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Calgary lab will put ear tags to the ultimate test — Canadian winter The world of livestock ear tags features secrecy and international politics BY MADELEINE BAERG AF CONTRIBUTOR / CALGARY

lectronic livestock identification tags are key to Canada’s traceability system, but tags used in Canada are notorious for problems, particularly in cold weather. A new high-tech tag-testing lab at SAIT Polytechnic is looking for a solution, thanks to a half-million-dollar grant from the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA). “Right now, the problem is that ear tags tested overseas and being used in Canada are not performing particularly well in our harsh conditions. By creating a lab here in Canada, we can employ tests to ensure tags stand up better,” says Bob Davies, the SAIT researcher heading the project. “Any improvement in traceability is going to improve the safety and quality and marketability of Canadian beef products.” Every ear tag used for Canadian beef cattle must pass standards set by the International Committee of Animal Recording (ICAR) and the International Standards Association (ISO). Currently, there are only two ICAR testing labs in the world: one in the Netherlands and the other in Germany. Davies says the SAIT lab will conduct additional and significantly more rigorous performance tests. His highest priority is to ensure tags can withstand a Canadian winter. The lab will also test to other new standards being developed by a committee headed by the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA).

CCIA’s communications manager Kori Maki-Adair says these new testing regulations will include accelerated aging of tag plastics and resistance to ultraviolet light degradation. Maki-Adair says the new regulations are not intended to push other tag-testing labs out of the market. “Though expanded tag testing is necessary, the committee is working together to balance quality and quantity with cost. (The committee) is sensitive to the fact that setting the bar too high for tag testing could impact manufacturers that currently have approved RFID tags in the national animal identification system.”

Politics

In the year and a half since he first started meeting with companies and certifying bodies overseas about the possibility of opening a Canadian lab, “politics” have made information gathering a challenge, says Davies. “First, the ICAR standards documents themselves are poorly written with regards to test processes, and some of the proposed test apparatuses simply do not work.” That’s just the start. Davies travelled to Europe in late May to attend an ICAR technical meeting and visit other players in the livestock identification industry. “I got no co-operation from the ICAR test labs regarding sharing of information or clarification of the test processes, the

EAR TAGS  page 6

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The CCIA is wary of setting standards too high for manufacturers already supplying Canadian producers. FILE PHOTO

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SPELLCHECK PROD

news » inside this week

inside » Temple Grandin on Zilmax Famed welfare specialist has concerns

SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

livestock

crops

A game of (ear) tag

New corn disease

columNists brenda schoepp Open farm days help to engage consumers

bernie peet Prairie Swine Centre benefits pork producers

Don’t stop scouting Disease inventory helps rotation plans

U.S. horse registry to be ordered to allow clones

UHF is better, but there are retention concerns

Goss’s wilt found in two Alberta fields

Vets can help improve your bottom line

The world’s agriculture youth descends on Calgary The challenge to delegates was to develop ideas that might in some way alleviate world hunger

Photo: thinkstock

All 118 delegates left with a gift of Calgary’s trademark white hat. Photo: Supplied By Will Verboven editor /calgary

Roy Lewis

If you like the look of one horse, then just order another copy. U.S. horse association soon will be required to add cloned horses and their offspring to its prestigious registry, a federal judge in Texas ruled last week. The decision could encourage cloning and open the way for the animals to participate in lucrative horse races. U.S. District Court Judge Mary Lou Robinson said she will sign an order requiring the American Quarter Horse Association to begin allowing cloned animals to be placed on its registry, according to the organization. Two Texas breeders, rancher Jason Abraham and veterinarian Gregg Veneklasen, sued the American Quarter Horse Association last year, asserting the group was operating a monopoly by excluding clones. A jury last month ruled that the horse association violated anti-monopoly laws by banning cloned animals. The judge did not rule on the plaintiffs’ request for an award of nearly $900,000 in attorney fees, according to the horse association. No other horse-breeding registry allows cloned animals, although the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association allows cloned horses to compete in rodeos. Some quarter-horse owners and breeders have complained that cloned animals have an unfair advantage because they are selected according to superior genetic characteristics.

ast month’s “Feeding a Hungry World — Youth Ag Summit” conference in Calgary saw an outstanding display of youthful exuberance, enthusiasm and commitment to agriculture on a global scale. The seminar was held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of 4-H in Canada and the 150th anniversary of Bayer, which sponsored the event. “What better way for both organizations to build a living legacy by finding ways to relieve hunger in the world,” said Derrick Rozdeba, manager, marketing communications for Bayer CropScience Canada. The weeklong summit was four years in the planning and attracted 118 youth delegates between the ages of 18-24, along with mentors and company reps. Delegates had to submit an essay contest in

order to participate in the summit, which included seminars, workshops, tours and presentations by prominent agriculture and food industry speakers. The challenge to delegates was to develop ideas that might in some way alleviate world hunger. However, the young delegates were up to the task and in one daylong session came up with eight concepts that might not solve the problem completely, but would make life a lot better for at-risk groups. One involved direct action in helping hungry women in Third World countries. The health of those women in turn affects the health of their children. “Women are the world’s primary food producers responsible for producing 60 to 80 per cent of all food in developing countries and almost half of the food we consume worldwide,” said Rozdeba. “What the delegates have acknowledged is that by empowering these

women and enabling them to produce more food we can increase the food supply for all men, women and children on the planet.” Other concepts were more indirect, involving advocacy and networking to set up ways and means to take direct action either through existing agencies or motivating governments.

Future networking

Another benefit of the conference was to establish future networks to keep the conversation alive through social media, websites and blogs. As these young people grow into careers in the ag industry, academia and government bureaucracies, social media networking will be a constant way to track the progress of some of the original concepts. A general consensus was that similar summits should be held on a regular basis to keep the momentum alive. “We have created huge

expectations with this conference. There are going to be disappointed people if we don’t act on the initiatives,” said Kamel Beliazi, CEO of Bayer CropScience Canada. He suggested keeping the momentum through some sort of governing board of likeminded groups. “I see a governance body made up of 4-H, industry allies, organizations, sponsors to pursue the ideas and ways to act,” he said. “We want the initiative to continue. I see companies like Cargill and Richardson supporting this type of novel cause, others will join in as the momentum grows,” Beliazi said. Subsequent to the conference delegates elected an executive board made up of delegates and mentors from around the world. To assist in the initial activities of the board, Bayer CropScience Canada and 4-H Canada announced that each organization will donate $20,000 to the new board.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Canada’s crop varietyregistration system under review The public has until Nov. 30 to respond to four options that vary from the status quo to scrapping the process “Still other stakeholders have indicated UFA is awarding $250,000 What would your community do with $50,000? that the current VR system could use It’s the ultimate rural act of kindness. some ‘tweaks’... but, in general, the Visit UFA.com/GetnGive to learn current system is flexible, functions how you can enter your community for a chance to win and pay it forward. appropriately and Canada should UFA.com not ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater.’” 21198_01 GetNGiveBanner_3x3.indd 1 8/8/13 ©2013 UFA Co-operative Ltd. All rights reserved.

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BRIEF

Pig code comment requested, and plenty received STAFF

BY ALLAN DAWSON STAFF

he federal government is reviewing Canada’s crop variety-registration (VR) system as part of its objective to “streamline” the system. Citizens can learn how the current system works and consider four alternatives in an “issues and policy” paper prepared by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Canadian Grain Commission. The paper is available on the AAFC website. Reaction to the proposals can be submitted online before Nov. 30. Options range from allowing the flexibility “inherent” in the current, but recently revised system, to emerge, to scrapping variety registration.The four options are meant to compliment the review the crop variety recommending committees started earlier this year after Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz requested they streamline their operating procedures. The discussion paper says now is a good time for a review because the government sees innovation, competitiveness and increased market access as key to Canadian agriculture. “The role of the federal government is also changing,” the paper says. “Under Growing Forward 2, AAFC-led research, development and transfer activities will be increasingly focused on... (developing) germplasm... while providing programming to enable greater industry leadership to drive research priorities, including variety development and finishing.” The variety-registration system, especially for wheat, is seen by some as key to Canada’s quality assurance. “The system focuses on delivering the end-use qualities demanded by domestic and international grain buyers,” the paper says. “The GQAS (Grain Quality Assurance System) also provides the ability to segregate grain according to class, type and grade, thus enabling end-users to purchase shipments of grain with predictable processing qualities. In addition, it is important to understand that a key strength of the GQAS is not only to facilitate trade, but also help to ensure that regulatory grain safety and cleanliness requirements are met.”

The National Farm Animal Care Council says it received more than 4,700 submissions representing 32,340 individual comments on the draft Code of Practice for the care and handling of pigs when the public comment period closed on Aug. 3. Submissions came from across Canada, the United States and around the world, the council said. The comments will now be considered by the Pig Code Development Committee. The committee recently had a two-day meeting to consider the submissions and another is planned for November. “The Code Development Committee is engaging in rigorous dialogue to ensure the range of views is being given fair consideration,” Jackie Wepruk, NFACC general manager said in a release. “The committee is positive about the progress made. However, more time will be required for deliberations. NFACC is committed to ensuring the necessary resources are in place to make this happen.”

‘Subjective’

But the paper also notes that some see the current system as “subjective” resulting in uncertainty and an impediment to innovation. “Still other stakeholders have indicated that the current VR system could use some ‘tweaks’ to increase its speed and the number of new varieties recommended for registration, but, in general, the current system is flexible, functions appropriately and Canada should not ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater.’” The current registration system applies to most crops, with the following exceptions: corn, foodgrade soybeans, chickpeas, fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants and turfgrasses. The current system was revised in 2009, allowing the industry to determine how much federal government oversight is best for a particular crop. Crops covered under Part 1, which is where western Canadian wheat falls, require up to three years of merit testing and then the recommendation of an expert committee before being registered. Part II crops are tested but their merit is not assessed. Part III crops supply registration information to the CFIA’s Variety Registration Office for review and validation. There’s no recommending committee and no merit testing or pre-registration performance trials.

Four options

The discussion paper lays out four options. Option 1: The status quo, but the paper notes significant changes to the system were made in 2009 and “it could be argued that the current system has not yet been in place long enough to demonstrate all of its inherent flexibility.” Option 2: Streamline the process by requiring all crops meet minimum registration requirements with the option for some crops to have merit assessment through an independent assessment process. Option 3: Streamline the process by maintaining a minimum level of federal government oversight similar to the current Part III and eliminate any merit assessment or performance data. Option 4: Withdraw federal government oversight, allowing the industry or third parties to fill the role. allan@fbcpublishing.com

PHOTOS: THINKSTOCK

2:18 PM

SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

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Farm worker issue seems stalled as government procrastinates

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All sides should take steps to come up with some more answers and perspectives

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Alberta Farmer | Editor

t’s an ongoing issue in the Alberta ag industry, but the declaration of August 20 by the Alberta Federation of Labour as “Alberta Farm Worker Day,” brought it back into the news. I refer to the lack of mandatory Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) standards and programs for those working on most, but not all, farms in Alberta — the last jurisdiction in Canada to not provide those rights to all paid farm, ranch and feedlot employees. It also remains a curious political situation since Premier Redford stated as far back as her party leadership campaign that she would support the mandatory inclusion of all farm workers under OHS and WCB. I guess one should never underestimate the power of the farm lobby in this province. The opposition Liberal and NDP parties take delight in reminding the premier of that promise at every opportunity. Liberal Ag Critic David Swann raised the political embarrassment by referring to the need for these regulations in food production as being part of producing “ethical food,” a clear poke at the government’s perspective that it produces “ethical oil.” However, the government seems unmoved and appears to have dug in its heels. It had appointed an industry-stacked farm safety advisory council, which to no surprise, advised the government that voluntary measures were sufficient and no mandatory programs were needed. None of that makes the issue right, and deaths and injuries continue on Alberta ag operations. It’s a national disgrace. Now a labour situation at the JBS operation in Brooks has brought the issue into a new perspective. That operation has always had two components, a slaughter facility on one side of the highway and a large feedlot on the other. Workers on both sides deal with the same cattle albeit in different ways. However, workers in the plant are covered by OHS and WCB whilst workers at the feedlot are not, since it’s deemed to be a farming operation. Since its arrival JBS has turned out to be an enlightened owner/operator when it comes to good labour relations so I expect it would not be too concerned about OHS and WCB for its feedlot workers. The problem is it would set a precedent for the feedlot industry. One would expect the plant union to want to get involved, since that the

rights of their fellow feedlot workers should be a priority for the union. That situation may yet unfold and JBS may become an industry leader over the issue. That brings into question OHS and WCB coverage of farm workers at government research facilities and universities (the University of Alberta actually operates various types of farms and ranches). How do those operations justify their coverage or lack thereof, for their farm workers? I expect as unionized government workers they are covered, even as farm workers. From personal experience in the past the Alberta government demanded that any workers or contractors who received support from a government research grant had to have WCB coverage. Those projects involved workers in agricultural work settings. Why is there such a difference in government actions — rules and benefits for some but not others?

That brings into question OHS and WCB coverage of farm workers at government research facilities and universities.

Challenge

To try and provide some food for thought for this stalled issue, here is a challenge to the various actors in this ongoing drama. The Alberta Federation of Labour needs to sponsor a study as to which of its member unions, including public-sector unions, have farm worker members who are covered by OHS and WCB (universities, research agencies etc.). If they are not covered perhaps they need to start a campaign to get them covered to set an example. If they are covered, the federation needs to launch a study into how coverage of their farm worker members has resulted in fewer injuries and deaths than the provincial average, or not, as the case may be. The Alberta government needs to address some of the hypocrisy in its present legislation. How come farm workers in greenhouses, mushroom farms, turf farms, and maybe their own research facilities and universities are required to be covered by OHS and WCB but other commercial farm production sectors are not? For instance, a farm worker tending and harvesting vegetables in a greenhouse has

mandatory coverage. But a farm worker tending and harvesting the same vegetables on a commercial outdoor farm is not required to be covered. Are we to assume that mandatory coverage is needed for indoor farm work because it is radically more dangerous than outdoor farm work? I would suggest the opposite is more likely. There also needs to be a study into what role insurance companies play in this issue. Big commercial ag operators and their bankers are quite aware of their liability exposure from farm worker accidents and deaths. They pay insurance premiums but what does that provide them and their workers? Are there significant shortcomings for both sides? Maybe a study would show that compared to other provinces, private liability insurance is cheaper and more effective in keeping down farm injuries and death on an equal basis than mandated government OHS and WCB. What about a mix of public and private coverage — is there a better hybrid alternative to this issue? The issue needs to be better understood from this side. There are also questions for the federal government. How can it approve foreign farm worker applications for Alberta when it knows that those workers will not receive the same OHS and WCB protection and coverage as the same workers in every other province? One might see this as those working under that program as being discriminated against if they are sent to work on Alberta farms. The rules, regulations and the benefits should apply to all those workers, not everywhere except Alberta. I believe there is enough food for thought there for everyone on all sides to take some action to bring some further perspectives and some common sense to the table. There are two realities in this issue. Firstly, indications are that mandatory OHS and WCB coverage in all the other provinces has not devastated their commercial agriculture sector. It’s unlikely to cause major hardship on the commercial ag industry here particularly if it’s introduced incrementally. Also the big operators are familiar with a lot of the aspects being they buy liability insurance to deal with worker lawsuits. Secondly and most important, let’s not forget this issue involves real people and life-altering experiences. Victims, the injured, survivors and families deserve to be fairly treated the same as any other workers in this province. This is 2013 and not 1913 — everyone deserves to be respected including farm workers and their rights to OHS and WCB.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

C’mon in! Australia is for sale Former farmer-owned co-op is now in the business of selling Australian farmland to foreign investors By Roger Crook af contributor

ard to believe isn’t it? Australia really is for sale! This advertisement appeared in Queensland Country Life, an Australian farmer’s magazine, earlier this month. A few months ago I wrote about the high level of rural debt in Australia. Now it looks like the banks and the farmers, or the farmers and the banks, have had enough. Landmark-Harcourts is one of several national Australian rural real estate firms that are setting up shop in Asia with the single objective of selling Australian farmland and real estate to whoever has the money. For many of us, particularly the older generation, there’s more than a touch of irony in Landmark being involved in selling the farm to foreign investors. Landmark is all that is left of what was originally the biggest farmer-owned co-operative in Australia, maybe the world. Formed by West Australian farmers in 1914 as the Westralian Farmer’s Co-operative, it focused its business on the provision of services and merchandise to farmers, many of who were

returning from the Great War. In 1924, 9,094,711 acres were acquired or set apart for soldier settlement in Western Australia. The farmer-owned co-operative dealt in wool and livestock and during the Great Depression set up one of the first wheat pools in Australia in 1935. Landmark, now a distant relative of the original Westralian Farmer’s Co-operative, is selling to anyone with the money, the Australia farms its forebears pioneered from bushland just over 100 years ago. It’s no secret that farming in Australia today, from horticulture, to livestock to crops is going through difficult times. Debts are high, land values are falling and banks are casting a jaundiced eye as debt-to-equity ratios inevitably change.

The national dairy industry is in chaos with a mixture of poor seasons and supermarkets selling milk for less than bottled water and cola. Dairy farmer suicide rates are becoming a matter of real concern. Prior to 2011 northern cattle producers from Queensland to Western Australia exported over half a million cattle every year to Indonesia. All it took was one national television program showing animal cruelty in a backyard Indonesian abattoir, and a naive and inexperienced Australian government for that trade to be stopped overnight. The Indonesian government punished Australia and many cattle producers went bankrupt. Now, nearly three years later, with the price of beef skyrocketing in Indonesia the live trade

The national dairy industry is in chaos with a mixture of poor seasons and supermarkets selling milk for less than bottled water and cola.

is starting again but for many cattlemen and women in Australia, it’s just too late. Even with the value of the Australian dollar steadily falling from the heady days of A$1.10 to the greenback, to where it is now, somewhere in the high 80s to low 90s, with price forecasts all over the place, it doesn’t look like anyone in wheat farming is going to make a fortune this year. Too many debts, and for many in Western Australia, our main exporting state, not enough rain. Put all of that together and mix it with an average age of all

farmers of close to 60 and not enough young farmers to take on the worry and the burden of the debt, something had to give. If you’re getting on in years and you want what time is left to be without the anxiety of farming, any buyer is better than no buyer at all. Who can argue with that? Landmark’s portfolio for China is full. They have over 60 properties listed and they are not all farms, so they reflect the breadth of interest being shown in China in buying property in Australia. Landmark-Harcourts has available everything from commercial properties, to Pacific Ocean residential, lifestyle or hobby farms to large broadacre holdings. From the tropical north to the temperate south, Queensland has something for everyone and it’s all for sale. Does the federal government care? Doesn’t look like it. We are in the middle of the longest general election campaign on record and agriculture doesn’t rate. Gay marriage does, so too does continuing to subsidize General Motors with hundreds of millions of dollars to make cars nobody wants, but not agriculture — it’s been put in the “too hard” basket. Roger Crook writes about farming from Western Australia

An outright ban on neonicotinoids would be reckless and costly Regions that use no neonicotinoids are experiencing major bee losses while others that make widespread use of the treatment have healthy, thriving bee populations By Lorne Hepworth

President, CropLife Canada

ee health has been the subject of much media attention over the last year — and rightly so. Bees are a critical part of the agricultural system and largely responsible for one in every three bites of food we eat. There are few who are more concerned about this issue than the manufacturers of pest control products who depend heavily on bees to pollinate the crops their products are designed to protect. Quite simply put, we as an industry absolutely need bees in order to thrive. But to focus the conversation about bee deaths solely on pesticides means losing an opportunity to address bee health in a fulsome and meaningful way. Here’s what we know: International researchers widely agree that bee health is impacted by a combination of factors, the primary one being the Varroa mite.

In Western Canada, more than 20 million acres of canola, the majority of which is treated with a neonicotinoid, is planted and bee health remains strong. And canola, unlike corn, is a crop that bees feed heavily on.

“A ban on neonicotinoids wouldn’t solve bee health issues but it would threaten the economic viability of our farmers by removing an important tool from growers’ tool boxes.”

If we look at the rest of the world, there are regions that use no neonicotinoids that are experiencing major bee losses, while others that make widespread use of these tools have healthy, thriving bee populations. For example, in Australia where farmers rely heavily on neonicotinoids, bee populations are flourishing. It is also worth noting there are not any Varroa mites in Australia. Groups like the Sierra Club — with no known expertise in bee health or agriculture — have been recklessly calling for a ban on neonicotinoids, saying they are to blame for bee population declines. While isolated incidents of bee mortalities certainly need to be addressed, the reality is that managed honeybee colony numbers in this country have been on the rise for the last 20 years, according to Statistics Canada. A ban on neonicotinoids wouldn’t solve bee health issues but it would threaten the economic viability of our farmers

by removing an important tool from their tool boxes. Without neonicotinoids farmers would be forced to return to older technologies, lose more of their crop to insect damage, and maybe be unable to grow certain crops altogether. One only need look at research from the University of Guelph that shows infestations of wireworms and European chafer grubs in corn crops can cause a three- to 20-bushel-peracre yield loss to see the potential consequences of not having access to neonicotinoids. This means someone who farms 500 acres could see a reduction in their revenues of $65,000 a year. The benefit of insecticidetreated seeds is that the insecticide is applied directly to the seed, which is then planted in the ground. This limits not only the quantity of pesticides used but also the potential exposure of non-target organisms, such as bees, to the insecticide. Neonicotinoid seed treatments have been used in Canada for a decade with very few

incidents. The plant science industry has invested heavily in research and development to limit any potential exposure of bees to dust from treated seeds. We as an industry have also reached out in an effort to work together to find long-term solutions to bee health issues. Through these partnerships we’ve been able to develop and widely distribute a comprehensive set of best management practices for planting insecticide-treated corn. While we’re making significant progress by working with grower groups, governments, as well as the Canadian Honey Council, there are others who refuse to join the larger dialogue around this issue. Everyone in the agricultural value chain has an interest in bee health. We’d be all much better served by working together and taking a holistic, sciencebased approach to addressing bee health challenges that will enable the agricultural system as a whole to thrive.

Off the front

september 2, 2013 • Albertafarmexpress.ca

EAR TAGS } from page 1 attitude being one of protectionism and secrecy,” he says. Davies says he did receive encouragement from ICAR officials not directly involved in testing, from manufacturers such as Allflex Europe and from the Joint Research Centre, a lab in Italy that had past experience conducting ICAR accreditation testing.

Not cute for long — most feral swine give birth starting at six to 12 months and have litters of six to 12 piglets twice a year. photo: thinkstock

“Right now, the problem is that ear tags tested overseas and being used in Canada are not performing particularly well in our harsh conditions.” Bob Davies SAIT

“The really odd thing about this is that manufacturers are really the most vulnerable party in the certification framework and have the highest stake in secrecy, and yet in the present case seem to be the strongest advocate of the Canadian test lab.” Davies says support for the lab is strong on Canada. “The labs in Europe that do this work are private, for-profit organizations. We did a poll of companies in Canada and, unanimously, they all agreed they had no business case to approach this kind of work,” says Davies. “Their conclusion, and ours, was that the only way a lab could meet Canadian performance requirements would be to build it at an academic institution like SAIT with a funding body like ALMA. Everyone is on board.” Once the SAIT lab is up and running, and financially selfsustaining, lab operations will be transparent, unlike the lab’s European counterparts. “Anyone will be able to see what we’re doing. We will compete based on speed of testing, quality of our report generation and price,” Davies says. “Ideally, every test lab should be using the same methods and those methods should be precisely documented in the standards. In a perfect world, there would be no difference in test results from lab to lab.”

Plague of wild pigs has U.S. authorities squealing There could be up to eight million wild pigs in the U.S., up from a maximum two million in 1990 By Kevin Murphy

locust grove, oklahoma / reuters

few years ago, Jim Vich would not have dreamed of setting up an elaborate trap to catch wild hogs. But that was before Oklahoma was invaded by a plague of pigs that devour crops, uproot pastures, destroy wildlife habitats, spread disease to humans and animals, kill trees and even knock over cemetery stones. “I started trapping them more or less in self-defence,” said Vich, 60, a livestock farmer in northeast Oklahoma. “They were tearing up my place.” Oklahoma is battling a wild pig problem that has spread across the United States. The pigs, evolved from introduced wild boars or from escaped domestic stock, are prevalent in 36 states and have been sighted in 47 states, according to authorities who track their populations. They are vicious critters that typically grow to 200 pounds, can run 30 miles per hour, jump three feet high and climb out of traps with walls up to six feet high, experts say. “They are the ultimate survivors,” said John Mayer, manager of the environmental science group at the Savannah River National Laboratory in Aiken, South Carolina. “They can live pretty much anywhere, eat pretty much anything, they don’t have enough predators and they reproduce faster than any other mammal.” They seldom appear in the daytime making them hard to count, but Mayer estimates there are 5.5 million feral pigs nationwide. There could be up to eight million, up from a maximum two million in 1990, he said.

Desperate measures

State and local authorities are increasingly desperate to stop their advance. Trapping and shooting are the primary means of eliminating wild pigs, but researchers are also trying to develop poisons and birth control to control the population. Some states such as Texas have even authorized hunting from helicopters. “They are here to stay and it’s going to take a huge, concerted effort to get the numbers under control,” said Russell Stevens, a wildlife and fisheries consultant for the Oklahomabased Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. The federal government is joining the pig purge. The Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is preparing a national feral swine plan. President Barack Obama has proposed $20 million in his proposed 2014 budget for the plan, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials have said. Most feral swine give birth starting at six to 12 months and have litters of six to 12 piglets twice a year, Mayer said. Families of pigs have repeatedly used their powerful, plow-like snouts to uproot the hayfields on Nancy Bond’s farm in northeast Oklahoma. They eat roots and grubs, destroying fields and making them lumpy and hard to work in, she said. Chad Hibbs, caretaker of the Mayes County Deer Ranch near Locust Grove in Oklahoma, pointed to soybean fields shredded by feasting wild hogs and to deer feeders scraped and battered by pigs. Hunters exacerbated the problem in many states by catching and releasing pigs so they could pursue them, spreading them to more areas. States such as Oklahoma have made releasing pigs illegal and Kansas in 2006 banned hunting of wild pigs altogether.

SAVE UP TO

Vicious animals

Vich, the pig trapper, showed a large trap on a remote part of his farm that resembles a livestock pen but is rigged with wires along the ground. He baits the trap with corn in hopes the pigs will trip the wire and slam the door behind them. A mechanical engineer by training, Vich said he has trapped hogs for five or six years and sometimes nabs nine to 12 pigs at a time, which he loads into a livestock trailer and takes home to sell to neighbours for meat. “They are not happy when they get trapped and they are very vicious,” Vich said. “They would hurt you in a heartbeat if they got the chance.” Pigs are wandering into urban areas, damaging lawns and parks and being hit by cars, said Billy Higginbotham, professor and wildlife and fisheries specialist for the Texas A&M University Extension Service. Pigs were introduced into the continental United States in 1539 in what is now Florida and used as a travelling food source by explorers, said Higginbotham. Most wild pigs evolved from domestic pigs that escaped into the wild prior to the 1930s, said the Noble Foundation’s Stevens. Texas is the most pig-plagued state, with an estimated 2.9 million in 2011, Higginbotham said. They are present in all but one of the state’s 254 counties. Florida is second and California third, according to Stevens. Dale Nolte, the man at the U.S. Department of Agriculture charged with drawing up a plan to stop the pig pestilence, is blunt about the objective. “In states with emerging populations of feral swine, our goal is to eliminate them,” Nolte said.

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Temple Grandin’s views on Zilmax and beta-agonists REUTERS

Merck & Co. recruited Temple Grandin, an advocate for the humane treatment of livestock, to be on a board that will consult on the company’s Zilmax feed additive, which has been temporarily taken off the U.S. and Canadian markets following animal welfare concerns. Grandin, who frequently works for the meat industry, said she agreed to serve on the panel. Merck declined to divulge the identities of group invitees before board membership was set. Reuters has spoken to Grandin several times since Tyson Foods Inc. on Aug. 7 said it would stop accepting beef fed Zilmax. Below is an edited transcript of Grandin’s answers to Reuters’ questions.

Q: Tyson said its decision to stop buying Zilmax-fed cattle was based on animal welfare concerns. Have you noticed any issues at the slaughterhouses where you have worked? A: When beta-agonists first came on the market in the early 2000s I worked at packing plants all the time. I started seeing problems showing up at packing plants

that I’ve never seen before: stiff, sore-footed lameness and a lot of heat-stress symptoms, including in Brahman cattle that are usually heat resistant. I want to emphasize not every group of cattle fed beta-agonists have this problem. Some groups of cattle have the problem and some don’t. I call it the “odd unevenness.”

Q: Have these issues been constant across the years? A: I have seen it at five different plants with six different groups of cattle around the country. I saw it when ractopamine (Optaflexx) came out, then again when Zilmax came on the market. This summer, in particular, we’ve seen lots of these troubles. The hot weather really makes this worse. (Grandin said she did not know what additives had been given to the distressed cows she saw this summer.)

Q: Are these animals showing similar distress in the feedlots? A: The cattle can look fine at the feedlot. Then you put them on a truck, take them to the plant, then put them in a pen for two hours, and then they don’t want to leave

the pen. This is a problem that tends to show up more at the plant after you’ve stressed the cattle a bit.

Q: How common are these issues? A: When there is a problem, half the cattle are perfectly OK. Then you have five to 10 per cent that are severely affected, reluctant to move, with sore feet and stiffness. Then you’ll have another 30 to 40 per cent that are sore footed and stiff, but it’s milder. I call it walking on hot metal. They act like the floor is hot.

Q: What are the signs of heat stress that you have encountered? A: Open-mouth breathing, tongues out. These cattle are suffering. It’s cruel to have animals that are stiff and sore and hot and panting with their mouths open. Cattle don’t normally do that. Beef cattle do not need to be pushed to move. Cattle should run off the trucks.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Q: Are these problems caused by the animals being too heavy?

plenty of big cattle — this is not the cause of this type of lameness. It’s not the weight. It’s a different type of lameness that I have not seen before the introduction of these products.

A: It’s not that the animals are too big for their legs. I’ve handled

Q: Would you like beta-agonist use to stop?

A: I’m not going to go so far as to say that. If I’m at a plant, I do not want to see this sore-footed lameness. I have worked 40 years improving how animals are handled at slaughter plants and now the cattle are hard to handle. You’ve got to get me cattle I can handle.

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NEWS » Markets

SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Sinograin to probe rapeseed crushers

Survey sees less corn in 2014

China Grain Reserves Corporation (Sinograin) said it is investigating whether local crushers profited by crushing imported rapeseed instead of local supplies. Some have sold edible oils processed from imported rapeseed to Sinograin as overseas supplies were cheaper, a local publication said. Margins to process imported seeds were more than 300 yuan ($49) per tonne while they were below 100 yuan per tonne to crush domestic seeds with subsidies. Without the subsidies, crushers would lose money processing domestic seeds, officials at crushing organizations said. — Reuters

U.S. farmers intend to plant less corn and more soybeans and wheat in 2014, according to a survey by Farm Futures magazine. The survey of more than 1,350 farmers showed U.S. acreage planted to corn could drop to 94.11 million acres in 2014, down 3.4 per cent from this year. Soybean acreage could rise to a record-high 78.75 million acres, up two per cent from this year’s estimate. All wheat acreage could rise 2.2 per cent, to 57.76 million acres. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said farmers planted 97.4 million acres of corn in 2013, the most in 77 years. U.S. corn acreage has risen 24 per cent since 2006. — Reuters

Recent rally, big yields may lead to canola jackpot }

Futures may come under pressure as harvest gets in gear

PHOTo: thinkstock By Terryn Shiells

anola futures on ICE Futures Canada finished the week ended Aug. 23 sharply higher, riding on the tailcoats of a weather rally seen in the U.S. The sharp downswing in the value of the Canadian dollar was also supportive for canola. The Canadian dollar lost about 1.5 cents against its U.S. counterpart amid speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve will back out of stimulus programs as early as September, and amid weak Canadian economic data. Canola futures attempted to break the key resistance level of $520 per tonne, but were unable to close above it on Friday (Aug. 23). Despite that, the futures still gained more than $15 per tonne during the week, amid a rally that has been called a “billion-dollar bonus” for Canadian farmers. Since there are very few problems plaguing the Canadian canola crop, prices wouldn’t have rallied as they have recently without the spillover push from the U.S. weather rally. Statistics Canada released its latest production estimates on Aug. 21, based

on a survey of about 15,000 farmers in late July and early August. The agency pegged the Canadian canola crop at 14.73 million tonnes for 2013-14, up from 13.31 million in 2012-13. Some, however, think production will be even larger than that, as growing conditions have improved greatly since the survey was completed and some regions are predicting record-high yields. Some final production estimates are as high as 16 million to 16.5 million tonnes. If that proves true, with canola prices rallying alongside U.S. soybeans, Canadian farmers will hit the jackpot, profitwise, this growing season.

Weather effects

Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) rallied and tested the key resistance of US$13.30 per bushel (November) during the week as well, with worries about hot, dry weather reducing yield potential sparking much of the buying. There was a brief period of rainfall seen across some U.S. soybean-growing regions on Aug. 22, but it wasn’t enough to outweigh the effects of recent dry weather and forecasts calling for more unfavourable conditions through to the end of August.

The ProFarmer Midwest crop tour was taking place during the week, and some regions were reported as seeing below three-year-average pod levels, which caused more concerns about the state of the U.S. soybean crop. Corn futures in Chicago were also rallying with dry weather concerns, but lagged soybeans to the upside because yields still look fairly strong in many regions, according to the ProFarmer tour. Chicago wheat finished slightly higher, as it acted as a follower to the CBOT corn futures since both commodities are linked. But continued ideas that prices are too high compared to other countries, and a resulting slowdown in export demand, limited the upside. Minneapolis spring wheat futures moved lower during the week, as the Statistics Canada report was bearish and sparked selling in the market. StatsCan estimated Canadian wheat production would total 30.56 million tonnes in 2013-14, up from 27.21 million tonnes in 2012-13 and the highest in more than 20 years. Ideal growing conditions for wheat since the report was released could see that production figure soar even higher.

Kansas City wheat futures, now traded out of Chicago, were slightly weaker, as the large production estimate for Canadian wheat was also bearish. But the losses were limited by spillover support from the advances seen in CBOT corn futures. U.S. weather will be the main factor to watch for North American grain and oilseed futures markets, and any sign of improved moisture will be seen as a selling opportunity. Charts will also be looked at, and some selling may also be triggered as markets climb closer and closer to key resistance levels of C$520 per tonne for November canola, US$13.30 per bushel for November soybeans and US$4.90 per bushel for December corn. It’s possible that come September, North American grain and oilseed futures start to look overbought from a chart perspective, and react by moving lower. Futures will also start to experience some downward pressure when harvest activities get underway in Canada and the U.S. Terryn Shiells writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Supporting business vitality in rural Alberta communities Process that helps communities assess their capacity to support entrepreneurs Agri-News

ince 2008, the Rural Development Division (RDD) at Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development has invested over $475,000 to enhance community economic development in rural communities through the Business Vitality Initiative or BVI. Participating communities included Acme, Castor, Coronation, High Level, Hinton, Olds, Peace River, Rocky Mountain House, Smoky Lake, Smoky River MD (as several communities), Strathmore and Vulcan. The BVI is an assessment tool and action process that helps communities assess their capacity to work with and support entrepreneurs, and to fos-

ter small business growth. It was created by the Centre for Innovative & Entrepreneurial Leadership or CIEL in British Columbia, and brought to Alberta through an RDD pilot project. The success of the pilot led to further investment through the division’s former Rural Community Adaptation Grant Program, to support the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) in making the BVI accessible to more rural communities in Alberta. Based on both the success of the BVI and the key learnings from a comprehensive review of the initiative, the division supported the development of a stand-alone economic development tool called Business Vitality Alberta (BVA). Any rural community can utilize the BVA for free without the need

Black Sea farms move out of sugar into grains

or expense for outside consultants or facilitators, as a full range of user-friendly resources have been created including a training manual and video, sample survey, and results spreadsheet. BVA is available on the AUMA’s website. Further information and key findings are available in a study which determined the key find-

ings and success factors for communities based upon a comprehensive review of the BVIs that have already taken place in rural Alberta. It also examined emerging factors such as buy local/ invest local, aging friendly communities, the use of social media as a business tool, and regional versus community-specific ini-

The BVI is an assessment tool and action process that helps communities assess their capacity to work with and support entrepreneurs, and to foster small business growth

tiatives. A summary article and the full report are available on the RDD web page. This investment in the BVI has resulted in the implementation of a broad range of local community projects. These have included initiatives to support regional tourism and visitor attraction, downtown beautification and revitalization, promotion of local business opportunities, mentorship programs and youth initiatives, and buy-local programs. One specific example that was recently announced is one of Olds’ buy-local initiatives Everything Olds. For further information on the Business Vitality Initiative contact Colin Gosselin, senior project co-ordinator with the Rural Development Division, at 780-968-3518.

Meet Ken Dutton Started farming: 1974 Crop rotation: Chemfallow, durum, spring wheat, barley First vehicle: ‘64 Chevy Half-Ton Loves: Family, Saskatchewan Roughriders Hates: Kochia, Edmonton Eskimos Will never sell: His 4020 John Deere tractor, a gift from dad Most memorable farming moment: “Last year, we filled all the bins.” PrecisionPac® blends: DB-858, DB-8454

Increased sugar imports will come from Brazil reuters

ussia’s plan to be self-sufficient in sugar is taking a step backwards as struggling farmers shift towards planting more profitable grains such as wheat, meaning increased sugar imports are likely, much of it from Brazil. Last year’s drought in Russia led many farmers to switch away from sugar, hampering progress towards Moscow’s stated aim of producing 80 per cent of domestic consumption. A decade ago, Russia was the world’s biggest raw sugar importer, but has steadily reduced its requirement. “Two years ago, the Russians were on track to self-sufficiency. Now they have retreated,” Sergey Gudoshnikov, a senior economist at the International Sugar Organization, said. He said the area planted to sugar beet in Russia was expected to fall some 15-20 per cent year on year in 2013-14 as many farmers turned to grains, notably wheat. As a result, Russia’s 2013 wheat crop is estimated to rise by a third this year.

JUST LIKE KEN, EVERY GROWER IS UNIQUE. THAT’S WHY WE HAVE PRECISIONPAC . ®

As a matter of fact, so is each and every farm in Western Canada, in terms of its field sizes, crop rotation and weed spectrum. It’s good to know there’s a weed control solution that’s as individual as you and your farm. DuPont™ PrecisionPac® herbicides are 12 customized blends of powerful DuPont crop protection, geared to your weed targets and calibrated down to the precise acre. You mix, you go, no mistakes, no waste. How’re we doing so far, Ken?

For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit precisionpac.dupont.ca or call 1-800-667-3925 to find a certified PrecisionPac® herbicide retailer near you.

As with all crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully.

photo: thinkstock

The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™ and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. All other products are trademarks of their respective companies. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2013 E. I. du Pont Canada Company. All rights reserved.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Farm visits open doors to people and positive attitudes Open farm days are already a hit in places such as the U.K. and Quebec, and they’re gaining fans across the country By brenda schoepp

s I prepare to leave for more global research in agriculture, I am recalling the innovations I saw on farms to engage the public in the production of food. We tend to be a little private here in Canada about our farms and our work, but in many parts of the world that is not the case. Nor is it an option. As agricultural policy is now often rolled into food policy, it becomes the consumer’s right to ask the hard questions and to visit the farms where their food is grown. To avoid getting into a legislated space, let’s talk about the ways to encourage public support of agriculture. As a host for international visitors (we had 70 in 2012), I am often shocked at how much they know about the area in which I live. One Dutch guest had a map of all the unique farms in my community that she wished to visit for her research. I did not know these dynamic businesses were there and joyfully took the driver’s seat on the road to discovery. Perhaps one of the best summer exercises we can do is be a tourist in our own community. More importantly, ask yourself how your visitor sees you.

PHOTo: thinkstock Surfing community and local food websites or visiting tourist bureaus can be an eye-opener. There are many specially designated farms near our town that sell both product and experience. Show and tell is often a big hit in school. It seems the one time when every family secret is revealed or some huge mystery uncovered. Show and tell has never become outdated (a five-year-old I knew took a PowerPoint presentation to her kindergarten class!).

This year, Alberta hosted its first-ever open farm day.

Even as adults, we learn best by seeing and interaction with a host. In the Netherlands, I saw many farms with boardrooms for industry meetings, roadside stands and interior glass-walled barns so we could see the animals. In the U.K., the big focus was on education, and field days and school visits to farms is the norm. Farms were fitted with special transport trailers and facilities for the comfort of the guests. On Open Farm Sunday, hundreds of U.K. farms throw the doors open to the public. The interactive website www. farmsunday.org allows you to have a sneak peak at the farm before choosing. Check it out and see just how exciting a farm day can be. More importantly — look at what can be done with a few or a lot of acres, with a valueadded or commodity farm and with a small family or a big crew. The possibilities seem endless.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

For nine years, Quebec farmers have opened their doors to the public for an Open Farm Day (journée Portes ouvertes sur les fermes) in September. Tens of thousands pack the narrow roads for the excitement of visiting the farm. These are fun-filled days of great food and adventure, and we have enjoyed many of these farms. It opens your eyes to production practices in other provinces and you get to taste some great homegrown foods. The open door day nicely compliments the artisan status that farms may hold in Quebec which allows for farm gate sales. In Australia, city families are matched with farm families for a day of fun, friendship and understanding. The site www. farmday.com.au explains that process and the adventure is heavily supported by industry. Think of the knowledge trans-

fer that can happen in just a day. We often have an extended Lebanese family visit us from the city. It is the most important day of the year for them. They love it all and go home with a car loaded with veggies, meat, and flowers. Together we learn about each other’s culture and food. This year, Alberta hosted its first-ever open farm day www. albertafarmdays.com. This twoday affair featured great eats on Aug. 24, with farm visits on Aug. 25 across the province. It was the ultimate show and tell. Manitoba will open the doors of their farms Sept. 15. You don’t have to be a city kid to enjoy these days — you could just go along for the adventure. Better yet, sign up to open your farm next year — the mutual gain is well worth the little extra time. If nothing more, look at the websites and videos of all the farms that hosted and discover who is telling the story in your very own backyard. Brenda Schoepp is a Nuffield Scholar who travels extensively exploring agriculture and meeting the people who feed, clothe and educate our world. A motivating speaker and mentor she works with young entrepreneurs across Canada and is the founder of Women in Search of Excellence. She can be contacted at www. brendaschoepp.com.

Laird lentil developer honoured

Attention: Grain producers

Reminder of upcoming variety reclassification Effective August 1, 2014, CDC Falcon will be moved from the Canada Western Red Winter class to the Canada Western General Purpose class. Working together, we all play a part in maintaining Canada’s grain quality. For more information, contact the Canadian Grain Commission: 1-800-853-6705 or 204-983-2770 TTY : 1-866-317-4289 www.grainscanada.gc.ca Follow us @Grain_Canada Stay informed. Check the variety designation lists on the Canadian Grain Commission’s web site.

Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) and Food Day Canada marked the 10th anniversary of Food Day Canada Aug. 1 by presenting Alfred Slinkard with the Pulse Legacy Award for his contribution to the pulse industry. He developed the Laird lentil 35 years ago, and since then, the large green lentil market class continues to be adapted and improved while continuing to maintain large consumer demand around the world. Slinkard (l) received the award from SPG executive director Carl Potts. Photo: Stobbe Photo

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

New video on vaccination

New Young Cattlemen’s Council

A new item on vaccination tips for cattle has been posted at BeefResearch.ca. Dr. Nathan Erickson of Veterinary Agri-Health Services explains how to determine the risk level of your herd, which vaccines to deliver to each risk group, and describes a new vaccine on the market. He also offers tips on what to do if you suspect a broken needle, as well as how to prevent injection site lesions that must be trimmed off the carcass and discarded.

The first official meeting of the Young Cattlemen’s Council (YCC) was held during the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) semi-annual meeting in London, Ontario in August. The members are Erika Strande, British Columbia; Jake Meyer, Alberta; Ben Fox, Manitoba; Daniel Muir, Atlantic; Warren Schneckenburger, Ontario; Tyson Lowe, Alberta, at-large director; Brodie Haugan, Alberta, at-large; Eric Buyer, Saskatchewan, at-large and Jeff Yorga, Saskatchewan, at-large.

A game of tag — which RFID system is better? Higher-frequency technology is better, but concerns raised over cost and tag retention By Madeleine Baerg af contributor /calgary

he race is on to create an approved and industryimplementable version of ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) livestock ear tags. Though there could be big money in it for the winner, design challenges and political roadblocks stand in the way. Compared to older technology, UHF is 2,000 times faster and easier to read, can hold more data, is more compatible with data-management systems and is likely to be cheaper. AniTrace is first out of the gate with a technology based on UHF developed for vehicle fleet tracking. At a demonstration in High River in February, its tag proved readable 100 per cent of the time by a fixed reader regardless of animal bunching, speed of movement or tag orientation, and 100 per cent readable by a hand-held so long as tags were oriented correctly and not blocked by other animals. The tag also offers two forms of read/writable memory, and the ability to link with existing management software. At just $2.50 per UHF and dangle combo tag and $1,000 per reader, the tag system is significantly cheaper than a low-frequency version. AniTrace says it has tagged four million cattle in Brazil and a million cattle in South Korea. At Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), a research team has spent more than two years working through multiple UHF prototypes. Unlike the privately funded AniTrace, SAIT’s work is being funded through a $1-million grant from the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA). Ben Reed, the SAIT project’s support specialist, says AniTrace has been quick to market, but may face some challenges. “AniTrace’s physical design

is fairly rudimentary compared to SAIT’s. We took a different path, using a UHF inlay inside injection-moulded plastic, mostly because of our initial mandate of needing extremely high retention rates. We couldn’t see that happening with a simpler design,” Reed said. “There’s not any competition between us and SAIT,” says Chuck Cosgrove, AniTrace’s director of sales and marketing. “What we have in

“Canada is the only country that we know of that is fighting the UHF standard.” Chuck Cosgrove

physical design. We’re determining there are many ways to embed UHF inlays into tags,” he says. Cosgrove says AniTrace has addressed the concern and that low-frequency tags are no less susceptible to losses. “Our excellent retention rates in challenging actual operating conditions have proven our claims.” Second, Laronde says UHF technology will cost producers more, especially if it is not backwards compatible and makes existing equipment such as readers, tags and scanners redundant. “Producers, industry and governments have significant investments in current technology; therefore, the impact analysis is critical to understand before accepting or rejecting any new technology,” Laronde says.

AniTrace

Current LF problems many respects, they are duplicating. That’s not a criticism — their work is very different than what we’re doing in that they have been given x number of months and x dollars to spend to come up with a prototype.”

CCIA approval

Regardless of who creates the best design, the biggest challenge is still ahead — approval of the tags for use by the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA). Paul Laronde, a member of the CCIA’s Technical Advisory Committee, says the agency is dedicated to advancing traceability through new technology. That said, he says UHF technology is unlikely to be approved any time soon. First is the issue of retention. He says UHF needs larger antenna wires, so that the tags must be larger. “This increased size and rigidity impacts ear tag retention negatively,” Laronde says. S AIT ’ s R e e d d i s a g r e e s . “Retention has to do with

AniTrace readers can already successfully scan both LF and UHF tags. Further, both Reed and Cosgrove believe a cost/ benefit analysis will favour UHF technology. “We constantly hear people in the beef industry complaining about the limitations and problems with low-frequency tags,” says Cosgrove. “We attend meetings where we just wish we could say ‘please, look at this solution. It addresses all your concerns from tags to readers to sharing the data and does it right now.’” Finally, Laronde points out that our heavily exportdependent industry needs to keep from stepping out alone on UHF. “As most industry participants would agree, it is important for Canadian Cattle Identification Agency to keep pace with our international trading partners. The current ISO 11784/85-low frequency RFID standard is in place in a number of other jurisdictions globally. As an industry-led organization, CCIA would most likely

“We constantly hear people in the beef industry complaining about the limitations and problems with low-frequency tags. Chuck Cosgrove AniTrace

be directed by industry to stay in step with our trading partners.” Cosgrove counters that improved technology will give Canada an edge in proving traceability. “Canada is the only country that we know of that is fighting the UHF standard. It amazes us to see how many smaller countries, places that many Canadians may think of as

Third World, are way ahead of us. It’s also interesting to note that many large beef producers like Brazil and the U.S. (which tested retention extensively) have already approved our tag for users in their countries as official tags. “We are more likely to be isolated from the world by our determined stance against this technology than embraced as a leader,” says Cosgrove.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Working with your vet will improve your bottom line BEEF 911  With higher cattle prices, some consultation can be a good investment BY ROY LEWIS, DVM

he cattle market has rebounded significantly in recent months to the point where a large, mature bull could bring upwards of $2,000. This will no doubt increase the calls veterinarians will get to look at sick calves, as well as dealing with production losses from decreased weight gains or lack of cows getting pregnant, which also can generate huge returns if corrected. Of course, veterinarians have always provided these services, but poor returns to producers in recent years has resulted in our services being underutilized. This article will review better ways to utilize your veterinarian and hopefully maximize your returns.

First, it’s imperative that animals be examined before treatment. If an ailment cannot be treated or the prognosis is poor, the best solution may be to ship the animal. If antibiotics or other drugs requiring a withdrawal period have been used, then you must wait before shipping. You need a good working relationship with your local butcher or abattoir. In cases of a broken leg or downer animal from injury, emergency slaughter can often allow salvage of a fair amount of the value in meat. Again, it is good to get these checked out first, as a downer from an injury versus a downer animal from a dead fetus inside or a bad mastitis will have two totally different outcomes. There has been a lot of skimping on management procedures

since BSE even though a decade has passed. Some producers stopped pregnancy checking, others elected not to semen evaluate their bulls, and still others stopped vaccinating completely or reduced it significantly. It’s time to re-examine these management strategies. By pregnancy checking, open cows are sent out earlier, and you save feed and the labour of observing cows for calving when they are not pregnant. All the open cows can be marketed at the same time or grouped with neighbours’ open cows for load lot marketing. Semen checking bulls eliminates the poor fertility ones so they, too, can be shipped. You may even be able to increase the cow-to-bull ratio if you know all of your bulls are fertile.

You should also go with the vaccination program your veterinarian suggests. They best know your geographical region and the type of operation you run. Their goal is to employ the best combinations of vaccines to help increase your farm’s biosecurity, and they won’t recommend vaccines that don’t have an economic impact on your farm. By palpating your heifer replacements before breeding freemartins, small-pelvised, reproductively immature and bred heifers can be identified and culled. At the same time, give the shots for IBR and BVD, which ward off against the infectious reproductive diseases. This could improve your conception rate. When the economic returns dwindled, so did our enthusi-

asm for doing procedures that improve margins but also take a bit of work. Implanting strategies and treating parasites are definitely worth doing to boost the bottom line. Remember to set up implant strategies that best utilize your type of feed and the length of time you own the calves. Whether you sell on the rail or by the pound may also influence the type of implant you use. There are many different implants out there with varying lengths of duration and strength. Work with your vet to devise the best implant strategy. Veterinarians also learn a lot from a timely post-mortem. This is especially true if we identify a preventable disease or one (such as coccidiosis) where preventive treatment strategies can be devised. If an unexplained death occurs, take it in for an autopsy. By looking at the internal organs, response to treatment can be evaluated. As well, the cause of death can be positively identified in the majority of cases. Many other procedures — such as foot care, udder care, monitoring for early signs of cancer eye, examining lumps and bumps, or treating wooden tongue or lumpy jaw — will not only increase the longevity of the cattle but, in many cases, enhance their value when marketed. Many more invasive procedures — such as cancerous eye removal and claw amputations for septic arthritis — can restore value and eliminate a potential animal welfare scenario. Many times these cows can stay in the herd for several more years. Health is always changing and veterinarians are abreast of the new, emerging diseases as well as topics such as animal welfare, beef quality assurance, antimicrobial or parasite resistance, genetics, traceability and performance-enhancing technologies that affect gain. Think of all these things the next time you are hesitant to call your veterinarian. They have always been on your side and should help you enhance survivability of cattle under your care, improve the reproductive rate in the herd and weight gain in your calves, and take other steps to improve your profitability. Roy Lewis is a Westlock, Albertabased veterinarian specializing in large-animal practice. He is also a part-time technical services vet for Merck Animal Health.

FARMERS’ MARKET(ING) We’re Mosaic: Marketing and Communications Enthusiasts. And as hyped as we are on what we do, we’re also big fans of eating well, protecting the environment, living in a clean community and supporting the people who put the food on our plates. Most of our team grew up outside the city, so we get that agriculture is a tough, competitive business. Being a contributing member of Ag for Life reminds us of where we came from. We’re proud of that.

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Zilmax sales hiatus could have far-reaching effects on feedlot efficiency Pinpointing the exact cause of lameness in feedlot cattle could be a challenge, says beef science expert By Daniel Winters staff

osing the feed additive Zilmax isn’t a big deal in the short term, but losing a product known as “Vitamin Z” would have a huge impact, and reach far beyond the feedlot sector, says the science director for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s Beef Cattle Research Council. “Not having access to these tools doesn’t just impact the cattle feeders, it impacts society,” said Reynold Bergen. Drug maker Merck has temporarily taken Zilmax, a type of compound called beta-agonist, off the market after Tyson Foods said it would no longer buy cattle given the growth promoter. Tyson said it was concerned it was the cause of mobility issues seen in cattle arriving at its plants. Merck is suspending Zilmax sales until it investigates the situation, but Bergen said that lameness in finished cattle could have a host of causes — such as laminitis, foot rot, or transport injuries. “It could be related to a lot of other things besides Zilmax,” said Bergen, adding that it will be “a challenge” for Merck’s investigators to pinpoint the cause. The larger question, he said, is whether society wants the cattle industry to give up the hormones, implants, and feed additives such as beta-agonists that — along with improved genetics — have greatly improved productivity. Without them, it’s estimated the Canadian herd would have to grow by 10 per cent to produce the same amount of beef. That would mean using 10 per cent more land and feed, plus other inputs, said Bergen. “We’d also need seven per cent more fuel, seven per cent more fertilizer, and the cattle would produce 10 per cent more manure and greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

But the general manager of the Manitoba Beef Producers said he’s not expecting a consumer backlash against beta-agonists. “They are safe to use. I have confidence in our regulatory approval process,” said Cam Dahl. The Tyson ban, which he described as a marketing decision, is unlikely to depress prices, he said. “With the lowest cow herd in North America since the 1950s, there’s no threat of excessive supply at the moment,” said Dahl. Bergen added the average consumer tends to focus on price — not production protocols — when purchasing beef. “If we went backwards because people didn’t trust the registration, surveillance and food safety process and raised beef the way our grandfathers used to do it, we’d need to make a choice,” said Bergen. “We have more people, but not

Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. This product has been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for corn is a combination of four separate individually-registered products, which together contain the active ingredients metalaxyl, trifloxystrobin, ipconazole, and clothianidin. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for canola is a combination of two separate individually-registered products, which together contain the active ingredients difenoconazole, metalaxyl (M and S isomers), fludioxonil, thiamethoxam, and bacillus subtilis. Acceleron and Design®, Acceleron®, DEKALB and Design®, DEKALB®, Genuity and Design®, Genuity Icons, Genuity®, RIB Complete and Design®, RIB Complete®, Roundup Ready 2 Technology and Design®, Roundup Ready 2 Yield®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup Transorb®, Roundup WeatherMAX®, Roundup®, SmartStax and Design®, SmartStax®, Transorb®, VT Double PRO®, YieldGard VT Rootworm/RR2®, YieldGard Corn Borer and Design and YieldGard VT Triple® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. Used under license. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design are trademarks of Bayer. Used under license. Herculex® is a registered trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Used under license. Respect the Refuge and Design is a registered trademark of the Canadian Seed Trade Association. Used under license. ©2013 Monsanto Canada Inc.

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more resources. That’s where feed efficiencies come in.” While a drop in beef productivity would limit supplies, it wouldn’t necessarily mean higher prices for cow-calf producers because it would also hurt the profitability of feedlots and their ability to buy cattle, both men said. “If feedlots are operating on an economically sound footing, they tend to spend their money on calves,” said Bergen. Canada’s top two packing companies, Cargill and JBS plan to continue buying Zilmax-fed beef. Industry sources have said that many feedlots will likely switch over to Optaflexx, a ractopaminebased alternative to Zilmax’s zilpaterol, that is considered to be a milder beta-agonist with a lower impact on weight gain. daniel.winters@fbcpublishing.com

Reynold Bergen of the Livestock Research Council says that without growth promoters, the Canadian herd would have to grow by 10 per cent to produce the same amount of beef.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Work at Prairie Swine Centre benefits pork producers across the country Research into optimizing barn design and reducing barn emissions among the highlights of the centre’s 2012 research report By bernie peet

he Prairie Swine Centre, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, is a resource that benefits pork producers across Canada by carrying out near-market research and providing technical information. In addition to its research, it maintains a comprehensive database of technical references on its web-based Pork Insight, in addition to being the lead communicator for Swine Innovation Porc, a $9.6-million multi-centre initiative aimed at enhancing the competitiveness and differentiation of Canada’s pork industry. The centre’s 2012 research report provides the results of its work in the areas of engineering,

nutrition and ethology (animal behaviour).

Optimizing barn design

Engineers Bernardo Predicala and Alvin Alvarado have been evaluating the current performance of various swine production systems to determine whether standardization and optimization can improve efficiencies and overall productivity. The researchers note that the lack of specific standards for swine buildings often results in increased costs and management inefficiencies. A survey of pork producers found that there was a heavy reliance on “rule of thumb” in making decisions on design, construction and operation of hog barns. The survey identified 14 key problem areas related to equipment such as stalls and crates, pen space, movement and load-out facilities,

manure handling, feeders, drinkers and commissioning of equipment. A second producer survey across Canada revealed that only 18 per cent of producers identified an absence of problems in all of the 14 key areas. Among those who reported encountering issues, the areas most frequently cited were feeders and drinkers (40.9 per cent), space requirements and crowding (39.4 per cent), load-out (34.8 per cent), and farrowing crates (31.8 per cent). “The specific problems reported include overcrowding, caused by increased prolificacy of breeding herd surpassing the original barn design specifications, and changing market conditions resulting in higher market weights of finished animals,” said Predicala. “Other common problems with the physical system reported by

producers include over 90 per cent of complaints on barn load-out designs, implicating ramp angle and width as the primary problem, as well as 15 to 17 per cent of all respondents identifying flooring type and slatted floor designs as problem areas associated with sow lameness and longevity.” This work clearly identifies the need for well-defined standards for swine buildings in order to avoid poor design or construction leading to inefficiency, loss of performance and increased costs. It will also help to prioritize future research aimed at improving the areas identified in this project.

Reducing emissions from hog barns

Hog barns emit a number of contaminants into the surrounding air, notably ammonia, hydrogen sul-

Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture Competition

Join the young Canadians who are speaking up for agriculture. Are you passionate about agriculture? Do you enjoy sharing your views with others? Join the upcoming Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition. As part of this unique competition, contestants prepare a five-to seven-minute speech on one of five agriculture-related topics and present it in public. Cash prizes are available for two age groups: Junior (11 to 15) and Senior (16 to 24). The 29th annual Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition takes place on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario. For competition rules, a list of speaking topics and accommodation assistance please visit www.cysa-joca.ca. The application deadline is Sept. 30, 2013.

Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture. It’s your time to shine.

phide and dust. Depending on barn location, this may lead to complaints about smell. The Prairie Swine Centre has previously investigated the use of air-cleaning technology based on “biotrickling filtration,” which involves the use of micro-organisms on a filter medium that break down the contaminants. The system contains packing material, such as wood, ceramics or plastics, and is operated by recirculation of liquid through the packing. A biofilm, the layer of bacteria, is developed on the surface of the packing shortly after the startup of the system. Maintenance of the system involves replacement of the circulating water when the level of contaminants reaches a certain level. Predicala and Alvarado scaled up the previous experimental units into a commercial-size air treatment unit (ATU), which was then fitted to three grow-finish rooms. The exhaust air from each room was ducted to the ATU and passed through the biotrickling filter. “The results showed that the air treatment units were effective in reducing the levels of ammonia, dust, and odour from the airstream at the exhaust of the grow-finish rooms by about 77 per cent, 92 per cent, and 75 per cent, respectively,” said Predicala. “Over the 12-week trial period, levels of ammonia inside the room ranged from 5.2 ppm to 69.1 ppm, while the levels after the treatment units ranged from 4.0 ppm to 11.0 ppm.” The effectiveness of the ATU in reducing ammonia levels increased over time, from a 22 per cent reduction in the first week to 77 per cent in week 12. “This implies that the air filtration units worked effectively even at the start of the trial,” Dr. Predicala said. “However, the reduction in ammonia levels during the initial part of the trial was not that high because the ammonia levels in the room were relatively low compared to when pigs were nearly market weight.” Dust levels post-treatment remained very similar throughout the trial, despite the dust levels in the rooms increasing as pigs grew in size. The maximum dust reduction of 92 per cent was reached in week 12, while the lowest, at 65 per cent, was measured in week three. The air treatment units consumed an average of 537 litres of water per day, with one unit consuming 663 litres per day. Wide variations in water consumption between ATUs were explained by differences in their efficiency in removing ammonia — the more contaminants that are removed, the more water is required. “Periodically draining the contaminated water and then adding fresh water into the ATU was necessary to prevent the water from getting saturated, which consequently can adversely impact the biofilm activity on the biotrickling filter media, thereby reducing the contaminant removal efficiency of the system,” said Predicala. The 2012 Annual Research Report can be downloaded at www.prairieswine.com. Bernie Peet is president of Pork Chain Consulting of Lacombe, Alberta.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

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SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Brazil wheat crop slashed by frost

Argentine wheat safe from frost

July frosts that hit Brazil’s top wheat-producing state of Parana reduced its expected output this season to 1.98 million tonnes from 2.7 million forecast previously, the Agriculture Ministry’s crop supply agency Conab said Aug. 26. Brazil is one of the world’s leading wheat importers and has already closed deals to import two million tonnes of wheat from the United States and Canada. Most of Brazil’s wheat imports come from Argentina, but record-high prices and tight supplies have prompted the government there to halt exports. — Reuters

A late-winter cold snap in Argentina raised concern about the country’s recently sown wheat crop, but most local meteorologists and analysts said the Antarctic air that blasted the country over the weekend and early on Aug. 26 will not affect 2013-14 yields because it hit too early in the season for wheat to be vulnerable. “The leaves on some of the more susceptible varieties may have suffered from the cold, but the plants themselves can recuperate,” said Tomas Parenti, weather expert at the Rosario grains exchange. “The frosts could have done irreversible damage had the plants been in a more advanced and vulnerable growing stage when the temperature dropped.” — Reuters

Deconstructing nature’s light show

How lightning is formed, and some tips for not being struck by it

by daniel bezte

o far this summer I have camped at several locations across the Prairies, including several in Alberta. On a couple of occasions we did get hit by thunderstorms — it’s the Prairies and summer after all! Most of the storms didn’t have much in the way of severe weather, but they did produce a lot of lightning. This got me thinking about lightning, so I checked back over the different weather articles I have written and it has been a few years since I last wrote in detail about lightning. For this discussion we’ll look at a typical lightning strike that starts in the cloud and hits the ground. First of all, lightning is caused by a buildup of electrical charge within a thunderstorm. It is believed that strong updrafts and downdrafts within a thunderstorm cause particles of dust, water, and ice to hit each other. These millions of collisions allow for electrons to be transferred between particles, causing them to become charged. This is a similar process to the one that gives you a charge when you drag your feet across a carpet in the winter.

If you are caught outdoors, the 30/30 rule is the easiest one to remember. Within the thunderstorm, these same updrafts and downdrafts separate the charged particles into regions, so that some areas of the storm become negatively charged, while other areas positively charged. Exactly how this happens is still not completely understood. When an area of the storm gains a strong enough charge it will act on the air around it causing it to ionize (the air molecules break apart, forming positive and negative atoms). This ionized air can now conduct electricity. Meanwhile on the ground, the strong negative charge in the clouds above the Earth pushes electrons (which

are negative) away. In objects that are good conductors (metals) the electrons move easily so these objects become strongly positive. This makes them more attractive to the negative charge in the cloud. You can sometimes see this when you are outside just before a thunderstorm. If someone’s hair starts to stand up, that means that the individual strands of hair have become charged, and since they have the same charge they repel each other and begin standing up. By the way, this is not a good thing, so even though it seems funny it should be telling you that there is a very strong charge in the clouds above you! As objects on the ground become more and more positive they begin to send out what is known as “positive streamers.” These reach out towards the cloud trying to make a connection. At the same time, a “step leader” is moving down from the cloud. This is a narrow channel that is coming down from the base of the cloud, forming a zigzag pattern as it builds towards the ground. This step leader or channel is filling with electrons as it makes its way to the ground. Once the step leader gets close to the ground, the positive streamers try to connect with it. Once one does make the connection, the channel is complete and all the electrons can now flow. This whole process, up to this point, will typically take about one second. The electrons in the channel closest to the ground will begin to flow first, followed by electrons farther and farther up the channel. As these electrons flow they bump into particles of air, transferring some of their energy in the form of heat. This causes the air to heat up and glow. Since the electrons flow from the bottom up, it may appear that the lightning originated from the ground, even though it originated in the cloud. If there is a large enough charge in the cloud we may see two or three “dumps” of electrons down the original channel. On the ground we would see this as a multiple flash of lightning.

Safety

Now on to the lightning safety information. First of all, there is no truly safe place from light-

Since the electrons flow from the bottom up, it may appear that the lightning originated from the ground, even though it originated in the cloud. PHOTo: thinkstock ning if you get caught outdoors. If you are caught outdoors with no shelter available then you want to minimize two things. First, you want to be as short as possible, and second, you want to have as little contact as possible with anything that might be conductive — for example a wire fence, a nearby tree, or even the ground (most deaths are actually caused by ground current — you are a better conductor than the ground, so in a nearby ground strike, the lightning is more likely to connect through you). This is why they say to squat on the balls of your feet, with your feet together. This posture makes you shorter while reducing your contact with the ground. You may also want to cover your head to protect from flying debris! Luckily, most of us will never find ourselves in this situation. If you are caught outdoors, the 30/30 rule is the easiest one to remember. The first 30 means that if you see lightning and then count to 30 or less before you hear the thunder, it is time to head in for shelter. New evidence suggests that if you can hear thunder at all, you should immediately seek shelter. The second 30 means you should wait 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before heading back outside. Please remember, feel free to email me any questions or topic ideas that you have (daniel@ bezte.ca).

This issue’s map shows the total precipitation across Alberta so far this growing season. Nearly all regions have seen over 200 mm of precipitation, with the main exceptions being western regions where amounts in excess of 600 mm have occurred and in the far north where less than 150 mm has been recorded.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

FARMTECH 2014 CONTEST

Corn disease Goss’s wilt found in Alberta

A disease which has caused losses in Manitoba has appeared in two fields in Alberta BY HELEN MCMENAMIN AF CONTRIBUTOR

his summer, plant pathologists have found a corn disease they’ve never seen in Alberta before — Goss’s wilt. “We’ve confirmed the disease in two fields so far,” says Alberta Agriculture plant pathologist Mike Harding. “It doesn’t seem to have caused significant yield losses in those fields but we’re looking to see if it’s in other fields as well. Goss’s wilt isn’t always devastating, but it can be. “We’re not really familiar with the disease yet, so we’re trying to learn as much as we can about it as quickly as we can.” The most common symptom of the disease is leaf blight — watersoaked streaks surrounded by tan to grey areas running lengthwise along the leaves that generally appear in mid-season. The lesion generally has a water-soaked central area and characteristic dark-green or black “freckles” in or just outside the lesion. The bacteria create an ooze on the leaf surface which dries to a shiny coating like varnish on the diseased area. Affected areas of leaf edges become wavy. Corn specialists say the blight looks like sun scald or drought stress, but the freckles and the shiny coating are unique to the disease. Early-season infection with Goss’s wilt causes a systemic wilt. The plant’s vascular system is affected, limiting transport of

Mid-season signs and symptoms include distinct dark-green to black “freckles” within or just outside of leaf lesions. water and nutrients and causing wilting and stunted growth. At first, vascular bundles within the stem become discoloured. The bacterial infection in the plants’ phloem and xylem tubes can progress to a slimy rot and eventually the death of the plant. Yield losses can be as much as 50 per cent. The disease is caused by the bacteria Clavibacter Michiganensis subsp. Nebraskensis, which was first found in Nebraska in 1969. At first, it was limited to Nebraska and parts of Colorado, but more recently it has spread across the corn-growing areas of the U.S. In

the last few years, it has hit corn in Manitoba’s Red River Valley and then other parts of the province. It did significant yield damage to Manitoba corn in 2009 and in 2011 about 80 per cent of crops showed some symptoms of the disease, but was hardly seen last year. The pathogen overwinters in infested crop residue and can survive for a few years in the debris. Seed can carry the bacteria and may be the source of new infections. The disease is most often linked to infected crop residue and hail, sandblasting or wind damage that allows the bacteria access to

Roundup Ready ® is a registered trademark used under license from Monsanto Company. Pioneer ® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents. The DuPont Oval Logo is a registered trademark of DuPont. ®, TM, SM Trademarks and service marks licensed to Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited. © 2013, PHL.

The Alberta Wheat Commission is giving away one registration per month for FarmTech 2014 until the last winner is chosen on Dec. 31, 2013. Producers have a chance to win free admission for all three days of the event. This FarmTech conference includes many guest speakers on topics such as wheat classes, producer profitability, precision farming, farm succession planning, seed quality, government policies, and much more. The banquet guest speaker is Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield. Producers can enter online at www.albertawheat.com.

plant tissues. Storms followed by wet or humid weather are ideal for the disease. Because the disease is caused by a bacteria, there is no in-crop treatment for Goss’s wilt. It has to be prevented. Rotation into crops other than corn, but some grass weeds, including barnyard grass and green foxtail can act as hosts and allow the bacteria to persist in a field. Some hybrids are tolerant or resistant to the disease. DuPont Pioneer has researched the disease and its management for more than 20 years, and claims leadership in managing the problem. The company has identified resistance genes. Scott Heuchelin of DuPont Pioneer advises scouting throughout the season for Goss’s wilt. “Infection can appear in two phases, early and mid-season,” he says. “It’s important to scout for Goss’s wilt throughout the season to see if your fields suffer from the disease and to manage against it over the long term. The disease can look like normal environmental stresses such as sun scald and drought stress, which makes scouting for it even more vital.” Heuchelin advises harvesting affected fields last and cleaning all equipment after working in fields showing symptoms of Goss’s wilt. He also recommends tillage to bury residue and reduce survival of the bacteria. Alberta Agriculture plant pathologist is surveying Alberta corn crops to assess the extent of Goss’s wilt infection in Alberta.

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SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Briefs Get a free grade from the grain commission CGC release

With this year’s harvest starting in Western Canada, producers have until Nov. 1 to send in a grain sample to get a free unofficial grade and quality information through the Harvest Sample Program. If you haven’t participated before, sign up by Oct. 15 to make sure you receive your Harvest Sample Program kit in time to send a sample this fall. “Our Harvest Sample Program is a voluntary program that gives producers important information about their grain at no cost to them. It also helps promote the sale of Canadian grain by providing customers with scientific information about the quality of this year’s harvest,” said Elwin Hermanson, chief commissioner for the Canadian Grain Commission. Participating in the Harvest Sample Program is easy and starts with signing up to receive your free kit, which includes postage-paid envelopes and instructions for sending in your sample. Producers who send in a grain sample are also eligible to win prizes, and the earlier you send in your samples, the greater your chances of winning.

Quality information for producers

Even if you have a good idea about the quality of your grain, by sending in your sample, you’ll also be able to access detailed information, such as: • Protein content on cereal grains and pulses; • Oil, protein and chlorophyll content for canola; • Oil and protein content and iodine value for flaxseed; • Oil and protein for mustard seed and soybeans; • New this year, the Canadian Grain Commission is providing dockage assessment for canola samples. Details about how to access your information online, by phone or email are available on our website at www. grainscanada.gc.ca.

CWB offers pooling program for yellow peas P of $330 per tonne (in-store Vancouver) for peas signed up before Sept. 13 By Phil Franz-Warkentin commodity news service canada

WB (formerly the Canadian Wheat Board) is branching out to include a pool for yellow peas in its second year as an independent grain marketer in Western Canada. In addition to its traditional wheat, durum, and barley pools, the CWB released its first-ever pool return outlooks (PROs) for field peas on Aug. 15, offering a pooled price of $330 per tonne (in-store Vancouver) for peas signed up for the program before Sept. 13. The CWB has already been marketing some peas on a cash basis and is now offering the pooled option following a num-

ber of requests from farmers, said Gord Flaten, vice-president of grain procurement with the CWB. The reasoning for offering a pool for peas is similar to the case made for other crops. “It’s a risk management tool that interests some farmers, particularly for a commodity that doesn’t have a futures market,” said Flaten. He said farmers who were interested in an alternative to the straight cash marketing options currently available for peas should look into putting some into the pool to see how it works and compare with their cash results. Given the newness of the program, Flaten said there were no targets for how much peas the CWB would market this year and

added that the total confirmed tonnage won’t be known until closer to the signup deadline. The peas that are signed up will be sold directly to end-users and to other companies at the port. As far as other crops are concerned, Flaten said it was rela-

tively easy to add another pool for another crop if needed, but said there were no other commodities being considered at this time. The CWB did introduce a pool for canola last year which was well received by participants, said Flaten.

SOME SEED REPS STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS. WE PREFER TO GET WAIST-DEEP IN THEM.

Trudeau names new ag critic By Alex Binkley

contributor / ottawa

A former vegetable farmer from Cape Breton will be the new Liberal front man on agriculture issues. Mark Eyeking, an MP for the last 13 years, replaces Ontario’s Frank Valeriote as the Liberal’s agriculture and food critic. Valeriote becomes deputy whip as part of Justin Trudeau’s shuffling of critic responsibilities. Other changes see Wayne Easter, another former ag critic, switching to public safety from international trade. Taking over the trade role is former astronaut Marc Garneau. David McGuinty remains Grit transport critic and former agriculture minister Ralph Goodale holds on to his post as the Liberal deputy leader.

If you’re looking for your local Pioneer Hi-Bred sales representative, try the nearest farm. You see, we’re always out walking the fields, talking to our neighbours and checking the crops. In fact, we make it our mission to know everything there is to know about our local growing

Pioneer® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents. The DuPont Oval Logo is a registered trademark of DuPont. ® , ™, SM Trademarks and service marks licensed to Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited. ©2013, PHL.

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Midwest ethanol plants reversing the trade flow of the Mississippi With corn supplies at a 17-year low and harvest delayed, ethanol producers are outbidding southern corn buyers and sending a fleet of barges northward By Tom Polansek chicago / reuters

he long reach of last summer’s U.S. drought has reversed the flow of the mighty Mississippi River — for corn, at least. In a rare move, corn-laden barges are heading north to Midwest ethanol plants from southern farms. Although a record harvest is expected this year, much of it will be late and, in the meantime, the U.S. will hit a 17-year low in corn supplies by the end of the month. Grain, which typically flows south on the river to export markets, is heading north from states

such as Louisiana and Arkansas, where farmers begin harvesting earlier than their Midwestern counterparts. Normally, much of that grain would ship overseas, but after prices climbed following the drought, exports are set to drop to a 41-year low. Ocean-going vessels are reversing course too, with record U.S. grain imports expected from countries such as Brazil and Canada as U.S. processors like Ingredion and Pilgrim’s Pride seek cheaper corn. “What’s really changing here is the flow of corn,” said Brent Baker of trading firm John Stewart & Associates. “This is unprecedented.” The 2013 corn crop is expected to come in at a record 13.8 bil-

Until the new harvest, barges of corn are heading north toward the Corn Belt rather than south to export. PHOTo: thinkstock

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lion bushels, up 28 per cent from last year. If that happens, supplies will build to an eight-year high, making the famine-tofeast reversal the largest annual swing in more than half a century. Still, roughly 1,000 barges carrying newly harvested southern corn will likely travel north by mid-September, according to Baker. Demand is intense as Midwest ethanol producers and processors don’t expect local farmers to harvest much corn until early October, weeks later than usual because of a wet spring and cool summer. The reverse flow northward is being primed by high bids for corn in the Midwest cash markets. A grain elevator in Lake Village, Ark., along the Mississippi River, was bidding $4.41 for first-week August delivery, while a processor in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was offering $6.01 — a difference that is more than enough to cover transportation costs from south to north. Demand on the Mississippi for corn is pushing prices to a point that poultry feeders are switching to wheat, which is less expensive. “Usually our poultry feeders would be hollering for corn, just clamouring for the stuff, but we just aren’t seeing that,” said Shep Bickley, owner of a Cain Agra grain elevator in Arkansas. “Our local river terminal was bidding up everybody by far — blowing the door off the (poultry) feeders.” Coastal markets are adjusting to their own sense of dislocation. Hog and poultry operations in the southeast and along the East Coast have found foreign supplies cheaper than rail-delivered grain from the Midwest. Overall, the U.S. is set to import a record 165 million bushels in the year ending Aug. 31, a nearly sixfold increase from the previous year, according to USDA. Wilmington Bulk LLC, a feedbuying consortium of hog and poultry producers, has brought in more than 350,000 tonnes of mostly Brazilian corn over the past year, according to PIERS, a company that provides trading data. Pilgrim’s Pride imported more than 175,000 tonnes through the Port of Mobile, Alabama, between Feb. 8 and June 3.

conditions. That way, we can help our partners get the best yield possible. It’s this kind of passion that’s helped Pioneer Hi-Bred people become leaders in the seed business and in their communities. Talk to your local Pioneer Hi-Bred sales representative or visit pioneer.com for more information.

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SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Pathologist says crop scouting season is not over yet You can’t prevent disease in this year’s crop, but you can help prevent it for next year By Helen Mcmenamin

af contributor /lethbridge

t’s too late to do anything about crop disease now, but knowing how much disease was in each field and how well your control strategy worked can be valuable when you’re planning future crops or choosing a fungicide. “Disease symptoms and effects are usually at their peak close to harvest time,” says Mike Harding, an Alberta Agriculture plant pathologist. “It’s a good time to see what’s there. You can evaluate the resistance of crop varieties. Maybe you need a different set of resistance genes and need to switch.” Scouting crops late in the season lets you evaluate the risk to susceptible crops in each of your fields, Harding says. You can take the amount of disease inoculum in a particular field into account when you’re planning where to put each crop. “Harvest-time scouting and notes you make now can give you a heads-up on developing problems and warn you if you need to change your rotations. Blackleg,

alternaria, or any sign of clubroot, is something you want to know about as soon as possible so you have time to develop a control strategy,” Harding says. Late-season disease scouting lets you assess the performance of your fungicide, especially if you left a check strip. No matter how well a fungicide performed, Harding advises changing to a fungicide of a different group to avoid developing resistant disease organisms. Harding says he didn’t see some disease problems he thought might be bad this year. “Sclerotinia is always on the radar, especially under irrigation and with the storms and humid weather we had this year,” he says. “Hot conditions made things more difficult for sclerotinia. It does best with temperatures in the mid-20s. At 30° or more, it doesn’t go away, but it doesn’t do as well. Also, the hot weather accelerates the crop, so whatever level of sclerotinia there is has less effect on the crop.” Looking at the level of sclerotinia in a crop does give you some guidance for future cropping plans. A lot of sclerotinia means a lot of it is on the soil that is just waiting to

infect another susceptible crop — canola, sunflowers or beans. “A field with a heavy burden of sclerotia (disease-carrying bodies) is not where you want to be tightening your canola rotation. And, you might want to find a different field for beans or sunflowers,” Harding says. Stormy weather with quite a bit of hail this summer is being blamed for Goss’s wilt in corn this year (see page 17). It’s a new disease in Alberta that’s caused by a bacteria that needs to access crop tissues via an injury such as hail or wind damage. It persists in crop debris, so rotation to a broadleaf could pay off. Harding says he was watching for stripe rust to be a problem again this year and saw some crops that were hit hard, but the disease wasn’t as widespread as in the last few years. “Some cultivars are more susceptible than others,” he says. “But a lot depends on conditions and the crop’s growth stage when the disease hits. Most of the resistance genes for stripe rust are HTAP (high temperature, adult plant B:10.25” resistance) and protect bigger T:10.25” plants at higher temperatures, so

Winter wheat and some winter annuals can be infected with stripe rust in fall and allow it to overwinter and affect crops early the following year. crops hit by the spores in cool, wet conditions when plants were still small were badly affected while bigger plants escaped infection.” Harding added that “We don’t understand everything about spore movements, either. Maybe sometimes a clump of spores lands in a single field so it’s hit especially hard.”

He advises watching for a “green bridge” in fall. Winter wheat and some winter annuals can be infected with stripe rust in fall and allow the disease to overwinter and affect crops early rather than being blown up from the Pacific Northwest or Montana later in the growing season.

S:10.25”

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

TOUGH WEEDS, MEET EXPRESS . ®

Crank up the rate all you want, glyphosate alone still misses a number of hard-to-kill weeds like narrow-leaved hawk’s-beard, flixweed, stinkweed, dandelion and volunteer canola. With hotter-than-hot systemic activity, DuPont™ Express® herbicides don’t just control weeds, they smoke them from the inside out, getting right to the root of your toughest weed challenges with performance that glyphosate alone can’t match. It’s no wonder Express® goes down with glyphosate more than any other brand in Western Canada! Visit fallburndown.dupont.ca to see Express® in action – torching tough weeds like dandelion and volunteer canola right down to the roots, so they can’t grow back.

Express® brand herbicides. This is going to be hot. Questions? Ask your retailer, call 1-800-667-3925 or visit express.dupont.ca

As with all crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™ and Express® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. All other products mentioned are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies. Member of CropLife Canada. ©Copyright 2013 E. I. du Pont Canada Company. All rights reserved.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Syngenta to stack dual antirootworm actions into corn Two modes of action against insects plus herbicide tolerance STAFF

yngenta plans to pile two distinct traits into corn next year for use against corn rootworm, a move meant to extend its traits’ useful life. The company’s Canadian arm recently announced it will offer two new corn varieties, Agrisure Duracade 5122 and Agrisure Duracade 5222, for the 2014 season. The new corns will both contain Syngenta’s Agrisure RW trait stacked with its new Duracade trait. “The Duracade trait is the first corn rootworm trait launched with insect resistance management and the preservation of technology durability in mind,” the company said. Greg Good, Syngenta Canada’s product lead for corn and soybeans, described the new corns in a press release as “a step change in efficacy for protection against corn rootworm damage.” Corn rootworms feed on corn plants’ roots, thus stunting plant growth and limiting ear fill by reducing water and nutrient uptake. The new corns, Syngenta said, will combine elements of both lepidopteran-active and coleopteran-active protein for control of western corn rootworm and northern corn rootworm (both coleopteran). The new trait stack, it said, carries the corn industry’s first hybrid Bt insect control protein for coleopteran plant pests. Agrisure Duracade 5122 would combine the Duracade trait with the Agrisure RW trait for two modes of action, plus the Agrisure CB/LL trait for control of corn borer; the Herculex I trait as another mode of action against corn borer and for “broad” control of other lepidopterans; and the Agrisure GT trait, for glyphosate herbicide tolerance. Agrisure Duracade 5222, meanwhile, is to carry the same traits as 5122 plus the Agrisure Viptera trait, for control of “the multi-pest complex” of lepidopterans. Syngenta said both 5122 and 5222 will be available preblended with Syngenta’s E-Z Refuge, a five per cent refugein-the-bag, meant also to hinder pests from developing resistance to the insect control traits.

Reduce the risk of a combine fire NDSU RELEASE

ith harvest season underway, it’s time to take precautions against combine fires, says John Nowatzki, North Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural machine systems specialist. Crop residue buildup around combine engines and exhaust pipes are obvious places where fires can start. The surface temperature of exhaust pipes can be high enough to ignite straw and chaff. Operators should check these areas regularly throughout the day and remove any buildup of chaff, straw and dust. The shields and covers on older-model combines generally are less effective than the covers on newer machines at preventing residue buildup around engines. “Loose belts and worn bearings can create enough heat to ignite crop residue,” Nowatzki says. “Operators need to monitor these conditions regularly.

Shut down the combine and stop the engine to check the belts and bearings for potential fire hazards. Remove any buildup of dust and crop residue in contact with shafts, pulleys and bearings. Newer combines may be equipped with sensors to alert operators to potential hot spots. Operators still need to find those locations and make sure the area is free of debris.” Exposed wires and worn insulation can cause electrical sparks that can lead to fires. If electrical fuses blow, operators should suspect the cause may be exposed wires. Inspect wiring harnesses to make sure there are no exposed wires. Leaking hydraulic cylinders, hoses and fuel, and hydraulic tanks are obvious conditions that cause combine fires. Repair leaks immediately and wipe off any spilled oil and fuel. Be particularly careful while refuelling. Turn off the engine and let it cool before refuelling. “Always have an approved, regularly maintained fire extin-

A few precautions can avoid a photo like this. guisher in every combine, tractor, truck and pickup used in the harvesting operations,” Nowatzki says. “Check the condition of each fire extinguisher

daily. Finally, have the local fire department’s telephone number recorded in the cab of all the machines and vehicles and listed in your cellphone.”

*Source: 2012 Canola Performance Trials Always follow grain marketing and all other stewardship practices and pesticide label directions. Details of these requirements can be found in the Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers printed in this publication. ©2013 Monsanto Canada, Inc.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

Maximize the nitrogen benefit from your pulse crops Agronomy research scientist Sheri Strydhorst has some tips for getting the biggest nitrogen bang from pulse crops BY ALEXIS KIENLEN AF STAFF /BRETON

H Sheri Strydhorst, agronomy research scientist with Alberta Agriculture, spoke about pulses on a recent tour of the University of Alberta’s Breton Plots. PHOTO: ALEXIS KIENLEN

aving legumes in your rotation not only adds nitrogen, but also improves soil water availability, interrupts pest life cycles, and increases soil organic matter, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur. But you’ve got to treat them right, Alberta Agriculture agronomy research scientist Sheri Strydhorst said at a recent event at the University of Alberta’s long-term research Breton Plots. There are several things a producer can do to maximize the nitrogen potential of legumes, she said. “When a plant fixes nitrogen, it’s a very energy-intensive process,

similar to the (industrial) process of making nitrogen fertilizer,” said Strydhorst. About 1.5 kilograms of fossil fuels are burned to make one kilogram of nitrogen fertilizer. Plants also have to spend a huge amount of their energy to make their own nitrogen. Increasing legume growth increases legume nitrogen demands. “The more vigorous your crop is, the more nitrogen it will need and the more it will fix,” said Strydhorst. Crops without adequate amounts of phosphorus will not be able to fix as much nitrogen. To increase the percentage of nitrogen in the crop derived from fixation, the effectiveness of rhizobia bacteria needs to be maximized by inoculation. “Inoculating your rhizobia is a

very important thing. The rhizobia sold in these inoculants are selected because they are very efficient converters,” she said. While native rhizobia bacteria can fix nitrogen, they don’t provide as much nitrogen for the energy consumed as the inoculants. “I think it’s an excellent practice for producers to inoculate their legumes every year,” said Strydhorst. Reducing soil nitrates also helps increase nitrogen fixation. Producers won’t get any nitrogen benefits if they seed grain legumes on a field that has been treated the previous fall with anhydrous ammonia. Putting grain legumes on manured soils isn’t a good idea either, and weed pressure will also lower nitrogen

fixation. Seeding cereals into weedy pulse crops reduces the nitrogen benefits and yields the following years, while seeding into clean pulse stubble results in a more vigorous cereal crop. But increasing the seeding density of pulse crops to double the recommended rate can result in an increase of 35 per cent of nitrogen fixation per acre, likely due to a more vigorous plant stand. “Grain legumes are excellent phosphorus scavengers, so their roots can be high in phosphorus,” said Strydhorst. “When these roots break down, that phosphorus is made available to the subsequent crop.” akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

Farm and food groups want more GM oversight BY CAREY GILLAM REUTERS

It’s all tied up. When it comes to yield supremacy, it’s six of one, half dozen of the other. It’s been talked about, debated, and argued amongst growers across the prairies. When it’s all said and done, according to yield trials, Genuity® Roundup Ready® hybrids yield on par with the competition.* Like all contests this close, the debate rages on... for now.

ore than 150 U.S. farm and food businesses and organizations are demanding stricter oversight of field trials of experimental, genetically modified crops. The group — ranging from organic and natural food industry reps to family farm and trade policy players — pointed to the discovery of unapproved genetically modified wheat this spring as proof change is needed. “There are major weaknesses in USDA’s oversight of experimental field trials, including how unauthorized crops are contained,” the group said in a statement. “Current U.S. policy includes neither mandatory contamination prevention measures nor an adequate system for monitoring the success of containment following trials.” The group also wrote Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, asking him to order the USDA to “fix its rubber-stamp approach to GE crops.” USDA says it has strengthened oversight of biotech crop field trials in recent years, upping its inspections to 700 from about 500 in 2007. Monsanto said it stopped its experiments with the GM wheat in question in 2004 and 2005 and has no idea how the biotech wheat came to be growing in Oregon, where it was discovered this year. The USDA is still investigating the incident.

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SASKATCHEWAN RANCH WINS STEWARDSHIP AWARD

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) has awarded the 2013 Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) to Allen and Lillian Patkau of Sandy Arrow Ranch at Hanley, Saskatchewan. The Patkaus run a cow-calf operation as well as a rotational grazing system, and they have implemented an environmental farm plan and holistic management practices. The award was presented at the CCA semi-annual meeting in London. Scott Dickson (l-r) of award sponsor MNP, Lillian and Allen Patkau, CCA Environment Committee chair Lynn Grant and CCA’s Fawn Jackson. PHOTO: COURTESY CCA

CONGRATS!

France eyes exports to ease egg crisis PARIS / REUTERS / French egg producers, faced with a slump in prices linked to overproduction, say 15 million eggs needed to be exported to get supply and demand back in balance. Egg prices soared in 2011 and early 2012 as farmers adapted to a European regulation requiring larger cages for laying hens. They’ve since fallen nearly 40 per cent as production ramped up, leading to the current crisis, which has seen farmers smashing thousands of eggs in protests held in recent weeks. New markets are needed to deal with overproduction, which is estimated at five to six per cent, said an official with the French egg promotion committee CNPO. “Operators will try to take advantage of the internal situation to gain market share and conquer new markets,” said Christian Marinov. He said the Middle East and Southeast Asia were possible destinations. France’s farm minister has pledged to ease red tape and help producers find new outlets, he said.

To Olds College for 100 years of quality eduation.

JOIN US!

CENTENNIAL HOMECOMING OCTOBER 18 & 19

MacDon Industries Ltd. would like to send sincere congratulations to the faculty, students, and alumni of Olds College.

The final Signature Event of the Olds College Centennial will be the Homecoming! Join with former alumni and faculty to relive your College memories.

NEW FORMAT SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 2:00 - 5:00 P.M. Faculty Meet & Greet (cheese, wine & chocolate) 5:30 P.M. TO 1:00 A.M. Centennial Evening Celebration (cocktails, dinner & dance at the brand new Pomeroy Inn & Suites at Olds College)

2013 marks the 100th Anniversary of Olds College

SATURDAY FEES $50/person and includes admission to all activities and Centennial Gift Package. Registration Deadline: October 4

Join all of us at Alberta Farmer Express as we extend our most sincere congratulations to Olds College on 100 years of excellence in education.

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NEWS

Tiffiny Taylor tiffiny.taylor@fbcpublishing.com

13-08-27 9:39 AM

Researchers say Chinese bird flu may not be the last such outbreak LONDON/REUTERS A deadly new bird flu virus in China evolved from migratory birds via waterfowl to poultry and into people, and other, similar bird flu viruses could do the same, scientists say. A new study of the evolutionary history of the H7N9 bird flu, which has so far killed 44 people, found several other H7 flu viruses that “may pose threats.” None of the additional H7 strains have been found in humans, but some are able to infect other mammals such as ferrets, which suggests a jump to humans is possible. “Even if H7N9 does not return, there are risks lurking amongst the great diversity of avian influenza viruses,” said Peter Horby, a bird flu expert at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam. The number of new H7N9 infections in people has dropped dramatically, thanks largely, experts say, to the closure by Chinese authorities of many live poultry markets and the summer season.

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FARM MACHINERY Grain Handling

AGRI-VACS

Tired of shovelling out your bins, unhealthy dust and awkward augers? Walinga manufactures a complete line of grain vacs to suit your every need. With no filters to plug and less damage done to your product than an auger, you’re sure to find the right system to suit you. Call now for a free demonstration or trade in your old vac towards a new WALINGA AGRI-VACS Fergus, ON: (519) 787-8227 Carman, MB: (204) 745-2951 Davidson, SK: (306) 567-3031

AUCTION SALES Auctions Various

SHIELDS

AUCTION SERVICE LTD. General Auction Services since 1960

BUYING SPRING THRASHED CANOLA & GRAIN“On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain1-877-250-5252

BOW VALLEY TRADING LTD.

WE BUY DAMAGED GRAIN Wheat, Barley, Oats, Peas, etc. Green or Heated Canola/Flax

1-877-641-2798

BUYING:

HEATED & GREEN CANOLA • Competitive Prices • Prompt Movement • Spring Thrashed

Email: john@shieldsauctionservices.com • Phone: 403-464-0202

Double LL Industries 780.905.8565 Nisku, Alberta

1987 Case IH 385

NEW John Deere 542

FWA, 45 HP Diesel, 3 Point Hitch

Loader

12,500

FARM MACHINERY Sprayers

JD 9400, 9420, 9520, 8970 JD 7810 & 7210, FWA JD 9860, 9760, 9750, 9650, 9600 JD 9430, 9530, 9630 CIH 8010 w/RWD, lateral tilt, duals 900 hrs. Case STX 375, 425, 430, 450, 480, 500, 530 CIH 8010-2388, 2188 combine CIH 435Q, 535Q, 450Q, 550Q, 600Q pto avail. NH TJ 450, New Triples, Big Pump 8100 Wilmar Sprayer

JD 4710, 4720, 4730, 4830, 4920, 4930 SP sprayers JD 9770 & 9870 w/CM & duals CIH 3185, 3230, 3330, 4430, 4420 sprayers 9580 Kubota, FWA, FEL, low hours 3545 MF w/FWA FEL GOOD SELECTION OF JD & CASE HEADERS: 635F, 636D AND MANY MORE CASE & JD

“LIKE MANY BEFORE, WE’LL HAVE YOU SAYING THERE’S NO DEAL LIKE A KEN DEAL” • Phone: (403)526-9644 • Cell: (403)504-4929 • Email: kendeal@shaw.ca FARM MACHINERY Tillage & Seeding – Tillage

FARM MACHINERY Tillage & Seeding – Tillage

4,800

Big Tractor Parts, Inc. Geared For The Future

STEIGER TRACTOR SPECIALIST

RED OR GREEN 1. 10-25% savings on new replacement parts for your Steiger drive train. 2. We rebuild axles, transmissions and dropboxes with ONE YEAR WARRANTY. 3. 50% savings on used parts.

1-800-982-1769 www.bigtractorparts.com

MACHINERY LTD.

1-877-250-5252

(403) 540-7691 ronsauer@shaw.ca

CANOLA WANTED Buying Spring Thrashed, Heated, Green, Canola, Freight Options, Prompt Payment Bonded and Insured

CALL 1-866-388-6284 www.milliganbiofuels.com BUSINESS SERVICES Crop Consulting We also specialize in: Crop Insurance appeals; Chemical drift; Residual herbicide; Custom operator issues; Equipment malfunction; Yield comparisons, Plus Private Investigations of any nature. With our assistance the majority of our clients have received compensation previously denied. Back-Track Investigations investigates, documents your loss and assists in settling your claim. Licensed Agrologist on Staff. For more information Please call 1-866-882-4779

ENGINES ASSORTED DEUTZ & OTHER Diesel engines.KMK Sales, (800)565-0500, Humboldt, SK.

FARM MACHINERY Haying & Harvesting – Baling

Most traditional seeders will put the seed in the bottom of a trench. This may not be the best place to have your seed when excess rain falls. Seed Higher can show you how to adapt your equipment to Seed Higher. Seed Higher can also show you how to put half your seed in the traditional place and half your seed in the Seed Higher place. Other adaptations are possible for seeding in the lower areas of your fields.

Visit www.seedhigher.com • 780-352-9956 FARM MACHINERY Combine – John Deere

FARM MACHINERY Combine – Various

NH 1063 SQUARE BALE wagon PT, excellentcondition. Phone (780)986-4605 or (780)498-6859.

FARM MACHINERY Combine – Case/IH 1985 Case IH 1480 3,950 engine hours, specialty rotor, 2 sets concaves, chopper, rock trap, new front tires, stored inside, 12-ft. PU head w/large auger Phone (204)362-4532

FARM MACHINERY Combine – Ford/New Holland NH 1500 COMBINE, W/3208 Cat diesel, A/C,Straw Chopper & Melroe pick-up. 2,000-hrs. Alwaysshedded & field ready. $5,000 OBO. Call:(403)932-2343 or (403)519-7815.

COMBINE WORLD located 20 min. E of Saskatoon, SK on Hwy. #16. 1 year warranty on all new, used, and rebuilt parts. Canada’s largest inventory of late model combines & swathers. 1-800-667-4515 www.combineworld.com

FARM MACHINERY Combine – Accessories 2005 MACDON 972D, 21-FT, like new, w/trailer,$25,000; 2000 JD 922R, pick-up reels, like new,$15,000. Phone:(780)446-4931. AERATION HALF CIRCLE PERFORATED ductwork 24-in. system complete have several sets.(403)7283535. Flex header with air reel. JD 930F flex head w/AWS air tube with one full season, header in nice shape, stored inside, plastic in good condition. $15,500 OBO. (204)325-4658 info@ensfarmsltd.com

1977 850 Versatile Series II, Atom jet hyd., 20.8 x 38 dual tires, nice shape........................... $17,500 31’ Flexicoil B Chisel Plow Extensions Included, Extends to 41’, 3 bar harrows, Excellent Condition ............. $12,500 Flexicoil 6 run seed treater ................................ $2,000 Wanted Flexicoil S95 harrow packer draw bar, 5 bar harrows, P30 packers, good condition ......................................... Call 134’ Flexicoil S68XL sprayer, 2007, suspended boom, auto rate, joystick, rinse tank, triple quick jets, auto boom height, electric end nozzle & foam marker............. $39,500 130’ Flexicoil 67XL PT sprayer, 2006,trail boom, auto rate, rinse tank, hyd. pump, combo jets, nice shape.... $26,500 100’ 65XL Flexicoil Sprayer, complete with windguards, elec. end nozzles dual tips, markers ........................ $5,500 30’ 8230 CIH PT swather, PU reel, nice shape,.. $10,000 25ft Hesston 1200 PT swather, Bat reel, nice shape .......................................................... $5,500 21’ 4600 Prairie Star PT swather, UII pu reel, nice shape .............................................................$5000 16’ NH 2300 hay header & conditioner from NH 2450 swather, nice cond. ......................... $5,000 MATR (Italy) 10 wheel V-Hayrake, hyd. fold, as new.................................................................... $5,250 New Sakundiak Augers Complete with E-Kay Attachments ............................................... Call 2 Used 8” Self Propelled Sakundiak Augers .Coming In New E-Kay 7”, 8”, 9” Bin Sweeps .........................Call 1 Used E-Kay 9” Bin Sweep, with hyd., pump, motor & tank ....................................................... $1,250 Flexicoil 10”x 50’ Grain auger ......................... $2,500 7721 JD PT combine, decent cond. ....................... $5,000 7701 JD PT combine, new concaves & rub bars ..... $4,000 Jiffy Feed Wagon, like new, hardly used, shedded .....$9,250 415 New Holland Discbine, like new ................. $12,500 166 New Holland Hay Turner, like new .............. $5,500 40’ Morris Packer Harrow Bar, P30 packers, 4 bar harrows, Hyd. fold up, good condition ..................... $5,500 1990 GMC 9000 Single Axle Grain Truck, 16’ x 18’ steel box, propane only, runs good.......................... $6,500 8” Wheat Heart Transfer Auger, as new............ $1,500 Jiffy Grain Feeder, 3 pt hitch, hydraulic auger, as new .$500 New Outback MAX & STX Guidance & Mapping...In Stock 1 New Outback S3 Complete with 3 year ESP ........ $3,500 New Outback E-Drive, TC’s .................................In Stock New Outback E-Drive X, c/w free E turns ............In Stock New Outback S-Lite................................................$900 New Outback VSI Swather Steering Kit...........In Stock Used Outback E-Drive Hyd. Kit ...............................$500

**NuVision, Sakundiak & Farm King Augers, Outback GPS Systems, EK Auger Movers, Belt Tighteners, Bin Sweeps, & Crop Dividers, Kohler & Robin Subaru engines, Degelman, Headsight Harvesting Solutions, Greentronics Sprayer Boom Auto Height**

NEW WOBBLE BOXES for JD, IH, MacDon headers. Made in Europe, factory quality. Get it direct from Western Canada’s sole distributor starting at $1,095. 1-800-667-4515. www.combineworld.com

FARM MACHINERY Haying & Harvesting – Swathers

FARM MACHINERY Haying & Harvesting – Various

FARM MACHINERY Parts & Accessories

JD 9600 COMBINE 1989 model 3,200 thrasher hrs,4,500 eng hrs, new feeder chain, $35,000. Phone(403)818-6443.

WANTED: JD 7810 c/w FEL & 3-PTH; sp or PTObale wagon; JD or IHC end wheel drills. Smallsquare baler. (877)330-4477

30-FT. CIH 1010 HEADER, batt reel, VGC, $8,000;30ft. Header trailer, $2,000; 25-ft. IH Cultivator #55w/Prasco Bandit big tank, $3,500; Case IH 21-ft. PTswather model 75 w/UII PU reel & bat reel, $2,000.Phone (403)823-9974 or (403)823-1928.

1983 Kubota L245 1974 Offset Tractor John Deere 401A

Versatile 875 JD 4250 FWA, 280 loader IHC 1086, Complete with loader JD 4230 JD 6400, FWA loader JD 2550, FWA JD 746 loader, new Mustang 2044 Skidsteer, 1300 Hrs. Clamp on Duals, 20.8x38-18.4x38 158 & 148, 265, 740.280, JD loaders JCB 1550B, Backhoe FWA, Extend A Hoe, Ford Backhoe 655C 4x4, Extend A Hoe

High Clearance, 1368 Hrs, w/ 3 Point Hitch, And Mid Mount Cultivators

GAS, 60 HP, 3 Point Hitch, 540 Pto, NEW Rear Tires

8,800

7,500

www.doublellindustries.com

RON SAUER

“ON FARM PICK UP”

FARM CHEMICAL SEED COMPLAINTS

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Various

FARM, RANCH, REAL ESTATE & COMMERCIAL

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Grain Wanted BUYING HEATED/DAMAGED PEAS, FLAX &GRAIN “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain1-877-250-5252

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Various

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Wanted WANTED: NH 8500 ROUND bale wagon. Phone (406)883-2118

HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING

The Icynene Insulation System® • Sprayed foam insulation • Ideal for shops, barns or homes • Healthier, Quieter, More Energy Efficient®

www.penta.ca

1-800-587-4711

LIVESTOCK Livestock Equipment 5’X10’ PORTABLE CORRAL PANELS, 6 bar. Newimproved design. Storage Containers, 20’ & 40’1-866-5178335, (403)540-4164, (403)226-1722

REAL ESTATE Mobile Homes CANADA SINGLE FAMILY HOME NEW 16 wide &20 wide MODULAR HOMES at GREAT prices.(218)7517720 frontierhomesonline.com

SEED / FEED / GRAIN SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Feed Grain BUYING ALL TYPES OF feed grain. Also havemarket for light offgrade or heated, picked up on thefarm. Eisses Grain Marketing 1-888-882-7803,(403)3508777 Lacombe. FEED GRAIN WANTED! ALSO buying; Light,tough, or offgrade grains. “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252

NOW BUYING OATS!

Competitive Rates

PAUL MOWER

DAVE KOEHN

403-304-1496

ALL GRADES Prompt Payment

403-546-0060 LINDEN, ALBERTA CANADA TIRES

FEDERATION TIRE: 1100X12, 2000X20, used aircraft. Toll free 1-888-452-3850

1999 CAT 460 1300 sep. hrs, rake up $86,500;2006 JD 567 mega-wide, mesh wrap, 5453/bales,$17,000; 1998 AGCO 9755, 530/int electronic,18spd p/s, 3096/ hrs, 4 remotes, 540 front weights,duals, $47,000; 2005 MacDon 922, 16-ft DK,$16,000; 2000 MacDon 972, 25-ft DK, DS, pick-upreel, $19,000. (403)665-2341, Craigmyle, AB. 41-47-FT LEON CHISEL PLOW, NH3 kit. Case2090 tractor, w/loader; Greenbelt 900 chain highdump. Gehl 1260 FH for parts; 22-ft stripper headerw/ JD & Case IH mounts; 19-ft JD straight-cut; Chaffsaver w/wagon. Phone:(780)623-1008.

New 30.5L-32 16 ply, $2,195; 20.8-38 12 ply $795; 18.4-38 12 ply; $789; 24.5-32 14 ply, $1,749; 14.9-24 12 ply, $486; 16.9-28 12 ply $558, 18.4-26 10 ply, $890. Factory direct. More sizes available new and used. 1-800-667-4515. www.combineworld.com

FOR SALE IN ATHABASCA

FINANCE, TRADES WELCOME 780-696-3527, BRETON, AB

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous 1976 CCIL 960 PTO combine, c/w new belts on thePU, shedded, $1000; IHC #10 rubber end wheelseed drill, $500; 50-ft in-land crop sprayer, $500.(780)349-2357.

FARM MACHINERY Combine – Gleaner

RECONDITIONED COMBINE HEADERS. RIGID &flex, most makes & sizes; also header transports.Ed Lorenz, (306)344-4811 or Website:www.straightcutheaders.com Paradise Hill, SK.

1995 R72 GLEANER, 2522/SEP hours, 3245 engine, Sunnybrook rotor, new feeder chains, $35,000(403)818-6443

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Various

1998 SPRAY AIR 13X70 swing auger, good condition, $9,000; 2001 NH 195 manure spreader, topbeater, new paddles, double floor chain, locationtires, good condition, $9,000. Call:(780)203-9593 or(780)9630641, Stoney Plain, AB.

1996 GLEANER R72, 2160/SEP. hrs, 2724 eng.hrs. Sunnybrook rotor, new feeder chains, $40,000(403)818-6443

1998 NH TV140 BI-DIRECTIONAL, excellent condition, 2,440-hrs, asking $50,000. Phone(780)789-0195 leave msg.

ACREAGE EQUIPMENT: CULTIVATORS, DISCS,Plows, Blades, Post pounders, Haying Equipment,Etc. (780)892-3092, Wabamun, Ab.

1997 CH75E, 5000 hrs hrs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$90,000 $90,000 100’ foot Fast-963P three point hitch sprayer used one season stored inside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$19,000 (2006) Lexion 590R 1040 sep hrs, P516 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $175,000 Skids for 1620 meridian bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,100 5000 gallon fuel tank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $900

Please Call 780-212-4855 or 780-675-5186

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • SEPTEMBER 2, 2013

T:10.25”

ALL OF OUR SEED IS FIELD-TESTED. JUST LIKE OUR REPS.

T:15.5”

Your Pioneer Hi-Bred sales representative is out there every day, working

type of deep knowledge that makes the DuPont Pioneer team both industry

the same ground you are. Which gives them the unique expertise needed to

leaders and trusted local advisors. Talk to your local Pioneer Hi-Bred sales

recommend the right seed for your acres. They know your weather, your soil

representatives or visit pioneer.com for more information.

conditions and your challenges, because they’ve faced them too. It’s this

Our experts are grown locally

Pioneer® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents. The DuPont Oval Logo is a registered trademark of DuPont. ®, ™, SM Trademarks and service marks licensed to Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited. ©2013, PHL.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

THREE CROP DISEASES. ONE GROWING RISK.

FUSARIUM BLACKLEG CLUBROOT

ALBERTA CEREAL AND CANOLA GROWERS SHOULD ACT NOW TO PROTECT AGAINST THESE DISEASES. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW Fusarium, Blackleg and Clubroot pose a serious threat to Alberta crops and can spread quickly once present. Crop yields can be significantly reduced and these diseases can take years to eradicate once established.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO Take proper care and precautions: • Evaluate risks by scouting for signs and symptoms – if you want to know, you have to scout • Deploy cultivars with disease resistance and adopt good rotation practices to help avoid build-up of diseases • Ensure seed, soil and equipment are clean to avoid spreading diseases to new fields

WHERE YOU SHOULD GO TO LEARN MORE Get fully informed about Fusarium, Clubroot and Blackleg by visiting agric.gov.ab.ca or call 310–FARM (3276) toll-free in Alberta. You can also pick up a fact sheet at your local agricultural fieldmen’s office.

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