Thursday, September 28, 2017 North Battleford, Saskatchewan
Protecting biodiversity
Top 10 invasive species The Nature Conservancy of Canada has just released its list of Canada’s top 10 invasive plants. Seven of the 10 plants on the list are found in Saskatchewan! These aren’t just a mild nuisance. Invasive species are the second-most com-
SWF and SSGA urge hunters to stay on track As the fall weather moves in, record breaking dry conditions in several areas across the province. have increased the potential risk of fires starting from
vehicle use. It’s also the time to remind hunters about getting landowner permission before hunting on their property. See inside for more.
Louise Lundberg
mon threat associated with species extinctions. They cause us to lose our biodiversity and cost our economy $16-34.5 billion dollars a year. But everyone can play a part in helping! This includes being careful about what you put in your gar-
den, and reporting invasive plants that you do see. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is managing invasive species on many of our properties across Canada. Especially in southern Canada, where natural habitats have been fragmented and are close to our farms and cities, invasive species are more common and need to be managed to protect our native biodiversity. See inside for the list.
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Page 2 - The Battlefords, Thursday, September 28, 2017
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Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Top 10 The Nature Conservancy of Canada wants people to understand the seriousness of invasive species in Saskatchewan. NCC just released its list of Canada’s top 10 invasive plants. Seven of the 10 plants on the list are found in Saskatchewan! These aren’t just a mild nuisance. Invasive species are the second-most common threat associated with species extinctions. They cause us to lose our biodiversity and cost our economy $16-34.5 billion dollars a year. But everyone can play a part in helping! This includes being careful about what you put in your garden, and reporting invasive plants that you do see. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is managing invasive species
on many of its properties across Canada. Especially in southern Canada, where natural habitats have been fragmented and are close to our farms and cities, invasive species are more common and need to be managed to protect our native biodiversity. This list of the top 10 invasive plants includes some of the key species that NCC is managing on its properties, and that also pose a threat to other protected areas across Canada.
Knapweeds
There are five invasive knapweed species in Canada that were unintentionally introduced into Canada from Europe in the late 1800s, probably in alfalfa and clover seeds. All species have slender stems with purple (or some-
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times white) flowers and grow from a deep taproot. Spotted knapweed is an aggressive invader that is especially problematic in native grasslands in western Canada, and has recently spread to Manitoba. P rovi nc es/t er r ito ries where this species is found: Yukon, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia.
Leafy spurge
Leafy spurge was probably introduced to Canada in grain seeds from Europe. It has yellow-greenish flowers, and the leaves and stems have a white milky sap. It can rapidly spread in open habitats, such as prairies, and reduces the quality of rangelands. This species has been documented on NCC properties from Ontario to BC, and threatens key habitats, such as tall grass prairie in Manitoba. On NCC’s Big Valley property in Saskatchewan, beetles have been introduced as a biological control to contain the spread of the plant. P rovi nc es/t er r ito ries where this species is found: Yukon, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI. Continued on Page 3
Spotted knapweed. Provinces/territories where this species is found: Yukon, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia. Photo by NCC
Leafy spurge. Provinces/territories where this species is found: Yukon, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI. Photo by NCC
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Canada Thistle. Provinces/territories where this species is found: Yukon, Northwest Territory, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador. Photo by NCC
The Battlefords, Thursday, September 28, 2017 - Page 3
European common reed. Provinces/territories where this species is found: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador. Photo by NCC
Invasive species threaten natural biodiversity Continued from Page 2
Canada thistle
Despite its name, this invasive thistle is not from Canada, but has been established in North America for hundreds of years. The alternative name, creeping thistle, is a more apt name for this species. It has purple flowers and spiny leaves, and grows in open areas. In addition to crowding out native plants, Canada thistle reduces the quality of rangelands. The small seeds are dispersed by winds so it can quickly spread. Provinces/ter ritories where this species is found: Yukon, Northwest Territory, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador.
European common reed
European common reed has rapidly spread in parts of eastern Canada, in wetlands and along beaches and lakeshores. It ready spreads along roads and highways before invading
natural habitats. European common reed forms tall, dense thickets that shade out native vegetation. This invasive species is spreading westward, but there is still an opportunity to stop its spread into western Canada. NCC has been managing European common reed on several properties, including a successful control project on Pelee Island, in Ontario. P rovi nc es/t er r ito ries where this species is found: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Japanese knotweed
Japanese knotweed was probably introduced as a garden plant. It can grow up to three metres in height and has nodes on its stems that resemble bamboo. Japanese knotweed is an aggressive invader that can form dense thickets and outcompete native vegetation. It has been identified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as one of
the world’s worst invading species. This species had not been documented in the prairie provinces, until recent records from Alberta. Japanese knotweed is particularly problematic in Atlantic Canada, where it is taking over the edges of creeks and lakes. Provinces/ter ritories where this species is found: BC, Alberta, Ontario,
Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Garlic mustard
Garlic mustard is a forest invader that was first recorded in New York in 1868. It is native to Europe and may have been brought to North America as a food and medicinal plant. Garlic
mustard has spread to into forests throughout many parts of eastern North America, and has more recently been found in BC and Alberta. This species is one of the few invasive plants that spreads into healthy, intact forests and displaces native species. Each plant produces thousands of tiny black seeds that are viable in the soil
for many years. NCC and our Conservation Volunteers are managing garlic mustard on many properties. Garlic mustard leaves can be picked and turned into a tasty pesto! Provinces/ter ritories where this species is found: BC, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI. Continued on Page 4
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Sask Wheat announces candidates for director Saskatoon – The Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission has received nominations from 10 Saskatchewan wheat producers for four available positions on the Sask Wheat Board of Directors. Daryl Fransoo (Meota) William (Bill) Gehl (Regina) Brett Halstead (Nokomis) Jake Leguee (Weyburn) Rodney Luhning (Lumsden) Patricia Lung (Humboldt) Ken Rosaasen (Saskatoon) Trevor Scherman (Battleford) Scott Sefton (Broadview) Glen Tait (Meota) Candidate biographies and pictures will be available on the Sask Wheat website (saskwheatcommission.com) and in the October 2017 edition of the Sask Wheat newsletter. The election will take place between October 24 and November 24. Ballots will be sent to all registered wheat producers in October. Producers will have the option to vote electronically or via a mail-in paper ballot. The results of the election will be announced in early December and the four successful candidates will be installed to the Board of Directors at the Sask Wheat AGM on Jan. 9, 2018.
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Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Top 10
European buckthorn berries. Provinces/territories where this species is found: Alberta (European only), Saskatchewan (European only), Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI. Photo by Helen Fabbri
Continued from Page 3
Buckthorn (glossy false and European)
These two invasive buckthorns are shrubs that were introduced to North
America in the late 1800s as ornamentals and were widely planted as windbreaks along farm fields. Both species occur in a wide variety of habitats and form dense thick-
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ets that shade out native plants. The plant produces large numbers of seeds in berry-like black fruits that germinate quickly and prevent the regeneration of native trees and shrubs. Common buckthorn is also a primary host of the non-native soybean aphid, which is a serious agricultural pest. Provinces/ter ritories where this species is found: Alberta (European only), Saskatchewan (European only), Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI. Continued on Page 5
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Glossy buckthorn. Provinces/territories where this species is found: Alberta (European only), Saskatchewan (European only), Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI. Photo by NCC
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers set for director election Saskatoon – Four candidates have been nominated for two positions that will open up in January on the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) Board of Directors. The four nominees include: Lynnda Berg - Spiritwood Jean Harrington - Glenside Corey Loessin - Radisson Dwayne Nachtegaele - North Battleford For full candidate bios, please visit saskpulse.com. “We are pleased to be proceeding with an election as a result of the call for nominations,” says Gerrid Gust, Vice-Chair of SPG. “At SPG we have focused on encouraging candidates to run for a position on the board. We believe an election gives growers the opportunity to engage and have a say in the direction of the organization by selecting who will serve on the board on their behalf.”
Voter packages, including a six digit ID number required for the electronic voting process, will be distributed by mail to registered pulse growers* in late-October in a green envelope. Voting opens at http:// www.saskpulsevotes.com at 8 a.m. on Oct. 24, and will remain open until 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 24. If growers prefer to vote with a paper ballot, the voter package will provide contact information to request a mail-in ballot. Important Dates: Oct. 24, 2017 – Voting opens at 8 a.m. at http://www.saskpulsevotes.com Nov. 4, 2017 – Candidate interviews on CJWW 600 Let’s Talk Ag program Nov. 24, 2017 – Voting closes at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 8, 2018 – Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Annual General Meeting in Saskatoon
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Common Tansy. Provinces/territories where this species is found: Yukon, Northwest Territories, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador. Photo by NCC
Invasive purple loosestrife. Provinces/territories where this species is found: BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador. Photo by Mike Dembeck
NCC’s top 10 invasive species Continued from Page 4
Common tansy
Common tansy is native to Europe and was introduced to North America in the 1600s as a horticultural and medicinal plant. It has yellow, button-like flowers and can grow to 1.5 metres in height. It has been documented from every region in Canada except Nunavut, but is having the greatest impact on stream banks and native grasslands in the prairies and central BC. In addition to outcompeting native plants, common tansy produces a toxic compound that can impact cattle and wildlife. Provinces/ter ritories where this species is found: Yukon, Northwest Territories, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador.
European swallow-wort/ dog-strangling vine
European swallow-wort is native to eastern Europe and was first recorded near Toronto in 1899. It grows up to two metres long in dense thickets, or by growing on other plants. Monarch butterflies have been known to lay their eggs on this plant, but the larvae do not survive. European swallow-wort invades forests, stream banks, grasslands and globally rare alvar habitats. A moth from the Ukraine that can only survive on European swallow-wort has been approved for release in North America to act as a bio-control for this invasive plant. Provinces/ter ritories where this species is found: BC, Ontario, Quebec.
Purple loosestrife
Identified by the Inter-
national Union for Conservation of Nature as one of the world’s worst invading species, a single purple loosestrife plant can produce over two million seeds each year! This species was introduced to North America from Europe in the 1800s for ornamental and medicinal purposes. In fact, it is still sold as an ornamental plant in some places. Purple loosestrife crowds out most native vegetation and can create near-monocultures. From 1992 to 1994, two beetles and two weevils from Europe were released as a biological control and seem to be reducing the numbers of this plant. Provinces/ter ritories where this species is found: BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Battlefords, Thursday, September 28, 2017 - Page 5
Page 6 - The Battlefords, Thursday, September 28, 2017
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SFC announces new board of directors and Submitted names award winner The Saskatchewan Forage Council recently held their annual general meeting in Mervin, on Aug. 16. The meeting followed a diverse cover crop field tour that was hosted earlier in the day along with several forage partners and stakeholders including the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and the North Saskatchewan River Basin Council. The field tour highlighted demonstrations of many types of cover crops, along with presentations about beef cattle nutrient requirements, funding opportunities, and forage research. During the event, the SFC named Dr. David Christensen as the 2017 recipient of the Forage Industry Innovation Award. Christensen, an Emeritus Professor and the University of Saskatchewan, has been a visible presence on the forage scene in Saskatchewan for the past 56 years. “The productivity that can be obtained from forages is not always fully recognized or achieved,” he said, and cites this as his motivation to continue promoting forages and working with collaborators. Christensen’s contributions to forage research have been valued in his home province of Saskatchewan, but also beyond, including nationally and internationally. “A highlight of some of my international forage work was participating in a survey of China’s grasslands on the underside of the Gobi desert,” Christensen explained. “We surveyed about 1500 miles overland to estimate carrying capacity, control of overgrazing and alternatives for land use,” and added that this work served as the basis for many follow-up projects. His international forage forays also included numerous technical seminar trips to Asia, particularly Japan, where he promoted Canadian products and performed forage market analyses. Christensen is currently an Emeritus Professor in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon where his contributions to the dairy, beef and forage sectors and agricultural extension remain well known. He continues to collaborate with other researchers and colleagues and is currently involved in several projects with the university, federal researchers, and consultants. The SFC annual general meeting saw a few changes to the board of directors. The new SFC president is Tamara Carter and other board members Bruce Coulman, Garret Hill, Greg Penner, and Steve Pylot all renewed their
three year terms. Former SFC president Dave Kerr as well as board member Kelly Williamson stepped down and producer Mark McNinch was brought onto the board. Carter, who is a forage, beef, and grain producer from Lacadena, says she is looking forward to serving as the new president. “The SFC will continue to increase awareness of the important role that forages, including native grasses, play within Saskatchewan,” Carter recently said. “Forages are important not only as a food source for livestock and
wildlife, but are also as a significant part of maintaining environmental and ecological health, and in carbon sequestration,” she added. “I have a keen interest in understanding, researching and promoting the many benefits that a healthy forage base can provide to many interlinked industries and to society as a whole.”
Dr. David Christensen is the 2017 recipient of the Forage Industry Innovation Award. Photo submitted
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Commentary – Canadian Taxpayers Federation
Potential premiers must reconsider PST on insurance taxes will save taxpayers $50 million and $8 million respectively. PST charges on insurance premiums will cost taxpayers more than $200 million. It’s not a tax shift, it’s a tax
By Todd McKay
It takes a special skill to drive onto a farmyard, lean on a tailgate and make a pitch. Candidates to be Saskatchewan’s next premier will be putting that skill to test and to be successful they’ll need a good answer to a tough question: what will they do about the province’s decision to charge PST on insurance premiums? The Saskatchewan Party government started charging PST on insurance premiums this summer. It’s costing many families hundreds of dollars per year. It’s costing many businesses thousands. It’s costing some farmers tens of thousands of dollars. Here’s some math for those doubting the impact. The average Saskatchewan farm is 1,668 acres, according to Statistics Canada. Charging PST on insurance will cost farmers $2 per acre, according to the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan. That means charging the PST will cost the average farmer $3,336 per year. (To put that in context, internal federal documents estimate a carbon tax will cost Western Canadian farmers an average of $3,705.) For bigger farms, the insurance bill increase will be five digits. Here’s some more math for those confused by the government’s spin about shifting from income taxes to consumption taxes. Reductions to business and income
hike and it’s a big one. Candidates hoping to take over as premier are figuring out the PST-on-insurance pitch won’t sell. “We must ensure that we support the people of Saskatchewan who wisely plan for their futures our policies cannot hinder that important process,” wrote Sask. Party leadership candidate Ken Cheveldayoff in a Sept. 7 release. “I propose that we revisit the sale tax base as it relates to insurance, by undertaking a thorough review.” A “thorough review” is still going to be a tough pitch for farmers staring down an insurance bill that’s going up by thousands of dollars, but it’s a start. Sask. Party MLA Jeremy Harrison, who dropped out of the leadership race to join Scott Moe’s campaign, made a much clearer pitch to simply “remove the PST from all insurance products.” While Sask. Party candidates are re-examining their position, the NDP is taking a firm stand. “It’s very alarming,” said interim-NDP leader Nicole Sarauer when asked the province’s decision to start
charging PST on insurance. “The government needs to take a step back and decide not to impose the PST [on insurance].” The NDP points to the unfairness of putting the PST on premiums people have to pay to drive to a car or own a home, and it’s using the issue as an opening to connect with small business and even agriculture. For any Sask. Party leadership candidate to defend PST charges on insurance while other candidates promise to repeal it will be, well, awkward, especially when talking to that party’s traditional core of small business owners and farmers. But it’s a good bet icefishing buck naked would be less awkward for the next Sask. Party leader than taking the pro-tax side of a debate against the NDP. In reality, all of the political maneuvering is secondary. Campaigns are about the voters. And their views are clear. More than 78 per cent of Saskatchewanians oppose PST charges on insurance, according to an Insightrix poll. More than half are strongly opposed. More than a third say they’ll have to reduce coverage or cancel policies due to the higher costs. No political pitch should make it harder for people to protect their homes, businesses, farms and families. Any politician hoping to represent the people of this province has to commit to taking the PST off insurance. Todd MacKay is the Prairie Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation
APAS supports Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s call to action Submitted The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan is expressing its strong concern about proposed changes to federal tax rule impacting small business corporations.
“The Canadian agricultural industry is strongly based on the family farm, and many farm families have used incorporation as a way to ensure that their farms can be passed from generation to generation,” said APAS
president Todd Lewis, who sits on the CFA Board. “These proposed changes could have severe impacts on multi-generational farm operations.” The CFA campaign is asking producers to join other business
organizations in calling on Members of Parliament to extend the consultation period, which was announced July 17 and ends October 2. “This federal government consultation is taking place right when
we are busy harvesting our crops, and there has been nowhere near enough time to understand the implications of the proposals,” Lewis continued. “The changes are very technical in nature, and we need more
time to fully understand their potential impacts.” Lewis added that APAS would be contacting Federal Finance Minister Morneau and MPs to express concern, and would be mobilizing APAS members to assist.
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Agribition adds new events for an entire week of entertainment Regina – Canadian Western Agribition is announcing several new entertainment events at the 2017 show, as well as the return of the four-night Agribition Pro Rodeo presented by Ford. After a successful return to Agribition in 2016, the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association and CWA have partnered to bring the top cowboys and barrel racers back to Regina in 2017, competing for nearly $100,000 in prize money. “The Agribition Pro Rodeo was a huge success and we knew immediately that we wanted to
bring it back,” says CWA CEO, Chris Lane. “The caliber of the competition and the fan experience really puts this rodeo in the top tier of the sport.” The Mosaic Company and CWA are once again partnering to offer a free night of rodeo on Wednesday, Nov. 22. This is a great opportunity, especially for first-timers, to experience a unique entertainment event at no charge. “This is the third time we’ve partnered with Agribition to offer the first night of rodeo action on us. It’s a great way to bring
out new attendees for a family-friendly evening and treat rodeo regulars with a complimentary night,” says Mosaic’s senior director of public affairs, Sarah Fedorchuk. Brand new for 2017, CWA and Regina Honda present Tommie Turvey, one of the world’s best entertainers, and his celebrity horses for a free family performance on Monday evening. Turvey is a renowned animal trainer and performer and will bring his fast-paced brand of horsemanship, stunts and trick-riding to the show.
In addition to his free Monday night act, he will be on display all week long with his horses that are featured in the hit TV series The Walking Dead. Additional new events for 2017 include mini-chuckwagon racing, steer riding rodeo school, and goat yoga classes, all free of charge. “Making sure Agribition is an affordable option for families is important to us,” says Lane. “We’re happy to say that in addition to the free events we’re adding, there are no increases to any ticket prices for 2017.” A returning fan-favourite, Full Contact Jousting presented
by Regina Nissan, will be featured at Agribition once again in the prime timeslot Tuesday evening. Full Contact Jousting provides an unchoreographed, action-packed event for the whole family. For the daredevils, Running with Bulls will also be back again on Saturday afternoon. Tickets for Agribition Pro Rodeo and Full Contact Jousting can be purchased from the CWA office, the Brandt Centre box office, or ticketmaster.ca. Check full schedule for dates and times of all events at www. agribition.com. The 2017 show will take place at Evraz Place, November 20-25.
Review – A new gardening book with BZZZZZ By Bernadette Vangool Besides producing o-so-delicious honey, I’ve read that bees are responsible for up to one third of the food we eat. That includes many of the fruits and vegetables we grow in our back yards and market gardens as well as several agronomic crops our farmers produce. I’ve also read that bees are in trouble with the causes still under study and much debate. That’s why I was delighted to come across Lori Weid-
enhammer’s recent book, Victory Gardens for Bees – A DIY Guide to Saving the Bees (2016) packed
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with great advice I can use in my own garden to help these hard working, unpaid insects. With her roots in Cactus Lake, Saskatchewan, Lori is a now Vancouver-based author and artist. She works with students of all ages to create community gardens, to educate her charges about planting gardens for pollinators and the value of eating locally produced foods. Her artistic talents and her sense of humour shine from the pages of her book, richly illustrated with great photography of both flowers and bees. This book was a real eye opener for me who has never paid much attention to bees. After reading about all the different kinds of bees (e.g. long-horned bees, digger bees, mining bees, resin bees, etc.), you start paying attention to the bees in your own flower garden. Does this one have pollen pockets on its legs? Is this other one collecting pollen on its forehead? The book includes planting plans, but of more use to probably most gardeners are the lists of flowering shrubs, trees, ornamentals, weeds, fruits, vegetables and herbs. Plant
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The image of foraging bees is not as innocuous it seems - the bumblebee (foreground in focus) is busy “evicting” the leafcutter bee from a Tithonia flower. Photo by Lori Weidenhammer
descriptions include hardiness zone, benefits to bees (for example which bee is attracted to this plant: the bumblebee, honeybee, solitary bee or other beneficial insects), and a short description of flowers, height and growing requirements.
If nothing else, this book gives the gardener a chance to do an inventory of their garden plants in order to assess whether their yard is bee-friendly (i.e bee-autiful).While this book may not be of much benefit to commercial beekeepers
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per se, it is a definite musthave for anyone who takes gardening seriously. Published by Douglas & McIntyre, Victory Gardens for Bees (softcover, 226 pages) should be available at your favourite bookstore. Mark you calendars: To learn what you can do to give bees a helping hand, join Lori for Bumblebees in Your Garden on October 25 starting at 7:30 pm in the Emmanuel Anglican Church basement (607 Dufferin St., Saskatoon) as part of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society’s fall and winter workshop series. Bernadette is an avid gardener and a board member of both the Saskatchewan Perennial Society and Friends of the Forestry Farm House (www. fffh.ca). This column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society (SPS; www.saskperennial.ca; hortscene@yahoo. com; www.facebook.com/ saskperennial). Check out our Bulletin Board or Calendar for upcoming garden events.
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• 40 gallon tank - 6 min. of fire suppression - shoots 30-40 ft. • Rechargeable liquid gel battery & AC wall charger, 12 volt DC • 25 feet of 3/4” lay flat hose • 5 gallons of Flameout Class A/B is the 12 volt self-contained fire foam foam suppression system. This • Suitable for class A & B fires patent pending, high-power,
• Driven by a 6.5 HP Honda engine • Produces maximum pressure of 120 PSI • Flow rate of 105 GPM • Self priming pump • Applications - fire suppression, tank filling & water transfers • Suitable for farm, house or cottage
economical system has been engineered specifically for the high demands of fire fighting.
Farm fires a constant threat to the agricultural industry CADDY - 12 volts that charge at fires • Rechargeable battery • AC/DC wall charger • 25 feet ¾” lay-flat hose • in-line strainer Agricultural machines “hot spots” clean parti- of FlameOut If you notice that an • adjustable brass shut-off nozzle • 5isgallons
have a high risk of fires cularly vital. Regular ser- engine is heating more due to the buildup of de- vicing is also important, than it should while you ™ brisDCsuch as straw fires can be pressure caused of are in athe field, it is Fire Caddy delivers 6.0 gpmand at 110 since psi, with a maximum 175 out psi and maximum flowratecrop of 8.2residue. gpm, giving the operator control. Heat from optimum by faults which haven’t important to stop and the engine and exhaust been picked up. Fires can check this in case there is The portable system works on all Class A and Class B fires. It is ideal for use on temporary work components canvehicles, igniteservice often happen late intransport the atrucks, fire risk. However, sites, emergency response vehicles, tow trucks, or anywhere that due this first debris, resulting in a harvest season when ma- to modern equipment haemergency response fire performance is required. fire which can damage or chinery has been subject ving air-conditioned cabs, Fire Caddy DC™ uses an environmentally non-toxic, 100% biodegradable foam called destroy the machine and tosafe, weeks of constant use. in practice a driver may FlameOut® which is the most effective Class A/B combination fire fighting foam available on the can spread to the surrounAs with other agriculoften have little or no warmarket today. ding crops. tural machinery, combines ning or a fire until it has A rigorous mainte- must always be stored already taken hold. This nance and cleaning poli- safely, well away from made it hard to combat Just-In Case Fire Ltd., offering innovative fire suppression solutions … cy will go a long way to any inflammable mate- a blaze with a traditional …“between the Fire Extinguisher and the Fire Truck”. reduce your fire risk. If rials, such as oily rags fire extinguisher which combustible material is and debris. Fuels should has to be hand held. allowed to build up in a always be stored separaFitting a suitable fire combine harvester, this tely in labeled containers, suppression system is an can all too easily start a in locations away from the important part of fire prefire. It is essential that vehicle and other equip- vention. The right type of machinery is kept clean, ment. A purpose-built fire equipment will act quiand all dust, straw, hay suppression system will ckly to combat a fire as and chaff are regularly also help reduce damage soon as it breaks out, precleared, together with any to your machine in the venting it from becoming oil and grease. Keeping event that fire does occur. more serious.
If you are looking to protect yourself from the loss of your equipment, crops and productivity, a suppression system is your solution.
QUALITY THROUGH SMART DESIGN
Call us at Anderson Pump House; together we can design a fire suppression system that will fit your fire protection needs.
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Commentary
Ottawa’s tax changes could kill family farm The federal government’s proposed changes to capital gains rules make it more difficult for a farm to stay in the family By Sylvain Charlebois
Senior Fellow Atlantic Institute for Market Studies
Two things have always been certain: death and taxes. We can now add a third: botching the promotion of a tax reform for political gains. Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s tax reform has been a communications disaster, on both sides of the debate. Various claims made about Ottawa’s intentions to revamp our tax system for small corporations have been ridiculous. Some predict a recession due to the proposed changes. Others declare the end of entrepreneurship as we know it. It’s all just silly. We should all take a deep breath and figure out how the changes will truly impact our economy. And in particular we need to focus on how Morneau’s vision for taxing small corporations will impact the agrifood sector. The tax system is generally not about pensions, legacy and social programs. But it is for family-owned businesses and there are thousands of them in agrifood. Canada has more than 43,000 incorporated farms, compared to 23,000 in 2001. We have fewer total farms today, but more of them have become corporations to encourage the next generation to take over the farm. The federal government’s proposed changes to capital gains rules would make it more expensive for a family member to acquire the farm than for a third party to do so. This is a critical piece of a highly complicated puzzle. Keeping families and jobs in rural Canada is not easy. Many agricultural producers use our tax system wisely to secure the future of their businesses. In the food processing, retailing and service sectors, countless family businesses wonder how family values embedded in anything the corporation does can survive the next generation. Morneau has also addressed income sprinkling. Corporations can now hire family members, reducing the tax rate for everyone. The rules about who can be compensated and at what level are ambiguous at best. Morneau wants to change that and for good reason. Many small corporations pay family members who
don’t necessarily work for the company in order to avoid taxes. This should stop. But defining tasks in a family-owned business can be difficult. Many of the contributions made by family members are ad hoc and can’t easily be categorized. Recipes, tricks of the trade and family traditions all matter a great deal to small food outlets (it’s difficult to imagine applying the same standard to accountants, doctors or dentists). A family business is like, well, a family. At a family-owed farm, restaurant or small food processor, job profiles are vague at best. This political nightmare began in July when the federal government launched consultations on how best to address tax planning practices it believes are used to gain unfair advantages. Consultations end on Oct. 2. Individuals set up corporations to pay less taxes in a variety of ways and Ottawa’s intentions are noble. But the bombastic tone used to promote the changes has been hurtful. Ottawa’s condescending rhetoric labels small business owners as cheats, greedy tax evaders trying to dodge the system by using loopholes. This is simply insulting. The government anticipates that the new regulations will bring in barely $250 million a year, so the Liberals aren’t using the changes to increase revenues to pay for a ballooning deficit. This is about politics, pure and simple. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s agenda to serve the middle class is driving these changes. Certainly the tax regime needs to change. Some small corporations do use current rules to save money in unjustifiable ways. Many of them have been quite vocal in recent weeks but their corporations will sur-
vive the changes. However, the stakes are much higher in agrifood industries. This isn’t about being unwilling to pay more taxes. It’s about the viability of an entire economic sector. Our tax regime should differentiate and give the rural economy and family corporations some level of immunity. In fact, Ottawa should find fiscal incentives to help the agrifood sector grow. Right now, it’s not clear how this can be achieved. As the federal government tries to bring more fairness to the fiscal landscape and fix a largely urban issue, it shouldn’t penalize the agrifood sector. Despite Morneau’s disgraceful performance as a tax reform salesman, changes will most likely happen, to the despair of many. But even Canadians with corporations would have difficulty understanding what’s being proposed. Louise Lundberg The confusion has led to a certain hysteria and that’s the government’s fault. When it comes to taxes, painting everyone with same brush is unacceptable. Ottawa will get its way in the end but it should at the very least accommodate the unique intricacies of our agrifood sector. Sylvain Charlebois is Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, dean of the Faculty of Management and a professor in the Faculty of Agriculture at Dalhousie University, and author of Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking, published by Wiley-Blackwell (2017). www.troymedia.com
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The Battlefords, Thursday, September 28, 2017 - Page 11
Hundreds to benefit from new advanced Dairy Learning Centre at Lakeland College Vermilion, Alta. – Lakeland College students will take the lead in the college’s new Dairy Learning Centre that officially opened Tuesday, Aug. 22. About 500 people from across Alberta and beyond celebrated the official opening of the $9.5 million state-of-the-art agriculture learning centre at Lakeland’s Vermilion campus. The Dairy Learning Centre replaces Lakeland’s previous dairy facility which was built in the 1980s, and puts Lakeland in the ideal position of reflecting the highest industry standards. It features state-of-the-art technology in robotic and convention-
Lakeland College’s Dairy Learning Centre officially opened on Tuesday, Aug. 22.
al milking and feeding systems. With these systems, Lakeland students will have the opportunity to delve into what it takes to lead in the dairy industry. They’ll work with a herd of 280-head including 120 Holstein milk cows, replacement heifers and young stock.
Lakeland students will also lead in other career-relevant, advanced learning opportunities related to calf management, feed and nutrition, cow comfort, dairy specific software, manure management and more. “The opening of this Dairy Learning Centre is
SWF and SSGA urge hunters to stay on track Submitted As the fall weather moves in, record breaking dry conditions are developing in several areas across the province. This increases the potential risk of fires starting from vehicle use, and the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF) and the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) are requesting hunters take extra precautions this hunting season. “We know that the vast majority of hunters take every step to ensure that they leave nothing but their footprints when they hunt, but these dry conditions warrant added vigilance,”
says Darrell Crabbe, executive director for the SWF. “We encourage all hunters to take extra precautions this hunting season with the increased risk of fires. These precautions include carrying a fire extinguisher in your vehicle, talking to landowners before going on land, avoiding unnecessary vehicle idling, walking when possible, and staying on existing trails,” adds Chad MacPherson, general manager for the SSGA. It’s also the time to remind hunters about the importance of getting landowner permission before hunting on their property.
“Access to private land is a privilege, not a right, and with privilege comes the duty to act as responsible conservationists and representatives of the hunting community,” says Crabbe. Hunters are encouraged to familiarize themselves with Operation Respect, which highlights important relationship between landowners and hunters. For more information on the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, please visit www.skstockgrowers.com. For more information on the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, and Operation Respect, please visit www.swf.sk.ca
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a momentous milestone for Lakeland College. This new facility will help Lakeland agriculture students excel in industry now and for decades to come,” says Alice Wainwright-Stewart, president and CEO of Lakeland College. During the centre’s design process, Kristyn Child, then an animal science technology (AST) student in the dairy major, suggested the ideal facility for student learning would incorporate both conventional and robotic systems. “I think it will be beneficial for students to learn both systems. I come from a double parlour, so for me it would have been nice to learn the robotics side of dairy production. And it is the same for someone who is from a robotic operation. My hope is … when students return home or to the dairy operation they work at they’ll bring an advanced skillset,” says Child, who participated in the ribbon cutting ceremo-
Kristyn Child (centre), animal science technology dairy major, Class of 2015, cuts the ribbon to officially open Lakeland College’s Dairy Learning Centre on Tuesday, Aug. 22. She was joined on stage by (L-R) Craig Haan, director, Eagle Builders, Tom Kootstra, chairman, Alberta Milk Board, Darrel Howell, chair, Lakeland College Board of Governors, Honourable Marlin Schmidt, minister of advanced education, Government of Alberta, Josie Van Lent, dean of Lakeland College’s Agricultural Sciences, Alice Wainwright-Stewart, president and CEO, Lakeland College, Daryl Watt, reeve, County of Vermilion River, and Bruce MacDuff, mayor, Town of Vermilion,
ny. She works on her family’s dairy operation near Killam, Alta. This September, the 46,600 sq. ft. facility will primarily be utilized by Lakeland’s animal science technology students in the dairy major. And, hundreds of other Lakeland students from agribusiness, crop technology, animal health technology (AHT), veterinary medical assistance, and other AST majors will also benefit from this educational facility using it to study animal handling systems, practice blood collection procedures, get
experience working with large animals, and more. “The Dairy Learning Centre is a great model for our students to understand how a dairy operation runs. Students from across our ag programs will be a part of its operations,” says Josie Van Lent, dean of Lakeland’s school of agricultural sciences. The long term goal is to see the AST dairy major grow into a standalone dairy specialization. In the future, dairy industry professionals will also benefit from continuing education opportunities offered by Lakeland.
Page 12 - The Battlefords, Thursday, September 28, 2017
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