Farming For Tomorrow February 2023

February 28 - March 2

Trail Blazer

PIP International CEO Christine Lewington leads with her heart, and a passion for ag tech

Looking for a return on investment on your farm?

By

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average prairie farmer $41,000.00 from 2017-2022 of month prices, not peak highs or lows.

By Natalie Noble Trail Blazer

Publishers

Pat Ottmann & Tim Ottmann

Editor

Trevor Bacque

Design

Cole Ottmann

Regular Contributors

Vincent Cloutier

Kevin Hursh

Tammy Jones

Copy EditorS

Lisa Johnston

Sales

Scott Shiels

Tom Wolf

Paul Kuntz

Pat Ottmann pat@farmingfortomorrow.ca 587-774-7619

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Chloe MacEachern chloe@farmingfortomorrow.ca 587-774-7622

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Farming For Tomorrow is delivered to 90,720 farm and agribusiness addresses every second month. The areas of distribution include Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Peace region of B.C.

The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the content of any advertisement, and all representations of warranties made in such advertisements are those of the advertiser and not of the publisher. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, in all or in part, without the written permission of the publisher. Canadian Publications mail sales product agreement no. 41126516.

Kevin Hursh, P.Ag.

Kevin Hursh is one of the country’s leading agricultural commentators. He is an agrologist, journalist and farmer. Kevin and his wife Marlene run Hursh Consulting & Communications based in Saskatoon. They also own and operate a farm near Cabri in southwest Saskatchewan growing a wide variety of crops. Kevin writes for a number of agricultural publications and serves as executive director for the Canary Seed Development Commission of Saskatchewan and the Inland Terminal Association of Canada (ITAC).

Twitter: @KevinHursh1

Changing Dynamics for Alberta Feedlots

According to many analysts and observers, a steady flow of American corn moving by rail into Alberta’s feedlot alley is going to become the norm rather than the exception. Meanwhile, expect GMO crop acreage—canola in Canada, soybeans and corn in the U.S.—to continue stealing acreage from other crops.

A record amount of corn came north in 2021. The widespread drought cut barley production across the Prairies and there was an aggressive barley export program to China. American corn became an important feed source. In fact, for a while, railway service problems put the supply in jeopardy creating some short-term anxiety.

Corn imports have occurred in various amounts for many years. Sometimes imported corn is a cheaper feed source than barley when you take energy content into account. However, the magnitude of the imports in 2021 was unique. The grain handling system essentially ran backwards. Export terminals doubled as corn import terminals. For a number of reasons, observers expect this to become the norm.

Barley in close proximity to feedlot alley will continue to be used by the industry, but barley hundreds of kilometres away may have a harder time competing with corn. Barley moves by truck with relatively expensive freight and a chronic shortage of trucks and drivers. Meanwhile, the railways have figured out movement north in large car blocks.

Barley availability is likely to become another issue. With renewable fuel standards in both Canada and the U.S., a huge expansion is underway in oilseed crushing capacity to fill the upcoming demand for renewable diesel.

In Western Canada, this has meant the announcement of many new canola crushing facilities along with expansions of existing plants. The resulting demand for canola is likely to spur even more yellow flowers at the expense of crops like barley. The situation is even more acute in the U.S. where both renewable diesel from soybean oil and ethanol from corn are primary acreage drivers.

The U.S. now has very few acres of oats. Barley acreage is plummeting. The GMO crops in demand for renewable fuel are squeezing out the minor crops and even the not-so-minor crops such as wheat.

Since the new demand is built on government policy, there’s a possibility the direction could be reversed if the food versus fuel debate gains traction and food security becomes a serious concern. For now though, many major companies are betting hundreds of millions of dollars on new crushing facilities as well as renewable diesel processing.

In Canada, the impending increase in canola crushing will mean a substantial increase in canola meal on the market. Typically, canola meal is pelleted with most of it exported. With a high protein content and an excellent amino acid profile, canola meal is considered a premium feed for dairy cattle. According to the Canola Council of Canada, canola meal increases milk production by one litre per cow per day as compared to meal from other protein sources.

Canola meal is also used in hog rations and the Canola Council says it’s a cost-effective choice in fisheries for species requiring high amounts of protein. Unfortunately, it isn’t usually associated with cattle finishing rations.

You have to wonder about the long-term competitiveness of a Canadian feedlot industry that becomes heavily reliant on American corn. The feedlots are in southern Alberta and so are the two big packing plants and that isn’t going to change any time soon. If you have to consistently freight corn north, can you be competitive with U.S. feedlots? The answer is above my pay grade, but it’s something to think about.

The U.S. now has very few acres of oats. Barley acreage is plummeting. The GMO crops in demand for renewable fuel are squeezing out the minor crops and even the not-so-minor crops such as wheat.

EAT THAT, CHECKLIST.

Onboard HVAC: because a comfortable crew is a productive one.

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© 2023 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its a liates. In the U.S.A., products are distributed by BRP US Inc. BRP reserves the right, at any time, to discontinue or change speci cations, prices, designs, features, models or equipment without incurring obligation. CAN-AM OFF-ROAD VEHICLE: Some models depicted may include optional equipment. For side-by-side vehicles (SxS): Read the BRP side-by-side operator’s guide and watch the safety DVD before driving. Fasten lateral net and seat belt at all times. Operator must be at least 16 years old. Passenger must be at least 12 years old and able to hold handgrips and plant feet while seated against the backrest. SxSs are for o -road use only; never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. For your safety, the operator and passenger must wear a helmet, eye protection and other protective clothing. Always remember that riding, alcohol and drugs don’t mix. Never engage in stunt driving. Avoid excessive speed and be particularly careful on di cult terrain. Always ride responsibly and safely.

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Christine Lewington, CEO at PIP International, is blazing a trail to a better, more inclusive and sustainable future, including for her granddaughter, Adria Lewington.

TRAIL BLAZER

PIP International CEO Christine Lewington leads with her heart, and a passion for ag tech

By Natalie Noble

As major pulse processing plants are increasingly seeing the value in setting up shop in southern Alberta, agriculture and economic opportunities are taking off with them. One key player driving change is an engineer who was the only female in her graduating class of 365. Meet Christine Lewington, CEO of Protein Isolate Plant International (PIP), providing premium pea protein isolate to an exploding international customer base, right from the city of Lethbridge.

“PIP is an ag-tech company that is commercializing a novel plant protein extraction process from yellow peas,” says Lewington. “We’re combining groundbreaking and innovative methods, with several cross-industry energy technologies so we can produce at the lowest cost and in the most sustainable way. The result is the best tasting, most affordable pea protein in the world.”

It is a tall order, but Lewington’s got the chops to back it. Over the last 20 years, she has headed up engineering projects for the likes of PepsiCo, McCains and Belectric, lending insight into how to pick the best site for optimal long-term operations.

PIP’s operating pilot facility leads them swiftly into the soon-to-be constructed $150-million processing facility. Both align with Lewington’s key passions: agriculture, technology, environmental impact, social currency and blazing a trail to a better future.

In that spirit, this story really begins in 2006 as Lewington gazed out the window on her way to visit the Panama Canal. “I witnessed two- or three-year-old children and older, swimming in, bathing in, and drinking sewer water,” she recalls. “I thought, ‘what is wrong with our world that this is OK?’ On that day, I made a commitment that at some point in my life I

would take my career, gifts and experience, and I would change the scene I had just witnessed. PIP is the tool to do this.”

It took 13 years, but Lewington never let go of her desire to build something better by being different. “I was approached by a couple of companies to build a pea protein extraction facility. I said, ‘OK, but only if we have the best technology,’” she says, describing each partner “dropping $165,000 in a bucket,” their investment being later matched by the government. Next, she was off on a tech mission in search of the best.

She found it in France in 2019. The owner of a tech house and the head scientist with his team had invented a new way to extract protein from pulses, peas in particular. “Over dinner, he asked if I would be interested in commercializing it,” says Lewington.

On Dec. 15, 2020, after a year of technical due diligence, PIP signed an exclusive master licensing agreement to use, own and commercialize the technology. “Fast forward two years and I am now the owner and driver of this vision and going to market is where we’re at today,” says Lewington.

Facility of the Future

Located within Lethbridge’s city limits, PIP’s pilot peaprocessing and testing facility is a converted craft brewery. Here, technology touches everything, starting of course with extracting PIP’s patented Ultimate Pea Protein isolate (UP.P) using a targeted reaction that quickly yet gently extracts proteins while keeping their functional properties intact.

Why does that matter? Lewington describes: “Our pea protein comes out looking like a Ping-Pong ball, smooth and perfectly

shaped. With other extraction processes, it comes out looking like a damaged golf ball. Every pit, dent, scrape and grass stain on it negatively impacts its taste and texture,” she says. “Historically, pea protein tastes terrible. It’s bitter, it has an aftertaste, bad texture and it’s grainy. UP.P does not have a taste and its texture is smooth.”

These premium qualities make UP.P somewhat of a chameleon. The closer to that perfect Ping-Pong shape, the more companies can use it to make diverse products more likely to succeed in the marketplace. “To put a product on the shelf can cost millions of dollars and it’s causing a crisis in the plant-based industry,” says Lewington. “There’s a second moment of truth manufacturers hope to pass as they realize over 74 per cent of these products are failing on the shelf within six months.”

Regardless of the reason to consume plant-based products—health, lifestyle, marketing hype—if a product doesn’t taste good, most won’t buy it a second time. “Our pea protein gives manufacturers a leading edge because their products can now taste good,” says Lewington. “I’m working with iconic brands that are reformulating their plant-based product lineups with PIP’s protein isolate at the centre of these products. Some are making brand new products they were never able to make before. Because UP.P is highly functional and tasteless, it can be used in many diverse ways, and our client partners can make their products taste however they want.”

It could be a game-changer for the non-dairy world of coffee creamers, plant-based milks and others currently classified as an “indulgent,” meaning they offer little nutritional value. Peas, on the other hand, have a complete amino acid profile, offering up valuable protein levels.

Lewington says UP.P’s solubility, the fact it dissolves and stay dissolved, stabilizes many plant-based products. “Companies can [level up] with our protein in their products because they can now offer a great nutritional profile on their plant-based beverages, cheeses and more,” says Lewington. “We’re going nationwide across the U.S. in the first quarter of 2023 with a global dairy alternative company. They’ve reformulated their on-shelf brands already using our pea protein.”

But that premium product does not come at a premium price. PIP can keep it affordable thanks to all the tech innovations they have embraced, especially when it comes down to the facility’s energy efficiency. “We are doing things with 30 per cent less energy than the standard processes,” says Lewington. “This gives us the operational edge, because we don’t spend as much to make our product.”

The extraction process at PIP creates a finished product that is perfectly smooth, which helps preserve its texture and taste when added to various food products.

Of course, with Lewington’s desire to do things better when it comes to the environment and leading a savvy business, there is not a worry all the byproduct of pea protein extraction is going to waste. “One of the top barriers to entry into the wet extraction process is the significant amount of starch and fibre created. The pea is up to 25 per cent protein; the other 75 per cent is starch and fibre, to make it simple. We estimate that 29 semi-truckloads of starch and fibre are needed to ship out of our large-scale facility each day.”

What do you do with all that starch and fibre? Being in feedlot alley, most ships out for cattle feed. But PIP’s designed to disrupt this. Its starch and fibre output is destined somewhere new. In an agreement with a U.S. company, the byproducts will become plant-based food packaging. “We’re taking our starch and fibre immediately off our wet processing line and directing it into a new process. We now don’t have to separate, dry and package it. This saves us a lot of money from the energy savings alone,” says Lewington. “We’ll have pea protein going out one door and our plant-based packaging containers going out another while 100 per cent of our peas are used inside our plant.”

The Lethbridge Advantage

This spring, heavy construction will begin on PIP’s new larger facility, set on 20 acres inside the city of 100,000. On top of hiring 40 people for the pilot facility over the next months, the new facility will create 100 new jobs by early 2024. Those are just direct hires. More than 300 construction jobs will contribute to the economy, as well. Lewington’s plan includes even more direct hires in 2025.

PIP will process around 126,000 annual tonnes of yellow peas and support more than $110 million each year in pea contracts for local and regional farmers.

Why Lethbridge? For Lewington it is crystal clear, and not just because it’s her old stomping grounds as she was raised in nearby Raymond. First, it’s location, location. “Lethbridge is in the heart of ag,” she says. “And we have yellow peas grown in great abundance.”

It also helps that the city has set the stage to welcome big business. “They had already prepared the infrastructure, so I was able to buy 20 acres of heavy industrial zoned land,” she says. “A facility of this size requires consistent and reliable energy sources from power, water and natural gas, as well as wastewater service and transportation access.”

Being inside city limits is advantageous, too. The plant is less than 60 seconds away from fire and EMS, which keeps insurance costs down.

Up there with the need for supply and infrastructure, are people.

Heavily ag-focused, both the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College are huge assets in their provision of qualified talent. Skilled workers are also available. “There are 120 food processing facilities between Lethbridge and Taber, so I can gain highly skilled workers locally,” says Lewington. “My access to workers, and ability to offer them a great job inside city limits, is a huge advantage for PIP. We think about how to support our new immigrant workers, those who don’t drive or would rather take public transit to work, while having more access to housing than they would in some smaller towns nearby.”

Other pluses on the list: proximity to AAFC’s Lethbridge Research and Development Centre; a municipal government agency working to make regulatory processes work for business; upcoming twinning of Highway 3 opens access to PIP’s Saskatchewan partners; and, the present airport upgrades to encourage more flights.

The location also sets the foundation for new partnerships, which of course begins with nearby pea producers. “Our farming partnerships are huge,” says Lewington. “We haven’t had to go out and seek to fill contracts yet, as anyone who is interested has filled our needs so far.”

One large-scale farm in Saskatchewan will act as PIP’s front-end pea supply and manager for qualified farmers, ensuring spec peas and negotiating timely arrival at the facility.

Also critical was the funding support from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP), provided by the Alberta government. “The timing and amount were key to unlocking our ability to keep momentum and order long-lead equipment, right at a time PIP needed that funding,” says Lewington. “We would be a year behind where we’re at right now without that government support.”

Staying True

While she has come so far, Lewington’s career still holds similar themes to those earlier days. Where she began her career in a room full of men, as a CEO, the representation is similar. “With regards to raising capital, less than three per cent of venture capital funding, maybe even as low as 1.8 per cent, goes to women founders and CEO-run companies. It has been very difficult to raise money, let alone raise money for an innovative ag-tech company,” says Lewington. “What did I do to get the funding I’ve raised? My investors see my passion, how hard I work and the different perspective I bring to business.”

She still carries her commitment to do better for those Panamanian children playing in the sewer water. “Some of the water innovations we’re using and proving here, I’m going to give for free to these communities so they can have clean drinking water. I have a granddaughter; she’s everything to me. We need to do things better,” says Lewington. “I’m blazing a trail to bring the best protein at an affordable cost to all corners of the earth, at the same time, using some of these other really cool innovations to positively impact the world.”

In that quest, it’s no surprise innovation will be top of mind when Lewington attends Ag-Expo. “We’ll be looking forward to seeing what’s advancing in regenerative farming practices. We will be looking at new ag equipment suppliers,” she says, adding her biggest focus will be on innovative digital companies as her own plant is being completely digitized in preparation to be AI-process-oriented to optimize its production line. “At Ag-Expo, I can’t wait to see any ag innovation we haven’t heard about yet, and I’ll be talking to farmers to see if there’s any advancements they’re seeing on farms when it comes to regenerative ag practices and water conservation.”

PIP International has plans to process 126,000 tonnes of yellow peas annually to bring about an estimated $110 million to the region.

DREAM. GROW. THRIVE.

WELCOME TO AG-EXPO 2023!

We look forward to hosting you at Ag-Expo, February 28 – March 2nd! There is certainly a great line up of equipment and Agricultural related services and products from a wide array of exhibitors!

We are sure you will be able to find the products and services that will make your operation more efficient and profitable.

We are pleased to have a put together a true agriculturally focused business event. Ag-Expo is a place to come and do business. We are sold out completely indoors and have a number of great outdoor exhibits as well, so certainly lots to see and do.

You will be very impressed with the quality of exhibitors that have joined us to bring you the very best that the Agricultural sector has to offer. Being that the show is held in the heart of one of the largest irrigation districts it is no surprise that a number of our sessions are on that topic, but there is literally something for every type of farm/ranch operator to take in. Make sure to check out our speaker series.

It’s not all business though and a new feature this year is “The Gathering Place”, located in Heritage Hall. A place where you can sit back relax and enjoy some music and a beverage and socializing with friends and neighbours before getting back on the show floor to do some business.

We appreciate the support of our sponsors! Make sure to check them out!

Lethbridge is a great city with plenty of accommodations, many fine restaurants serving locally sourced products and lots to see and do after the show closes, so plan on spending a day or two and “hang your hat’ in Lethbridge for a couple of days while taking in Ag-Expo!

See you at the show!!

Dave Fiddler Show Director

FREE TICKETS FOR YOUTH

As our young agriculturalists are the future of the industry, Flaman Sales and Ag-Expo are jointly offering COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS to all Canadian 4-H members and also to post secondary students enrolled in any agricultural programs, whether that be colleges or universities.

To gain access to the show all they will be required to do is present a valid 4-H membership card, or their student ID card.

Final Quality Determination

Right grade, right price

Disagree with a licensed primary elevator’s assessment of your grain’s quality?

You now have up to 7 days to ask for a Final Quality Determination from the Canadian Grain Commission.

Détermination définitive de la qualité

Bon grade, bon prix

Insatisfait de l’évaluation de la qualité de votre grain faite à un silo primaire agréé?

Vous avez maintenant jusqu’à sept jours pour demander que la Commission canadienne des grains procède à une détermination définitive de la qualité.

Learn more at grainscanada.gc.ca/Final-Quality

Learn more at grainscanada.gc.ca/Final-Quality

Renseignez-vous à

grainscanada.gc.ca/determination-definitive-qualite

EVENT INFORMATION

2023 AG-EXPO & NORTH AMERICAN SEED FAIR

Dates / Times

Tuesday, February 28 – Thursday, March 2, 2023.

Show Hours

9 a.m – 5 p.m. each day

Tickets

https://ag-expo.ca/tickets/

Public Pricing

Jan. 5 – Feb. 27 11:59 p.m.

Adult $10 in Advance

Adult $12 at the Gate

Children 11yr and under are Free

Parking

$5 Location

Lethbridge & District Exhibition

3401 Parkside Dr S, Henderson Lake,

Lethbridge

Daily Lunch Buffet in Heritage Hall 11-2pm and Lounge 11-6pm

Western Canada’s premier agricultural exhibition returns February 28 - March 2, 2023, featuring the North American Seed Fair.

Exhibitors from across the globe gather in Lethbridge –the heart of Canada’s Food Corridor– to welcome thousands of visitors while showcasing the latest agriculture equipment, technology, products and services.

Experience over 225,000 square feet of the latest farming equipment on Machinery Row, trade and invest with exhibitors launching innovative industry technology, irrigation systems, farm equipment, livestock supplies, chemicals and seeds. Connect directly with major producers and marketers of crops and livestock while finding the tools and resources you need–all in one place.

The North American Seed Fair showcases over 25 classes of Pedigreed Seed, Open Classes, and Junior Classes. Displayed on the Seed Floor of the South Pavilion, the North American Seed Fair is one of the oldest Seed Fairs in Western Canada.

LISTING BY NAME

LISTING BY NAME

SOUTH PAVILION

Please do not scale from this drawing. All dimensions should be checked on site. Please report any discrepancies to the drafter. Drawings are subject to change.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023

11 AM

SPEAKER SERIES

The Canada Digital Adoption Program’s Boost Your Business Technology grant offers funding and expertise that can help your business adopt these new digital tools. Join a CDAP representative to learn how your business can access Grants up to $100K

SPEAKER: ALEX MCKENZIE

2 PM

Sustainable Food Production in Climate Controlled Growing Environments.

SPEAKER: DR. NICK SADIDOV SR. RESEARCH SCIENTIST, LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE

3 PM Innovative Technology and the importance of an online presence within the Agricultural Marketplace

SPEAKER: ERIN BENNETO, CROCUS AG WEB SOLUTIONS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023

11 AM

Optimizing Irrigation Efficiency Through Applied Research and Technology

SPEAKER: DR. WILLEMIJN APPELLS SR. RESEARH CHAIR, LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE

2 PM 3 PM

The Canada Digital Adoption Program’s Boost Your Business Technology grant offers funding and expertise that can help your business adopt these new digital tools. Join a CDAP representative to learn how your business can access Grants up to $100K

SPEAKER: ALEX MCKENZIE

Farm women often take the lead in making safety happen on farms and ranches. This is often because of the many roles that they play on the farm. This session will talk about ways to help implement safety on the farm and reduce the risks to family, friends and workers in the places we both work and play.

SPEAKER: SHERRI MARTHALLER, WOMEN MAKE FARM SAFETY HAPPEN

THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023

11 AM

Reducing Waste during Food & Feed Storage, Conditioning, and Processing

SPEAKER: DR. CHANDRA SINGH, SR. RESEARCH CHAIR, LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE

2 PM 3 PM

Agriculture Focussed Certificates, Diplomas & Degrees at Lethbridge College

SPEAKER: BYRNE COOK, CHAIR, SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE SCIENCES

The Canada Digital Adoption Program’s Boost Your Business Technology grant offers funding and expertise that can help your business adopt these new digital tools. Join a CDAP representative to learn how your business can access Grants up to $100K

SPEAKER: ALEX MCKENZIE

3401 Parkside Dr. S.

Lethbridge, AB T1J 4R3

126TH ANNUAL

FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 2

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28

9–5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1

FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 2

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28

9–5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1

9–5 p.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 2

9–5 p.m.

9–5 p.m.

MARKERT

THURSDAY, MARCH 2 9–5 p.m.

2023 North American Seed Fair Sponsors

Presents the 8th Annual

Presents the 8th Annual

SEEDS DISPLAYED IN SOUTH PAVILION

Presented for excellence in the field of Pedigree Seed Production plus demonstrating community involvement in Southern Alberta.

Presented for excellence in the field of Pedigree Seed Production plus demonstrating community involvement in Southern Alberta.

Presents the 8th Annual

AWARDS RECEPTION

AWARDS RECEPTION

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Lethbridge & District Exhibition

Thursday, March 2, 2023

2–3 p.m. / Heritage Hall

2–3 p.m. / Heritage Hall

3401 Parkside Dr. S.

Lethbridge, AB T1J 4R3

PRESENTED BY:

PRESENTED BY:

Presented for excellence in the field of Pedigree Seed Production plus demonstrating community involvement in Southern Alberta.

Lethbridge & District Exhibition 3401 Parkside Dr. S.

Lethbridge, AB T1J 4R3

AWARDS RECEPTION

SEEDS DISPLAYED IN SOUTH PAVILION 126TH ANNUAL

Thursday, March 2, 2023

2–3 p.m. / Heritage Hall

PRESENTED BY:

Edwin Kiffiak Memorial Award

2023 North American Seed Fair Sponsors

Edwin Kiffiak Memorial Award

Edwin Kiffiak Memorial Award

PRESENTED BY:

STRONG GENETICS. VIGOROUS PRODUCTION. DEPENDABLE GROWTH.

Presents the 8th Annual

Edwin Kiffiak Memorial Award

FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 2

LEARN MORE ALLIANCESEED.COM

Presented for excellence in the field of Pedigree Seed Production plus demonstrating community involvement in Southern Alberta.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 9–5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1 9–5 p.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 2

AWARDS RECEPTION

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Call Mack at 403-654-0262 mack.brummelhuis@gmail.com / www.brummelhuisseeds.com

9–5 p.m.

2–3 p.m. / Heritage Hall

SEEDS DISPLAYED IN SOUTH PAVILION

We offer the highest quality consumer and commercial drones currently available. We have a strong focus on customer satisfaction and strive to make the buying experience as seamless as possible.

New Product Release

WHEAT New AAC Wheatland AAC Brandon

PRESENTED BY:

PEAS AAC Carver

DURUM AAC Stronghold BARLEY New Esma 2-row CDC Austenson

Presents the 8th Annual

Edwin Kiffiak Memorial Award

TRITICALE AAC Delight

Seed Varieties: Located 3 miles north of Vauxhall, AB on highway 36

Presented for excellence in the field of Pedigree Seed Production plus demonstrating community involvement in Southern Alberta.

Mavic 3 Multispectral: Effective aerial surveying needs to see the invisible. That’s why Mavic 3 Multispectral has two forms of sight. It combines an RGB camera with a multispectral camera to scan and analyze crop growth with total clarity. Newly upgraded imaging system with one 20MP RGB camera and four 5MP multispectral cameras (green, red, red edge, and near infrared). Enables applications such as high-precision aerial surveying, crop growth monitoring, and natural resource surveys.

AWARDS RECEPTION

Thursday, March 2, 2023

2–3 p.m. / Heritage Hall

Please Contact Aerial Tech For More Information. 3207 Giffen Rd N. Lethbridge, Alberta, T1H0E8. 1-800-717-4045. sales@aerialtech.com

PRESENTED BY:

M&K Home Sales has proudly served Alberta’s farmers since 1958.

M&K Home Sales has proudly served Alberta’s farmers since 1958.

We have many quality Triple M Homes available for a quick delivery in Spring 2023.

We have many quality Triple M Homes available for a quick delivery in Spring 2023.

AG-EXPO 2023 AG-EXPO 2023

Come see our heated show home at the Lethbridge AG-Expo this year. We will be in the South lot as usual, just outside of Heritage Hall. Ask us about our show promotion on Select Homes.

Come see our heated show home at the Lethbridge AG-Expo this year. We will be in the South lot as usual, just outside of Heritage Hall.

Historic Investment for Irrigators

for the sector

By Becky Zimmer

Irrigation has been a key part of Alberta agriculture for decades and it continues to grow as government investments and district lobbying pushes for more irrigated acres and more innovations to efficiently use this precious resource.

Expanding irrigation was one of the three strategic pillars of the Agri-food Investment and Growth Strategy in the Alberta Recovery Plan launched in June 2020 by the provincial government. By October that year, they announced an investment of $815 million through a partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB). Shortly after, an additional $117 million was tacked onto the total. From the top agriculture ministers all the way down to individual farmers, many see what this could mean for expanding Alberta agriculture.

“This investment will leverage private sector partners to significantly increase the acreage of irrigated land in southern Alberta,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, at the time of the announcement. “For farmers of grains, pulses and other crops, this will not only increase the yields of their crops, but also the long-term sustainability of their operations.”

Field Level Perspective

Cale Hubka farms on a fourth-generation grain operation near Carmangay, Alta.

Three-quarters of his 8,000-acre farm are under irrigation. Especially during the 2021 crop year, his irrigated land obviously fared far better during the heat wave and drought when he was writing off his dry acres as unsalvageable.

Even in a good year, a crop on dryland is not guaranteed, he said, but irrigation gives him greater access to crops that wouldn’t have the chance to thrive in southern Alberta.

“It’s a pretty intense area, ag wise, and that’s pretty well due to the irrigation; so lots of potatoes, lots of seed canola production, lots of other vegetables, cereal crops, sugar beets, corn, and the same thing in some parts of Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba where they have irrigation, they’re doing the same thing, too,” he says.

With more than 8,000 kilometres of canals and pipelines and 57 water storage reservoirs providing water to nearly 1.5 million acres of cropped land annually, this represents 4.4 per cent of total cultivated land in Alberta.

Southern Alberta will see nearly $1B of investment

A 2021 study by the Alberta Irrigation District Association concluded that annual contributions to provincial GDP total around $5.4 billion with another $3.2 billion added in labour income and over 46,000 full-time equivalent positions being contributed to irrigation. Irrigated land is eight times more productive when compared to dryland, the study concludes.

For the Stamp Seeds operation, they need the consistency that irrigation brings on their 5,000 acres. Owner and operator Greg Stamp said crops like fall rye and oats are too valuable to trust on dryland but he is also seeing more farmers get on board with irrigation in feedlots during the summer to save their dugouts for winter while also growing silage on land right beside their cattle. The potential of irrigation is endless, he explains.

“You kind of need both the will of the people in the area and the will of someone to spend money in an area to build something that can take advantage of that irrigation and work together,” he says.

Both the provincial government, investors and innovators are seeing what producers and districts already knew; irrigation is a driver of economic growth in rural Alberta. Governments have been making it their own focus of agricultural and rural investment.

While each individual district doesn’t have a lot of funding to contribute, general manager of the St. Mary River Irrigation District David Westwood notes the formula for utilizing these investments will benefit everyone involved, from the CIB providing the investment opportunities all the way down to individual stakeholders.

Districts initially front 20 per cent of a new project, and 30 per cent will be provided by provincial grants and 50 per cent will be an investment from CIB that districts can pay back long-term.

“The farmers ultimately are paying 70 per cent of these projects, but they’ve got a very attractive financing vehicle to make it work,” says Westwood.

“You kind of need both the will of the people in the area and the will of someone to spend money in an area to build something that can take advantage of that irrigation and work together.”

- Greg Stamp

Enchant, Alta., farmer Greg Stamp believes the irrigation upgrades will be a positive to everyone in southern Alberta with access to water.

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Funding eligible projects that modernize irrigation services across Alberta are currently the focus for districts and government.

Modernizing has been on the minds of the districts for the last 40 to 50 years, Westwood says as he continues to watch the government take notice of these important projects. On the St. Mary River District website, they are seeing these investments improve “the efficiency of transport and application of water to crops” while “the district has seen water volumes reduce while irrigated acreage increase.”

Westwood has also noticed how the world of irrigation has changed over his involvement with the district. While flood irrigation, the least efficient form of irrigation, has long been a thing of the past, variable rate irrigation that moves water when and where it needs to go is now the future of irrigation. Upgrading to pipelines has also created even more water efficiencies as it will cut back on both open air and seepage evaporation, he says.

Stamp is looking forward to more water pipelines since they create more high-pressure delivery than canals, which can mean less horsepower needed to move water through his own system.

Carmangay, Alta., farmer Cale Hubka has 75 per cent of his farm under irrigation, which lets him grow a greater variety of crops.

Especially with the growth of variable rate irrigation, pipelines will also make metering and monitoring much easier.

Government funding has helped Hubka upgrade some of his panels for remote controlling his pivots but right now, for 6,000 acres of irrigation, not a lot is feasible. However, Hubka says there may be value in starting to pick away at it.

“We’re starting to get into higher value crops on my farm now, and so those [upgrades] might be a lot more economical moving forward, a lot more valuable to the farm in general,” he says.

Looking forward to new technology that is on the horizon, Hubka is excited about ground moisture sensing technology that will be able to communicate areas of concern directly to the producer.

“That would play a big role in the variable rate irrigation because then you can really hone down on putting the exact amount of water where it needs to go,” he says.

As climate change continues to challenge agriculture, Westwood says they will be looking into more reservoirs since increasingly variable weather patterns is more than just drought but also excessive rainfall.

“Having more storage allows us to be able to deal with that, capture something for a later date, but also the ability to

capture something in a reservoir that otherwise; because our system would be full, becomes overland flooding in that particular geographic area, which obviously can do a lot of damage for not just the crops but then obviously neighbouring municipalities,” he says.

While upgrades and improvements take time, increasing the scope and expanse of projects, especially through government funding, not only gets efficiencies on the ground faster but increases other sectors like irrigation-related construction, planning, and short- and long-term employment in the province.

“Ultimately, these infrastructural projects will allow the districts to expand and add more irrigation acres to their existing kind of operation and then that would lead to more of this GDP but also then do things like lead to more food processing attraction, more jobs within agriculture, all those kinds of things,” says Westwood.

Each farmer sits within an irrigation district with 12 local districts active in maintaining infrastructure to get water to farmers. The overarching body, the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association, provides a strong voice of representation at the provincial level and provides collective access to research and development funding, says Westwood.

Carmangay, Alta., farmer Cale Hubka has 75 per cent of his farm under irrigation, which lets him grow a greater variety of crops.

Bayer is proud to support the North American Seed Fair– and its many participants. Celebrating the “best of the best” is an excellent way to recognize the contributions of the entire Pedigreed seed industry in providing growers with high quality, genetically pure seed. Like you, Bayer is an innovation driven company dedicated to providing growers across Canada with new and innovative solutions that will help solve challenges and increase the profitability of their farms.

EXHIBITOR AWARDS

Each Year Meridian OneCap honours excellence on the part of our exhibitors at Ag-Expo. Each year a panel of judges will select the best of the best in the following categories.

BEST INDOOR BOOTH

BEST OUTDOOR BOOTH

MOST INNOVATIVE BOOTH

BEST NEW EXHIBITOR

Winners will be announced via our Ag-Expo website, LDE social media channels and a media release.

TOP SOCIAL EXHIBITOR

A Mustard Evolution

Luco Farms elevates business, producing artisan mustard products

By Natalie Noble

Desire to diversify the farm and new ways to market products sees more Prairie farmers evolving their farm structure. At Lethbridge’s Luco Farms, the idea’s been around a while. “My wife and I thought for a long time, it was important to vertically integrate what we were doing here on the farm,” says Robert Luco.

It might have taken 30 years, but they’re here now, processing handcrafted stone-ground mustard products destined for chefs of all skill levels to create healthy, flavourful dishes.

“The majority of our grains and oilseeds were shipped to the East or overseas and then we’d buy them back as finished products,” says Luco. “It made sense to us to start doing something different. That’s where the idea of making processed mustards came from.”

It is a natural progression given the family history. Luco’s parents purchased the farm in 1939 and have grown awardwinning pedigreed cereal and oilseed crops over many years. In 1964, Luco’s father received an allocation of Oriental mustard seed from the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre. A half-acre plot was propagated into a commercial seed sold to local cleaning plants and seed dealers.

Six decades later the Lucos still reside on the original family farm but rented out their land to a local farmer so Luco and his son could dive into their mustard venture.

Most of the magic happens in their commercial kitchen at the McNally Community Centre, where the duo grinds, processes and packages their artisan mustards. “We started out slowly to test it in the marketplace, first at local farmers’ markets to get good feedback from our customers,” says Luco.

Next, they reached out to shops in their area and Calgary. The uptake was strong, and soon they were in Sobeys stores across southern Alberta and Edmonton.

As the business grows, the Lucos’ roles are transforming. “My son’s becoming our grind master, and I’m no longer the teacher,” he says. “It’s a wonderful change and it’s been a nice contribution to our family.”

This niche crop holds great economic value to southern Alberta farmers and the larger economy. Today, more than 95 per cent of the world’s mustard comes from southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and northern Montana. It is then shipped all over the world, much of it destined to Asia to be added to wasabi and other products.

The three types of mustard-yellow, brown and Oriental-have different flavours and hold health benefits. “They’re full of minerals, including selenium and magnesium, as well as natural Omega-3s,” says Luco. “Mustard is not just a condiment, it’s something good to eat.”

The Lucos have created six different flavour profiles they bring to market. “We grind the whole seed, so it’s very nutritious, no preservatives, simply pure mustard seed, salt, vinegar and water, that’s it,” says Luco.

It is a safe bet Luco will enjoy Ag-Expo 2023. He spent years as the event chair and his father was active in the show, as well. “We attend every year,” he says, adding the expo has changed from being primarily a seed and oilseed show, now showcasing large machinery and big booths. “It’s great to see interest from the public in what these seeds and things look like. It’s a wonderful learning opportunity for people to participate and see what’s going on.”

Wear Many Hats

Broek Pork Acres takes “value added” to the next level in their pasture-to-plate, free-range production

By Natalie Noble

Farmer, as a title, is deceiving. It infers a person does a single job: farm. Nothing could be further from the truth. Just ask Joanne Vanden Broek who operates Broek Pork Acres with her husband Allan. “Farming has changed,” she says. “We knew we needed to be innovative, so we became entrepreneurs wearing many hats. We’re farmers, butchers, business owners and employers. We work in customer service and provide delivery service.”

The Vanden Broeks’ farming journey began in 1994 as they started a small grain farm, adding a small hog herd in 2000. Spring 2005 marked a pinnacle moment for Broek Pork Acres, as the Vanden Broeks added free-range pasturing to their pork operation.

Further appealing to a changing market, they began direct marketing their products to deliver fresher product with customized service. Passionate farmers with an eye to the concept of value-added products, the couple takes a hands-on approach while also working to keep their products as affordable as possible.

“People struggle with financial issues, but they still deserve quality food,” says Vanden Broek. “So, we feel we need to do whatever we can, especially as efficiency has become a very important part of all our decisions, while still maintaining our high standards and producing a quality and nutritious product.”

In 2007, they built a provincially inspected butcher shop on the farm, expanding again in 2009. As business continued to grow, 2018 saw them open the doors to a new, larger shop, including a retail storefront to welcome customers. “We feel the appreciation of a small community and we enjoy the friendship of our loyal customers,” says Vanden Broek. “We love farming in southern Alberta.”

One highlight through all of this has been having their kids involved on the farm over the years, and the Vanden Broeks credit that help to the success of their farm and business. “Allan and I both grew up on a farm and we wanted to raise our children on a farm as well,” says Vanden Broek. “We knew we wanted to share the ‘hands-on’ life with them.”

As Ag-Expo approaches, it comes with precious memories of the kids. “Ag Expo has always been a highlight of farming life,” says Vanden Broek, adding that even though the event attracts large operations, there’s something for everyone. “There’s always the excitement of learning something new that could possibly be implemented on a small family farm. The kids would always get excited about the big and new equipment that they didn’t have at home. They loved the stacks of pamphlets they would look at for weeks. It’s a great way to teach the next generation.”

Joanne and Allen Vanden Broek on Broek Pork Acres with one of their free-range Birmingham hogs enjoying the pasture.