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Volume 40, Number 2 | JANUARY 21, 2014

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PRACTICAL PRODUCTION TIPS FOR THE PRAIRIE FARMER

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Growing quinoa on the Prairies Quinoa’s gluten-free seeds have filled a niche for years, but as the crop grows in popularity, a Saskatchewan company is seeking more growers

BY LISA GUENTHER

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p until four years ago, (quinoa) markets were very small and limited,” says Joe Dutcheshen, president of Northern Quinoa Corporation, based in Saskatoon.

The crop was initially restricted to the celiac or gluten-intolerant market and health food stores.

“It wasn’t until Oprah Winfrey, I believe, did a show on it about four years ago or so that the phones started ringing,” Dutcheshen says.

Until that point, Northern Quinoa heavily leaned on other products such as lentils, wild rice and milled flax seed.

Seed supply limited the company’s contracted quinoa acres to 1,500 in 2013. In 2014, Dutcheshen says they hope to contract a minimum of 5,000 acres, and would ramp up to 15,000 acres.

Northern Quinoa propagates its own seed, which it provides to farmers with the production contracts. Farmers pay $40 per acre for seed, half up front, and half when the first load is delivered. The company buys the entire crop and guarantees a price when farmers sign the contract.

In 2013, Northern Quinoa paid $0.60 per pound for conventional quinoa, and $0.90/lb for organic.

Dutcheshen expects that they’ll offer higher prices next year due to rising demand.

Quinoa yields can range from 300 to over 2,000 pounds per acre.

Dutcheshen considers anything less than 1,000 lb/ac disappointing for conventional farmers.

Northern Quinoa estimates the dockage when the seed is delivered, and pays 50 per cent on delivery.

The remaining 50 per cent is paid once the seed has been cleaned and the dockage calculated. In 2013, dockage was between 20 and 50 per cent. In many cases, stems were still green when farmers harvested, which forced them to take a dirtier sample.

“If the crop is dead ripe, you can see five per cent dockage,” says Dutcheshen.

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PHOTO: EDNA MANNING

Quinoa yields can range from 300 to over 2,000 pounds per acre. Farmers seed quinoca exactly the same way they would seed canola.

If insects or weather destroy the crop, Northern Quinoa will send out an inspector. Farmers don’t have to pay the last installment if the inspector decides the crop is a write-off.

Northern Quinoa also has a Mexican office to supply milled flax and quinoa into the Mexican market. The company sells quinoa to ingredient buyers who mix it into bread, cereal, crackers, and other products. The company also has its own retail brand, NorQuin, which includes quinoa grain and flakes, and toasted quinoa.

Traditionally quinoa was organic, partly because it was sold in health food stores, and partly because South American farm-

ers only produced organic quinoa at first, Michael Dutcheshen, general manager, explains. But Michael says ingredient buyers aren’t necessarily using quinoa in organic products.

“They’re buying organic because that’s what they had access to before and they would buy conventional if there was any cost benefit, which we can offer as a Canadian source,” Michael says.

There is still a little more interest in organic quinoa in the retail market, Michael adds. “But as an ingredient, probably a little more interest in conventional.”

The market is also demanding Canadian-grown quinoa, Dutcheshen says.

GROWING QUINOA Quinoa is known as a hardy plant, able to grow in a range of conditions. But pulling in a good yield requires farmers to be a little picky about where they’ll grow the broadleaf.

Dutcheshen says, “It will almost grow anywhere, but the problem is, will it make seed?”

The Inca began growing quinoa before 3,000 years B.C., and so the plant adapted to cool regions. The ancient crop has been grown commercially in the Colorado Rockies since the mid-1980s, according to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Centre’s website.

As for the Canadian Prairies, Dutcheshen says the specialty

In This Issue

crop grows best around Highway 16 and north, from Winnipeg to Edmonton. “When we go south of that line, quite often we lose production to heat sterilization.”

And though quinoa can be seeded into poor soils, that will yield a poor crop, Dutcheshen says. “If you want a good crop, you want to put it on your good land. And so wherever you can grow good canola, is where you’ll grow good quinoa.”

Quinoa, a close relative of lamb’s quarters, likes to keep its socks dry.

It will do well in sandy soil if it’s a wet year and it has nitrogen. Clay soils work for the crop in dry years.

Organic growers have a tough time growing quinoa because

» CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Wheat & Chaff ..................

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Features ............................

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Columns ........................... 11 Crop Advisor’s Casebook

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Machinery & Shop ............ 17 Cattleman’s Corner .......... 24

Grow better lentils

ANGELA LOVELL PAGE 6

Evaluating the Dodge Ram SCOTT GARVEY PAGE 20

FarmLife ............................ 29

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JANUARY 21, 2014

Wheat & Chaff STAMPEDE

BY JERRY PALEN LEEANN MINOGUE

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“OK, OK, would you like him better if I drop the price say — $500 bucks?”

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’m the first to admit this is not a great photo. The lighting is terrible, the skaters are blurry. The hoarfrost on the ceiling gives the place a creepy feel. But what I wanted to capture was how much fun those boys are having.

Our farm is near a very small town. It’s a town with no stores or restaurants, but it does have a two-sheet natural-ice curling rink.

We don’t have enough curlers for a regular league so, until bonspiel season, kids can skate on the curling ice.

If you grew up near a natural ice rink, you know what it’s like.

Either it’s 40 below and you go home with frostbite, or it’s minus two and water drips from the ceiling and makes lumps on the ice.

For added effect, the Griffin rink has a row of support beams running down its length, separating the two sheets of curling ice.

“It’s good for them,” one of the dads said the other night.

“The Griffin kids will be famous for being great at skating around corners.”

Our seven-year old plays hockey in an organized hockey league in Weyburn. His team of 10 kids has four — yes, four! — great volunteer coaches. They get plenty of ice time on super-smooth artificial ice that’s maintained by paid professional staff, with a Zamboni.

That’s all great. But really, you can’t beat skating at a small-town rink with no organized timetable and minimal supervision.

Our son has a great time horsing around playing shinny with whoever happens to show up.

He’s learning to be patient with the younger kids who don’t quite know what they’re doing, just like the older kids are doing their best to be patient with him. All of the kids are improving their skating skills, getting some exercise, spending time with the neighbours and learning how to negotiate their own rules.

At the Griffin rink, instead of a Zamboni, we skate around with a scraper to clean off the ice, then shovel the shavings out the open window. A handful of volunteers take turns dragging out a hose to flood the ice. The season is very short — you can’t always count on having natural ice ready to go before Christmas.

One of the other mothers was just getting her boy’s skates tied and sending him on his way when Matt and I showed up at the rink last week. “Small towns are the best places to raise kids,” she said, watching him grin as he hit the ice.

SURVEY QUESTIONS

Find us on Twitter: Leeann Minogue is @grainmuse Lisa Guenther is @LtoG Lee Hart is @hartattacks Scott Garvey is @machineryeditor

In the last issue of Grainews in 2013, we ran a story about correction lines and how then came to exist, written by freelance writer Danell van Staveren. Last week this email came in from Leonard Kostesky, a Grainews subscriber: I read the article by Danell van

Staveren in the Dec. 2 issue with great interest. I often wonder about the correction lines, and how they worked.

However the article does not jive with what happens in my area of Manitoba. First, our roads are numbered differently. The numbers of the roads are far easier to figure out.

Starting at the U.S. border, the first road is 1N and every road going north increases in numeric value.

The same works from east to west, starting at the Principal Meridian west of Winnipeg.

I looked at our land ownership maps covering a large area and found that at road 137W, there was no offset in the roads at the correction line.

Any road to the east had the offset to the east. The roads to the west were offset to the west. They followed the article’s description of a greater offset as you moved in one direction, be it east or west of road 137W. On a side note, not sure if the author knew that the roads are not 5,280 feet apart as we were lead to believe in school. When the survey was done, they measured 5,280 feet (which is 80 chains). Then there was a chain and a half left for road allowance (99 feet) and then they measured another 5,280 feet. This is how we are able to get 640 acres in a section of land. So, the roads are really 5,379 feet apart. Keep up the good work on an excellent paper!

I called Danell to ask her about this.

“He’s right about that,” she said, when she read Leonard’s email. Apparently, Leonard’s part of Manitoba was settled before the rest and surveyed a little differently. “The entire West was settled in five surveys. That was Number 1,” Danell told me.

“In the first survey all the east/ west survey lines were surveyed with road allowances and numbered consecutively south to north. In the third survey, which most of the West was surveyed under, each east/west mile was surveyed, but it was only every other survey line that was surveyed with a road allowance.

“The survey line without a road allowance is called a ‘blind line.’

Every survey line in the third survey is also numbered consecutively from south to north, but not all survey lines will appear on a road map because only half of them are roads.

“My only explanation for why 137W doesn’t jog is that sometimes surveyors would adjust for errors by taking distance from or adding to jogs. Perhaps an adjustment was made at 137W, or maybe that was the error.”

Danell knew about these survey differences, but there was just too much information to include all of the details in her article. “I had too much to pick and choose from,” she said, sounding just a little more excited than you’d expect someone to be about land surveys. “I didn’t have room to put it all in.”

Danell had even done some research into the chains. “The road allowance in the first survey totalled 99 feet, or 1.5 chains.

Here,” she said, meaning in southeast Saskatchewan where we both live, “in the third survey, the road allowances are only 66 feet, or one chain.”

Her enthusiasm took me in — it was starting to sound interesting, so I looked this up. Yes, the early surveyors trekked across Western Canada carrying 66-foot long steel chains to measure the land. Imagine that job!

Hauling the chains wouldn’t have been the worst of it. The Prairies were filled with mosquitos and buffalo in those days. And it would’ve have been too hot or too cold a lot of the time, for surveyors travelling on horseback rather than air-conditioned SUVs. With no hotels, restaurants or 7-11s, the job would also have been an extended wilderness hiking trip.

The work wasn’t all lifting chains and jotting down numbers. To get their measurements right, here on the flat prairie, Danell told me, “they had to build their own towers.”

It was truly an amazing undertaking. As Danell puts it, “They surveyed one-twelfth of the Earth for the first time.”

Danell is so very enthusiastic about this topic, I suggested she should write a book, or at the very least, another article for Grainews.

She’ll have a lot of material to draw from. The provinces have archived a lot data, and, Danell says, “A lot of the documentation from the Dominion Land Survey is stored somewhere in Ottawa.

It takes up 9,000 filing cabinets!”

Leeann

JANUARY 21, 2014

grainews.ca /

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Wheat & Chaff Farm safety

Surviving a cold-water emergency

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n our last article, we reviewed the risks associated with frozen water bodies such as dugouts on the farm. Now we look at what to do if someone falls through the ice.

To begin, unless you are trapped in your vehicle or can’t swim, hypothermia is your worst enemy. Hypothermia occurs when a person’s body loses heat faster than it produces it. Mild hyperthermia sets in when a person’s core body temperature drops below 35 C (or below 95 F), while severe hypothermia occurring when body temperature drops below 27.8 C (82 F).

An average core body temperature is 37 C (or 98.6 F). Factors such as a person’s age, body fat, body mass, drug and alcohol consumption, medications, and medical conditions such as diabetes and thyroid issues impact vulnerability to hyperthermia.

When exposed to cold temperatures, 90 per cent of heat loss occurs through the skin, while 10 per cent is exhaled through the lungs. Since water is very good at transferring heat away from your

body, cold water immersion can increase heat loss by up to 50 per cent. Normally, the heart and liver produce most of an individual’s body heat. But when immersed in cold water, these organs slow down, resulting in a protective shut down to preserve heat and safeguard the brain. As lower body temperatures set it, brain activity, heart rate, and breathing slow, causing confusion, fatigue and hampering a person’s ability to respond. Left untreated, hypothermia can result in a complete failure of the heart and respiratory system, leading to dead. In other words, if you or someone you know falls through the ice, every minute counts.

If you fall in, try to stay calm.

You have probably aspirated water involuntarily as gasping is a normal response to the cold water shock. Cough to clear your lungs and call for help. Resist the urge to climb out where you fell in as the ice is probably weak in this area. Don’t remove your winter clothing. Heavy clothes can trap air and provide some warmth and buoyancy in the water. Try to use

Weather Lore

Happy Groundhog Day

this buoyancy to float on your stomach. Reach forward and place your arms on the ice but don’t press down, as this might break the ice further. Kick with your legs to propel your torso onto the ice. Once on the ice, don’t get up.

Identify the shoreline and roll or crawl away from the open area and head towards shore, spreading your arms and legs out to distribute your weight.

If you are near someone when they fall in, call for help or have someone call emergency personnel right away. Rescuing someone from cold water is dangerous. The safest means of retrieval is from the shore. If you have already prepared for an emergency, there should be a personal floatation device (PFD), pole, weighted rope, ladder, or other retrieval devices nearby. If you can reach the person from shore, lie down and extend or throw the retrieval device to them. If you must venture onto the ice, put on a PFD, grab your retrieval device (a ladder will help distribute your weight), and depending on how far the break is from shore, walk or crawl

You might be from the Prairies if...

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roundhog Day, on February 2, was originally celebrated as Candlemas, a feast day of the early Church.

Candlemas day, Candlemas day Half your wood and half your hay The hope was that on this day, winter would be at least half over. Various animals such as the badger, the hedgehog and the bear were drawn into the lore.

At the day of Candlemas, Cold in the air, and snow on the grass; If the sun then entice the bear from his den, He turns around thrice and goes back again.

The groundhog only came into the picture when the legend made its way to North America. But like the bear, if he sees his shadow he goes back into his den, there’s six more weeks of weather for us while Mr. or Ms. Groundhog sensibly returns to hibernation. † Shirley Byers’ book “Never Sell Your Hen on a Rainy Day” explores over 100 weather rhymes and sayings.

It is available from McNally Robinson at: www. mcnallyrobinson.com.

slowly out onto the ice. Bring along a stick or pole to check the ice as you advance towards the open area. Once you are near the break, crawl if you aren’t already and extend the retrieval device to the injured party and have them kick as they pull themselves out or you pull them to safety.

Once an individual has been moved to shore, assess their medical situation. If emergency medical personnel have yet to arrive, ensure they are conscious, breathing and have a pulse. If they are not breathing or lack a pulse, begin CPR immediately (check your local Red Cross, St. John’s Ambulance, or Lifesaving Society for courses in your region).

Even if the individual is conscious, their body temperature will continue to drop unless emergency measures are taken. Move the individual as gently as possible to a sheltered location that is warm, dry, and out of the elements. Remove or cut away any wet clothes. Avoid unnecessary movements such as vigorously massaging or rubbing as this can trigger cardiac arrest. Replace wet

clothing with warm, dry clothes and cover the individual with blankets from head to toe. Offer warm liquids, but avoid alcohol or anything with caffeine as these chemicals speed up heat loss. If you must use hot packs, electric blankets, or heating pads, apply them to the torso, armpits, neck and groin. But be cautious to avoid direct contact with the skin, as this could cause a burn or irregular heartbeats. Also, avoid using heating pads on the arms and legs as this could force cold blood back towards the heart, lungs and brain, causing a potentially fatal drop in core body temperature.

If no other warming methods are available, use your own body heat to keep the individual warm until help arrives.

Hopefully, you will never have to experience a cold water emergency on your farm. But if you do, take comfort in knowing the steps you can take to minimize injuries and increase the chances of survival for everyone who lives or works on your farm. † Canadian Agriculture Safety Association — www.casa-acsa.ca

Agronomy tips… from the field

With pulses, focus on a good start

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You’ve ever gone out in minus 30 degree weather and said it’s a little nicer today.

photo contest

GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOT Yvonne Kennedy took this photo. Yvonne and her husband Denis sent it in, along with this note: “This is our daughter, Susan, and her daughter, Miriam, talking to the self-appointed CEO of the farm, a cat named Johnny. Miriam is thrilled with the animals. We can see delighted excitement in her face and clenched fists! We farm about 400 acres of forages in central Alberta. We have enjoyed Grainews for many years.

We’re sending Yvonne and Denis a cheque for $25.

Send your best shot to leeann.minogue@fbcpublishing.com. Please send only one or two photos at a time and include your name and address, the names of anyone in the photo, where the photo was taken and a bit about what was going on that day. A little writeup about your farm is welcome, too. Please ensure that images are of high resolution (1 MB is preferred), and if the image includes a person, we need to be able to see their face clearly.

Leeann

here’s a reason that crop yields in Western Canada have grown incrementally over the years: Growers pay attention to the details. And that’s very obvious in pulse production where these crops can pay high returns. So let me offer you two thoughts to consider for pulse crop establishment that can pay back significantly at harvest.

Get your seed tested in a lab. With farm-saved seed, a simple germination test may not tell you the whole story.

Laboratory testing will give you a better understanding of the seeds’ potential, including vigor and germination. The lab can also detect the presence of seed-borne diseases and residual herbicides that can ultimately harm the crop’s yield potential right from the start.

Consider a seed treatment with an insecticide. With the early seeding of pulses into cool spring soils, growers are seeing the value of a fungicide seed treatment. But over the past few years there has been an increased incidence of wireworm and pea leaf weevil in both peas and lentils. A seed treatment that includes an insecticide can give your pulse crop some early-season protection from these pests.

How well your pulse crop gets established in the spring sets the stage for how well they’ll yield at harvest. Sweating the details with these crops is well worth the effort. †

This agronomy tip is brought to you by Ted Labun, Technical Lead for Seedcare with Syngenta Canada Inc. Ted has worked for Syngenta since 1981, and has focused on seed treatments for the last 13 years.

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JANUARY 21, 2014

Cover Stories Special crops

Quinoa gaining recognition Ancient grains like quinoa are becoming more popular with consumers. Northern Quinoa is a big part of this movement

By Edna Manning

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ncient grains are receiving increased attention from consumers looking for healthy alternatives to conventional grains such as wheat, corn and rice. Quinoa, although technically a seed, is one of the ancient “grains” that are gaining a foothold in the marketplace for its nutrient content and delicious flavour.

Quinoa on the prairies In 1992 Joe Dutcheshen, an innovative farmer and pharmacist from Kamsack, Sask., began to take a closer look at the potential of cultivating and marketing quinoa. Quinoa is native to the Andes Mountains in South America where the climate is similar to the northern Prairies. He was particularly interested in quinoa because of its nutritional benefits as well as the plant’s tolerance to frost.

He also felt that the value-added possibilities of the seed would increase its marketability.

By 1994, after several years of success in cultivating quinoa on his own farm, Dutcheshen and a group of local area producers and businessmen formed Northern Quinoa Corporation. Joe’s son Michael is currently the general manager.

“When we started the business, basically the market didn’t know what quinoa was and we probably had about 30 per cent of the supply. As South America started getting more into the quinoa business, we had to compete with them on price and rely on other grains such as flaxseed, buckwheat, millet, wild rice and pulses,” says Michael.

The gain in popularity of quinoa took off in 2008 about the time Northern Quinoa began introducing quinoa flour, quinoa flakes, gluten-free pastas and toasted quinoa under

its retail brand NorQuin. With the seed incorporated into familiar processed foods such as pasta, customers began to take a second look. These products provide people who are gluten-intolerant with important alternatives.

Quinoa also appeals to cooks who are looking for distinctive new tastes and textures. The seed supplies a different range of nutrients than conventional grains. Quinoa is a complete protein since it contains all nine essential amino acids. Other important nutrients include calcium, iron, phosphorus and Vitamin E. Northern Quinoa will continue to concentrate on its retail brand initiative because of the growing interest from retailers in domestic quinoa. “Consumers who support the local food movement are willing to pay a premium for food that is produced locally.

They want to know where their food comes from.”

Although Northern Quinoa has its loyal customers who prefer buying local, and enjoy the nutty flavour of the golden quinoa grown in Canada, the market generally has been familiar only with the white quinoa grown in Bolivia.

Quinoa varieties Michael says their company has focused on growing and selling two varieties — the golden quinoa and the black. “The golden quinoa is also grown in South America and is served in cuisines there, but you rarely see it come here. It’s not as pretty as the white variety, but we’re happy with the golden quinoa which is better suited to Canada and our customers prefer the nutty flavour, which is the base for other value-added products.”

The black quinoa is actually a tri-colour, varying from warm gold to red to rich black.

The whole grain is used as a rice substitute, a side dish, breakfast cereal or in any recipe calling for quinoa.

In 2012, Northern Quinoa moved its facility from Kamsack to Saskatoon. “Because our product is innovative, it’s beneficial to be in a larger center where we have better access to technology, supplies and equipment. We also have more of a presence for customers and growers here in Saskatoon,” says Michael. A storefront was added to encourage customers to browse and purchase NorQuin products.

“Our goal is to be the company that takes quinoa to the next level. Quinoa is extremely versatile. It’s a vegetarian source of protein.

It’s gluten-free, GMO-free and anybody can enjoy it. We want to supply the ingredient market with more options for different applications. When customers call and ask for quinoa, I find out what their application is, and then I’m able to provide them with a product that fits their needs.”

NorQuin products are Kosher certified by the Kashruth Council of Canada and available in Organic Certified by Pro-Cert Organic Systems Ltd. Northern Quinoa does not carry any GMO products in its facility.

“We are currently the largest quinoa processor in North America and our goal is to have quinoa as a diversified crop for Saskatchewan. We want people driving along our highways to able to see quinoa growing.

There are a lot of opportunities for the crop and after 20 years we’re still learning how to best use it,” says Michael.

For more information, visit www.quinoa. com, or phone 306-933-9525; toll free 866368-9304. Retail products can be purchased at the Northern Quinoa office at 3002 Millar Avenue in Saskatoon. † Edna Manning writes from Saskatoon, Sask.

growing quinoa on the prairies it doesn’t compete with weeds, Dutcheshen says. During early growth, the plant focuses on root development, and so weeds can get ahead of it during that stage.

Northern Quinoa is working on registering herbicides. But right now, the key to managing weeds is to seed into a clean field.

It’s best if the previous crop doesn’t contain gluten. Some quinoa flows into the gluten-free market, and customers are wary of contamination. But the quinoa market is expanding, and Northern Quinoa will accept quinoa grown after gluten-producing crops, as long as they know about it.

Quinoa can also be planted after canola, as long as volunteers are controlled, says Dutcheshen.

Mid-May is the ideal seeding time, but farmers can seed two weeks on either side. Crops seeded on May 19 are usually harvested by the third week of September, Dutcheshen says.

“We’ve taken it right into June, and because of its frost-tolerance, we’ve been able to pull crops

off later on,” Dutcheshen says.

Quinoa can handle three or four degrees of frost once it’s finished flowering, he says.

Farmers seed quinoa exactly the way they’d seed canola, Dutcheshen says. They can use the same equipment — farmers have used air seeders, double disc drills, hoe drills, and even broadcast it, Dutcheshen says.

Seeding depth should be a half inch to an inch maximum. The seeding rate is about 10 lb/ac.

Fertility needs are similar to canola, Dutcheshen says. Under wet conditions, farmers might see sclerotinia and fusarium in their quinoa, but neither disease is a major problem.

Flea beetles and bertha armyworms will chew on quinoa once they’ve exhausted their preferred crops. Stem boring maggots sometimes blow in on strong south winds, and are a problem if the plant is already stressed. Beet webworms migrate when alfalfa is being cut, and will gnaw on quinoa seeds.

Dutcheshen says the only insecticide option right now is diatomaceous earth, which is used in organic crop production.

“Combine settings are almost identical to canola,” says Dutcheshen.

Farmers can straight cut or

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Special crop production » CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

1 6 6 6 D u b l i n Av e n u e , W i n n i p e g , MB R 3 H 0 H 1 w w w. g r a i n e w s . c a

New quinoa variety

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orthern Quinoa spent 14 years developing a new variety, called Nor-Quin, which it expects will be registered by next year.

“It’s the most vigorous and earliest-maturing variety that we know of,” says Dutcheshen Dutcheshen, president of Northern Quinoa Corporation. He hopes to work with certified growers or a seed development company to propagate seed.

The new variety matures in 105 to 107 days, shaving off eight to 15 days. It produces a tan seed, which Dutcheshen refers to as Golden Quinoa. †

Lisa Guenther

swath quinoa, but if the crop over ripens while standing, wind can shatter it. It can also sprout in the swath if it’s rained on. Sprouting is a particular problem if seeds touch soil or the crop sits in clumps.

The plant matures from the top down. Farmers with straight cutters can cut high, harvesting the ripe seed and leaving the immature plant.

Quinoa growers use the same moisture chart as canola. Anything under 10 per cent is dry, less than 13 per cent is tough, and over 13 per cent is damp, Dutcheshen says.

He adds quinoa seed aerates easily.

When leaves and stems start

changing from yellow to brown, farmers need to get their combines ready.

Seeds grow in clusters, similar to sorghum, Dutcheshen says. “If you can grab that cluster, and give it a squeeze, and you find seeds in your hand, then it’s ready to go.”

Farmers interested in growing quinoa will find contact information for Northern Quinoa at www.quinoa.com/contact_us.html. Northern Quinoa staff will help farmers with agronomic questions, such as deciding when to harvest.

Lisa Guenther is a field editor with Grainews based at Livelong, Sask. Contact her at Lisa.

Guenther@fbcpublishing.com.

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JANUARY 21, 2014

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Features FARM SAFETY

Watching the farm Before you pack your passport and head south to find some warmth, take some time to leave things in order for your farm-sitter

BY LISA GUENTHER

W

inter is setting in, and that means farmers and ranchers across Western Canada are plotting escapes to warmer climates. Before fleeing subzero temperatures, spare a thought for the poor soul holding down the fort.

Whether or not you have someone actually staying in your house, someone should at least check in regularly.

Your home insurance may require someone to check your house while you are away. Requirements vary depending on the policy and length of your vacation, so contact your insurance broker for details.

Leaving your place empty for weeks also opens you up to potential theft. Have someone inspect grain bins, machinery sheds, and the house regularly to deter thieves and report any theft promptly.

And of course if you have livestock, someone has to feed them, check water bowls and fences, and make sure the animals are in good health.

One man’s common sense is another’s vague instruction Here are five tips to make sure things go smoothly for your farm sitter.

1. KNOW YOUR FARM SITTER’S LIMITATIONS Before you fly away, think about what your farm sitter can reasonably be expected to handle. Is your farm sitter an active farmer? Is she involved in the farm’s day to day operations or does she only help out seasonally?

Greg Stamp and his family operate a 2,800 acre pedigreed seed farm near Enchant, Alberta. He has knowledgeable family and employees to keep an eye on things while he’s gone.

But Greg usually takes emails and phone calls about seed sales when he’s away. If he can’t do that, he’ll leave an alternate contact on his voicemail.

My parents have around 100 cows, a number of yearlings, and too many horses (truthfully, half are mine). I can handle feeding chop, round up anything that rubs down a gate, and even prime a jet pump.

But, I can’t (or won’t) drive the tractor, so Dad feeds up before they leave for winter vacation. My husband or a neighbour can run the tractor if the cows blow through feed too quickly.

2. CLEARLY OUTLINE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE Greg Stamp often has someone check grain bin temperatures while he’s gone. He leaves it up to his

family or staff to decide whether the trend is still flat or dropping.

“Everyone we have involved in the business is capable of understanding the read-outs or potential problems,” says Greg.

The Stamps also have shops and a farm office that need to be checked to make sure any stored paints and chemicals, along with water lines, don’t freeze.

But one man’s common sense is another’s vague instruction, especially if the farm sitter isn’t an active farmer.

When I’m cow-sitting, I like to note the dates I’ll need to open

gates to feed cattle on a calendar.

And I make sure I know what Dad is talking about when he refers to, for example, “the north gate.”

There are, after all, a few north gates on the home quarters.

3. NOTE HAZARDS Don’t assume your farm sitter has a good grasp of farm safety, especially if she doesn’t spend a lot of time on the farm.

Do you have an aggressive cow or bull that you’re reluctant to ship? Let your farm sitter know (or better yet, just ship it).

Is your farm sitter going to be feeding yearlings chop while you’re gone? Make sure he knows the system so he doesn’t get kicked in the teeth. I move them to a separate pen before I pour pellets.

I usually leave a stock dog at the gate, and just call him off when I’m done, instead of opening and closing gates.

And if your farm sitter is going to be moving bales with the tractor, make sure she knows how to avoid tipping the beast.

Grain farms have their share of dangers, too. For example, stored fuel and chemicals are a worry if there’s a fire. Let your farm sitter know where that stuff is stored so he can stay safe and inform fire fighters. Signs on storage sheds are a good idea, too.

4. IS EVERYTHING WORKING? When it comes to wintering livestock, I think the most urgent problems probably arise from water system breakdowns. Double check well

pumps and watering bowl heaters.

While you’re at it, you might as well check gates, too, because we all know if one thing is going to go wrong, everything is going to go wrong at the same time.

Of course, unforeseen problems pop up on the farm. List neighbours your farm sitter can call in case of an emergency, and consider checking in once in a while via Skype or email.

5. GET A GIFT Think about how you’ll reward your farm sitter. Does she prefer souvenirs or rum? Leather goods or real vanilla?

Personally, I accept Mexicanmade, plain, long-sleeved cotton tunics as payment for a job fairly well done. I prefer the ones made from unbleached material.

Free pasture for my many horses works, too. † Lisa Guenther is a field editor with Grainews based at Livelong, Sask. Contact her at Lisa.

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JANUARY 21, 2014

Features CROP PRODUCTION

How to grow good lentils Farmers searching for alternatives to wheat and canola may be looking to lentils for 2014. Get the best lentil yields

BY ANGELA LOVELL

L

entils have traditionally been a good rotation crop for many farmers, providing a cash crop while reducing the requirement for nitrogen in subsequent crops, especially cereals.

There is always a steady demand for lentils, which are used mainly for human consumption, although prices do fluctuate. Canada is the world’s leading exporter of lentils, which are classified by seed size and have two main market classes: green and red. Green lentils tend to be larger seeded than red and both can be

PHOTO: DALE RISULA, SASKATCHEWAN AGRICULTURE

Lentils can supply most of their nitrogen requirement by fixing nitrogen from the air when inoculated with rhizobia.

DestineD for greatness

marketed as whole seeds or split.

Canada grows both types, and facilities for de-hulling and splitting red lentils have been built in Saskatchewan, which still produces more lentils than any other Canadian province.

FERTILIZATION Lentils can supply most of their nitrogen requirement by fixing nitrogen from the air when inoculated with rhizobia.

Research by Agriculture and AgriFood Canada at Swift Current has shown that the yields and protein levels of cereal crops, such as spring or durum wheat,

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were best when grown on pea or lentil stubble.

Lentils do best in soil with pH levels of six to eight and will not tolerate water-logging, flooding, or soils with high salinity.

It’s important not to overfertilize lentils, especially when it comes to nitrogen. Lentils have an indeterminate growth habit and can continue to flower as long as growing conditions remain favourable for vegetative growth, so they require a certain amount of moisture or nitrogen stress to encourage seed set and hasten maturity.

Whether or not supplemental nitrogen fertilizer is required will depend upon the nitrogen already available in the soil.

As the supply of nitrogen from soil and fertilizer increases, the amount of nitrogen fixed by the lentil plant generally decreases.

When the combined levels of soil and fertilizer nitrogen reach 25 to 35 pounds per acre, adding additional nitrogen will reduce nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen levels greater than 50 lbs./ac. can dramatically delay nodulation and reduce or eliminate nitrogen fixation.

Early nitrogen deficiency can result if soil nitrogen levels are less than 15 lbs./ac. or if lentils are seeded into a very dry seed bed.

In these cases a low level of starter nitrogen — around 18 lbs./ac. — may benefit the crop in its early growth stages, but higher starter nitrogen levels have not been proven to increase overall yield.

Brandon Babich has been growing lentils on his farm near Moose Jaw since 1996 and says he generally adds 20 lbs./ac. of starter nitrogen and 20 lbs/ac. of phosphorus at seeding. He usually fol-

Lentil seeding rate

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his example of a formula for a lentil seeding rate uses CDC Sovereign, a green lentil variety that has an average seed size of 66 grams per 1,000 seeds.

In this formula, the seeding rate is equal to the target number of plants times the seeding rate times 10, divided by the percentage of expected survival.

That is: Seeding rate (lb./ac.) = (target number of plants/ft² x 1,000 kernel seed weight in grams x 10) divided by field emergence or survival.

With a target of 12 plants per square foot and a 95 per cent chance of survival, the formula gives us: (12 plants/ ft² x 66 grams x 10) / 95. This equals 7,920/95 = 83. The recommended seeding rate resulting from this formula is 83 pounds per acre. †

Angela Lovell

JANUARY 21, 2014

grainews.ca /

7

Features lows lentils with a cereal crop and cuts back on the amount of nitrogen he would normally apply, but tends to err on the side of caution when he follows lentils with canola. “We have put canola on there too but we still fertilize heavy even though the lentils were on there before,” he says.

Phosphorus plays an important role in the nitrogen fixing process and lentils also require high levels of P to promote good root development and vigorous emergence. The maximum safe rate of actual phosphate applied with seed is 20 lbs./ac. This rate should be reduced if the seedbed does not have adequate moisture or seedling damage and reduced stands can result. If a higher rate of phosphorus is required, side banding the fertilizer is recommended. Although lentils grown on soils that test low in phosphorus may respond to phosphate fertilizer, there may not always be significant yield increases, although phosphorus may help improve frost, disease and drought tolerance.

Babich’s crops usually average 30 to 35 bushels per acre.

To achieve these yields, lentils require about the same amount of sulphur as required for a 40 bu./ac. wheat crop. Soil testing is advised to determine whether the soil is sulphur deficient and allow for supplementation.

says Babich. “Air seeders have lots of compartments on the tanks now and that gives lots of flexibility, so you can put your granular inoculant in one of your tanks and just blow it through the air seeder into the ground with the lentils. You can meter it out to your machine and if it tells you to put three pounds or five pounds on you’ve got it metered out and you know exactly what’s going on when it’s supposed to be going on. It’s a lot better system.”

SEEDING The recommended seeding depth for lentils is one to three inches. The target plant population is 12 per square foot to pro-

DISEASE AND WEEDS Lentils are poor competitors.

It’s important to control perennial weeds such as Canada thistle, sow thistle and quack grass in years prior to seeding lentils. Volunteer canola, mustard, flax, wheat and barley should be removed before seeding lentils as they are not easily controlled in-crop. Weeds such as Russian thistle and kochia cause severe competition with the crop and significantly affect yield and quality.

Babich is having some problems with resistant weeds.

“We’ve been growing Clearfield lentils for a while and you can spray Odyssey on them and so weed control is a lot better than

want to spray it when it’s hot and dry, like a hot, sunny day of 25 C or 28 C and it will burn the mustard. But if you spray it on a cool day it takes longer for the lentils to metabolize and then it’s on the lentils for too long and can burn and, in some spots, kill the lentils.”

Lentils can be susceptible to soil residues of some herbicides, so it’s best to consult provincial guides to crop protection for information about which herbicides are registered for grassy and broadleaf weed control in lentils.

Although lentil varieties have varying levels of disease resistance, to avoid problems with diseases like ascochyta blight and anthracnose, lentils should ide-

Lentils are poor competitors

INOCULATION What’s most important, says Babich, is to make sure the lentils are inoculated correctly with the proper rhizobium strain of bacteria. The rhizobia enter the root hairs of the plant and form nodules, which receive energy and nutrients from the plant, in return for which the bacteria living inside the nodules convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form useable for the plant.

Rhizobia bacteria are short lived.

Inoculated seed needs to be planted as soon as possible into moist soil, especially if a liquid or peat form of inoculant has been used.

Babich says the introduction of granular inoculants has made the process a lot easier. Shelf life of the rhizobia in liquid and peat inoculants is only six to 24 hours on the seed. “You would only have a certain period of time to get the seed into the ground otherwise you would have to re-inoculate it,” says Babich.

Granular inoculants have a much longer shelf life and are applied in-furrow with the seed. “With the granular if you get rained on or something happens, you just stop and whenever you can start back up again, you just continue on,” he adds.

Rhizobium bacteria may also be sensitive to direct contact with granular fertilizer so tank mixing fertilizer with inoculated seed is not recommended.

Inoculants are sensistive to some seed-applied fungicides, so when using both a fungicide and inoculant, the fungicide should be applied first, allowed to dry and the inoculant applied just prior to seeding. Granular inoculants are less sensitive to seed-applied fungicides that other formulations because they don’t come into direct contact with the seed treatment.

Technology has made inoculation a lot easier and more accurate,

ing the land is necessary, even though he doesn’t have a lot of rocks on his land, because of the type of harvesting equipment he uses. “We use a flex header that sits right on the ground and it flexes with the contour of the land,” he says. “It there are any rocks there it’ll pull them up to the surface and they’ll be sitting on top. So we roll it and it punches all the rocks down and flattens the land out to be able to harvest it. Even though we don’t have a lot of rocks we still roll because we want to punch the furrows down from the air seeder so that everything is flat.”

Babich, like many lentil growers, rolls his land immediately after seeding and prior to the crop emerging. Rolling after the crop emerges up to the five- to sevennode stage has not been shown to have any significant effect on yields and recommendations are to roll when plants are slightly wilted and the soil surface is dry for best results, and to avoid rolling on wet soils or if the crop is stressed by extreme heat, frost or herbicide application.

“We have rolled it when the lentils have been up out of the ground too,” says Babich. “They say sometimes that’ll help stress the lentils out a bit because lentils need to be stressed to pod.

But usually it’s just routine for us when we seed it to leave it a day or two to dry out on top and then we’ll roll it.”

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vide competition against weeds and ensure higher yields. In areas with high moisture, wider row spacing is recommended to reduce the density of the crop canopy and prevent poor pod set, foliar disease development and risk of lodging.

Seeding rate varies with seed size. Seeding should be done as early as possible once average soil is above 5 C and into moist but not excessively wet soil. Early seeding helps the crop compete with weeds and prevent flower blast by high temperatures during flowering and may also increase the height and size of the plant, which allows the lower pods to develop higher above the ground for easier harvest.

it used to be, but now we’re running into Group 2 resistant mustard here because every second or third year we were growing lentils and just like any other crop, eventually if you’re using the same chemistry the weeds (can) get resistant to it,” he says.

Because Odyssey is a Group 2 herbicide, Babich also uses Sencor, a Group 5 herbicide, to try and control wild mustard, but says he has to be a lot more careful with this product, which has very specific application considerations. “The lentils have to be a certain node size and you have to make sure you put (Sencor) on at the correct rate,” says Babich. “You have to watch for weather and conditions. You

ally only be grown in the same field every third or fourth year.

Shortening rotations will increase disease pressure and will catch up to you in the long run, says Babich. “We were pushing our rotations every second or third year and now we’re getting lots of diseases,” says Babich, who has gone back to a one in four year lentil rotation. Provincial guides to crop protection will also have information about fungicides that are registered for use on lentils.

LAND ROLLING Lentil fields should be rolled to provide a smooth and level surface for harvest. Babich says roll-

Desiccants are commonly used in pulse crops to dry down the crop, give more even maturity and allow for earlier harvest.

“You have to pretty much desiccate them or you run into problems where your low spots stay green because of more moisture and your high spots mature earlier,” says Babich. “The whole point of desiccating is to get the field fairly even.”

Babich uses Reglone, a product that works on contact with the plant tissue to rapidly dry down both the crop and any green weeds present that could hamper harvest.

Some producers use a pre-harvest application of glyphosate to try and achieve the same effect, but glyphosate works by killing the plant, which, because it’s systemic can take time and prolong the time to harvest, the reason Babich doesn’t use it as a desiccant.

“We’ve never liked it because when you’ve got all that input into the crop you want to get the desiccant on and get it off the field as quickly as possible and get it in the bin,” says Babich.

“With glyphosate it can extend the period up to ten days or longer before the product actually kills the lentil and you run the risk of weather and everything else. With Reglone, if you get some nice warm days after you spray it, you can be harvesting within five to six days.” † Angela Lovell is a freelance writer, editor and communications specialist living and working in Manitoba. Find her online at www.angelalovell.ca.

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JANUARY 21, 2014

Features Crop production

Friendly Acres 2013 update Many farmers had record crops in 2013. Unfortunately the weather was not so co-operative at Kevin Elmy’s farm

By Kevin Elmy

T

Snow was slowly disappearing through April, later than normal.

Run off was below normal. Perfect.

Then April 30 came. Nineteen inches of snow (about 50 cm) fell.

Heavy wet snow. It turned our yard into a swamp, worse than we have ever seen. Plus, our soybeans still needed to be cleaned.

May was not fun, nor was the first part of June. Cleaning and shipping soybeans in mud was not enjoyable. The winter triticale ended up “winter” killing on hills from the snow and drowning out in the low spots. Our big decision

was to reseed the winter triticale.

The fact that we couldn’t get on to half of the fields made the decision easier. But maybe not the best one.

We did get a couple of fields of canola seeded, L120 for the majority of the acres and then our InVigor variety trial. Not the fields we initially planned to seed, but the the fields that were dry enough to get on by May 20.

We started seeding soybeans on June 22, where we seeded TH 33003R2Y, then started on the TH29002 where we continued until May 27, when it rained 45 mm over two days.

We finished seeding soybean fields June 2 and continued moving out corn, soybean and forage seed, while managing the corn planters, land roller and Valmar out to our customers. Finally a corn planter was home long enough when the land was dry enough to get our grazing corn trial seeded. The field was scheduled in 2012 to be seeded to corn.

We seeded six acres of the 40 to corn, and the rest was cover crop blends. In 2013, remnants of the excess water lingered, so seeding was delayed. June 14 is later than I would have liked to seed, but that was when it got seeded. On June

Always read and follow label directions. FMC and Authority are trademarks and Investing in farming’s future is a service mark of FMC Corporation. ©2014 FMC Corporation. All rights reserved. F101-032481 1/14 Kochia image by Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

he winter of 2012-13 was a fairly busy winter, talking to people about soybean and corn production, going to trade shows and meetings and writing a few articles. Our winter triticale had a good start in the fall. October was a bit wet, with 5 inches of rain (15 cm), delaying our soybean seed cleaning. We went into winter at field capacity. The winter supplied enough snow cover. Life was good.

We were getting ready to seed the 2013 crop. Plans were in place.

2013 seeding

15, we seeded a replicated trial of six soybean varieties that are being promoted as early maturing for Saskatchewan.

From spraying to haying Spraying was also a challenge in 2013.

To add to the excitement, we had loads of winter triticale seed to bag and ship into the U.S. in between rains.

Haying went better than expected. Alfalfa yields were down due to flooding. Mid-July we seeded cover crops on ground that was in poor condition. On most of the acres we seeded a blend of 15 pounds of crown millet, two pounds of tillage radish and one pound of crimson clover.

Our intent was to get a cut of hay off and then have regrowth do its thing.

Other cover crop blends we used included straight tillage radish and a blend of annual ryegrass, hybrid brassica, tillage radish, crown millet, and crimson clover.

The third blend had some issues. Not the blend, but the land. The volunteer canola was so thick it choked out parts of the field. When the canola was in full flower, we clipped the canola flowers to delay the maturity so it would freeze to kill the canola.

Well the open fall threw a curve at that plan. The crown millet/tillage radish blend ended up at around 2,000 pounds per acre (dry). Not bad for six weeks of growth. None of the acres were sprayed, yet very few weeds were growing.

In the fields where in 2012 we had crown millet and tillage radish cover crops, the soybean crops did well. The most dramatic response was in the field approaches. Normally, crops only grow one-third of the height of the rest of the field. With a cover crop the previous year, the soybeans in the field approached the same size as the rest of the field.

Tillage radish did what they were supposed to do.

We toured through Alberta in July, looking at soybean fields from Taber to Smokey Lake. We were looking at fields and needed to wear jackets — not a good sign for soybean production. At home, early June was almost a disaster between flooding and lack of heat.

Then in August, the heat disappeared again. Just in time for flowering and pod set, reducing yield potential.

Harvest results We started harvest with winter triticale in the middle of September, almost a month behind normal. Winter triticale yields were 70 per cent normal.

We harvested canola after that.

The large flat parts of our field almost died through June. Our canola yield averaged 26 bushels per acre. Hard to take when the province is talking about record yields.

We did move almost all of the production off the combine through Bunge, so we did get better basis levels and a higher futures price.

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JANUARY 21, 2014

grainews.ca /

9

Features

Take a sTep up in grassy weed conTrol wiTh

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PHOTOS: KEVIN ELMY

Top: Kevin Elmy did a replicated soybean trial in 2013. Six varieties were seeded on June 15 — only two varieties matured. This picture was taken on September 21. Middle: These soybeans were seeded on May 20.

This picture was taken on September 4. Bottom: The tillage radish root on the right is shown next to a canola root for comparison.

Our soybean harvest started the last week of September and we finished on October 1. Soybean yields averaged 28 bushels per acre.

Our replicated soybean trial showed some interesting maturity information. By seeding the middle of June, we are able to see which varieties are not heat sensitive but are light sensitive for maturity. We went out on September 10, our traditional first frost, and assessed maturity. On the September 10, TH33003R2Y and TH29002 were physiologically mature. TH32004 and 23-10 were about five days behind, where the Libau and 900Y61 were 14 days later then the TH29002. We’re still working on yield data.

We are yet to graze the corn.

When I clipped the samples for the trial numbers we averaged 7.2 wet tonnes per acre, with approximately 55 per cent moisture.

Samples have been sent away for analysis. The highest wet tonnes was HL SR35, again. When test

results come back, I’ll write an article about corn.

Overall, we are glad 2013 is over.

Our yields ranged from 70 to 100 per cent of normal.

AHEAD IN 2014 2014 is going to bring some changes.

First, this is the first year in 13 that we do not have any winter cereals in the ground.

2012 may be the last year we will grow a herbicide tolerant canola. We are looking at growing either polish canola or brown mustard.

2014 will be our first attempt at growing spring triticale for seed.

We are also growing more alfalfa for hay. And yes, more cover crops.

Keep building the soil. † Kevin Elmy operates Friendly Acres Seed Farm, along with his wife, Christina, and his parents, Robert and Verene, near Saltcoats, Sask. Contact him at 306-74402779 or visit www.friendlyacres.sk.ca.

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JANUARY 21, 2014

Features CROP PRODUCTION

Rotating pulses to avoid resistance Lentil-wheat rotations may be speeding up development of herbicide resistant weeds. Adding crops new adds opportunities to rotate modes of action

BY KARI BELANGER

O

f all herbicide groups i n u s e i n We s t e r n Canada, weed resistance to Group 2 is the most common. Because pulse growers are particularly reliant on Group 2 herbicides for in-crop weed control, they must think ahead in terms of their crop rotations and inputs to stay one step ahead of weed resistance, says Eric Johnson, a weed biologist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Scott Research Farm.

“Growers need to be rotating to other herbicides in the non-pulse phase of their rotations,” he says.

In addition, the lentil-wheat rotation may be exacerbating the development of resistant weeds, says Johnson, particularly in lentil crops. “I think that’s why wild mustard is [such a problem].

Farmers employing a wheat-lentil rotation are going to have to extend that rotation in order to get some of those weeds under control outside of the pulse phase of the rotation. It’s just too tight of a rotation,” he says.

Pea growers challenged by cleavers in northeast Saskatchewan may also have to examine their rotations.

“Part of the problem is the canola phase of the rotation — if they’re growing LibertyLink canola, they’re not getting really good control of the [cleavers]. If they’re Group 2 resistant, they’re not getting good control of it in the peas either,” says Johnson. “Growers might have to look to a different system in their canola production in order to control that. We’re hoping there might be some other options in canola in the future, but in the meantime, it’s not there for them.”

A diverse crop rotation provides an opportunity to apply different modes of action to combat herbicide-resistant weeds, says Ken Sapsford, a research assistant in the department of plant sciences at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources.

“When you (work) different crops in your rotation between cereals, pulses and oilseeds, it gives you the opportunity to use different modes of action across those crops,” says Sapsford.

Mixing it up is crucial to slowing up the spread of weed resistance.

“Growers have to keep changing things up — tank-mixing where they can with two separate modes of action. That’s very critical in delaying resistance,” says Johnson.

GLYPHOSATE PARTNERS UP When considering herbicideresistant weed management strategies in pulse crops, farmers in Western Canada should also keep glyphosate resistance in mind, says Sapsford.

Although glyphosate is not used in-crop on pulses, it is used as a pre-seed burndown prior to

“Growers need to be rotating to other herbicides” — Eric Johnson

seeding most pulse crops on the Prairies, especially with no-till or direct seeding systems. Glyphosateresistant kochia has been identified at a number of different locations in Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan. Wild oats, green foxtail and cleavers are also at great risk of developing resistance to glyphosate, says Sapsford.

“With what we originally knew about resistance development in weeds, we thought the chance of

it happening in glyphosate was remote…. There are other ways plants have been able to develop resistance to glyphosate we’ve never seen before. We now know we cannot (prevent) what’s going to happen — the way weeds have developed resistance is an evolving process,” says Sapsford.

“Prior to any crop, we now must start mixing another mode of action in with the glyphosate to get control of the kochia. We must ensure we’ve got multiple modes of action in every crop location, regardless if it’s a burnoff or incrop treatment,” he says.

To prevent or manage glyphosate-resistant kochia in their fields, growers can apply a preseed burnoff combination of glyphosate with a herbicide that will not leave a residue harmful to pulse crops. “Basically, there’s two choices — Heat herbicide and CleanStart,” says Johnson. Heat, a Group 14 herbicide, can be tankmixed with glyphosate to control glyphosate-resistant kochia and Group 2-resistant broadleaf weeds.

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“About 60 per cent of the kochia germinates and emerges before the pre-seed burnoff stage — so that burnoff stage is really critical for growers, and that they do a good job controlling kochia then,” says Johnson.

If glyphosate-resistant kochia is present in a field, it’s also likely resistant to Group 2 herbicides, requiring the application of a different mode of action to pulses incrop. “If growers have peas, they could probably use Viper in-crop — the thing about glyphosateresistant kochia is it’s also Group 2-resistant kochia. None of the Group 2 herbicides, such as Solo, would control it,” says Johnson.

Scouting fields after herbicide application for weed escapes is another crucial step in the prevention of herbicide-resistant weeds. “If there are patterns of escape, quite often a resistant weed will show up in a small area first before it spreads either by machinery, tillage, seeding or transportation off the field,” says Sapsford. “Know what weeds you’re targeting and what modes of action [you’re using] to ensure you’ve got as many modes of action in there as possible.” † Kari Belanger is a freelance writer writing from Winnipeg, Man.

JANUARY 21, 2014

grainews.ca /

11

Columns UNDERSTANDING MARKET BULLS AND BEARS

Time to sharpen those pencils As prices fall, it’s time for farmers to start applying some basic Math 101 skills, and get to work on their farm business plans for 2014

ASSESSING YOUR FARM There are a number of factors you need to consider to help you determine how your farm business will respond to this current reality of lower prices. Your fixed costs of production are going to be the most important, followed by your variable costs, in trying to determine what you can adjust to keep your operation profitable through leaner times ahead.

Factors that must be considered when calculating your fixed and variable costs include such things as reducing or increasing acres farmed, custom farming, shifting acres between crops, reducing inputs, pre-purchasing inputs and available manpower. No doubt there are more factors, but for now we will concentrate on these.

Please keep in mind that any suggestions I put forward are merely for you to consider as possibilities that may or may not fit your operation. I am hoping to inspire you to look outside the box as far as managing your farm business and making decisions for both the short term and long term.

Let’s start with the size of your operation. The acres you farm, the equipment you have and your manpower situation.

Land, equipment and labour.

Do you have too much of one or not enough of another?

If you have too much land for your equipment or labour to get the job done you need to make some decisions in about scaling up your equipment and labour, or letting go of some land. Does buying equipment make sense when revenues are falling? Can the farm afford to subsidize a new piece of equipment and will you have the manpower to operate it to maximum benefit for the farm?

Or, do you look at renting out some of your land for a year or two? Or can you stop rent-

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t’s time to start setting your farm plan for the New Year.

The big difference this year is we are faced with the harsh reality of new crop prices 20 to 40 per cent lower than this time last year and may not improve, so how do you try to adjust for the loss in revenues?

This is when you need to take an honest hard look at your farming operation, do some very basic math and ask yourself what you can change and what you might be willing to change in order to keep your farm profitable for the future. Are you better to make some strategic short term adjustments to your farming operation that could reduce your overall cash flow needs and market exposure for a year or two in an effort to weather out the oncoming storm of lower grain prices?

ing some land to balance out your land versus equipment and labour needs? This will depend greatly on your costs of production and if you can still make a profit with reduced revenues.

If you have more equipment than land, do you look at renting more land? For how long and at what price? Is cash rent the best way to go or would crop share be better? It helps to share the overall risk and reduces your cash outlay but your returns are also shared which could mean you may not cover your cost of production if your yields are below average. There have been many creative variations of crop share contracts done over the years and each one is unique to the situation and the people involved. Having honest and frank discussions with your landlords about what it is you can afford and what makes sense based on your cost of production will help everyone better understand the reality and adjust accordingly. Short term changes to rental contracts could bring positive long term gains for all involved.

Does it make sense to look at doing some custom farming for the short term instead of renting or buying more land? It would pay you custom rates, which should cover your machinery and labour costs plus give you a small profit without your having to take on additional production costs at a time when revenues may not cover those costs. Generating a small profit with limited to no risks may be a smarter way to operate for a year or two when revenues are expected to be tight? Having the labour to operate the machinery to do custom work will be your biggest risk and hassle. Doing custom work is not for everyone, as you will no doubt end up sacrificing seeding your own acres at the optimal time in order to meet your customers’ expectations. And weather will no doubt mess with your plans.

If manpower is going to be your limiting factor then you better look at what you need to do to scale back your operations to where you can manage effectively with the people you’ve got, or expand to where having full time help makes your operation more profitable! Where that is, only you will know.

Shifting acres between crops is something that needs to be considered and calculated every year! Reducing crop rotations brings with it numerous risks and is not advised for the sake of long term land stewardship and production potential, but most farms usually have the flexibility built in to their rotation plan that allows them to tweak acres a bit each year without risking any real problems.

What crops will give you the best return per acre with the least amount of inputs? These crops are the ones you will want to maximize acres of (without impacting your future rotational options).

What crops can you pre-price and

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BRIAN WITTAL

or hedge so that you can lock in revenues and protect profits when you deem it prudent? You are limited to canola and wheat as far as being able to hedge or use options contracts.

Otherwise you will have to physically pre-price grains in order to price protect which you would only do sparingly this far in advance.

The Spring Price Endorsement (SPC) through crop insurance is a pricing protection tool that you can use on all grains, but you won’t know what those values will be for some time yet.

to improve your revenues per acre in a down market is with increased production — you can’t control price.

Custom work is not for everyone

Limiting or reducing fertilizer inputs may save you dollars upfront but that may limit your MAXIMIZING production and profit potential in YIELD POTENTIAL a year when every bushel is critical You want to maximize yield in keeping your farm profitable. potential, especially when12/30/13 prices Should inputs SEC_PAST13_T_GN.qxd 2:58 PM you Pagepre-price 1 are low because the only way like fertilizer, chemicals, seed and

fuel? Can you afford to pre-price now for spring? Will it save you money and reduce your costs of production (do you expect costs to increase by spring)? If you pre-price now you will know your costs of production. Then you can start setting a marketing plan and putting pricing targets in place to cover your costs of production and protect profits when possible.

I hope you find some of this information useful as you work through your farm business analysis and plan for the coming year. † Brian Wittal has 30 years of grain industry experience, and currently offers market planning and marketing advice to farmers through his company Pro Com Marketing Ltd. (www.procommarketingltd.com).

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/ grainews.ca

JANUARY 21, 2014

Columns OFF-FARM INCOME

Dividend reinvestment plans Stocks that allow investors to reinvest dividend payments in new stock purchases can simplify life for investors ANDY SIRSKI

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n the last issue I said I would write about at least four stocks that pay a nice dividend and let us buy more shares directly from the company at a five per cent discount. This does several things for an investor, especially an inactive one.

First, the dividend is nice and so is the five per cent discount. Next, the company lets you buy shares directly, without paying brokerage fees. And finally, it puts those

business; its earnings are expected to grow nicely this coming year.

A year ago or so the company cut its dividend in half, sold some property, bought more and now expects to earn about as much in a quarter as it did all last year.

Earnings are expected to be about $0.19 per quarter but those change from time to time.

My BNP shares cost somewhere around $13 per share. I sold a covered call on them for April with a strike price of $15 to bring in some extra cash and yet give the stock some room to run up. If the shares go up in price I plan to try buy back the calls, then sell more covered calls with a higher strike price if the numbers make sense.

small dividends to good use — the new shares keep earning you more dividends which lets you buy more shares and so on.

Four companies that offer this service are Bonavista (BNP), Pembina Pipeline (PPL), Inter Pipeline (IPL) and a fairly new one called Parkland Fuel (PKI).

Bonavista (BNP): I own 1,700 shares of BNP. It pays $0.07 per month as a dividend. At a price of something under $14 per share, those monthly dividends should buy me around nine new shares each month. Over a year, that’s an extra 110 shares (or maybe more, depending on the price of the shares).

BNP is in the oil and natural gas

Parkland Fuel (PKI): This is a fairly new publicly traded company. I wasn’t that interested until they bought out a big fuel distribution system in North Dakota. Now the company owns a string of gas stations across Western Canada and in northern U.S. I bought 1,000 shares at just over $18 and sold calls for July with a strike price of $19. The monthly dividend is just under $0.09 cents per month. I will sign up to have those dividends paid as more shares. (I have to call a broker to arrange that.)

Inter Pipeline (IPL) and Pembina Pipeline (PPL): Both of these companies pay a nice dividend. I can take that dividend

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as more shares at a discount and pay no brokerage fee.

The pipeline business is quite secure. The fees charged by pipelines are set by a regulatory board; most of the time the price of whatever the pipelines move doesn’t affect the fee. BNP shares will likely move depending on the price of oil and natural gas; pipelines are more likely to collect a constant fee. The price of pipeline shares likely depends more on when their low cost loans mature and what they will have to pay for renegotiated future loans.

However, as with most companies, changes in the cost of interest, labour or other factors can move share prices up or down, but good companies usually find ways to keep business profitable and reward shareholders.

OTHER INVESTMENTS I have been waiting patiently for the shipping industry to move into an uptrend. Judging by the looks of the Baltic Dry Index ($BDI) we are there or getting close. I own shares in DRYS — a shipping company that has a lot of debt but might be a decent opportunity. DRYS just took ownership of a new rig that has a deep drilling rig on it and the ship is heading for some ocean drilling work.

LEARNING IN 2013 About the time when a fellow thinks he’s learned enough the investment industry life often gives us a few more lessons. 2013 was like that.

First, as the price of gold and silver dropped I learned over and over again that selling when the daily price crosses the 20-day moving average going down is a good selling rule. Sometimes you get whipsawed but even then, you have the money.

I learned again that trends are important if you want to win with investments. Selling gold and silver stocks as the big guys were shorting and selling gold and silver was the right thing to do. At some point the trend will once again be up for gold and silver — at that time I plan to hold shares, do bull put spreads and maybe even venture into buying some calls.

Weekly covered calls have become sort of a bread and butter strategy for me. This has been a natural step from selling monthly covered calls or even three months out. They take more work but pay a lot more money. Most Canadian stocks don’t have weekly calls unless they are interlisted on the U.S. markets. Barrick Gold, Goldcorp, Potash and Agrium are good examples of interlisted stocks.

I learned about a new indicator called the parabolic overlay on a chart. It can show, with pretty good accuracy, when a stock might roll over at the tops and turn up after bottoms.

As I get older I appreciate more and more that two things become very important in my life. They are good health and knowledge.

Good health is a gift from God while good knowledge comes with some studying, practice and thinking. Let’s make 2014 a good year. † Andy Sirski is mostly retired. He plays with his granddaughters, gardens, travels with his wife and manages his portfolio. Andy also publishes an electronic newsletter called StocksTalk where he tells all, win or lose. If you want to read it free for a month send an email to sirski@ mts.net and Andy will set it up for you.

JANUARY 21, 2014

grainews.ca /

13

Columns CAN’T TAKE THE FARM FROM THE BOY

Profiting from trends Marketing courses can be a great tool for learning TOBAN DYCK

hours later I had a deeper understanding of the markets, but also a deeper appreciation for the complex yet simple, A to B network of railways, highways, ports, etc., that connect farmers and their commodities worldwide. It’s a web too large to remember at first glance, making the event absolutely necessary for the green, and a good reminder for the seasoned.

Of the things I got up to before returning to the farm, none would have been directly affected by a train derailment in Alberta, or had anything to do with the Chicago grain market. I would have written about them, possibly, but that’s it. Farmers are affected by stuff like this.

Trains. They are the theme of a great Fred Eaglesmith song.

seems tenuous. Restaurateurs are not buying bushels of soybeans at the local farmers’ market. The kind of farming most reading this participate in is a different animal, I realize, but there still must be a connection between what we grow and consumption. Wheat illustrates this connection well. Canola does, too. The world will not stop needing soybeans, I learned. The trends bounce around a little, but the overall need for canola and soybean oils are trending upwards.

What we grow is tied to items the world is consuming more and more. So, that’s good.

This isn’t new information, none of this is. But to think about all these things in one session might be. And to take advantage of free events such as these in the off-season seems the right thing to do. I have a lot of learning to do, and ag specialists like Greg Kostal make the process enjoyable. † Toban Dyck is a freelance writer and a new farmer on an old farm. Follow him on Twitter @tobandyck or email tobandyck@gmail.com.

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rofit from trends in grain and oilseed markets? Yes. Count me in. Maybe, I would learn the magic formula for maximizing profits, the one that has has evaded farmers for years, centuries, a long time. This was never an explicit thought, that I would leave Morris, Manitoba and make the 40-minute pilgrimage home having just been given the Holy Grail. But, deep in the recesses where it’s possible to believe such a formula exists, our fingers were crossed that this was it, the gem

that would once and for all lay bare a market that has long made our winters spent hovering over the sell button less enjoyable.

The course was put on by Farm Credit Canada. It was free, which made it all the more intriguing. I also struggle with turning my back on free doughnuts and coffee.

And this spread included monster cookies.

Only a few people attended, but many more registered. The three or so empty tables implied this.

After the bloat of eating too much, too quickly, set in, analyst Greg Kostal took the stage. He struggled at first with rectifying the relationship between his computer and the projector, giving us more time to stock up on sugar and coffee.

Then he started, and a couple

Kostal’s map showing the major rail lines that cut across Canada and through the U.S. couldn’t have been more basic, and couldn’t have been more interesting. Product grown in Manitoba and destined for port has a long ways to travel, a simple, hopefully well-known fact that affects basis, especially when congestion is an issue. Kostal moved in broad strokes. It’s this big picture stuff that makes an already interesting vocation, even more so.

“Commodity markets often move in cycles that trend up, down, or sideways, often over many years,” said Kostal on his website. “While reasons may differ each time, my belief is that buying or selling strategies can be built with such big-picture insight; which can then be fined tuned to cash flow, agronomy and profitability at the local level.”

I don’t intentionally eat soybeans very often, save for the handfuls I chew on while harvesting. And the connection the crop shares with the food industry

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/ grainews.ca

JANUARY 21, 2014

Columns SOILS AND CROPS

Stubble soil moisture

Without some June rains, Les Henry’s 2014 Prairie soil moisture map is a good indication of what’s available for next year’s crops LES HENRY

I

still keep hoping that tech savvy kids will come along and make a better map than this old fossil, but that has not happened yet, so here it is.

Soil moisture at freeze up has been of less interest the past four years. Rain in the growing season has been enough — and in some areas, way too much.

If the June rains falter in 2014, crop growth will be dependent on what you see in this map.

To make this map I used: for Alberta, the Soil Moisture Map for Alberta from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s website; for Saskatchewan and Manitoba, rainfall maps from Saskatchewan Agriculture and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

When all of the Prairie provinces are squeezed onto part of a page, the result is only a very general indication of conditions.

Do not get too hung up on the exact location of the lines.

The “red” zone is a big chunk of west central Saskatchewan and east central Alberta. Wrapped around the “red” zone is an area with enough moisture to start a crop, but any delay in rain will set things back.

that the few small showers were quickly gobbled up by a great pea crop.

After July 24 the tap turned off completely and the crop survived on soil moisture alone, just in time for a great harvest season. We even combined on

Through September there was no near surface moisture to probe

CLOSE TO HOME A story about soil moisture on my Dundurn farm, just south of Saskatoon, may be of interest and help explain the map.

This was our 2013 rain: May 1.7", June 4.6", July 2.6" (we had 1.6" on July 6 and another inch in small showers from July 22 to 24).

After the July 6 rain the soil was completely recharged and any additional rain would bring up the water table. But, after

the September long weekend — a rare occurrence in my 57 years of running combines.

Through September there was no near surface moisture to probe. I could not even get the

probe in the ground. How were we going to be able to put on anhydrous? And, I am not a big fan of big nitrogen applications to dry soil in any event.

From September 25 to 27 Mother Nature came through in spades.

Nice gentle rains off and on. When the rain ended I dumped 2.25" from the gauges (I have two gauges for good measure).

My medium textured soil holds 1.5" of available water for each foot of moist soil. If we do the math a 2.25" rain should wet the soil to 18 inches. And, that was exactly what happened. The wetting front was 18" anywhere I wanted to probe.

Below 18 inches, probing showed about 10 inches of drier soil (not even wilting point), then residual moisture was in place. The crop had not sucked it all up. So, with a little snow melt the moisture will “join up” and the soil will be full.

I then went on in October to apply 88 pounds of nitrogen per

acre as anhydrous and an additional broadcast application of 100 lbs./acre of 21-0-0-24 .

I think much of what I mapped as the “green” area in Saskatchewan and Manitoba would be the same situation as mine, with residual moisture still in place. That is why the line between the “green” and “blue” could be wrong in places.

In fact if you read the fine print in the legend the “green” is defined as including local areas of “blue.”

So, there you have it. If you are in the “red” or parts of the “orange” on this map then let’s hope the 1950’s style June and July rains carry on. † J.L.(Les) Henry is a former professor and extension specialist at the University of Saskatchewan. He farms at Dundurn, Sask. He recently finished a second printing of “Henry’s Handbook of Soil and Water,” a book that mixes the basics and practical aspects of soil, fertilizer and farming. Les will cover the shipping and GST for “Grainews” readers. Simply send a cheque for $50 to Henry Perspectives, 143 Tucker Cres, Saskatoon, SK, S7H 3H7, and he will dispatch a signed book.

STUBBLE SOIL MOISTURE: NOVEMBER 1, 2013 STUBBLE SOIL MOISTURE: NOVEMBER 1, 2013 (General guide only — check your own fields in spring) (General guide only — check your own fields in spring)

hashas essentially no moisture storage below 6 inches VERY DRY Stubble Stubble essentially moisture storage below 6 inches VERY DRY STUBBLE SOIL MOISTURE: NOVEMBER 1,no 2013 (General guide — check your own fields in spring) 1, 2013 STUBBLE SOILonly MOISTURE: NOVEMBER

(General guide only — check your own fields in spring) Sandy Soils Medium Soils Heavy Soils DRYDRY Wet Stubble has essentially no moisture storage below 6 inches VERY to 12-24” to 6-18” Soils Wet to 6-12” Sandy Soils WetMedium Heavy Soils Stubble has1essentially no of moisture storage below 6 inches VERY DRY Wet (About to 2 inches available water) to 12-24” Wet to 6-18” Wet to 6-12”

DRY

(About 1 toMedium 2 inches ofSoils available Soils Soils Heavy Silswater) SandySandy Soils Medium Soils Heavy DRY MOIST Wet to Soils 12-24” Wet to 6-18” Wet toSoils 6-12”Wet to 12-24” Wet to Medium 24-48” Wet to Heavy 18-30” Sandy Soils DRY Wet (About 1 to 2 inches of available water) (About 2toto6-18” 4 inches of available Sandy Soils Medium Soilswater) Heavy Sils to 12-24” Wet Wet to 6-12” MOISTSandy Will include local areas with no dry layer Wet to 12-24” (About 1 to 2 inches of available water) Wet Wet to 18-30” Soilsto 24-48” Medium Soils Heavy Sils MOIST Wet to 24-48” Wet 18-30” Wet toSils 12-24” (About 2to to 4 inches of available water) Soils Heavy No drySoils layer inMedium sandy, medium or heavy soils WET Sandy MOIST (About 2 to 4 inches of available water) to 24-48” Wet to 18-30” Wet to 12-24” (Sandy =Wet 4, Medium = 6, Heavy = 8 inches of available water) Will include local areas with no dry layer Will include local areas with no dry layer

GrandePrairie Prairie Grande

GrandePrairie Prairie Grande

(About 2 to 4 inches of available water) Will include local areas with no dry layer dry layer sandy,in medium or heavy soils or heavy soils WET No No dryinlayer sandy, medium (Sandy = 4, Medium = 6, Heavy = 8 inches of available WET No dry layer in sandy, medium or heavy soils water)

WET

GrandePrairie Prairie Grande

(Sandy = 4, Medium = 6, Heavy = 8 inches of available water)

GrandePrairie Prairie Grande

(Sandy = 4, Medium = 6, Heavy = 8 inches of available water)

Edmonton Edmonton Lloydminster Lloydminster

Edmonton Edmonton Edmonton Edmonton

Lloydminster Lloydminster

RedDeer Deer Red

Edmonton Edmonton

RedDeer Deer Red RedDeer DeerDrumheller Red Drumheller

Lloydminster Lloydminster

Drumheller Drumheller Lethbridge Lethbridge

courtesy of

Manitoba Base map courtesy of Manitoba Agriculture

Calgary Calgary

Agriculture Data Source: Environment Canada Agriculture

Lethbridge Lethbridge

PrinceAlbert Albert Prince

Saskatoon Saskatoon Saskatoon Saskatoon

Drumheller Drumheller Calgary Drumheller Calgary Drumheller RedDeer Deer Red Calgary Calgary

Lethbridge Lethbridge

NorthBattleford Battleford North

Melfort Melfort

Lloydminster Lloydminster PrinceAlbert Albert Melfort Melfort NorthBattleford Battleford Prince North Saskatoon Saskatoon Melfort Melfort NorthBattleford Battleford North

Calgary Calgary

Base map courtesy Baseof map

PrinceAlbert Albert Prince

PrinceAlbert Albert Prince Melfort Melfort

NorthBattleford Battleford North

Yorkton Yorkton

Yorkton Yorkton

MedicineHat Hat Medicine MedicineHat Hat Medicine MedicineHat Hat Medicine

Regina MooseJaw JawRegina Moose SwiftCurrent Current Swift Saskatoon Saskatoon

Regina MooseJaw JawRegina SwiftCurrent CurrentMoose Swift Regina MooseJaw JawRegina SwiftCurrent CurrentMoose Swift

Yorkton Yorkton

Weyburn Weyburn

Weyburn Weyburn

Weyburn Estevan Weyburn Estevan Estevan Estevan

DataManitoba Source: Environment Canada

Estevan Estevan

Data Source: Environment Canada

MedicineHat Hat Medicine

Regina MooseJaw JawRegina SwiftCurrent CurrentMoose Swift

Brandon Brandon Brandon Brandon

Portage Winnipeg Portage Winnipeg Brandon Brandon Portage Winnipeg Portage Winnipeg Portage Winnipeg Portage Winnipeg

Yorkton Yorkton Prepared by Les Henry, December 18,

Prepared by Les Henry, December 18, 2013 Prepared by Les Henry, December 18, 2013

Portage Winnipeg Portage Winnipe

JANUARY 21, 2014

grainews.ca /

15

Columns Guarding wealth

The great unraveling Rising interest rates will bring sins to light

By Andrew Allentuck

T

he last five years have been a debtor’s heaven.

Mortgage rates as low as 1.95 per cent and even a few lower when banks gave out money at discounts to prime in 2008 and 2009, home equity lines of credit at two per cent and car loans with supposedly zero interest charges induced people to load up.

All that is about to come undone, for interest rates are rising and the special problems of our debt-stressed economy will come out of the cracks.

The signs of what is to come are already in the data. Bank of Canada numbers show that from 1986 to 2013, house prices rose 4.5 times while lines of credit secured against those houses rose by half. Those borrowing were obviously people with houses to use for security.

All that is about to change. In the Bank of Canada Financial System Review published in December 2013, data show that housing affordability will decline when interest rates move up to historical norms. This is statistician-speak for the obvious, for interest rates have risen since 2012 and will rise further.

Stephen Poloz, the new gov-

ernor of the Bank of Canada, referred to this phenomenon in a December 2013 speech on the Canadian economy.

“To support economic growth, we have relied mainly on household spending, supported by exceptionally stimulative monetary policy. …We have seen rising levels of household indebtedness, stretched house price valuations and overinvestment in housing.”

The Bank of Canada tightened mortgage insurance rules for high ratio mortgages and the superintendent of financial institutions introduced stronger mortgage underwriting standards for banks.

But that is only what the bank controls.

Cheap money for mortgages led people to buy houses and condos.

That produced a boom in housing prices. Housing affordability declined across the country. Young people, priced out of the market, have tended to spend their money on paying down student debt, on clothes and other consumer goods and on non-capital items.

The irony of the easy living that has been created by cheap money is that, with low rates of interest, house and condo prices climbed.

The result, tracked by the Royal Bank’s Housing Affordability Index, which shows what fraction

of income is required to buy a standard 1,500 square foot home or a 1,200 square foot condo now indicates that, for Canada 42.7 per cent of pre-tax family income is needed to buy a standard two-storey home, up from 39.1 per cent in 1985. The most booming market, B.C., requires 67.6 per cent of pre-tax family income to buy the standard two-storey home, up from 50.1 per cent in 1985.

Alberta is the best deal in the country with only 32.4 per cent of pre-tax family income needed to buy the standard home, down from 34.9 per cent in 1985.

The trend The great Yankee manager Yogi Berra once quipped, “making predictions is difficult, especially about the future,” but one can see trends. As interest rates rise, owner-occupied housing will become less affordable. There will be a trend to more rentals, more sharing of condos and houses, fewer incentives to get married and make a family enterprise out of home ownership and more money diverted to consumption and to other asset classes.

John Maynard Keynes, the Great British economist, wrote of the “aniT:10.25” to get people mal spirits” needed

investing. The trend to higher interest rates will dampen those animal spirits, leading to a flattening or a decline in the massive stock market recovery that has taken place since the bottom of the market in March, 2009. If stocks stop rising as dramatically as they have in the last half decade, investors and homeowners, employers and consumers are likely to have a reverse wealth effect. If they feel their assets are down, they will spend less. That will put house price rises into reverse.

A world with normalized interest rates will be a place where houses are less affordable, fewer new houses are built, houses are harder to sell, prices come down and first time home owners find financing harder to get.

If houses are even harder to afford, one can predict that more money will flow to debt reduction, and more to spending on such consumption items as clothes, travel, restaurants and nightclubs. The paradox of all this is that as people can get more money from lower risk investing in fixed income assets like bonds, they will actually leave capital markets behind and shift to consumption spending. If homes are priced out of reach, there is more money for travel, clothes and fun. Bottom line: fixed income investing is not fun.

This will be reactive spending.

Had interest rates not been forced down by the Fed and the Bank of Canada for five years going on six, people would not have overbought homes, would not have used their houses as ABMs through ream-

ortization and home equity lines of credit and there would be no mountain of debt to pay off.

“The wages of sin,” a phrase in Romans 6:23, predicts death for those who commit it. I think that the translators of the King James Bible had something in mind more grave than overspending on owner-occupied housing in response to low mortgage rates, but the concept has a resonance for anyone who thinks that interest rates would stay below the rate of inflation for many decades.

There is a moral in this tale.

When one borrows, the cost is inevitably figured in repayment cost per month or year. Especially for young home buyers in their 20s, low mortgage interest rates and amortization periods that got up to 35 years, car loans repayable over seven years and, in some deals over nine years, and interest-only loans on home equity and home equity lines of credit, blurred the fundamental notion that borrowers have to pay off their loans. The move to higher rates will bring some reality back to the concept of borrowing. Loan rates below inflation rates, which mean that the cost of borrowing is actually zero or even profitable for the borrower, will be a thing of the past.

Welcome to the future, which will be the past, when interest was a real cost that had to be paid.

Cheap money, it will be said, was not forever. † Andrew Allentuck’s latest book, “When Can I Retire? Planning Your Financial Life After Work,” was published in 2011 by Penguin Canada.

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JANUARY 21, 2014

Features CROP PRODUCTION

PATCHES IN PEAS

CROP ADVISOR’S CASEBOOK

BY SPENCER MCARTHUR

G

reg, a grain farmer in Balgonie, Sask., called me in early July to discuss crop conditions. Greg’s crop rotation consists of wheat, barley, peas, flax and canola, and he noted that warm weather and timely precipitation towards the end of June had his crops looking excellent — with one exception.

“There is one pea field with something strange going on,” Greg explained. “I’ve noticed patches of yellowing and stunted peas, and lately the patches have grown and become more pronounced.”

Greg asked me to come out and have a look. When I arrived at Greg’s pea field, I could see patchy areas were scattered throughout the south part of the quarter section, but seemed to be most severe in the lowerlying areas of the field.

A closer inspection revealed pea plants within the affected areas that were noticeably stressed and less vigorous.

Leaves on the bottom half of the plants had turned yellow, and the stipules and leaf margins on the leaflets were curled downward and inward. The affected plants were noticeably stunted and the stems had lost their natural green colour and had turned a pale yellow.

“Do you think it could be moisture stress or poor drainage?” Greg asked as we examined the plants. It was a good

This is the line in which the quarter had previously been split into 80 acre pieces. Stunted and yellowing patches were present on the left; the crop on the right was healthy and vigorous guess, as our area had received significant rainfall towards the end of June. However, although soil was moist in the affected areas, it wasn’t nearly saturated enough to cause the kind of symptoms we were witnessing. Besides, I could see there were several low-lying areas in the north part of the quarter where the pea crop was completely unaffected.

We walked to the middle of the field, where a row of three wooden bins split the quarter in half. Immediately I noticed a distinct line in the field. The south 80 acres had affected patches spread throughout it, and the crop was noticeably less competitive with weeds that were starting to poke through the canopy. The north 80 acres, on the other hand, looked excellent, the peas were

a lush, dark green colour and had full canopy closure and minimal weed pressure.

“Was there anything done differently between the north and south parts of the field?”

I asked Greg, as I mulled over the possibility of Greg’s fertility and crop protection measures or the field’s cropping history providing a potential clue.

Greg explained that the quarter had received the same fertilizer program and crop protection products throughout the growing season. “But this field has only been a full quarter for a few years now — it used to be split into 80-acre pieces” he explained, “This is the first time the north 80 acres has had peas on it.”

I asked Greg about the cropping history on the south 80 acres, and he told me that peas

There was a clear difference in plant health between unaffected (left) and affected (right) pea plants. have always been in the rotation there, but he had never noticed patches like this. Why, then, were they showing up this year, and why were they so severe?

If you think you know what’s behind Greg’s patchy peas, send your diagnosis to Grainews, Box 9800, Winnipeg, Man., R3C 3K7; email leeann. minogue@fbcpublishing.com or fax 204-944-95416 c/o Crop Advisor’s Casebook. Best suggestions will be pooled and one winner will be drawn for a chance to win a Grainews cap and a one-year subscription to the magazine. The answer, along with reasoning that solved the mystery, will appear in the next Crop Advisor’s Solution File. † Spencer McArthur is a Sales Agronomist for Richardson Pioneer Ltd. in Balgonie, Sask.

Spencer McArthur

CASEBOOK WINNER

T

he Casebook winner for this issue is Val Katerenchuk from St. Albert, Alberta.

Val, we’ll be renewing your Grainews subscription for a year and sending you a Grainews cap. Thanks for entering. †

Leeann Minogue

CROP ADVISOR’S SOLUTION BARLEY BLACK HEADS CAUSED BY TRUE LOOSE SMUT

BY NAOMI DARRAGH

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ack in early July, I was called out to visit a farm just outside Provost, Alta.

Buddy, who grows 700 acres of canola, wheat and barley, told me he was having trouble with his barley crop that had just headed out.

“I’m seeing black heads in my barley. I think it might be a dusty form of ergot,” said Buddy, who noticed the problem a couple of weeks after spraying the crop.

When I arrived at Buddy’s barley field, I could see that each square metre contained about eight to 10 barley plants with infected heads. These heads seemed to have formed normally — but in place of kernels was what looked like black dust.

Buddy suspected the black heads were being caused by ergot because he’d had problems with the fungal disease in the past, and it had also been a wet spring, which had contributed to ergot outbreaks in the area in previous years.

However, I thought I knew exactly what was causing Buddy’s barley troubles. I’d seen those black heads before — and the cause wasn’t ergot. I compared the affected plants to pictures in Diseases of Field Crops in Canada and it confirmed my

diagnosis — true loose smut was responsible.

True loose smut is a fungal disease that converts barley kernels into black fungal spores; it was these spores, not dust, which were creating the black heads in Buddy’s barley.

Although Buddy had a good fertility and crop protection plan in place, he had not treated his barley seed prior to planting, which would have helped prevent the disease from showing up.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much Buddy could do about his barley field at this point, and the fact that black heads caused by true loose smut would result in lower yields this season.

Going forward, I recommended to Buddy that he not use any seed from the affected field, and to get all of his barley seed tested to see if any smut was present. Buddy assured me he’d use new seed next year if the levels tested high, and that he’d also use appropriate seed treatment at planting to control the disease.

If all these changes are implemented, Buddy should see a significant reduction in the amount of true loose smut present in his fields — and a return to normal barley yields as a result. † Naomi Darragh is a Sales Agronomist for Richardson Pioneer Ltd., in Provost, Alta.

JANUARY 21, 2014

grainews.ca /

17

Machinery & Shop PICKUP TRUCKS

GM debuts the new, “mid-sized” Colorado

The automaker unveiled its redesigned, smaller pickup in Los Angeles in November

BY SCOTT GARVEY

W

ith the introduction of the redesigned Colorado pickup, a little brother to the full-sized Silverado, GM is offering buyers new options in the lighttruck marketplace. It introduced the all-new “mid-sized” pickup to the public at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

“Our strategy is simple: meet the needs of the broadest possible customer base, and let them choose precisely the right truck to meet their needs,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice-president and president of GM North America, in a press release. “The all-new Colorado benefits from the solid foundation established by the Silverado, and it reinvents the midsize truck while reinvigorating the segment at the same time.”

GM is offering the new Colorado to customers who don’t need a full-sized pickup, but still want a truck capable of doing some serious work. So the Colorados get a payload and trailer-towing rating of 3,093 kilograms (6,700 pounds), along with the fuel economy benefits of a lighter chassis.

Under the hood, GM offers a choice of two engines, a fourcylinder, 2.5 litre that cranks out 193 horsepower. Or an optional 3.6 litre, V-6 that tops out at 302 horsepower. By the second year of Colorado production GM expects to offer a third engine option, the same four-cylinder, 2.8 litre Duramax diesel it currently sells into other world markets.

A six-speed automatic transmission delivers power from either of the two gas engine options available this year.

The new body styling takes on the same family resemblance designers gave the Silverado for 2014 “The new Colorado’s design... puts a progressive spin on Chevrolet’s true-truck styling,” said Ken Parkinson, executive director of Chevrolet Design.

“It’s like the younger, more eager brother of the Silverado.”

Underneath that body is a boxed frame riding on coil-over front suspension. 17-inch wheels are an option for those who want bigger rubber underneath them.

Behind the rims, engineers bolted four-piston brake callipers to the hubs to bring the Colorado to a sudden stop, even with a load.

These trucks also become the first vehicles in their class to use electric power steering control, which eliminates the parasitic engine power loss typical of standard power steering systems. The Colorado is also a little more nimble than its larger brother, with a turning radius of just 12.5 metres (41 feet).

Inside, the Colorado again takes its styling cues from the Silverado, including a similar eight-inch colour touch screen mounted in the centre of the dash.

“We took the best attributes of full-size trucks and midsize cars to develop a passenger space that delivers a balance of unmatched functionality and comfort,” said Parkinson.

“It’s designed to be as useful as possible, with storage compartments and clever features throughout.” †

Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews.

Contact him at Scott.Garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

PHOTOS: GM

In November GM introduced the all-new, mid-sized Colorado pickup, which is available with extended and crew cabs matched with five or six-foot box lengths. It’s the first vehicle in its class to use electric power steering. The Colorado’s interior is based on the Silverado’s. It includes a large, centrally-located touch screen and several enhanced connectivity features.

The Leader in Overlap Control SeedMaster now offers Auto Zone Command™ & FLIP™ (Full Last Implement Pass) as standard features on its on-board and tow-behind tanks.

Auto Zone Command prevents costly input overlap by instantly stopping product flow in up to 10 metering zones.

The more zones you control, the more money you will save.

FLIP received the coveted 2013 Gold Innovation Award at Canada’s Farm Progress Show

FLIP is SeedMaster’s patented mapping software that activates Auto Zone Command and halts product flow the first time openers pass through an overlap area. Product is then applied on the last pass, preventing double seed and fertilizer from being applied, and avoiding any seedbed disturbance.

The Big Payback – Savings using a 10 zone, 80 ft. drill Year

Acres

Overlap%No Zone Command

Overlap%Auto Zone Command

Savings per Acre

Cost Savings/ Total Acres

1

5,000

7.30%

1.20%

$6.38

$31,903

FIRST SEEDED PASS FLIP VIRTUAL PASS - LAST SEEDED PASS NO OVERLAP CONTROL

10 ZONES OF OVERLAP CONTROL

3200 sq. ft.

320 sq. ft.

$6.38 Cost Savings/Acre/Year x 5000 Acres Based on $104.60 /Acre Average Input Cost = $31,903 Input Savings/Year 4

5,000

7.30%

1.20%

$6.38

$31,903

5

5,000

7.30%

1.20%

$6.38

$31,903

TOTAL 5 YEAR SAVINGS = $159,515

For more information on SeedMaster’s Auto Zone Command or FLIP contact your local SeedMaster dealer or call 1.888.721.3001.

The diagram illustrates how SeedMaster’s Auto Zone Command turns off seed and fertilizer to each zone during headland passes. Without Auto Zone Command, the large area in red would receive double inputs, wasting considerable dollars.

The Leader. By Design.

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1.888.721.3001

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18

/ grainews.ca

JANUARY 21, 2014

Machinery & Shop Machine evaluation

Kubota introduces new X Series utility vehicles We take a hands-on look at the new models, which will appeal to off-road enthusiasts and farmers alike

By Ralph Pearce

I

n the past two decades, there’s been a consistent focus on performance in farm machinery. Whether it’s a tractor, combine, sprayer or seeder/planter, getting the job done — and right — always tops the list. At the same time, operator comfort has taken on a greater level of importance. Tractor and combine cabs have been

expanded, ergonomics have been enhanced and engineers have acknowledged that if farmers are going to spend hours in either of these machines, they should be as comfortable as possible.

That same testament to performance and comfort is taking place with Kubota’s new RTVX Series utility vehicles. They certainly perform up to spec — under some incredible conditions — and their durability is

easy to see. And just as with tractors and combines, comfort has become part of the package, as well.

Kubota held the launch of its new series in late October, in a region north of Toronto known as Horseshoe Valley, near Barrie.

The day’s farm media event provided some weather-related surprises, including a (very) premature taste of winter, complete with near-zero tempera-

tures and a dusting of heavy, wet snow, just to make the test drives a little more challenging.

The day began with presentations from Kubota representatives, including detailed breakdowns on each of the three models being tested. As was noted in the presentations, each new model — the X900, the X1120D and the X1100C — looks more like a small pick-up truck than their previous designs. And there

have been modifications made to the chassis and undercarriage that add to their durability.

Following the design and enhancement presentations was a safety and procedural orientation. The plan for the actual test drives was to take them on a familiarization ride around an adjoining gravel pit, including scaling some rather daunting hills, topped off by a 20-minute trail ride, to test each model’s handling and maneuverability.

Neither stage was disappointing.

The climb up the walls of the gravel pit was roughly 25 feet up a 50° slope, and the X900 — the first model on the test-drive — handled it rather easily. Out on the trails, each model was equal to the challenges provided by numerous hairpin turns and rather deep water hazards created by heavier-than-normal October rains, plus rocky stretches and more hills to scale.

As much as it might have been fun, it was more important to recognize the functionality in each model.

Features Kubota has made several changes that are standard on all three models, including increased leg room, new 60-40 split-bench seating, tilt steering (including hydraulic power steering) and the elimination of medium gear to make shifting easier (just L/H/ N/R — low, high, neutral and reverse). They’ve even moved the parking brake on to the dash panel, which also comes complete with plenty of digital readouts. As if that’s not enough, all three models also come with wider skid plates, 10.4 inches of ground clearance (2.2 inches higher than in previous models) and extra-duty independent front and rear suspension.

For those rockier, hillier rides, it means less scraping and more driving. The X-series also boasts a limited-slip front differential, for true four-wheel-drive, when it’s needed. Last but not least, these utility vehicles boast some impressive cargo and towing capacities — 1,102 pounds and 1,300 pounds, respectively. They aren’t huge numbers, but they do confirm the adage that good things come in small packages.

On an individual level, each upgrade also offers something different. Start with the X900, Kubota’s most basic of the three, with a 21.6-hp engine and a top speed of 40 km/hour. If it’s simply a matter of running back and forth from the house to the field, the X900 fits the bill. For a little added speed, the X1120D comes with a larger engine — 24.8 hp — which puts its top speed at 46 km/hour. The X1120D also comes equipped with side doors for added safety. For the ultimate in performance — and even greater comfort — the X1100C offers the same sized engine but also side doors, crank windows, plus heating and air conditioning.

There’s also a complement of accessories for the X Series, including an easy-mount front hitch assembly for plows and broom attachments. For smallscale wand or boom-less applications, there’s an option to purchase a rear-mounted tank and spray assembly. † Ralph Pearce is a production editor for Country Guide.

JANUARY 21, 2014

grainews.ca /

19

Machinery & Shop

photo: kubota

photos: ralph pearce

Kubota held a demonstration day to introduce its updated, three-model line of X Series UTVs to the media. The updated operator’s station includes more leg room, improved instrumentation with a digital screen and a 60-40 bench seat. The new transmission has only two ranges for easier shifting. The three X Series models offer 1,100 and 1,300 pound cargo and towing capacity along with improved ground clearance and heavy-duty suspension.

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JANUARY 21, 2014

Machinery & Shop MACHINE TEST

Evaluating the Dodge Ram 1500, eight speed Grainews spends a week with a new Dodge pickup equipped with the newest power-train option to see if it has what it takes to make the cut as a farm truck

BY SCOTT GARVEY

F

or 2013, Dodge announced it would be pairing its 3.6litre engine with a new eight-speed transmission in the Ram 1500. How would that combination work for a farm pickup, we wondered. Does ordering one with that relatively small engine make it just a grocery getter? After all, the 3.6 is the same power plant Chrysler offers in the comparatively small Jeep Wrangler. So when Chrysler offered to let us put a Ram to the test and find out for ourselves, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

Chrysler delivered the truck to the Grainews head office in Winnipeg, which meant a road trip to go get it and bring it back to Saskatchewan. So we started our evaluation of the Ram running around the city to pick up a few things before heading back west.

The first thing we noticed was the little 3.6-litre engine had lots of acceleration to keep us moving quickly through city traffic.

And the eight-speed transmission changes gears so smoothly, we couldn’t tell when it did.

Inside the cab, the info centre between the main gauges kept us updated on kilometres travelled and our average fuel consump-

tion, which settled in at 14.5 litres per 100 km in city traffic before we finally headed out onto the Trans Canada Highway.

Of course, for any road trip you need to stock up on treats and refreshments. Keeping them close at hand in the Ram is no problem. The centre console is enormous. Holding two coffee mugs, two soft drinks a bag of chips and other munchies, there was still room for more. And that still left two empty cup holders on the driver’s door.

Hitting highway speed outside the city, the dashboard info centre told us the computer was automatically adjusting the suspension ride height to make the truck more aerodynamic to lower fuel consumption. After setting the cruise control, we settled back for the equivalent of a luxury car ride.

By the time we turned off the blacktop, we had burned an average of 11.3 litres of gas per 100 km, not to mention emptying bags of chips, liquorice and several cold drinks and coffees.

Most farm trucks see more gravel roads than pavement, which is why we brought the truck back to Saskatchewan, a province renowned for roads that can exact a toll on vehicles. Travelling on gravel, the Dodge’s suspension did

1

PHOTOS: SCOTT GARVEY

a very good job of keeping the ride smooth and the truck under control.

After spending a week with the Ram before turning it back over to Chrysler, we came to know it pretty well. Here’s a detailed look at what we thought of it.

THE NEW

UNSTOPPABLE POWER. AGILITY. ENDURANCE. PROFIT.

CAB INTERIOR There really isn’t anything to complain about inside the cab.

When it comes to space, the interior rivals a full-size sedan, providing lots of elbow and leg room, especially in the rear seat.

The gauges and instrumentation on the dash are stylish, and overall they’re a cross between a sports car’s and those you’d find in an airplane cockpit. The 8.4-inch touch screen display in the centre of the dash provides information on everything from the radio to heater control settings, and it also shows what the back-up camera (a $325 option) sees when you put the truck into reverse, making precise manoeuvres like backing up to a trailer hitch a piece of cake.

POWER TRAIN Open the hood on this truck and the first thing you notice is what isn’t there. Unlike most modern vehicles whose engine compartments are crammed to capacity, the diminutive 3.6-litre V-6 is tucked up against the firewall. There is easily 1.5 feet between the accessory

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drive on the front of the engine and the electric fans on the radiator. It’s almost shocking to see.

During normal driving, the V-6 and the eight-speed transmission it’s coupled to deliver ample power.

Weaving through city traffic or cruising on the highway, that power train gets the job done. The eight speed shifts seamlessly, so it definitely didn’t feel like an old three-ton truck sluggishly working its way through the gears.

With the cruise control set, however, there were noticeable downshifts anytime the truck started up a hill. Those gear changes were more noticeable and more frequent than what you may expect with other full-sized vehicles. Often the eight-speed had to drop two gears to keep the truck’s speed up.

Chrysler rates the Ram 1500 for trailers up to 10,450 pounds.

Although we didn’t get a chance to put this truck in front of a loaded trailer, we expect you would definitely know you had a load behind you if you were relying on the 3.6 to move that kind of extra weight forward. Although, we were generally — and pleasantly — surprised by what that engine was able to do in our other tests.

CARGO The box behind the extended cab is short. Nothing unexpected about that. But on our test truck it was also narrow, about 50 inches (1.27 metres). That’s because of the “Ram Boxes” built into the bed sides. These lockable compartments are 10 inches (25.4 cm) wide and about four feet long. Their depth varies because they are positioned over the rear wheels. They’re deeper at the rear, behind the axle. The Ram Boxes are ideal for securing purchases made on a shopping trip in the city or keeping tools handy for emergency field repairs, but they do compromise the main

JANUARY 21, 2014

grainews.ca /

21

Machinery & Shop 2

3

4

6

5

1: We put this Dodge Ram 1500, equipped with a 3.6-litre engine and eight-speed transmission, to the test doing the work of a farm pickup. 2: Each bed side has a lockable storage compartment that can store tools or packages from a trip to the shopping mall in the city. 3: With the optional Ram Boxes, the truck bed is narrow, but this moveable divider is useful for keeping things like gas cans from sliding around. 4: The interior of the Ram is very spacious and the instrumentation arrangement is quite attractive. 5: The display screen on the dash shows what a rear-mounted, optional, backup camera sees, making connecting to a trailer much easier. 6: The overall streamlined shape of the truck is enhanced by an automatic ride height control that lowers the suspension at highway speeds to make the truck more aerodynamic and improve fuel economy. bed space, and they are a $1,195 option.

The bed is coated with a textured liner that really keeps cargo from sliding around. And there is a moveable partition that is ideal for keeping small gas cans or other items in place up against the back of the cab or tailgate.

But because the bed sides are so wide, you can easily strain your back trying to lean over the side to place something moderately heavy in the box. Yes. That actually happened to me.

SUMMARY We liked the Ram — a lot. It’s a great road-trip vehicle. It’s comfortable and, overall, it’s a cross between a family sedan and a truck.

Even though it has a respectable trailer towing and load rating, the 3.6-litre engine probably wouldn’t be the best choice you could make if you regularly pull a cattle trailer or need a truck to do that kind of heavy work. You’d likely want to stuff two more cylinders into the empty space under the hood.

But if you’re looking for a family vehicle that can hold its own doing run-of-the-mill farm pickup chores.

The Ram 1500 with the 3.6-litre and eight-speed transmission will likely get the job done for you and give you a bump up in fuel efficiency to boot.

For more on our evaluation see the E-Quip TV video online at grainews.ca/videos. †

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Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews.

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ere’s how our test Dodge Ram 1500 was equipped:

• Model year: 2013 • 3.6-litre engine and eight-speed transmission • 3.92 rear axle ratio • Four-wheel drive with Outdoorsman option group • 20 X 8 aluminum wheels with P275/60R20 tires • MSRP, as equipped: $52,865 • ENERGuide fuel economy rating: 13.0 L/100 km, city and 8.5 L/100 km highway • Our practical fuel economy test results: 14.5 L/100 km, city, and 11.3 L/100 km, highway †

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JANUARY 21, 2014

Machinery & Shop TRUCK NEWS

New HD Silverados for 2015

GM debuted updates to its next version of HD pickups at a Texas event in September

BY SCOTT GARVEY

“

PHOTO: GM

Mark Reuss, president of GM North America introduces the new 2015 Silverado HD pickups at the Texas State Fair on September 26.

T

he passion we have for trucks is reflected in every line and powerfully sculpted machined surface of the HD Chevrolet,” said Tom Peters, GM’s design director, in a press release without a hint of modesty. “From the dramatic sculpture of the one-piece structural bumper, to its muscular hood and side profile, the design reflects a function-driven solution.” (See what I mean?)

Those “function-driven” 2015 HD truck models made their debut in an unveiling event at the Texas State Fair in late September. These heavy-duty pickups get the same exterior styling refinements the brand announced early in 2013

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for its 1500 Series, which include new, larger, more spacious cabs with inlaid doors that fit into body recesses to minimize wind noise along with other more aerodynamic body contours.

But because these are meant to be work trucks, GM has beefed up their specs. The foundation they’re now built on is a fully-boxed, hydroformed frame. The redesigned body bolted onto it also enhances cooling air flow to the 6.0 litre Vortec V-8 or optional 6.6 litre Duramax diesel engine under the hood.

“It is one thing to generate big power numbers in cool weather, and quite another to maintain power and torque when towing up a long grade on a blistering summer day,” said Jeff Luke, executive chief engineer. “We think customers will appreciate all of the work that went into the cooling for the new Silverado HD when they get a chance to really put it to the test.”

Keeping with GM’s multi-fuel focus across both its car and truck lines, a 6.0 litre bi-fuel engine which can run on gasoline or CNG will be an option on 2500 and 3500 models.

The Duramax 6.6 litre turbodiesel and Allison 1000 six-speed automatic transmission combination will continue to be available on both 2500 and 3500 Silverados.

The Duramax is rated at 397 horsepower and 765 lb./ft. of torque.

The Allison 1000 transmission has a driver shift control with tap uptap down shifting and a Tow-Haul mode that reduces shift cycling for better control and improved cooling when towing or hauling heavy loads.

The 6.0 litre Vortec is rated at 360 horsepower and 380 lb./ft. of torque on 2500 models, and is specifically engineered for lowend torque. A version rated at 322 horsepower is standard on 3500s.

Both are E85 FlexFuel capable.

Along with integrated cruise control, the HD models get GM’s Auto Grade Braking system. There’s also engine exhaust braking on the Duramax diesel, which uses the variable vanes in the turbocharger to create additional back pressure in the engine to help slow the vehicle. The combination of the exhaust brake and the automatic transmission downshifts helps the driver maintain a desired speed in front of a load.

StabiliTrak with trailer sway control is standard. “The customer sets the desired speed, and the truck will do the rest — increasing or decreasing power, downshifting to increase engine braking, and engaging the exhaust brake on the diesel engine,” said Luke. “You feel much more confident and in control, because you aren’t constantly working to stay a step ahead of the truck and trailer.”

Chevy’s MyLink connectivity feature is available, too.

Payload and trailer towing capacities get a bump up for 2015, as well. Maximum payload jumps from 3,275 kilograms (7,222 pounds) to 3,508 kilograms (7,374 pounds). Trailer hitch ratings go up by 726 kilograms to 8,890 (16,900 pounds). Fifth wheel trailer ratings are now 10,523 kilograms (23,200 pounds). † Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews.

Contact him at Scott.Garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

JANUARY 21, 2014

grainews.ca /

23

Machinery & Shop New technology

Shining a light on vehicle design GM uses optical technology and computer modelling to get a measure of the competition

By Scott Garvey

T

photos: gm

Left: Mike Marvin from GM’s Competitive Benchmarking team uses a blue light scanner to capture 3-D images of a competitor’s vehicle interior. Right: Greg McDonald uses a red light scanner to capture 3-D images of a competitive vehicle component. The company uses red light to scan individual parts already removed from a vehicle.

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he only way for a company to really evaluate its products is to compare them to the competition’s. General Motors has announced it is now doing that by using optical technology to scan components on other brands of pickups and vehicles to see where there may be flaws. They want to use that information to make sure they avoid the same pitfalls. The company describes this process as using a “benchmarking team to surgically dissect competitor vehicles”.

“The high-tech search for what is good and bad is conducted about three dozen times a year globally with models strategically selected that are all-new or feature industry-first systems and technologies,” reads a press release from GM. “3-D scanning is a time-efficient and cost-effective way of keeping up with rapid advancements being made all over the industry,” said Larry Pecar, senior supervisor, GM Competitive Benchmarking. “The technology also allows us to gain a better understanding of the reasons for other automakers’ recalls so that we are better able to avoid making the same mistakes.”

GM says it has now been using 3-D scanning for well over a decade. The benchmarking teams use red, white or blue light scanners that mathematically capture precise 3-D images of vehicle structures and components. The technology projects a red, white or blue light pattern onto the vehicle surface while an advanced camera or sensor captures its contours and records where the object is in space and its orientation. The color of light used depends on the application.

While any one of these systems can scan anything from small parts to complete vehicles, blue and white light works best at capturing complete vehicle scans, including full exterior surfaces, according to GM. Blue light scanners map vehicle interiors and locations of under-hood and under-body components. White light scanning is a similar photographic process, but it is older technology and is now used less frequently. For capturing details of components and parts already removed from vehicles, the teams use red light.

By combining data from red and blue light scans, engineers can accurately capture the exact form of stand-alone parts and their original position and orientation within the vehicle. Complete sets of scans are then used to create reverse-engineered computer models of competitors’ vehicles to compare to GM designs.

The lessons learned from these comparisons help reduce engineering costs as well as improve

quality in all GM vehicles. The models. Or, if it is just a portion team also dismantles and scans of the vehicle, the data can be many of GM’s own vehicles to transferred to a 3-D fabricator for look for problems before they a rapid prototype part.

“By comparing the scan of a develop or make changes to the manufacturing process to finished product to the original math model we can idenimprove quality.

GM says it also uses 3-D scan- tify the source of fit and finning for vehicle design and ish problems,” added Pecar. “In development. Data collected some cases even squeaks and from scans of clay model proto- rattles can be avoided or quickly types is turned into digital mod- addressed. There is no place for a elling programs. That is uploaded quality issue to hide.” † into a computer-controlled mill- 12/28/13 SFM14-01_03-8.125x10-GN.qxd 8:31 AM editor Page Scott Garvey is machinery for 1 Grainews. ing machine to create full-scale Contact him at Scott.Garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

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JANUARY 21, 2014

Cattleman’s Corner FEEDING TIPS

Bale grazing tips HEATHER SMITH THOMAS

L

etting cows feed themselves during winter is one of the best ways to save on winter feed costs. Bale grazing provides economic and environmental advantages over many traditional feeding methods.

Bale grazing is not new, but the acceptability of this feeding method is relatively new. Lorne Klein, grazing and forage specialist, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, says a few people were doing it 30 years ago but may have been thought of as poor managers — leaving their bales out in the field for cows to eat.

During the past decade, however, this feeding method has gained acceptability. “First it was swath grazing, and now it’s bale grazing,” he says. “The ultimate cost-saver is to graze bales on the spot where they are dropped, rather than haul them anywhere.”

Klein says it is not so much the cost of the cutting and baling that breaks the bank. It is all the handling afterward that adds up — hauling it in and hauling it back out. “If you don’t have to touch it after it comes out of the baler, you’ve saved a huge cost,” says Klein.

Bale grazing on fields should be managed at the proper rate and concentration to enhance field vegetation — not at a density where it kills vegetation.

Grazing bales on fields and pasture returns 34 per cent of the original nitrogen that was in the bale to the soil. “We have photos of old pastures that now look brand new, because we’ve imported these nutrients,” says Klein. “The plants explode with new vigour.”

Even if ranchers haul and place bales on a pasture that needs fertilizer, this is a more effective (and cheaper) than hauling manure or using commercial fertilizer. The benefits also last longer than with commercial fertilizer because of the combination of nutrients and litter from manure and the small amount of wasted hay.

TWINE VERSUS NET-WRAP Producers have tried various types of twine and wraps to avoid the challenge of removing frozen twines from round bales. Leaving unwrapped bales in the hayfield is an option, but only works if they will be fed fairly soon after baling.

Without twine, bales come apart and won’t shed moisture, wildlife get into them more easily and there is more spoilage. It’s also impossible to move them if you need to.

There are two kinds of twine — sisal and plastic. Sisal can be left on the bales. Some produc-

ers remove plastic twine before it freezes to the bales due to freezing rain or melting snow.

“If bales will be grazed in the field where they are made, sisal twine is a big advantage because you don’t have to clean it up,” says Klein. “You can leave it on the bales and it’s biodegradable.

There’s an advantage to leaving twine on, rather than taking it off, because it helps hold the bale together as the cows eat.”

Plastic twines should always be removed because they can last too long in the environment, and can be a mess in the field for next haying season. Twines are also a danger to cattle because they may get caught in their hooves or around their head or legs. Ear tags may get caught and pulled off by twine. Plastic twines are hazardous for cattle if ingested, as they don’t break down as readily in the stomach as sisal and may create indigestion or plug the digestive tract.

Net wrap is often used, even though it costs more. There is less leaf loss, and it’s faster when making hay; the bale is completely wrapped with just 1.5 to two revolutions. Leaving net wrap on the bale also acts as a feed regulator, slowing down cattle’s ability to break the bale apart and waste it.

“Most people with the biggest herds are using net wrap, and leave it on the bales as they are eaten,” says Klein. “They collect the net wrap later in the winter, but it’s easiest to clean it up in the spring. It’s

PHOTO: LORNE KLEIN

Even net-wrapped bales can be successfully bale grazed without removing the wrap. The wrap actually helps to manage the amount of feeding and helps reduce waste. The wrap can be picked up after cows have moved on. amazing how easy it is to pull net wrap out of the litter and manure, and cows don’t seem to have any problem with it. The net wrap is fairly easy to pull out, compared to pulling twine out of a grazed bale.

When cattle eat on a bale wrapped with plastic twine, the twine is tangled in amongst the hay that’s left and it can be a nightmare trying to get it twine out.”

The net wrap reduces waste, because it’s difficult for cows to start eating bales, and they tend to gang up on the bales and finish them off before they start on a new one, he says. Some producers are now letting cows into the whole field, eating three to four weeks’ worth of net-wrapped bales. This eliminates the task of moving electric fence every day or every few days.

RESPECTING THE WIRE There are many ways to use electric fencing to control bale grazing.

“The most important thing, if you plan to use electric fence in the winter is to train cows to respect it before winter,” says Klein. “If they’ve dealt with it during summer, they will respect it in the winter, and won’t get into the next batch of bales before they are allowed. By winter they are not interested in challenging the fence.”

The specialist says some people use single strand and others use two strands (one is hot, one is ground) fences. However, it doesn’t really matter what you use as long as the cows already respect a hot wire. † Heather Smith Thomas ranches with her husband Lynn near Salmon, Idaho. Contact her at 208-756-2841.

TAGGING TIPS

Cold temps affect RFID tag retention PAMI RELEASE

T

hose yellow plastic, allimportant RFID ear tags appear to have poorer retention when applied under extremely cold conditions, researchers at the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute in Saskatchewan have found.

“Inserting the tags in the cold and comparing their strength with warm-applied tags was something about the tags that we believe no one else has tested,” says researcher Joyce Agnew. “The whole effect of temperature on tag retention was a question mark.”

In the PAMI test, both tag and applicator were brought down to -30 C and then the tag was inserted. The tag was then brought back to an ambient temperature before its strength was tested.

“We found that if the tags were inserted cold, they were much weaker than those inserted at room temperature,” says Agnew.

Tags were also more difficult to insert when they were cold and broke apart far more easily, even when back at room temperature.

These results show it is best to avoid tagging animals in extremely cold temperatures. If it cannot be helped, producers should keep both applicator and tags warm while the tagging is taking place. This is something producers can add to their list of best practices, Agnew says, right

alongside using the proper tool to apply the tags.

“Producers need to ensure that they are using the right applicator for the right tag components — no mixing and matching,” says Agnew. Using one brand of applicator with another brand of tag, or mismatching the front and back of the tags resulted in poor retention.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are an important part of tracking individual cows from birth to slaughter, and their use on Canadian cattle has been mandated through the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA). A number of tag options have been approved by the CCIA for use in the cattle identification program because they met the program’s criteria for retention, readability, and the ability to withstand tampering.

SIX TAGS TESTED “We recognize there is frustration among producers related to tag retention, and we wanted to address it,” says Agnew, a member of the PAMI research team. “We used an engineering approach to systematically test the mechanical strength of RFID tags to determine if all tags are the same, if some are weaker, or some are stronger.”

They tested six types of RFID tags, following best practices for their application. Those best practices included using compatible fronts and backs (i.e. from the same

manufacturer), and using the correct applicator for each brand of tag.

The team then measured the force it takes to break the tags apart in different ways, and looked at each brand of tag to see which were the least variable in terms of performance, which were stronger, and which were the easiest to insert. They also tried inserting the tags at different temperatures.

They found all met the basic strength requirements set out by the CCIA; however, temperature was shown to have a profound effect on the tags.

EAR TAGGING TIPS Here are a few tips from the research team on how to achieve greatest success with ear tag retention: • Follow directions for application given by each tag manufacturer • Use the correct brand of applicator for each brand of tag • Ensure the back and front of each tag are of the same brand and model • Try to avoid tagging animals in extremely cold temperatures. If it cannot be avoided, keep both tags and applicator warm while tagging • Be sure to place the tag in the proper position on the animal’s ear • Have an experienced person with a good amount of strength in their hands apply the tags • Cut twine off bales when feeding cattle. Loose twine hang-

PHOTO: PAMI

Shear force (using twine), along with tensile and impact tests were conducted on six different brands of RFID tags during the PAMI test procedures. ing out from bale feeders can cut tags off when animals pull their heads back from the feeder • Use appropriate parasite/lice herd health treatments to prevent cattle from excessively scratching against fence lines and feeders, risking tag removal • Record each animal’s RFID tag number in on-farm records before tagging is completed, along with its management ear tag number. If the animal loses its RFID tag and needs to be retagged, the management tag can be used to crossreference its original RFID tag with its replacement. This ensures that the birth date linked to the ani-

mal’s original RFID tag is brought forward to its new tag PAMI researchers are continuing their study of RFID tag retention this year. One of the goals is to determine the force required to pull the tag through a cow’s ear, as this is a common cause of tag loss. They also plan to assess the performance of pneumatic applicators as opposed to handoperated devices to see if a constant application force improves tag strength and reduces variability of strength, and there is a possibility of conducting some cold breakage testing as part of the study as well. †

BUILDING TRUST IN CANADIAN BEEF

teaching responsible use of antibiotics A VBP workshop can refresh your knowledge of the proper approach

Most beef producers have heard the standard messages around responsible antibiotic use in the cattle industry. Do the right things and be able to prove we are doing them.

Feedback from industry shows there are still times where producers could benefit from having and following clear, proper drug treatment protocols. And a refresher course in the reasons and importance of following those is often a good idea.

Know core principles

Building Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) is precisely why the Verified Beef Production (VBP) program was developed by producers and the industry.

The “Guidelines on the prudent use  VBP Provincial contacts Alberta — Eileen Leslie 1-866-242-7404 eileen@beefsafety.ab.ca Saskatchewan — Coy Schellenberg 306-859-9110 office@saskvbp.ca Manitoba — Betty Green 204-372-6492 betty.green@email.com British Columbia — Annette Moore 1-866-398-2848 VBP@cattlemen.bc.ca Ontario — Dan Ferguson 905-375-8551 dan@ontariobeef.com Quebec — Nathalie Côté 450-679-0530 poste 8460 ncote@upa.qc.ca Atlantic provinces — Amanda Tweedy 902-368-2229 vbp@peicattleproducers.com

of Antimicrobial Drugs in Animals” document is simple, straightforward advice based on guidelines of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.

Consumers and the general public are increasingly concerned about drug use and antimicrobial resistance. While the beef industry is only one player in this whole area of drug use, we must be prepared to do our part.

The goal is simply to minimize the use of drugs to preserve effectiveness while maintaining animal care. Overuse of drugs can contribute to resistance in your herd which may have implications for herd health down the road.

Our industry uses veterinarians as advisers for a reason. They are educated in proper drug use. The target strategy is to use drugs for the shortest time period required. Antimicrobials that specifically target the pathogen are favoured over broad-spectrum drugs, and the need for drugs should be regularly assessed.

Review your records and ask your veterinarian if any changes should be made. Keeping track of what you do is key to assessing success.

VBP training can help

The VBP workshop can help. Many of the practices in the VBP manual are related to the prudent use of animal health products. The most important of these is adhering to label directions.

Next most important is keeping records to manage it.

Consider becoming involved in the VBP program. The first step is participating in a workshop or taking the online version

Get a copy of the VBP pocket book from your provincial co-ordinator. of this. That effort demonstrates your interest in responsible drug use. The collective participation is important for our beef industry dealing with policy and market access issues.

VBP workshops are about two hours in length and are available across

the country. Alternatively, the online version is easy to complete using dialup Internet access. For either option, contact the VBP representative in your area from the list above.

Your operation and your industry will benefit.

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JANUARY 21, 2014

Keepers & Culls Strategy urges beef industry to work together LEE HART

ing marketing axiom — “produce what the customer wants.”

WORKING AS ONE INDUSTRY

A

plan launched in 2013 is urging all sectors of the Canadian beef industry to work co-operatively to improve the overall production, marketing and retail system for beef.

Initially called the Straw Man Beef Industry Initiative, it is an industry-led effort geared at creating a more organized and targeted Canadian beef production system, rather than a sometimes fractured and fly-by-the-seat-ofyour-pants, every-man-for-himself operation.

The Straw Man phase of the process, co-ordinated by Alberta beef producers David Andrews and John Kolk, along with longtime marketing specialist Kim McConnell, was just that… building a straw man… pulling together a frame of goals and opportunities for a profitable and competitive Canadian beef industry. So the framework all looks good, now what do we do about it? And that is phase two.

This isn’t a “yawner” exercise for cow-calf producers or any sector really. If the system ever gets working fully it can help one end of the whole beef chain say, “Here are the markets or here is the consumer trend for beef” and then convey that opportunity back through the feeding and producer network so it get out there and produce it. It is all part of the long-stand-

FACTS YOU CAN’T IGNORE While there are a lot of young people involved in the agriculture industry, there are probably more than a few who can relate to this list of facts about getting older: • Your kids are becoming you… but your grandchildren are perfect.

• Going out is good… Coming home is better.

• You forget names… But it’s OK because other people forgot they even knew you.

• You realize you’re never going to be really good at anything… especially golf.

• The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don’t care to do them anymore.

• You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It’s called “pre-sleep.”

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While most of the components to make the system work already exist, one big element to the success of this production and marketing strategy is co-operation — all sectors have to be on board, and everyone has to be pulling in the same direction. And that may be the rub.

While there seems to be general support for the concept, there is also lots of independence in the beef industry. Many players are reluctant to reveal too many cards for fear a competitor may gain the upper hand.

Andrews, Kolk and McConnell, drawing on their own experience as well as wide consultation with all sectors of the industry, developed the Straw Man framework and then presented it to industry meetings in Calgary and Toronto.

Input from those meetings lead to a final Straw Man report with several key recommendations on how to proceed.

NEW COUNCIL FORMED With general support for the strategy, the straw men are now retired. The next phase is to hand the ball to a newly formed Council of Beef Leaders. This isn’t a new organization per se, but a committee representing all sectors of the industry. Members will include the Canadian Beef Breeds Council, Canada Beef, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, National Cattle Feeders Association, Youth Cattlemen’s Council, packers/

• You miss the days when everything worked with just an “ON” and “OFF” switch.

• You tend to use more four-letter words…”what?”…”when?”. . . ” ???

• Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it’s not safe to wear it anywhere.

• You notice everything they sell in stores is “sleeveless.”

• What used to be freckles are now liver spots.

• Everybody whispers.

• You have three sizes of clothes in your closet… two of which you will never wear.

UPDATED PIG PRODUCTION CODE NFAC release Canada is closing in on a major milestone to complete a new Code of Practice for the care and handling of pigs.

Producers and other industry leaders, after public consultation and much discussion, are close to completing an updated code addressing topics such as sow housing, feed and water, animal health, husbandry practices and euthanasia.

“We have made great strides towards final agreement and are on track to have a new code for the new year,” says Florian

processors, retail and food service sectors. It will be up to that committee to develop the strategy and action plan to better co-ordinate the Canadian beef industry. Colin Jeffares, a recently retired Alberta assistant deputy minister of agriculture, will shepherd initial meetings serving as council convener. The first meeting to review progress is set for March 2014.

CENTRAL DATABASE Another key element in developing a co-ordinated production and marketing system is to develop a central database — a comprehensive inventory of what the industry is producing. Cow-calf producers, cattle feeders and packing plants will all need to supply info for the database. On an individual basis privacy is protected, but collectively the database would have information on the overall cowcalf herd, the age and genetics of calves in the system, the numbers on feed, slaughter dates and carcass quality information. The new updated version of the existing Beef Information Exchange System (BIXS 2.0) is seen as the best repository for this information.

PHOTO: LEE HART

Winter has settled in and feeding is underway at Kootenay River Ranch, Fort Steele, B.C.. one important service in helping to establish benchmarks so the industry can compare itself and see where efficiencies can be gained and set goals.

COMMUNICATIONS AND MEASUREMENT

FUNDING THE PROCESS

The system also needs an effective communication flow of what the industry is producing and also feedback on markets and consumer trends. Recommendations also call for performance measurements and a targeting system — you can’t manage what you can’t measure. Canfax would be

And the whole process will need a bit of funding. Marketing, promotion and a lot more research in all areas of livestock production are important and cost money. Details need to sorted out, but a new producer checkoff could range from an extra $1 per head at time of sale up to as much as $5 per head,

Possberg, chair of the Pig Code Development Committee, who runs a family hog operation in Saskatchewan. “Final agreement on a substantial portion of the code content has now been reached, with plans to complete the remainder at a final meeting in January. After that, some time will be needed to have the final code translated, copy edited, and published.”

Specific details on code content cannot be publicly released until the code is fully finalized and published, which is expected to be spring 2014.

The process of developing Codes of Practice for the care and handling of farm animals is co-ordinated through the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC).

Pig code development has been led by a Pig Code Development Committee representing diverse interest groups, including farmers and others in the agriculture and food industry value chain, animal welfare groups, enforcement and government.

“There has been a tremendous effort from the Code Development Committee to work together and build consensus on often complex and challenging issues,” says Jackie Wepruk, NFACC general manager. “It has been a long

road to get to this point and the progress we are now seeing is a testament to everyone’s commitment to the common goal of achieving a code that is good for the animals and implementable by producers.”

Codes of practice set out national guidelines for the care and handling of farm animals. They promote sound management and welfare through recommendations and requirements for housing, management, transportation, processing and other animal husbandry practices.

WILL COMPOSTING WORK FOR SRM? There seems to be some debate over the effectiveness of whether composting specified risk materials (SRM) and even whole dead livestock is enough to deactivate the prions that carry chronic wasting or mad cow disease.

Proper composting appears to be 99.99999 per cent effective for handling beef carcass waste says Tim McCallister, a research scientist with Agriculture Canada’s L e t h b r i d g e R e s e a rc h C e n t r e (LRC), but if the goal is to have 100 per cent neutralized prions, then the process isn’t there yet.

You’d need a further treatment

which is the amount collected by the Meat and Livestock Australia agency. Packers may also pay a national checkoff levy, and levies against imported meats could also be increased. All options will be explored.

It is a big plan. It is an ambitious plan. The key is co-operation.

Where there is a will there is a way — but if not nothing changes.

For a full copy of the Straw Man report visit www.strawmanbeef.ca.

to really “cook” the compost to make it complete.

“As far as I know we (LRC) are the only ones in North America who have really done the research in this area,” says McCallister.

“In our research using the scrapie prion we have seen that composting reduces the (disease risk of the protein) by 100,000 to one million times. But then the issue becomes about risk assessment. If the objective is to have a zero risk, then reducing it even by one million times maybe isn’t good enough.”

As a scientist, McCallister says he is satisfied that composting of SRM produces a safe compost product, but if the regulators, specifically Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) want a 100 per cent, ironclad kill guarantee he can’t give it. “All I can do is look at the science and any time you can reduce a risk by a million times, I think that is pretty good,” he says. “Then when you consider the composted material is going to be spread over a wide area and incorporated into the soil the risk factor is probably reduced by a billion times, but that still isn’t 100 per cent.”

The problem of what to do with specific risk materials and

» CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

JANUARY 21, 2014

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27

Cattleman’s Corner livestock management

When temperature is off the chart

H

opefully the coldest days are behind us, but livestock nutritionist Peter Vitti supplied this chart that shows what happens to temperature as the wind begins to blow.

The following table illustrates the relationship between ambient cold temperatures versus wind speed to yield wind chill, says Vitti.

By using this wind chill information, he makes the point that simply feeding beef cows more of what they are already consuming during the coldest weather often does not achieve their respective “cold winter” energy requirements.

When the thermometer drops, metabolic triggers in the cow stimulates her feed intake, but they will only increase dry matter consumption at the very most by 30 per cent, often limited by physical constraints of the rumen and a reversal in feed digestibility.

Since, beef cows can eat only so much feed

during very cold weather, the only viable option is to increase the energy density of their rations by using some high-energy and lowerfibre feed ingredients.

This means that rather than feed coldstressed cows more bulky feed such as more hay or more silage, it is sometimes better to substitute part of these forages with highenergy screening pellets or starch-enriched grains, such as barley or corn. University of Nebraska (2001) researchers found out that cold-stressed feedlot cattle derived more of a performance benefit by increasing the energy density of their ration with grain versus taking advantage of the extra heat increment (given off during rumen forage digestion) by feeding more forage. † Peter Vitti is an independent livestock nutritionist and consultant based in Winnipeg. To reach him call 204-254-7497 or by email at vitti@mts.net.

Coming Events JUNE BEEF FIELD DAY

Horse events at Calgary

The Western Beef Development Centre Annual Field Day will be held June 24, 2014 (Tuesday) at the Termuende Research Ranch in Lanigan, Sask. Visit the centre website for details: www.wbdc.sk.ca,

The Calgary Stampede will be staging four major horse events at their new Agrium Western Event Centre this year.

“When we embarked on this journey to build Canada’s premiere agriculture showcase space, these are the types of events we envisioned — big national and international shows that will connect the country to the city and draw guests to Calgary,” says Max Fritz, director of agriculture and western events for the Stampede.

The following four events have signed multi-year agreements with the Stampede to host their major shows and competitions at the Agrium Western Event Centre: • Arabian Horse Association Region 17 Championships July 21-26, 2014 • Te a m R o p i n g C a n a d a Canadian Finals September 26-28, 2014 • Canadian Team Cattle Penning Association National Finals October 9-14, 2014 • Royal West, produced by Rocky Mountain Show Jumping October 23-November 1, 2014

JULY ILC CONFERENCE The annual International Livestock Congress Beef 2014 will be held on Wednesday July 9, 2014 in Calgary Alta. at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino.

The conference is a great opportunity for industry members to network with industry experts and stakeholders as well as hear expert speakers discuss global beef industry issues.

This year’s conference will focus on the opportunities of marketing the whole carcass. With the trends that are taking shape today, there are many opportunities for the future. Hear an update on the economy — local and globally, the market opportunities of the whole carcass locally and globally — and what you can do to enhance this opportunity and why it is important to you. And catch up on the latest news on the trade agreements in play.

Program details will be available in early 2014.

And while in Calgary catch the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show! Visit www. ilccalgary.com for all of the detailed information.

For more ILC information and/ or sponsorship inquiries you can contact event@imcievents.ca or call 403-686-8407.

One of the most ambitious capital projects in the Stampede’s history, the Agrium Western Event Centre is a modern centerpiece for western events and agriculture education, exhibition and industry in southern Alberta. Slated to open in June 2014, it is unique in Canada, creating 150,000 square feet of dedicated livestock-friendly space. The building’s key sponsor include Agrium, along with the governments of Alberta and Canada. †

contact us

Write, E-mail or Fax Contact Cattleman’s Corner with comments, ideas or suggestions for and on stories by mail, e-mail, phone or fax.

Phone Lee Hart at 403-592-1964 Fax to 403-288-3162 Email lee@fbcpublishing.com Write to cattleman’s corner, PO Box 71141 Silver Springs RPO, Calgary, Alta. T3B 5K2

WIND CHILL CHART Ambient Temperature (C) 4 Wind km/h

-1

-7

-12

Velocity mph

-18

-23

-29

-34

-40

-29

-34

-40

Equivalent Chill Temperature (C)

Calm 0

0

4

-1

-7

-12

-18

-23

8

5

3

-3

-9

-14

-21

-26

-32

-38

-44

16

10

-2

-9

-16

-23

-30

-35

-43

-50

-57

24

15

-6

-13

-20

-28

-36

-43

-50

-58

-65

32

20

-8

-16

-23

-32

-39

-47

-55

-63

-71

40

25

-9

-18

-26

-34

-42

-51

-59

-67

-76

48

30

-16

-19

-22

-36

-44

-53

-62

-70

-78

56

35

-11

-20

-29

-37

-46

-55

-63

-72

-81

64

40

-12

-21

-29

-38

-47

-56

-65

-73

-82

Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, 2013.

» CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

keepers and culls even dead livestock has been on the books ever since the BSE/mad cow crisis broke out in May 2003.

The protocol for packing plants and other processors is to remove the high-risk specified risk materials and either bury or incinerate them. But industry organizations such as the Alberta Beef Producers have been asked whether these SRMs and whole carcasses of animals that die on a farm could be composted. The ABP Deadstock Working Group has been looking into it. Composting is a clean and effective way of dealing with large quantities of organic material. Some rural jurisdictions have been looking at compost-

ing as a means of handling dead livestock, rather than have dead animals being dragged off to the Back 40 and left to decay.

One recent fly in the ointment to the value of composting was some preliminary research done by the National Wildlife Health Centre in Madison, Wisconsin which apparently showed that prions from deer with chronic wasting disease can be taken up by plant root cells and possibly distributed through the plant’s leaf system. Although this work was done in a petri dish in the lab, the plant’s physiology is able to take up the protein material. That research showed it could happen in alfalfa, corn, barley and other plant models.

McCallister says he has heard of this work, but it hasn’t been published (or verified) and even though he has asked for a copy of

the study he hasn’t received anything. Until he sees the science he is withholding judgement. Again, work at the LRC using wheat found there was no uptake of prions by the cereal crop. The LRC research is soon to be published.

In the meantime the CFIA recommendation is not to use SRM compost as fertilizer on pastures used by cattle for at least five years after composting, although admittedly there has been no hard science to support this recommendation.

McCallister says he can only deal with the science, but from a common sense point of view he has to wonder what is worse — having a composted product where the risk has been reduced by a million times, or leaving livestock carcasses to decay in a back field exposed to the environment and attracting predators? †

9th Annual Family Day Sale February 17, 2014

1:00 p.m. at the farm at Athabasca, AB – Lunch at 11:30 a.m.

SELLING:

170 RED AND BLACK ANGUS 2 YEAR OLD BULLS STRONG SET OF 180 COMMERCIAL BLACK ANGUS BRED HEIFERS DUE TO START CALVING MAY 1ST

CANADA’S LARGEST SELECTION OF 2 YEAR OLD ANGUS BULLS Sale Managed by:

“Sharing in the Excitement of Agriculture”

Kelly & Anna Olson: 780-675-4664 Kelly Cell: 780-689-7822 Travis: 780-689-8324 Graham: 780-675-0112

www.olefarms.com

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JANUARY 21, 2014

Cattleman’s Corner rancher profile

Gelbvieh have good fit in purebred and commercial markets

BY LISA GUENTHER

T

ime and growing season precipitation tend to dictate management practices on the Davidson’s Lonesome Dove Ranch in southern Saskatchewan.

The amount of rainfall during the grazing season determines how long cattle can stay in native and tame grass pastures, and also how many crop stubble fields will be needed for their purebred and commercial cattle later in the fall.

“I don’t think we’re scared to try new things,” says Tara Davidson, who along with her husband Ross, runs around 300 head of purebred and commercial Gelbvieh on their ranch near Ponteix, Saskatchewan.

“Sometimes the conditions force you to try things a little bit and that’s maybe how we’ve implemented some of our practices.”

GRAZING MANAGEMENT A self-confessed “range plant geek,” Tara, has a minor in rangeland resources, and also is education co-ordinator for Saskatchewan’s Prairie Conservation Action Plan.

Tara lists several high-nutrition grass species native to southwestern Saskatchewan, including western porcupine grass, northern and western wheat grass, and needle and thread grass, which she feels often yield calves with the highest weaning weights.

Because the native grass is such a productive forage, the Davidsons manage it carefully. They aim to bank grass in years with good rainfall, and delay grazing native grasses until late summer or fall because the plants hold nutrients later into the season. That timing is easier on the native grasses, as they have been able to complete the growing season, set seed, and put down root reserves, which will carry the plants into the next growing season.

“Whereas with some of our tame species, we choose to use

them when they’re better suited in the early spring and summer months,” Tara says.

Pasture stocking rates vary depending on pasture and growing season conditions and the previous year’s carryover. During the breeding season, more cattle might graze a specific area. But the pasture will be grazed for a shorter period and get a longer rest, Tara says.

The Davidsons use a lot of walking herd sires, and have several breeding fields to accommodate different lines. Tara says Ross carefully reviews pedigrees to select the right bull for the right group of cows.

“He is a walking pedigree (reader). He can tell you the bloodlines going back several generations on pretty much all of our papered cows,” she says.

Once they pull the bulls at the end of the breeding season, they usually combine the eight to 10 breeding fields into three or four larger cow herds.

GRAZING CROP RESIDUE If it looks like they’ll be short on fall grazing, the Davidsons rent land from neighbouring farms and graze the cereal residue. “Even if we don’t always need it, we rent it just to secure it for the future because some year it’s going to be really dry and we’re going to need everything we have,” she says.

It’s handy if the land is already fenced, although installing a simple, portable hot wire to control cattle is also an option.

Having access to a reliable, yearround water supply is also vital to their grazing program. Ranchers need to keep in mind that if harvest is late, cattle might be grazing while dugouts freeze. “I would never rely only on snow down here,” says Tara.

The Davidsons don’t let their cows lose condition on crop residue, Tara adds. “We prefer to keep them in good shape especially as they go into their time where they

photo: carla chabot photography

photos: tara davidson

Top: Ross Davidson out checking the herd on some of the native grass pasture on their southern Saskatchewan ranch. Bottom Left: Ross and Tara Davidson with their children, Ash, Cameron and Jaime. Bottom Right: The Davidson run their 300-head purebred and commercial Gelbvieh herd over a combination of tame grass and native grass pastures. need the most nutrients.” They save their best quality feed for the cows’ last trimester. First calf heifers are kept on a high nutrition plane immediately after calving, too.

CULLING PROTOCOL The Davidsons follow a strict herd culling protocol. Their bottom-end cows are shipped as new cows come into the program.

“We also started selling quite a few replacement commercial heifers these last few years,” says Tara.

“We want to get to a point where we have a really uniform calf set so our calves can go to a number of different markets that they might fit into.”

Among the cows, good feet and legs and tidy udders are important criteria. Cows also need to produce really good calves. “Some of our cows we’ve culled are in fabulous shape themselves but they wouldn’t produce a calf to reflect that,” she says.

Animal temperament is an important factor as well. They select quiet, docile animals especially since the Davidsons have three young children who log a lot of hours in the pickup, Tara says.

MARKETING Breeding stock from the ranch is sold at an annual sale each March. Working with Ross’s parents, Vernon and Eileen Davidson, who operate Davidson Gelbvieh, they have a combined sale of more than 100 head of purebred red and black Gelbvieh bulls, the first Saturday of March. The 25th annual sale will be held this March 1 at 1 p.m. at the ranch. Details on the 2014 sale can be found at the ranch website: www.davidsonlonesomedoveranch.com .

On the commercial cattle side, some years the Davidsons sell weaned calves directly to Ontario feedlots, though Tara says they’ve had good luck marketing through

the local auction mart as well.

Selling direct to a feeder does allow the Davidsons to learn how their calves grade and yield.

When it comes to finding a buyer, the Davidsons tap their network of bull customers.

Selling direct takes trust on both ends. “When you ship your calves to Ontario, you need to wait for the pay cheque and you really hope it comes,” she says. “But, from the buyer’s standpoint, when they buy calves sight unseen, they need to know the calves are what we say they are and that they’re the quality and weight promised.”

A good set of herd records is important to support the marketing effort. The Davidsons age verify the calves and provide vaccination protocols to buyers. “I could probably tell them way more about each individual calf than they would ever want to know.” † Lisa Guenther is a Grainews field editor based in Saskatchewan. She can be reached at lisa.guenther@fbcpublishing.com

meat research

Vitamin E may enhance burger colour/shelf life ALMA release

A

lthough most beef cattle generally get a well-balanced diet, feed managers and researchers are constantly testing new feed combinations. In partnership with the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA), Mike Dugan, research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lacombe, Alta. is studying the effects of high dietary concentrations of vitamin E on beef quality.

Dugan’s initial findings show supplementing vitamin E in cattle diets improves the colour of the meat and the trans fatty acid composition.

“The trans fatty acid composition is one of the most important improvements with

increased levels of vitamin E,” says Dugan.

“There is more research pointing towards trans fatty acids not all having the same health effects. It is, therefore, important to be able to optimize the composition of ruminant-derived trans fatty acids which may be able to help reduce some human health risk factors associated with diabetes, obesity and heart disease. On a more practical level, however, vitamin E helped maintain ground beef colour over time, but had limited effects on steak or ground beef taste and texture.”

Whereas measuring the redness of the meat colour was a fairly straightforward task, measuring oxidative stability and its influences on texture and taste presented more of a challenge. Dugan’s team focused on lipid and muscle pig-

ment stability. Lipids and their component fatty acids contribute directly to the taste and texture of meat. As lipids oxidize, the taste and firmness of the meat degrades.

The research team found ground beef from cattle with higher levels of vitamin E contained more stable lipids, meaning it stayed fresher for a longer period of time than the non-supplemented meat.

As part of the research, Dugan’s team has recommended a level of vitamin E that provides the most benefit to improving the meat quality. “At the optimal concentration, vitamin E will help in the production of a more visually appealing ground beef that enjoys a longer shelf-life and superior taste profile,” says Dugan. “We are also looking towards

supplementation in combination with other antioxidants to further enhance the trans fatty acid profile. ” Dugan’s team now hopes to further optimize the trans fatty acid profile of beef and verify its potential health advantages.

Susan Novak, ALMA’s research manager, said, “Dr. Dugan’s team has shown that vitamin E can create a better product on practical measures like appearance and shelf life. We are interested in seeing if the less obvious health benefits of a better trans fatty acid composition can be further improved and scientifically verified. If it can be, then we have a solid case for vitamin E supplementation in cattle feed.” † For more information, please contact Dr. Dugan at 403782-8125 or email: mike.dugan@agr.gc.ca .

JANUARY 21, 2014

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29

Home Quarter Farm Life SEEDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Rock picking in January Not the ones in the field, but the ones in your head — the priorities ELAINE FROESE

“

H

ey, watch out, there’s a rock the size of a loaf of bread about to go through the header!!” I yell to my new hubby in the cab of our combine as we harvest in l981.

“Don’t worry, I saw it, and there will be more,” he confides to me.

As a Red River Valley farm girl transported to marriage in the Waskada clay loam of southwestern Manitoba I have developed the habit of picking stones or rocks on my field walks as I deliver meals, fuel, or help out with the harvest. I wasn’t used to picking rocks in my childhood near Dugald, because there weren’t any.

January is a great time for rock picking on your farms, but these rocks are not in your fields, they are in your heads. They are the priorities, what the late Stephen R. Covey, author of Seven Habits for Highly Effective People calls the “big rocks,” — the things you need to put into your jar of life first, in order to get them accomplished, then the pebbles, sand and other demands on your time will fill up your life’s time container. If you don’t put the big rocks in first, the daily interruptions, breakdowns, and distractions (pebbles and sand) will pull you off the path you thought your farm and family were trekking down.

Your time jar will be full, but you won’t be happy, because the big rocks did not get accomplished.

Recently in a farm family meeting with Mom, Dad, four adult children workers (the successors) and one spouse we had an “aha” moment. The oldest worker and successor had 10 years of working alongside Dad and Mom, and he was very confident in what he could accomplish in a day. His three siblings were struggling to catch up to the oldest sibling’s sense of confidence. One brave soul confronted Dad at the meeting with a plea to not be too eager to let go of leadership and management of the farm too quickly, but to have a mentorship and learning plan so that she could capture the skills her roles on the farm. Each adult worker and successor was asking for better communication and clearer direction of the tasks and skills required for each day.

How were they going to accomplish this on a practical basis?

BLOCK the CALENDAR. Each month is going to be blocked with the tasks, jobs, and priorities, the BIG ROCKS that the team needs to address. The main manager, Dad, is going to document daily in his field notes on his phone what he is doing and what needs to be prepared for. The field notes are accessible on the main office computer for all workers to monitor.

I have seen the same plea from another family where the office manager did not have a clear sense of the patterns of management for the seasons of the year. She just wanted Dad to write down the monthly priorities and goals, so that she could get a sense of what needed to be done, and what was a lesser demand on her time.

Michael Pantalon’s book, Instant Influence has six helpful questions in getting people to understand what is important to accomplish. He uses a range of one to 10, with 10 being most important to help folks get a clear quantitative feedback. For instance, on a scale of one to 10 how important is it that we get this job done this week? If the manager says nine, then you know what the big rock is for the week.

If he says two, then other jobs take higher priority. You could also use this ranking system for the agenda items proposed for your operational meetings.

You can also use the ranking on paper. Don McCannell, CAFA member and financial planner from Saskatoon uses this method with his office staff. If he marks a paper with

a 4, it can go to the bottom of the pile, but if it is marked 10, then the action needs to be taken immediately for its completion.

Some women have the tendency to use “rapport” as the way they prefer to communicate which drives some men crazy, according to Deborah Tannen who wrote You just don’t understand. Men prefer to have a concise “report,” just the facts please.

So, there needs to be some compromise in understanding different communication styles.

Another issue in priority setting is getting a clearer picture of where time is spent. My farm clients who love their smartphones are using a program called Exaktime.com to track the work hours, and what duties are being accomplished.

Again, this tool helps with reporting the facts, the jobs done, and how much time they took. If the work ethic of two siblings is different, the time-tracking program on their phones will account for the actual hours spent working. To be paid, they have to submit the Exaktime records. The time sheets for the entire work crew are available on the office computer and records of the jobs accomplished are shared at the weekly meetings.

Farm conflict about who is working harder and longer hours is not uncommon. Perhaps it is time to invest in a tool to track what is actually getting done, by whom.

You can start to monitor who is a good rock picker and who is fooling around in the sand or throwing pebbles, but not making the

“main thing the main thing,” to quote Stephen Covey.

When I go for walks along the field roads, I also like to find flat rocks to make inspiration plaques for young girls I mentor. I can write words to encourage them, and the rocks are a reminder to them that I value their growth as young women. I won’t find too many of these treasures in January, so it takes planning to harvest the rocks I need in the right season. Remember, planning ahead is a good thing.

Block out the big rock activities on your yearly calendar. Think about using colour coding for each worker. Do whatever works for your style and system, but do it! † Elaine Froese facilitates farm family meetings to help farm teams get unstuck. She also learns heaps from her smart farm clients who have been teaching her for over 30 years! Sign up for her free e-newsletter at www.elainefroese.com. Buy her books, Do the Tough Things Right, or, Farming’s In Law Factor, as a Valentine’s gift for the farm sweetheart you want to encourage. Book her common sense for your next conference at 1-866848-8311. Elaine is a member of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors and the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers.

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JANUARY 21, 2014

Home Quarter Farm Life FROM THE FARM

Warm up with a hot bowl of oatmeal If this healthy breakfast doesn’t appeal to your family, here’s some other ideas DEBBIE CHIKOUSKY

T

here is nothing homier on a frigid morning than coming in from chores to a big steaming bowl of oatmeal just like Grandma used to make.

Unfortunately, most of our family does not enjoy oatmeal prepared that way, so over the years I have had to come up with some new twists to cajole them to eat it.

We officially stopped buying boxed cereal (the kind you don’t cook) many, many years ago when the price jumped from $3 a box to $6 a box, but not one of our children enjoyed hot cereal the old-fashioned way, and to be honest, steam rolled oatmeal is still processed so I didn’t argue the point too hard. Then we found a farmer who was not only certified organic, he is a source of cold processed oatmeal. My brother has cystic fibrosis and other family members have other health issues that limit their enzyme production, so finding more “alive” food sources is always exciting for me.

Most oatmeal is produced by steam rolling which lessens the enzyme content of the end product. Gerry DeRuyck (1-204836-2755 Treherne, Man.) cold processes his flaked products

thereby preserving the enzyme content, which is very appealing for those of us searching for ways to add enzymes to our diets. The cold processing of the oatmeal, made from whole hulled oats, results in a raw product. This is perfect for preserving the natural nutritional components of the oats but means that we must store them in the freezer to keep them fresh.

Our family has found that cold processed flaked grains are also much more filling, which is a bonus. Our personal favourite is homemade dehydrated oat cereal with rye flakes added, which gives a wonderful crunch.

DEHYDRATED OATMEAL CEREAL 5 c. oatmeal 4 c. warm water 5 tbsp. kefir or yogurt Dried fruit can be added if desired Place these in a glass bowl in the morning and cover with plastic wrap. In the evening add: 1/2 c. coconut oil (melted) 1/4 c. melted butter 3/4 c. honey Spread this out onto parchment paper-lined cookie sheets.

Sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon. In order to preserve enzymes the cereal should not be dehydrated above 104 F.

It can be dehydrated at 125 F which still preserves most of its nutrition.

Another favourite to get oatmeal into our family is with Baked Oatmeal. Although the cooking process does diminish enzymes the other health benefits of eating oatmeal remain intact. Oatmeal is packed with soluble fibre which reduces your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad” cholesterol. In fact, having 1-1/2 cups of cooked oatmeal provides six grams of fibre. It’s also good for diabetics since oatmeal takes awhile to digest, preventing unwelcome spikes in blood sugar, and is often recommended by nutritionists for weight loss because it helps keep you feeling full.

The most important thing to remember though is that piling on a lot of sugar to make it tastier will backfire, quite quickly resulting in weight gain. This Baked Oatmeal recipe is a mainstay of our house on Sunday mornings. Everything is in one pan and it can even be eaten in the car if we are running extra late for church.

BAKED OATMEAL 1/2 c. butter, melted 3 c. oatmeal 2 eggs 1/2 c. honey 1 tsp. baking powder, no aluminum 2 c. whole milk 1 tbsp. cinnamon

Unfortunately, most of our family does not enjoy oatmeal prepared that way, so over the years I have had to come up with some new twists to cajole them to eat it Preheat oven to 275 F. Beat together all ingredients with mixing spoon. Pour into wellgreased 9x13-inch baking pan.

Bake at 275 F for 30 minutes or until browned and set. Serve with milk.

Another favourite on busy mornings is a bowl of homemade granola. This recipe is quite filling so if you’re used to eating cereal from a box be aware you will probably need to serve much less to be satisfied. It can be either eaten with milk or as a yogurt topper.

GRANOLA 8 c. oatmeal 2 c. oat bran (increases the fibre content that lowers cholesterol) 1/2 c. raw wheat germ (boosts vitamin E) 1/2 c. fresh ground flax (boosts omega-3) 1/2 c. hulled sunflower seeds 1/3 c. water 1 c. honey 1 c. coconut oil

1/2 c. peanut butter 1 tsp. vanilla 1 c. raisins In a large bowl, combine oatmeal, oat bran, wheat germ, flax and sunflower seeds, mix well. In a pot mix water, honey, coconut oil and peanut butter, warming just till it is pourable. Add vanilla and pour over dry ingredients.

Spread on two cookie sheets and cook in low oven, stirring often.

When it is almost cooked (cereal will clump) add raisins. Cook another five minutes (about 30 minutes at 250 F in all). Let cool completely before storing in airtight containers.

Using these ideas to start off with, oatmeal could become a new family breakfast tradition at your house also. Remember that it is also an excellent way to extend meat loaf or add moistness to yeast bread recipes. We are definitely happy we have added this versatile food to our routine. The bonus is that it is a healthy option as well. † Debbie Chikousky farms at Narcisse, Manitoba

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31

Home Quarter Farm Life Couple creates the Rural Channel

POSTCARDS FROM THE PRAIRIES

Life’s secrets, according to you…

JANITA VAN DE VELDE

PHOTO: COURTESY

Back row (l to r): Dustin, Drew, Zach. Front row (l to r): Courtney, Helen, Bill.

BY SHIRLEY BYERS

S

uccessful businesses often begin when someone sees a need and figures out a way to fill that need.

In the 500-channel television universe, Saskatchewan farm owners, Helen Wilson and her husband Bill, saw a glaring need. Not one of those channels was devoted to the ag sector. “So, we thought, we need to dive into this because it is a market that needs to be fulfilled and our rural people need to have a channel that they can call their own,” says Helen. “We went through the process, we did the due diligence and here we are. We went to air in May of 2013.”

The process for the Wilsons took several years and included going to the CRTC to apply for a licence, getting approval, lining up a full 24-hour, seven-day schedule of programming, convincing a carrier to take the channel on and more. “It’s a long process, it’s a long journey but it’s been very well worth it,” she says. “We’re so pleased to be able to service this market in Canada.

For us it’s a thrill and a dream come true.”

Helen and Bill are no strangers to entrepreneurship or to the world of television. Thirty years ago they created their own TV show, “Prairie Farm Report” and it’s been running ever since. “Prairie Farm Report” will be aired on the Rural Channel along with such programs as “Machinery of the Past,” “Motorz ,” U.S. shows “AgDay” and “U.S. Farm Report” and a group of equestrian programs including “Backstage Pass” and “Horsing around New Zealand.” The Rural Channel is the only Canadian venue for world-class international equine FEI competitions. The Wilsons also plan to produce more of their own programming. “We have a long list of shows we

want to produce because there’s so much out there that is untapped, so much information that we are wanting to get to the Canadian audience,” says Helen.

Officially her title is CFO, but in reality Ag-Com Productions, their family business, owner of the Rural Channel and “Prairie Farm Report” is run more like a family farm, Helen says. “You do what you have to do in order to get the job done and get all the aspects of the job done. My job description is — anything you put in front of me.”

That could include looking after the finances, dealing with a client, or going out on a shoot and looking after the audio. “I guess you could say I’m a jack of all trades,” she says.

Helen inherits her taste for entrepreneurship from her parents. She grew up on the family farm and worked for them for a couple of years after high school. After marriage she worked at various jobs in the media before she and Bill started their own company.

The Wilsons have four children, all working in the family business. Their oldest, Courtney MacIntyre, has been the main editor for about a decade, and her brothers Zach, Dustin and Drew have grown up in the business.

Helen loves working with her family.

“We just kind of all know what each other is thinking, we all have a common goal and we all want to see what we’re doing succeed. It’s awesome actually because it’s their vested interest and because they’ve grown up in it, it’s their life.”

Ag-Com office is located five miles east of Regina and is an independent familyowned operation, with no other investors or silent partners.

The Rural Channel is carried by Shaw Direct and Eastlink Cable. † Shirley Byers writes from Kelvington, Sask.

H

ere forthwith, are the most embarrassing things you’ve ever done. Part Two

The only thing I can think of was from a Grade 12 ski trip… I was too scared to jump off the chairlift at the top, so I started going back down (which doesn’t really work).

They had to stop the lift, and the operator yelled at me over the loud speaker and I had to jump five feet to get off.

Running errands around town with an old yacht mop hanging off the back bumper… a four-foot wooden handle dragging down every time I slowed down or turned. Very entertaining for everyone on the sidewalks. Got to love a spouse who thought that the back bumper of your Citation was the ideal place to let the mop dry off after cleaning the garage floor!

I scolded my sister-in-law for being terribly rude to her mother during a formal family dinner. Why was it embarrassing? It was well outside the family tradition of ignoring everything negative.

This is not the forum for that story!

Thank goodness there was no social media at the time.

Got caught talking smack about a girl while in the bathroom stall at a social, and she was in the other bathroom stall. I was eyeing up her boyfriend and made a few crude comments — she heard it all. Argh!

Oh where do I begin! I have numerous small embarrassing moments. The time in Grade 5 when those velour volleyball shorts were in and I was late for gym class and changed in a flash, and in that flash I also flashed the janitor my tight whities as I fled up the stairs. And then proceeded to flash the entire Grade 5 and 6 class with my cute undies, which had a picture of a boy and girl under an umbrella! Devastation! A boy in my class looked at me, pointed and yelled,

“YOU FORGOT TO PUT YOUR SHORTS ON!” then he physically collapsed to the floor in laughter. I ran BACK down the stairs and flashed the janitor again (for good measure) and changed into those damned short shorts. I was “lucky” enough to have the class with my brother, so he made sure it was the first topic of conversation at the dinner table that night. From that day on I was called “Gitch” until about Grade 12.

My kids wanted me to barrel race at the fair. I didn’t want to disappoint them, but wasn’t dressed for the occasion. On that last barrel, the horse picked up steam, eliminating the final piece of friction between my polyester slacks and the saddle, and off the horse I flew. My kids were laughing, although I couldn’t hear them that well for the concussion. I’m quite certain it wasn’t just my kids laughing, either.

To be 18 years old and not be able to talk to a girl!

Sitting my butt on the kitchen table only to realize the warmth I was feeling came from the smushed pile of mashed potatoes that now had the grooved imprint of my cord pants.

Starting a new school with a boy’s haircut in my brother’s hand-me-downs, and getting redirected to the boy’s bathroom accordingly!

When I was 16 years old, I received a DUI and that was embarrassing… overdrinking in general in my younger years. At that age, I was trying to be the life of the party, but looking back now upon that period of my life, I needed to grow up. I have never had addictions issues, it was more about acquiring as many friends as possible. This may have been a result of my dysfunctional relationship with my father. You’re making me think about this. † Janita Van de Velde grew up on a farm near Mariapolis, Man. She holds a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics from the University of Manitoba, and has worked for a financial institution since graduating. She lives in Regina, Sask., with her husband Roddy and their children Jack, Isla and James. Her first novel, Postcards Never Written, was the recipient of the Saskatchewan Reader’s Choice Award and also listed by CBC as one of the top funny books in 2009. She donates a portion of proceeds from the sale of her book to World Vision to help those less fortunate.

For more information, or to order her book, visit her website at www.janita.ca.

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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.

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Home Quarter Farm Life SINGING GARDENER

More on tomatoes Plus, what does pH really mean?

TED MESEYTON

W

ell here it is a month past our shortest day. Already the sun is noticeably stronger and daylight longer. There’s still plenty of sneezing, runny noses, chills or what have you going on.

These are sometimes associated with coughs, colds and throat issues.

Later herein I’ll share a throat wash and gargle recipe from my archives.

It goes back to the early 1960s and was often recommended by a medical doctor to his patients.

BUT FIRST … as a followup to our last gettogether let’s walk a bit further along the Tomato Trail. Originally, cherry tomatoes were found growing wild in tropical Central American countries many moons ago, even before Columbus discovered continental America in 1492.

Historically, wild cherry tomato vines had neither pest problems nor plant diseases. Dozens of cherry and grape tomato selections have since been introduced and many possess good shelf life, have tolerance to cracking and resistance to early and late blights.

TRIAL-AND-ERROR TOMATO SPRAY From that brief historical account, here’s one man’s story. He’s a polite, well-bred tomato grower from the 1960s era with a wealth of experience and ideas. I shall call him Harry. You may wish to agree, disagree or experiment with one of his practices. For years, Harry has been making an all-purpose spray from cherry tomato leaves for application on tomato plants, other veggies and flowers to repel disease and pests.

Harry always felt his cherry tomato plants must have been related to the original wild ones. His plants never have pests or diseases and are tough

SUE ARMSTRONG

LOVE HEARING FROM YOU Do you have a story about a farm or home-based business?

How about some household management tips? Does someone in the family have a special-diet need? Share some of your meal ideas.

Send them to FarmLife, 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, Man. R3H 0H1. Phone 1-800665-0502 or email susan@ fbcpublishing.com. Please remember we can no longer return photos or material. † Sue Armstrong

as iron. He never measures quantity when making his all-purpose spray, but merely plucks a bunch of leaves from small cherry tomato plants and mashes them in a container. He then steeps the pulverized leaves in water for a few hours in bright sunlight before straining off the resulting brew and then dilutes down the concentrate in more water. (I, Ted, use a rubber mallet to mash tomato leaves and also stir in a bit of cornstarch to help it stick.)

Remember, this guy is an organic gardener and also loves to blast off pests using plain water. He shies away from anything stronger than cherry tomato leaf brew and grey soap and water left over after doing laundry. In his opinion there are three distinct attitudes toward use of chemicals: none, some and lots.

He chooses none and focuses on well-rotted manure each spring and says you can get along even without rotenone as long as you like gardening. One of the worst things a gardener could do, according to Harry, is plant tomatoes, potatoes and corn together or nearby each other. It’s asking for trouble and an invitation to late blight and insect pests. He believes in frustrating pests and diseases from every possible angle and lives by the statement: “I Dig Gardening.”

NUTRIENTS FOR TOMATOES It’s a balancing act when transplanting out in the garden. Till trenches or furrows at least eight inches deep down, or dig individual planting holes. At the bottom of the furrow or hole spread a thin band of organic or commercial fertilizer such as 5-10-10. Those three numbers refer to percentages by weight of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in fertilizer.

They’re always listed in that order.

If using an organic fertilizer, a thin sprinkling of well-composted dried manure from chicken, turkey, cattle or sheep sources may also be sprinkled in (too much can cause burning, shock and dehydration).

Compost and rotted leaves may also be worked in. Regardless of the method you select be sure all fertilizer and organic materials are covered over with two or three inches of soil and then place your tomato plants on top. This allows roots to grow toward the fertilizer gradually and absorb nutrients.

Shall we continue our walk along the Tomato Trail another day? I’m willing if you are.

PHOTO: TED MESEYTON

The Singing Gardener asks: Do you dig gardening? Shown are examples of signs at a garden centre during 2013.

PH! WHAT DOES IT MEAN? For those who know their chemistry the symbol stands for the “negative logarithm of hydrogen ion concentration.” For gardeners, pH is a measure of acidity (sourness) or alkalinity (sweetness) of soil. The scale runs between one and 14. One is very acid and 14 is very alkaline. Few gardens are more acidic than five or more alkaline than nine. A pH of seven is perfectly neutral, but most plants including Swiss chard, lettuce, spinach and other greens grow best when the pH is slightly acidic between 6.0 and 6.5. Tomatoes also prefer their soil around 6.0 to 6.5. However, they’ll be stunted and less tender when soil pH is down below 6.0.

Soils that receive low rainfall tend to be on the alkaline side, whereas soils receiving high rainfall can gradually wash calcium away leaving it somewhat more acidic.

You can purchase home testing soil kits at garden centres or get a soil test commercially done. However, as I’ve mentioned in the past, gardeners like to be their own home scientists. Just as some folks have the gift of water witching (a subject I’ve covered extensively in previous Grainews articles) there are gardeners and farmers out there who’ve achieved rather accurate results with the following home experiments.

THE TONGUE TASTE TEST European researchers have discovered that children raised on organic farms have a far lower incidence of allergies and asthma, compared to those raised on conventional, industrialized farms or in urban areas. The root ball of a

plant acts as the gut or intestinal tract of the plant, housing essential microbes, just like the human gut does, provided the soil system is healthy. The co-operation between soil micro-organisms and plant roots is responsible for allowing nutrients from the soil to be absorbed. As a child you may have put some dirt or soil in and around your mouth from a fresh pulled unwashed carrot, fruit or other veggie. It’s called the garden or farm effect. Whether you realize it or not, you may well have acquired a keen tongue for determining whether soil tastes sweet or sour simply by touching a soil sample with your tongue. If the soil sample hints of a taste of sweetness it’s apt to be alkaline in nature; or conversely it’s on the acidic side when soil leaves a taste of sourness. Rinse out your mouth after arriving at a conclusion. If aforesaid is not to your liking, or to do a double check try the following.

Depending on the size of your garden, you can also take several soil samples from about four to six inches below soil surface one at a time at various spots. Draw a sketch for reference if you wish.

Add a few drops of white vinegar to a tablespoonful of dry soil and watch what happens. If it fizzes the pH of that soil sample is greater than 7.5 and leaning toward alkaline. Next, add a pinch or two of dry baking soda to a tablespoonful of moist soil. If it fizzes the soil’s pH is under 5.0 and on the acidic side. If nothing happens either way, we can be reasonably satisfied that our soil is close to pH 7.0 neutral. These are simple, inexpensive ways to learn about soils.

THROAT WASH AND GARGLE: HOME RX • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice • 2 tablespoons honey (or food-grade glycerin for diabetics) • 1 ASA 325-mg tablet such as Life brand acetylsalicylic acid or Aspirin • 8 ounces water, first boiled then cooled Mix ASA tab in water until dissolved then stir in honey and lemon juice. When cool enough for comfort, gargle a mouthful for one minute then expectorate (that is — spit it out). This is done to rinse out any debris that has accumulated in the throat area.

Gently repeat the initial gargle again for one minute and this time swallow it. This lubricates parched areas of the throat and brings quick relief. Repeat this treatment according to necessity every three or four hours, even for several days if necessary to provide soothing relief to the back of the throat. As phlegm loosens, it liquefies. Don’t be surprised if your nose really runs for a day or two, so keep nasal tissues handy. This gargling ritual can also promote sweating and improves kidney secretion. Citric acid in the lemon juice turns alkaline and so opposes any acidity which may have established from an existing fever or infection.

Remember — it’s first gargle and spit it out — then gargle again and swallow. †

Tundra This is Ted Meseyton the Singing Gardener and Grow-It Poet from Portage la Prairie, Man. Thanks to all readers who walked a mile with me on the Tomato Trail and for staying tuned to this Singing Gardener page in Grainews. Thanks also to those of you who have emailed, phoned and sent handwritten letters via Canada Post. Let’s rendezvous here again. I’ve so much more to share with you. Be thankful for the gift of life and always bear in mind, acquaintances are plentiful but friends are hard to find. My email address is singinggardener@mts.net.

JANUARY 21, 2014

grainews.ca /

33

Home Quarter Farm Life

Cockshutt — a familiar company name

BY CHRISTALEE FROESE

T

he name Cockshutt is a familiar one on the Prairies. In the late 1800s, this company brand could be found on horse-drawn carts, plows and discers. By the mid-1900s, the name was on combines, warplanes, truck bodies and the groundbreaking Cockshutt 30 tractor. William H. Cockshutt (Bill) witnessed much of it.

As a boy living in Smiths Falls, Ontario in the late 1930s, Bill watched as the company evolved from a small foundry that made plows to a multimillion-dollar entity that made bomber fuselages during the Second World War, manufactured Canada’s first widely used tractor and was the originator of the Live Power Take Off (LPTO) system.

“When I was 11 or 12, the factory was in our backyard,” says Bill, who is now retired to Wolseley, Sask. with his wife Helen.

In 1877 James Cockshutt, Bill’s great-uncle, founded a small manufacturing company in Brantford, Ontario called The Brantford Plow Works. He made inroads in Western Canada by creating the first plows designed specifically for breaking prairie sod.

The successors to The Brantford Plow Works were the Cockshutt Plow Company (1882) and the Cockshutt Farm Equipment Co. Ltd. (1951).

By the 1930s and ’40s, the Cockshutt Plow Company was making everything from disc plows, seeders and swathers to automobile bodies and aircraft parts. Bill, now 85, remembers walking into the foundry to this day.

“The iron would be bright red, hot and steaming. It was almost fierce or frightening when they poured the hot metal into moulds of sand, but when it cooled they took the sand off and you ended up with a part of some kind like a transmission case.”

In 1947 Cockshutt became the first company in Canada to design and build a tractor which achieved marketing success — the Cockshutt 30. North American tractor builders rushed to copy the revolutionary industry-changing LPTO feature. The tractor, then priced around US$1,500, was marketed aggressively under the Co-op name in northeastern U.S. Bill writes in his book: ‘By the close of 1948 this full-fledged farm equipment company and fastgrowing truck manufacturer had far more to offer than plows and tillage tools. It had excellent combines and tractors, and a revitalized marketing team.’ The company employed 4,200, and the Brantford factory covered 50 acres with a million square feet of manufacturing floor space.

At this time, Bill was a 20-yearold engineering student at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and the company was being operated by his uncle, C. Gordon Cockshutt. “My uncle said, ‘You’re not doing very well at university, so why don’t you get out of there and go to work, in fact, you can start now,” recalls Bill, and his marketing career began.

“It was a magical time because our products were so good that they did a superior job. It was nice to work with a farmer on a combine in the field and show him how to get a cleaner sample in the tank.”

Bill eventually became branch manager based in Kansas City, and in 1958 he married a girl from Wolseley, Saskatchewan. In 1962 the company was flourishing, and then disaster struck swiftly and unexpectedly.

English Transcontinental, a British mercantile bank, was buying up considerable amounts of Cockshutt stock on the open market. “My uncle and board of directors thought that it was a wonderful idea — here’s an English bank that wants to put money into Canada. And then we found out that they were not who they said they were.”

English Transcontinental turned out to be front men for an American financial group whose business was to buy and dismantle companies. “It happened so suddenly that nobody knew what was happening until they arrived on

the scene and said, ‘We own onethird of your company.’”

For a family that had worked for generations to build its company into a profitable and wellrespected organization, the decimation of Cockshutt Farm Equipment Co. Ltd. was devastating. Eight years after the hostile takeover, the Cockshutt company name was changed to White Farm Equipment and by the 1970s, White had gone bankrupt and the massive manufacturing centre in Brantford disappeared.

While Bill too was devastated, the writing of his book helped to restore his sense of pride in the accomplishments of one of Canada’s most innovative agricultural equipment companies.

“I’m proud of the fact that my family and myself were involved in making good products that did a lot for western farmers, for

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Brantford, for Canada and for agriculture as a whole.”

Bill was able to retain financial records and company documents that showed that “they conserved cash and didn’t go to the banks for money so that they could develop new products without having to pay interest.”

About Cockshutt contains not only the written history, but the visual story in the form of posters, drawings, letters, advertisements and photos.

“I’m hopeful that I’m making a contribution to history for future generations so they understand what Cockshutt did and the part it played in the agricultural and business development of Canada.”

For more information or to order a copy, email Cockshutt@ sasktel.net. † Christalee Froese writes from Montmartre, Saskatchewan

PHOTO: CHRISTALEE FROESE

Bill Cockshutt with his book.

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