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A Farmer’s Viewpoint
Does agriculture face tough times ahead? by Kevin Hursh
by Scott Shiels
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Marketing Options Back to Basis by Natalie Noble
34
Grain Market Analysis
Together We Make A Difference
Biologicals
a new green revolution in agriculture by Claude Rene Flueckiger Multi-Sensor Cluster by Brianna Gratton
KEVIN HURSH
38 42
Ag Colleges
BRIANNA GRATTON 4
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TAMMY JONES
Pan for gold By Trevor Bacque
20/20 Seed Labs
Going Further Afield: 20/20 Seed Labs Celebrates 30 Years by Nerissa McNaughton Those Wily Weeds
How are you Making Your Herbicide Selection? by Tammy Jones Spraying 101
Spray by drone by Tom Wolf Seed
Seeding Technology by Alexis Kienlen
Farming Your Money
Harvest From Hell by Paul Kuntz
PAUL KUNTZ
SCOTT SHIELS
TOM WOLF
Farming is all about community There’s a closeness that shines through, despite the acres that separate us. We’re quick to lend a hand or an ear, a piece of equipment or a strong back. Whatever’s needed to get the job done, we’ll come together to do it. Farming is an amazing way of life, but sometimes it can be as draining mentally as it is physically. And that same community is here to help. Make sure your well-being is a priority and talk to somebody if you or someone you know needs help. Agriculture is rooted in strength – the strength to take care of our families and ourselves. For more resources, visit DoMore.Ag. #RootedInStrength
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Regular Contributors Brianna Gratton Kevin Hursh Tammy Jones
Paul Kuntz Scott Shiels Tom Wolf
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Sales
Pat Ottmann pat@farmingfortomorrow.ca Phone: 587-774-7619 Dennis Dowd dennis@farmingfortomorrow.ca Phone: 306-230-0654
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DOES AGRICULTURE FACE TOUGH TIMES AHEAD? | A FARMER’S VIEWPOINT
Does agriculture face tough times ahead? For many years, the story has been that the good times in agriculture were never going to end. Now the story is increasingly negative with many analysts saying the good times, particularly in the grain industry, are gone for the foreseeable future. The story of good times fit well into the agribusiness narrative and it was told over and over. The world population is increasing by billions, and income levels are rising so many hundreds of millions of people can spend more money on food. Kevin Hursh, P.Ag. Kevin Hursh is an agricultural consultant, journalist and farmer. He has been an agricultural commentator for more than 30 years, serving as editor for Farm Credit Canada’s national bi‑monthly magazine AgriSuccess, and writing regular columns for Canada’s top agricultural publications. Kevin is a well-known speaker at agricultural conferences and conventions. Kevin and his wife Marlene own and operate a grain farm near Cabri in southwestern Saskatchewan, growing a wide array of crops. Twitter: @KevinHursh1
Indeed, with India and China importing huge volumes of grain it was easy to subscribe to the good times story. Meanwhile, there was an ethanol boom, which, in America, uses 40 per cent of the corn crop. It was the duty of farmers to produce more by using ever greater inputs and the most modern technology. Land prices increased for so many years in a row that many have come to believe that farmland could never drop in value. Agriculture has always been cyclical, but this time was different. The boom wasn’t going to fizzle. Realized net farm income for Canadian farmers was in the $3 billion to $4 billion range between 2008 and 2010. In 2011, that jumped to nearly $6 billion and from 2012 to 2017, realized net farm income annually ranged from $6 billion to over $7 billion. As farmers, we’re always hesitant to admit when times are good, but that time period was remarkable. The picture was dramatically different in 2018 with realized net farm income again dropping below $4 billion. Statistics for 2019 won’t be available until well into 2020, but 2018 is unlikely to be a one-year anomaly. Despite a difficult growing season, many farmers say good yields compensated for soft prices so 2019 could have been worse. An increasing number of analysts are predicting tough times ahead with no end in sight. Some even question the population growth projections once viewed as gospel. The Black Sea region led by Russia has become the world’s number 1 wheat exporter with production costs lower than North America. Brazil is a powerhouse in soybeans and has become 7
A FARMER’S VIEWPOINT | DOES AGRICULTURE FACE TOUGH TIMES AHEAD?
While most analysts are now singing a different song going from unbridled optimism to doomsday pessimism, we should remember that nothing is preordained. History doesn’t always repeat and even when it does, there are always differences from one cycle to the next. cozy with China. Meanwhile, tariffs on pulse crops going into India and political disruptions on our exports into China have made for a trading quagmire. Problems also plague trade with several other destinations and the World Trade Organization is increasingly ineffective at solving disputes. Stocks to use ratios on the various grains range from adequate to burdensome. While many claim the world is in a climate change emergency, the last four world grain and oilseed crops are the largest ever. While most analysts are now singing a different song going from unbridled optimism to doomsday pessimism, we should remember that nothing is preordained. History doesn’t always repeat and even when it does, there are always differences from one cycle to the next. One train of thought is that farms need to continue to grow ever larger so they can be more efficient and achieve economies of scale. Another idea is that smaller, more specialized farms can achieve better margins by supplying what consumers want. Predicting the economic future of agriculture is arguably more difficult than ever. Just look at how African Swine Fever has decimated 40 per cent or more of China’s hog industry. Who could have predicted that in advance? Look at how quickly companies big and small have pivoted to jump on the plant protein bandwagon. Plant-based meat substitutes will have a large market impact that few could have foreseen just a few short years ago. Also, remember that some farms thrive even in tough times while some farms are not successful even in the good times. While down cycles create hardship, they also create opportunities. It isn’t necessarily the bad years that get farmers into trouble, it’s the good years when spending is too easy. 8
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GRAIN MARKET ANALYSIS | TOGETHER WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Together We Make A Difference This harvest was one for the record books, but not in a good way for most producers. The weather across the Prairies was not very harvest friendly, and for most producers, two days in a row running the combine was a rarity. This should make for some interesting challenges marketing the 2019 crop for sure.
Scott Shiels Scott grew up in Killarney, Man., and has been in the grain industry for more than 25 years. He has been with Grain Millers Canada for five years, doing both conventional and organic grain procurement as well as marketing for their mills. Scott lives in Abernethy, Sask., with his wife Jenn. www.grainmillers.com
I recently attended a conference that focused on what the ag industry, as a whole, needs to do in order to increase awareness of the safety of our Canadian food system, and agriculture in general in this country. The 2019 Canadian Public Trust Summit to be exact. A joint conference between Farm and Food Care Sask, and the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI). I thought that I would share some of the thoughts and ideas from this conference with all of you, since it is imperative that we all work together in this endeavour. For too long now, each sector of the ag industry has worked on its own to try and further their individual agendas. There is nothing wrong with the way that we have been doing things, and until recent years, there was no real push to do it any differently. However, groups like the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity and the Farm and Food Care programs in Saskatchewan and Ontario, are making a great case for collaboration between all the different sectors in Canadian agriculture. When we are talking to consumers we need to make sure that we are conveying a unified message regarding the safety of our farming practices and the security of our Canadian food system. From poultry to beef, grains to oilseeds, or even organic to conventional farming systems, everyone needs to get on the same page and work together to ensure consumers that we are using best practices and producing the best and safest food in the world. A recent survey done by the CCFI shows Canadian consumers are very concerned about the use of pesticides in crop production, as well as the use of hormones in livestock production. There are also the lingering concerns around GMOs and glyphosate, two issues that are at the forefront in the media. However, this same survey found consumers hold farmers the most responsible to provide credible information to them, and Canadians also trust producers more than any other sector of the food system, a high honour. Because of these factors, the industry needs to start relying on farmers to get involved with marketing campaigns to showcase how safe our foods are, and how the production of them, from farm to fork, is done ethically and responsibly. The quote, “Everyone has a place on the plate” signifies the importance of everyone working together to ensure continued growth and improvement in our industry. I want to leave you with another quote from a conference speaker: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” If we can get each of our different sectors collaborating to convey a unified message to our customers, it could take us further than we ever dreamed. Until next time…
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COVER STORY | PAN FOR GOLD
PAN FOR
GOLD
Low-tech device a welcome respite in technology-driven world By Trevor Bacque Photography By Matt Jacques Trevor Scherman can’t sit still. He’s had that problem ever since he was a youngster, tinkering with items around the family farm in northwest Saskatchewan. He could often be found building or fixing things in the shop such as hopper-bottom bins with his father Pat throughout the year and fiddling with anything he could get his hands on. The idea of trying his hand at something new is never scary for him, only exciting. When he decided to earn his agriculture diploma from the University of Saskatchewan, he couldn’t wait to meet new people and soak up curriculum like a sponge. When he landed one of his first jobs with Bayer in 2001, he took advantage of all the perks the company offered. The company offered him countless courses including sales, marketing and agronomy, all of which he gleefully enrolled in. Having ADHD, it often feels impossible for Scherman to settle. Having participated in personality analysis exercises, the seminars gave him a stronger understanding of how to work with people—valuable lessons he still utilizes on the farm today. However, after a decade of working for a large organization, he sought a change. This time it was where he may have more autonomy. In 2011, a relatively new start-up called Farmers Edge (FE) was making a splash in the market and Scherman couldn’t resist such a unique opportunity. Knowing there would be greater autonomy and more ways to have his agronomic influence weaved throughout the company, he took a chance and joined FE. Those years, much like the ones spent at Bayer, were instrumental not only for him as a person and his own growth, but also as a farmer. 12
Photo: Trevor Scherman, left, and his father Pat, are the two minds
behind the ScherGain Solution System. The simple device they invented is a remote-controlled drop pan that will allow farmers to accurately calculate bushel loss at harvest.
13
COVER STORY | PAN FOR GOLD With a renewed focus on precision agriculture, Scherman felt at home, implementing many new agronomic, data-driven practices on the farm while also getting paid to talk about it during the day. The family had always been on the cutting edge, perhaps, more than others. His father Pat was one of the first people in Saskatchewan to adopt zero-till methods in 1979. What seemed counterintuitive at the time has certainly become the norm across Western Canada. In 2009, Scherman went headlong into variable rate (VR) technology. Not quite unheard of, but borderline fringe, the movement was in its infancy, but that didn’t bother Scherman, because, as he says, “a good idea is a good idea.” He also has conducted countless amounts of strip trials, comparing any given product he thinks may give him an edge, hosting test after test to make his land as solid as it can be. He was an early adopter of fungicides and coming out of the drought in 2004, he was one of the only farmers in his area using any kind of products. By the second year of trials, he was sold. “We were blown away with six-to-seven bushels-per-acre on hard red spring wheat,” he says. Other valuable tests related to variable-rate fertility treatments. By comparing variable rate versus simply adding 10 per cent more fertilizer, he learned important lessons, even though the results weren’t what he expected. “We over-applied on purpose, so the wheat crop actually went flat,” he says. “It yielded statistically the same, a grade less, and the combines’ efficiency was terrible. It’s not all bushels per acre, or dollars per acre, you have to look at the efficiencies.” Scherman stuck with VR and slowly brought everything in line with the 21st century as much as possible. The results were impressive to both him and his father. “Data is a big scary word, but if you ask any farmer if they collect data, they rarely say yes,” he says. “But they all have a notebook … they’ve been collecting data, but it’s all in their mind. All that is data. Now we are just getting a lot more data and it’s a lot easier to extrapolate from it.” Both he and Pat always pushed the limit, demanding the most out of not only themselves but also their farmland.
Photo: Pat Scherman, left, and son Trevor, with their low-tech device designed to help farmers save money during the busy harvest season. Trevor says business has been going at a breakneck speed since starting full time four years ago
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Similarly, he was also a pioneer of tile drainage, admitting he was likely one of the first people in Saskatchewan to push his chips in on the simple, but farm-enhancing technology. “We drained a lot of land in our area,” he says. “It’s been huge, just the efficiencies of not just moving water, but the new-found efficiency of the machinery.”
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COVER STORY | PAN FOR GOLD
Photo: An up-close look at the ScherGain Solution System.
The machine in question is a Soil Max Gold Digger that Scherman purchased brand new and he considers it one of his absolute best investments to date. He looks back and laughs at the idea of tile drainage since he began farming with Pat in 2001, the same year that kicked off a three-year drought in Saskatchewan and many other parts of the Prairies. Those experiences helped solidify his resolve and shape his character to what it is today: Optimistic, yet realistic. “You have to have a lot of vision and determination that things will get better,” he says. “It’s a learning process. The years of my father being one of the early adopters of zero tillage, I benefited through those years. We felt we were rewarded through the drought.” In 2016, he quit with Farmers Edge and decided he would farm full-time and not look back. His wife Michelle, an Ag Economics major, runs the office and advises on all financial decisions while he and Pat manage all the in-field work. The farm expanded aggressively in the last five years, nearly doubling in size from 3,400 to 6,500 acres. Part of the change, like all opportunities for Scherman, is to seize a good moment when it comes along while using data to analyze the decision. His agricultural motto is straightforward and doesn’t look back: “We make the best decisions possible with the information we have at the time.” “I’ve been on the bleeding edge a few times,” he says with a laugh. “As I get older and wiser, I am a little more cautious.” 16
Scherman embraces technology whole-heartedly and while he still carries out some “old school” practices, he is the first one to let the technology do the work for him, working smarter, not harder. He points to the simple-yet-effective weather stations and scouting applications on his phone and not in person. What used to take him 50 to 60 hours to properly check all his acres is now a fraction of that, roughly four or five hours. “Now, I can really focus my time on the target areas, then do the farmer drive after that,” he says. Scherman is similar to most farmers now in that he collects scads of data from all his machines. The only difference is that he has trusted programs where he inputs his data, which is then presented to him in easy-to-understand formats, helping him make prudent management decisions. One key finding for Scherman, though, is that precision agriculture is many things, but there’s absolutely one thing it’s not: precise. “We can use ‘precision’ ag, but it’s hard to be precise with a 120-foot sprayer and a 75-foot air drill,” he says. “We’ve become so ‘precise’ that the equipment hasn’t kept pace with that technology.” It’s what drove him to ultimately create, along with his father Pat, his low-tech invention, the ScherGain Solution System, that flies in the face of the fast-paced, high-tech world of 2020 agriculture.
PAN FOR GOLD | COVER STORY
“It’s one of those products that there’s a need for it and we built a product that was simple, fast and easy to use. It’s old school, low-tech. There’s no app. There isn’t even a scale.” - Trevor Scherman
non-calibrated loss monitor. “You can adjust the monitor to whatever makes you feel good, but it’s not quantified to a bushels per acre [number].”
Every combine that rolls off the production line comes standard with a few key features. The first is an eye-popping price tag, the second is a yield monitor and third is a loss monitor. The latter, though a very nice in-cab decoration, is not worth its weight in cabbage when it first arrives to the farmer, explains Scherman.
Although his device is patented in Canada and has a global patent pending, he is just as happy if people are at least checking somehow maybe even with their own homemade device.
“Combine companies claim the new combines set themselves and can determine how much through-put they can have accordingly, but based on what?” he says. “You need real live field data to make all those algorithms work better.” To that end, Scherman and his father knew they were getting the short end of the bushel every harvest but could not quantify it. In 2011, it marked the last year they were in the dark on bushel loss. “The combine salesperson said I should be able to drive this fast in this crop and my losses should be minimal, but he’s trying to sell me a combine,” he says. “Yields, crop conditions, weather conditions, are all factors in how fast you can go in a certain crop and achieve optimal results.” Their decidedly low-tech device, a battery-operated drop pan, is as simple as it is effective. It works like this: Stop the combine, drop the chaff and the straw spreader laying a windrow. Take the drop pan, which has two three-inch diameter magnets, and mount it near the fan housing, front or back axle and activate the magnets with a wireless controller. Hop back in the combine and get the machine up to capacity where losses are deemed acceptable. From there, travel 100 to 150 feet and press the button to deactivate the magnets, dropping the pan in the field. Be sure to glance at the loss monitor when the pan drops for proper calibration afterwards. Dig out the pan, clean contents down to simply the grain, dump it into ScherGains’s patented gauge and see the volume that it hits in the supplied chart and voila, bushel loss calculated. At that point, the first-ever calibration of the monitor can take place. “It’s a speedometer with no numbers,” says Scherman of a
Scherman is not the type of person who was ever looking to stick it to a manufacturer. In fact, when he first began, he simply told his friends and neighbours out of concern that they were leaving money in the field due to poor settings or too high of travel speeds despite monitor readouts. Indeed, he may be right. Manufacturers are starting to shift language and using phrases such as “bushels per hour” not “acres per hour.”
“Initially, it wasn’t, ‘can we make money off this?’ it was, ‘we need to help neighbours because everyone is having the same problem and most don’t know,” he says. “You cannot manage what you do not measure, and we made it easy and wanted to share that.” There have certainly been more than the Schermans who thought their losses weren’t acceptable, as well. On day one of business, Scherman sent out a tweet explaining the product. By the end of the day, he sold 20 pans, the same number he had set out to sell over the next 365 days. With only four built when the tweet was sent, he was already oversold. Within one week, he was getting tweets from Australian farmers asking about the pan and when they could get their hands on one. “It’s one of those products that there’s a need for it and we built a product that was simple, fast and easy to use,” he says. “It’s old school, low-tech. There’s no app. There isn’t even a scale.” The response from farmers has been humbling to the Schermans. Nothing brightens his day quite like shaking hands with a fellow farmer at a tradeshow and hearing how they have saved anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000 simply by calibrating their once-maligned monitors. The power of social media can be a force for good or evil and Scherman was happy it was the former. In year one, Twitter accounted for 40 per cent of his sales. Three years later, he is going “flat out” with both farming and business and has generated non-stop interest from farmers. He is now jet-setting around the globe to speak at farmer conferences in different countries, explaining how the pan works and why it’s useful whether its winter wheat in the U.K., Soybeans in Illinois or canola in Romania. “For such a low-tech, inexpensive system, it has made a lot of growers a lot of money,” he says with satisfaction. 17
MARKETING OPTIONS | BACK TO BASIS
Back to Basis By Natalie Noble
Gone are the days when the most successful farmer sat on the tractor in the field the longest. Today’s farmer is connected, tech-savvy and efficient to the max, playing the marketing game to get the most bang for their buck. Securing the most strategic contracts calls for diligence, discipline and a solid understanding of all the ways to play. Risk is high and variables many, so knowing the basics, or in this case, the basis, is a good first move. “Basis is one of the ‘basics’ of grain marketing, but as I’ve worked with farmers … over the years, I’ve come to believe it’s not that well understood,” says Dave Reimann, market analyst with Cargill’s MarketSense grain marketing advisory service.
INS AND OUTS OF BASIS The basis is either a deduction (under) or a premium (over) the futures price in order to determine the net price a buyer will pay. Put simply, it’s the difference between the cash value of grain and the underlying futures contract value. “If the cash bid for canola at a certain elevator is $430 per tonne and the underlying canola futures contract is trading at $450 per tonne, the basis is reported as -$20,” says Reimann. Basis movement reflects the local situation, including supply and demand. When basis levels increase, or widen, they signal less demand for the product at that time, such as harvest time when supply is abundant. When they decline, or narrow, the market needs supply and it’s a good time to deliver. So, when canola supplies tighten in an elevator’s draw region while export demand is up, basis strengthens. “At times, this can become so extreme that cash levels trade above the underlying futures. This is reported as a “+” or “positive” basis,” says Reimann. “On the other extreme, there could be very large supplies of grain in a given region and little demand. This would cause a grain company to weaken their basis.” Lorne Boundy, merchandiser with Paterson Grain, says wheat follows similar seasonal patterns to canola. “Wheat basis tends to be widest at harvest with high available supply. Moving into early December, it typically increases and then levels off through the holidays, improving again into 18
BACK TO BASIS | MARKETING OPTIONS late February and early March,” he says, adding it’s been this way since 2012 with little exception. Demonstrated above, determining basis levels in canola can be fairly straightforward. Other crops, including wheat, soybeans, corn and oats, are traded in U.S. dollars and more complicated. “In these cases, foreign currency (FX) comes into play and must be factored into the price presented to farmers,” says Boundy. Marketing experts tackle this in different ways. Many companies will put 100 per cent of the FX into the basis and quote the farmer as if the futures price would be the same. “At $5 per bushel in U.S. dollar futures, they would equate it as $5 per bushel in Canadian dollar futures because they are sourcing the futures prices from a data provider and it is easier to not have to convert live or delayed quotes into Canadian dollars,” says Boundy. Simple enough, but this method has a big drawback. Because futures prices make up the majority of the farmer’s net price—up to 90 per cent—a considerable portion of the basis value is the FX on the futures, skewing the basis level. Boundy prefers to convert both futures prices and basis into
Photo: Paterson Grain merchandiser, Lorne Boundy, expects basis
levels for wheat Western Canada to improve into the long-term as the supply chain becomes more efficient and the capacity to get grain out to global buyers increases.”
We can optimize your soil health and plant growth on every acre, from start to finish. At NexusBioAg we have a dedicated team that focuses on a portfolio of proven products; inoculants, nitrogen stabilizers, micronutrients, and foliars to deliver essential crop nutrition and maximize your results. NexusBioAg shares your focus on getting the best possible results. Call your NexusBioAg rep today.
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Inoculants | Nitrogen Stabilizers | Micronutrients | Foliars ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS. © 2019 Univar Inc. All rights reserved. Univar, the collaboration insignia, and other identified trademarks are the property of Univar Inc. or affiliated companies. All other trademarks not owned by Univar Inc. or affiliated companies that appear in this material are the property of their respective owners.
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MARKETING OPTIONS | BACK TO BASIS
Canadian dollars, adding that canola basis moves in small increments relative to large moves in futures, but wheat can have huge swings due to FX rate changes even with static futures. To maximize basis as a marketing tool, sellers must be informed around both futures prices and how much foreign currency (FX) is being factored in. There is risk when currency exchange values move, even if futures prices do not. He referenced a recent group of Manitoba farmers locking in wheat basis which looked good with FX built in, but by fall, Minneapolis wheat future didn’t move but the Canadian dollar plummeted. The farmers couldn’t jump in on the FX move and had poor returns pricing out their basis contracts. In this case, locking in a basis against futures that had been converted to Canadian would have allowed farmers to participate in the rising futures price due to the exchange. For example, December Minneapolis wheat futures priced at $5 per bushel with an FX rate of 0.7560 would leave $1.54 per bushel of exchange in the futures conversion to be included into the basis.
Photo: Dave Reimann, market analyst with Cargill’s MarketSense, says
because basis reflects local supply and demand issues, it’s good signal from grain companies to farmers to either deliver their grain sooner or store it.
CONTRACTING TO WIN If a farmer signs a basis contract, they lock in the current basis offered by the grain company but agree to a deferred delivery, holding off the futures pricing component until a later date. This provides the opportunity to lock in a narrow basis prior to the delivery month, a bonus should market prices rise during this time. “A good grain marketing advisor will tell you basis contracts should only be used during rallies in futures markets,” says Reimann. “In that case, they can be very effective in getting the farmer an attractive basis as well as higher futures, a very good combination.” He adds that these contracts can be risky if futures fall too far before the farmer triggers their price, in which case they can lose more value than the strong basis provided. Still, in many cases, Boundy says these contracts are underutilized, especially in wheat contracting. “The global flat price of wheat is fairly stable, so if we assume it does not move, then the fluctuations in futures values will influence the basis to arrive at a net price for producers,” he says.
BASIS BASICS As with any major business decision, it’s wise to seek professional advice before selling on the futures market, as many farmers do to varying degrees. Reimann and Boundy broke down some basics to help with on-farm decision making. First, farmers should track their local grain prices and basis levels at their local elevators and continue to analyze them 20
over several years. Staying on top of global market factors is also key to market planning and sales decisions. “That way, you’ll start to develop a good idea of what a good basis looks like for your farm,” says Reimann. “It makes it easier to decide when to capture basis or when to store your grain. An advisor who has been working in your area should be able to access this kind of information and help interpret it.” Second, as a rule, basis tends to be strongest when futures prices are low and weakest when futures are high. Boundy suggests that when futures prices are high, farmers sell futures only and then wait for them to fall before locking in a basis. As futures fall, basis will improve. Finally, it requires discipline and timing. While many farmers are properly using basis as a marketing tool, Reimann notes some farmers use it when futures fall, which can lead to lost revenue. “It can be really tough to stay on top of futures prices and to have the discipline to set the futures price at the right time before you lose out,” he says. He adds that farmers can spend more time looking for a strong basis and less time considering what the current flat price is relative to the return on their investment. “A strong grain marketing advisor will help their clients see that they can still achieve a higher final price, even if they receive a weaker basis than their neighbour,” says Reimann. “You have to be quite disciplined to use a basis contract, and if you don’t have the right information, you may have trouble acting at the right time.”
The power of three.
We can optimize your soil health and plant growth on every acre, from start to finish. TagTeam LCO is a triple-action inoculant that builds a better crop by: •
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BIOLOGICALS | A NEW GREEN REVOLUTION IN AGRICULTURE
a new green revolution in agriculture Biological products will revolutionize agriculture by replacing chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides in the $240 billion crop protection and fertilizer market. Biologicals include biopesticides, biofertilizers, and biostimulants derived from natural materials, such as animals, plants, bacteria or minerals. Biologicals have a revolutionary impact because, unlike chemical fertilizers and pesticides, biologicals function in synergy with nature and utilize the tremendous power of nature to support the resilience of agricultural crops in a sustainable manner. Claude Rene Flueckiger Dr. Claude Rene Flueckiger has more than 30 years of experience in the cropprotection industry as both a commercial and technical executive. Currently, he is an agroindustry consultant and serves as an independent director for Bee Vectoring Technologies International, Inc. (www.beevt.com). For a list of citations for this article, refer to an extended version of this article available on Dr. Flueckiger’s website at www. flueckigerconsulting.com/articles .
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Through the industrialization and intensification of agriculture, soils have disintegrated globally. Adverse land-management practices (e.g., intensive soil tilling) and use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has reduced both the number and diversity of beneficials in the environment and the overall health of the microbiome. The microbiome is comprised of bacteria and fungi that live in association with plants and provide natural services, such as protection against pests and diseases. The widespread adoption of biological products will begin with the increased use of biopesticides as an alternative to chemical pesticides. Reductions in chemical pesticide use will contribute to a reinvigoration of the microbiome and other beneficials. A healthy microbiome will facilitate a paradigm shift from the classical biocontrol of one pest on a given crop with one biopesticide to a biocontrol system that integrates the role of resident microbial communities to control pests. Overall, managing the composition of the soil microbiome as a whole will lead to better solutions for controlling plant disease outbreaks. Biopesticides have many advantages over chemical pesticides. For farmers, biopesticides are attractive because they facilitate integrated pest management (IPM); protect beneficial organisms, including pollinators; are an important tool for resistance management; offer labour and harvest flexibility advantages; have very low toxicity; and, can be used on organic crops. For consumers, biopesticides reduce the risk of residue issues, satisfy the public demand for a more favourable ecological footprint, and reduce the use of more toxic chemical pesticides.
Breakthrough performance for soybeans.
We can meet your soil health and plant growth on every acre, from start to finish. Optimize ST is a dual-action inoculant that delivers the benefits of a specially selected Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant and LCO technology to provide: •
Greater development of nitrogen-fixing nodules with LCO (lipochitooligosaccharide)
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Enhanced nutrient capability, which supports root and shoot growth
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Broad seed treatment compatibility with up to 220-day on seed stability*
NexusBioAg shares your focus on maximizing your soybean’s potential with Optimize ST. Call your rep today.
Your solution for crop nutrition. *220-day on seed stability with additional liquid additive extender for key seed treatments, otherwise 120-day on seed stability. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS. © 2019 Univar Inc. All rights reserved. Univar, the collaboration insignia, and other identified trademarks are the property of Univar Inc. or affiliated companies. All other trademarks not owned by Univar Inc. or affiliated companies that appear in this material are the property of their respective owners.
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BIOLOGICALS | A NEW GREEN REVOLUTION IN AGRICULTURE
The market for biopesticides is booming. According to two different studies, the biopesticides market is estimated to be worth $3.1 billion in 2018 and almost $10 billion in 2025. For the agriculture industry, the introduction of biopesticides provides the industry with a potential pipeline of products to replace existing chemical crop-protection products that are no longer competitive due either to resistance issues or because of patent expiry, which allows generic companies to copy and sell the product at a reduced price. The market for biopesticides is booming. According to two different studies, the biopesticides market is estimated to be worth $3.1 billion in 2018 and almost $10 billion in 2025. Assumptions for future growth rates vary between 10 per cent and 20 per cent. This market is projected to be larger than the market for chemicals, but the timeframe for this growth could be quite short or up to 25 years. More broadly, biologicals have the potential to not only replace chemical pesticides with biopesticides (a market of more than $50 billion), but, in combination with the broader “Omics� innovations, biologicals will also be able to complement or replace agricultural chemical fertilizers, alleviate abiotic stress (e.g., frost, water and heat from climate change), and increase crop yields. Biologicals will therefore compete in the $240 billion market for traditional pesticides, fertilizers and beyond. Leveraging the power of nature is at the heart of the opportunity for biologicals. Nature exercises tremendous power in sustaining the well-being of plants and agricultural crops. Protecting and utilizing the power of nature’s beneficials will create a foundation for the further development of biologicals reliant on a healthy microbiome. These changes will in turn compound the effectiveness of biologicals and trigger an agricultural revolution built on the sustainable use of natural processes to support crop resilience. Stakeholders at every level will benefit from the widespread adoption of biologicals: Consumers will be assured that their food is grown safely and sustainably; farmers will have new tools for IPM and a new income stream from their sustainable services, such as carbon capture and the industry will enjoy a new and much larger market. This will guarantee a sustainable pipeline of future biological products, thus more than replacing revenues lost due to declining chemical usage. 24
Nature’s technology stacked We can optimize your soil health and plant growth on every acre, from start to finish. JumpStart and QuickRoots inoculants combine to create a powerful biological system, helping increase yield potential by: •
Improving nutrient availability, supporting root and shoot growth
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Performing in a variety of soil conditions and types
NexusBioAg shares your focus on maximizing your crop’s yield potential. Call your NexusBioAg rep today.
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Your solution for crop nutrition. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS. © 2019 Univar Inc. All rights reserved. Univar, the collaboration insignia, and other identified trademarks are the property of Univar Inc. or affiliated companies. All other trademarks not owned by Univar Inc. or affiliated companies that appear in this material are the property of their respective owners.
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AG COLLEGES | MULTI-SENSOR CLUSTER
Multi-Sensor Cluster Sensors in farming is not a new concept. While equipment has made huge advancements through the years, measuring the field conditions and environment has taken longer to develop. The soil and crop interaction is complex but with these data insights the ability to connect to your fields in a seamless matter is becoming a reality.
Brianna Gratton
Brianna Gratton is currently the Smart Ag Techgronomist at the Olds College Smart Farm. After obtaining her Certified Crop Adviser designation, Brianna worked with various companies such as Crop Production Services, Decisive Farming and Chinook Agronomics before joining the Olds College team. Above: A microclimate sensor used to monitor changing weather conditions in the field
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With a multitude of new sensors entering the market with the capability to measure in-field conditions and soil properties, comes the question are they worth the time and money? One of the challenges for a producer is to determine which sensors will bring value to the farm, and will they consistently provide accurate and reliable reading in broad acre dryland farming situations. Integrating this technology involves a significant investment and there is minimal third-party data comparing the accuracy and functionality of these devices. The Olds College Smart Farm is currently testing and validating sensor technology. By placing a variety of sensors in a clustered format in the field we can compare the accuracy between each sensor as well as in season sampling to determine which are most valuable in our western Canadian environment. Currently at the Smart Farm, we have weather stations, microclimate sensors, multiple soil moisture and temperature sensors, canopy temperature sensors and light interception sensors installed in different fields for monitoring. We intend to add additional microclimate sensors and soil nutrient sensors in the coming season. When comparing these we look at the accuracy of the data provided, how the data is provided and what actionable insights are offered. Through this we can adapt our strategies to the changing conditions in the field. This gives producers the ability to react quickly to real-time information, allowing them to maximize effectiveness of the inputs and improve crop performance.
MULTI-SENSOR CLUSTER | AG COLLEGES
The value of comparing the accuracy of each sensor allows producers to determine cost and benefit of adding technology to the farm. When the sensors are accurate in reading moisture, environment and soil available nutrients it allows for faster more accurate decision making in season. Additional factors we have taken into consideration when evaluating these devices is ease of installation and connectivity, specifically how the different methods of installation of soil sensors may affect the readings. Comparing a sensor that is inserted into the ground by digging a trench and laying the horizontal sensors at different depths versus a vertical device that is tapped directly into the soil will show
how the soil disturbance is affecting the data gathered. Through our validation projects we have encountered different issues with different devices, including issues with connectivity and data logging, and devices standing up to adverse weather conditions such as cold temperatures and snow that often occur in this area. Many devices use different algorithms to determine their values which in turn results in different readings between them. Placement has also played a large role in the accuracy of the data. In the coming year we will be looking at determining what the optimal distribution is for these sensors, with that comparing what the return is on having a number of sensors in a single field versus using methods that are extrapolating information from one spot to make management decisions on the entire field. The value of comparing the accuracy of each sensor allows producers to determine cost and benefit of adding technology to the farm. When the sensors are accurate in reading moisture, environment and soil available nutrients it allows for faster more accurate decision making in season. When weather conditions are favourable, being able to react quickly can allow a farmer to capture yield or respond to a negative event and improve crop response as soon as conditions change.
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20/20 SEED LABS | GOING FURTHER AFIELD: 20/20 SEED LABS CELEBRATES 30 YEARS
GOING FURTHER AFIELD: 20/20 SEED LABS CELEBRATES 30 YEARS By Nerissa McNaughton
When is the last time you thought about a seed? Seeds are small but incredibly significant, representing 90 per cent of the world’s global food supply. Without understanding, improving, analyzing and preserving our seed supply, our agriculture sector would collapse, and humanity along with it. For Sarah Foster, president and senior seed analyst at 20/20 Seed Labs Inc., tiny seeds are a big passion. Foster launched 20/20 Seed Labs in 1989. It is Canada’s first fully accredited, independently owned seed testing laboratory. “In 1989 the government that was offering seed testing services decided to privatize. I saw an opportunity to start my own company,” she explains. “I was very excited, but as any entrepreneur will tell you, the first year is full of worries. Things were different 30 years ago. To get the company name out there, I wrote lots of letters and drove around northern and southern Alberta to meet with clients and promote 20/20.” As an outstanding businesswoman with an incredible work ethic, Foster’s hard work paid off. Today 20/20 Seed Labs completes tests for farmers around the world, thanks to being internationally accredited. The company is also proud to achieve recognition such as the Canadian Seed Trade Association award for Outstanding Achievement (2013), an award from the Alberta Seed Processors Association in 2018, and becoming a Leaders nominee in 2019. “We are very much a part of the agricultural fabric,” Foster notes. “One of the reasons we have been
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GOING FURTHER AFIELD: 20/20 SEED LABS CELEBRATES 30 YEARS | 20/20 SEED LABS to the seeding and production of food. I came back with a ton of ideas of what we can incorporate in Canada. The mission was to see if there was something Brazil and Canada could partner with. On the trip we met another Canadian company that had developed a system for early monitoring for diseases in the field. We ended up working with them.” For Foster, educating clients and the public about where their food comes from is very important to dispel the misinformation that is prevalent in our society. “There is a mistrust about where people’s food comes from,” she points out. “We have joined up with other organizations that promote agriculture and the benefits of good systems to prove that what you are eating in terms of where it starts is safe. People have put a lot of fear into the public about practices like GMO by saying they are dangerous and chemical laden, but that is not necessarily true. The food chain is a trail and we explain the trail that brings the food to you.” Foster continues, “When clients come in for a tour, they are often surprised by what goes on behind the scenes and how much regulation and administration is involved in what we do.” In addition to supporting agriculture on a global scale, 20/20 Seed Labs is involved in very important causes here at home. The lab is a big supporter of the Leduc & District Food Bank and is also active in a variety of farm safety programs. It’s been 30 years since Foster created a private company that was the first of its kind in Canada, and she is very grateful to the people, staff, associations and organizations that have mentored her along the way. so successful is that we always meet the needs of our clients. We are always very transparent about everything we do and have demonstrated that our protocols are followed in a standard manner and the results are meaningful. We have never had a complaint about a crop not performing the way our data shows. We are very, very invested in the success of our clients and work with them to make sure they get the best out of their crop.” Part of 20/20’s mission is to envision the future of agriculture. “We are always planning for what happens next year and the next five years with testing services available for things in terms of crop quality. It’s not only about climate change; we need to have seeds that are frost tolerant, disease tolerant, etc. Our laboratory must be able to test for specific crop diseases that are becoming more problematic in Canada.”
“When I started, the late David Ingledew was working with Prairie Seeds. I was only 27 at the time, but he believed in my ability and my ideas were important to him. Rene Victoor, a seed grower in Villeneuve, Alberta was also a huge supporter. I would go crop scouting with him. He helped me get off the ground with real-time input. Rick Rutherford (Rutherford Farms Ltd.) from Grosse Isle, Manitoba is one of the most forward-thinking seed growers I know and one of the first to leverage the technology available to farmers. What he does helps us all to be ready for what will happen in agriculture over the next few years. As for our many clients, thank you for allowing us the opportunity to work with you and provide services that will benefit your farm and your business.”
Foster has recently returned from a science and agriculture trade mission in Brazil, an experience she calls “fantastic.”
Agriculture is one of the world’s oldest industries and companies like 20/20 Seed Labs stand between the changing landscape and our food supply. This is a post held by the lab for 30 years and as Foster is happy to inform, “We are still growing.”
“I don’t know that I’ve ever been in a country where they are so focused on agriculture, from the breeding and the science
Learn more about 20/20 Seed Labs at 2020seedlabs.ca online and @2020SeedLabs on Twitter. 31
THOSE WILY WEEDS | HOW ARE YOU MAKING YOUR HERBICIDE SELECTION?
How are you Making Your
Herbicide Selection? Tammy Jones B.Sc., P.Ag Tammy completed her B. Sc. In Crop Protection at the University of Manitoba. She has over 15 years of experience in the crops industry in Manitoba and Alberta, with a focus on agronomy. Tammy lives near Carman, and spends time scouting for weeds and working with cattle at the family farm in Napinka, Manitoba. Above: Weed patches negatively impact crop harvest and cause future weed problems.
When selecting equipment, there are spec sheets regarding horsepower and capacity, in-field demos, tires to kick and inevitably brand and colour recognition. When selecting crop varieties or hybrids, once again there are many factors taken into consideration, such as yield, height, harvestability, lodging tolerance, disease resistance even herbicide-tolerant traits. What factors are taken into consideration when selecting a herbicide? This decision seems to be less planned, even though it’s just as important to successful crop production. Planning for weed control may seem unrealistic, but has significant advantages. Most will say that it is impossible to predict the weeds that will be an issue in the field. There is some truth that: new weeds can emerge, but in most situations, with land you’ve farmed there is an ingrained knowledge of where the weed patches are and what weeds are most challenging to control due to density, competitive ability or herbicide resistance. However, I can agree that there is no one-size-fitsall herbicide plan. Knowing which weeds are most common in your fields will help you make early management decisions. A mix of broadleaf and grass weeds usually requires a mix of chemistries for broad-spectrum control. I use the “Rule of Five,” making my weed control decision based on the five most common weeds in the field, rather than trying to fine-tune a tank-mix that will control every single weed in the field. There needs to be some degree of practicality in making decisions. Not only will a herbicide plan address specific weed issues, it will allow for timely purchases when it makes good economic sense or gives a retail time to source product that may not be readily
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HOW ARE YOU MAKING YOUR HERBICIDE SELECTION? | THOSE WILY WEEDS
Weed control needs to be sustainable over the long-term, which is why I rarely focus on herbicides as a single tool. Integrating the selection of appropriate herbicides with other management tools will provide success in battling weeds. available in-season. In the event of herbicide resistance (already present or trying to prevent the occurrence) or particularly competitive weeds, a combination of preemergent and in-crop herbicides are often most effective. Herbicide layering, using a pre-emergent soil active herbicide in combination with an in-crop herbicide also allows more modes of effective action to be introduced and avoids cumbersome tank-mix situations that can end in glue or cement in the tank. Pre-emergent herbicides with residual control of grasses and broadleaves typically utilize alternate modes of action to most in-crop herbicides. The soil residual herbicide can also delay the growth of weeds, allowing for a later in-crop application and extend that period of effective weed control. The soil residual herbicide, in combination with a timely in-crop herbicide keeps the crop weed free longer, optimizing yield potential. So, what are some of the questions that you should ask when making an herbicide plan? 1. What is your crop rotation and tillage regimen? Crop rotation influences herbicides that can be used in-crop for weed control, as certain crops will limit herbicide options based on re-cropping restrictions. If you grow crops under a zero-tillage system, then herbicides that require incorporation will not be of use. 2. How can you incorporate multiple modes of effective action? Herbicide resistance can derail any weed control plan. To sustain herbicide efficacy, it is recommended that weeds are controlled with multiple modes of effective action, i.e. more than one herbicide active ingredient that controls the target weeds. This helps to delay resistance development and minimizes future weed populations by reducing seed set.
3. What herbicides have you used in the past three years? Reading a herbicide label, there are often notes like: Maximum ONE APPLICATION per year (or every two years) of this or other products containing a certain active ingredient. Some examples of herbicides with this type of warning are pinoxaden, fluroxypyr and topramezone. If you don’t know about these type of warnings, or know what products contain these active ingredients, then how can you follow these recommendations? The sticking point here is that many active ingredients are utilized in several products at different concentrations. Without concise record keeping of herbicide applications, this question is impossible to answer. 4. Is one product really the same as another? Patents will expire on branded products and then generic versions are offered. These products are not identical to their branded equivalents, but are similar in terms of performance, in order to be registered for use. Even within the various generic products offered, the generic products are rarely identical. A product that is deemed the “same as,” will have the same active ingredient but may differ in concentration, have different tank-mix options or could require additional adjuvant or surfactant. 5. What is the potential return on investment of an herbicide? The price of a herbicide may not reflect that true costs of selecting a particular herbicide. Some herbicides come with an efficacy guarantee or a level of service that other products do not offer, providing some peace of mind. One box of product may require addition of surfactant, or spray modifiers that take time, effort and add complexity that is not required by another product. That isn’t the end of the list for selecting a herbicide that is right for your farm. Your application equipment capabilities (water volume, speed, nozzle type) will have a huge impact on the effectiveness of your weed control. There is also the cost of not controlling a weed. This cost includes future weed problems, potential impact on harvestablilty and yield and quality penalties when weed control isn’t effective. Weed control needs to be sustainable over the long-term, which is why I rarely focus on herbicides as a single tool. Integrating the selection of appropriate herbicides with other management tools will provide success in battling weeds. In addition to understanding active ingredients, the interactions (synergies, antagonism, phytotoxicity) of tank mixes, staying current on herbicide resistance populations and the impacts of weed staging and weather on herbicide efficacy, it only makes sense that a chemical plan be established with the crop rotation plan to minimize the number of last-minute decisions that are required for success. An herbicide plan will provide a better return on investment each growing season. 33
SPRAYING 101 | SPRAYING BY DRONE
Photo: Octocopter with spray boom
Spraying by drone The prospect of applying pesticides by drone in Canada has a lot of people talking. Some are excited about the possibilities. Others are concerned about safety. New spray drones are constantly being introduced and improved, even by small companies and startups. The question is really whether this should happen, considering that it already takes place in many other countries and anyone can purchase a spray drone for a reasonable amount of money.
Tom Wolf, PhD, P.Ag. Tom Wolf grew up on a grain farm in southern Manitoba. He obtained his BSA and M.Sc. (Plant Science) at the University of Manitoba and his PhD (Agronomy) at Ohio State University. Tom was a research scientist with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada for 17 years before forming AgriMetrix, an agricultural research company that he now operates in Saskatoon. He specializes in spray drift, pesticide efficacy, and sprayer tank cleanout, and conducts research and training on these topics throughout Canada. Tom sits on the Board of the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association, is an active member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and is a member and past president of the Canadian Weed Science Society.
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Instead, the question is: what do we need to do to ensure it can be done without harm to the general public, to off-target areas, to bystanders, and perhaps most importantly, to the image of agriculture as a responsible industry. There are three broad categories of drones, now called Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). The first category, an RPAS weighing less than 250 grams, is primarily for recreational use and requires no certification by the operator. Another is RPAS weighing more than 25 kg. The most common category being RPAS between 250 grams and 25 kilograms, require either a basic or advanced operator certificate. Either certificate can be obtained by simply passing a test administered by Transport Canada. A training class that covers important topics is helpful and recommended to prepare for this online exam. I took such a class, studied the supplied materials and obtained my basic certification in spring 2019. There is lots to learn, including basic RPAS characteristics and maintenance, flight planning, weather conditions, airspace designations, radio communication and communication with Transport Canada. An RPAS must also be registered with Transport Canada and its registration number placed on the aircraft. Someone wishing to fly in controlled airspace that may require communicating with a control tower or piloted aircraft, or planning to fly near or over bystanders, requires an advanced certificate (passing both an advanced test and a flight review with an authorized pilot). The examination for an Advanced Certificate is difficult, which will be a significant deterrent. That’s just for operating an RPAS legally. Those wanting to carry dangerous payloads such as pesticides, operating beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), require a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) for each such operation, applied for online and requiring lead time for approval.
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SPRAYING 101 | SPRAYING BY DRONE All of the above gets you flying a drone, and the process is administered by Transport Canada. But discharging material from and RPAS is a whole other activity, and if that material is a pesticide, it involves approval from the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). The PMRA has not yet provided this approval. If you were responsible for ensuring safety during the application of pesticide by RPAS, what might you want to know? First, I imagine the PMRA wants to ensure that pesticides will work and persist as expected from an RPAS application. This means efficacy testing, perhaps additional data confirming a uniform deposit pattern. In the past, registrants have been allowed to submit surrogate data for fixed-wing aerial application. Basically, so long as the application volume and spray quality match that of an aircraft, the research application can be made by ground. Time will tell if this principle is transferrable to RPAS, due to the much greater turbulence generated by the RPAS rotors, particularly at low-flying heights, resulting in the redistribution of the spray both laterally and possibly vertically in a taller canopy. RPAS-specific product rates may be the outcome of such testing. Second, you might want to be sure the operator can do the technical task and is qualified. How is the RPAS calibrated? How is the correct application rate ensured? Is the operator competent in using the guidance software? Does the operator have access to the necessary meteorological information? Agricultural operator certification, even of ground sprayers, is a legal requirement in most Canadian provinces and OECD countries, is a requirement for all Canadian provinces for commercial application and is an absolute requirement for commercial aerial application across Canada. It will be hard to imagine RPAS application slipping past these precedents, and means the provinces that administer such certification, may need to be involved.
The PMRA has a mandate to protect sensitive ecosystems from drift damage, conducts assessments of drift risk and mitigates risk via registration decisions that may include label application restrictions or buffer zones. Again, RPAS introduce significant new variability into this assessment. The impact of four, six, eight, or more rotors, the presence of fixed-wings in hybrid systems, of nozzle location (under rotors or on separate boom), of relative position of boom to rotors (in front, under, behind) on spray deposition and drift is largely unknown. Flying height and speed will likely also affect drift, adding complexity. It’s hard to predict which of these, if any, will have meaningful impacts on spray drift and product performance. The only way to find out is to conduct studies, run the relevant models, if available, and make the best possible decisions. Whose responsibility will it be to generate testing standards and provide the required data? Can we assume all RPAS perform similarly, or will we test each one and have “approved” drones for aerial application? Or will the reasonable worst-case be assumed for all, regardless of their characteristics?
Of course, spray drift will be a concern. The PMRA has a mandate to protect sensitive ecosystems from drift damage, conducts assessments of drift risk and mitigates risk via registration decisions that may include label application restrictions or buffer zones.
These are formidable tasks to study before assurances of safety can be secured. Fortunately, the USDA-ARS (Agricultural Research Service) has an aerial application research unit at College Station, Texas, where such tests have been conducted and continue to be carried out. Initial data confirm the importance of spray quality (coarser sprays behave more predictably) and flight height on pattern uniformity. We’ll need more of these data from other institutions to make an informed decision.
For ground sprayers, the PMRA is concerned primarily about spray quality, boom height, and wind speed. The make of the sprayer or its travel speed are not considered. For aerial application, the PMRA considers spray quality, spray height, wind speed, but also specifies aircraft speed, boom width relative to wingspan, as well as air temperature and relative humidity, in its models. These models guide risk assessments for a typical fixed-wing and a typical rotary-wing application, but the assessments are not aircraft-specific because the various aircraft are, in fact, quite similar to each other.
Recently, a working group was formed to share resources and discuss issues related to RPAS spray application. The group has representation by the PMRA and Transport Canada, as well as researchers, registrants, retailers and applicators. Ultimately, the decision of whether to allow RPAS spray application, and under what terms, rests with the PMRA. But even with formal approval, the responsibility to apply products safely remains with the applicators, as it always has, for all methods. Let’s continue to take that responsibility seriously. The reputation of agriculture depends on it.
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SEED | SEEDING TECHNOLOGY
Seeding Technology By Alexis Kienlen Above: The Allams and their employees use a John Deere tractor to pull their Seed Hawk 60 seeder. They changed to Seed Hawk after years of Conserva Pak.
Acquiring new seeding technology can be an advantage on your farm, once you’ve familiarized yourself with it and survived the learning curve. Two Prairie farmers recently upgraded their seeding equipment and found the new equipment gave them real, measurable advantages. Chris Allam farms with his brother, father and mother. The family has farms in the counties of Strathcona and Thorhild in Alberta. They farm about 15,000 acres of wheat, barley, oats, peas and faba beans. Currently, the family runs two 60-foot Seed Hawk drills with 660-bushel tanks that have been modified to 690. Allam says his family first became interested in the Seed Hawk seeders, because their neighbour had been running them. “We were hardcore Conserva Pak ‘cult members,’” says Allam. Conserva Pak was building their own machines and they needed to be purchased from the factory. John Deere eventually purchased Conserva Pak and the Allams kept buying them. They noticed their neighbour’s crops were even and maturing more quickly than theirs. The seeding depth also seemed to be more accurate. “There are some shortcomings with Seed Hawk, but what really matters are your seed placement and the accuracy of that placement,” says Allam. The Allams, farm a wide variety of terrains including sand, a high-organic peat moss, clay loam, gravelly ground and gumbo in some places. The downfall of the Seed Hawk is that it doesn’t penetrate well into hard ground approaches
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and solonetzic soils. The John Deere drills Allam had used in the past would suck down deep, but would also throw up soil. The Seed Hawk doesn’t do that.
“It doesn’t throw as much dirt as other drills. Having a half-inch piece of steel being pulled through the soil is one of its main advantages,” he says.
Beyond that, Allam is pleased with the app that comes with the Seed Hawk seeder. While the wireless works, it is not perfect, and there are a few glitches. Allam sees some room for improvement. They also had some issues with the towers,
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“We run 24/7 and are seeding 15,000 acres with two 60-foot drill packs, so when the humidity comes up at night, the dehumidifiers from Airguard have been paramount in 24-hour seeding and maintaining efficiency,” he says.
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The family has also put on Airguards and dehumidifiers on the seeders. They’ve actually been working with dehumidifiers for years.
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“Everybody seems to be moving towards scales and the Seed Hawk was a little ahead of the pack in terms of having scales on the tank. That’s huge,” he says. He also likes the individual meter motors across the machine and says the half-inch-wide openers are a benefit.
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SEED | SEEDING TECHNOLOGY and had to replace them with John Deere tower heads that had full one-inch ports, in comparison to the smaller Seed Hawk ports. Replacing the ports increased productivity.
Seed Hawk equipment than they did for John Deere, which resulted in an increase in profitability on their farm. Watching their neighbour’s success inspired them to make a leap.
Allam says there was a learning curve involved in switching to Seed Hawk from John Deere.
“Watching key producers make the switch to a different kind of machine gives you a lot of confidence,” he says.
“You do sacrifice a little bit of reliability, but at the end of the day, we’re growing better crops because of it,” he says.
It’s a good idea to talk to other producers and ask them what they think of their seeders, says Allam.
Since switching to the Seed Hawk, he’s found more uniformity in crops. Wheat is easier to desiccate and the canola grows at the same stage.
Chad Kieser farms with his father-in-law and his in-law’s brothers near St. Albert, Alta. They farm about 18,000 acres of wheat, barley, canola, peas, oats and malt barley.
“We made the decision to straight cut all our canola so having it mature evenly is a good thing,” he says.
When he started farming with the group, they used Flexicoil drills, and ended up purchasing a 2018 and a 2019 Case Hoe Drill with sectional control. The drills, which are identical, have seven 10-foot sections.
In organic soils, the Seed Hawk seems to do a better job of placement. “It didn’t drop down to China when it went into the peat moss,” says Allam. “We’re happy with the flotation of the drill. The flotation of the tank is very good.” The good seed placement and the lack of throwing soil were two advantages the Allams noticed immediately. Allam says the switch was a profitable one for the farm. They paid less for their
“It’s a 70-foot foldback tool,” says Kieser. Both drills are set up exactly the same with 12-inch spacing and a four-inch paired row. “We just single shoot everything. We chose the Hoe Drill because we were limited to five miles an hour [8 km/h] when we were using the Conserva Pak. In 2018, we seeded just under
Photo: The Allams and their employees found that the Seed Hawk Seeder gave them way more uniformity in their crops, and they’re happy with their change from John Deere
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SEEDING TECHNOLOGY | SEED
“Watching key producers make the switch to a different kind of machine gives you a lot of confidence.” - Chris Allam 20,000 acres of crop with two drills in a really timely fashion. We did up to 600 acres with one drill a day in the cereals, single shooting and spraying ammonia ahead of it,” he says, adding they were operating at speeds of up to 13 km/h.
The global positioning system worked well, but there were a few software issues with the sectional control. They changed the RTX system on the GPS, and it worked better after that. “You’re not just going in there and flicking the switch on and off. This thing will do it for you. In the headlands, we still run it on manual because they don’t have the software spot on yet,” says Kieser, “There was a learning curve for the ‘start early’ distances for the seed, and the ‘stop late’ distances. You have to play with that a little bit.” Kieser says the Case Hoe Drill is efficient because of the speed at which they can seed. Precision drills are a lot pricier and buying one doesn’t add up to savings on the farm.
The group has been asked if they would like to switch to a precision drill, but they like the speed of the Hoe Drill, and says that the price of the precision drill does not make it worthwhile for them.
As an added bonus, the Case Hoe Drill is light and won’t get stuck in the mud. The new ones have high flotation on the carts and weigh substantially less, so they don’t cause as much compaction.
“In our mind, there’s no need to go to a precision drill and spend a whole bunch of money. The Case Hoe Drill is a decent drill,” he says.
“Once we get running really good, it’s a really good and efficient system we have, so we don’t want to change. People are still really amazed that we do what we do with two drills,” says Kieser.
The drills seeded and levelled well creating satisfaction for Kieser and his co-workers.
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FARMING YOUR MONEY | HARVEST FROM HELL
Harvest From Hell Several of my clients have described the past few months as a harvest from hell. Perhaps we are speaking incorrectly because this description can lead to the assumption that harvest is over. For most of my clients, harvest will only be over in the spring. Provincial crop reports are indicating about 8 million acres are still unharvested throughout the Prairies. So, as challenging as this harvest has been, it is not over. Paul Kuntz Paul Kuntz is the owner of Wheatland Financial and offers financial consulting and debt broker services. He can be reached through wheatlandfinancial.ca
There are a lot of producers out there that have never had crop out over winter and 2019 will be the first time. Other producers have had crop out once or twice, but it has been many years since it happened. There will also be a group of farmers who have experienced spring harvesting many times. Regardless of your experience in unharvested acres, it is important to keep this part of your farming year in perspective. First let’s look at the crop that is left out there. Is it a cereal or an oilseed? Is it swathed or standing? Do you have a little snow or a lot of snow? The answer to these questions will help determine if you can get the crop off before the spring. Reach out to any producers who have experience in this area. Use social media, friends and family to get in touch with anyone who has harvested very late into the fall or winter. Find out what works and what doesn’t work. Maybe you can get a few acres off before spring. You need to determine the financial implications of the crop being out. Calculate the revenue you will have from the grain you did harvest. Prepare a mini cash flow to see what cash is going out and what cash can come in. If there will be cash shortages, talk to your bank about bridging that gap. Talk to your creditors and let them know your situation. Allow them to be part of the solution. If you have purchased crop insurance, inquire if they will write off the crop.
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HARVEST FROM HELL | FARMING YOUR MONEY
For most of my clients, harvest will only be over in the spring. Provincial crop reports are indicating about 8 million acres are still unharvested throughout the Prairies. So, as challenging as this harvest has been, it is not over. This will expedite your claim. If the cash advance program comes out with an unharvested crop advance, take advantage of it. Next you need to focus on a plan for the spring. How will the unharvested crop affect your seeding? What crops are to be seeded on those acres? Can you begin seeding other acres first? Will you have enough grain trucks and augers to seed and harvest at the same time? Can you employ any custom harvesters or neighbours to assist you? Can you seed additional shorter season crops in case your seeding gets delayed?
Going through a list of such questions may help you create a path through this situation. The most important aspect of this is to know you will get through it. You will get those acres harvested. You will get the crop seeded next spring. You are not in unchartered waters. You are not alone. If you feel overwhelmed by the task, you may want to reach out for some professional help. You need to look after yourself first. The Do More Agriculture Foundation has many resources and they are specific for your area listed. Just go to its website, domore.ag/resources, and you will see a host of places that you can reach out. When you are in the midst of a crisis it is easy to lose sight of the big picture. A challenging harvest with crop left out is just one of the many obstacles you will have overcome in the past. There have been more successes on your farm than failures in the past. Going forward there will be many more triumphs than defeats. It is difficult to see the positives when you are overcome with stress. It is important to realize you will overcome this challenge the same way you have overcome other challenges in the past. Put the situation in perspective with all you have accomplished. Your harvest issues will seem small compared to what you have achieved to this point in your farming career. 43
NEWS & INNOVATIONS
Bridgeview Manufacturing Bridgeview launches the Bale King 5300 with three-bale capacity and two-bale manoeuvrability As ranches get larger and help becomes harder to find, farmers are asking more from their equipment. Until now, bale processors were typically designed to carry two bales. In 2012, Bridgeview introduced the Bale King 6000 series which carried six bales per load. It became very popular on ranches with wide open spaces. However, this has left farmers working in tight quarters looking in need of more options. To address the opportunity, Bridgeview introduced the Bale King 5300, a three-bale processor in 2019. This innovative machine is the first of its kind. Bridgeview knows manoeuvrability is critical so it based the design on a standard processor wheelbase while the new hydraulic bale clamps increase carrying capacity by 50 per cent. It can work in the tightest pen or carry that extra bale to distant pastures. With three bales on the processor and one or two on the tractor, you can feed a lot of cows in a single trip. The Bale King 5300 is built to save time, fuel, miles of bouncing over rough trails and hopefully a few less stops to open a gate. As a bonus, the Three-Bale Kit is an affordable option that can be added to a base 5300. For farmers wishing to add grain or pellets to their ration, the
5300 can be fitted with a 40-bushel side-mounted tank to auger grain into a bunk or onto a windrow. The 5300 incorporates a wide array of other refinements including increased aggression adjustment, improved bale containment and improved processing mechanism to handle tough bales. Of course, the patented X-rotor is standard on all Bale King models. For more information, please visit www. bridgeviewmanufacturing.com.
Olds College Olds College Named in Top 50 Research Colleges Olds College is proud to be listed as one of Canada’s Top 50 research colleges. Moving up one spot on the list this year, Olds College is one of four Alberta colleges that made the national list. “We are very pleased to be listed as one of the top research colleges in the country,” says Joy Agnew, director at Olds College’s Centre of Innovation. “Olds College is focused on enhancing innovation in agriculture through applied research. The Olds College Centre for Innovation, together with our Smart Farm, and Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production, are working closely with industry to evolve existing agriculture practices.” The college’s primary research areas of focus include agriculture technology, crops, environment and wetlands, livestock, and turfgrass. The college collaborates with industry, academics and government to support applied research, innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship. 44
Olds College joins SAIT, NAIT and Lethbridge College on the national list. The annual ranking is released by Research Infosource Inc. According to Research Infosource Inc., Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges reported $190.8 million of sponsored research income in fiscal 2018 through research grants, contracts and contributions from third parties. “Fiscal 2018 was a solid year for college research” said Ron Freedman, CEO of Research Infosource. “Colleges excel in forging research partnerships with local groups and we are seeing growing evidence of their success. By using their expertise and facilities colleges are fulfilling their mandate of working with local organizations to promote local research and innovation.
NEWS & INNOVATIONS
New Holland New Holland CX8 series increases capacity and delivers super-sized productivity New Holland Agriculture has announced a variety of improvements that boost the productivity of its CX8 Super Conventional 2020 series. Enhancements include the UltraFlow™ staggered drum, improved Harvest Suite™ Ultra cab and residue management performance as well as Stage V compliance with fuel efficient ECOBlue™ HI-eSCR 2 technology. “The CX8 Series delivers great crop-to-crop flexibility, excellent straw quality and best-in-class total cost of ownership. With the latest improvements, we have further increased its capacity, raising its high performance even further,” says Luiz Miotto, Marketing Manager for Combines in North America. The optional staggered drum features offset rasp bars on the sectional drum which is suitable for all small grains and can be configured for corn. The Ultra-Flow™ staggered drum design achieves a smoother crop flow resulting in lower in-cab noise and reduces blockages. It uses 16 per cent less total threshing power, reducing fuel consumption. This increases the combine’s capacity by as much as 10 per cent and offers a low-speed drum kit for operations where grain quality is paramount. Enabling the operator to reduce the drum speed for an even lower instance of grain damage.
The CX8 features a new patented air-based distribution system for the twin-disc chaff spreader, which spreads the chaff across the full width of the header. The operator can control the speed of the spreader from the cab in response to crop or weather conditions, switch between chopping and swathing at the touch of a button. New Holland is introducing its industry-leading ECOBlue™ HI-eSCR 2 technology on the CX8 series to comply with Stage V emissions standards. This solution achieves reduction in emissions while maintaining excellent fuel efficiency. The maintenance-free HI-eSCR2 after-treatment system developed by FPT Industrial minimizes operating costs and offers advantages of a compact size, lack of EGR and simple layout.
Farm Credit Canada FCC ready to help customers get back on track Farm Credit Canada (FCC) customers facing financial setbacks due to circumstances beyond their control can depend on the country’s leading agriculture lender to help them get back on track. “2019 has not been an easy year for Canadian farmers,” says Michael Hoffort, FCC president and CEO. “Weather, along with multiple other challenges, is having a serious impact on farm operations across the country.” In many parts of the Prairies, snow blanketed the fields, making it almost impossible to pick up crops that were swathed or left standing. This followed weeks of persistent rain with short sunny breaks that caused many crops to sprout, significantly reducing the quality and the producer’s return on investment. “The challenges facing producers across Canada can vary significantly,” Hoffort said. “Many, such as Manitoba potato
growers, are in back to back years of leaving a significant percentage of their crop unharvested. Even producers with strong balance sheets will feel the impact.” FCC will work with customers to come up with solutions for its operations on a case-by-case basis and will consider deferral of principal payments and/or other loan payment schedule amendments. “Our customers work hard throughout the year to produce high-quality food for consumers at home and abroad, so they deserve our support when facing circumstances beyond their control,” says Hoffort. Customers facing financial pressure are encouraged to contact their FCC relationship manager. 45
Hammond Realty Core Values Core values are a small set of vital and timeless guiding principles for a company. They are what support the vision, shape the culture and reflect what the company truly values. They are the essence of a company’s identity. The core values at Hammond Realty are: • Integrity • Expertise • Positive Attitude • Appreciation
• Productivity & Results • Family
Our fiduciary duties to our clients are of paramount importance to us: accountability, confidentiality, disclosure, competence, obedience and loyalty. Integrity is our single most valuable asset. We continually strive to learn and be experts in our field, surrounding ourselves with experts in other fields (lawyers, accountants, agrologists, etc.). Our ambition is to be efficient, effective and productive, providing clients with the results they desire. We approach our profession and business with a positive and constructive attitude. We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to work with our clients and represent them. We believe family is the source of life’s greatest joys, and our families are the most important people in our lives. Core Focus:
Help others achieve their dreams!
Our Niche:
We are Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Real Estate Professionals.
Why We Do What We Do We are driven and inspired to help people achieve their goals. Whether it is retiring from a lifetime career in agriculture or purchasing additional farmland to grow your business, our purpose and passion is helping people succeed. We believe our most lasting and fulfilling achievements are earned by helping others fulfill theirs. Over $150,000,000 in agriculture real estate sales in 2019. Proven results. Acres of Expertise.
Grant Anderson
Murray Arnold
Wade Berlinic
Rosetown, SK
Yorkton, SK
(306) 831-9214
(306) 621-5018
Tim Hammond
Kevin Jarrett
Dave Molberg
Biggar, SK
Saskatoon, SK
Biggar, SK
(306) 948-5052
(306) 441-4152
North East, East Central
(306) 641-4667
(306) 948-4478
Anne Morrow
Alex Morrow
Dallas Pike
South East, South Central
South East, East Central
Regina/Swift Current
(306) 435-6617
(306) 434-8780
(306) 500-1407
Saskatchewan’s Ag Real Estate Professionals For the most up-to-date listings, please visit our website
HammondRealty.ca
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AGRICULTURE | COMMERCIAL | ACREAGE | EQUESTRIAN | HOMES
Everyone has different styles, tastes, and needs, so why should you have to build within set parameters? Call today and allow us to help make your custom visions a reality.