AFE120312 by Farm Business Communications

INSIDE THIS ISSUE! BATTLE RIVER SHORT LINE FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE » PAGE 37

CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL SAFETY WEEK FEATURES » PAGE 50

UFA TURN-KEY BUILDINGS See p.11

Publications Mail Agreement # 40069240

VO L U M E 9, N U M B E R 6

MARCH 12, 2012

Poison bait is not the only answer to gopher problems RIMFIRE POWER  As long as an infestation is not severe, Grandpa’s old .22

can control the gophers as effectively as strychnine BY SHERI MONK

AF STAFF | PINCHER CREEK

he days are getting longer, the sun feels warmer and the gophers are emerging from their sleepy winter slumber. After nearly eight months underground without feeding, one would think the gophers’ first priority would be food, but it’s perhaps no coincidence they emerge around Valentine’s Day. “It’s difficult to poison the males when they first come out. They’re living on body fat and they’re fighting for territory until the females come out,” says Phil Merrill, an inspector with Alberta Agriculture. The lovely ladies arrive above ground two weeks after the males, and their appetites are put on the back burner in favour of a little spring romance. “As soon as they are bred and become pregnant they really have a high demand for food and that’s the time to bait,” Merrill says. “Mid-March until green-up is the time that we suggest you do the best by baiting. If you spend a weekend at the end of March doing your baiting, you will kill three times as many as if you do it in May.” The young begin to emerge in May, which greatly increases the

SEE GOPHER  page 6

Coyotes are very successful at gopher hunting. Care must be taken not to inadvertently poison them as well, if baiting.

PHOTO: BRIAN MCMILLEN

NothiNg hits harder. or lasts loNger. aNd save BeFore FeBrUarY 20th. Talk to your retailer. Only PrePassTM with SoilActiveTM Technology offers superior pre-seed burndown control for up to 21 days, a 30-minute Rainfast Guarantee PrePassTM and SoilActiveTM are trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC. 02/12-17722-01A BUP

17722-01A PrePass BUP 10.25X3_FBC.indd 1

and full-service so you can accomplish more. Call 1.800.667.3652.

2/2/12 12:28 PM

news » inside this week

inside » Agricultural Safety Week This year’s theme is developing a plan

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

livestock

crops

Montana pork plant?

Coloursorting seed

columNists brenda schoepp Selling Canada’s food to Asia and the Middle East

Roy Lewis Common pitfalls of semen evaluation

Range management award Rocky Mountain Forest Range Association honoured

lighter side Is green the new black? reuters / london Could “green” be the new black? Perhaps if you can imagine wearing stilettos made from pistachio nuts and coffee beans and clothes from orange peel, fungi and mould. While the fashion pack is hitting the catwalks at Paris Fashion Week, students at London’s Kingston University are trying to lower the clothing and accessory industry’s carbon footprint by using biodegradable materials. The fashion industry has a high environmental footprint. The manufacture of synthetic fibres like polyester alone produces nearly five times as much carbon dioxide per kilogram as some organic cotton and more than twice as much as hemp, according to a Stockholm Environment Institute study. According to waste industry reports, more than one million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year, with most going to landfill and only 25 per cent recycled. InCrops, an initiative based at the University of East Anglia, sponsored the Kingston fashion project, asking students to create designs that show renewable raw materials derived from crops can be used to create low or zero carbon fashion. Designs also include a wood chip corset by British designer Stefanie Nieuwenhuyse.

A model presents a creation from the Mary Katrantzou 2012 Autumn/Winter collection during London Fashion Week in London, February 21, 2012. REUTERS/Olivia Harris

27 30

DANIEL BEZTE Chinese-backed plant would be Alberta competition

Bashaw cleaning plant finds big savings

La Niña year wasn’t cool after all

Historic grain-handling film online for first time History } A circa 1955 National Film Board film

depicts grain from harvest to export Canadian Grain Commission release

train rushes across the Prairies, taking rail cars of grain from country elevators to terminal elevators at Thunder Bay, Ontario. It’s a scene that could be from any year. But this train is a steam engine and the year is 1955, as seen in the documentary “Grain Handling in Canada” which is available for the first time online. To celebrate its 100th anniversary, the Canadian Grain Commission has joined with the National Film Board to make “Grain Handling in Canada” available online. While the film is housed on the National Film Board’s site at http://www.nfb.ca/film/ grain_handling_in_canada/, the Canadian Grain Commission offers a link to the film on its 1951-60 timeline at www. grainscanada.gc.ca/cgc-ccg/ history-histoire/timelinehistorique/1951-1960-eng. htm. The 23-minute, colour film follows grain from harvest to export and describes the role of the Board of Grain Commissioners (as the Canadian Grain Commission was known at the time). “What really struck me when I watched this film is that the Canadian Grain Commission’s role in grain quality, quantity and safety assurance is as important today as it was nearly 50 years ago,” says Elwin Hermanson, chief grain commissioner. “People will enjoy seeing the old harvesting equipment and wooden elevators, but I think the real value is in seeing how our commitment to Canadian producers and the grain sector hasn’t changed.” Filmed on location in grain elevators, rail yards and terminal elevators, the film is a valuable window into another time. Viewers will be charmed by scenes of life on the Prairies in the 1950s. But they may be surprised to see some of the old practices, such as inspectors and farmers chewing on a

A scene from the former grain commission inspection room in the Winnipeg Grain Exchange building. few kernels of grain to roughly gauge protein content. “The NFB collection of over 13,000 titles is an audiovisual legacy for all Canadians, capturing the heart and soul of our nation, for over seven decades. Today, we’re committed to digitizing this unique collection and making it available to Canadians as never before, on the platforms of their choice. To help celebrate the Canadian Grain Commission’s centennial,

the NFB is delighted to have worked with our colleagues at the commission to make this historic film available online to a new generation of Canadians,” says Tom Perlmutter, government film commissioner and chairperson of the National Film Board of Canada. Many services shown in the film remain today. The Canadian Grain Commission still offers Subject to Inspector’s Grade and Dockage to pro-

ducers who disagree with the grade and dockage received at the elevator. The licensing system still works to protect producers. The grading system is still based in research conducted in the Canadian Grain Commission’s Grain Research Laboratory. As well, as shown in the film’s final scene, Canadian Grain Commission grain inspectors still issue a Certificate Final, detailing grade and weight, for export shipments of grain.

history on film grain handling in canada - 1955 The film is housed on the National Film Board’s website:

http://www.nfb.ca/film/grain_handling_in_canada/. It is also available at the Canadian Grain Commission website:

www.grainscanada.gc.ca/cgc-ccg/history-histoire/ timeline-historique/1951-1960-eng.htm.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Western Stock Growers offers $50,000 reward to capture cattle thieves BRAND POWER } Branding cattle is the best preventive action producers can take,

yet only half the cattle in Alberta are branded by Sheri Monk

af staff | pincher creek

t may not be the world’s oldest profession, but cattle rustling may be a close second — and producers say it’s on the rise. So much so, the Western Stock Growers’ Association (WSGA) is now offering a $50,000 reward for tips leading to the capture of cattle thieves. “We’ve always had up to a $1,000 reward fund for information leading to a cattle theft conviction from a WSGA member and it’s now a $50,000 reward for it,” said WSGA president Phil Rowland. Cattle prices are significantly higher right now than they were just a couple of years ago and the payoff could make it difficult for thieves to resist temptation. “It’s a proactive response to an ongoing issue. What we’re trying to do is put a good tool in the tool box of the livestock RCMP investigators. We’re hoping it’s a bat, and we’re

“That says something good about our brand inspection in Alberta and Saskatchewan, because it drives the criminals elsewhere. Unfortunately, they take our cows with them.” Phil Rowland WSGA president

SEC-STETT12-T_AFE.qxd

hoping it hits a home run,” said Rowland. Corporal Chris Reister hopes so too. Reister is one of two RCMP livestock investigators in Alberta, and while he says cattle theft numbers aren’t officially up right now, producers may simply not be reporting every incident. “The reason why they don’t report is a lot of times, it’s months after the fact if they have such a large herd in such a geographical area where they can’t count them on a regular basis throughout the summer, they don’t know that they’ve maybe experienced losses until fall when they wean their calves or preg check,” he said. Reister says approximately 580 cattle are stolen annually from Alberta. Many of the thefts are considered internal, such as financed cattle being sold while there is still a security interest on the animals, but traditional rustling is also a problem. One hot spot of activity is in the southeastern corner of the province. Aaron Brower, vice-president of the WSGA, ranches south of Medicine Hat and is estimated to have lost nearly $500,000 in cattle to theft in recent years. In 2011, he lost 44 head. “They got them between January and August, and they got them twice,” said Brower, adding all his cattle are branded. “There were 14 between December and March and 30 from the end of April until the first of August.”

Proof required

There are measures producers can enact to discourage thieves and reduce losses. “Brand your cattle. We have very little success in recovering 10/14/11unbranded 1:35 PM cattle. Page One 1 of the ele-

Branding is “old school,” but still the best theft-recovery tool. photo: Kevin Link

ments of theft is proving colour of right and proving ownership and if you don’t have a brand or a tattoo or a tag, it’s very difficult to do that,” said Reister. Tags can be removed and replaced, and brand inspectors cannot take the time to inspect each animal for a tattoo, which is the identification method used by many in the purebred industry. To check an animal for a tattoo, it has to be segregated into a chute, and it has to be cleaned up to look for the small marking. Additionally, some tattoos have a tendency to become less legible over time. “Purbred cattle are stolen the same as commercial cattle. Fifty per cent of people brand in the province and when you consider the millions of head that we have

in Alberta, it makes them a very easy target. Not that branded cattle can’t be stolen and moved, but it just makes it that much more difficult,” Reister said. There are nearly 100 brand inspectors working in the province, but they have several million head to inspect over the course of a year. Cattle with well-placed brands can be read quickly and efficiently and while brands can be altered, the fresh marks belie their newness and are easily spotted by the brand inspectors. “There are thieves who aren’t interested in branded cattle — period,” Reister said. Producers should also consider locking gates leading to and between pastures to discourage trespassing and theft. Signage

can also be placed warning of no trespassing allowed, crime watch areas and even of video monitoring. Reister says “trail cams” are an excellent method to deter thieves — and to catch them. “They’re easily hidden, you can put them in an area where you can capture a licence plate number, or capture people coming and going,” Reister said. Brower says a field camera would stick out like a sore thumb on his land, which is all prairie, devoid of trees and shrubs. He believes the thieves have been coming in on horseback, and says two others in the area have been targeted as well. Landowners should also pay attention to people they allow on their land, and record the names and licence plates of hunters or recreationalists granted land access. It’s difficult to know what happens to the stolen cattle — whether they are butchered, sold at auction, or retained in someone’s herd. Reister says stolen cattle from Alberta have been recovered in Manitoba, the only one out of the four western provinces that does not brand, or inspect brands. “That says something good about our brand inspection in Alberta and Saskatchewan, because it drives the criminals elsewhere. Unfortunately, they take our cows with them,” said Rowland, adding that branding is still the best theftrecovery tool available. “It’s old school, but it works.” The WSGA is working with Crimestoppers to offer the $50,000 reward. Anyone with information pertaining to any cattle theft should contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

AC Stettler CWRS

Produced by: SeCan Product/Campaign Name: SeCan AC Stettler Date Produced: October 2011

Ad Number: SEC–STETT12–T Publication: Alberta Farmer Express Ad Size: 5Col x 80 (10.25” x 5.7”)

More superb than Superb. ✔ High grain yield

111% of AC Barrie* and 103% of Superb*

✔ Earlier maturing

one day earlier than Superb*

✔ High protein concentration

0.4% higher than AC Barrie* and 0.9% higher than Superb*

Genes that fit your farm. 800-665-7333 www.secan.com Developed by Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Swift Current. *Over all sites in 2005-2007 Coop Registration trials. ‘AC’ is an official mark used under license from Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada. Genes that fit your farm® is a registered trademark of SeCan.

SEC–STETT12–T

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

EDITOR Will Verboven Phone: 403-697-4703 Email: will.verboven@fbcpublishing.com

CFIA makes a bold promise, but time will tell

PRODUCTION director Shawna Gibson Email: shawna@fbcpublishing.com

AsSistant PRODUCTION manager Farrah Wilson Email: farrah@fbcpublishing.com

Director of Sales & Circulation

DOCUMENT } Much-maligned agency takes a big first step to improve its image

Lynda Tityk Email: lynda.tityk@fbcpublishing.com

CIRCULATION manager Heather Anderson Email: heather@fbcpublishing.com

By will verboven

Alberta Farmer | Editor

national ADVERTISING SALES James Shaw Phone: 416-231-1812 Fax: 416-233-4858 Email: jamesshaw@rogers.com

classified ADVERTISING SALES Maureen Heon Phone: 1-888-413-3325 Fax: 403-341-0615 Email: maureen@fbcpublishing.com

ADVERTISING Co-ordinator Arlene Bomback Phone: 204-944-5765 Fax: 204-944-5562 Email: ads@fbcpublishing.com

PUBLISHER Bob Willcox Email: bob.willcox@fbcpublishing.com

Associate PUBLISHER/editorial director John Morriss Email: john.morriss@fbcpublishing.com

Printed by Gazette Press, St. Albert, AB The Alberta Farmer Express is published 26 times a year by Farm Business Communications. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage for our publishing activities. Publications mail agreement number 40069240 Canadian Postmaster: Send address changes and undeliverable addresses (covers only) to Circulation Dept., P.O. Box 9800, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3K7

ISSN 1481-3157

Call

ou would be hard pressed to find anyone involved in almost any sector of agriculture regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) who has anything positive to say (that is officially or publicly) about that federal organization. Comments by stakeholders and organizations about the agency’s high-handedness, arrogance and selfrighteousness are always made in hushed tones in the hallways of meetings, and definitely out of earshot of any CFIA officials. That’s because most of the folks making any complaints about CFIA activities or decisions always cite the fear of retaliation by CFIA officials and inspectors. Since its inception, by accident or design, the CFIA created an attitude of infallibility — it was either its way or the highway. That approach was backed up by regulatory power, big budgets, no accountability, no appeal and timid political governance. Anyone subject to CFIA regulations knew that reality and accepted that resistance was futile, hence the fear surrounding that agency. Even appeals through every possible channel by producer, commodity and processing organizations to various ministers of agriculture proved futile. That’s mostly because politicians know instinctively that questioning the role of an agency that protects food safety is political suicide with the voting public. But to the surprise I expect of almost everyone, the CFIA recently released a document entitled “The Statement of Rights and Service for Producers, Consumers and

other Stakeholders.” It basically clarified the CFIA’s role during the inspection process and defining standards and expectations in six sectors it regulates. The statement also referred to the establishment of a new complaints and appeals mechanism. There were no specific details, but it is to be in place by April 1, 2012. The robustness of the appeal process (including appeal to the courts and the minister) will be critical to CFIA credibil-

Since its inception, by accident or design, the CFIA created an attitude of infallibility — it was either its way or the highway.

ity in this bold step into accountability and transparency. Anything less would deem this just a public relations exercise to dress up the stained image of the CFIA. At this point it’s difficult to determine where the initiative for this astounding move by the CFIA came from. There is in place an oversight/advisory board that is supposed to govern the CFIA, but it has been seen to be toothless and a pawn of senior CFIA bureaucrats. If that board after all these years has come to understand the notoriety of the CFIA and has finally determined to rein it in, it is to be commended.

Perhaps the changing of the guard at the CFIA senior bureaucrat level has caused the agency to realize that a new approach has to be taken in this age of accountability and transparency. What a great leap forward that would be, and perhaps an inspiration to other federal government departments. One can’t help but suspect that Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz had something to do with encouraging this bold step. The minister has been a dynamo of activity over the past few years, what with tireless trade promotion, food safety and the CWB issue, so why not rattle the CFIA cage at the same time? The minister has probably been frustrated himself by some past CFIA decisions, never mind the constant lobbying by groups to tame the CFIA tiger. If he played a part, he is to be warmly congratulated. The response from the industry is cautiously optimistic. The livestock sector in particular has had some major clashes with the CFIA starting with BSE, then on SRM removal and now traceability to mention a few. If industry sees a fair and robust CFIA appeal process, it will go a long way to repairing the relationship with livestock organizations. Having said all that, time will tell if the CFIA will live up to the spirit of their newly found inspiration. Words and promises are all too easy. In the end wouldn’t it be a great leap forward if this accountability initiative caused those that are regulated by the CFIA to see it as a partner in bringing safe food to the consumer rather than as an antagonist to be feared? Let’s hope the courage, determination and honesty is there in the CFIA to make this work.

1-800-665-0502 or U.S. subscribers call 1-204-944-5568 For more information on The Alberta Farmer Express and subscriptions to other Farm Business Communications products, or visit our web site at:

Sometimes the old ways are the best ways RFID tags } They may be fine for disease traceback, but they are also removable

www.albertafarmexpress.ca or email:

sheri monk

subscription@fbcpublishing.com At Farm Business Communications we have a firm commitment to protecting your privacy and security as our customer. Farm Business Communications will only collect personal information if it is required for the proper functioning of our business. As part of our commitment to enhance customer service, we may share this personal information with other strategic business partners. For more information regarding our Customer Information Privacy Policy, write to: Information Protection Officer, Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Ave., Wpg., MB R3H 0H1 Occasionally we make our list of subscribers available to other reputable firms whose products and services might be of interest to you. If you would prefer not to receive such offers, please contact us at the address in the preceding paragraph, or call 1-800-665-0502. The editors and journalists who write, contribute and provide opinions to Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications attempt to provide accurate and useful opinions, information and analysis. However, the editors, journalists and Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications, cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and the editors as well as Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications assume no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any reader for this publication based on any and all information provided.

af staff| pincher creek

hen I first moved out west, I fell in love with the cowboy culture. It’s steeped in heritage, hardship and honour, all excellent cornerstones for any compelling story. In that culture, there’s nothing more iconic than the branding ritual. Over the decades, brands have become their own language. Branding irons are passed from one generation to the next, or sometimes given as special tokens, as mine were to me. A rancher’s brand is his calling card and whether placed on a hide or on a sign above a homestead, it is the act of claiming something by saying, “This is mine, and I will take care of it.” That’s why I was surprised to learn that half of Alberta producers don’t brand their cattle. This is, after all, the heart of Canada’s Wild West, and cattle rustling remains part of it. Unfortunately, cattle don’t come with serial numbers and try as we might, we can’t give them one with a removable tag that has a propensity for sometimes coming out all on its own.

RFID tags have always been about traceability for animal health purposes, but cannot replace the brand as a practical identification tool.

A rancher’s brand is his calling card and whether placed on a hide or on a sign above a homestead, it is the act of claiming something by saying, “This is mine, and I will take care of it.”

The big hats in this business — the ones that toe the official industry line — are quick to shrug off the importance of branding. I’ve heard it referred to as obsolete, medieval and unnecessary. It’s difficult for me to imagine these people ever having spent much time at a

roundup, or an auction mart. Nor then, could they have any earthly idea how many wrecks our brand inspectors save us from. When we think of cattle theft, we imagine shady characters arriving under the cover of darkness to round up our unsuspecting animals while we sleep. And yes, that does still sometimes happen — just ask Aaron Brower, who has lost $500,000 in cattle to theft in recent years (story, page 3). But more often than not, the circumstances of missing and stolen cattle are less dramatic and most times, our brand inspectors cure the trouble before it has a real chance to grow roots. Good brand inspectors can see trouble coming a mile away. They instantly recognize new brands, new cattle and new producers. They live in the area they serve. In rural areas, we tend to know one another’s business in ways a RFID tag never could. Let’s pretend a longtime local ranching couple — let’s call them Jack and Sally — have recently split the sheets. Jack comes into the sale barn with a pile of yearlings. Like every other year, some have Sally’s brand and some have Jack’s and they’ve always been run through

without a problem. But this year, the brand inspector is going to hold the cheque after the sale until he talks to Sally herself to make sure it’s all square business. These types of scenarios happen all the time. They happen when neighbours or business partners have a parting of ways, they happen when third-party financing is involved, and they can happen from old-fashioned rustling too. I covered a story once where a purebred cow-calf guy had two pair stolen. They were RFID tagged and they were branded. The animals later showed up at an auction mart a few hours away. The thief had switched out the tags, but there wasn’t a whole lot he could do about the brands. Sure enough, the brand inspector suspected rustling was afoot and the thief was charged and prosecuted. The Western Stock Growers’ Association has ponied up $50,000 for the cause, our brand inspectors here and in neighbouring provinces would like nothing more than to catch cattle thieves, and the RCMP livestock inspectors are chomping at the bit to charge those responsible. But we have to do our part, and none of that can happen if we don’t begin with a brand.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Magic-bullet solutions only last so long Rotation } Increasing incidence of herbicide resistance puts the attention back on the need for an old practice By Les McEwan

e’ve all done it. Pushed our crop rotations, that is. You know that field had canola on it two years ago, but the seed you have already purchased, the fertilizer you applied last fall, or the delivery contract you already signed all make us do things that we know are not in our best agronomic interests. In our case it was a shift in the acres to maintain our normal four-year rotation. I didn’t like it, but we needed to sow Roundup Ready canola on the same field two years in a row. The field in question had a history of broadleaf weeds, most notably lady’s thumb, so I managed to console myself with the knowledge that at least I had an opportunity to clean up some weeds. And it did. At least it had a significant impact on the lady’s thumb populations. What I did notice however, was that I was left with regrowth of redroot pigweed that the glyphosate was apparently weak on. For a product improperly used to belie its weaknesses should come as no surprise. Glyphosate has been used for years as the silver bullet to clean up weeds when nothing else would. Quack grass, Group 1-resistant wild oats, and wild

mustard in GMO canola have all fallen victim to its broad-based ability to clean up fields in a single swoop, but it would seem the silver has started to tarnish. Glyphosate-resistant kochia was recently detected in Alberta. A first for Western Canada, but it joins giant ragweed that was detected in Ontario in 2009 and the Canada fleabane that was detected in 2011. These followed discoveries in the U.S. of glyphosate-resistant palmer amaranth (known there as pigweed), mare’s tail in South America, ryegrass in Australia and Johnson grass in Argentina. The threat of resistant weeds however, pales in comparison to the charges being made by a retired professor from Purdue University. Dr. Don M. Hubner has reportedly sent warnings to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack citing production problems with increased diseases in GMO crops and reproduction issues in animals being fed GMO grains. While Dr. Hubner has over 40 years of research experience, his findings have not been wholeheartedly embraced by the scientific community. Purdue University has tried to distance itself from the controversy, and has released a statement saying that the studies have been taken out of context. Others argue that Dr. Hubner’s claims are not the result of peer-reviewed science and

CHINA:

that what he is doing borders on sensationalism. It is also unfair to extrapolate the animal studies to humans. While a cow or a pig being fed on a farm that grows GMO feed grains may see over 80 per cent of its diet derived from those products, very few Canadians would consume over 20 per cent of their diet from corn, soybeans or canola. The level of exposure is dramatically different.

Canola/snow rotations

So what does it all mean for the farmer deciding what to grow next spring? No. 1, it means more studies will have to be conducted before we know the full extent of whether Dr. Hubner’s allegations are true. No. 2, it means we need to start paying closer attention to those crop rotations that have been getting notoriously compressed into a canola/wheat ( or in some cases, canola/snow) rotation. With different crops we need to alternate different herbicides and production practices to halt the onslaught of resistant weeds. If you thought the answer to Group 1and Group 2-resistant grassy weeds was glyphosate-tolerant wheat, think again. We already have the option of Roundup Ready canola, soybeans and corn, the acreages of which could increase if our climate were to warm as predicted. In addition, glyphosate is also being used

What will prevail over the long haul will be sound agronomic practices, innovation, and wise old farmers. as a pre-seeding burn-off, pre-harvest thistle control and post-harvest weed control. The tolerance to this product by weed species is already sounding off alarms, and it’s time to heed the warning. Additionally, if there is any linkage between humans and the animal studies that Dr. Hubner is citing, adding a GMO wheat to our own diet may not be a good plan either. We consume a lot more wheat products than corn, soybeans or canola. In the final analysis, there really are no silver bullets. GMOs will continue to have a role in our farming plans as part of a rotation, but they cannot be the beall and end-all for the modern farmer to feed a hungry world. What will prevail over the long haul will be sound agronomic practices, innovation, and wise old farmers. Les McEwan farms near Altamont, Manitoba

Livestock competitor or livestock customer?

Meat demand } Chinese will eat more, but what kind and from where is not clear By Laura Rance

editor, manitoba co-operator

ermot Hayes, a respected livestock economist from Iowa State University, is admittedly flummoxed over the question of whether it will be grain producers or the livestock sector benefiting from the growing demand for protein in emerging economies. Hayes was in Winnipeg to deliver the annual Kraft Lecture, a memorial to the late University of Manitoba agricultural economist Daryl Kraft. In a nutshell, his presentation went something like this: Trends in international trade will either create a boom or a bust for the North American livestock sector — depending what happens. If emerging economies continue to buy feed grains to develop their own livestock sectors, they are a competitor for North American meat producers. If they decide to buy the meat instead, they become a customer. His assessment of the opportunities and the risks of exports

for the North American livestock sector was in many ways a sobering outlook, particularly for those in the livestock sector banking exports as a path to prosperity. There’s a lot we don’t yet understand about those markets and the cultural dynamics driving them. Hayes, who has travelled extensively in China and other countries where wealth and food demand are simultaneously rising, points out that the parts of the animal we like to eat — the so-called premium cuts such as boneless chicken breasts and pork loins — are too blasé for the nouveau middle and upper classes in China, one of our largest target markets. To illustrate his point, he popped up a slide of a young woman in an upscale restaurant, ready to chow down on a chicken head. Deep-fried pork skins and pigs feet are other delicacies, as are chicken lungs and blood in Vietnam. Some of these products actually sell at a premium to boneless chicken breasts. Once you’ve got over your “ick” response, consider the value-added implications. That’s a well-paying market

for parts you can’t give away in North America. But will North America be producing the animals and selling the parts to the emerging economies or will it be selling the grains to produce those animals? On virtually every economic measure — transportation, production efficiency, manure management costs — Hayes believes it makes sense for North America to be feeding and slaughtering livestock and exporting the meat and products. The people in China, the most arable land and the livestock are compressed into the coastal regions — which raises the spectre of disease outbreaks. Its productive land base is about 275 million acres, compared to 300 million in the U.S. and 100 million in Canada. But it is faced with feeding four times the population of the U.S. and Canada combined. Economically speaking, China gets more value from importing the meat than it does the grains. For example the 3.5 million tonnes of corn it has imported so far this year equates to about one million acres of production.

However, since the fall of 2011, China has also been importing the meat from more than a million pigs each month. That’s equivalent to 5.5 million tonnes of corn. More than half of China’s pork production today is produced in small-scale “backyard” operations, in which productivity is low and disease outbreaks are high. But that system is disappearing quickly as more people acquire a car and find employment. Keep in mind that China is a country in which the CPI, known as the consumer price index in Canada, is dubbed the China Pork Index because the cost of pork figures so prominently in the rate of inflation. In 2011, for example, it accounted for 20 per cent of the inflationary pressure, which if running rampant, creates political instability. In Hayes’ view, building a modern pig industry in China “is a huge waste of grain, energy and people.” Yet China continues to import feed grains, a clear indication it prefers to expand meat production. Chinese officials inked deals for another 8.6 million tonnes

To illustrate his point, he popped up a slide of a young woman in an upscale restaurant, ready to chow down on a chicken head.

of soybeans during a February visit to the U.S. All of this has led this imminent economist to conclude it’s not a question of economic policy. “The future depends on disease,” he said. Specifically, it’s whether authorities there will be able to manage the risk without compromising production. But the same applies here. Whereas disease outbreaks in Asia would cut into production, an outbreak in North America could kill its export markets indefinitely, such as was the case with bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The rhetorical question of “Who will feed China?” is easily answered: China. The uncertainty for suppliers is how.

OFF THE FRONT

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

GOPHERS  from page 1

Like other raptors, this red-tailed hawk enjoys the four-month gopher influx every year.

A red-tailed hawk enjoys his catch in the summer sun. number of animals which need to be culled in order to dampen the population going forward. Alberta’s gopher situation has been manageable over the past few years, thanks to wetter-thanaverage weather. Severe infestations tend to happen during periods of drought — when every blade of grass is precious. When the land is dry, there is less vegetation for predators to conceal themselves in and the gophers become an easier lunch. On dry or overgrazed land, gophers are able to spot predators much sooner, allowing more of them to retreat to the safety of their burrow to live another day.

Enemies — rain and snakes

“Lately, we’ve had very little in the extreme south. Cardston used to be a bad area in 2000-04, and then they had some real heavy spring rains and they died off and haven’t come back. And along the

While this coyote looks playful and cute, he’s looking for a gopher to join him for lunch.

PHOTOS: BRIAN MCMILLEN

Milk River Ridge, all the way down to the end of the ridge into Warner, there’s very few there and it’s because in 2005 or 2006, we had eight inches of rain in June and it killed them off and they haven’t come back,” says Merrill, adding there aren’t too many east of Warner or in the Cypress Hills area. “Our population starts to get a little bit higher out towards Empress and Oyen; they’re fairly thick there. But again, the last two years, it’s been fairly moist there and the numbers are down. Anything along the rivers, there’s very few gophers because of the snakes.” Using poison is a last resort, and there are other methods of control with less of an impact on the ecosystem. “In a normal season, you try and support your predators and leave some tall grass in the headlands and try not to pasturedown too much. You can make

a big difference and win on your gopher situation by shooting,” says Merrill. Across the Prairies, it is a timehonoured tradition to get out the .22 for a pre-season cleaning to herald the opening of the gopher season. Spending a couple of hours a day, or a day a week before the beginning of May out in the field can make a world of difference, without the risk of poisoning the food chain.

Welcome a hawk

There are many ways to support natural predators of the gopher — and that includes managing gopher numbers rather than eradicating them entirely. Much like the salmon run for the grizzly bear, gophers are a short-term, but critically important food source for many species such as foxes, coyotes, hawks, eagles, and in some areas, even for bears. Erecting one or two nesting plat-

forms for hawks on each quarter is one strategy to aid predators in gopher control. “We certainly encourage that, and it’s way more effective in the east part of the province than it is in the west. In the east, even two big round bales stuck end on end constitutes a pretty good nesting station and works quite well,” says Merrill. A good rule of thumb is to take a look around, and if the prairie is treeless for two or three quarters, nesting platforms can be a sound investment. If there are any fox dens in the vicinity of a gopher population, poison bait will assure the demise of the local fox family. Though quite stealthy and not often seen, weasels are the top predator of gophers. Though snakes can make some people squirm, bull snakes and rattlesnakes happily contribute to ground squirrel management. The males return underground

IN BRIEF Washington says Indian poultry ban based on bad science WASHINGTON / REUTERS Washington may turn to the World Trade Organization and claim India unfairly restricts imports of U.S. poultry based on false food safety claims. “Our American poultry is

“In the east, even two big round bales stuck end on end constitutes a pretty good nesting station.” PHIL MERRILL

the first of July, with females following two weeks later, and the juveniles joining their parents in August. Of course, there are always a few individuals having too much fun to make curfew. “If he’s out running around in September, he’s burning body fat instead of building it and he’s not going to make ’er,” says Merrill.

safe. There is no reason for them to deny us access,” said U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. “We are extraordinarily frustrated with India’s continued non-application of internationally recognized scientific standards.” The Obama administration has filed just six cases at the World Trade Organization since taking office in January 2009, including five against China.

Associate editor, Canadian Cattlemen If you: • Love the cattle business • Have newspaper and magazine writing experience

Then Canadian Cattlemen may be looking for you. We’re looking for an associate editor to further boost our content, both in print and online. Our ideal candidate can write news and feature articles, edit contributors’ copy for accuracy and clarity, work closely with designers in laying out the publication, and help enhance the magazine’s presence online. He or she will be able to travel to farms, ranches and industry events across the country to write articles and represent the publication. Send applications by email by March 30 to: John Morriss Associate publisher and editorial director Farm Business Communications john.morriss@fbcpublishing.com

EverstGBXSMSPad.6x6.625.indd 1

12-03-05 11:34 AM

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Cargill first to sign handling agreement with CWB ACCESS  Farmers who market through the CWB will get access to Cargill’s 30 Prairie grain-handling facilities STAFF

argill has become the first Prairie grain handler to commit elevator and port terminal space to an overhauled CWB. The deal, announced March 1, marks CWB’s first for grainhandling services since the federal government moved to wind down the former Canadian Wheat Board’s single marketing desk for Prairie wheat and barley, effective Aug. 1 this year. Having an agreement in hand with Winnipeg-based Cargill is expected to allow CWB to roll out its new suite of grain pooling and marketing programs for farmers by the end of this month. “We are very pleased that Cargill, with whom we’ve partnered very successfully in the past, has become the first player in the

Canadian grain industry to find innovative ways for us to work together,” CWB CEO Ian White said in a release. CWB pools and cash contracts, including futures-based programs and malting barley production contracts, will be available for farmers to sign up

within the next few weeks, White said. Cargill’s Canadian president Len Penner said in the same release that the deal “allows us to present the most complete offering of wheat-marketing tools to western Canadian growers.” He said the CWB “has a proven

“It is only logical that farmers continue to have access to CWB pools, if that’s what fits for them.” LEN PENNER CARGILL

track record of managing a western Canadian wheat pool. It is only logical that farmers continue to have access to CWB pools, if that’s what fits for them.” Farmers who market through the CWB will get access through this agreement to Cargill’s 30 Prairie grain-handling facilities, plus port access at Vancouver, Thunder Bay, Ont. and Baie Comeau, Que., White said.

“All possible resources”

Cargill’s agreement came just over a week after a letter from the Grain Growers of Canada to CWB and the membership of the Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA) urged them “to use all possible resources to successfully conclude their ongoing negotiations on handling agreements.” “At first I was suspicious one side or the other might be drag-

ging their feet but as we got into this we saw the complexity,” GGC executive director Richard Phillips said. “Once you see the first couple of deals signed I think you’ll see the rest come quickly,” Phillips said. The GGC recognizes handling agreements are key to the success of a voluntary board and that’s why it wrote the letter, Phillips said. The board and companies are entering uncharted territory and that’s partly why the process has taken so long, he added. When the board had a monopoly it negotiated one handling agreement with all the companies through the WGEA, association executive director Wade Sobkowich said. “But now that we’re dealing in an open-market environment, different companies will have different terms,” he said.

BRIEFS French seed group tests GM maize PARIS / REUTERS French seed group Vilmorin is testing genetically modified maize in Europe, despite widespread hostility in the region to GM crops, as it expects the benefits of such varieties eventually to lead to their acceptance, the company said. “Europe will not be able to avoid the use of GM crops one day,” said chief executive Emmanuel Rougier. “They will become indispensable to achieve competitive production.” France has been one of the most vigorous opponents of GM crop cultivation and its government is preparing a new ban on planting Monsanto’s MON810 maize after courts last year struck down a previous ban dating back to 2008.

U.S. set-aside could be cast aside due to high grain prices WASHINGTON / REUTERS High grain prices are pulling land into crop production, and out of the U.S.’s Conservation Reserve. Some 6.5 million acres could return to tillage when Conservation Reserve contracts expire this fall. That’s one-fifth of the land in the government’s program and may be the largest turnover ever for the reserve, created in 1985 during an agricultural recession. Owners receive an annual rent, now an average of $57 an acre, if they agree to idle land for 10 to 15 years, but that money is no longer tempting for many. Enrolment in the reserve dropped by 1.5 million acres during 2011, when 4.4 million acres left the reserve and 2.9 million acres entered. The wheat-growing U.S. Plains account for nearly half of the land in the reserve, which holds nine per cent of U.S. farmland.

new eVeReST 2.0. RelenTleSS on weedS. eaSy on wheaT. ®

A new formulation with advanced safener technology built in gives new EVEREST® 2.0 an extra measure of crop safety in a wide range of conditions. EVEREST 2.0 is easy on wheat, but relentless on weeds, giving you Flush after flush™ control of green foxtail, wild oat and key broadleaf weeds. It’s highly concentrated, so you’ll use less product. And with a flexible application window and exceptional tank mixability, nothing is easier to use. EVEREST 2.0. What a difference one generation can make.

RelenTleSS on weedS

eaSy on wheaT

wIde wIndow oF aPPlICaTIon

TReaT MoRe wITh leSS

InCReaSed yIeld PoTenTIal

To learn more, visit www.everest2-0.ca Always read and follow label directions. EVEREST and the EVEREST 2.0 logo are registered trademarks of Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC “Flush after flush” is a trademark of Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC. Arysta LifeScience and the Arysta LifeScience logo are registered trademarks of Arysta LifeScience Corporation. ©2012 Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC. ESTC-162

ESTC-162 Everest20Launch_MB Cooperator_8.125X10.indd 1

CLIEnT: Everest

1•403• 930 •4000 EXT: 1932

ConTaCT: JEN

Job #: ESTC-162

VERSIon: F

11-12-09 12:58 PM

NEWS » Markets

} drought loss

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

No Pool B for feed barley

Paraguay soy crop sharply down Paraguay’s soy output is expected to plunge 45 per cent from last year due to a drought that hit crops across the region, a bigger loss than previously forecast, a soy farmers’ group said Feb. 7. The estimate by the UGP association points to 2011-12 production of 4.6 million tonnes compared with a record 8.4 million tonnes last season in Paraguay, the world’s No. 4 soy exporter. “The harvested area is down maybe 35 per cent or 40 per cent,” said analyst Luis Cubilla. — Reuters

Usually due to open Feb. 1, the second of the Canadian Wheat Board’s two annual feed barley pools will not be offered for the 2011-12 crop year. The CWB said it will not offer a Pool B for 2011-12 feed barley, instead sourcing feed barley for export through its guaranteed price contracts (GPCs) for the remainder of the 2011-12 crop year. ”Domestic prices for feed barley are expected to remain higher than prices available offshore, reducing the value of an export feed barley pool for many farmers,” the board said.

Canola cools off as crushers curb demand Squeezed } A strong loonie and weak U.S. soyoil prices

pressure Prairie processors By Dwayne Klassen

anola futures on the ICE Futures Canada trading platform managed to hold on to small gains during the week ended March 2. Fresh export demand from Mexico, along with some pretty good chart-based speculative demand, facilitated the upward price action. Concerns about dry conditions heading into spring seeding on the Prairies helped to influence some of the gains. Some spillover from the advances seen in Chicago soybean values also kept a firm floor under canola values. The upside in canola was restricted by the upswing in the value of the Canadian dollar, with the currency moving well above parity with the U.S. unit during the reporting period. The advances in canola were also curbed late in the week as demand from the domestic processing industry began to fade amid deteriorating profit margins. The new milling wheat, durum and barley contracts being offered by the ICE platform experienced some price action during the week, but there was little in the way of any volume. Most of the price action occurs via arbitrage by ICE and is dependent on the placing of bids or offers. Activity in western barley futures on the ICE Canada platform also remained nonexistent. Cash bids for barley in Western Canada held steady at firm levels.

Are You

CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) soybean futures rallied during the period ending March 2. Much of the support was associated with the idea that a smaller Brazilian soybean crop will result in China looking to the U.S. to cover that country’s production shortfall. There was confirmation of some fresh Chinese demand for U.S. soybeans seen. Support in soybeans also came from chart-based speculative fund demand as well as from the need to keep prices strong in order to encourage U.S. producers to plant the crop this spring instead of corn. Informa Economics projected Brazilian soybean output at 68 million tonnes, which would be down from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recent 72-million-tonne forecast. However, while Brazil’s crop may indeed be a bit smaller than first anticipated, Argentina’s soybean crop was pegged by Informa at 47.5 million tonnes, up one million from its previous estimate. The upside in soybeans was capped by profit-taking as well as by sentiment that values are overbought and in need of a downward price correction. CBOT corn futures experienced small advances, with the gains in soybeans spilling over to generate some of the upward momentum. Some chart-related demand and firmness in the cash market also contributed to some of the price strength. Tight old-crop supplies also provided some support for the nearby months. The upside in corn was difficult, given

Export Ready?

that acreage to the crop was seen coming in at record-high levels this spring. Overbought price sentiment was also a limiting price factor. Reports that the ethanol industry in the U.S. is cutting back on production further restricted the upward price action. Wheat futures at the Chicago, Kansas City and Minneapolis exchanges posted small to modest advances during the week. The buying back of previously sold positions fuelled some of the price gains. However, spring wheat prices in Minneapolis led the upward price move. Advances at the MGEX were spurred on by ideas that U.S. spring wheat acreage would be down significantly as producers in northern-tier states look to alternative crops with better financial prospects, including corn.

Crushers crunched

There has recently been much discussion over the demand coming from canola crushers in Western Canada. Some participants have indicated that with the rise in the value of the Canadian dollar above parity and the declines in U.S. soyoil, that profit margins for Prairie processors have deteriorated significantly. Individuals in the crush industry indicate that domestic processors start losing money when margins drop into the $60to $75-per-tonne range. Values arguably have been running in the $80-$100 range over the past couple of months, but have since declined to the break-even point.

The crush pace in February was definitely in the “torrid” category based on feedback from the industry and helped push domestic usage numbers to nearrecord levels. However, with the profit margins for processors declining, there are ideas that the demand from this sector will be significantly lower in March and in coming months. The basis being offered by crushers in Western Canada has already begun to widen out despite the fact the value of canola futures have been steadily rising — a sign that demand is beginning to slow. There were also indications that domestic crushers have now covered their processing commitments through to autumn. However, some individuals argue that the softening demand from the crushers will only be temporary and that once processors have adjusted for the higher costs, they will be aggressive buyers again as they have sales on the books that need to be covered. In keeping with the domestic crush industry, current processing capacity in Canada is sitting at roughly 8.5 million tonnes. Participants are already forecasting that another 300,000 to 400,000 tonnes of capacity will be added to that total in 2013. Dwayne Klassen writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting

Canada’s export partnerships have helped to make canola one of the world’s most successful crops. However, export markets are becoming very strict about the products they accept and if de-registered varieties are detected, canola shipments could be turned away causing millions of dollars in losses. To ensure you are protecting yourself and our industry from potential losses, please avoid growing the following varieties: • Roundup Ready Polish – Hysyn 101RR • Bromoxynil Tolerant Navigator/Compass Argentine Canola – Armor BX, 295BX, Cartier BX, Zodiac BX, Renegade BX • Liberty Link Argentine Canola – Exceed, 2631 LL, Swallow, SW Legion LL, SW Flare LL, LBD 2393 LL, Innovator, Independence, HCN 14, Phoenix • Liberty Link Argentine Canola Hybrids – 3850, 2153, 3640, 3880, 2163, 2273

For more information go to www.canolacouncil.org

This important message brought to you by:

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

WHAT’S UP

Tit for tat: U.S. farmers may want to ship to Canada

Send agriculture-related meeting and event announcements to: will. verboven@fbcpublishing.com March 12: Dugout Water Quality Workshop, Demmit Hall 5:30 UNREGISTERED VARIETIES  pm, Grande Prairie. Call: Jill 780-567-5585 March 12/13: Grain & Oilseed Marketing Course, Multiuse Arena, Forestburg. Call: Rick BY ALLAN DAWSON 780-678-6167 STAFF March 13: Water Workshop, Fairview College Campus 10:30 anada is considering changes am, Fairview. Call: Morgan 780to its wheat quality-control 835-6799 system making it easier for American farmers to ship wheat March 14: Equine Biosecurity north of the border after the CanaWorkshop, Holiday Inn 5:30 pm, dian Wheat Board loses its monopLethbridge. Call: Jessica 403oly Aug. 1. 223-0090 “We are working on an initiative March 14: Grain Marketing that will see the grading systems Outlook, Legion Hall 9:30 am, more in parallel,” Agriculture MinOyen. Call: CARA 403-664-3777 ister Gerry Ritz told reporters Feb. March 15: March 14: Equine 24 during a telephone news conferBiosecurity Workshop, Holiday ence from Washington, D.C. Inn 5:30 pm, Medicine Hat Call: “Certainly we don’t want to dilute Jessica 403-223-0090 our system but we do want to make March 15: Hiring & Keeping Farm it available for some of these new Employees, TEC Centre 9:00 varieties to come up from the U.S. am, Grand Prairie. Call: 780that are giving us millability out of When farmers deliver wheat to a Prairie grain elevator they must declare the variety is registered 814-6151 to the class it’s being delivered to. utility wheats.” March 19/21: Advanced That’s raising alarm bells for farmCommodity Risk Management, ers and industry. Few U.S. wheats are registered Phillips and CWB CEO Ian White be able to grow unregistered U.S. AFSC 6815 8th St. NE Calgary. “Absolutely this is the beginning joined Ritz in talks with U.S. grain wheats that promise higher yields, for commercial production in Call: Karen 519-822-3929 of the end of the Canadian brand,” officials about the implications of he added. Western Canada, in part because March 20: CARA Cropping former CWB director Stewart Wells ending the board’s single desk. Both “If they have varieties with milling of the time and cost of the testStrategy Seminar, Senior Rec wrote in an email. sides want to avoid non-tariff trade quality equal to ours then what dif- ing and registration process. The Centre 9:30 am, Oyen. Call: Wells, who farms at Swift Cur- barriers, Phillips said. main exception is Glenn, which ference would that make?” CARA 403-664-3777 rent, Sask., predicts the changes was developed in North Dakota. When a U.S. farmer waits in line at will destroy Canada’s reputation for an elevator behind Canadian trucks Class standards It was registered in the Canada March 20: Marketing Wheat, having the best milling wheat in the and then complains to U.S. wheat The biggest roadblock U.S. farm- Western Red Spring wheat class Durum, Barley Seminar, Falher world. Canada will be just another officials, that official wants to be ers face when delivering to western several years ago and is popular Arena 9:30 am, Falher. Call: residual wheat supplier and prices able to tell the farmer he can truck Canadian grain elevators is Can- with Manitoba farmers. FarmLink 877-376-5465 will reflect it, he warned. CDC Falcon, a CW Red Winter his wheat to Canada, Phillips said. ada’s wheat registration and class March 21/22: AFAC Livestock system. Changing those regulations will “You know, fair is fair.” wheat developed at the University of Care Conference, Holiday Inn, Western Canada has one general Saskatchewan’s Crop Development take time, said Western Grain EleHowever, he said he doubts farmRed Deer. Call: Lorna 403-662vator Association executive director ers will move much wheat either purpose and eight milling wheat Centre, is grown in the northern U.S. 8050 classes. Before a new wheat variety, and therefore could also be delivered Wade Sobkowich. way. March 23/24: Stampede Dairy “But in the meantime we can’t Some Prairie farmers want to including those developed in the by American farmers to Canadian Classic Show, Stampede U.S., is registered for commercial elevators without penalty. have unfettered delivery of (unregGrounds, Calgary. Call: Kristin production it must meet the agroistered) U.S. varieties into Canada Many American wheats are excel403-261-0271 nomic, disease and end-use stan- lent for milling and baking. They fail because under the current classiMarch 24: Down to Earth dards for its class. fication system it has the potential to meet Canadian standards, how“We are working on an Workshop, Lake Saskatoon Hall When farmers deliver wheat to ever — not because they’re inferior, of seriously devaluing Canadian 10:00 am, Grande Prairie. Call: initiative that will see a Prairie grain elevator they must but because their milling and bakgrain,” he said. Wendy 780-228-3748 declare the variety is registered to ing characteristics aren’t consistent Starting Aug. 1, Prairie farmers can the grading systems March 26/29: Grain and Oilseed the class it’s being delivered to, oth- with Canadian wheats. truck wheat directly to American Marketing Course, location more in parallel.” erwise it receives the lowest grade elevators. U.S. wheat officials are Canadian millers can import U.S. TBA, Manning. Call: NPARA 780and price. Farmers who misdeclare wheat directly, avoiding the declafine with that, so long as American 836-3354 are liable for any damages. wheat farmers can deliver wheat to ration requirements, but seldom do Some Americans suspect this is Canadian elevators, Grain Growers because of the competitive prices, March 28/29: Alberta Pork GERRY RITZ a non-tariff trade barrier, but the quality and service delivered by the Congress, Westerner Park, Red of Canada executive director RichDeer. Call: APC 403-244-782110/14/11ard12:49 regulations apply equally to Cana- CWB, according to industry offiPhillips in an 1interview Feb. SEC-AUST11-T_AFEx.qxd PMsaidPage dian farmers. 23. cials.

Canadian handlers worry about the implications of U.S. wheats coming into their elevators

Produced by: SeCan Product/Campaign Name: CDC Austenson Date Produced: October 2011

Ad Number: SEC-AUST11-T Publication: Alberta Farmer / Express Ad Size: 5Col x 70 (10.125” x 5”)

CDC Austenson

2-row feed barley

The new sheriff that’s bustin’ yields. ✔ top grain yield ✔ large plump kernels ✔ high test weight ✔ short strong straw ✔ improved disease resistance

Genes that fit your farm. 800-665-7333 www.secan.com

Developed by Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan. Genes that fit your farm® is a registered trademark of SeCan.

SEC-AUST11-T

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Which wheat futures best for open Canadian market? COMPETITION  U.S. markets offer more liquidity than the unproven Winnipeg future BY PHIL FRANZ-WARKENTIN COMMODITY NEWS SERVICE CANADA / WINNIPEG

he end of the Canadian Wheat Board’s single desk Aug. 1, 2012, will create an increased need for a viable futures market to manage risk and aid in price discovery, said representatives of the Chicago Board of Trade, Minneapolis Grain Exchange, and ICE Futures Canada as they highlighted the benefits of using their respective contracts in a panel discussion at the Wild Oats Grainworld Conference Feb. 28. But which one is best comes down to a trade-off between basis risk, the specificity of the contract compared to the crop being marketed, and liquidity, said Tim Andriesen, managing director with the CME Group, which operates the Chicago Board of Trade wheat market. The soft wheat traded in Chicago is farthest away from Canada’s hard red spring wheat from a basis standpoint and in terms of the specifics of the market. However, what the CBOT does offer the Canadian grain sector is liquidity. The CBOT currently accounts for 74 per cent of the wheat futures volumes in the U.S. and 89 per cent of the options, said Andri-

esen, noting that liquidity allows for traders to get in and out of a market with ease and allows for a diversity of product. The Minneapolis Grain Exchange spring wheat futures are more closely aligned to the hard red spring wheat marketed from Canada, although the volumes are considerably smaller than those at the CBOT. While the outright volumes are smaller, Joe Victor, business development specialist with the MGEX pointed out that over eight billion bushels of wheat were traded through the exchange in 2011, which is well above the roughly one billion bushels of spring wheat grown between Canada and the U.S. Victor said the correlation between the Canadian and the U.S. situation was strong when it came to spring wheat, and added that durum could also be traded in relation to the Minneapolis futures. ICE Futures Canada’s recently introduced milling wheat contracts have only traded for a little over a month. President Brad Vannan said trade was thin “but not disappointing.” The first contracts available are for October 2012 delivery, and Vannan said the fact that minimal spot activity was going on in the cash market was limiting the futures volumes at this early stage.

“If there are four functioning futures markets, it’s better than three.” JERRY KLASSEN GAP S.A. GRAINS AND PRODUITS

He was confident liquidity would eventually pick up, and noted that a Canadian-based contract will be beneficial in minimizing basis and currency risks. Vannan also noted that while volumes are still thin in the ICE Futures Canada wheat contracts, the prices being quoted are said to be very accurate with the marketplace. The three futures markets, plus the Kansas City wheat market, will all likely play a role depending on the conditions at any given time. Jerry Klassen, manager of the Winnipeg office of GAP S.A. Grains and Produits, said, “If there are four functioning futures markets, it’s better than three.” He noted that hedging and arbitrage between the four markets will be an important factor for the wheat trade going forward.

New programs for a new era The grain-marketing landscape is changing. But your farm business needs are the same. You want a good return, solid risk management and timely cash flow. Our team is ready to work for you. Whether you choose pooling options, futures contracts or cash prices, you can have confidence in the CWB. Our programs are built on 75 years of grain-marketing experience, backed by government guarantees and focused on farmers. Don’t miss out. Register now for program updates at www.cwb.ca/email .

Prairie strong, worldwide

www.cwb.ca

m.cwb.ca

China to partly lift ban on Canada canola imports BEIJING / REUTERS Chinese quarantine authorities will allow imports of Canadian canola by some selected crushers located in major growing areas, partially lifting a 2009 ban it imposed because of blackleg concerns. The import relaxation, likely to be cleared in the second half of the year, would further boost Canadian canola exports later in the year. The move will support ICE Canada canola futures, which rose 11.6 per cent in February in the biggest monthly gain since June 2010, said analysts. China’s quarantine bureau will allow nine crushers in the country’s major rapeseed-growing provinces of Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu, Shandong and Zhejiang to import Canadian canola, several traders said. Another nine crushers outside major growing areas in the provinces of Fujian, Guangxi, Liaoning have received authorization to continue to import.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Ritz promises reformed CFIA will be easier to get along with INSPECTION  Details

are sketchy but industry groups welcome ag minister’s pledge to improve service standards BY ALEX BINKLEY

AF CONTRIBUTOR/OTTAWA

he Canadian Food Inspection Agency is taking steps to become more accountable to farmers and food processors. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has released new CFIA policies on rights and services that outline its service standards and what the agri-food sector can expect when dealing with the agency. “We know there is always room to improve,” he said. “We’re taking steps to strengthen communication and interaction between the agency, consumers, producers and the entire value chain so that we can all better work together to ensure safe food and a strong agriculture industry.” There will also be a new process for businesses to lodge complaints about CFIA and appeal decisions of its inspectors. The initiative appears to stem from the red tape-cutting program of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, but many farm groups voiced support for it even though details remain sketchy. The existing CFIA inspection and regulation policy has generated endless complaints over the years because of alleged arbitrariness and “gotcha” approach to enforcement rather than encouraging companies to do a better job and punishing repeat offenders. Effective regulation, inspection and oversight are vital, said Ritz, but added farmers and processors “need to know for certain that their dealings with a public institution will be carried out predictably, fairly and consistently.” A more collaborative approach will benefit everyone, said Travis Toews, president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. “The fact that there will now be a standard in place to ensure the CFIA is accountable for the service they provide will help to elevate stakeholder confidence in the process,” he said. “We look forward to an enhanced working relationship with the CFIA that will strengthen ties throughout the sector and benefit the important inspection process as a whole.” Dairy Farmers of Canada said new inspection guides for consumers, producers, processors, animal transporters, importers and exporters will help keep the food supply safe. However, it reminded the government the food industry has to remain competitive and shouldn’t be burdened with demands for more labelling. Representatives of meat and poultry processors said in a joint statement that the new policy should “help businesses better understand their own role and responsibilities.”

Video rocks Australian cattle industry EXPORT BAN  Could be reimposed if new welfare rules found to be broken CANBERRA / REUTERS

Australia will investigate new video appearing to show cattle being mistreated at an Indonesian abattoir, and could reimpose an export ban on the slaughterhouse if it broke animal welfare rules, said Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig. Australia suspended live cattle exports to Indonesia for a month in 2011 after a video showing cows being beaten and whipped before slaughter was aired on Australian television. The footage outraged many Australians, while the government response angered farmers who said the move jeopardized jobs. Fresh footage that animal rights activists said showed Indonesian workers slitting a cow’s throat without first stunning it, as required under the new rules, prompted calls for the country to end the $340-million live cattle

trade with its biggest customer, Indonesia. Under rules introduced after last year’s outcry, the Australian government requires exporters to ensure animal welfare standards are met at Indonesian abattoirs they supply, and can punish firms which ship cows to slaughterhouses where cruelty occurs. Industry bodies the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association and the Cattle Council of Australia rejected calls for any wider suspension of animal exports. “Last year when that happened there was no system of regulation which sat underneath the industry in Indonesia,” said Cattlemen’s Association president Luke Bowen. “Now we are in a position where there is a system of regulation put in place by the Australian government. If there are problems identified, there is a rule book and there are penalties involved.”

Australian cows are loaded onto a truck after arriving at the Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta May 31, 2011. Australia is investigating new allegations of abuse in Indonesian abattoirs. REUTERS/SUPRI SUPRI

For a limited time you don’t have to do everything. Turn-key building solutions.

†

Right now UFA is offering a special turn-key promotion on standard farm structures and interior finish packages. Talk to a UFA Building Representative or visit UFA.com today and take advantage of this limited time offer. 40’ x 60’ x 16’ Laminated Post Shop - Turn-key starting at $31,950† 40’ x 60’ x 18’ Stud Wall Shop - Turn-key starting at $30,250† Interior liner package materials - starting at $4.10/sq.ft. Buildings will vary from image shown. Contact a UFA Building Representative for additional details on this limited time offer.

†

110200607_BuildingsAd_CMC_v1.indd 1

UFA.com 12-02-28 3:52 PM

NEWS Alberta OYF finalists selected Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program has selected the semifinalists to compete for the title Alberta’s Outstanding Young Farmer. They are Ryan Albers of Acme, who operates a lamb feedlot and ewe flock, and grain and oilseeds farmers Robert and Angela Semeniuk of RAS Farms at Smoky Lake. The semi-finalists will be honoured March 15 at the Olds College Alumni Centre. Keynote speakers will include Matt and Tara Sawyer of Acme, who were chosen as the 2011 Alberta’s Outstanding Young Farmers. The winner will be selected to represent Alberta at the National Awards Program, to be hosted in Charlottetown, P.E.I., Nov. 26-Dec. 2. The nominees were selected according to the progress made in their agricultural career, environmental and safety practices, crop and livestock production history, financial and management practices and their contributions to the well-being of the community, province and nation. For more information, visit www.oyfalberta.com or contact Karilynn Marshall, email@ oyfalberta.com.

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

LEANING TOWARDS LENTILS

The Saskatchewan Pulse Crop Development Board has released a series of 18 online videos with Food Network chef, Michael Smith preparing lentil recipes such as lasagne, meat loaf, dhal, chili and burgers. They are available at www.lentils.ca.

B:17

T:17

S:17

InVigorResults.ca

Project promotes prostate cancer tests for rural Albertans Agribusiness, and in collaboration with rural doctors, nurses and organizations, are working with Prostate Cancer Centre (PCC) and Prostate Cancer Canada to launch a “Combines for Cures” pilot project in central Alberta. PCC says limited time and proximity to health-care facilities reduce the number of rural men over 40 being tested for prostate cancer. Donations to Combines for Cures will go to the purchase of a “Man Van” for rural Alberta, a mobile testing unit for men who live on farms, ranches and small communities. Man Van events will be held in central Alberta this spring, with men encouraged to take a PSA blood test to screen for possible presence of cancer. Farmers can support the project through grain donations at their local Crop Production Services (CPS) retail outlets from March to August. Pledge forms explaining the program are available in CPS retail stores. Western Feedlots will also be accepting feed grains on behalf of the program. Events are scheduled at Olds (March 21), Crossfield (March 25), Trochu (March 29) and Didsbury (June 23).

InVigor L150

54.5 bu./ac. O-66-03/12-BCS11026-E

7.4”

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Breakaway gap alerts of counter-seasonal soybean rally NERVOUS  Chart analysis indicates when the shorts are starting to cover their positions BY DAVID DROZD

SOYBEANS MAY 2012

very heavily to the short side of the market. Weeks of beneficial price movement tempt the shorts to expect lower prices. Many shorts who would ordinarily consider taking profits simply hang on. They fear missing additional profits and are psychologically conditioned to expect lower prices. The market tends to be in the news and the publicity is most often bearish to substantiate the lower prices. At this juncture, emotion is driving the speculative selling. Some sellers will short the market at any price and speculative longs are selling back their losing positions. The bottom of the market will be marked by a single session in which an upside gap develops. By day’s end, the selling will be virtually exhausted. No matter how much prices gyrate during this session, the opening gap will not be completely filled. In the following session, the market moves higher. This session’s price advance represents a radical departure from recent activity and generates nervousness on the part of shorts. The market’s sudden strength causes short covering, which pushes prices even higher. This in turn encourages fresh buying, thus ending the market’s decline.

CHART AS OF FEBRUARY 22, 2012

n December 19, 2011, a breakaway gap materialized, alerting soybean producers and traders alike to a sudden change in the price direction of the soybean market. In fact, this gap not only confirmed an end to the downward price spiral, but it marked the beginning of a counter-seasonal rally, with soybean prices rallying $1.65 per bushel over the next two months. A gap is a price range within which no trading takes place. Normally, price activity during a single trading session will overlap part of the preceding session’s price range. When a gap is present, this does not occur. There are several types of gaps, all of which are beneficial in identifying price direction.

The breakaway gap

This gap develops at the completion point of many important chart formations. Once properly defined, the breakaway gap has a high degree of reliability in confirming a change in price direction.

The breakaway gap in the accompanying May 2012 soybean chart signalled an end to declining prices by gapping above the downtrending channel. While the relative suddenness of a gap appears almost as an overnight

experience, the conditions leading up to it may be the culmination of weeks, if not months, of human activity and psychological conditioning. In the late stages of an entrenched downtrend, opinion is weighted

The measuring gap

This gap, (B on the chart) appears after a move has begun to accelerate. It is a sure sign of the heightened anxiety or excitement of traders who, waiting for an entry opportunity, see the market getting away from them and quite simply respond by buying. This type of gap appears during a quick advance after prices have cleared away from a chart formation, such as the downtrending channel illustrated in the accompanying chart. Often, this gap may be used to measure the ultimate extent of the move, as it appears at approximately the halfway point. If two or more measuring gaps materialize, the midpoint of the move will lie somewhere between the gaps.

51.8 bu./ac.

50.5 bu./ac.

BayerCropScience.ca/InVigor or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative. Always read and follow label directions. InVigor® is a registered trademark of Bayer. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

T:10”

B:10”

S:10”

The exhaustion gap

This gap (C on the chart) occurs on the morning that the move in progress reaches its extreme price at the top of a move. Upon first appearing, an exhaustion gap cannot be conclusively identified. The market’s behaviour in the days that follow provide confirmation. Should prices drop down to fill the gap after a strong advance has occurred, the gap is likely to be an exhaustion gap. If a number of gaps have already appeared during a dynamic price move, the filling of the most recent one is a telltale sign of possible buying exhaustion. Gaps are one of the many chart formations which provide farmers with a valuable insight on price direction. Send your questions or comments about this article and chart to info@ ag-chieve.ca. David Drozd is president and senior market analyst for Winnipeg-based Ag-Chieve Corporation. The opinions expressed are those of the writer and are solely intended to assist readers with a better understanding of technical analysis. Visit Ag-Chieve online at www. ag-chieve.ca for information about grain-marketing advisory services, or call us toll free at 1-888-274-3138 for a free consultation.

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Rise aBove gRassy weeds look no FuRtheR than

laddeR

Wheat board rolls out first details of farmer contracts POOLS  The CWB will offer them of

varying length, as well as cash and deferred sales contracts

Farmers need to know the details of the contracts they sign in an open market, says Dave Simonot, the board’s director of Farm Services. PHOTO: ALLAN DAWSON

BY ALLAN DAWSON STAFF/MIAMI, MANITOBA

anadian Wheat Board staff are meeting with farmers across the Prairies to explain how the CWB will work with them after the monopoly ends Aug. 1. The wheat board will offer pools that cover most of the crop year, similar to those offered in the past, as well as shorter pools and cash and deferred sales contracts, Dave Simonot, the board’s director of Farm Services, told a meeting here. The board expects many farmers will still want to pool, Simonot said. “Everyone knows no one gets the top of the market regularly,” he said. “No one does it consistently. In fact the majority of people don’t even achieve the average. “So the pool provides the opportunity to achieve the average with a low-stress, low-cost approach to marketing.” Selling through the board also doesn’t tie farmers down to delivering to one grain company. “We think that’s an advantage in that it keeps some flexibility on your side and puts you in a little bit better negotiating position and hopefully results in a better outcome,” he said.

Grassy weed control, at a fair price, is just over the horizon. With the same active ingredient as Horizon®, Ladder™ takes grassy weed control to new heights, coming down hard on wild oats and foxtail in wheat and durum. Ladder is tank-mixable with more than 20 broadleaf herbicides.

Same active as Horizon®

MANA insecticides, herbicides and fungicides are available from leading retailers. Support choice and fair pricing – ask for your MANA product by name.

manainc.ca

Fair Price. Brand Results.

™Ladder is a trademark of Makhteshim Agan of North America Inc. All others are registered trademarks of their respective companies. Always read and follow label directions. 11020.10.11

Grade risk

No matter which middleman farmers use, they need to understand the contracts they sign, Simonot said. When selling grain before harvest, there’s a risk farmers won’t be able to deliver the grade they contracted. “That will be a significant risk that farmers will be taking on by contracting early,” he said. “We won’t have the flexibility we had in the past when we got all the grain anyway.” Elevation charges will vary throughout the year, he said. Farmers will pay more at times when the

“Everyone knows no one gets the top of the market regularly. No one does it consistently. In fact the majority of people don’t even achieve the average.” DAVE SIMONOT

system is being flooded and less when less grain is coming in such as during spring seeding. The wheat board wants its handling agreements to ensure that when farmers sell through the board they pay the same as other farmers delivering to the same elevator on the same day, Simonot said. Under the monopoly the wheat board returned all its revenues from grain sales to farmers, less expenses. Although in an open market the board will be a forprofit company and retain earnings, it will charge farmers a pertonne fee for marketing, he said. The more grain the board markets, the stronger its ability to bargain with the grain handlers. The board’s success depends on how much grain it handles. “If it turns out to be very large, then the wheat board will have a good future,” Simonot said. “If it doesn’t turn out to be very large the wheat board will have a hard time scrambling because we’ll then have to compete head to head with the existing companies that have all their facilities in place and we’d be at a disadvantage in that game.” No matter which way it goes, the board’s future is already mapped out in legislation. By no later than 2016 it will either be privatized or wound down.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

French President Sarkozy courts farm vote in his bid to stay in power Disproportional } The farm sector employs only about one million but has high voter turnout by gus trompiz paris / reuters

rench President Nicolas Sarkozy is working hard to court the farm vote in a bid to overcome Socialist challenger Francois Hollande’s clear lead in opinion polls. Farmers are a traditional bulwark for the conservative UMP party in Europe’s top agricultural nation, yet many were put off by Sarkozy’s city-bred image and his early championing of environmental regulation. Disaffection among farmers contributed to the UMP’s heavy defeat in regional elections in 2010, and since then, Sarkozy has visibly courted farmers. At the recent Paris farm show, he arrived near dawn to watch cows being milked, sat down for breakfast with livestock breeders, and spent about four hours mingling with farmers. “The atmosphere is more relaxed than before when there was real tension between farmers and the government,” said Bernard Basile, a dairy farmer from the northern Seine-Maritime region. “He was campaigning — but the

message about competitiveness and France as a land of production was a bit new and I welcome that,” said Xavier Beulin, head of the FNSEA farm union.

Farmers influential

Around a million people work in farming, and pollsters say their high turnout in elections makes farmers disproportionately influential. Two polls published on the eve of the farm show put Sarkozy well ahead among farmers for the April 22 first round, with 40 per cent, with Hollande languishing near 10 per cent in farmers’ first-round voting intentions. His party’s alliance with the Greens is a sore point for farmers. In the countryside, the threat to Sarkozy comes more from centrist Francois Bayrou, a rural politician ranked second in farmer voting

polls at 18 per cent, and from farright leader Marine Le Pen, on 15 per cent. The FNSEA, a powerful lobby, says farmers are still bitter about red tape from the so-called “Grenelle” environmental legislation ushered in by Sarkozy early in his term. The law imposed cuts in pesticide use, which farmers consider unrealistic and bad for competitiveness, and encouraged activists to block projects such as artificial tanks to store rainwater for irrigation. However, a timely upturn in milk and beef prices, could lift Sarkozy three years after a strike in the milk sector. “Things are better,” said cattle breeder and dairy farmer Laurent Francois. “We’re making a bit of money whereas a couple of years ago we were earning nothing.”

France’s Junior Minister for Foreign Trade Pierre Lellouche (l) takes a photo souvenir with a young farmer who poses beside France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy (2nd r) and Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Bruno Le Maire as they visit the Paris International Agricultural Fair Feb. 25, 2012 in Paris. photo: REUTERS/Eric Feferberg/Pool

news USDA favours corn with 2012 crop insurance price guarantees chicago / reuters / Crop insurance price guarantees for 2012 should encourage U.S. farmers to plant corn over soybeans, according to analysts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture set the guarantees, which act as the floor price for crop insurance policies, at $5.68 per bushel for corn and $12.55 a bushel for soybeans across most of the U.S. Crop Belt. The prices are based on the average settlement for Chicago Board of Trade December corn futures and November soybean futures in February. Farmers can guarantee a return of as much as 85 per cent of the 2012 floor price times their average yield through a variety of policies protecting them from a poor yield or a drop in farm gate prices. The guarantees are down from the record-high 2011 levels of $6.01 for corn and $13.51 for soybeans. But the 2012 soybean price fell farther than corn, a factor that could persuade farmers to shift some acres intended for soybeans over to corn. “It’s a bright neon sign going on and off that says ‘plant corn,’” said Rich Feltes, vice-president for research with R.J. O’Brien in Chicago. “It further buttresses the view that corn is king.”

In a whole different ballpark.

Micronutrient technology so advanced, there’s no comparison With better placement, better availability and better uptake, it’s just not fair to compare Wolf Trax® DDP® Micronutrients to traditional granular and all-in-one products. With Wolf Trax Technology, your crops get the micronutrient they need, when they need it. And best of all, you’re covered by our Growing Forward® Guarantee. >> See how Wolf Trax innovation can improve your crop’s performance at www.wolftrax.com or call 1-855-237-9653 Growing Forward ® Wolf Trax®, DDP®, and Growing Forward® are registered trademarks of Wolf Trax, Inc. ©2012. Not all products are registered in all areas. Contact infomaster@wolftrax.com for more information. 15527 AFE

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

REUTERS

U.S. farmers will harvest a record corn crop this year, which will rebuild stockpiles and bring down prices, a University of Missouri think-tank projected in a March 5 report that came in 2.5 per cent lower than the most recent U.S. government projection. The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Center, or FAPRI, projected a corn crop of 13.916 billion bushels, six per cent larger than the record set in 2009, based on the second-largest plantings since the Second World War. The U.S. Agriculture Department projected a crop of 14.27 billion bushels on Feb. 24 at its annual outlook conference. Like USDA, FAPRI estimated a soybean crop of 3.243 billion bushels. The think-tank pegged U.S. wheat at 2.239 billion bushels and upland cotton at 18.09 million bales. “The rapid growth in corn ethanol production has slowed,” said FAPRI in a briefing book. It estimated corn-for-ethanol would grow to 5.07 billion bushels in the marketing year that ends 2013, compared with 4.994 billion bushels this marketing year. U.S. corn yields were below normal in 2010 and 2011. With a return to trend-line yields, “the resulting large increase in production should allow some stock rebuilding that would moderate prices,” said the briefing book. Corn prices would average $4.81 a bushel at the farm gate under FAPRI’s projection, compared to $5.96 a bushel for the 2011 crop. FAPRI projected slightly smaller corn plantings and a smaller crop than USDA, which projected plantings at 94 million acres (38 million hectares), and a farm gate price of $5 a bushel. FAPRI projected 2012-13 end stocks of 1.346 billion bushels while USDA projects 1.616 billion bushels. USDA says 801 million bushels will be on hand when 2012-13 begins. USDA and FAPRI have nearly the same figure for the soybean crop — USDA says 3.25 billion bushels compared with FAPRI’s 3.243 billion bushels. But they differ on 2012-13 end stocks. USDA projected 205 million bushels and FAPRI 301 million bushels, due to smaller exports. “Price volatility will continue,” said FAPRI in discussing the outlook for U.S. crops in coming years. It said corn prices could range from under $3.50 a bushel to more than $6 a bushel in any given year.

GOOD CUSTOMER  Despite an embargo, Cuba has so far been a large buyer of U.S. ag goods HAVANA/REUTERS

U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba declined six per cent last year on top of a 31 per cent decline in 2010 as the Communist-led island’s financial woes continued and it turned elsewhere to buy food, a trade group said Feb. 22. Cuba, which imports most of its food, gets chicken, corn, soy, wheat, pork and other products from the United States. Cuba’s food imports topped $1.5 billion in 2011, the government has reported. U.S. sales to Cuba have dropped by just over 50 per cent since hitting a peak of $710 million in 2008, the New York-based U.S.Cuba Trade and Economic Council said in a report. The trade council said the reasons for the decline were largely economic and not political and included Cuba’s lack of foreign currency and better financial terms being offered by a host of countries from Canada, Brazil and Vietnam to Russia and France. Cuban President Raul Castro, soon after

your

LOWER  Report says corn prices would average $4.81 a bushel versus $5.96 for the 2011 crop

U.S. food sales to Cuba fall

ElEvatE

Think-tank says big U.S. corn crop will cool prices

taking over for his brother Fidel in 2008, introduced austerity measures, including significant cuts in imports, in an effort to overcome the country’s chronic financial problems. Cuba imports between 60 per cent and 70 per cent of the food it consumes and Castro has prioritized agricultural reform to increase domestic food production. The United States has a 50-year-old trade

embargo against its longtime ideological enemy that prohibits most business between them, but exemptions are made for agricultural products and medicine for cash. Despite the embargo, the United States, located just 90 miles (145 km) to the north, has been one of Cuba’s top 10 trading partners for a number of years. Cuba also ranks as one of the top 50 U.S. agricultural export markets.

perform

™Trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC ®All other products are registered trademarks of their respective companies. 01/12-17671-02A

17671-02A DAS_CHP 17.4X10_MC.indd 1

President Raul Castro has prioritized agricultural reform to increase domestic food production. PHOTO: LAURA RANCE

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Take advantage of the the good times: Bonnett QUIET  This year’s Canadian Federation of Agriculture annual

didn’t feature the fireworks of past years BY ALEX BINKLEY

AF CONTRIBUTOR/OTTAWA

With farm incomes better than they’ve been in a long time, farmers need to take advantage of market opportunities without stretching themselves too thinly, says Ron Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. That means doing everything from telling Canadians about the importance of the agri-food industry to the national economy to making sure the bilateral free trade deals the federal government is busy negotiating don’t to work to the disadvantage of producers, he told the CFA annual meeting. “We need a clear vision of where we want to go, both in terms of developing exports and serving our local markets. Are we getting policies that will benefit all farmers?”

He urged Western farmers not to abandon the Canadian Wheat Board just because they’re angry with the way the government terminated its wheat and barley monopoly. “If farmers support the CWB, then it will have a strong future,” Bonnett said. By CFA standards, it was a lowkey conference. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz missed it in favour of a trade meeting in Washington and the government didn’t bother to send a substitute speaker. Past annual meetings grappled with falling incomes and serious challenges such as BSE and swine flu. This time, delegates focused on the theme of connecting farmers with markets and other ways to grow the business. For Bonnett, it’s clearly preferable to head a national farm group in good times. But farmers shouldn’t become cocky, he cautioned. There are plenty of unresolved issues such as the National Food Strategy and Growing For-

ward 2 as well as the European and Pacific trade talks.

National conservation plan

One new area for farmers to ride herd on will be the federal proposal to create a National Conservation Plan, he said. “CFA has been involved in initial meetings on it and we need to determine how farmers will fit into it and whether they will be compensated for costs in complying with the program.” At the same time, the organization supports federal moves to cut bureaucratic red tape and to streamline cross-border trade with the United States. Both could aid the bottom line of farmers through reduced costs and increased sales. Bonnett also said that while many farm and food groups are using the social media such as Facebook and Twitter to communicate with consumers, “We’re not getting out a consistent message about what farmers do.”

mance.

Western Canadian flaxseed prices edge higher LESS RISKY  Current

prices may prompt farmers to favour flax over canola

CFA president Ron Bonnett says there are plenty of unresolved issues such as the National Food Strategy and Growing Forward 2 as well as the European and Pacific trade talks. PHOTO: CFA Former Ontario Federation of Agriculture president BetteJean Crews said the CFA needs the government and opposition parties to keep supporting the development of a National Food Strategy as they did during last year’s election campaign. “We don’t want them to try to take ownership of it,” Crews said.

With thE support, stEWardship and innovation that only

CErEal hErbiCidE pErformanCE Can providE.

Farming has become a business of higher technology. Only Cereal Herbicide Performance provides a full range of high-performance, technologically-advanced crop protection options to help safeguard your investment. So you can produce the highest cereal crop yields possible. Plus real-time planning and advice. Investment in research and development. Innovations in formulations and packaging. Cereal Herbicide Performance. We set the standard with twelve highperformance products for grass and broadleaf weed control in western Canada. Contact our Solutions Center at 1.800.667.3852 or visit www.dowagro.ca today.

C E r E a l hErbiCidE

pErformanCE

2/6/12 11:53 AM

BY ADAM JOHNSTON

COMMODITY NEWS SERVICES CANADA /

WINNIPEG

Western Canadian flaxseed cash bids have advanced in the past month, with fresh export demand along with tight supply concerns contributing to the firmness, said an industry participant. “The Chinese market has really helped out western Canadian flax prices this year,” said Chuck Penner, an analyst with Left Field Commodity Research in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Chinese and U.S. interest in Canadian flax has provided a bullish flavour to the cash market recently, he said. Tightening global supply, thanks to a smaller than expected crop in Kazakhstan, along with smaller Russian flax exports, also has added to the upward price potential, he said. Penner noted that these factors are pushing prices for eastern European flaxseed up, while making it more attractive for buyers to look at western Canadian flaxseed. Currently, flaxseed spot bids go for as much as $12.64 per bushel in Alberta, $13 per bushel in Manitoba, and $13.25 in Saskatchewan, according to data from Prairie Ag Hotwire. That is up anywhere from six cents to 50 cents per bushel, compared to one month ago. In the near-term, Penner sees western Canadian flaxseed cash bids remaining steady to improving slightly. Continued demand from China and the U.S., along with thin supplies will be supportive. The firm cash bids for new-crop flax, meanwhile, has garnered the attention of western Canadian farmers, Penner said. With the current price for new crop bids ranging between $12 to $12.50, farmers will get a good return for their money, he said. The higher input costs for canola makes flaxseed a less riskier investment for farmers, he said. Farmers are expected to plant close to one million acres of flax this spring, compared to 694,000 acres last year, Penner said. The increase in seeded area will reflect the reclaiming of lost acres due to wet conditions in southeastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as the stronger price outlook, he said.

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Fighting the “potatoes are fattening” image Spuds } While they have more underlying nutritional value than soft drinks, defenders have some work to do By Gord Gilmour

staff/brandon, manitoba

Produced by: SeCan Product/Campaign Name: SeCan Wheat Date Produced: January 2012

Ad Number: SEC_WHEAT12REV_T Publication: Grain News / Alberta Farmer Express Trim: 4Col x 140 8.125” cx 10” Non Bleed

here’s no denying the impact of the image. A morbidly obese woman struggles up a short flight of stairs, while in the forefront of the advertisement are three servings of french fries, growing from modest to mammoth. “Portion sizes have grown, and so has obesity, which leads to many health problems,” reads the headline of an advertisement from New York City’s public Health Department. Maureen Storey, president and CEO of the newly formed Alliance for Potato Research and Education, doesn’t mince her words while telling potato producers movie before. She came to the about the dangers of this sort of newly formed potato association campaign at this winter’s Mani- following a successful stint at the toba Potato Production Days. American Beverage Association, “This,” she said wryly, “this is where she saw first hand what SEC_WHEAT12REV_T_AFE_GN.qxd 1/10/12 3:11 when PM Page 1 not where you want to be.” can happen a product is In fact, Storey has seen this successfully demonized. In that

New York’s public Health Department wants citizens to cut back on the fries. The average American eats 4,000 calories per day, twice the recommended amount.

case the target was soda pop, and the results should be chilling for the potato industry if french fries and potatoes are now in the sights of the health lobby, she says. “Between 1988 and 2009 soft drink makers saw volumes

decrease dramatically and they didn’t make that ground up with niche products like teas and energy drinks,” she said. In that case, the cause of this business upset was what amounted to a full-frontal assault on the industry by everyone from research scientists to the media and government. While there’s no denying that the underlying claims have some truth to them — there is more obesity and diabetes than ever before, for example — Storey challenges the oversimplification of saying a single food product is responsible. “That’s an awful lot to lay on a can of soda pop,” she said. “They’ve got fries in their sights too, and that’s not a happy thing to see on a billboard.”

Dramatic steps

In order to win back market share and be seen as good corporate citizens, soft drink makers were forced to take dramatic steps. They removed full-calorie

More wheat solutions than Prairie towns.

Turnaround

Genes that fit your farm. No matter where you farm. Call your SeCan seed retailer today. 800-665-7333 www.secan.com 1 Developed by Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Winnipeg 2 Developed by Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Swift Current 3 Developed by Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge 4 Developed by Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan 5 Developed by Wiersum Plant Breeding, The Netherlands

soft drinks from schools, and made calorie labels more clear, including putting the calorie count right on the front of the bottle or can. Storey doesn’t expect the struggle in the potato industry to be quite as protracted, since the underlying product is a more nutritionally accepted one than soft drinks. But she also cautions that there is plenty of evidence that other wholesome food products have taken it on the chin over the years, something that makes having a good scientific basis for claims very important. In 1984, she points out, Time magazine ran an explosive cover suggesting eggs weren’t healthy and it’s only in the past couple of years that egg producers have seen the tide reverse. “It took until 2011 for eggs to come back, for us to be told, ‘this is something we want you to eat,’” Storey says. “After 30 years eggs are back.” Because scientific research takes time and money, it’s very important for food producers to fund ongoing work in this area. If you have to wait for several years for results that refute an initial claim, she points out, the narrative has already been long established in the minds of the media and public.

*CWB Variety Survey 2010 Clearfield® is a registered trademark of BASF. ‘AC’ is an official mark used under license from Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada.

Ad Number: SEC_WHEAT12REV_T

Storey says even the most tarnished brands can make a complete comeback after years, even decades, in dietary purgatory. Take almonds for example, where growers made a concerted effort to fund dietary research into their products. “Nuts used to be known as little pellets of fat,” she said. “With research, there’s been a complete turnaround in how consumers and health professionals view them.” Today, almonds are seen to lower blood cholesterol levels, be an excellent source of unsaturated fats, and are said to be high in fibre, protein, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin E and antioxidants. They’re also thought to help prevent osteoporosis and regulate blood pressure. “What the almond industry found was that, for every dollar they spent on research, they got back 125,000 pounds of market share in 15 months’ time,” Storey said. “There is a return on investment for health and nutrition research.” That’s important because even non-french fried potatoes are beginning to come under attack, not least from a recent Harvard research paper claiming potatoes made people fatter faster than any other food. Storey expects that this research won’t stand the test of time, but says it’s going to be important to counter that storyline quickly. In fact she says it’s already starting to bear ill results for the potato industry, as seen in the recent revision of USDA healthy eating guidelines, known colloquially as “My Plate,” which say potatoes are starchy vegetables and thus not “real” vegetables. With that up for further review in 2015, Storey says her organization has a clear goal in mind. “In 2015, I want to see the return of potatoes to My Plate as a vegetable,” she said. “Not a starchy vegetable, a vegetable, because everyone knows potatoes are good for you.”

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

SHIFTING SANDS:

Late blight strains changing quickly HOTHOUSE TOMATOES  They have emerged as another method of rapid disease transmission BY GORD GILMOUR

STAFF/BRANDON, MANITOBA

he symptoms of late blight don’t vary much from strain to strain, but recent evidence suggests that these strains are changing more quickly than ever before, setting growers up for an even bigger control challenge. Rick Peters, a Charlottetown, P.E.I.based research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), told growers at this winter’s Manitoba Potato Production Days meeting that for many years the most common strain was one known as US-8. But over the past few years it’s become a rarity. In the 2010 growing season there was a rapid and major shift and the US-23 variant was the most common across Canada, with the further subvariant A1 dominating in the West and the A2 version the most common in the East. Then in the 2011 season it shifted again and the US-23 variant all but disappeared, to be replaced on the Prairies by the US-24 strain. “The populations are starting to shift dramatically season to season, depending on how they’re moving,” said Peters, a member of the national Late Blight Working Group. “Whatever starts the season dominates and becomes the predominant strain in that production area.” Unfortunately it’s that mode of transport that seems to set the problem up and it’s not likely to go away. Consider the source

of the 2010 population shift: hothouse tomato plants that were shipped across the continent to garden centres. “That’s one important way to transmit new strains, and also on seed potatoes,” Peters said. It can make for a challenging situation for growers, since their protection options will shift from season to season depending on what the new strain is resistant or susceptible to. “The old US-A1 was resistant to Ridomil, but the new strains are susceptible and there’s some evidence that growers used the product with good success,” said Peters. Generally though that’s a silver lining in a fairly dark storm cloud, Peters said. Season-to-season population shifts can also set the stage for big trouble down the road.

Overwintering threat

The fact the disease is hitching a ride on the modern logistics system, for example, means there’s potential for even earlier outbreaks to become a normal part of the scene. There’s also the potential for populations to mix, something that could be very concerning since if A1 and A2 strains mate sexually, they can form a thick-walled body known as an oospore that might be able to survive a Canadian winter and make the disease endemic rather than one which has to appear every spring on the south winds. “There is potential to see mixing populations, though there’s no strong evidence it’s

Crop scouting is vital because earlier control of disease occurrences is cheaper and easier. happening yet,” Peters said. “It’s certainly something we’re keeping an eye on. “We haven’t had to worry much about oospores in Canada, and so far it hasn’t been able to survive winter in the Maritimes and our freeze-thaw cycle,” Peters said. “But this winter, it might be able to survive. It’s something to think about, as the weather changes over time. We’re going to be concerned about this.” Peters told growers that these new developments make good management practices even more important. Cull piles, for example, must be disposed of early and properly so they don’t add early and different inoculum to the mix. Fields should be selected to ensure they drain well and are higher than surrounding topography to reduce moisture. Good weed control also prevents a canopy from forming that can boost humidity in spots of the field. Crop scouting is also vital because earlier control of disease occurrences is cheaper and easier.

ConfidenCe. guaRanTeed.

Roundup TRansoRb® HC HeRbiCide.

THe poweR of unsuRpassed weed ConTRol and indusTRy leading guaRanTees pRovide a woRRy-fRee pRe-seed buRndown. Visit www.roundup.ca for details. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Transorb®, and Roundup® are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC, Monsanto Canada, Inc. licensee. ©2012 Monsanto Canada, Inc. Photo courtesy of John Deere.

“You can kill 100 feet around a hot spot and control it,” Peters said. Other susceptible crops like tomatoes should be avoided and potatoes shouldn’t be planted near them. Industry should also consider working with garden centres, that have shown themselves willing to act responsibly once they’re alerted to the problem, Peters said. “Different potato and tomato varieties vary in their response,” he explained. “For example, Dorita is very resistant. Talk to home garden centres, encourage them to grow a more resistant crop for home gardens so they’re not adding spores to the inoculum load.” In the longer term, late blight-resistant varieties are going to be the key, and ongoing work on this is one of the most important measures the potato industry can take, he says. “I’m excited that processors are looking at varieties other than Russet Burbank and Shepody,” he said. “We need to look at other varieties with better resistance.”

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Prairie farmers to sow record canola, more wheat Planting decisions } Changes to CWB not seen as having a significant effect

By Rod Nickel winnipeg/reuters

Canadian farmers look to sow a record-large area with canola and bigger acreages of wheat, oats and barley, as dry conditions potentially give them the best planting weather in several years, a Reuters grain industry poll showed. To be sure, farmers won’t sink a single seed into the soil for almost another two months, giving price fluctuations and weather ample time to drastically change their plans. But the survey of 17 analysts and traders underscores optimism that farmers will be able to sow more of the Prairies than they have in recent years when flooding made many fields impassable. “The last two years, we’ve probably had between six million and seven million acres of forced summerfallow (due to flooding),” said Chuck Penner, analyst at LeftField Commodity Research in Winnipeg. “People want to plant those acres and this year, hopefully, they’ll be able to.” The trade sees, on average, canola acres rising more than three per cent to 19.5 million acres, with farmers bumping up all-wheat production by 10 per cent to 23.6 million acres. Barley area looks to swell by 19 per cent to 7.7 million acres and oat acres should climb nine per cent to 3.4 million acres, according to the survey. Last year, floods took much of southwestern Manitoba and southeastern Saskatchewan out of production. With the spring flooding risk low this year after below-average snowfall, it’s likely that farmers in those regions will resume planting traditional crops there like spring wheat, durum and flax, Penner said.

Record canola

Canola looks poised to expand acres to the biggest area ever, as farmers cash in on the torrid pace of domestic crushing and exports. “We’re going to see record acres no matter what, and we’re going to need all that (canola production),” Penner said. Even with the industry pencilling in a record canola area, as of last week new-crop ICE Canada November canola futures had climbed four per cent so far in 2012, supported by strong canola demand and concerns about South American soybeans. If dryness persists through March, however, farmers are likely to switch some acres to wheat from canola, said a veteran grain trader. While the trade is optimistic of a big rebound in crop acreage, it isn’t quite as hopeful as Canada’s Agriculture Department, which last month pegged even higher seeded area estimates for most major crops.

“We’re going to see record acres no matter what, and we’re going to need all that (canola production).” Chuck Penner LeftField Commodity Research

CWB wild card

The end of the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly this year is another wild card. Farmers who are leery of selling wheat and barley directly to grain handlers or maltsters might minimize how much of those crops they grow. But others have eagerly explored their new options and signed up a small portion of the projected harvest in forwarddelivery contracts. The change in grain-marketing regulations is unlikely to have much noticeable impact on western Canadian planting, said Brenda Tjaden Lepp, co-founder of FarmLink Marketing Solutions. “I don’t think regulatory change really has a place in farmers’ planting decisions — I’m not really hearing that,” she said. Statistics Canada will issue its first forecast of planting intentions on April 24, based on a farmer survey.

RECORD CANADA CANOLA PLANTINGS - BIGGER WHEAT AREA SEEN

B:17

T:17

S:17

O G EAD, H A

E K A M

Y A D Y M

BayerCropScience.ca/Velocitym3 or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative. Always read and follow label directions. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

7.4”

KFC and Pizza Hut hope India will fall in love with fast food Expansion } With 60 per cent of India’s 1.2 billion residents under the age of 30,

Yum expects to quintuple its number of restaurants by 2020

fast-food phenomenon reaches millions more Indians as it tries to mirror the success story of China, which now contributes half of its operating profit. Yum is targeting Indian students and young office workers with adaptations of popular western fast-food produc ts designed to a ppeal to their unique tastes — and the nation’s many vegetarians: Tandoori paneer pizza or vegetable “Zinger” burgers anyone? By 2020 Yum expects to have 2,000 restaurants in India, up from 374 now. But few experts expect Yum’s ride in India to be as smooth as in China, where the company has 4,500 restaurants after virtually uninterrupted growth from the day KFC brought Colonel Sanders’ secret fried chicken recipe to a restaurant on the edge of Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1987. Still, they say India’s young and upwardly mobile population promises to deliver enough growth by 2020 to offset an expected moderation in China.

by lisa baertlein and nandita bose

los angeles / mumbai / reuters

Customers eat at a KFC outlet, franchised by Yum Brands, in a suburban shopping mall in Mumbai. KFC and Pizza Hut parent Yum Brands Inc. is hoping this western fast-food phenomenon reaches millions more Indians as it tries to mirror the success story of China, which now contributes half of its operating profit. photo: REUTERS/Vivek Prakash

ati Motwani of Mumbai treats her seven-year-old daughter to a fast-food fix almost every weekend. Western chains increasingly are gaining a following and changing old dining habits, she says. “In Indian cities today, pizza and burgers have become staples and have replaced the traditional dhal and chawal (lentils and rice), which we grew up eating. This is their fun food, this is what they enjoy,” said Motwani, 33. KFC and Pizza Hut parent Yum Brands is hoping this western

India versus China

For more information visit BayerCropScience.ca/Velocitym3

Let’s DO this!

T:10”

Take control of your Group 1-resistant wild oats and Group 2-resistant broadleafs.

India is expected to overtake China as the world’s most populous nation as early as 2025. While China’s population is aging, 60 per cent of India’s 1.2 billion residents are under the age of 30, and that is the sweet spot for fast-food restaurants. People in India currently spend less on fast food — 2010 spending per person was $11 in India versus $60 in China — but India’s GDP growth is expected to exceed China’s as early as 2014. Nevertheless, even as Yum, McDonald’s Corp. and other chains race to build a leadership position in India, experts say low wages, rickety infrastructure and government bureaucracy are hurdles to growth. The country lacks China’s commitment to building roads and other transport systems needed to get fresh and frozen food to restaurants and Indian incomes remain very low. Lunch from a street stall can cost less than 25 rupees, or 50 cents. Yum and McDonald’s are responding with value menu items, like veggie burgers, that sell for as little as 25 rupees. B:10”

Serious growers take weed control personally. With three modes of action in a single solution, Velocity m3 herbicide provides enough raw power to take down your toughest broadleaf and grassy weeds.

S:10”

Albertafarmexpress.ca • March 12, 2012

“In Indian cities today, pizza and burgers have become staples and have replaced the traditional dhal and chawal (lentils and rice), which we grew up eating. This is their fun food, this is what they enjoy.” Rati Motwani C-60-03/12-BCS11080-E

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Falling crop prices may be a harvest for retail FORECAST  Deere sees corn down 17 per cent and wheat down 10 per cent in 2012 BY DAVID K. RANDALL REUTERS

Corn, wheat and cotton prices are expected to fall — and that could lead to gains in sectors far removed from the farm. Deere & Company predicted on its February earnings call that agricultural commodities will lose ground this year. The farm equipment maker estimates that corn prices will fall 17 per cent through the 2012 growing season, while cotton prices will drop nearly 15 per cent and wheat prices 10 per cent. Those declines are roughly in line with the findings of a Reuters polls of analysts in January, who said they expected U.S. corn prices to drop 15 per cent to their lowest levels in three years. Lower prices would be welcome news to supermarkets and retailers that have struggled to pass last year’s big jumps in commodity prices on to consumers. Analysts say a modest decline in the prices of raw materials could boost investments ranging from teen retailers to emerging markets and help offset higher transportation costs as gasoline prices increase.

Wal-Mart now gets more than half its revenues from food. Traditional supermarkets may be one of the bigger beneficiaries of softer crop prices, analysts said. That’s because stores like Supervalu, Kroger and Safeway have lost market share to WalMart Stores and Target since the recession ended in 2009. By expanding their grocery offerings, these retailers have positioned themselves as a one-

stop alternative for still-jittery consumers and have used their purchasing size to offer lower prices on items like meat and bread that traditional grocery stores have a hard time matching. Wal-Mart, for instance, now gets more than half of its revenues from grocery sales. Easing food prices will likely change, or at least slow, that trend, analysts say. “The supermarkets are going to welcome this relief because consumers are going to go back to purchasing more items” as prices stabilize, said Andy Wolf, an analyst at BB&T Capital Markets. Supermarkets will likely get two margin boosts, he said. First, companies won’t lower prices immediately as commodities fall, allowing them to both make up for the steep jump in their costs last year and give them relief from higher gas prices. Clothing retailers should benefit from lower prices of cotton this holiday season. Teen retailer Abercrombie & Fitch, for instance, told analysts that it expects its margins to recover “significantly” later this year as cotton prices fall. Analysts say that they expect the trend to reverberate throughout the consumer retail market.

Can you grow the best standing canola on the market?

CANTERRA 1970* Type

Growing Zone

Maturity (Days)

Height (Inches)

Lodging

GENRR HYB

Long

+ 2.5

EXC

Competitive yield and unsurpassed standability, YES YOU CAN have it all. 2011 Yield Data • 106% of L150 – field scale trials • 105% of L150 – independent Canola Performance Trials

* Supplies are limited! Visit canterra.com for information on all of our canola varieties.

canterra.com

Tough weeds? Hit ’em with a sandblaster ECONOMICS 

Technique could be made more viable if farmers can use their own corncobs

WEED TECHNOLOGY RELEASE

For organic growers, weed control can require much time, effort, and creativity. They must find cost-effective ways to prevent weeds from reducing crop yields without using chemical herbicides. A new technique — sandblasting — was recently tested on crops of field corn. The current issue of the journal Weed Technology discusses tests conducted on six plantings of field corn over two years. The tests sought to discover if applications of corncob grit propelled by compressed air could be an effective form of weed control. Sandblasting is typically a technique used to remove paint or rust from a metal surface. By using a “soft” grit that is also a natural material, such as corncob residue or nut shells, this technique can be used agriculturally. These additional uses for agricultural residue could also increase the value of the parent crop. When sandblasting weeds, grit from a compressed air tank is aimed at the weeds growing near the bases of corn plants. To determine at what point in the crop cycle this weed control was most effective, sandblasting was performed from the one- to five-leaf stages of corn growth. Some test crops received second and third treatments of abrasion. The corn plants were unaffected by the procedure, while the weeds were eliminated with varying degrees of success. This research found that multiple sandblasting at the oneand five-leaf or the one-, three-, and five-leaf stages produced consistently high levels of weed control throughout the growing season. Single applications or multiple applications of grit at other times in the growth cycle did not produce satisfactory results. While sandblasting proved to be a viable technique for weed control, this experiment did not prove it to be a cost-effective one. Expenditures could be reduced, however, if a farm were to collect and mill its own corncobs rather than purchasing grit. Another option might be to substitute an organic fertilizer, such as seed meal or crushed limestone, as the grit, thereby achieving two purposes at once. Full text of the article is available at http://wssajournals.org.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Inflation } Food

accounts for a third of China’s consumer price index, leadership has warned against an increase

Chicken feet with 11 different herbs and spices? Offal } That’s what North Americans think, but Asians pay a premium for it By Allan Dawson

beijing / reuters

Rising labour and fertilizer prices and uncertain weather will reduce China’s grain harvest this year, state radio quoted Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu saying Feb. 27. A good grain harvest tames China’s consumer inflation, which rebounded to 4.5 per cent in the year to January, but was still well below a three-year high of 6.5 per cent last July. China aims to reap 525 million tonnes of grain this year, down from a record harvest of 571 million tonnes in 2011. Han told a meeting with 10 other ministries to ensure grain output that high costs of labour and fertilizer as well as the possibility of adverse weather will affect Beijing’s efforts to hit the target. Labour costs rose 25 per cent and fertilizer price increased 17 per cent in 2011 from a year earlier, he told the meeting. “Labour cost will not decline this year and the fertilizer price is already on the rise even before the spring planting begins,” he said. “China’s agricultural production is entering a phase of high cost.” He also warned against more extreme weather this year. “Weather conditions will probably be worse than last year and fighting disasters for a harvest will become this year’s main theme,” he added. Any challenge to feed its population of 1.3 trillion is a big issue for Beijing, concerned with social stability and a government transition in 2012. Food accounts for a third of China’s consumer price index and the leadership has warned against a rebound in inflation, which means China has to tip its toes when relaxing policies to support the slowing economy.

LIGHT YEARS AHEAD

staff/winnipeg

he sight of a pretty Chinese girl preparing to gobble down a cooked chicken head might be a turnoff for North American meat eaters, but it represents a sexy new market for livestock producers. Asians are willing to pay a premium for the privilege of eating animal parts the industry can’t give away in domestic markets, an agricultural economist from Iowa State University says. Selling those parts as well as the premium cuts favoured by traditional markets would lower production costs for North American livestock producers, says Dermot Hayes, an agricultural economist from Iowa State University. Hayes said the emerging markets for meat offer both opportunities and risks for the North American industry, not the least of which is the possibility of new product lines. “Young Asian people love the interesting parts of the animal,” Hayes said. “This struck home when I saw chicken feet selling at a premium to boneless, skinless, chicken breast. “They’re bored by the loin and the tenderloin and the ham. They want the feet, the ears, the lungs, internal organs.” When it comes to producing meat, North America already has a competitive advantage, which would be enhanced by exporting to Asia the animal parts thrown out here, but command a premium over there.

Employees remove feathers from chicken heads at a chicken-processing factory in Suining, southwest China’s Sichuan province. REUTERS/Stringer (CHINA) “For chickens it would be the wing tips and the feet, with legs going perhaps to Russia and the breast staying here,” Hayes said. “That has two implications. First it reinforces this urge to move a valuable product around and secondly it potentially can reduce the break-even price of the pieces of the animal that’s in demand in North America.” Hayes, who has visited China and other parts of Asia many times, said he believes the demand is real and not based in poverty. “If you think it’s crazy to eat

PROTINUS® seed-applied fertilizer delivers a nutrient boost that gives you faster emergence, larger seedlings and bigger roots. And a stronger start means you can look forward to stronger results at harvest. Use the technology that’s light years ahead. Ask your retailer for PROTINUS or visit PROTINUS.org.

pigs’ feet, which I find delicious, have a look at somebody eating ribs sometime,” he said. “It’s not a whole lot dissimilar. We got it into our heads that we can eat the ribs and think they’re delicious but not the feet, well in Asia those pieces are just like ribs.” Blood, lungs, intestines are in heavy demand and prices reflect it, he said. “If you could find a way to get marrow out of bones and export it you can get rich because Vietnamese people love a soup called pho soup that relies on essentially that — marrow.”

“Young Asian people love the interesting parts of the animal. This struck home when I saw chicken feet selling at a premium to boneless, skinless, chicken breast.” Dermot Hayes

©2012 Wolf Trax®, Growing Forward® and PROTINUS® are registered trademarks of Wolf Trax, Inc. Not all products are registered in all areas. Contact protinus@wolftrax.com for more information or call 1-855-237-9653. 17842 AFE

China harvest to be hit by labour, fertilizer costs

news » livestock

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Olymel declines role in cull cow plant

Burger processor in receivership

Quebec poultry and pork-packing giant Olymel has decided to walk away from talks aimed at a possible partnership stake in a major producer-owned cull cow slaughter facility. The Levinoff-Colbex beef plant at St-Cyrille-de-Wendover has been owned by the organization since 2006. An Olymel spokesman said the plan had requirements that would need to be met for it to take a role in the facility, and those conditions have not been met. The owners are reported to be in talks with a new potential partner.

Citing rising costs it couldn’t pass on to its customers, a major manufacturer of frozen beef burgers with plants in Saskatoon and St. Catharines, Ont. is in receivership. Burlington, Ont.-based New Food Classics, which supplied private-label burgers and other products to retailers and wholesalers including Loblaw, Wal-Mart and Sysco Canada, filed for creditor protection in mid-January. NFC blamed its financial straits on the terms of its 12-month fixed-price contracts with its customers, which require it to eat any increases in wholesale beef or energy costs.

“Nobody has made an application. As far as I know, there’s not even a specific company that’s proposing this.”

Chinese-backed pork plant in Montana may be coming MARKET OPTIONS } If a new processing plant is built just across the border,

Alberta producers will have another potential buyer by sheri monk

“The governor says China wants this pork, we can provide it, so let’s get a porkprocessing plant built.”

af staff | shelby, montana

ontana pork producers are taking a wait-andsee approach in regard to a new pork-processing plant at Shelby that could draw large numbers of Canadian hogs. Governor Brian Schweitzer announced in February that Chinese investors were interested in developing a facility capable of processing 800,000 pigs. But additional details are scarce. “At this point there’s no proposal,” said John Adams, a reporter with the Great Falls Tribune who has been covering the story. “Nobody has made an application. As far as I know, there’s not even a specific company that’s proposing this.” This isn’t the first time the idea of a Shelby plant has been floated. Most of the state’s hogs are processed in California and Idaho. “The governor says China wants this pork, we can provide it, so let’s get a porkprocessing plant built,” said Adams. “There’s been talk for a long time about a pork facility in Shelby as part of a new intermodal hub. There would be a number of different companies that would use this hub for transporting and putting products in containers. Some of which would go on trains and shipped to the West Coast or the Midwest. Others would go on trucks.”

John Adams Great Falls Tribune

There is already excess packing capacity for hogs in Western Canada. file photo Southern option

Although Montana’s pork industry is much smaller than Alberta’s, producers north of the border would benefit from having another potential buyer, said Jim Haggins, chairman of Alberta Pork. “Their (hog producers) are almost 100 per cent Hutterite colonies,” said Haggins. “It’s considerably smaller in Montana. But as you suspected,

that location would be an attraction for producers out of southern Alberta. Anybody south of Claresholm would be closer to a plant in Shelby than they would to Red Deer, for instance.” Currently, Alberta is home to four federally inspected pork processors — Olymel in Red Deer, which processes 35,000 head weekly; Maple Leaf Meats in Lethbridge, which processes

6,500 head per week; Sunterra Meats at Trochu with 3,000 weekly; and Sturgeon Valley Pork in Morinville, which processes 2,000 each week. “That’s not anywhere close to their capacity though — there’s actually excess packing capacity right now so that’s causing producers to shift around to the best financial market,” said Haggins, adding that Alberta pork is also being processed

in B.C., Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Shelby is 30 minutes from the Canadian border and a plant processing 10,000-plus pigs weekly would require animals from Canada to be efficient. “It is a strategic location for them,” Haggins said. “There have been rumblings of that for the last five years or so. Shelby has been considered before — if it goes ahead, that’s all good news. It’s a long road. They talk about having construction next year, but we’ll see.” Alberta produces 2.3 million market hogs per year, which is down sharply since the market collapse in 2009. “Our sow base was capable of producing four million (market hogs) before, but the sow base has dropped by about a third,” said Haggins. Alberta is currently home to 135,000 sows.

You know the value of a good

PARTNERSHIP. Farmers of North America is a farmers’ business alliance dedicated to partnering with YOU to grow your farm’s profitability.

From sourcing huge savings on inputs, to discounts at local and national preferred suppliers, to our new export risk mitigation and financing solutions, FNA is committed to keeping more dollars in your pockets. We work hard for you every day, connecting your operation with more value. Helping you build a better bottom line. Join FNA today and let us become your

Partner in Profitability. AFE March 12 12.indd 1

1-877-FNA-FARM | fna.ca 3/2/2012 4:55:59 PM

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Meeting the challenge of heavier carcass weights CONFLICT  Packers want heavier carcasses to reduce their costs,

but it costs more to feed them to that weight BY BERNIE PEET

he demand from pork processors for heavier carcasses has created a number of challenges for hog producers which need to be addressed in order to ensure that increasing the weight at which pigs are marketed is profitable. This was the message to producers from Dr. Eduardo Beltranena, with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, at the recent Centralia Swine Research Update held in Kirkton, Ontario. “Packers want heavier carcasses to spread costs over more kilograms of pork processed,” he explains. “However, heavier carcasses mean that hogs stay in the barn longer to reach higher live weights, which implies reduced barnturnover rates and more kilos of feed per hog sold. Producers question whether there is an economic benefit to them especially at times when pork prices are low.” Beltranena notes a number of factors which producers must take into account when decid-

ing the best strategy. “The most important consideration producers should make regarding housing hogs in barns longer is pen stocking density up to first pull for slaughter,” he says. A first step to understanding the implications of higher weights is to calculate the optimum stocking density, using the formula 0.034 x Body Weight 0.67, which will allow the correct number of hogs per pen to be calculated. “Typical pens measuring 2.5 x 6.0 m (8 x 20 ft.) should house 17 hogs to a market weight of 120 kg,” Dr. Beltranena says. “If filled with 22 hogs, which is a common commercial stocking density, hogs will be crowded for the last third of their stay in such pens.” He encourages producers to learn how to calculate pen space allocation and the weight at which pigs start to outgrow their space. The potential for crowding finisher pens has also increased due to higher breeding herd productivity, he notes. Crowding hogs reduces feed intake and consequently weight gain. “Limited floor space and restricted feeder

“The most important consideration producers should make regarding housing hogs in barns longer is pen stocking density up to first pull for slaughter.”

access have additive effects,” Beltranena says. “Research carried out at the Prairie Swine Centre suggests that for every three per cent below the critical individual pen space allocation, there was one per cent reduction in daily weight gain and 0.75 per cent reduction in feed intake.” Slower growth compounds the pen space problem because pigs take longer to reach market weight.

Returns uncertain

In addition to the challenge of pig flow in the finisher barn, Beltranena says producers may not get a return on the cost of feeding pigs to heavier weights. “Depending on finishing diet cost and taking into account the poorer feed conversion at heavier live market weight, it could cost $4-$8 more to feed a hog to gain 6.5 kg, giving a five-kg heavier carcass,” he explains. However, he suggests, if crowding hogs results in progressive feed restriction, a reduction in backfat may result in a lower yield class on some packer grids. “For a common Alberta packer grid, I calculated that a producer would not earn the extra $5 per

hog necessary to cover feed costs if average backfat was reduced by two mm due to pigs being kept longer in crowded conditions in order to produce a five-kg heavier carcass,” he says.

Options evaluated

Given that pen space is finite, what are the long-term options to alleviate pressure? A detailed study at the University of Minnesota modelled the implications of selling hogs as they reached market weight, selling hogs within pens to maintain the required space allocation — even if that meant selling them light — selling weaners, reducing sow breedings or constructing additional finishing space. “They concluded — based on return on equity — that reducing sow breeding was the least preferred, because underutilized sow crates are the most costly asset,” Dr. Beltranena notes. “Selling weaners was the next most undesirable option and selling underweight hogs to maintain within-pen space allocation was intermediate. The best option was to construct additional finishing space as it would be amortized over the long term, followed by

marketing hogs as they reached target market weight.” If producers intend to build some additional finishing space, they should consider constructing in-barn lairage pens because this will allow pigs to be fasted prior to shipping, Beltranena advises. “Up to $3 worth of undigested feed can be found in the stomach and guts of pigs taken directly from their pen when they have uninterrupted feed access right up to the time of shipping,” he says. “Hogs should be fasted for 12-24 hours, including the time in the plant lairage. Not fasting hogs long enough can affect pork quality, reducing revenue to the producer and the packer.” The strategy for removing pigs for market also needs to be considered as a means of minimizing the number of days that pigs are crowded. Dr. Beltranena suggests starting the first pull of pigs earlier to create more space for the remaining pigs, even if it means those pigs being slightly light relative to the optimum weight on the packer grid. Another alternative is to market a proportion of the hogs on a lightweight grid or to ship to a small, local abattoir that requires smaller pigs, he says.

Part of your well-balanced farm business.

DR. EDUARDO BELTRANENA

THE HUMANE CHOICE. Period! Another quality ranch tool by Callicrate

F O R E A R LY C A S T R AT I O N . . .

Made in the UsA

Brand New! High-Tech! Complete Ligation Callicrate Tough!

Worth The Investment F O R D E L AY E D C A S T R AT I O N . . .

Constant Force Technology (CFT) ensures humane, consistent results. Quality and service you can trust!

Celebrating ... 20 years and 50,000 banders sold! CAsTrATION • HOrN rEMOvAL • TAIL DOCkINg For a distributor near you, give us a call or visit our website. We appreciate the opportunity to provide you with quality tools. Thank you for your business!

800-858-5974 www.CallicrateBanders.com

To find out more about this variety and our 2012 CWRS Wheat Program contact your local Viterra retail or visit seed.viterra.ca. ADV ICE

OPP ORT UNI TIE

ACC ESS

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Rocky Mountain Forest Range Association receives award

IN BRIEF

RMFRA } Recognized for stewardship and management of forest reserves in western Alberta Society for Range Management release

he Rocky Mountain Forest Range Association (RMFRA), Nanton, Alberta, received the Outstanding Achievement Award for Stewardship at the Society for Range Management’s (SRM) recent 65th annual meeting in Spokane, Washington. The award is presented by the Society for Range Management for outstanding achievement to members and other qualified individuals and groups working with rangelands. The Rocky Mountain Forest Range Association was formed by Forest Reserve Grazing permit holders in 1998 in order to take a leadership role in the stewardship and management of the forest reserves lands in western Alberta. Membership involves voluntarily

contributing $1 per animal unit month of grazing to the RMFRA. The RMFRA uses these funds to ensure the sustainability of livestock grazing in the Rocky Mountain Forest Reserve. Since inception, the RMFRA has funded over $400,000 of range inventory work and over $850,000 in total investment towards enhanced range stewardship, management and knowledge development. The group recognizes the value and need for rangeland resource information in ensuring that these grazing dispositions are well managed, sustainable and consistently monitored. The knowledge gained from RMFRA initiatives has improved the management of rangelands in the forest reserve, improved integration of grazing with other resource users and has motivated many local rangeland resource stakeholders to expand

RMFRA representatives receive the Outstanding Achievement for Stewardship Award from Society for Range Management. (l-r) Jim Lynch-Staunton, director at large; Ian Mason, vice-chairman; Roxy Wideman, chairman; Jack Alexander, SRM president. on their efforts or form their own initiatives. Recently the Rocky Mountain Forest Range Association has expanded efforts to include other resource management

issues through research projects, grazing trials and policy development on such topics as livestock behaviour, riparian and prescription grazing and grazing-timber integration.

“Remain destocked,” Texas cattlemen told A Texas AgriLife Extension Service forage specialist is advising state beef producers not to get too enthusiastic about recent rainfalls, which followed many months of record drought. “After the drought, remain destocked,” Dr. Larry Redmon says in an AgriLife release. “Just because you see green in the spring doesn’t mean you should load up with cows again. Consider drought management as part of your overall strategy. “It will take three to four inches a month and, depending on the species, an entire year for pasture recovery,” Redmon said. “Obviously, there will be no recovery with no rainfall. Folks, we killed cedar with the drought in the Hill Country. We can’t expect recovery to our pastures without rainfall.” Redmon reminded producers of the state’s unpredictable weather patterns. “Remember this description of Texas weather, ‘It is prolonged drought interrupted by periodic flooding events.’”

Your farm equipment. + Our technology solutions. + Your John Deere dealer. = John Deere FarmSight™ Seed-applied liquid nutrient approved for cereal crops Justin Childears 21st Century Equipment Bridgeport, Neb.

It all adds up for John Deere dealers and their customers Any dealer can sell equipment, but for Justin Childears, being able to offer customers unique, packaged solutions with John Deere FarmSight has helped take his customers to a new level. “John Deere FarmSight bridges sales, service and support. Customers view us almost like one of their employees. That’s where we want to be. It truly is decision support,” Childears said. For instance, based on information and data layers that they have collected over time with their customer’s equipment, Childears can analyze trends and use this data to help customers optimize their equipment. Like 21st Century, your local John Deere dealer has specially trained personnel with the tools and training to help you add value to your business. Your dealer also has developed special value added services to help you get the most out of your investment. Stop by your John Deere dealership today. And start building a whole new business relationship.

51131_9_JD_Ag_Ad_FarmSightEquation2.indd 1

JohnDeere.com/FarmSight

2/17/12 4:19 PM

staff A new liquid formulation of a seed-applied nutrient has been cleared by the CFIA for use on wheat, barley, oat and corn. Colorado-based Loveland Products’ seed treatment Awaken ST will be distributed by ag input retailer UAP Canada. Awaken ST’s micronutrient package includes five per cent zinc plus boron, copper, iron, manganese and molybdenum, the company said. The combination “helps develop a larger, more extensive root system, quicker emergence, greater plant biomass and improved plant health and vigour,” UAP product manager Eric Gregory said in a release. The company says Awaken ST’s formulation can be applied using traditional treating equipment. Awaken “can be applied on its own, blended or applied sequentially with traditional chemical-based fungicide or insecticide seed treatments,” the company said.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Selling Canada’s food into Asia and the Middle East STRAIGHT FROM THE HIP  A large, growing and more wealthy

population represents opportunities for Canadian farmers BY BRENDA SCHOEPP

sia is often discussed as an overall emerging market for Canadian food. In the Southeast Asia area, there are countries with a growing middle class that are important trading partners. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) represents 10 countries with a population of 600 million. The top ASEAN destinations for Canadian food products are Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia. Thailand and Vietnam also are significant trading partners. Canadian exports to ASEAN areas that represent the bulk of commodity trade are wheat and meslin (which is a grain mixture that can be made into flour) and accounts for 43.5 per cent of exports followed by soybeans, prepared animal feed, frozen pork and fresh or chilled pork. As the demographics change within ASEAN countries, a new demand is growing for halal products and health food products. The emerging middle class is asking for organic food, and increasing consumption of fish and meat. As many inhabitants are used to bargaining in outdoor markets, the emergence of processed meats is a sign of

prestige, although traditional cooks still prefer to use fresh ingredients. Traditional cooks will however bend the rules for special sweet drinks. Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous country with 240 million people scattered over 11,000 inhabited islands. It imports a tremendous amount of rice and noodles, but has a keen interest in Canadian dessert mixes, yogurt, breakfast cereal, and baking. The importation of prepared baby food is expected to increase by 72 per cent which is reflective of the modern mother’s ability to buy baby food with her middle-class status. Vegetable oil and margarine are also popular products as are all sweet snacks and table condiments. For Saskatchewan farmers, Indonesia is a growing destination for dry beans, peas, pulses and lentils. The growth in the Philippines is more subdued than in Indonesia, as the 95 million consumers traditionally are more frugal. They prefer to import sweet snacks and have a growing interest in dairy and bakery products as well as oils and frozen food. The largest area of import growth by more than 44 per cent is in dried pasta and red meat, including Canadian beef. This is rivalled only by canned meat sales which are expected

Markets reopen in Korea and Philippines

to increase by 46 per cent. On the other side of the huge growth in all things canned are fresh organic products of which the wealthy have an intense interest. As a symbol of status, organic foods are sought by high-income consumers.

Canadian beef tonnage exported to ASEAN areas and to the Middle East may seem somewhat trivial, but collectively they are important and significant. Thailand is a busy place and the lifestyle reflects the new export possibilities to this country of 70 million. They prefer packaged food and ready meals even in remote areas. As with the other ASEAN countries, Thailand likes to import dairy products, sweet snacks, baking, sauces and condiments, dried foods (especially noodles) and baby food. To give you an idea of value, the sale of baby food alone is forecast at over $800 million while dairy

sales are expected to exceed $2.2 billion. Vietnam is the world’s largest exporter of spice and secondlargest exporter of rice. On the import side, the Vietnamese are developing a palate for all things non-traditional and are deeply influenced by the western culture. They are buying packaged and ready meals, cheese and pasta even with the per capita income at $1,168. As well, they import sauces, condiments, ice cream and sweet snacks. Vietnam also recently opened to Canadian beef. Every country in the world is focused on pasta and noodles as they surpass rice in global consumption. Even market opportunities in the Middle East are noodle and pasta based. Customers like to import product and rebrand it in an Arabic name. They too are focused on other Canadian products such as poultry, seafood, baking, dairy, baby food, and cooking oil. Dried and processed foods are popular but the real emerging markets are for distinctly Canadian products such as lobster, scallops, blueberries and maple syrup. This is because, unlike ASEAN areas, there is extensive wealth in the United Arab Emirates and food service is always looking for exotic and imported product to serve.

In all these ASEAN countries, the need for imports of Canadian product, including beef, is a result of a resurgence of the middle class and a growing domestic appetite for western foods and animal fat and protein including dairy. All forms of noodles and pasta imports are increasing, but perhaps the true emerging market is for baby food, the one import that helps sustain a healthy population. These large populations are attractive for Canadian exporters and they are often condensed in major cities, allowing for access to a huge consumer base without transportation woes. Canadian beef tonnage exported to ASEAN areas and to the Middle East may seem somewhat trivial, but collectively they are important and significant. As we grow in global trade, Canada can expect to sell more processed, fresh and frozen food into Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Brenda Schoepp is a market analyst and the owner and author of Beeflink, a national beef cattle market newsletter. A professional speaker and industry market and research consultant, she ranches near Rimbey, Alberta. beeflink@ cciwireless.ca

Part of your well-balanced farm business.

EXPORTS  Green light for cattle under 30 months STAFF

anadian cattle and beef are continuing to regain markets lost when importers closed imports after BSE was discovered in Canada in 2003. On Jan. 20 Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and International Trade Minister Ed Fast announced that beef and veal processed by approved plants from cattle under 30 months of age have the green light for immediate exports to South Korea. Officials in Seoul have notified Ottawa that all certification conditions are in place, meaning exports can commence from the listed Canadian beef plants approved for export.

“With re-entry, we believe the Canadian industry is positioned to benefit from exports of 6,500 tonnes, worth about $30 million by 2015, with potential to grow to 14,000 tonnes worth $65 million by 2020,” Brad Wildeman, a Lanigan, Sask. feedlot operator and chairman of market development agency Canada Beef, said in a release. On Jan. 24 Ritz and Fast announced that that the Government of Canada has secured live cattle, sheep and goats to the Philippines. The Philippines imports $9 million annually worth of cattle and nearly $300,000 of sheep and goats. “Canadian producers now have the ability to compete for sales in this market,” a government release said.

“Canadian producers now have the ability to compete for sales in this market.” To find out more about this variety and our 2012 Barley Program contact your local Viterra retail or visit seed.viterra.ca.

ADV ICE

OPP ORT UNI TIE

ACC ESS

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

A sustainable ranch can benefit everyone Indicators } The Society for Range Management has a free downloadable booklet to evaluate a ranch’s sustainability Society for Range Management release

A healthy ranch can be a benefit to all. Sustaining an economically and ecologically successful ranch also preserves western rural landscapes, lifestyles, and livelihoods. Business planning that incorporates resource monitoring offers the rancher measurable indicators of the health of a ranch. The February issue of Rangelands presents a framework for such monitoring and planning developed by the Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable’s Ranch Sustainability Assessment Group. This working group seeks to identify the best indicators for monitoring ecological, economic, and social conditions on an individual ranch and to integrate these with business planning goals. Being aware of the conditions of soil, water, vegetation, and

Sustaining an economically and ecologically successful ranch also preserves western rural landscapes, lifestyles, and livelihoods. file photo wildlife on a ranch means knowing what one’s business assets are. They are the basis for good decision-making. The Ranch Sustainability Assessment Group has identified 17 indicators to help ranchers effectively assess their resources. These indicators include, for

example, estimating the potential for erosion of the ranch’s soil. By measuring the per cent of bare ground using sampling techniques, one can see the possible impact of rain and wind on soil loss. Another indicator of erosion is soil aggregate stability — the degree to which soil clumps,

or retains its structural integrity, when exposed to a water bath. This type of assessment and business planning can help the rancher achieve goals beyond cattle production. The use of grazing land for wildlife habitat and wildlife-related human activity is projected to increase during

the next 50 years. Ranchers with a business plan can track such trends and incorporate them into their goals, with the possibility of increasing income and conservation. The SRR Sustainable Ranch Management Assessment Guidebook is available online at http:// sustainablerangelands.org/ranchassessment. The document takes ranchers through a selfassessment survey to evaluate the current sustainability of their operation. Profitable cattle-ranching operations can keep ranches intact, prevent development that divides the land, and protect biodiversity. Full text of “Ranch Business Planning and Resource Monitoring for Rangeland Sustainability” and other articles in this issue of Rangelands, Vol. 34, No. 1, February 2012, are available at http://www.srmjournals.org/toc/ rala/34/1.

Iran buys American wheat Surprise }

Western sanctions are making it increasingly difficult for Iran to make payments reuters / Iran has made a rare purchase of American wheat in an effort to build food stockpiles as the U.S. and Europe implement tough new sanctions to contain Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. The purchase of 120,000 tonnes of U.S. wheat, while not illegal, caught traders by surprise. “It shocked me,” said Jerod Leman, a broker with Wellington Commodities Corp. “With everything going on over there with their nuclear problems, I am surprised we sold them anything.” Western sanctions against Iran are making it increasingly difficult for the country to pay for staple foods, causing hardship for its 74 million people. Because of the tightening financial noose, Iran has resorted to bartering, including swapping gold or tankloads of oil for food, according to commodity traders. It has asked to import a million tonnes of wheat from Pakistan in a barter deal and also approached India. The Islamic Republic has also bought nearly two million tonnes in February from Russia, Germany, Canada, Brazil and Australia. U.S. food exports, including grain, to Iran are approved under a humanitarian authorization by the Treasury Department to ensure needed items reach the Iranian people.

“...and lower the boom on weeds!”

Raise the bar on your broadleaf weed control.

DuPont™ Barricade® herbicide delivers consistently powerful performance against your toughest broadleaf weeds in cereals. Count on Barricade® for outstanding weed control. Controls a wide range of the toughest weeds of the West Consistent and powerful control of cleavers and kochia Excellent tool for resistance management

This year, raise the bar higher with Barricade®.

Questions?

Ask your retailer, call 1-800-667-3925 or visit www.weedwreckingcrew.com As with all crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™, Barricade® and Solumax® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2012 E. I. du Pont Canada Company. All rights reserved.

2177BAR_AFE_FE.indd 1

1/19/12 5:46 PM

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

New Zealand sheep farmers call for collaboration with Canada Not competitors } The president of New Zealand’s largest lamb co-op

says the competition is pork, chicken and beef By Nicolas Mesly

AF contributor | Wanaka, New Zealand

othing bothers a Canadian lamb producer more than the sight of frozen New Zealand lamb in the local supermarket. Owen Poole says they should look at it differently. “We shouldn’t be seen as competition. The challenge that brings us together is to make sure there is lamb on everyone’s dinner table all year long,” says Owen Poole, president of Alliance Group, a co-operative with about 5,500 members and New Zealand’s largest supplier and processor of lamb meat. Poole notes that lamb represents a mere four per cent of global meat consumption — the lion’s share belongs to pork, chicken and beef. “That’s our real competition,” he says. New Zealand is home to 33 million sheep compared to about one million in Canada. Canadian consumers, especially ethnic communities, are developing a growing fondness for lamb meat but Canadian suppliers are only capable of satisfying half of demand. Therefore more than 70 per cent is imported from New Zealand, whose customer base of 4.3 million people only consumes about five per cent of production. The rest goes for export. Alliance Group owns a network of nine slaughter facilities, with a capacity of 32,000 head per day currently processing more than seven million sheep and other species per year. Carcasses are scanned by computer and divided into various cuts and dispatched across the world. Asian customers, especially in China, take the less popular cuts such as offal, breasts and necks. To meet the more demanding markets such as Germany, France and Belgium which need to be supplied 52 weeks per year, Alliance Group has concluded strategic alliances. It works with sheep

“We’ll never be able to fulfil all of our markets on our own. There is more to be gained by working together.” Jonathan Wallis NZ producer

New Zealand has 4.3 million people and 33 million sheep. producers in Uruguay to supply Latin America, and to meet North American demand, Alliance established The Lamb Company, a consortium which includes another New Zealand co-operative and an Australian company. The Lamb Company has offices in Toronto and supplies frozen and refrigerated lamb shanks and legs of lamb to supermarket chains like Costco and Loblaws. Despite abundant rain and yearround grazing, “We have our share of challenges,” says Poole. Deadly storms blew through New Zealand in the spring of 2010 and devastated the North and South islands, killing 1.6 million sheep. Poole says that’s why strategic alliances

are so important to ensure their markets are supplied, especially given logistical problems when clients are largely located more than 10,000 kilometres away. The dramatic growth of New Zealand’s dairy production, a virtual Saudi Arabia of milk, led 750 lamb farmers to switch to dairy production over the past five years. And the afforestation of mountainsides, supported by the New Zealand government to help meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, has removed grazing land from sheep farmers. “Lamb is an expensive meat to produce and is usually a luxury product,” says Poole, stressing the importance

of a common merchandising strategy. He says Canadian lamb farmers have a competitive edge, primarily that of being closer to its markets. They also have technological capacity to produce up to three lambs in two years period since reproduction can be better controlled in a pen than on vast pastures. New Zealand breeders are restricted to a single lambing per year. Alliance Group member Jonathan Wallis, who grazes 7,500 sheep on a 20,000-hectare mountainside property bordering Lake Wanaka, agrees with Poole. “We’ll never be able to fulfil all of our markets on our own. There is more to be gained by working together.”

Leaders in off-patent solutions.

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Common pitfalls of semen evaluation beef 911 } A list of tips and techniques for evaluating bulls efficiently and safely By roy lewis, dvm

n the past 31 years of semen evaluating bulls, I have come across many tricks of the trade to make this procedure run very smoothly. Every situation is different and every set of bulls somewhat unique so most of these points involve common-sense and casual observations I have made over the years. A common dilemma is bulls which are hard to stimulate and collect an adequate semen sample from. More often than not the rectal probe is too small and there is not enough contact made between the probe and the urethral muscles. This is especially true in very large herd bulls. You can increase contact by lifting up on the back of the probe as the bull is being stimulated. This pushes down the front of the probe,

increasing the contact and initiates better stimulation. The percentage which will protrude, also increases. This is very important as visualization of the penis detects problems such as warts, cuts or frenulums (tie-backs) and these conditions can then be addressed. There is still a very small percentage of bulls refractory to the electro ejaculator. For bulls still unable to be stimulated, it may be worth it to put the effort into another collection technique. This would involve having the bull breed a cow in heat with your veterinarian present. The cow can then be run in and the semen sucked out of her vagina using a pipette and examined. This semen will be mixed with the cow’s vaginal mucus so the motility will be slowed a bit when your veterinarian examines it. Generally if a bull is hard to collect or refractory to the electro ejaculator, this problem will repeat itself

in subsequent years so mark that down on the semen form. Bulls going down in the chute is a common problem, especially with quiet show-type bulls, so often leaving their heads free with not much squeeze restraint put on them may help in this regard. Tying their head up with a halter may also accomplish keeping them up. A bar or post placed behind the bull is enough to keep them ahead and often the bulls will stay up long enough to collect a sample. This is especially true of large herd bulls. Confinement in a sturdy alley may be easier than trying to hold their heads in a headcatch.

Safety measures

As a safety with mature bulls I will often have a bar behind them in case they get their head free. In hydraulic chutes I leave the back door slightly closed so if they pull their head free they won’t back over me.

I find certain breeds such as Angus and Simmental to be very easy to stimulate and one must watch to not overstimulate them or do it too quickly.

I find certain breeds such as Angus and Simmental to be very easy to stimulate and one must watch to not overstimulate them or do it too quickly. The ejaculators with automatic programs may need to be put on manual so the stimulation can be gradually increased. This is where observing and using one’s experience will yield great

Make your first Move Pre-Pare™ Adding PRE-PARE™ to your glyphosate gives you a longer lasting burndown of grassy weeds like wild oats and green foxtail. It also takes care of aggressive weeds like Roundup Ready® volunteer canola* and foxtail barley.** PRE-PARE gets the weeds that can rob valuable nutrients and moisture from young wheat. So your wheat gets the head start it needs. And you get the yields you deserve. For the whole story, visit preparefortheseason.ca.

For a longer lasting burndown that includes grassy weeds

*Contact control only **Contact control with 900 gae/ha of glyphosate only. Always read and follow label directions. PRE-PARE and the PRE-PARE logo are trademarks of Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC. Arysta LifeScience and the Arysta LifeScience logo are registered trademarks of Arysta LifeScience Corporation. All other products mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective companies. ©2012 Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC. PREC-099

0000-1140_PREPARE_Gameboard_CANv3 8.125x10.indd 1

benefits on the successful collection of a semen sample. If bulls don’t protrude their penis they are difficult to stimulate. However many of these bulls will ejaculate in the sheath and the semen can be milked out by ending stimulation and massaging the sheath and collecting the semen when it runs out. These bulls will have to be observed at their first breeding to make sure there is no physical impairment to the penis extending or your vet may tranquilize them to make sure they will protrude the penis. On rare occasions bulls will consistently urinate in the sample. These bulls I have found with some rest (say one hour) followed by quick stimulation will often result in a successful collection. Again the bulls which are urinators will often repeat this same trick in subsequent years as well. Stagnant semen (high percentage of dead sperm) can be present in bulls in winter and at other times when they are not actively ejaculating. In pens of bulls it is definitely more common in the more mature bulls. With pecking order the most dominant bulls and least dominant bulls seem to have the greatest incidence of this condition. My theory is the most dominant bulls have nothing to prove so don’t ride and the least dominant bulls are the ones being ridden. In each case ejaculation does not occur and the semen becomes stagnant and dead. These bulls may need to be ejaculated two to three times in succession to get this old semen out of their system. Subsequent sample quality should improve drastically if this was the only problem. Veterinarians can often tell by the type of morphologic defects (sperm cell defects) if the sample is stagnant or not but have to retest if the defects are too high. A good management procedure is to have cycling cows close by before semen testing, as this will get the bulls active. Because of the minute amount of electricity required to stimulate bulls, any disruption in this low current flow will cause the stimulation process to fail. It is very important the equipment be maintained and the electrical ends be replaced as they become worn. The contact points must be cleaned and a smooth stimulation will result. Semen collection is as much an art as a science. An experienced veterinarian will use all this knowledge to ensure as successful an evaluation as possible. Bulls will still fail because they should but we want to ensure that no outside forces will make a fair evaluation impossible. Roy Lewis is a large-animal veterinarian practising at the Westlock Veterinary Centre. His main interests are bovine reproduction and herd health.

2/17/12 5:27 PM

B:10.25” ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

T:10.25” S:10.25”

In a class by itself.

Infinity® herbicide is the only Group 27 and controls the toughest broadleaf weeds across the Canadian prairies, even if they are resistant to other herbicide classes. Powerful and technologically advanced, Infinity represents the first new mode of action in cereals for over 20 years, providing the highest degree of yield protection for your wheat and barley. For more information please visit: BayerCropScience.ca/Infinity

C-52-02/12-BCS11083-E

T:15.5”

Always read and follow label directions. Infinity® is a registered trademark of Bayer. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

B:15.5”

S:15.5”

BayerCropScience.ca/Infinity or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative.

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

MYTH

FACT

To get the benefit of superior weed control, I have to put up with glyphosate tolerant volunteers.

Genuity® Roundup Ready® systems, with some of the highest yielding canola hybrids AND superior weed control, now also come with effective and economical solutions for managing volunteers. Don’t compromise. Get all the yield potential plus superior weed control of Genuity Roundup Ready systems, without the worry of volunteers. Managing volunteers is easy by following good agronomic practices including the use of an effective tank mix in your pre-seed burnoff. In particular, Heat® herbicide, ahead of peas, lentils, oats, wheat, barley, soybeans and corn, and 2,4-D ahead of wheat and barley are two of the most effective and economical tank mix partners with glyphosate, and can significantly improve the control of glyphosate tolerant volunteers. Visit www.roundup.ca and click on “Weed Management” for more information. Leave the myths behind. See your local retailer for details, or go to www.genuitycanola.ca.

Individual results may vary, and performance may vary from location to location and from year to year. This result may not be an indicator of results you may obtain as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible. Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through StewardshipSM (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. This product has been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through StewardshipSM is a service mark of Excellence Through Stewardship. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Tank mixtures: The applicable labeling for each product must be in the possession of the user at the time of application. Follow applicable use instructions, including application rates, precautions and restrictions of each product used in the tank mixture. Monsanto has not tested all tank mix product formulations for compatibility or performance other than specifically listed by brand name. Always predetermine the compatibility of tank mixtures by mixing small proportional quantities in advance. Genuity®, Genuity and Design®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup WeatherMAX®, and Roundup® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC, Monsanto Canada, Inc. licensee. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2012 Monsanto Canada, Inc.

10460C-GEN Myth Ads-Grainews.indd 4

3/6/12 9:32 AM

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

 WATCH THIS

INSECT FORECAST VIDEO AVAILABLE ONLINE

embers of the Bashaw Seed Cleaning Co-op had no idea how a colour sorter would change their business when they purchased their machine in September 2009. The co-op spent $230,000 on the machine, and another $70,000 for installation, because seed problems such as ergot were becoming increasingly common. “Our expected payback was about four years, but it just so happened that the ergot situation was extreme so in about 18 months we had it paid for,” said plant manager Bill Sinclair. The colour sorter has increased the viability of the seed cleaning plant, and they have hired more staff. “We offer better services and longer hours, but unfortunately we find ourselves limited with 24 hours in a day and we can’t go any faster,” Sinclair said. The co-op was the first in the province to obtain such equipment, which is useful when sorting for ergot, seed cleaning and in malt barley preparation. Seeds flow in three chutes past six cameras, which take images of the seed and eject ones that do not fit accepted parameters. “When the machine is set up, you train it to accept everything similar to what you’ve programmed it for, so it only looks for things that aren’t the same, which eliminates a lot of the

Pioneer brand CORn hybrids for Alberta

proving ground.

AF STAFF | BASHAW

processing time,” said Sinclair. “You don’t have to look at every kernel. You only look at the things that are different.” Operators program an acceptable range of seed characteristics into the machine and the sorter identifies it. Seeds are ejected for being too light, too dark or green. Eventually, the co-op wants to upgrade its software to sort for shape as well. Dust and dirt are big problems in colour sorters and seed needs to be cleaned before it goes through. “The machines are set up so they wipe out dust particles on a regular basis because if they see the dust particle, it assumes it’s something it should be shooting out,” said Sinclair. The machine can process about 10 tonnes an hour. In addition to the normal dockage fee, members pay an additional five cents a bushel for colour sorting. The goal was to make the service affordable for all. Demand has been so high that it has sometimes interfered with the seed cleaning business, so the co-op is in the process of buying another portable colour sorter that can be taken to farms to test seed. The new machine will be able to filter a larger capacity for dockage work and should be paid off in about four months. “Normally we were a 400,000-bushel plant and we did around 900,000 the first year. We calculated our gains on the total volume gain versus what we were able to do,” Sinclair said. He said he is an advocate for colour

The colour sorter can spit out the ergot-contaminated seeds shown in this sample. PHOTOS: ALEXIS KIENLEN

Operators program an acceptable range of seed characteristics into the machine and the sorter identifies it. sorting and believes the machine should be part of every seed-cleaning operation.

“Our expected payback was about four years, but it just so happened that the ergot situation was extreme so in about 18 months we had it paid for.” BILL SINCLAIR

The

BY ALEXIS KIENLEN

but plant manager says every seed-cleaning business should have one

Roundup Ready is a registered trademark used under license from Monsanto Company. All purchases are subject to the terms of labelling and purchase documents. ®, TM, SM Trademarks and service marks licensed to Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited. © 2011 PHL.

GAME CHANGER  The co-op was first in the province to obtain such equipment

Colour sorter changes seed-cleaning business

www.pioneer.com/yield

Alberta Agriculture has posted a 16-minute video with insect management specialist Scott Meers providing the 2012 insect forecasts. It includes reviews of surveys for several major and minor insect crops. To view the video either visit the Alberta Insect Pest Monitoring Network page on Ropin’ The Web, or visit YouTube and search for Alberta Insect Forecast Overview 2012.

For all of your corn growing needs, call your local Pioneer Hi-Bred sales representative. They are ready to help you select the best seed products for each of your acres.

PR2154 v1 AFE_39F44_CPS.indd 1

2000 Heat Units

2050 Heat Units

Ultra-early platform especially suited for Alberta. Very good silage characteristics and stress emergence score.

Early hybrid with very good yield potential for maturity. Balanced agronomic package and very good root strength.

08/11/11 3:04 PM

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Researcher tests new way to grow plants and fish at home CLOSED LOOP } New-generation LED lighting is giving a new boost to aquaponics by alexis kienlen af staff | edmonton

One of Savidov’s current experiments is testing different ratios between blue and red LED lights for optimal plant growth. photo: Alexis Kienlen

ot a hankering to go farming in your basement? Odd as that sounds, it may actually be possible thanks to aquaponics — a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics — and new-generation LED lighting. The potential has Nick Savidov excited. “Integrated farming is becoming a reality,” said the senior research scientist with Alberta Agriculture at Edmonton’s Crop Diversification Centre North. The scientist has been researching aquaponics systems for more than 20 years, but only started working with LED lights three

years ago. In aquaponic systems, water and waste from the fish tank is circulated to plants being grown hydroponically. The plant roots absorb the fish waste and the cleansed water is sent back to the fish tank in a partially closedloop system (you still need to supply fish food). “There is no need to balance it because the system balances itself,” said Savidov. “When you feed the fish, bacteria help to produce a balanced system.” Using LED growing lights have a couple of advantages. First, they have a narrow spectrum so finite adjustments are easier to make, and since they do not give off heat, they can be brought closer to the plants. The artificial lighting also means such a system could be set up in a basement, producing both

T:8.125”

the main course and salad greens to go with it. “Every house can get a system like this,” said Savidov. They are also suitable for greenhouses because stacking trays of plants above the fish tank saves space. Plants can produce 20 to 30 per cent more yield in aquaponics, compared to hydroponics. One of Savidov’s current experiments is testing different ratios between blue and red LED lights for optimal plant growth. He has tested about 60 different crops in the aquaponics system, and has grown micro-greens, bedding plants, vegetables, and transplants. These systems can also be certified organic if fertilizer is not added when the plants are started. Transplants grow faster in aquaponics because mychorrhizae — fungal organisms that promote nutrient uptake by roots — cultivate easily in this type of system. Fish are fed standard fish feed, using automatic feeders. Fish that can grow in the system include tilapia, trout, and Australian sea bass. “The idea is to make it as carefree as possible,” said Savidov.

NEWS China’s “Feed King” calls for opening corn trade by niu shuping and lucy hornby

hina should fully liberalize its corn trade, according to the founder of the country’s largest private agricultural business. China currently maintains a quota system over grains imports in an attempt to grow almost all of its grains domestically. But as meat consumption rises, feed companies are increasingly chafing against the restrictions. “Why can’t China distinguish between grains for people and feed grains, and liberalize the market for feed grains?” asked Liu Yonghao, head of the New Hope Group, the largest consumer of corn in China. “China should allow imports and exports, and encourage more feed and meat production here.” China gave up trying to grow all of its soybean consumption over a decade ago, and now imports about two-thirds the soybeans it needs for cooking oil and feed. But policy-makers still insist on a target of growing at home about 95 per cent of the country’s consumption of other grains, as a matter of national security — despite arguments this requires a lot of land and water, and is less efficient than importing them. China imported some 1.75 million tonnes of corn in 2011 after becoming a net corn importer in 2010.

T:10”

The complete solution. Grassy and broadleaf, wheat and barley, no tank mixing. For more information, please visit BayerCropScience.ca/Tundra

BayerCropScience.ca/Tundra or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative. Always read and follow label directions. Tundra™ is a trademark of Bayer. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

C-59-03/12-BCS11082-E

beijing / reuters

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Grain bags OK for canola — if it’s dry Moisture } Research shows canola bagged at 14 per cent is susceptible to damage By Daniel Winters

staff / Brandon, Manitoba

rain bags have a lot of attractive features, but are they good for storing canola? The answer is both yes and no, says Digvir Jayas, a University of Manitoba professor. “They market these bags as sealed, air tight, but our research shows that they are not as air tight as the companies would have us believe,” said Jayas, in a recorded video presentation at a recent Manitoba Canola Growers Association workshop. Keeping the bags air tight is critical for bagged storage because trapped carbon dioxide emitted by the canola keeps it fresh. Jayas emphasized that the bags, first developed in Argentina 20 years ago, were designed to store dry grain for short durations. Based on experiments conducted last winter, he found that 20-tonne bags of canola filled at eight per cent moisture survived more or less intact for 10 months.

Moisture matters

At 10 per cent moisture, there was some spoilage in the top layer, but he estimated that it could last as long as six months in the bags with little damage. But at 14 per cent, the grain suffered heavily from the effects of mould, insects and rodents, problems which became noticeable after eight weeks. The grain at the lower moisture percentages was “free flowing” and

easily handled by the extractor. But the 14 per cent canola was badly caked, riddled with vermin colonies, had to be removed with a front-end loader tractor, and was livestockfeed quality at best. “You should not be storing canola in these bags at 14 per cent moisture content under Manitoba conditions,” said Jayas. Grain bags, typically nine to 10 feet in diameter and up to 250 feet long, are pitched by marketers as a handy alternative to fixed metal bin storage, offering airtight, temporary in-field storage for times when bumper crops overflow storage capacity, or for niche and identity-preserved crops that need to be segregated.

Disagrees

Aaron Yaeger of Humboldt-based Grain Bags Canada, who has been using them on his own farm and selling the devices since 2005, disagreed with Jayas’ findings. “I don’t agree with that. We’ve done 14 per cent and even up to 15 per cent canola for years on our farm. Hundreds of farmers in Saskatchewan could prove that wrong,” he said, following a grain bag demonstration at the MCGA workshop. “If you have a properly closed bag, the grain is a living entity and it will consume the oxygen. For grain to spoil, it needs oxygen.” Yaeger added that if suitable precautions are taken to seal the bag, such as piling a sloped layer of dirt on top of the both ends, and taking steps to prevent ravens from pecking holes in the top, canola packed at 14 per cent moisture at harvest

Sign here:

This important message brought to you by:

Aaron Yaeger, of Grain Bags Canada, gives tips on how to store grain in bags at a recent canola growers’ workshop. photo: Daniel Winters should be good until the following summer.

Different methods

In Jayas’ experiment, he noted that the bag was sealed with boards nailed together, and claimed that method could have allowed water to infiltrate. Mice haven’t been a big problem, nor have deer, but ravens are the bag users’ worst nightmare. “If they do come, and you shoot one, you hang the dead bird up near the bag. Then nobody’s coming,” said Yaeger. He added that he has stored oats in bags for up to three years with only limited spoilage. But having that storage alternative meant that he could wait for the price to climb

“You should not be storing canola in these bags at 14 per cent moisture content under Manitoba conditions.” Digvir Jayas

from $1.40 to $3.50 before taking it to town. Also, conventional bin storage allows grain to dry out, which means that precious tonnage is lost. Bags, in his opinion, are superior because they don’t allow the grain to breathe. “If you put grain in a bag for

I, _____________________________________

three months, the bag ends up being free, because you didn’t have any shrinkage,” said Yaeger. Also, apart from the lower fixed costs and flexibility offered by bags, their narrow diameter allows the grain to cool in as little as a few days, rather than well into the winter.

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Vehicles a major culprit in spread of invasive weeds STOWAWAYS  Weed seeds travel to faraway places on cars, trucks and ATVs WEED SCIENCE SOCIETY OF AMERICA RELEASE

ATVs taken off the beaten path are at special risk for spreading weeds.

hen you take your fourwheel drive out for a spin this fall, you might be bringing home more than memories. Researchers at Montana State University have found that vehicles are routinely transporting invasive weed seeds. Seeds can stow away on tires, bumpers, wheel wells or the underside of a vehicle and sometimes travel great distances before falling off in a new locale. As weed seeds sprout and grow, they can crowd out native plants, disrupt native ecosystems and wildlife habitats and reduce crop yields when they spread to nearby fields.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

The only non-residual burndown for canola and pulses.

CleanStart

from Nufarm

A better burn can impact what you earn.

Being poor competitors, early weed pressure can diminish yield potential in canola and pulse crops. As the only non-residual high-performance burndown herbicide, CleanStart® can play a role in your overall management strategy – providing control above and beyond glyphosate.

“Take a look at the many types of weeds growing along most any roadside and you’ll get a big clue about the role vehicles play,” says Lisa Rew, PhD, a member of the Weed Science Society of America and an assistant professor at Montana State University. “With an estimated four million miles of roads crisscrossing the U.S. and an estimated 256 million registered vehicles, even a few weed seeds per car can make a significant impact on the spread of weeds.” Montana State researchers measured the number of seeds picked up by a variety of vehicles and the distance travelled before the seeds fell off.

“Take a look at the many types of weeds growing along most any roadside and you’ll get a big clue about the role vehicles play.” LISA REW WEED SCIENCE SOCIETY OF AMERICA

Key findings:

• Seed volume is seasonal. The study showed thousands more seeds per mile were transported by vehicles during the fall than in the spring. • Moisture matters. Wet conditions make it easier for seeds to be picked up by a vehicle — and easier for them to drop off miles down the road. Tests conducted at military installations showed Humvees picked up 14 times more seeds when conditions were wet, while tanks picked up 26 times more. • Distance is no barrier. The distances seeds can travel may be surprising. When researchers examined vehicles over several distance intervals, they found even at the 160-mile mark many seeds stayed attached. “If seeds are lodged in mud that dries on the vehicle, they can travel almost indefinitely, or at least until it rains again and the road surface is wet,” Rew says. • Off-road travel increases the risk. Outdoor sports enthusiasts trucking to remote trailheads or riding ATVs off the beaten path are at special risk for spreading weeds. Researchers found vehicles picked up almost 20 times more seeds off trail than on trail.

• Controls spring-germinating dandelions, ALL volunteer canola and kochia. • Burns off all emerged weeds controlled by glyphosate. • Superior speed. 1-800-868-5444

www.nufarm.ca

Buy and Sell

anything you need through the

Leaders in off-patent solutions.

1-888-413-3325

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Successful short line facing uncertain future WHAT’S NEXT? } Wheat board is “the big reason this works,” says grains manager for Battle River Railway by alexis kienlen af staff | edmonton

he Battle River Railway has been operating since 2008, but its operators aren’t sure how the line will adapt after changes to the wheat board. The BRR covers 50.5 miles of track, from Cairon to Alliance, and has rights on eight miles of track from Cairon into Camrose. Towns along the route include Kelsey, Roseland, Heisler, Forestburg, Galahad and Alliance. Area producers want to keep the former branch line operating because it means shorter hauls and no waiting in line, BRR grains manager Matt Enright told attendees at FarmTech. “It’s really attractive to the local community, rather than hauling their grain up on the highway,” said Enright, who also operates a 2,100-acre grain farm near Rosalind. The business is volume based, so if the railway moves more cars, the cost per car decreases. BRR operators are concerned that changes to the CWB will mean fewer cars shipped. Forestburg is the most developed site, with 15 hopper bins for storage and a working grain elevator. Other businesses have negotiated with the short line to do business that is mutually beneficial. A crop management group has set up six tanks in Kelsey to hold liquid fertilizer brought in from Manitoba. The group wanted

to build there because it could get track side space, which it wouldn’t be able to get if it negotiated with CP or CN. The BRR started as the Battle River Producer Group in 2003, the same year CN threatened to discontinue this section of the line. The group organized to assemble 50-car blocks so they could get service from CN. At the peak, the producer group was running 650 cars a year. As the number rose, the number of cars required by CN rose as well.

“The wheat board will still be there, but there’s just another hoop we have to jump through to get the contract from the wheat board first. It could end up being very good, or not very good for us, we just don’t know right now.”

New-generation co-op

In 2008, the Alliance branch line went up for sale. The producer car group formed the Battle River New Generation Co-operative, raising about $3.5 million through the sale of shares and negotiating a mortgage with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, a provincial Crown corporation. There are four classes of membership within the co-op. Some classes of members are allowed to vote and control the organization, others get preferred freight rates, and others have investment shares that pay annual dividends. When the line is working, operators go to Camrose, get the empty cars and bring them along the line. They have 48 hours to return the full cars to CN, or they risk paying a fee. Enright said having an independent line has resulted in better service and co-ordination with CN, as well as co-ordination with the various different loaders. “The service has improved

Area producers want to keep the former branch line operating because it means shorter hauls and no waiting in line. greatly. You know if there’s a delay in the cars as soon as CN and I know,” said Enright. The co-op also received a grant from the Rural Development Fund to implement a custom-blending program. “When producers load their grain into a car, they know what grade they’re going to get paid for that week,” Enright said. “The protein, dockage and weight of that car is still determined at port, so it’s CGC determined.” Samples are collected and sent for grading, then in-house software calculates the best blend possible for grain, taking into consideration initial payments, protein levels and different characteristics of the grain.

“This is essentially what the elevator does for you. But we like to think that it’s transparent and we are giving you the best possible deal that we can,” Enright said. The co-op then builds composite trains. “We build 25- to 50-car blocks of No. 1 CWRS, so the block when graded as a whole, grades No. 1,” Enright said. Each car, as well as the composite train, is graded. “The big reason this works is that the wheat board is our partner and it makes it happen at the port end,” he said. “It works with Prince Rupert Grain, which is where all the composites go, to make this happen.” It’s not clear what will happen

Matt Enright

once the wheat board loses its monopoly, he said. “The wheat board will still be there, but there’s just another hoop we have to jump through to get the contract from the wheat board first. It could end up being very good, or not very good for us, we just don’t know right now.”

Growing De-registered Varieties Could Cost You $400,000! if you signed this mandatory Declaration of eligibility affidavit at the elevator, you made a legal assertion that your canola is registered. if it isn’t, you can be held liable for the costs associated with contamination of a bin or shipment – up to $400,000. in a business where the presence of de-registered varieties can make or break a multi-million dollar deal, you can be sure that the companies you sell to are actively checking and tracing all deliveries. So don’t make the mistake of growing de-registered varieties. it can cost you more than you think.

Are you export ready? For a list of de-registered varieties go to www.canolacouncil.org

DELIVERY OF GRAINS AND OILSEEDS DECLARATION OF ELIGIBILITY

I, _____________________________________ DO SOLEMNLY DECLARE AND AGREE THAT: Any and all deliveries of grains and/or oilseeds made by me or on my behalf to the Grain Handling Company are eligible varieties for delivery for the commodity type of grain and/or oilseed for which payment is being requested in accordance with the Canada Grain Act, Seeds Act, and all Regulations and Orders made pursuant to those Acts (collectively, the “Acts”).

This important message brought to you by:

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Ottawa “modernizing” the grain commission Changes } Proposals include ending mandatory inward inspection

and replacing the commissioners with a president-CEO By Allan Dawson staff

Canadian Grain Commission chief commissioner Elwin Hermanson says with the many changes to Canada’s grain industry the commission and Canada Grain Act need to be “modernized.” photo: Allan Dawson Governance and mandate

Most are similar to those previously announced in failed bills C-39 and C-13. However, there are some new ones, including how the commission is governed. Currently it’s overseen by three commissioners, including a chief and an assistant chief. Traditionally, there’s a commissioner from each Prairie province, with one or two being farmers and one from the grain trade. The commission is proposing a single president-

CEO replace the commissioners. The commission wants its mandate changed. The current grain act says “... in the interests of the grain producers, establish and maintain standards of quality for Canadian grain and regulate grain handling in Canada, to ensure a dependable commodity for domestic and export.” The commission says its mandate should take the interests of the country as a whole, including grain producers, into account.

Drop role

The commission says it will maintain official grain commission outward inspection from licensed terminal and transfer elevators, except for grain destined to the United States. The commission wants to drop its role as the official weigher of outward-bound grain and have

commission-accredited parties do it. The commission wants more options, such as levying fines, to enforce legislation, Hermanson said. Currently, the commission has to go to court or suspend or pull a company’s licence. Currently licensed grain companies must post security to cover what they owe farmers. The commission monitors the companies, trying to ensure security matches farmer liabilities. Still, sometimes farmers aren’t fully reimbursed when companies fail. Hermanson said insurance is easier to administer and cheaper. In 2010, consulting firm Scott Wolfe Management estimated the commission’s security program cost the industry a total of $9 million a year — $1.4 million for commission administration, $1 million for grain buyer administration and $6.6 million for companies to post security. Based on 40 million tonnes of grain, that’s an average cost of 23 cents a tonne. “Payment security is considered a minor cost to most grain companies, recognizing that it is relatively a more significant cost to individual small grain companies participating in large transactions,” Scott Wolfe’s report said. “Differences in costs between the varying tools and mechanisms to be considered would be not sig-

CONTINUEd ON NEXT PAGE }

International trading offices and ext ensive processing capabilities means we can find the best market opportu nities for western Canadian produc ers.

ADVICE

OPPORTUNITIES

ACCESS

he Canadian Grain Commission is on the federal government’s radar — again. Last month the commission announced its latest proposals for “modernizing” itself, and the Canada Grain Act it administers. The public has until March 23 to respond. The commission, established in 1912, is Canada’s grain industry watchdog, ensuring the quality of grain exports, arbitrating grade disputes between farmers and buyers, licensing grain companies and ensuring buyers post security to cover what farmers are owed. The commission’s list of “key areas under consideration,” on its website (www.grainscanada.gc.ca) doesn’t mention the doubling of user fees, which the commission proposed in December 2010. “Our projections are that new user fees, at whatever level they happen to be — whether they are fully cost recovered or whether there is some public good included — would come into effect most likely at the beginning of the 2013 crop year,” chief commission Elwin Hermanson said in an interview March 1. “It’s all subject to adjustment and change.” Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says a decision on fees will be decided after reviewing feedback on the other proposed changes.

Ritz has said the commission should drop its producer security program. Most farm groups reject that and that is reflected in the commission’s latest proposal. However, instead of continuing the program with companies posting security, the commission wants an insurance program. As in previous proposals, the commission suggested eliminating mandatory inward inspection and weighing at licensed terminal and transfer elevators. “A lot of grain is (moved) intracompany,” Hermanson said. It’s hard to justify mandatory inward inspection when a company is shipping its own grain from one of its facilities to another, he said. However, inward inspection makes sense when one company is shipping grain to another’s facilities. In such cases companies could request inward inspection, Hermanson said. But the commission wants the inspections done by parties accredited by the commission.

viterra.ca

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

from previous page } nificant. Cost is not likely to be the key decision factor in determining viable options.” Another consulting firm, COMPAS Inc., concluded in a 2006 report that since grain is Canada’s third-largest export, the government should cover all the commission’s basic costs. The grain commission is supposed to be self-funding over time, but user fees have been frozen since 1991. Currently only about half of its $80-million budget comes from fees. Ottawa covers the rest. In a discussion paper released in December 2010, the commission said it expects its annual budget will soon hit $90 million and it wants to get all of it — $50 million a year more — from user fees. To do that fees will have to more than double to an average of $1.80 a tonne from 70 cents. In 1999, the commission proposed fee increases to cover 90 per cent of its costs. The Liberal government rejected the idea. Since then grain prices have risen dramatically and so has the government’s deficit. cgc deadline The deadline for responding to the proposed changes to the Canadian Grain Commission is March 23, 2012. All comments may also be made public and posted on the Canadian Grain Commission’s website as part of the feedback process. Submit comments by email (legislation@grainscanada. gc.ca), by fax at (204) 9830248, or by mail to: Canada Grain Act Comments Canadian Grain Commission 600 – 303 Main Street Winnipeg, Man. R3C 3G8AF

Grain commission defended Necessary } CGC will provide stability after the wheat board monopoly ends, says Elwin Hermanson By Allan Dawson staff

ith the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly soon to disappear there’s talk of overhauling Canada’s qualitycontrol system, which begs the question: is the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) still needed? “The short answer is yes, there is a need for the grain commission,” chief commissioner Elwin Hermanson said in an interview March 1. “If anything I think we’re even more needed. We’re a bit of an island of stability in a shifting industry. There will be new entities marketing wheat and barley and it’s good that the commission is the constant that licenses those people so they have to abide by certain rules and protect producers and so the grading is consistent. I think that underscores the need for the CGC.” Critics say Canada produces Lincoln wheat for a world that wants more Fords. Hermanson says Canada can provide both, and grading and quality control don’t get in the way. “Customers prefer the Canadian grading system, not necessarily because we have the Lincolns, but simply because we’re the reliable suppliers,” he said. “If it’s No. 4 CWRS we’re selling, it has the same quality year after year after year. There’s a consistency that’s an advantage to Canada in the marketplace.” Canada’s grading system isn’t static as some assume. It’s adjusted to meet farmer and end user needs by the Grain Standards Committee, which is made up of farm, grain company and commission representatives, Hermanson said.

But it didn’t manage to make snowmen

Dwayne Goreniuk took this photo of “snow rollers” in a field southeast of Smoky Lake on Feb. 21. Wikipedia says snow rollers are a rare meteorological phenomenon in which large snowballs are formed naturally as chunks of snow are blown along the ground by wind, picking up material along the way, in much the same way that the large snowballs used in snowmen are made. The following conditions are needed for snow rollers to form: • The ground must be covered by a layer of ice to which snow will not stick. • The layer of ice must be covered by wet, loose snow with a temperature near the melting point of ice. • The wind must be strong enough to move the snow rollers, but not strong enough to blow them too fast. • Alternatively, gravity can move the snow rollers as when a snowball, such as those that will fall from a tree or cliff, lands on a steep hill and begins to roll down the hill.

“I certainly wouldn’t want to throw out our grading system because quite frankly if you place it side by side with the American system I would argue that ours is a better system,” he said. “We’re not unique or have some onerous grading system that the rest of the world is shocked about. In fact a lot of times the rest of the world is envious and our customers appreciate what we have.” The grading system is also flex-

ible, allowing companies to sell based on customer specifications, such as moisture, protein or falling number, Hermanson said. Canada’s wheat-classification system also serves farmers and end-users well, he said. If American varieties, after two or three years of testing, meet Canadian agronomic, disease and end-use standards they can be registered and grown here, he said. “It’s not like the door is barred to that opportunity,” he said. “It’s

just a matter of seeing if it fits our environment.” Most other grain-exporting countries have grading systems and quality control, Hermanson said. They’re needed to be competitive. “Australia has been strengthening its grain-quality assurance through Grain Quality Australia,” he added. “There had been a of gap when they lost the Australian Wheat Board, which was responsible for a lot of grain-quality assurance.”

We’re the Real Deal. AFSC is Alberta’s Farm & Business Lender. Patrick & Cherylynn Bos Bos Farms & Rock Ridge Dairy, Ponoka AB

Here at AFSC, we’re real people working on real lending solutions in your community. We are proud to help Alberta producers like Patrick and Cherylynn Bos find unique financial solutions to grow their operation. Call today and ask about the lending product that’s right for you.

1-877-899-AFSC (2372)

www.AFSC.ca

WF MK - 6 x 6.625 -_AGI 12-02-22 5:13 PM Page 1

BIGGER Stronger faster

The MK130Plus Auger The heavy-duty MK130Plus is built tough to take on the biggest of jobs. Constructed with heavier gauge tube and flighting than our other models, the MK130Plus offers more years of dependable, high-capacity performance. Call your local Westfield dealer today! 1-866-467-7207

www.grainaugers.com

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Iowa penalizes animal rights activists Ag Gag } Opponents criticize law which would

fine activists who enter farms in false pretences By Kay Henderson

des moines, iowa/reuters

I Are you having trouble managing your farm debt? We can help. Mediation may be the solution. The Farm Debt Mediation Service helps insolvent farmers overcome financial difficulties by offering financial counselling and mediation services. This free and confidential service has been helping farmers get their debt repayment back on track since 1998. Financial consultants help prepare a recovery plan, and qualified mediators facilitate a mutually acceptable financial repayment arrangement between farmers and creditors. To obtain more information about how the Farm Debt Mediation Service can help you: Call: 1-866-452-5556

Visit: www.agr.gc.ca/fdms

owa Governor Terry Branstad has signed a bill that could result in penalties on animal rights activists who pose as employees or attempt to get inside agricultural production facilities in other ways to expose possible animal cruelty. The law, labelled “Ag Gag” by opponents, has outraged a leading animal rights group known for its controversial tactics to expose animal cruelty, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which said it may mount a court challenge and threatened a possible boycott of Iowa. Iowa action could set a precedent for other agricultural states as it is the largest U.S. producer of corn and soybeans, has the largest number of hogs and the sixth-largest cattle herd. “If somebody comes on somebody else’s property through fraud or deception or lying, that is a serious violation of people’s rights and people should be held

“This is going to come back to haunt Iowa agriculture more than they could ever imagine.” Dan Mathews PETA

accountable for that,” Branstad told reporters on Monday. The adoption of penalties in Iowa follows a series of cases where animal rights activists gained entrance to what they call “factory farms,” including chicken and egg, hog and cattle production and processing facilities. In one recent example, McDonald’s stopped buying from egg supplier Sparboe after an undercover investigation by the animal rights group Mercy for Animals found dead hens in cages and live chicks discarded in plastic bags along with dead ones. Sparboe had unwittingly hired a Mercy activist to work at its facility. Such actions have also prompted food companies to reconsider suppliers who confine hens laying eggs in small cages and sows in crates while they are nursing piglets. “This is going to come back to haunt Iowa agriculture more than they could ever imagine,” said Dan Mathews, PETA’s senior vicepresident. “Iowa has singled itself out as the state with the most to be ashamed of and I don’t think that is a very strong message to send to consumers.” Branstad said the new law would not affect whistleblowers, employees who see something and report it. “Agriculture is an important part of our economy and farmers should not be subjected to people doing illegal, inappropriate things and being involved in fraud and deception in order to try to disrupt agricultural operations,” Branstad said.

stephens awarded

Dennis Stephens, a consultant to the Canada Grains Council, was recently awarded the North American Export Grain Association’s Amstutz Award for exceptional accomplishment and distinguished leadership in free trade and promotion of agriculture. This is the first time the award has gone to a nonU.S. citizen. Stephens was the first executive director of the Canadian International Grains Institute, a former assistant deputy minister at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and is currently secretary of the International Grain Trade Coalition (IGTC), which represents the commercial interests of the grain industry worldwide.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Prevention key to avoiding sheep “abortion storm” Heavy losses } Getting the wrong bug at the wrong time can lead to heavy losses at lambing time By Daniel Winters

staff/portage la prairie, man.

bortions happen in all livestock species, but with sheep, a lambing season can under some circumstances turn into a fullblown “abortion storm.” The reason, said Dr. Chris Clark, an assistant professor at the University of Saskatchewan, is that 80 per cent of sheep abortions are caused by highly infectious agents, and character traits that tend to make the problem worse. “In cattle, it’d be unlikely to see a five per cent abortion rate. In sheep, get the wrong bug at the wrong time and you can up to 60 per cent abortions,” said Clark, in a presentation on sheep biosecurity at the recent Manitoba Sheep Association annual general meeting.

“Chlamydiophila is really in a category all by itself. This is a pure abortion disease.” Chris Clark

“In my whole career, that has only ever happened once. But it can be very bad.” Ewes just before lambing will crowd around and lick a dead fetus and amniotic fluid due to maternal instincts. If a bug is present in that material, they ingest it and pass it on to the entire flock. The most common cause of sheep abortions in Western Canada is chlamydiophila abortus, also known as enzootic abortion in ewes or EAE. “Chlamydiophila is really in a category all by itself. This is a pure abortion disease. It is common, easy to get onto your farm, very hard to control, and can cause problems for years,” said Clark. Typically occurring in the last two weeks of pregnancy, it has very clear characteristics. Ewes look “100 per cent” healthy, but go into labour early and abort the fetus. Lambs look normal, if somewhat small, and some may survive for short periods in a very weakened state due to inadequate lung development. The placenta may provide clues. Normally, it looks like clear poly wrap covered with “buttons.” With chlamydiophila, the area between the buttons may be cloudy or thickened, leathery and yellow in about 30 per cent of cases.

Both fetus and placenta must be sent to the lab for effective diagnosis, he added.

Long-term

Typically, the disease plays out over two years. No signs are evident until lambing time, when one of the new replacement ewes aborts. That’s because the ewe can carry the bug in a dormant state through breeding and pregnancy up until two weeks before lambing. The pathogen is then spread to the rest of the flock via contact with the infected fetus or placenta, and through vaginal discharge for up to two months afterwards. The other sheep pick up the bug, but go on to lamb normally that year. The next year, 10-15 per cent of the flock may abort. The good news is that apart from that one abortion, infected ewes develop lifelong immunity to the disease. “If a ewe aborts, get the ewe, the lamb and placenta out of the pen, and if you know where she lambed, dig that bedding up,” said Clark. If an operation is at risk for EAE, a vaccine should be given to new ewes before breeding. For older ewes, a booster is enough. It doesn’t work on already infected ewes, because they will still abort. Buying replacements in the form of young, virgin ewe lambs is not a fail-safe, because they may have picked up the disease while young and abort on their first pregnancy.

Don’t panic

For producers in the midst of what seems like a disaster, he advises them not to panic. Even if 30 per cent of the lamb crop has been lost to abortions two weeks ahead of the anticipated lambing date, as the rest of the ewes come to full term, live lambs will start arriving. “That two weeks before lambing when ewes are aborting is soul-destroying, but things will improve,” he said. For flocks of less than 50 head, an abortion storm may be “dampened” by injecting long-acting oxytetracycline every five days. The drug is not registered for sheep, so a veterinary prescription is necessary. Larger flocks are better treated with medicated feed. Rams don’t get infected, but could spread it on their penis from an infected ewe to another ewe. Chlamydiophila is transmissible to humans, so pregnant women and small children should avoid contact with sheep at risk. Don’t bring weakened lambs into the kitchen for nursing, he added. Biosecurity is critical to profitable shepherding, said Clark. Lambing out replacements their first year in a separate pen is a good idea, if economically possible.

Sponsored by your local AGROTAIN® nitrogen stabilizer representative

Nitrogen Miser At a cost of pennies per pound, AGROTAIN® nitrogen stabilizer is both cost- and yield-effective By Earl Greenhough Earl Greenhough

From target-specific herbicides to hybrids with bioengineered traits to yield mapping, corn production has become more high-tech than ever. But sometimes, the best tool a grower can use is an oldfashioned pencil. Every producer knows it’s getting more expensive just to get a crop in the ground. Most growers are willing to spend money to make money — but every crop input must show a positive return on investment. Some inputs, such as nitrogen, are essential to making a crop and therefore, non-negotiable. Others, such as AGROTAIN® DRY nitrogen stabilizer, are optional. That’s when it’s time to put the pencil to paper to determine if these inputs not only pay for themselves, but actually increase yields and profits.

AGROTAIN DRY stabilizer added to urea or liquid nitrogen, at a cost of just pennies per pound of N, prevents nitrogen loss into the air, known as volatility, that can reach as high as 30 percent. Making a rescue treatment is expensive, but if lost nitrogen is not replaced, yields could suffer. In either case, growers lose money. By contrast, the average cost for AGROTAIN® DRY stabilizer on urea is around 7-8 cents per pound of applied nitrogen. ®

But even at such a low cost, is AGROTAIN® DRY stabilizer worth the investment? According to research, the average ROI (return on investment)I over the past several years has been at least $3 returned to $1 invested. Plus, because it’s mixed and applied directly with nitrogen,

there are no added costs for equipment or extra passes over the field. Improving nitrogen efficiency, like most other things in farming, comes at a cost. But this cost pays for itself through reduced loss and improved yields. AGROTAIN® DRY stabilizer is not just costeffective. If you have a question for the Nitrogen Miser or would like to get more information about Stabilized Nitrogen Technology, don’t hesitate to contact me at earl.greenhough@kochind.com or 780-721-9894.

AGROTAIN.COM

©2012 Koch Agronomic Services, LLC. All rights reserved. AGROTAIN® is a registered trademark of The Mosaic Company and is licensed exclusively to Koch Agronomic Services, LLC. AGROTAIN® nitrogen stabilizer is manufactured and sold by Koch Agronomic Services, LLC under an exclusive license from The Mosaic Company. 0312-16748-4-AFE

Got wet, Green or heated canola seed?

Don’t blenD it, sell it. We’re Milligan Bio-Tech, Canada’s leading producer of environmentally-friendly bio-diesel and bio-diesel products since 1996. We buy what others won’t. In fact, we’ll take all the non-food grade canola you’ve got, up to 100% damaged. We are a bonded and insured seed buying company with many freight options available. Sell your damaged canola seed today. Call us toll-free at 1-866-388-6284 or visit us at www.milliganbiotech.com. 01/12-18086-02A

18086_02A MBT GotSeedAd_6x6.625.indd 1

Take us with you on your smartphone. Visit agreader.ca/afe today to download the app or text “afe” to 393939 to be sent the link.

1/18/12 11:51 AM

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Biodiesel doubts threaten EU green transport targets BENEFITS QUESTIONED  There is a growing consensus that EU may miss 2020 biofuel targets BY CHARLIE DUNMORE AND IVANA SEKULARAC BRUSSELS/AMSTERDAM / REUTERS

he European Union will almost certainly miss its 2020 targets for cutting transport fuel emissions if policymakers act on scientific warnings about the climate impact of biofuels. Several EU studies have questioned the climate benefits of biodiesel made from European rapeseed and imported palm oil and soybeans, and some have warned that it releases as many climate-warming emissions as conventional diesel. With two-thirds of EU biofuel use in 2020 projected to come from biodiesel, there is a growing consensus that any move to exclude some biodiesel feedstocks, such as the U.S. has proposed in the case of palm oil, would put the goals out of reach. Even if Europe tried to boost its use of bioethanol and advanced biofuels from non-crop sources to make up the shortfall, technical barriers and the EU’s rising thirst for diesel would still leave it short of the mark. “Ethanol and second-generation biofuels could make up the difference, but not by 2020,” Sven-Olov Ericson, a senior energy official at Sweden’s Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications, told Reuters. This realization has played a role in paralyzing EU officials in the drafting of rules based on the studies, with policy proposals from the European Commission already more than a year overdue. Ignoring the warnings could result in a costly biofuel policy with uncertain benefits. Acting on them would wipe out much of

the EU’s 13 billion euro ($17.2 billion) per year biodiesel industry and demand a rethink of transport policy.

Green goals

The EU adopted two laws in 2009 to spur biofuel use. The renewable energy directive requires countries to achieve a 10 per cent share of green energy in road transport by 2020, the vast majority of which will be met using biofuels. The real market driver, however, was the related fuel quality directive, which forces oil companies to cut the carbon content of transport fuels by six per cent by 2020, again chiefly through biofuel blending. Both laws recognized that promoting food-based biofuels would increase global demand for agricultural land and could indirectly drive deforestation and other damaging changes in land use in countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. The EU pressed ahead with its biofuel targets but asked the Commission to assess the risk of “indirect land use change” (ILUC) emissions and propose how to account for them when calculating greenhouse gas savings from biofuels. Indirect land use change (ILUC) refers to the idea that by using food crops to make fuel, farmers will clear forests for new agricultural land to grow the lost tonnes of food, releasing vast additional emissions in the process. The results of those assessments threaten to undermine the EU’s entire biofuel policy, and with it one of the bloc’s main weapons in the fight to cut road transport emissions. If the EU penalises crop-specific biofuels for their estimated ILUC emissions, any incentive for governments and oil firms to promote biodiesel from rapeseed, palm oil and soybeans would disappear.

An employee operates a combine as he harvests oilseed rape at Pelagonija collective farm next to a coal power plant near Bitola, 170 km (106 miles) south of capital Skopje in Macedonia. PHOTO: REUTERS/OGNEN TEOFILOVSKI “If big oil companies can’t reach the six per cent target in the fuel quality directive using biodiesel, they will simply not buy it,” Raffaello Garofalo, secretary general of industry lobby the European Biodiesel Board, said. Producers say the current scientific estimates of ILUC are too uncertain to warrant such a dramatic policy shift. But environmentalists say the EU’s biofuel policy was flawed from the outset, when the decision was taken to press ahead with binding targets despite the scientific uncertainties. “The Commission created this mess, and they should now focus on cleaning it up,” said Nusa Urbancic, fuels campaigner at green transport lobby T&E. She said the EU should instead set tough vehicle-efficiency tar-

gets for 2020. That would be cheaper for consumers than biofuels, which the International Council on Clean Transportation said cost up to 600 euros per tonne of CO2 saved.

Policy tussle

Susan Hansen, an analyst with Dutch bank Rabobank, said the debate surrounding ILUC had created doubts over the EU target. “Consensus is that biodiesel will face more hurdles in complying with ILUC than ethanol,” she said. “It will be a challenge to reach the 10 per cent target by 2020, because according to (governments’) national renewable energy action plans, the EU will be betting on biodiesel primarily.” Sticking with the target would require a huge increase in EU imports of vegetable oil, Hansen

said, adding to demand in countries where expanding palm oil production has been blamed for driving deforestation and other damaging land-use changes. The Commission has already drafted two compromise proposals on ILUC without reaching an agreement on either, reflecting deep internal divisions on the issue. The deal now under discussion would penalize biofuels for their crop-specific ILUC emissions in the fuel-quality law but not the renewable energy directive, removing the incentive for oil companies to buy biodiesel without excluding it entirely. This would be accompanied by new rules in the renewable energy law to limit ILUC, for example by capping the use of crop-based biofuels at 2010 levels.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All From 1 acre to 10,000 – Discover the latest technology to get the work done. FeAturing: • GPS technology and related services (Smart Farming) • Innovative farm and ranch equipment Don’t miss this once-a-year event! ALSO catch the Canadian National College Finals Rodeo* presented by Martin Deerline and the Performance Horse Sale presented by the Alberta Ford Dealers and Masterfeeds plus much more! For more information visit farmandranchshow.com or call 1.877.471.7472.

March 29-31, 2012

*Tickets available for purchase at Ticketmaster.

edmonton eXPO Centre

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Nepal crocodile farm aims to save species Gharials } Known for their long, slim snouts and great length are now close to extinction by gopal sharma

kasara, nepal / reuters

Prem Sharma, the caretaker of the Gharial (Crocodile) Breeding Centre checks on a narrow-snouted crocodile at the T:8.125” Chitwan National Park in Chitwan, southwest from Kathmandu. photo: REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

Slams Wireworms.

You know Raxil® seed treatment as the most effective opponent of smut in wheat, barley and oats. You trust it to have your back against seed- and soil-borne fusarium. And there is no doubt that it is the undisputed champion when it comes to return on investment. So what’s this about Raxil WW? It’s all the above and more. It’s the sworn enemy of the dreaded wireworm. It takes it down and teaches it a lesson it will never get a chance to remember. Ring the bell for Raxil WW. For more information visit: BayerCropScience.ca/Raxil

“If it were not for this, you and I would not be able to see them now. They would have been extinct 15 to 20 years ago.” BayerCropScience.ca/Raxil or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative.

Prem Sharma

Always read and follow label directions. Raxil® is a registered trademark of Bayer. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

C-55-03/12-BCS12047-E

T:10”

s Prem Sharma steps gingerly into the sand-filled chamber, lines of baby crocodiles basking in the warm sunshine splash into a pond, eyes glinting behind their long, thin snouts. Sharma quietly puts his hand into the green water, takes a young reptile from the pool, opens its mouth with a brush and begins to clean its teeth with potash, its thrashing two-foot-long body held under his knee. The activity, repeated every three or four days, is just one example of the tender care lavished on gharial crocodiles at a farm southwest of the Nepali capital of Kathmandu, an effort to save the critically endangered species from extinction. “It has got fungus in its teeth because it feeds on fish,” said Sharma, 45, a senior keeper at the Crocodile Breeding Centre at Kasara, who looks older than his age and has a scar on one knee from a crocodile bite four years ago. “This must be cleaned properly, otherwise the baby will fall sick or even die.” The farm in Chitwan National Park was opened in 1978 by the government with support from the Frankfurt Zoological Society in an effort to save the rapidly dwindling gharial, which is also found in neighbouring India. Six decades ago, gharials — known for their long, slim snouts and great length, as much as seven metres — were numerous in Nepal. But their numbers fell rapidly as they were killed for their skins, used to make purses, shoes and belts, and their eggs stolen for food or as a remedy for tuberculosis. That, along with habitat loss, has confined the crocs to a small area of Nepal’s major rivers. A national census last year found only 102, numbers at which survival in the wild becomes difficult without help — but that was still up from 50 in 1970, Sharma said. The centre has three male and 12 female gharials for breeding. Workers also collect eggs from the wild before the onset of the annual floods in July, raise hatchlings in captivity and then release them into the wild. “If it were not for this, you and I would not be able to see them now. They would have been extinct 15 to 20 years ago,” Sharma said. Young gharials are released into the wild when they are six years old, two metres long, and are able to hunt for themselves for the fish that sustain them. Authorities in Kasara have released 60 young crocodiles into the river over the past two months.

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

European lab promises world’s first test-tube hamburger

Plant-based meat equivalents soon? ISSUE  Researcher says the global food problem is not feeding people, but animals

CULTURED MEAT 

BY TAMARA LEIGH

Advocates say it can be produced with much less water, energy and land use

AAF CONTRIBUTOR/VANCOUVER

BY TAMARA LEIGH

AAF CONTRIBUTOR/VANCOUVER

et ready for the first taste from the “Petri dish platter.” A group of researchers in the Netherlands has announced that the first lab-grown hamburger will be on the grill in October 2012 — at a cost of roughly $300,000. That may not sound hard for beef producers to compete with, but researcher Dr. Mark Post says that as with any other product, cost will decline with volume. He thinks the process can be scaled up to make a commercially viable meat product within five years. The presentation was made at North America’s biggest annual science event, the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting held here last month. Among the sessions available to one of the 5,000-odd attendees was one titled “The Next Agricultural Revolution: Emerging Production Methods for Meat Alternatives.” “There are alternatives to livestock agriculture provided by the medical field,” says Post, head of physiology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. “We have all the technologies needed to take stem cells from animals and grow them in the lab into muscle tissues.” Animal muscle tissue grown in the lab is commonly referred to as “cultured” or “in vitro” meat. The development of technology for producing cultured meat for human consumption has been under development since the early 1950s. “We are looking for efficiency of production and mimicry,” says Post. “It needs to replace meat as we know it.”

Muscle stem cells

The process starts with stem cells harvested from the muscle of a living animal. The cells are fed a serum of sugars, protein, amino acids and fatty acids, and grown out in Petri dishes with anchor points that provide structure for the “muscle” and allows it to be stretched and flexed. To “exercise” the tissue, the cells are zapped with electrical currents to create higher protein production and achieve the typical striated muscle pattern that consumers are used to seeing in their meat. Any steak aficionado will tell you that the flavour is in the fat — something the medical field is usually more concerned about reducing rather than adding. The lab is also cultivating strips of fat that will

Dutch scientist Mark Post displays samples of in vitro or cultured meat grown in a laboratory, at the University of Maastricht Nov. 9, 2011. In vitro meat is an animal flesh product that has never been part of a complete, living animal, and is quite different from imitation meat or meat substitutes, which are vegetarian foods made from vegetable proteins like soy. PHOTO: REUTERS/FRANCOIS LENOIR eventually be blended with the muscle to make a minced meat product. Sound appetizing? One of the biggest concerns for the future of cultured meat is consumer acceptance. There are many who feel that people simply won’t have an appetite for Petri dish protein. Post is not one of them. “If the price is right and we can get a guaranteed quality, then I think the choice will be easily made,” he says. Part of the price will be measured in environmental impact. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has predicted that meat production will need to increase by up to 200 million tonnes per year by 2050 in order to feed the growing demand. Currently, livestock production accounts for 70 per cent of all agricultural land and 30 per cent of the land surface of the planet. The doubling of production will have serious implications for the competition of land, water and other inputs. “The basic issue is that cows and pigs are very inefficient,” says Post. “In vitro meat can be produced with a huge reduction in land, and considerable reduction in water and energy use.”

“The basic issue is that cows and pigs are very inefficient.” MARK POST UNIVERSITY OF MAASTRICHT

More efficient

A paper published in Environmental Science and Technology, performed a life cycle analysis for cultured meat. In comparison to conventionally produced European beef, cultured meat required 45 per cent less energy, 96 per cent lower greenhouse gas emissions, 99 per cent lower land use, and 96 per cent lower water use. The energy advantage drops considerably when cultured meat is compared to other protein sources, particularly poultry, but it still only uses a fraction of the land area and water needed to rear livestock. Post says the laboratory offers other opportunities, including the ability to develop new and healthier product traits, and producing meat from exotic animals or multiple sources. The hamburger will hopefully be the “proof of concept” that Post needs to secure funding to take production to the next level. “We are still growing very small pieces, too small to actually cook right now,” says Post. “We are now gearing up to produce a golf-ball size of this stuff and cook it.” There are still considerable challenges to overcome, largely financial, before Post and his team will realize their goal of a commercial production facility. The project is currently bankrolled by an anonymous private funder, but eventually they are going to need a larger infusion of capital. “Eventually this needs to come from governments and businesses. It’s really a longterm investment,” says Post. “We need quite a bit of resources to work through the variables to make it more efficient and scale it up.”

Livestock agriculture is an obsolete technology, says Stanford researcher, Patrick O. Brown. “Animal farming is by far the biggest ongoing global environmental catastrophe,” says Brown. “It’s an inefficient technology that hasn’t changed for a millennia.” In a presentation to the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting here last month, the researcher and entrepreneur gave a provocative presentation in which he characterized the livestock industry as “a sitting duck for disruptive technology.” When it comes to feeding the world, Brown claims livestock is the real population bomb. The current human population has just surpassed seven billion, but the global livestock population is greater than 21 billion. “Population growth is an issue because humans are carrying a population of livestock that outnumber and outconsume us by a lot,” says Brown. “They are competing with humans for primary nutrients.” Brown argues that the world’s four major commodity crops — corn, wheat, rice and soy — already produce enough food to meet the caloric and protein requirements of the projected world population in 2050. The problem is that many of the food crops currently produced are used for animal feed. “If we could replace animal-derived foods with plant-derived foods, we could free up 26 per cent of Earth’s land surface for other uses, reduce water use and greenhouse gas emissions and reduce pressures on biodiversity,” says Brown. Motivated by a passion for environmental conservation and sustainability, Brown has committed the next phase of his career to developing alternative technologies to compete with meat and dairy products. “If you just look at the chemical and physical characteristics of foods that are traditionally animal-based foods, you find that it is in the repertoire of components that you can get from abundant, cheap plants,” he says Financed by a Silicone Valley venture firm, Brown is developing a grain-based product line that will compete head on with meat and dairy products. He claims to have a product that will satisfy the cravings of even the hardcore meat and cheese lovers. “We have a class of products that totally rocks and cannot be distinguished from animal-based product that it replaces, even by hardcore foodies, and that’s something that we’re now in the process of scaling up so we can manufacture and distribute it,” says Brown. The new products are expected to be available in the United States within a year.

We stand behind our products – and our customers. See our full line of fully backed, value-driven herbicides at www.nufarm.ca Leaders in off-patent solutions.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

CLIENT: SYNGENTA

PROJECT: AXIAL BR

PUBLICAT ALBERTA

DESIGNER PL [

] MECH

FINAL SIZ

UCR: 240%

CLIENT SE

PROOFRE

ART DIRE

PRODUCT

Confidence is doing it right,

from the start.

Confidence is Axial. Let your pride show. Apply Axial for its superior control of the toughest ®

grass weeds in spring wheat and barley. Axial delivers confidence by the bushel. For more information, please contact our Customer Resource Centre at 1-87-SYNGENTA (1-877-964-3682 ) or visit SyngentaFarm.ca

4287-A SYNGENTA Axial Ad.indd 1

12-01-19 6:20 PM

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Beef Talk: Cattle size is different than cow size SHIFTING DEMAND  Small carcasses wanted when supplies are good, large ones when they’re short BY KRIS RINGWALL

BEEF SPECIALIST, NDSU EXTENSION SERVICE

his discussion starts with a very popular topic, which is cattle size. One could say cow, bull or calf size. However, in reality, all cattle have a relevant body size and, like all species, the variation in size is huge. Not only the absolute size, but the shape of the body mass also is very variable. Bone, muscle and fat wrapped in hide make up the container that holds all the other assorted organs and essentials. Remarkably, all living things need to be in biological balance within themselves, so one does not see a huge variance in how cattle are put together. In other words, large, medium and small types tend to have the same working parts and, for all practical considerations, in the same proportion as all members of the herd. That being said, the obvious constraints of larger or smaller cattle rest more with the management of the producer’s system than the actual size of the cattle. However, rest assured that those managerial systems differ widely and those differences are very real and impact the bottom line of any cattle operation. Recently, the Dickinson Research Extension Center started harvesting the 2010-born steers. The data sheets beg the question

whether appropriate cattle size is determined by those who harvest or those who produce. It is a given that those in the middle will accommodate those who harvest and those who produce, if the cattle are healthy and convert feed efficiently. If one reflects on several decades of experience and recommendations on cattle size, one will find very authoritative statements on what is appropriate. In one decade, large carcasses are strongly discouraged and, in the next decade, strongly encouraged. This pattern of changing authoritative opinions always is present when biology and money interact. The bottom line is that beef supplies and the associated demand really drive product need. If the product is short, then larger carcasses are welcomed. The situation right now means the center is marketing larger cattle.

Comparing carcasses

Last September, the center harvested steers at 1,230 pounds live weight. These steers hung on the rail at 747 pounds dressed. A second set of random, similar steers stayed at the ranch all summer and was shipped in the fall. These calves averaged 1,373 pounds live weight and averaged 851 pounds dressed on the rail. The two sets of steers were the same type and all born in the spring of 2010. The heaviest car-

cass in the September group was 890 pounds, while the heaviest carcass in the early January group was 948 pounds. From a producer point of view, the same set of conventional-type cows, bred to typical industry bulls, can produce calves that have an acceptable size at harvest solely determined by managerial protocols. That flexibility is good because producers have considerable leeway in adopting a management package that fits the ranch. What is important is to take note of this neutral zone or, better stated, the range in carcass weights that those who harvest are willing to accept without applying a discount. Market discounts are a money thing and do not reward or penalize various cattle types for biological reasons. Rather, market discounts and premiums reflect short-term (in some cases longterm) anticipated market desires, thus steering producers to produce for an anticipated marketable product. For these two sets of calves, that neutral zone in terms of cattle size was from 550 to 999 pounds hot carcass weight. The industry needs a large spread in harvested acceptable carcass weights to allow for the implementation of regional and local managerial options for raising cattle. From a cattle producer’s perspective, the challenge is in contrast to those who harvest because

CATTLE SIZE

CASE IN POINT

The same set of conventional type cows, bred to typical industry bulls can produce calves that have an acceptable size at harvest solely determined by managerial protocols.

DREC March-April Born Calves Set one - Backgrounded, Spring Feedlot September harvest, 1230 pounds live weight, 747 pounds dressed. Set two - Backgrounded, Summer Grass, Fall Feedlot - January harvest, 1373 pounds live weight, 851 pounds dressed.

cattle size is more than money on the rail. There are real biological and managerial impacts to cow size. Please note that cow size is not cattle size. Production efficiency rests within the cow herd and is land based, not pen based. Therefore, as those who harvest may send signals that larger hot carcass weights are acceptable, those who produce must be careful not to chase the wrong end of the stick. The cow must meet her environment and, as noted earlier, the package is one of bone, muscle and fat that is held together with a good hide. All four must be maintained, as reflected in cow condition, regardless of the feed source. Easier-fleshing cows will

weather the decades of product demand well, but always, even at the producer level, one must be alert to that neutral zone of acceptable hot carcass weight on the rail. If ever, in the days of short supply, the concept of increasing acceptable carcass weights gains momentum by those who harvest, those who produce should beware. Makes one think of the good terminal breeding systems where “cows that fit the producer are bred to the bulls that fit the market.” North Dakota State University Extension Service beef specialist Kris Ringwall writes a weekly column archived at www.BeefTalk.com

T:10.25”

Comes out fighting.

For more information visit: BayerCropScience.ca/Raxil

BayerCropScience.ca/Raxil or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative. Always read and follow label directions. Raxil® is a registered trademark of Bayer. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

C-55-03/12-BCS12047-E

T:7.75”

Raxil® MD is the winner and undisputed seed treatment champion of wheat, barley and oats. Its new micro-dispersion technology provides uniform and thorough seed coverage resulting in strong emergence, superior plant protection and an increased return on your investment. Score an easy victory over the most serious early-season cereal diseases, including true loose smut and both seed- and soil-borne fusarium, without the application struggle.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Fast-talking Castor auctioneer makes successful bid for Canadian title WAY WITH WORDS  Dwayne Dunkle takes home bragging rights — and a trophy, cash,

and fancy belt buckle — at All Around Canadian Auctioneers’ Championship BY ALEXIS KIENLEN AF STAFF | RED DEER

an you talk fast, keep track of numbers, and look good while making people part with their money? Then you’re on your way to winning the All Around Canadian Auctioneers’ Championship. This year’s title was won by Dwayne Dunkle of Castor, owner with wife Deanna of Dunkle Auction Services, which specializes in farm auctions. Dunkle won a first prize of $2,000, a trophy, and a $500 belt buckle. Second prize was won by Brandon Antonini of Calgary and third by Chuck Christenson of Calgary. The championship event was held during the Auctioneers’ Association of Alberta’s annual convention in Red Deer, with association past president Ron Victor serving as master of ceremonies. Nineteen contestants from across Alberta, as well as Kelowna, Saskatoon, and Yorkton competed and competitors weren’t limited to the livestock sector. Many of the auctioneers competing had experience with automotive, industrial and estate sale auctions. Contestants received points for clarity, professionalism, general appearance and presentation. But the chant was the key ingredient. “They need a good rhythm and really clear numbers,” said Jon Radcliffe, one of the judges and last year’s champion. Chant and voice account for 40 points of the total score. Another 40 points are awarded on how the auctioneer acts, and 20 for presentation.

Competitors were scrutinized on the way they handle the entire auction process, and whether or not they made eye contact with the bidders. The competition was judged by four industry professionals, and Radcliffe. Each contestant was required to sell five items. Once the first round was finished, five semi-finalists were invited to do another round. Dunkle then finished the competition with a victory sale. The auctioned items were household items donated by local businesses, and the money raised was donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. The Auctioneers’ Association of Alberta, established in 1934, is the largest auction association in Canada with 600 members. About 225 members attended the conference.

Dwayne Dunkle (r), winner of All Around Canadian Auctioneers’ Championship, receives his award from master of ceremonies Ron Victor. PHOTO: ALEXIS KIENLEN

BRIEF Canadian beef and hog herds finally on the rise REUTERS / Canada’s herds of cattle and hogs rose at Jan. 1, turning around a long-term downsizing trend on the strength of high prices. Cattle ranchers benefited from prices rising throughout 2011, while hog prices reached a seven-year high in the second half of the year, Statistics Canada said Feb. 20. The Canadian cattle herd edged up 0.5 per cent to 12.5 million head, marking the first year-over-year increase in seven years. The inventory of beef replacement heifers rose 4.3 per cent to 554,300 head, indicating ranchers are starting to replenish their herds, the government statistical agency said. Hog inventories climbed 1.1 per cent to 12 million head on Jan. 1, marking the first time the herd has risen in consecutive years since 2006. However, the hog-breeding herd dipped slightly to 1.3 million sows and gilts, the lowest level since 1999.

That’s one herbicide that’s always in tune!

Give weeds the once-over. DuPont™ Harmony ® brand herbicides hit tough broadleaf and grass weeds HARD, such as wild oats and green foxtail. They deliver outstanding value and convenience in one-pass weed control for cereals. All in one easy-to-handle package with the grass surfactant built right in. Give weeds the once-over – with DuPont™ Harmony® herbicides.

Questions?

Ask your retailer, call 1-800-667-3925 or visit www.weedwreckingcrew.com As with all crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™, Harmony® and Solumax® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2012 E. I. du Pont Canada Company. All rights reserved.

2179 HAR AFE AE.indd 1

2/1/12 10:14 AM

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Hog producers — are you paying too much for your feed? ANALYSIS  Based on the variations for barley, you could be paying too much or too little AGRI-NEWS

n economic analysis by an Alberta Agriculture specialist suggests hog producers may be paying too much for feed. “Based on the energy value of Alberta barley samples at current market prices, hog producers will frequently be paying up to $17 per tonne too much for some barley loads, and $11 per tonne below energy value for others,” says Ron Gietz, provincial pork specialist, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Brooks. “Under current market conditions, the difference from best to worst barley is worth at least $8 per hog; that’s often the difference between profit and loss in this industry.” Gietz notes that the normal variability in digestible energy content in barley is much higher than most people realize, and that there is no correlation between bushel weight or kernel plumpness and energy content. “As such, with current buying practices, the feeding results you get, particularly feed efficiency and average daily gain, are completely random. This could result in less consistent hog production, excess waste output, or problems with barn capacity, in addition to the direct feed cost impacts mentioned above.”

Solutions

Gietz suggests a two-step solution to this problem. “The first step is to use technology to accurately measure the feed energy value of every load of feed grain that is purchased. The second step is to work with your nutritionist to separate the loads by energy level, and paying discounts or premiums to source the energy level you prefer. Both steps are necessary to address the feed-variability challenge.” Gietz says that the preferred technology to measure feed energy value is called Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS). It can quickly and accurately measure the attributes of a sample on-site, or by sending the sample in to a remote network. “Smaller producers are encouraged to send a sample to a NIRS network, such as the one run by the department of animal science at the University of Alberta. This is particularly important for those who grow their own feed. It’s a cost-effective way to know what you are feeding and what results to expect.” “For producers with more scale, it is probably worthwhile to purchase your own NIRS machine for about $40,000 to give you the ability to test on-site. Basically, any hog operation that is large enough to mill its own feed should be taking a serious look at doing this.” Currently, the Alberta Crop Industry Development Fund (ACIDF), through their feed grain initiative, has a program which contributes up to $20,000 towards the purchase of a new NIRS machine. “For a larger producer marketing 40,000 head annually, you would need only a 50 cent per head improvement in results to

pay for the machine in one year, if you follow the all-important second step, and fully incorporate the new technology into feed purchasing and barn management,” adds Gietz.

“The first step is to use technology to accurately measure the feed energy value of every load of feed grain that is purchased.” RON GIETZ

Under current market conditions, the difference from best to worst barley is worth at least $8 per hog.

Q: What are my options now? Q: Should I be planning already? Q: What does this mean for me? Q: Will marketing wheat be just like marketing canola? Q: Who’s going to help me through this process? Q: Is August 2012 the real end date? Q: How will I manage the transition? Q: Where can I voice my opinion? Q: Does my opinion count? Q: Who can I call if I have questions? Q: Can I survive in a competitive market? Q: How will I sell my wheat? Q: How will I sell my barley? Q: What role will the ICE Futures play? Q: What will happen with the foreign exchange? Q: How will premiums and discounts be applied to my wheat? Q: What will happen to the Canadian Grain Commission? Q: What is the new base grade? Q: Am I going to need more storage? Q: How is rail transportation going to work? Q: How can I access the US price? Q: Will the quality of my wheat continue to be controlled? Q: How will I know the quality of the wheat, durum or barley I’m delivering? Q: Who will my wheat be sold to? Q: Will the CWB still be a valid option for selling my barley and wheat? Q: How am I going to move my grain? Q: What is a good basis? Q: Am I expected to know about international trade? Q: Will everyone else know more than I do? Q: How long will this process take? Q: Are grain companies going to build more storage? Q: How will this impact price? Q: Who can I trust?

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Take stock of forage quality, quantity FORAGE ONLY  By having high-quality, grain is usually not

needed in mature-animal maintenance rations AGRI-NEWS

nowing your forage quality and quantity, as well as animal weight and body condition, is crucial in strategically meeting animal nutritional requirements with low-cost winter-feeding programs. “Forage quality is always important for livestock pro-

ducers,” says Grant Lastiwka grazing/forage/beef specialist, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Olds. “With high grain prices, the alternative of adding grain to a livestock ration is costly. By having highquality forage, grain is usually not needed in mature-animal maintenance rations.” Lastiwka notes that the exceptions to this are thin animals,

“Quantity consumed is the other more important factor in determining if animal nutrient requirements are met.” GRANT LASTIWKA

Winter temperatures need to be about -20 to -25 C (including wind chill) before an animal in good body condition will have problems.

early winter calving programs, really cold weather, or after lactation starts. “For growing animals, if forage quality is excellent, a forageonly diet can give reasonable performance for replacements, backgrounders going to grass in the spring, and maintenance of first- and second-calving cows. Depending on calving date, body condition, wind shelter and bedding, high-quality forage may be all the animals need in the last trimester, or even after calving.” Winter temperatures need to be about -20 to -25 C (including wind chill) before an animal in good body condition will have problems. Thinner animals are stressed sooner and -15 C may be their low critical temperature. Lastiwka recommends Alberta Agriculture’s website as having good articles on winter feeding nutrition and on determining forage quality. These articles can be found at http://www1.agric. gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/inf6663#nutrition “The Foragebeef.ca website is another excellent resource,” says Lastiwka. “This site was developed in Canada and is managed daily by two of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s beef and forage specialists.” Lastiwka also recommends a new YouTube video the department has produced on how to get a proper forage sample. It is available at http://www1.agric. gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/info13409 “Remember that forage quality is only part of the story,” adds Lastiwka. “Quantity consumed is the other more important factor in determining if animal nutrient requirements are met.”

BRIEF Que. pork chain members get dividend

Nobody has all the answers, but together we can navigate the changing prairie landscape. Cargill has gained the kind of knowledge that comes with almost 100 years of global experience, an extensive network of operations in 66 countries worldwide, and trading relationships with 40 countries. We want to help you prosper in a changing wheat marketing environment.

Visit: changingprairielandscape.ca

Members of a new producers’ network in Quebec will get La Coop Federée’s firstever patronage dividend to be paid directly to hog farmers. Coop Federée, the province’s largest agrifood company and the owner of meat packer Olymel, on Mar. 5 announced it would pay out special dividends directly to members of the Filiere porcine cooperative, which was set up last April with 141 hog farmer members. Coop Federée didn’t say how much of a dividend a member of the Filiere could expect, but noted its overall dividends to members and affiliates for the year ending Oct. 29, 2011 will total $36.5 million, triple the $11.5 million paid out the previous year.

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

FARM SAFETY FOCUS

FARMERS URGED TO ADOPT WRITTEN SAFETY PLANS PRIORITY ONE  The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) will help you develop a safety plan When it comes to a safe farm environment, farmers say they know how important it is to protect family members and employees. But saying and doing are different things. BY LORRAINE STEVENSON STAFF

n a Farm Credit Canada survey, 85 per cent of respondents said safety is a priority on their farm, but the same survey found those good intentions don’t always translate into good practices. Nearly two-thirds of the 1,000 farmers surveyed continue to work even when overly tired and similar number don’t go for regular medical checkups. And fewer than one in 10 have a written formal safety policy, according to FCC’s 2011 Farm Safety Report Card. The survey did find farmers take more precautions around children and when handling equipment, and so the report card gives Canadian farmers a “B” grade for overall safety. The survey was undertaken to support the three-year theme of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Week’s “Plan Farm Safety” campaign emphasizing the adoption of a Canada FarmSafe Plan, or written safety plan. The Canada FarmSafe Plan is an online guide, flexible enough for any farmer in any sector anywhere in the country to create a customized health and safety plan for their own farm. It was developed by the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) in conjunction with farm safety specialists and farmers across the country. After two years of promoting this resource, its proponents are hoping the message is getting through. “This year we’re hoping to engage farmers to make a commitment to it,” said Marcel Hacault, executive director of CASA which is headquartered in Winnipeg. The Canada FarmSafe Plan (available online at www.planfarmsafety.ca) recommends best management practices and the core plan includes all the steps a farmer would need to be in compliance with general occupational health and safety requirements.

A recent survey found 85 per cent of farmers said safety is a priority on their farm, but fewer than one in 10 have a written safety policy. It’s a different approach because it links good safety practices with achieving business goals, said Hacault. “We’ve provided these checklists and audits and walkabouts for 20 years now and that hasn’t really taken hold,” he said. The new approach seems to be generating more interest, he said. For instance, the province of Ontario has decided to customize and license the plan as the Ontario FarmSafe Plan. Cargill has also embraced the plan and now provides it as a customer service product.

Reaching more farmers

But getting more farmers to create safety policies remains a challenge, said Hacault. The FCC survey also found fewer than 24 per cent of producers sought to access farm safety resources in the past year. “We are trying to figure out how to reach them,” Hacault said. “We’re missing that link of farm safety to business management. Our challenge is to make that link.” Research shows companies with good occupational health and safety policies and systems in place do outperform those without, he said. Hacault said he’s encouraged by

another FCC finding that farmers want more training in specific areas of safety such as first aid. Almost 88 per cent surveyed by FCC said they’d like to take safety training. CASA plans to identify safety-training opportunities available and package them so they’re easily accessible to farmers, Hacault added. “That is going to be coming up in our national farm safety strategy ... How do we develop all the other tools to help support the farmers once they’re engaged?” The FCC’s report card’s results — which mirror the findings of the 2008 report card — were disappointing, but no one was expecting a quick change, said Hacault. “This is a slow ship to turn around,” he said. “We’re talking about a behavioural change and a cultural change. Look at how long it takes for seatbelts or nonsmoking campaigns to take effect. This is generational change that we’re working on.” Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, which runs from March 11 to 17, will kick off the organization’s 2012 campaign, which is being delivered in partnership between the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, FCC, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

FARM SAFETY

RESOURCES

The Canada FarmSafe Plan is available online to help producers in all sectors easily develop a written farm safety plan specific to their operation. Canadian producers are encouraged to begin developing these plans during Canadian Agricultural Safety Week and put it into practice throughout the year. For more information on this and other farm safety initiatives, go to:

http://www.planfarmsafety.ca.

Does thistle make you bristle? Curtail* M the leading broadleaf herbicide for Canada thistle infestations. * Trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC.

Leaders in off-patent solutions.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

FARM SAFETY FOCUS

emergency preparedness plan: every farm should have one Focus } This year the theme of safety week is implementation, documentation and training by Theresa Whalen

canadian federation of agriculture farm safety consultant

hen a farm emergency happens, knowing what to do and having what you need to do it — could mean the difference between life and death. To help you be prepared for farm emergencies, a new farm management tool called the Canada FarmSafe Plan has been developed by the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association. As part of this free resource, a Farm Emergency Preparedness Plan template is available for you to adapt to your operation. Download the core Canada FarmSafe Plan at www.planfarmsafety.ca. The Canada FarmSafe Plan initiative supports the theme Plan • Farm • Safety, a three-year focus for the Canadian agricultural safety campaign. In 2010, the campaign promoted “Plan” with safety walkabouts and planning for safety. This year, the focus is on “Farm” including implementation, documentation and training. And in 2012, emphasis will be on “Safety” including assessment, improvement and further development of safety systems. “The true value of emergency preparedness isn’t always apparent until you need it. Developing a plan about emergency processes and responsibilities will reduce confusion and mistakes — possibly saving someone’s life,” says Ron Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. “That’s why we are being proactive in encouraging producers to develop a businessrisk management strategy that includes emergency preparedness as part of an overall health and safety plan for their operations.”

ery and power sources as well as a general understanding of how most of the farm processes occur. Remember, emergency responders may not be familiar with your type of farming operation and equipment, therefore having someone available to explain processes will make the responder’s work more efficient. • Have workers trained in basic first aid and CPR, as well as specific procedures for dealing with the potential incidents you listed in step two. Ensure all resources needed to respond to

an emergency situation are readily available and functioning such as first aid kits, eyewash stations, fire extinguishers and spill kits. • Create a communication system for people working alone. This may include ensuring they have two-way radios or cellphones as well as arranging to regularly go and physically check the worksite throughout the day. This way, if help is needed, it may be summoned more quickly. “It only takes a short time to prepare for emergencies, yet it can prevent a lifetime of regret,” says Bonnett.

A section of the farm safety plan template available for free download at www.planfarmsafety.ca.

There are four basic components of an emergency plan. • Post important information where it may be needed around the farm. For example, next to each phone post farm location details; emergency support phone numbers; information about how many people typically work on the farm and the locations of emergency supplies such as first aid kits, spill kits and fire extinguishers. It is important to have this information readily available as it could be a young family member or visitor who calls for emergency assistance or has to take action. • List all the possible emergency situations that might occur on your operation. These may include a chemical spill, machinery or livestock injury, fire, explosion, and so on. Write out an action plan for each potential incident, clearly noting what will need to be done and how to do it. For example, ensure everyone knows how to shut off machin-

Take the FCC Farm Safety Quiz You’ve planned for safety, now it’s time for action. Put your safety plan in writing, share it with others and train your team so everyone learns how to work safe. Test your knowledge at www.fccfarmsafety.ca and enter to win a safety kit. Canadian Agricultural Safety Week March 11 – 17

Safety matters

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Got mobile?

iPhone, Android & BlackBerr y Versions Available

Get Alberta Farmer. What’s better than sitting down with a coffee and the latest edition of Alberta Farmer? How about getting the latest breaking ag news on your smartphone with Alberta Farmer Mobile. Part of the

network Alberta Farmer Mobile is sponsored by

} Set your local weather } Set news subjects relevant to your farm } Set notices on the futures contract prices of your choice } Alberta Farmer version is FREE to Download } Available for Android, iPhone and BlackBerry smartphones } Visit agreader.ca/afe today to download the app or text “afe” to 393939 to be sent the link. Standard text messaging rates apply.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Arab countries seek to build grain stocks site for Gulf

NEW ART CANADA STAMPS One of three new stamps issued by Canada Post as part of its Art Canada series features the work of Saskatchewan-based sculptor Joe Fafard, who is famous for his sculptures of animals, especially cows and bulls. The new stamp features a work cast in bronze called “Smoothly She Shifted.” CANADA POST

FOOD SECURITY 

Water-scarce countries look to storage facilities and farmland purchases BY MAHA EL DAHAN DUBAI/REUTERS

he Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAID) is considering building a system for storing three to six months of grain reserves for the Gulf region, a senior official from the investment bank said Feb. 22. AAID, which was set up by Arab governments in the late 1970s, will study construction of storage for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Al-Arabi Hamdi, adviser to the president for economic affairs for AAID, told Reuters. “It will be most likely in the United Arab Emirates as the Fujairah port is close to the Strait of Hormuz and close to ports and the shipping world,” said Hamdi on the sidelines of a grains conference in Dubai. “We can build silos there and import and export grains,” he said. The port of Fujairah in the Gulf of Oman is a popular storage point, because it lies outside the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has threatened to block on several occasions over the last few months, but close to busy shipping lanes in and out of the Gulf. If the AAID decides to go ahead at the end of the study, which could be completed by year-end, private investors will be invited to invest in the project, Hamdi said.

“It comes through for me every time.”

Land purchases elsewhere

AAID is also setting up an agricultural land investment company, in conjunction with Saudi investors, to buy land in the Middle East and farther afield, he said. The company, which will start with capital of $60 million, has identified Egypt, Sudan and Kazakhstan as potential places for buying land. “The company that is being set up will market the grains within the Arab world,” Hamdi said. Oil-exporting Gulf states have been investing in farmland overseas to help secure supplies of food for a region where fresh water is scarce. AAID sees potential for growing wheat, oilseeds and potatoes in Egypt, where the Nile River offers a long backbone of fertile land in an otherwise arid region. The AAID, headquartered in Khartoum, is also studying a proposal from the Mauritanian government to build a 60,000tonne per year sugar factory, Hamdi said. GCC members include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

There’s one herbicide you can always count on. No matter what weeds throw at you, DuPont™ Refine® herbicides have got your back. They deliver powerful convenience and flexibility for broad-spectrum broadleaf weed control you can trust year after year. Want high-impact weed control that always comes through? Hammer them with DuPont™ Refine® herbicides.

Questions?

Ask your retailer, call 1-800-667-3925 or visit www.weedwreckingcrew.com As with all crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™, Refine® and Solumax® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2012 E. I. du Pont Canada Company. All rights reserved.

2181 REF AFE FE.indd 1

2/1/12 9:12 AM

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Battle of the blades

two peas in a pod

(sheep-shearing variety, that is) Competition } Sheep

shearers from around the world gathered in New Zealand last week By Naomi Tajitsu

wellington, new zealand/reuters

F Newborn calves hitch a ride in from the cold. photo: grace crayston B:8.125” T:8.125” S:8.125”

Unleash the power of Puma Advance. Instantly save $1.00/ac. with the Puma Full Rate Rebate. Ask your retailer for details.

When used to its maximum potential, full-rate Puma® Advance ensures superior crop safety and exceptional control of wild oats. A natural grassy weed predator, Puma Advance also provides the ability to move between wheat and barley without having to clean out your sprayer.

Always read and follow label directions. Puma® is a registered trademark of Bayer. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

C-54-03/12-BCS12046-E

B:10”

BayerCropScience.ca/PumaAdvance or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative.

T:10”

For more information visit: BayerCropScience.ca/PumaAdvance

S:10”

Available in convenient 300 and 1,000 acre BigBoys.

or lucky sheep, it’s like a trip to the hair salon. For the unlucky ones, it can resemble a wild and woolly wrestling match against an opponent armed with a sharp object. The 4,600 sheep picked for the 2012 World Sheep Shearing Competition in Masterton, New Zealand, and the national Golden Shears championships were in for a pampering last week, when top clippers from around the globe competed for a top prize of NZ$3,000 ($2,500). The return of the biennial event to New Zealand for the first time since 1996 is seen as a homecoming by the sheep-shearing community. That’s not surprising in a nation where sheep outnumber humans 10 to one and which this year lobbied for sheep shearing to be recognised as an Olympic sport. “People here say the Golden Shears is the Wimbledon of sheep shearing,” said Doug Laing, media officer at Shearing Sports New Zealand. Shearers from heavyweight countries New Zealand, Australia and Britain compete with entries from lesser-known shearing countries, including Germany, Estonia and Japan. They are judged on speed and accuracy in both machine and hand-blade cutting categories. Penalty points are given according to how long each shearing takes, as well as “imperfections” that include nicks and cuts to the sheep and double cutting. Laing, a descendant of a shearing family, says nimbleness with the “blades” — a colloquial term for manual and electric shears — and getting the sheep positioned correctly are the key components of a close, comfortable shave. “Once you’ve got the sheep’s balance sorted, and you’ve got them seated all right, it’s just like giving them a haircut,” Laing said. Best results are also achieved by following the “Bowen style” favoured in New Zealand. Developed in the 1950s by a famed pair of shearing brothers named Godfrey and Ivan Bowen, the sheep is shorn in rhythmical sweeps while pulling the skin away from the body. “Otherwise it ends up looking like a wrestling match,” Laing said. Local shearer John Kirkpatrick, a three-time Golden Shears champion, was tipped to take the top machine-shearing prize at both the World Championships and the national Golden Shears competition. Kirkpatrick, however, was expected to face stiff competition from compatriot Cam Ferguson in the finals. Ferguson holds the world record for shearing longwool lambs — a whopping 742 in eight hours.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

1-888-413-3325 • abclassifieds@fbcpublishing.com

inDEx Tributes/Memory Announcements Airplanes Alarms & Security Systems ANTIqUES Antiques For Sale Antique Equipment Antique Vehicle Antiques Wanted Arenas AUCTION SAlES BC Auction AB Auction Peace AB Auction North AB Auction Central AB Auction South SK Auction MB Auction Parkland MB Auction Westman MB Auction Interlake MB Auction Red River Auction Various U.S. Auctions Auction Schools AUTO & TRANSPORT Auto Service & Repairs Auto & Truck Parts Autos Trucks Semi Trucks Sport Utilities Vans Vehicles Vehicles Wanted BEEKEEPING Honey Bees Cutter Bees Bee Equipment Belting Bio Diesel Equipment Books & Magazines BUIlDING & RENOVATIONS Concrete Repair Doors & Windows Electrical & Plumbing Insulation Lumber Roofing Building Supplies Buildings Business Machines Business Opportunities BUSINESS SERVICES Crop Consulting Financial & Legal Insurance/Investments Butchers Supply Chemicals Clothing/Work wear Collectibles Compressors Computers CONTRACTING Custom Baling

Custom Feeding Custom Harvest Custom Seeding Custom Silage Custom Spraying Custom Trucking Custom Tub Grinding Custom Work Construction Equipment Dairy Equipment Electrical Engines Entertainment Fertilizer FARM MAChINERy Aeration Conveyors Equipment Monitors Fertilizer Equip Grain Augers Grains Bins Grain Carts Grain Cleaners Grain Dryers Grain Elevators Grain Handling Grain Testers Grain Vacuums haying & harvesting Baling Equipment Mower Conditioners Swathers Swather Accessories Haying & Harvesting Various Combines Belarus Case/IH Cl Caterpillar Lexion Deutz Ford/NH Gleaner John Deere Massey Ferguson Versatile White Combines Various Combine Accessories Hydraulics Irrigation Equipment Loaders & Dozers Parts & Accessories Salvage Potato & Row Crop Equipment Repairs Rockpickers Snowblowers/Plows Silage Equipment Specialty Equipment Spraying Sprayers Spray Various Tillage & Seeding Air Drills Air Seeders Harrows & Packers Seeding Various Tillage Equipment Tillage & Seeding Various Tractors Agco Allis/Deutz

Belarus Case/IH Caterpillar Ford John Deere Kubota Massey Ferguson New Holland Steiger Universal Versatile White Zetor Tractors 2WD Tractors 4WD Tractors Various Farm Machinery Miscellaneous Farm Machinery Wanted Fencing Firewood Fish Farm Forestry/Logging Fork Lifts/Pallets Fur Farming Generators GPS Health Care Heat & Air Conditioning Hides/Furs/Leathers Hobby & Handicrafts Household Items lANDSCAPING Greenhouses Lawn & Garden lIVESTOCK Cattle Cattle Auctions Angus Black Angus Red Angus Aryshire Belgian Blue Blonde d'Aquitaine Brahman Brangus Braunvieh BueLingo Charolais Dairy Dexter Excellerator Galloway Gelbvieh Guernsey Hereford Highland Holstein Jersey Limousin Lowline Luing Maine-Anjou Miniature Murray Grey Piedmontese Pinzgauer Red Poll Salers Santa Gertrudis Shaver Beefblend Shorthorn Simmental

display Classified

• Minimum charge — $15.00 per week for first 25 words or less and an additional 60 cents per word for every word over 25. Additional bolding 75 cents per word. GST is extra. $2.50 billing charge is added to billed ads only. • Terms: Payment due upon receipt of invoice. • 10% discount for prepaid ads. If phoning in your ad you must pay with VISA or MasterCard to qualify for discount. • Ask about our Priority Placement • Prepayment Bonus: Prepay for 3 weeks and get a bonus of 2 weeks; bonus weeks run consecutively and cannot be used separately from original ad; additions and changes accepted only during first 3 weeks. • If you wish to have replies sent to a confidential box number, please add $5.00 per week to your total. Count eight words for your address. Example: Ad XXXX, Alberta Farmer Express , Box 9800, Winnipeg, R3C 3K7. • Your complete name & address must be submitted to our office before publication. (This information will be kept confidential & will not appear in the ad unless requested.)

• Advertising copy deviating in any way from the regular classified style will be considered display and charged at the display rate of $34.30 per column inch ($2.45 per agate line). • Minimum charge $34.30 per week. • Illustrations and logos are allowed with full border. • Advertising rates are flat with no discount for frequency of insertion or volume of space used. • Terms: Payment due upon receipt of invoice. • Price quoted does not include GST.

Published by Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1 WINNIPEG OFFICE Alberta Farmer Express 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1 Toll-Free in Canada 1-888-413-3325 Phone 403-341-0442 in Winnipeg FAX 403-341-0615 Mailing Address: Box 9800, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3K7 • •

•

AGREEMENT The publisher reserves the right to refuse any or all advertising for any reason stated or unstated. Advertisers requesting publication of either display or classified advertisements agree that should the advertisement be omitted from the issue ordered for whatever reason, the Alberta Farmer Express shall not be held liable. It is also agreed that in the event of an error appearing in the published advertisement, the Alberta Farmer Express accepts no liability beyond the amount paid for that portion of the advertisement in which the error appears or affects. Claims for adjustment are limited to errors appearing in the first insertion only. While every endeavor will be made to forward box number replies as soon as possible, we accept no liability in respect to loss or damage alleged to a rise through either failure or delay in forwarding such replies, however caused, whether by negligence or otherwise.

MAiL TO: Alberta Farmer Express, Box 9800, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3K7

(2 weeks prior)

REAl ESTATE Vacation Property Commercial Buildings Condos Cottages & Lots Houses & Lots Mobile Homes Motels & Hotels Resorts Farms & Ranches British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba Pastures Farms Wanted Acreages/Hobby Farms Land For Sale Land For Rent RECREATIONAl VEhIClES All Terrain Vehicles Boats & Water Campers & Trailers Golf Carts Motor Homes Motorcycles Snowmobiles Recycling Refrigeration Restaurant Supplies Sausage Equipment Sawmills Scales SEED/FEED/GRAIN Pedigreed Cereal Seeds Barley Durum Oats Rye Triticale Wheat Cereals Various Pedigreed Forage Seeds Alfalfa Annual Forage Clover Forages Various Grass Seeds Pedigreed Oilseeds Canola Flax Oilseeds Various Pedigreed Pulse Crops Beans Chickpeas

FAx TO: 403-341-0615

TRAIlERS Grain Trailers Livestock Trailers Trailers Miscellaneous Travel Water Pumps Water Treatment Welding Well Drilling Well & Cistern Winches COMMUNITy CAlENDAR British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba CAREERS Career Training Child Care Construction Domestic Services Farm/Ranch Forestry/Log Health Care Help Wanted Management Mining Oil Field Professional Resume Services Sales/Marketing Trades/Tech Truck Drivers Employment Wanted

PhOnE in: Toll-Free in Canada 1-888-413-3325 OR (403) 341-0442 in Alberta

NAME ___________________________________________________________ ADDRESS ____________________________________________ PROVINCE ___________________________

All classified ads are non-commissionable.

advertising deadline Wednesday noon

ORGANIC Organic Certified Organic Food Organic Grains Personal Pest Control Pets & Supplies Photography Propane Pumps Radio, TV & Satellite

Lentil Peas Pulses Various Pedigreed Specialty Crops Canary Seeds Mustard Potatoes Sunflower Specialty Crops Various Common Seed Cereal Seeds Forage Seeds Grass Seeds Oilseeds Pulse Crops Common Seed Various Feed/Grain Feed Grain Hay & Straw Hay & Feed Wanted Feed Wanted Grain Wanted Seed Wanted Sewing Machines Sharpening Services Silos Sporting Goods Outfitters Stamps & Coins Swap Tanks Tarpaulins Tenders Tickets Tires Tools

AD ORDER FORM

adveRtising Rates & infoRmation

RegulaR Classified

Miscellaneous Articles Wanted Musical Notices On-Line Services

South Devon Speckle Park Tarentaise Texas Longhorn Wagyu Welsh Black Cattle Composite Cattle Various Cattle Wanted lIVESTOCK horses Horse Auctions American Saddlebred Appaloosa Arabian Belgian Canadian Clydesdale Draft Donkeys Haflinger Miniature Morgan Mules Norwegian Ford Paint Palomino Percheron Peruvian Pinto Ponies Quarter Horse Shetland Sport Horses Standardbred Tennessee Walker Thoroughbred Warmblood Welsh Horses For Sale Horses Wanted lIVESTOCK Sheep Sheep Auction Arcott Columbia Dorper Dorset Katahdin Lincoln Suffolk Texel Sheep Sheep For Sale Sheep Wanted lIVESTOCK Swine Swine Auction Swine For Sale Swine Wanted lIVESTOCK Poultry Poultry For Sale Poultry Wanted lIVESTOCK Specialty Alpacas Bison (Buffalo) Deer Elk Goats Llama Rabbits Emu Ostrich Rhea Yaks Specialty Livestock Various Livestock Equipment Livestock Services & Vet Supplies Miscellaneous Articles

PHONE # ______________________________

TOWN ____________________________________________

POSTAL CODE _________________________

Even if you do not want your name & address to appear in your ad, we need the information for our files.

PLEASE PRINT YOUR AD BELOW ______________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CAUTION The Alberta Farmer Express, while assuming no responsibility for advertisements appearing in its columns, exercises the greatest care in an endeavor to restrict advertising to wholly reliable firms or individuals. However, please do not send money to a Manitoba Co-operator box number. Buyers are advised to request shipment C.O.D. when ordering from an unknown advertiser, thus minimizing the chance of fraud and eliminating the necessity of a refund where the goods have already been sold. At Farm Business Communications we have a firm commitment to protecting your privacy and security as our customer. Farm Business Communications will only collect personal information if it is required for the proper functioning of our business. As part of our commitment to enhance customer service, we may share this personal information with other strategic business partners. For more information regarding our Customer Information Privacy Policy, write to: Information Protection Officer, Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1. Occasionally we make our list of subscribers available to other reputable firms whose products and services might be of interest to you. If you would prefer not to receive such offers, please contact us at the address in the preceding paragraph, or call (204)-954-1456. The editors and journalists who write, contribute and provide opinions to Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications attempt to provide accurate and useful opinions, information and analysis. However, the editors, journalists and Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications, cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and the editors as well as Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communication assume no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any reader for this publication based on any and all information provided.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CLASSIFICATION _____________________ ❏ I would like to take advantage of the Prepayment Bonus of 2 FREE weeks when I prepay for 3 weeks. No. of words _________________ x $0.60 x

No. of weeks ______________ =

______________

Minimum charge $15.00 per week

❏

VISA

❏

MASTERCARD

Card No. __/__/__/__/ __/__/__/__/ __/__/__/__/ __/__/__/__/

Add $2.50 if being billed / Minus 10% if prepaying

________________

Add 5% GST

________________

Expiry Date __/__/ __/__/

Signature _______________________________________________________________________

TOTAL _____________

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

BUILDING & RENOVATIONS Building Supplies

FARM MACHINERY Parts & Accessories

Bi-Fold "Hanger" Door, Insulated, White, 2x13 1/2’(27’ High) panels x 32’ (wide) with a 3 phase 575V, 2hp opener. $6,000 (204)325-9558, ask for Jamie

You always get what you want at: Andrukow Group Solutions Inc.

Amisk - 780-856-3666 www.PrecisionPac.com

BUSINESS SERVICES BUSINESS SERVICES Crop Consulting

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

You always get what you want at: Agro Source

Dawson Creek - 250-782-4449

BOW VALLEY TRADING LTD.

WE BUY DAMAGED GRAIN

DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 3

1-877-641-2798

BUYING:

Richardson Pioneer

www.PrecisionPac.com

WANTED: USED OR OLD guns, antique handguns, working or not, ammunition and related items. will pay cash. (403)816-1190

FARM MACHINERY Combine – John Deere

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

www.PrecisionPac.com

Mundare - 780-764-2511 www.PrecisionPac.com

You always get what you want at: Andrukow Group Solutions Inc. Viking - 780-336-3180 www.PrecisionPac.com

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Kubota USED KUBOTA Utility Tractors (780)967-3800, (780)289-1075 www.goodusedtractors.com DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 8 2/24/12 4:17 PM

FARMING IS ENOUGH OF A GAMBLE...

ENGINES

FARM MACHINERY Haying & Harvesting – Baling RETIRING: CASE 8480 RD baler <1,200 bales, $16,900; Case 8330 9-ft. haybine, $6,900; Tram 10 Ton farm wagon, $3,900; All low hours, shedded, field ready. Older reel rake, $500; JD AW 14-ft. Disc, $2,100; 92 GMC 2500 150,000-km 2WD Rcab safety inspection, $3,000; 09 Silverado 2500 Gas LTZ 30,000-km, 4WD Ccab Full Warranty til 2016 07, $35,900. (780)9631155, Spruce Grove AB.

You always get what you want at: Andrukow Group Solutions Inc.

DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 5

DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 4

Buy and Sell

Built to Last 5 yr. Warranty Mikes Welding

Phone: 403-638-2393

2/24/12 4:17 PM

1-888-413-3325

www.PrecisionPac.com

BALE MASTER

BALE HANDLER 3 POINT HITCH

Advertise in the Alberta Farmer Express Classifieds, it’s a Sure Thing!

Camrose - 780-608-2351

WANTED: JD 7810 c/w fel & 3pth; sp or pto bale wagon; JD or IHC end wheel drills. Small square baler. (877)330-4477

Agri-Pro

www.PrecisionPac.com

JD 7520, 741 LOADER w/grapple, 3pth, 4600hrs, IVT trans., Exc. $82,500; (403)933-5448, (403)608-1116

2/24/12 4:17 PM

You always get what you want at: Andrukow Group Solutions Inc.

Galahad - 780-583-2476

FARM MACHINERY

Falher - 780-837-2205

JD 6420 2005, 5000/HRS, 640 loader, 24spd trans. Good Condition, Always shedded, (403)729-2913, Rocky Mountain House area.

Combine ACCessories

ASSORTED DEUTZ AND OTHER diesel engines. KMK Sales, (800)565-0500, Humboldt, SK. BUGGY’S, DEMOCRATS AND CUTTERS for sale, DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 2 2/24/12 4:17 PM refurbished, large display, wagons, totally restored and upholstered; also saddles, harness and tack. (204)857-4932, Portage La Prairie, MB

You always get what you want at:

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – John Deere

www.PrecisionPac.com

2002 FLEXICOIL 67, SUSPENDED boom, 90ft. air curtain, 1000/gal tank, 100/gal rinse tank, $22,000 OBO (306)921-8217, Melfort, Sk.

AUTO & TRANSPORT AUTO & TRANSPORT Vehicles Wanted

1986 4-270 WHITE 4WD, 4,800-hrs, PTO, runs good, needs tires, $10,000 OBO. Randy (403)533-2240.

2009 JD9770 Combine w/MacDon FD70 Fully loaded DP2371_PPAC_Classified & AB.indd 2009 JD9770,BC GSII ready, 6236thresh hrs, CMI 2/24/12 4:17 PM every year, always shedded. 2010 615 pickup, Prem cond. w/2011 MacDon FD70 35’ draper flex. Full pea auger, only done 1100 acres. ($72000 for header) $240,000 (306) 948-7247 wtsl@sasktel.net

Agro Guys Inc.

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – White

1996 SPRA COUPE 220, high clearance, 60ft, 1220hrs, A/C., bubble/jets, raven controller, foam marker, towhitch , always shedded, nice shape. $18,000. obo. Call 780 374-2296

Cell: 403-380-0173 • http://www.menzo.ca

You always get what you want at:

TracTors

FARM MACHINERY

MENZO

www.milliganbiotech.com

2/24/12 4:17 PM

Gauge Wheel Solutions ridgelandmanufacturing.ca Phone: 1-204-866-3558

St. Paul - 780-645-5915

Sprayers DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 7

Custom Fabrication 10’ - 30’ Land Rollers • 3pth Units Available

CALL US 1-866-388-6284

Andrukow Group Solutions Inc.

Spraying EquipmEnt

Provost - 780-753-3150

1-877-250-5252

ANTIQUES Antiques Wanted

You always get what you want at:

4:17 PM

Andrukow Group Solutions Inc.

“ON FARM PICK UP”

ANTIQUES

2004 2388 Case IH, 2138 eng., 1683 AFX rotor, Hyd. rev, hopper topper, AFS y/m, RTC, HF, AHC, 1015 header w/RU PU, $125,000 OBO. Andy 403-485-8194 or 403-599-2232

CONTRACTING

• Competitive Prices • Prompt Movement • Spring Thrashed

CANOLA WANTED

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

You always get what you want at:

CONTRACTING Custom Work

FARM MACHINERY – Tillage

Tillage Seeding DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC && AB.indd 30

2/24/12 4:17 PM

www.PrecisionPac.com

DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 28 2/24/12 HEATED & GREEN Building Land Rollers since 1983 CANOLA

Heated, Green, Damaged Buying all levels of damaged canola. Best Prices. Bonded, Insured.

Tillage & Seeding

You always get what you want at: Magrath - 403-758-3162

Wheat, Barley, Oats, Peas, etc. Green or Heated Canola/Flax

www.PrecisionPac.com

FARM MACHINERY Combine – Case/IH

DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 11 2/24/12 4:17 PM BUYING HEATED/DAMAGED PEAS, FLAX & GRAIN “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252

Richardson Pioneer Rycroft - 780-864-3778

FARM MACHINERY Salvage

www.PrecisionPac.com

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Grain Wanted

BUYING SPRING THRASHED CANOLA & GRAIN “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252

NEW WOBBLE BOXES for JD, NH, IH, MacDon headers. Made in Europe, factory quality. Get it direct from Western Canda’s sole distributor starting at $995. 1-800-667-4515. www.combineworld.com

You always get what you want at:

anything you need through the

2/24/12 4:17 PM

You always get what you want at: Andrukow Group Solutions Inc.

Wainwright - 780-842-3306 www.PrecisionPac.com

1-888-413-3325

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

You always get what you want at:

Crop Production Services (Canada) Inc.

Andrukow Group Solutions (Dekoda) Inc.

www.PrecisionPac.com

High River - 403-652-3500

Sedgewick - 780-384-2265

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Various DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 13

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Various

DP2371_PPAC_Classified 2/24/12 4:17 PM BC & AB.indd 10

50’ Flexicoil #75 Packer Bar, 1/yr as new ...$30,000 51’ 2009 Flexicoil 5000HD airdrill, 10” spacing, 5.5” rubber packers, SC, 5” spread openers......................Call 2320 Flexicoil TBH airtank, 1996, always shedded, exc. cond....................................$25,000 Flexicoil 6 run seed treater ................................. $2,000 51 Flexicoil Bodies c/w gen. SC 4” carbide spread tip openers, like new .................................................. $3,500 70’ Degelman Heavy Harrow, 9/16 tines good condition...........................................................$20,000 9435 MF Swather, 30’, 5200 header, 200hrs..............................................................................$95,000 4952 I 30’ Prairie Star swather, 2005, 800hrs, 30’, 972 header, roto shears, header mover, outback auto steer....................................................$69,000 810H 25’ Hesston grain table - PU reel ..................Call 2-CIH WD1203 swathers 2011, 240hrs, 36’ headers, PU reel, roto shears, header transports, 1yr..........................................................................$105,000/ea. New Sakundiak 10x1200 (39.97’) 36HP, Kohler eng. E-K mover, P/S, electric belt tightener, work lights, slim fit, 12 gal. fuel tank .................$18,000 New Sakundiak 8x1200 (39.97’) , 25HP Kohler eng., E-Kay mover, battery, fuel tank ...............$13,000 New Sakundiak 7x1200 (39.97’) , 22HP RobinSubaru eng., battery & fuel tank .......................... $7,500

2002 John Deere 790, FWA, 30 HP Diesel, 156 Hours, Very Clean Tractor, 3PTH, P/S, $14,500.

Highline 6600 Bail Processor, 1000 PTO, Very Clean $5500.

1998 John Deere 5410 FWA Tractor, 66 Pto HP, 80 Eng HP, Diesel, Low Hours(1500), 3 Point Hitch, $23,500

www.doublellindustries.com

Medicine Hat - 403-526-9499

1996 8810 BOURGAULT 40-FT. air seeder, 450 trips, single chute, packers, 10-in. space, granular kit, 3195 tank, always shedded, $32,000 OBO. Randy (403)533-2240.

You always get what you want at:

2002 JD 1820, 45-FT., 10-in. spacing, double shoot, DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 14 2/24/12 dutch paired row, 3-1/2in steel, $28,500; 1998 Agco Star, 8425, 425-hp, 3,400-hrs, duals, auto steer, $50,500; 2004 McHale 991B bale wrapper, $9,000; (403)665-2341, Craigmyle, AB.

Richardson Pioneer

www.PrecisionPac.com

Waskatenau - 780-358-2720

Stirling - 403-756-3452

Big Tractor Parts, Inc.

JD 2210, LDR, 3PTH, MFD JD 4430 c/w loader loader32available DP2371_PPAC_Classified DP2371_PPAC_ClassifiedJD BC4440, & AB.indd 2/24/12 4:17 PM BC & AB.indd 31 2/24/12 JD 7200, ldr, 3pth FWA, Geared For Steiger ST 270, 4WD The Future Mustang 2044 Skidsteer, 1300hrs. 14’ Schulte rock rake Clamp on duals, 20.8x38-18.4x38 IHC 5600 DT 33’ 158 & 148 JD loaders ED OR REEN Willmar 500 Fertilizer spreader FINANCE, TRADES WELCOME 780-696-3527, BRETON, AB

STEIGER TRACTOR SPECIALIST

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

Buy and Sell

anything you need through the

1-888-413-3325

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

We know that farming is enough of a gamble so if you want to sell it fast place your ad in the Alberta Farmer Express classifieds. It’s a Sure Thing. Call our toll-free number today. We have friendly staff ready to help. 1-888-413-3325.

Crop Production Services (Canada) Inc. Torrington - 403-631-3900

Ron Sauer Machinery Ltd.

www.PrecisionPac.com

(403) 540-7691 **Flexi-Coil, Westward MacDon Swathers, NuVision augers, Sakundiak, Farm King, Outback GPS Systems, EK Auger Movers, Sweeps, & Crop Dividers, Degelman, Headsight Harvesting Solutions** Sales Rep for George’s Farm Centre

ronsauer@shaw.ca

HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING 2/24/12 4:17 PM

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

You always get what you want at:

www.PrecisionPac.com

You always get what you want at:

The Icynene Insulation System

Crop Production Services (Canada) Inc.

780-905-8565 NISKU, ALBERTA

New Sakundiak 8x1400 (45.93) auger, 27HP Kohler, E-Kay mover, scissor lift, oil bath chain case, P/S, electric belt tightener, work lights .....$18,000 New E-Kay 7”,8”,9” Bin Sweeps ............................Call 2002 7000HD Highline bale Processor, c/w twine cutter, always shedded .........................................$8,500 Cattalac #360 Mixer/feed wagon, scales, always shedded, like new ..................$14,000 New demo Outback baseline X ...................$6,500 New Outback baseline X..................................$6,500 New Outback SIII’s, ST’s & E drives in stock New Outback E drive X c/w free E turns ........CALL Used Outback 360 mapping................................$750 Used Outback S2 guidance ..............................$1,000 Used Outback E drive c/w valve & hoses...$2,000

WIRELESS DRIVEWAY ALARMS, calving/foaling barn cameras, video surveillance, rear view cameDP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 16 ras for RV’s, trucks, combines, seeders, sprayers and augers. Mounted on magnet. Calgary, Ab. ® (403)616-6610. www.FAAsecurity.com

2/24/12 4:17 PM

Kubota L2850 FWA, 4 Cyl Diesel, 34 Eng HP, 27 Pto HP, P/S, 3PTH, $11,000

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

2003 MORRIS AIRDRILL, 50FT. 10in. spacing, 300/ bu cart, $50,000 US. 2009 MacDon M1000 swather, 35ft triple delivery head, 150 header hours, $110,000 US; (406)217-3488 30FT MORRIS DISC DRILL; MF 750 SP combine; 1482 PT CIH combine; 400/gal 68ft Versatile sprayer; 18ft Versatile PT swather w/2 reels; 21ft white PT swather; 21ft MF 775 SP swather, pu and batt reel; 1975 Ford 3/4 ton for parts, good 360 motor. Reasonable Offers. (306)344-7758, Paradise Hill ACREAGE EQUIPMENT: CULTIVATORS, DISCS, Plows, Blades, Post pounders, Haying Equipment, Etc. (780)892-3092, Wabamun, Ab. AGCO FINANCE LLC WILL offer the following equipment for sale to the highest bidder above our reserved 4:17 PM price, for cash, plus applicable sales tax. Equipment: Massey Ferguson 7495 Tractor, S/N: T147041; Massey Ferguson 975 Loader, S/N: VT7257382; Leon 2530 Blade, S/N 296730408; Autofarm GPS, S/N: 191308002; Massey Ferguson Wheel Weights, NSN. Date of Sale: Wednesday March 14, 2012. Time of Sale: 11:00AM, Place of Sale: Caouette & Sons Implements Ltd. 5510-46 Street, St. Paul Alberta. Equipment can be inspected at place of sale. The equipment will be sold AS IS, without warranty. For further information please contact Kent Torgalson (780)993-1140 Cell, Reference Number 101859 KWIK KLEEN 7 TUBE grain cleaner with 2 sets tubes, in great shape, $7,000; Also looking for blade to fit 4760 JD MFWD, (780)674-2660, Barrhead, Ab. RETIRED FROM FARMING, MOST machinery shedded, 1998 Peterbuilt, 460 Cummins, 18spd, w/36ft tandem Doepker grain trailer $75,000; Rock picker, $1,500; JD 5525 fwa, 65hp w/loader, 60in. bucket $5,200; PTO wind power plant; 400 barrel fuel tank. $14,000 w/fuel; 2008 Monaco Camelot Motorhome, loaded, $210,000; (403)586-0978, Torrington, Ab.

Barb Wire & Electric High Tensile Wire Spooler

www.penta.ca

LIVESTOCK

Adapter available to unroll new barb wire off of wooden spool

- Hydraulic Drive (roll or unroll wire) - Mounts to tractor draw bar, skidsteer or bobcat, front end loader, post driver, 3pt. hitch or deck truck (with receiver hitch & rear hydraulics) - Spool splits in half to remove full roll - Shut off/ Flow control valve determines speed - Works great for pulling out old wire (approx. 3--5 minutes to roll 4:17 PM up 80 rod or 1/4 mile) The Level-Wind Wire Roller rolls wire evenly across the full width of the spool automatically as the wire is pulled in

Ken Lendvay (403) 550-3313 Red Deer, AB email: kflendvay@hotmail.com Web: www.levelwind.com See my display at Edmonton Farm & Ranch Show from Mar 29-31, 2012 in Booth #460-Hall E w/Dutch Bunning Distribution Ltd. (Green Manure Spreader) TakE onE HoME FRoM THE SHow & SavE FREiGHT coSTS!!

1-888-484-5353

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Angus PB RED & BLACK Angus yearling bulls for sale. Canadian pedigrees, semen tested. Phone (780)336-4009, Kinsella, AB.

You always get what you want at: Crop Production Services (Canada) Inc. Stettler - 403-742-8540 www.PrecisionPac.com

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Red Angus 38 REGISTERED RED ANGUS bulls, (from 6 sires) DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 17 2/24/12 4:17 PM quiet, easy calving, low to moderate birth weight, good growth, EPD’s, guaranteed breeders, exc. for heifers or cows. Cleveley Cattle Company (780)689-2754, Ellscott, AB.

You always get what you want at:

Crop Production Services (Canada) Inc.

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Charolais REGISTERED RED FACTOR/WHITE BULLS yearling and 2/yr/olds, big butted, big nutted, quiet, semen tested, guaranteed, 50% down 50% upon free delivery. Call (403)933-5448, cell(403)608-1116. www.willowbrookcharolais.webs.com

Taber - 403-223-2807

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Hereford

www.PrecisionPac.com

HEREFORD BULLS, YEARLINGS AND two year olds, dehorned, excellent quality, check out our catalogue of bulls for sale by private treaty at Coulee Crest Herefords, couleecrest.ca (403)227-2259 or (403)5886160, Bowden, Ab.

VERSATILE 2200 HOE DRILLS, 42ft. Atom jet openers, tarps, liquid fertilizer kit, $5,000 OBO; 1998 Dodge truck box, dually, $1,200; Summers 70ft multi weeder, $4,800;

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Wanted WANTED: NH BALE WAGONS & retrievers, any condition. Farm Finding Service, 2/24/12 P.O. DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC &Equipment AB.indd 15 4:17 PM Box 1363, Polson, MT 59860. (406)883-2118

JD 9400, 9420, 9520, 8970 JD 7810 & 7210, FWA JD 9860, 9760, 9750, 9650, 9600 JD 9430, 9530, 9630 CIH 8010 w/RWD, lateral tilt, duals 900 hrs. Case STX 375, 425, 430, 450, 480, 500, 530 CIH 8010-2388, 2188 combine 9880, 9882, 9680, 9682 NH, 4WD 3630 Spray Coupe CIH 435Q, 535Q, 450Q, pto avail.

JD 4710, 4720, 4730, 4830, 4920, 4930 SP sprayers CIH 9380 Quad, c/w blade, also 440 & 500 quads JD 9770 & 9870 w/CM & duals CIH 3185, 3230, 4260, 3150, 4420 sprayers CIH Skidsteer 440 & 430 9580 Kubota, FWA, FEL, low hours 3545 MF w/FWA FEL Rogator 1064-854-664 Selection of Combine Headers & Haying Equipment

WANTED: Small square balers and end Wheel Seed Drills, Rock Pickers, Rock Rakes, Tub grinders, also JD 1610 cultivators (403)308-1238

You always get what you want at: Cargill AgHorizons Vegreville - 780-632-2363

“LIKE MANY BEFORE, WE’LL HAVE YOU SAYING THERE’S NO DEAL LIKE A KEN DEAL” •Phone: (403)526-9644 •Cell: (403)504-4929 •Greg Dorsett (403)952-6622 •Email: kendeal@shaw.ca

www.PrecisionPac.com

GENERATORS DIESEL GENERATOR SET. BF8M1015C, rebuilt Deutz Diesel, 400 KW, 60 cycle, 600 Vac. New generator, automatic shut down, $29,000. Blue Ball, PA (717)351-5081 We know that farming is enough of a gamble so if you want to sell it fast place your ad in the Alberta Farmer Express classifieds. It’s a Sure Thing. Call our toll-free number today. We have friendly staff ready to help. 1-888-413-3325.

IRON & STEEL PIPE FOR SALE 3-1/2IN., 2-7/8in., 2-3/8in., 1in. Sucker Rods. Henderson Manufacturing Sales. (780)672-8585

You always get what you want at: Richardson Pioneer Fairview - 780-835-3003 www.PrecisionPac.com

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

You always get what you want at: Richardson Pioneer Oyen - 403-664-2620 www.PrecisionPac.com

PERSONAL

CAREERS

AVAILABLE BACHELORETTES

CAREERS Farm / Ranch

In her 40’s, this lady is calm, relaxed, financially secure, slim, attractive, in great shape, really takes care of herself, hair, nails, skin, teeth. I believe in hygiene. I’m often told how good I smell & I like that. I’m an excellent cook. I’m looking for a romantic man that enjoys travel, the outdoors, quadding or canoeing in the summer but also enjoys the finer things in life. I do prefer a man who is ready to settle down 40-60, age is not a concern if he has vitality At 30, this girl is sweet, country fresh, has a great career, wonderful smile, beautiful on the inside & out. I’m an adventurous person, I will try anything once. I love the outdoors as I grew up on a farm so I am used to fishing, hunting & hard work. I am picky, I like tall as I am 5’8, 131lbs. He has to have a stable income, maybe he could farm & own a business, my parents are farmers, but business owners too. I enjoy flying, love horses, dogs & animals love me. I’m a happy person but I want to be married with children in the next 5 years. I’m open to share my life with a man who has children from another marriage if he is the right person

You always get what you want at: DynAgra (a division of) Beiseker Agri Services Ltd.

Help Wanted for calving and feedlot work on a large farm near Hayter, Alberta to begin April 1. Experience with cattle and equipment an asset. Please phone or fax (780)753-4720. Help wanted for field work on a large farm near Hayter, AB beginning May 1. Previous experience operating farm equipment, mechanical ability and class 1 or 3 driver’s license an asset. Please phone or fax (780)753-4720. DON’T JUST VISIT, LIVE IT! Agricultural placements in EUROPE, UK, AUSTRALIA or NEW ZEALAND. Wide range of jobs (4-12 months) awaiting experienced individuals ages 18-30. Book an AgriVenture program now! www.agriventure.com 1-888-598-4415. Canadian farmers looking for extra hands are also encouraged to apply for international trainees.

Beiseker - 403-888-1030 www.PrecisionPac.com

You always get what you want at: Richardson Pioneer Camrose - 780-679-5230 www.PrecisionPac.com

CAREERS Help Wanted

GRAIN FARM: F/T Must be seeding operations ready, GPS familiar & self motivated. Class 1 or intent necessary. Mechanics & grain experience are assets. Wage dependant on qualifications. (403)364-2129 fax resume (403)364-2004 masonFRESH LONGHORN CALVES, 15 steers, 12 heifQUALITY ROUND HAY, VARIOUS mixes, delivery Delia, AB ers, ready toBCrope, $500/hd. AB. or loaded, volume discounts, DP2371_PPAC_Classified & AB.indd 29 Grande Prairie,2/24/12 4:17 PM DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 20 Premium oat green2/24/12 farms@netago.ca 4:17 PM DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 25 (780)402-1355 feed also available. (403)637-2258, Didsbury, AB. Matchmakers Select 1-888-916-2824

LIVESTOCK Cattle Various

LIVESTOCK Sheep For Sale PLAN TO ATTEND THE Warren and Norine Moore 6th Annual Pound Maker Ram Sale with guest consignors. 115 yearling rams sell by auction Thursday, May 24th, 2012 at Fort Macleod Alberta. Suffolk, Dorset, Hampshire, Rambouillet, North Cheviot and Coloured. For more information call Warren (403)549-2464

www.selectintroductions.com Rural, remote, small communities, towns, villages. Face to face match making, customized memberships, thorough screening process. Let a professional take care of your personal life today with confidence & discretion

IS ENOUGH OF

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

INNISFAIL AUCTION MART Friday, April 27, 2012 10:00AM Your Consignments Welcome Plus Vehicles!

CATTLE SALES

Every Wednesday 2 Horse Sales Each month

DAINES RANCH PROFESSIONAL RODEO

June 14 - 17th Best Cowboys in the World! 403-227-3166

You always get what you want at:

WE ADDED MORE TIRE SIZES! 23.1-26, 12 PLY, $1154; 11R22.5, $299; 13.00-24, 12, PLY $436; 16X70-20, 14 PLY, $795 (equivalent to 405/70-20); 17.5-25, 24 PLY, $839; 20.5-25, 24 PLY, $1390; 23.5-25, 24 PLY; $1690. Factory direct. More sizes available new and used. 1-800-667-4515. www. combineworld.com

www.PrecisionPac.com

You always get what you want at: Kneehill Soil Services Ltd.

www.PrecisionPac.com

Advertise in the Alberta Farmer Express Classifieds, it’s a Sure Thing!

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Feed Grain

TRAVEL

BUYING ALL TYPES OF feed grain. Also have market for light offgrade or heated, picked DP2371_PPAC_Classified up on the BC & AB.indd 22 farm. Eisses Grain Marketing 1-888-882-7803, Ukraine/Romania – June (403)350-8777 Lacombe.

Agriculture Tours

FEED GRAIN WANTED! ALSO buying; Light, tough, or offgrade grains. “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252

1-888-413-3325

BUY AND SELL ANYTHING YOU NEED THROUGH THE

2/24/12

2012 Scotland/England/Wales – June 2012 2012 European Cruises – Call for Details Australia & New Zealand – Jan/Feb 2013 Tours may be Tax Deductible Select Holidays 1-800-661-4326

GREAT RATES WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE. 4:17 PM

CLASSIFIEDS

HAY FOR SALE, 2011, excellent quality, no rain, 1600/lbs, 70% alfalfa, 30% grass, (403)854-2240, 403-854-0420, Hanna, Ab.

HAY FOR SALE, BIG JD bales, good quality, delivery available, first cut $34/ton, Oat greenfeed $34/ton New hay, 18.76 protein analysis done, $50/Ton (403)665-2341

SHAVINGS FOR BEDDING BRITEWOOD Industries manufactures high quality pine shavings & super-compresses them into 4x4 bales. Call for truckload quotes or for a dealer in your area. www.britewood.ca. sales@ britewood.ca Tony (250)372-1494, Ron (250)804-3305

LIVESTOCK Livestock Services & Vet Supplies HERD BOOKS COW/CALF SOFTWARE for Canadian producers handles all CCIA forms 90 day trial. For details see www.herdbooks.com

REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE Houses & Lots 5/YR OLD 1400/SQ. FT. 2/bdrm bungalow, corner lot, in Coalhurst, Ab. all appliances included, fireplace, on suite in MB, double garage, no steps, covered patio, 12x14ft detached hobby shop, c/w overhead door, heated and insulated, small garden, Must be seen to be appreciated! Call for appointment weekdays only @ (403)327-6075. Available in the spring.

You always get what you want at: Neerlandia - 780-674-2820

You always get what you want at: Dunvegan Ag Solutions

Rycroft - 780-765-2865 www.PrecisionPac.com

Richardson Pioneer Dunmore - 403-527-6600 www.PrecisionPac.com

DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 26

Neerlandia Co-op Association Ltd.

STEWART HAIR CLIPPER; CIRCUITEER hog blower/ dryer; Calf puller; Burdizo, tatoo set, ear labeling tools; Scrotum tape; (403)227-4403, Innisfail, Ab.

You always get what you want at:

1-888-413-3325

HAY FOR SALE: 980 round at 3 cents per lb, 2011 crop, Alfalfa Timothy, Orchard Grass Grass mix, 5’X10’ PORTABLE CORRAL PANELS, 6 bar. Orchard Starting at BC $55.& AB.indd Storage Containers, 20’ &2/24/12 40’ DP2371_PPAC_Classified 24 4:17 PM Grass Clover mix, little rain. (780)696-2491 Breton, AB. 1-866-517-8335, (403)540-4164, (403)226-1722 JIFFY 220 SILAGE FEED Wagon, always shedded, excellent condition, $5,000; (403)227-4403, Innisfail

2/24/12 4:17 PM

BUY 1 PROVINCE, BUY TWO PROVINCES OR BUY ALL THREE.

SEED / FEED / GRAIN

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Hay & Straw LIVESTOCK Livestock Equipment

www.PrecisionPac.com

More Options to Save You Money

Drumheller - 403-823-4600

CERT #1 UNITY-WASKADA Midge Tolerant VB Vigor & Germination tested 97%. Winter & Volume Pricing. (306)874-7590, Naicam, SK.

Grande Prairie - 780-814-6111

Linden - 403-546-4050

DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 21

PEDIGREED SEED Cereal – Wheat

Neufeld Petroleum & Propane Ltd.

Kneehill Soil Services Ltd.

Standard - 403-644-3707

GRAZING LEASES FOR SALE, Parcel #1 is DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 19 North Eaglesham 2/24/12 4:17 PM 885/ac & Parcel #2 is 965/ac area, Call Paul @ (780)359-2261

You always get what you want at:

DynAgra

REAL ESTATE Farms & Ranches – Pastureland

2/24/12 4:17 PM

A GAMBLE...

SMALL SQUARE BALES HORSE hay, Crossfield, Ab. 50/lb bales $3.00/per bale, (403)946-5481, (403)613-4570

LIVESTOCK Horse Auctions

MACHINERY AUCTION

FARMING

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Hay & Straw

www.PrecisionPac.com

DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 23

Stretch your

2/24/12 4:17 PM

ADVERTISING DOLLAR!

1-888-413-3325

2/24/12 4:17 PM

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

Monsanto prevails in suit brought by organic growers

is this enough snow?

Dismissed } Judge

criticizes plaintiffs for a “transparent effort to create a controversy where none exists.” By Carey Gillam Reuters

federal judge ruled in favour of global seed giant Monsanto last month, dismissing a lawsuit brought by a consortium of U.S. organic farmers and seed dealers who said their industry is at risk from Monsanto’s growing market strength. U.S. District Court Judge Naomi Buchwald, for the Southern District of New York, threw out the case brought by the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) and dozens of other plaintiff growers and organizations, criticizing the groups for a “transparent effort to create a controversy where none exists.” The Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) filed the suit last March on behalf of more than 50 organizations challenging the agricultural giant’s patents on its genetically modified seeds. The group wanted a ruling that would prohibit Monsanto from suing the farmers or dealers if their organic seed becomes contaminated with Monsanto’s patented biotech seed germplasm. But Judge Buchwald said Monsanto had not sued or even started the process of suing anyone of the plaintiffs or anyone in “similar stead.” “We’re disappointed. We think the judge erred in her ruling,” said Jim Gerritsen, spokesman for the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association. “There seems to be significant room for appeal. The reason we filed this lawsuit is because family farmers are at risk. That risk has not gone away,” Gerritsen said. Monsanto has filed 144 patent infringement lawsuits against farmers between 1997 and April 2010, and won judgments against farmers they claimed made use of their seed without paying required royalties. “This decision is a win for all farmers as it underscores that agricultural practices such as ag biotechnology, organic and conventional systems do and will continue to effectively coexist in the agricultural marketplace,” said Monsanto general counsel David Snively. “This ruling tore down a historic myth, which is commonly perpetuated against our business by these plaintiffs and other parties through the Internet, noting that not only were such claims unsubstantiated but, more importantly, they were unjustified.” Monsanto has said that it is committed to never suing farmers over the inadvertent presence of biotechnology traits in their fields. Judge Buchwald said in her ruling that Monsanto’s promise should be a source of comfort. “Even were there credible threats of suit from defendants, there is no evidence that plaintiffs are infringing defendants’ patents, nor have plaintiffs suggested when, if ever, such infringement will occur,” she wrote in her ruling.

Our cats have been spoiled for the lack of snow this winter. I believe they are a little “put out” with the recent snowfall. photo: jeannette greaves

CLIENT: SYNGENT

PROJECT QUILT ON

PUBLICAT ALBERTA EXPRESS

DESIGNE CB

( ) MECHA

FINAL SIZ

UCR: 240

CLIENT S

PROOFRE

ART DIRE

PRODUCT

Apply Quilt® fungicide at the flag leaf stage and you’ll boost your returns. That’s because the X-Factor of Quilt protects the flag leaf – the plant’s single biggest contributor to grain fill – from stem to tip. The bottom line: An investment in Quilt pays off. For more information, contact our Customer Resource Centre at 1-87-SYNGENTA (1-877-964-3682) or visit SyngentaFarm.ca Always read and follow label directions. Quilt,® the Alliance Frame, the Purpose Icon and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. © 2012 Syngenta Canada Inc.

4671-A SYN Quilt on Cereals-AlbertFarmerExp.indd 1

12-03-02 11:48 AM

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Cold spell and dryness set back European grain crops DROUGHT  Much of Britain is facing a drought after groundwater hit levels not seen in over 35 years BY GUS TROMPIZ PARIS/REUTERS

severe cold spell in early February damaged wheat in eastern France but appears to have had more limited impact on the crop elsewhere in western Europe, where attention is now turning to the risk of dry weather cutting yields in this year’s harvest. Crop surveys have shown unusually big losses to wheat in France, altering earlier expectations that deep frosts had hurt durum and barley but spared wheat in the European Union’s top grain producer. Consultants Agritel and Offre & Demande Agricole each gave an initial estimate of five to 10 per cent of the wheat area at risk of being resown in the east and north east of the country, with a potential loss of up to a million tonnes to the national crop. “In the east and north east there really are hectares that will have to be resown,” Agritel’s Nicolas Pinchon said. “As time goes on it looks like it will be more like one million tonnes lost.” Winter losses remained unclear as plant growth was still resuming and some farmers yet to decide whether to resow wheat fields with other crops, notably spring barley, analysts said. The overall impact could be cushioned by the fact France was already expected to see a rise in production after farmers were thought to have sown more wheat in the autumn and assuming better yields than in a droughtaffected 2011 crop.

France harvested 34 million tonnes of wheat last year, down from 35.7 million in 2010, according to farm ministry data.

More rain needed

A relatively dry January and February in parts of France has now revived concerns about a lack of moisture after the 2011 spring drought and very mild autumn and early winter left French water reserves mostly below normal levels. “More than winter damage, what could impact yields in the longer run is a lack of rain,” Sophie Metge of analysts Strategie Grains said. “It needs to rain more if we are to have good yields.” Dry conditions are already raising the risk of a spring drought in Italy, Spain and the UK, countries that saw little effect on crops from last month’s freezing weather. In import-dependent Spain, long-running dryness was still the top concern, even if crop prospects were better than a year ago. “The harvest doesn’t look good because of the drought, but it does have good production potential,” said Antonio Caton, crop technician with Farm Co-operatives. “But if it doesn’t rain within a fortnight, all bets may be off.” Spain’s total grain harvest can vary between 13 million and 23 million tonnes, depending on crop weather, notably in spring. In Italy, wheat crops were seen as satisfactory but dryness was a risk there too for the spring, especially for maize. Less than half the usual rainfall

A cow stands under a tree on the dry pastures of Ourique in Southern Portugal on Mar. 3. After Portugal’s driest February in 80 years, farmers are praying for a miracle as drought ravages pastures and sparks forest fires, exacerbating the country’s economic crisis. PHOTO: REUTERS/JOSE MANUEL RIBEIRO was registered in the north east in January and February, Italy’s association of irrigators ANBI said. Less snowfall than usual in the mountains was also registered in the mountains of the northern region of Veneto in the OctoberJanuary period, ANBI added. This will reinforce dry conditions in the crop-growing region. Much of Britain is facing a drought after groundwater hit levels not seen in over 35 years. As in France and Italy, recent rain was seen as beneficial for moisture levels. “The rain we had over the weekend will have helped crops and built reserves a bit,” Jack Watts, senior analyst with the HomeGrown Cereals Authority said. Britain’s wheat harvest rose

slightly last year despite a severe spring drought but Watts said if there was a similar situation this year the outcome would be less favourable due to lower water reserves. “I think we would be very unlucky to see those kind of conditions again this year,” he said.

Limited losses in Germany

For the moment, UK grain and oilseed crops appeared to be generally in good condition, echoing expectations in Germany where crops are thought to have escaped widespread winter damage. “It is still too early for precise forecasts but it seems Germany could escape with a black eye from the cold snap,” one German analyst said. “Currently there are only signs of relatively modest

and isolated damage to wheat and rapeseed.” Germany, the EU’s No. 2 grain producer, saw temperatures as low as minus 20 C for two weeks in January and February. “Snow cover seems to have been thin at the time of the freeze-up but enough to have prevented widespread frost damage,” another analyst commented. “Sales of spring grain seeds seem to be at normal levels indicating farmers do not anticipate widespread replanting.” The absence of major winter damage in Germany could help offset losses in France, although analysts said they were awaiting indications on eastern EU producers like Poland to gauge the overall impact of winter on the EU wheat crop.

Chinese sign record-large U.S. soy purchase agreement DEAL  13.4 million tonnes, worth $6.7 billion

Summer Performance Fuel. All year round.

BY KARL PLUME REUTERS

A Chinese trade delegation signed deals Feb. 17 to buy a record amount of U.S. soybeans during a visit to the United States at a time when a harsh drought has slashed crops in rival soy exporters in South America. The delegation inked agreements for 13.4 million tonnes valued at $6.7 billion, the U.S. Soybean Export Council said, a quarter of the more than 55 million tonnes the world’s largest soybean buyer will import from global suppliers this year. The agreements — signed during a visit by Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping — paired Chinese powerhouses such as state-owned trading house

Diesel fuel formulations to meet your needs. Changes over the past few years in the refining process of diesel means that a similar density fuel is now available all year round. For optimum power & fuel economy, you can fill up your tanks anytime of the year with UFA.

COFCO Co Ltd and grain reserve manager Sinograin with the likes of Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge, and Cargill, among others. The deals, which are not technically sales but often lead to confirmed sales, come as U.S. farmers begin preparing to plant their 2012 crop amid thin stockpiles and as South American crop prospects shrink following a drought. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Feb. 17 confirmed the sale of 2.92 million tonnes of U.S. soybeans to China, a single-day sales record To date, China has purchased nearly 3 million tonnes of U.S. soybeans for shipment in 2012/13, compared with more than 5.1 million tonnes at the same point last year, according to USDA data.

©THINKSTOCK

18313_02A UFA FuelAd_6x6.624 4c.indd 1

3/2/12 2:07 PM

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

RTM FOCUS

A good insurance agent is naturally nosey DETAILS MATTER } Insurance agent needs to know all the details of

every farm building and its contents in order to provide solid coverage by helen mcmenamin

af contributor | lethbridge

As soon as you put up a new building, you need to insure it. That means your insurance agent needs to know all the details of every building on the farm, including what’s in it. “Any time I write up a new policy for a farm, I ask endless questions,” says Jill Wiseman, a broker with Canada BrokerLink, a company that offers commercial and other insurance, including farm insurance. When discussing outbuildings, she wants measurements, construction type, what sort of flooring it has, whether it’s heated and how, what it’s used for, who owns whatever is in the building, and whether it is for farm or personal use. “Some people think I’m asking too much,” Wiseman says. “But I’m old school. I started out in claims, so I’ve seen how things can go wrong. I ask a lot of questions and talk about all the details with clients because I want to be clear about the sort of building and what’s in it, so I can get you the coverage you need. “If you run any sort of a business out of your shop, I’ll ask about the business. An insurance policy may exclude certain businesses unless that use is specified. Each answer leads to another question. If it’s a storage building, do you store flammables? What’s the security? If it’s a barn, what sort of animals, how many and whose are they. If it’s horses, I’ll ask what sort of horses and how many stalls, who owns the horses, and is it a business, is tack stored and what’s its value?” Wiseman also asks about the distance to other buildings. She likes to have photo-

Insurers want to know how a building is constructed, and what it contains, especially live animals. photo: laura rance graphs to get a sense of the building and its situation, and the other buildings on the property. Photos also help her avoid situations that might lead to conflict later. “If the building is a chicken coop that’s 50 years old and ready to fall down, I’m not going to insure it,” says Wiseman.

Notify of changes

After a building is insured, likely as part of a policy for the whole farm business, you need to tell your insurance agent when there is any change to the building or the way you use it. “The onus for accuracy is on both parties, the client and the agent,” says Wiseman. “So check your coverage every year and when you change anything and don’t hesitate to call and discuss details.” You should tell the agent about any

changes, such as storing fertilizer in a building that was used as cold storage for equipment when the policy was written. The other thing that affects coverage is ownership of whatever is in a building — personal items stored in a farm building may not be covered under the farm building policy, and farm equipment in the garage may not be covered under the homeowner’s insurance. The agent also has an obligation to ask questions periodically. Wiseman does this annually, either by phone or letter, with suggestions or questions based on her knowledge of your operation. Appropriate questions are part of the Code of Conduct required of insurance agents by the Alberta Insurance Institute, which states agents are expected to advise clients on their needs.

No such thing as a simple building Codes } Farm buildings are exempt, but following them is still advisable

by helen mcmenamin

af contributor | lethbridge

Every building project is unique and needs to be planned and built to match its purpose and its location, say experts. “It doesn’t mean every building needs an engineer to review that specific project,” says Don Carlson, building sales manager of UFA. “You may be able to use a pre-engineered package. A small shop, or a building that a farmer can put up on their own can be pre-designed to fit any situation you can reasonably expect in Alberta.” Any building that is going to be used for commercial purposes,

other than your own farming, must meet commercial building codes. In a farm situation, you can put up virtually any sort of building you want. Only commercial buildings have to comply with the Alberta Building Code. There is a National Farm Building Code, but it provides guidance rather than rules you must follow. Snow-loading capacity is important in northern areas where heavy snowfalls are common, but in other areas, especially the southwest, wind loads have to be considered. The size and complexity is the first consideration in deciding whether to frame the building with poles or studs, or with lami-

Any building that is going to be used for commercial purposes, other than your own farming, must meet commercial building codes.

nated poles. Engineered poles are needed for walls that are higher than about 12 or 14 feet. Laminated poles are good for buildings up to 100 feet wide. Buildings bigger than that need special consideration for mid-span support or consider using steel. The type of frame affects the type of foundation. Studs need to be bolted to a concrete floor or at least footings. Carlson likes to have concrete foundations under poles to prevent the poles lifting out or sinking from frost heaves, wet soil or other unexpected conditions. “A good foundation for the poles of a building will improve its overall design considerably,” he says. “It costs a little more, but it can increase the lifespan of the building quite significantly.” The number and size of posts and how they work with things like machinery doors all affect the materials you need. “Everything has to work together,” says Carlson. “That’s where it really pays to have a solid support system behind the person who sells you the building. And, of course, you want good-quality materials that meet the needs of your area.”

All this questioning may make it seem like the agent is looking for ways to sell more insurance, but Wiseman says she respects a client’s right to self-insure. She just wants them to be aware of their options. “If you have animals, I’ll ask if you want mortality coverage,” she says. “You might not be aware that such insurance is available or what the cost might be. And I always suggest at least $2 million for liability — it may be needed and it costs very little.” Many also don’t know there is coverage for care, custody and control, which insures an owner against mishaps to other people’s animals at his or her farm. Wiseman recalls a farmer who rented pasture to a neighbour, but failed to warn about a hazard that the animals could encounter. There were losses and the owner of the animals, until then a friend, sued.

BUILDING ON TRUST Constructive solutions for your farm

Perma-Column concrete posts only from Integrity Post Structures in Canada

ALBERTA-BASED | TRUE SERVICE Machine Sheds | Farm Shops | Barns | Riding Arenas

FREE QUOTE & SITE VISIT

1-866-974-7678

IntegrityPostStructures.com

} extremes

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Cold hits French crop

La Niña to boost Australia?

Severe winter weather in the past month could cut this year’s wheat crop in France by about one million tonnes. That’s roughly three per cent of production, but some areas in the east and northeast could suffer losses of up to 10 per cent, according to the latest estimates. France harvested about 34 million tonnes of wheat last year and initial projections from analysts had called for a bigger crop in 2012. Extreme winter conditions swept across Europe in late January and early February, claiming hundreds of lives in eastern countries. — Reuters

La Niña continues to decline, but still hasn’t lost its punch, says Australia’s weather bureau. “While La Niña is clearly on the wane, waters around Australia remain warmer than normal, maintaining the potential for increased rainfall over the continent,” the Australian Bureau of Meteorology said. The influence of La Niña is expected to drive higher yields and production in Australia’s agricultural belts — although some eastern Australian farms have been inundated with flood rains for a second year running, with at least two more months of the summer wet season to go. “We don’t see a change in planted area because of the late rains,” said Andre Pessoa, director at Agroconsult analysts. — Reuters

Eight all-time records for heat, only one for cold la niÑa } It would normally have meant a cooler year, but it didn’t

by daniel bezte

s we slowly make our way into 2012, I thought we should take a little bit of time to look back at how 2011 turned out globally. I’ve already mentioned that the last half of 2011 saw our region of the world see record-warm temperatures along with very dry conditions. Globally the Earth in 2011 came in tied with 1997 as the 11thwarmest year since reliable record-keeping began in 1880, according to the U.S. NOAA National Climate Data Center. Its counterparts at NASA rated 2011 as the ninth warmest on land and the eighth warmest over the oceans. If we look only at the high latitudes (those regions above 64 degrees N), 2011 was the warmest year ever recorded. While we were dry during the second half of 2011, the world as a whole saw the second-wettest year on record, only being beaten out by 2010. If we look at the all-time extreme heat and cold records set across the globe in 2011, we find eight all-time records for extreme heat and only one record for all-time extreme cold. Zambia recorded an all-time record high of 42.8 C on Oct. 26, which interestingly came only four months after that same country set and all-time extreme cold record of -9 C. This all-time cold record was the first time this type of record has been broken since 2009.

The year 2011 saw a fairly strong La Niña event over the Pacific Ocean. This event brings large amounts of cold water to the surface of the ocean (remember the Pacific Ocean covers about half the surface of the Earth). This cold water helps to cool global temperatures by around 0.2 C. So the fact that 2011 turned out to be so warm is a little surprising. Looking back at previous La Niña years, 2011 turned out to be the warmest La Niña year ever recorded.

Natural causes?

There has been a bunch of talk lately about natural causes that are contributing to these warm temperatures. A recent study by Grant Foster and Stefan Rahmstorf titled Global Temperature Evolution 1979-2010 took a look at five major global temperature datasets and then tried to adjust them to account for the three main natural drivers of global temperatures: El Niño/La Niña, volcanic dust, and changes in sunlight. They found that while these features can have year-toyear effects on temperatures, they had little to no effect on global temperatures over the long term. That is, natural causes of global warming had little to do with the observed increase in global temperatures over the last 33 years. So they concluded that the observed global warming is the result of human activity, some unknown natural source, or some combination of the two.

This shows the total precipitation across the Prairies during February. The month saw a bit of a reversal of precipitation patterns compared to most of the winter and fall. Northern areas only saw light precipitation while southern areas saw slightly heavier amounts.

Could there be some unknown natural cause for the current warming we have been experiencing? The simple answer is that there could be. Ideas have been bantered around such as that a decrease in cloud-producing cosmic rays, or that the increase in carbon dioxide will help produce more clouds, will in turn reduce the effects of the heat-trapping gas. Currently publishing climate scientists don’t support these theories. There is also a lot of talk in the

media and by the public in general that there is no consensus among climate scientists as to the impact human activity is having on our climate. In a poll conducted in 2008, around 97 per cent of actively publishing climate scientists answered “yes” to the question, “Do you think human activity is a significant contributing factor in changing mean global temperatures?”

Disinformation

For the public to fully understand what is going on, a couple of things have to happen. First, we need to continue to learn more about the weather and climate. As most of us know, if you do not have the knowledge to fully understand a topic it becomes easy for others to use disinformation to try to cast doubt on it. This method of trying to mislead the public was first used by the tobacco industry back in 1960s to try to keep the public smoking by questioning the research link-

ing smoking to health problems. This worked so well that we see this same strategy being used today with global warming. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have scientists who are skeptical and try to challenge the current thinking. After all, that is how the scientific process works. We can’t though, just sit back and wait while different ideas are tossed out about global warming that may or may not dramatically change our current understanding of the Earth and the climate system. After all, dramatic changes like this don’t happen very often. I’ll conclude with a quote from Dr. Ricky Rood. “Given that greenhouse gases are well known to hold energy close to the Earth, those who deny a human-caused impact on weather need to pose a viable mechanism of how the Earth can hold in more energy and the weather not be changed. Think about it.”

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 12, 2012

TD Canada Trust

With the right advice, the Martins were able to build for the future Matthew Martin Dairy farmer

Every day, TD Agriculture Specialists are helping farmers. Just ask Matthew Martin, who relied on our understanding of agriculture financing and our personalized approach to help him get exactly what he was looking for. Contact one of our Agriculture Services Specialists today to see how we can help your business. Kelly Toft District Manager Southern Alberta 403-331-1385 kelly.toft@td.com

Troy Packet District Manager Central Alberta 780-361-3231 troy.packet@td.com

Banking can be this comfortable

® / The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank or a wholly-owned subsidiary, in Canada and/or other countries.

Shane O’Neill District Manager Northern Alberta 780-305-1433 shane.o’neill@td.com

B:10.25”

T:10.25”

MARCH 12, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

S:10.25”

Freedom from wild oats.

Always read and follow label directions. Varro™ is a trademark of Bayer. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

C-76-03/12-BCS12035-E

T:15.5”

BayerCropScience.ca/Varro or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative.

B:15.5”

S:15.5”

New Varro™ herbicide for wheat. Freedom from Group 1 herbicide resistance. Freedom to select your preferred broadleaf partner. Freedom to re-crop.