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GREENHOUSES IN ALBERTA » PAGE 40 Prices in effect from March 26 to April 30, 2012 Publications Mail Agreement # 40069240

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New research:

Reclaimed land less productive NOT RECOVERED } ARECA finds land reclaimed from oil

and gas lease sites, borrow pits, and gas pipelines can suffer a 10-bushel-an-acre yield drop by madeleine baerg af contributor | calgary

any producers suspect reclaimed industrial sites are less productive than surrounding land, despite claims to the contrary from oil and gas companies. Recent research by the Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA) proves that producers are indeed correct, and provides a credible starting place for discussion about compensation. “Because these sites were signed off by the province, the expectation is that the yield should be similar to the surrounding area. But, it wasn’t,” said Ty Faechner, ARECA’s executive director, who presented the study’s findings at a recent conference in Calgary. The current evaluation process leading to reclamation sign-off is subjective, he said. “Assessment is completely visual and relies on very few measurements,” said Faechner. And while producers know there are productivity differences, until recently

they haven’t been able to measure yield losses. “When you go through those areas, you’ll see your combine yield monitor change, but by how much?” he said. So Alberta Environment engaged ARECA, a non-profit agency that provides unbiased applied research for Alberta’s agricultural producers, to get hard facts on reclaimed land’s productivity. Using combine-mounted yield monitors, researchers measured yield data from inside reclaimed sites and from the land immediately surrounding it. By dividing the plots into 20x20-metre grid cells, the researchers could analyze exactly how the yield changed over that area. The results were surprising. “What we found is that when we did a statistical comparison of yield data from offsite areas compared to the well site area, the yield was very different,” said Faechner. “We’re talking (as much as) a 10-bushel yield difference where inside a specific site was 74 bushels an acre and outside was 83 bushels an acre. “In 31 per cent of fields, there were significant crop yield differences. Of

see RECLAIMED LAND } page 6

Currently, there are about 200,000 reclaimed industrial sites in Alberta, including oil and gas lease sites, borrow pits, and gas pipelines. ©thinkstock

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NEWS » INSIDE THIS WEEK

INSIDE » OYF WINNERS Robert and Angela Semeniuk will represent Alberta

MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

LIVESTOCK

CROPS

BIOSECURITY A TEAM EFFORT

ON-FARM RESEARCH

COLUMNISTS BRENDA SCHOEPP CALVING SEASON NEEDS A BUSINESS PLAN

DANIEL BEZTE COMPARING THE FORECASTS FOR SPRING

POISONING GOPHERS CAUTION Using poison also puts natural predators at risk

Fly larvae new feed alternative BY WENDELL ROELF STELLENBOSCH,

SOUTH AFRICA REUTERS

Families tucking into a Sunday dinner of roast chicken or pork may not relish the idea of animals fattened on maggots. But one British entrepreneur in South Africa believes that maggots, the wriggling larvae of the common house fly (Musca Domestica), is a viable protein-rich alternative to make animal feed. A large part of the feed used today is fishmeal and depends on diminishing global fish stocks. David Drew, managing director of AgriProtein Technologies, plans to set up in South Africa the world’s first large-scale fully commercial factory producing “Magmeal”, an organic and sustainable replacement for fishmeal. “By 2050, at the current rates that we are using fishmeal, we will need two more planets’ oceans to feed ourselves. The world’s population is also expanding exponentially, with India and China helping drive poultry, beef and pork consumption,” Drew told Reuters. His existing test fly farm operates simply — flocks of flies contained in special containers lay eggs which turn into larvae after three days. Millions of teeming maggots are immersed in abattoir blood and feed on it to fatten up. They are later washed and harvested when fully grown at around 12 mm, before being dried, milled and pelleted for animal feed.

BERNIE PEET A foot bath alone might not be good enough

Farmers now have the technology

THE PROS AND CONS OF LARGE-GROUP FINISHING

WHAT’S IN YOUR WATER? Now is the time to find out TWO TESTS  There are two free tests available —

one to test for bacteria and the other for minerals BY SHERI MONK

Most minerals will merely cause an issue with the taste, odour or colour, but there are a few that can have negative health consequences.

AF STAFF/PINCHER CREEK

esting well water can be a chore that folks tend to put off, but it’s easy, fast and best of all, it’s free to do. Alberta Health Services offers the testing, and all landowners have to do is drop by a community health centre or health unit to pick up a test kit. There are two kinds of tests available — a bacteriological analysis and a chemical analysis. The first tests for bacteria that may indicate fecal contamination from sewage or manure. The second measures the concentration of naturally occurring minerals in the water. Most minerals will merely cause an issue with the taste, odour or colour, but there are a few that can have negative health consequences. Bacteriological tests should be performed twice a year on wells deeper than 50 feet, and four times annually on wells less than 50 feet deep. Chemical tests only need to be done every two to five years. Though it’s a busy time of year with calving and seeding, then weaning and harvesting, the best times to test are during the spring and the fall. It’s important to continually test, even if the results have always come back without any issue in the past. As more

Water testing takes only a few minutes, and the sample bottles and instructions are provided free of charge by Alberta Health Services. PHOTO: SHERRI MONK wells are drilled and there are increased disturbances in the aquifer, there is greater risk of contamination. Water can also become tainted by well caps and casings incorrectly installed, or because of contaminated surface water entering the well. To collect the water, use an untreated source before it gets to a water softener or any other treatment. If collecting from a faucet, let the water run for five minutes first

before filling the container provided as part of the test kit. Follow the instructions explicitly. Samples must be turned back in within 24 hours, to any community health centre or health unit. The collection bottles should be stored in the fridge until they are dropped off. They should not be frozen, and ice cubes should not be used. The tests are conducted at the Drumheller Environmental Public Health office,

and results are returned by mail within seven to 10 business days for bacteriological tests, and eight to 10 weeks for chemical tests. If there is a troubling result from a bacteriological test, a public health inspector will be in contact by telephone, usually within three days of testing. Samples are only eligible for the testing program if the water is intended for human consumption. Tests for financial transactions such as mortgages, or for the detection of dissolved gasses or for agricultural purposes will not be performed. Water may need to be tested more frequently than normal if there has been flooding or drought, or if a well hasn’t been used for some time. If the colour, smell or taste of well water changes suddenly, the water should be tested again to ensure remains safe to drink.

It’s time. Prices in effect from March 26 to April 30, 2012 18311_07 UFA LubeFilter_Banner_10.25x3.indd 1

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

Battle of the beta-agonists PREFERENCE  While it won’t say so directly, Cargill prefers one brand of beta-agonist over the other BY SHERI MONK

AF STAFF | LETHBRIDGE

“Maximizing performance and efficiencies pre-harvest at the expense of beef taste and tenderness concerns us.”

ne of North America’s largest beef buyers is telling feeders that it wants a little more fat and a little less lean, and is delivering a not-so-subtle hint on their choice of growth promotants to achieve it. “Maximizing performance and efficiencies pre-harvest at the expense of beef taste and tenderness concerns us — it’s not in the best interest in the long run,” Cargill’s senior beef buyer Steve Molitor told a recent feedlot conference here. The reference was to the use of beta-agonists, feed additives used to boost growth by diverting growth that would otherwise go into fat into lean meat. That’s an advantage for feedlot operators selling animals by the pound, but not for Cargill, which is looking to sell tender beef with plenty of marbling. Molitor even warned that markets for western beef in Eastern Canada might be at risk because consumers may begin to prefer U.S. product. “I don’t know that that’s true today, but I hope not, and I don’t want that to ever take place because at the end of the day we want everybody to believe that the product coming out of Canada is just as good of quality or better than anywhere out of the U.S.,” Molitor said. However, the undercurrent at the meeting was what is widely known in the feedlot industry, but not confirmed by Cargill, which is that it’s OK with one brand of betaagonist but not the other. The meeting was sponsored by Certified Angus Beef and Elanco, which manufactures Optaflexx,

STEVE MOLITOR CARGILL MEAT SOLUTIONS

Tight fed-cattle supplies mean tight supplies of well-marbled beef for the premium restaurant trade. one of two beta-agonists on the market. The other is Zilmax, manufactured by Merck Animal Health, known as Intervet Canada in this country. Both beta-agonists are approved for use in Canada and the U.S. Within the feeding sector, it is well known that Cargill will not buy beef finished with Zilmax, which is said to put on as much as 30 pounds of hot carcass weight, but with but a minor decrease in marbling. Optaflexx also helps cattle put on muscle, but isn’t quite as effective. Some research indicates cattle fed with Optaflexx can put on between 10 and 21 pounds of extra hot carcass weight, but it doesn’t appear to reduce marbling. “The bottom line is it’s a pretty linear reaction. Growth promotants that have the greatest effect on muscle deposition dilute the

Ritz says CFIA cuts won’t lessen food safety TRANSFER  The agency is handing off food

inspection in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and B.C. BY ALEX BINKLEY

CONTRIBUTOR / OTTAWA

Budget cuts at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency won’t weaken food safety protection, says Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “Food safety is a priority for this government,” Ritz told the Commons agriculture committee, adding a big chunk of the planned cost cutting will come from the winding down of the listeria inquiry into the 2008 tainted deli meat tragedy. Any further cuts will depend on the contents of the March 29 budget, but the government has no plans to trim food safety inspections, Ritz said. But NDP Agriculture Critic Malcolm Allen said the agency shouldn’t see any funding cuts because it only inspects two per cent of food imports and its budget is “considerably below where it was before the listeriosis crisis.” Ritz countered the CFIA has added 733 new food inspectors in the last few years and now has staff of about 7,500. “We have roughly one administrator, one inspection staff, a one-

to-one ratio, whereas it used to be as high as 2:1 at one point with the administration side,” said Ritz. “Last year $100 million was added into CFIA’s budget.” Ritz also rejected claims imported food isn’t inspected. “This fiscal year, to date, we’ve had 99 border blitzes and 480 enhanced inspections at the border. We also use a system now where there’s a lot more inspection done at point of origin — that is, the plant in the U.S., or so on, as the product comes up.” The CFIA no longer provides importers with 72 hours advance warning of an inspection because “that didn’t work really well” and has stepped up audits in food plants in 10 countries that account for 79 per cent of the products imported into Canada, Ritz said. The agency is handing off food inspection in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and B.C. to provincial bodies during the next 18 months, said Barbara Jordan, CFIA associate vice-president for operations. “The safety systems themselves are not changing,” she said. “It is a question of who is doing the delivery.”

fat, so essentially a reduction in marbling is pretty linearly related to how big of a boost we get in gain. And so that Zilmax increases gain greater than Optaflexx does and so not surprisingly, it does reduce marbling,” said independent animal feed expert Darryl Gibb.

Won’t confirm

However, Cargill is reluctant to confirm its refusal of Zilmax-finished animals. Molitor wouldn’t submit to any interviews at or after the conference, and all media requests had to go through Cargill’s official communications office. An email list of questions was submitted for Molitor, and he would not confirm or deny that Cargill is still refusing to buy animals who have been Zilmax finished. “Our policies toward betaagonists are determined by our

FILE PHOTO

customers and their beef requirements,” he answered via email. Lee-Anne Walter, performance products account manager for Merck, says she is well aware of Cargill’s position, but maintains there is plenty of room for both beta-agonists in the market. Sandra Gruber, who spoke at the conference for Elanco, wouldn’t speak about Cargill’s beta-agonist policy, but did say producers need the right to choose between available technologies.

Tight Choice supplies

Cargill’s concerns appear to stem from tight supplies of well-marbled Choice beef for the restaurant trade, made worse by the overall tight supplies of feedlot cattle. At the same time, feedlot operators, squeezed by high feeder prices on one side and high feed grain prices on the other, are looking for maxi-

mum efficiencies, especially when there is no assurance of premiums for more marbling. Molitor suggested the decrease in Choice supplies had been due to growth promotants, but also said the increase in high-quality black cattle has helped compensate. “That is a big concern for us that at some point, there just will not be enough Choice beef and I think we’ve just been fortunate enough that we’ve improved the herd so much that we really haven’t noticed it up until now,” Molitor said at the conference. Despite Cargill’s apparent concerns about Zilmax, it is not paying a premium to feeders who agree to use Optaflexx. Dr. Larry Corah, vice-president of Certified Angus Beef, said it prefers Optaflexx, but either betaagonist can be used and still fall under the Certified Angus Beef umbrella as long as it grades within their criteria. However, Corah also acknowledged Cargill’s concerns. “We’re more comfortable with a little less-aggressive growth technology strategy, whether that’s implants or beta-agonists,” Corah said.

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MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

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

Reporters Alexis Kienlen, Edmonton (780) 668-3121 akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

Funding new research greenhouse a wise decision

Sheri Monk, Pincher Creek (403) 627-9108 sheri.monk@fbcpublishing.com

PRODUCTION director Shawna Gibson Email: shawna@fbcpublishing.com

AsSistant PRODUCTION manager

Research } Alliances and collaboration

Farrah Wilson Email: farrah@fbcpublishing.com

with industry need to be established

Director of Sales & Circulation Lynda Tityk Email: lynda.tityk@fbcpublishing.com

By will verboven

CIRCULATION manager Heather Anderson Email: heather@fbcpublishing.com

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

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Alberta Farmer | Editor

t cost a lot of tax dollars, but the Alberta government investment in a new research greenhouse facility in Brooks could prove to be a wise decision for the future survival of the industry in Alberta. This province has a couple of distinct advantages when it comes to greenhouse crop production — lots of sunshine and lots of now-cheap natural gas for the colder months. The pioneers of the greenhouse industry understood those advantages and established the beginnings of the industry in Alberta almost 100 years ago. The industry has taken great strides forward in the past 30 years and much of that has to do with two factors — more and better greenhouse technology and plant genetics, and a steady influx of greenhouse operators and industry entrepreneurs from the Netherlands. The latter comes as no surprise, as the Dutch are longtime masters of intensive agriculture and especially greenhouse production. The Netherlands probably has the most concentrated and advanced greenhouse industry in the world, not just in production and marketing (think flowers), but in research, technology, plant genetics and innovation. The other thing they are good at is exporting expertise either through sales and consulting, or outright immigration to set up greenhouse businesses of every kind just about everywhere in Canada. Add to that Rabobank, the giant Dutch global agriculture development bank (it’s larger than any bank in Canada), and it’s no surprise that where there are greenhouses in the world, the Dutch are usually involved directly or through financing.

Having said that it causes one to ponder what the Alberta government rationale was in creating the new research greenhouse in Brooks. Was it because of a lack of greenhouse research? I suspect not. The Dutch are probably light years ahead in research, particularly their service and ever-inventive supply companies that are forever finding ways to sell their unique products. Hopefully, the new facility will not be spending its time reinventing the wheel, which at times seems to happen with Canadian research, such as with composting and biodigesters, much of which had already been done in Europe 10 years earlier. A positive sign as to the new facility’s credibility would be to see early alliances and collaboration with greenhouseresearch operations, agencies and universities in other countries, particularly the Netherlands. Also seeing domestic and international greenhouse industry service and supply companies involved in development and testing projects at the new facility would be a good sign as to the facility’s value. Greenhouse growers and industry associations will no doubt have considerable input into what is researched at Brooks. If not, they certainly should. Perhaps the local government along with provincial authorities could zone the area near the research facility as an exclusive greenhouse-industry development area. That might entice more production and research — tax incentives could encourage that development. There is the reality that the greenhouse business on a global scale is extremely competitive and the new facility may have to do redundant research just to help keep our growers in the game. That’s because leading-edge research that has commercial value is not usually shared all that

willingly between institutions and private companies. It may well be a race to see who comes first to complete the same research — inventions and patents, and their subsequent commercialization, are now the goal of so much research by agencies and institutions. Greenhouse plant genetics and agronomy come to mind as the main focus of the new facility. One hopes that would involve more genetic engineering of plants, but that remains a marketing minefield for the greenhouse industry. Such great strides could be made in plant efficiencies with GE, but alas, I expect GE greenhouse plants are well into the future. Yet great leaps continue to be made in areas like biocontrol of insect pests and disease. It’s hard to believe, but there is advanced research into greenhouse-variety plants themselves indicating through sensors when they need to be fed water and nutrients — not yet talking plants, but it’s getting amazingly close — it boggles the mind. I expect in Alberta, research would be needed to improve labour efficiencies in greenhouses. That’s probably common to most greenhouse operations anywhere in the world facing high labour costs. One continues to see crops like garlic, ginger, green beans, and speciality vegetables coming from China in increasing quantities thanks to their cheap labour costs. It would seem big Alberta greenhouse crops like peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes would be next to face Chinese competition. The only way to stay ahead of that inevitable onslaught of imports is to give Alberta greenhouse growers the technology and genetics they need to compete more efficiently. For that reason alone the new research greenhouse facility is a wise investment indeed.

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:

www.albertafarmexpress.ca or email: 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.

Bison: First of the refundable commissions bites the dust Double } Producer enthusiasm was not encouraged by both national and provincial checkoff by will verboven

he Bison Producers of Alberta (BPA) is the first of the refundable agriculture commissions to face the music and put itself out of business (see page 15). The obvious question is who will be next? The most likely candidates could be the elk or sheep commissions, both of which operate with few members and modest checkoff income. The demise of the BPA is an ominous sign as to the stability of refundable commissions. There is more to the BPA story. The organization has had to deal with circumstances that caused its checkoff process real grief and exasperation, but it looks to have been mostly self-inflicted. For one thing, Alberta bison producers have been faced with a double checkoff process

unique to the livestock business. Producers had to buy a national ID tag from their national organization. That tag, besides the cost, had a hefty national checkoff attached, some of which was returned to the provincial organizations. But in Alberta, producers were subsequently hit with another checkoff upon sale of the animal. Although both checkoffs were refundable, the double process seemed to annoy many producers, even the ones who supported checkoffs. The other problem was the BPA did not have a robust checkoff collection process at the provincial level. Some dealers and buyers refused to deduct the BPA levy and bison exports were exempted. That caused animosity between producers who paid the checkoff and those who didn’t. It seems the BPA was unwilling to enforce its col-

lection powers through audits and legal action against producers, dealers and buyers. That’s a surefire recipe for checkoff evasion. The refundable checkoff provision actually enabled that non-compliance attitude — some buyers challenged the BPA to “come and get them,” so to speak. The other accomplice in the demise of the BPA has been the Agricultural Products Marketing Council, under whose rules and regulations all marketing commissions and boards operate. It could have done a lot more in encouraging and supporting the BPA to make its checkoff process more effective, either through regulatory changes or legal enforcement — the fact is the issue has been brewing for many years. Although producers buried the BPA as a commission at their

The refundable checkoff provision actually enabled that noncompliance attitude — some buyers challenged the BPA to “come and get them,” so to speak.

recent AGM, they resolved to continue on as an association. Perhaps in the end that will be best for bison producers. But the demise of the BPA does send an ominous message to producers involved with other refundable livestock-marketing commissions.

©THINKSTOCK

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

Red meat study — perhaps the news isn’t really that bad FOOD DIARY  A red meat lover finds that when she does the numbers, she’s not eating enough to worry about BY SHERI MONK

AF STAFF | PINCHER CREEK

any readers have probably heard of the study recently released by Harvard School for Public Health, warning of the increased mortality risk associated with red meat. I can just imagine packers cringing as they heard the news, retail buyers adjusting their sales projections, and the feeders starting to sweat as they recalled the high prices they paid for their stock this fall. Honestly, I didn’t want the study to be true. But we don’t always get what we want and the study seems solid. It was conducted over a long period with a very large sample size — more than 120,000 people for more than 20 years. I even talked to the department head at Harvard to ensure I understood how risk factors like smoking and obesity were removed from the results. The participants in the study all worked in the health-care field, which would have provided a common ground with respect to education and access to health care. None had a pre-existing cardiac

or cancer condition. The study determined that one daily serving of unprocessed red meat — which is only 84 grams, or almost three ounces — was associated with a 13 per cent increased mortality risk. The risk ballooned to 20 per cent with one daily serving of processed red meat. The researchers were even able to divide the increased mortality risk by type — 18 per cent with unprocessed red meat and 21 per cent with processed for cardiovascular mortality, and 10 per cent and 16 per cent for cancer mortality. The study had concluded that reducing red meat consumption to less than a half-serving daily (which is 1.5 ounces or 42 grams) would have prevented 9.3 per cent of the deaths in the study’s men and 7.6 per cent of the female mortalities. I was disheartened to read all this, it just so happens that I spent my last two weekends making sausage and beef jerky, and I have a quarter of beef in my freezer. I like red meat and I adore beef — especially when it’s tender and rare. In fact, I’ll even use it as a method

of judging someone’s character. I absolutely wouldn’t go on a second date with a suitor who ordered his steak cooked anything beyond medium rare. I’d rather have a salad than an overcooked steak.

It is almost impossible to directly counter-market against the fallout from this study without pitting the industry against itself, or creating a credibility gap with consumers. So, I was a little bit frightened by the results. Because I work from home, I couldn’t even run to the desk of a co-worker to express my anxiety. Thankfully, I have a great dog, and after a frank discussion with him, we decided to figure out how much red meat we really eat around here.

I’ve become quite health conscious — we rarely eat out, I cook almost everything from whole ingredients, and I drink water and red wine almost exclusively. (Not together, of course.) For the last two months or so, I’ve even kept a precise food diary and when I analyzed it, the results were surprising. I’ve been consuming an average of 58 grams of red meat per day, or .69 of a three-ounce serving. Perhaps I’m not going to die so soon after all. If a red meat fan such as myself was already very close to the ideal intake, then surely, this study would have very little impact on consumers, right? That’s hard to call. Most people don’t keep food diaries, and like me, they might automatically assume they are eating too much without actually crunching the numbers. Furthermore, people who would take the study seriously are likely somewhat health conscious, and have probably been making an effort to buy the lean cuts, as well as the more expensive cuts, such as pork tenderloin and AAA roasts and steaks. As an industry, we cannot

afford to lose those consumers, especially in light of record-high pricing. McDonald’s buys an incredible amount of Alberta beef. Right now, Wendy’s is promoting its Baconator, which boasts a staggering number of fat grams and calories. I wouldn’t touch that stuff with a cattle prod, and it’s hard to believe that the mortality rates between someone whose red meat comes from a drive-through window wouldn’t be drastically higher than someone who prepares lean cuts at home. Now, I can come out and say that, but imagine for a moment how divisive it would be for Alberta Beef Producers to say the exact same thing. From a strategic standpoint, it is almost impossible to directly counter-market against the fallout from this study without pitting the industry against itself, or creating a credibility gap with consumers. It is said that one man’s meat is another man’s poison. Perhaps the industry shouldn’t try and spin this one at all. sherimonk@gmail.com

“Lean, finely textured beef,” or “pink slime?” TRIMMINGS  They’re turned into added-value products for processors, but they’re giving meat a bad name If you would like an earnest but somewhat dull defence of the product, check out the video on the U.S. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association website at beefusa.org. For a different but more entertaining take on the subject, go to YouTube and search for British celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver’s video on pink slime. His demonstration of how it’s manufactured involves a washing machine and a jug of household ammonia.

BY JOHN MORRISS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

“Laws are like sausages — it is best not to see them being made.” This quote has been widely but wrongly attributed to Otto Von Bismarck, the “Iron Chancellor” of Germany in the 19th century, which proves that misinformation was spreading long before the Internet. However, the Internet is certainly a much more efficient way of spreading misinformation, as well as information of the more accurate variety. For example, if you really do want to see how sausages are made, you can now go to YouTube and find out. Even better — or maybe worse — you can find out what most of us have always said before eating a hotdog: “I really don’t want to know how these things are made.” If not, then don’t go to YouTube and check out the video on hotdogs from the Discovery Channel program “How things are made.” It might actually put you off hotdogs — for a while. But who are we kidding? We always knew that hotdogs weren’t made from tenderloins and shoulder roasts. They’re made from “trimmings,” which doesn’t sound so bad. “Lean, finely textured beef” sounds even better. That’s a term that U.S. beef-industry officials have been using following a storm of media reports

Red meat lover You might not want to watch the video on how they are made. ©THINKSTOCK about a product which can be added up to 15 per cent to ground beef, but under a somewhat less appetizing term — “pink slime.” That term has apparently been used for some time, perhaps as a bit of a joke, among those who use it, but it recently hit the mainstream when a food blogger in Texas started a petition against its use in school lunch programs. As of last count it was at 225,000 signatures and counting. The product, whichever term you use, is trimmings heated to about 37 C and spun to remove most of the fat. The lean mix then is compressed into blocks, after it’s given what its proponents describe as “a puff of ammonium hydroxide gas” to kill bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella.

The meat industry is prone to defending itself against attack by claiming that its critics are closet if not overt vegetarians attempting to stop the use of animals for food, period. Oliver provides no such opportunity. He is an avid red meat lover, and his video begins with him leading a heifer with a cutting diagram on its hide into a butcher shop. A butcher takes down a carcass and holds the cuts up against the side of the animal to show the crowd exactly where they come from. It would be instructive for cattle producers to look at the two videos and think a bit about who they’d prefer to be speaking on their behalf. A university animal scientist talking about how lean finely textured beef is high in protein and perfectly safe to eat, or a chef talking about the virtues of properly cooking the various cuts and how the residue should go to the rendering plant for pet food? The pink slime controversy coincides

with a widely reported new report linking health with red meat consumption. Headline writers had a field day — among the samples were “Red meat death study,” “Will red meat kill you?” and “Singing the blues about red meat.” The press release study from the study’s source, the Harvard School for Public Health, was not quite so dramatic. It said that “one daily serving of unprocessed red meat (about the size of a deck of cards) was associated with a 13 per cent increased risk of mortality, and one daily serving of processed red meat (one hotdog or two slices of bacon) was associated with a 20 per cent increased risk.” Beef and pork producers may cringe at all this, but the message isn’t all that bad — you shouldn’t eat too much and you shouldn’t eat it every day. That’s OK — farmers producing poultry, dairy and pulses need to be able to sell their products too. And it’s apparent that the biggest health risk is not so much eating meat, but eating processed meat. This is the real dilemma for the industry. Packers like to be able to take the leftovers and earn extra revenue by turning them into wieners and salami and so on. That’s added value for the packer, and these products are an easy solution for the parents trying to prepare a quick lunch for the kids. But it’s the stuff that’s not good for you, and like pink slime, it’s giving meat a bad name.

Off the front

March 26, 2012 • Albertafarmexpress.ca

reclaimed land } from page 1

Study gives more reasons for passing on red meat

those fields (with crop yield differences), 78 per cent showed lower crop yields.” Because of limited funding, the research sample was small, just 29 fields in total, and Faechner said a larger sample size is needed to verify the study’s findings. “It’s a slice — clearly, it’s much better than we had before,” he said. “We’d like to be able to study this further, but what we have so far shows that there are inconsistencies between what is supposed to be reclaimed (and what is actually at full production).” Currently, there are about 200,000 reclaimed industrial sites

“There are so many of them, that cumulatively, they may have a big impact on agricultural land in the province.” Ty Faechner

Cut back } New

study finds “even a small amount of red meat” boosts mortality rates

Cumulatively, land in industrial sites has a large effect on agricultural production. ©thinkstock in Alberta, including oil and gas yield mapping can be applied to lease sites, borrow pits, and gas statistically evaluate reclamation pipelines. Most are relatively progress… using off-site controls small — typically three to four to make accurate, objective and acres — but they can add up. quantitative assessments,” he “There are so many of them, said. that cumulatively they may have “This is good, sound science. a big impact on agricultural land While farmers are compensated in the province,” said Faechner. for industrial disturbances, I Faechner called the research think this research provides a B:8.125” project a success. practical approach that’s reaT:8.125” “We’ve proven that GPS crop- sonable to establish compensaS:8.125”

tion and monitor the progress of reclamation, and I think the oil and gas industry would be in agreement since it helps manage risk. “I think it really helps provide a discussion point where people don’t necessarily have to get into conflict over compensation. To me, it’s a way to manage the conversation in a much more constructive fashion.”

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reuters People who eat a lot of red meat are more likely to die at any given time than those who go light on the burgers and hotdogs, according to a U.S. study that followed more than 100,000 people over several decades. The more servings of both processed and unprocessed red meat people reported eating daily, the higher their chances of dying over a more than 20-year span. “Red meat and especially processed red meat contains a lot of compounds and chemicals that have been linked to chronic disease risk,” said Frank Hu, at the Harvard School of Public Health and one of the study leaders. Research has suggested the saturated fat and cholesterol in red meat is linked to plaque buildup in arteries, which increases the risk of heart disease, while cooking red meat produces more carcinogens. A recent study also found a connection to kidney cancer. The study is based on two large, ongoing studies of U.S. doctors and nurses who have regularly reported eating habits as well as physical activity, smoking and family history for more than two decades. The lightest meat eaters reported getting half a serving or less of meat per day, while the study’s biggest meat lovers had red meat twice or three times daily. Three ounces of unprocessed meat, one hotdog or two slices of bacon was counted as a serving. About 24,000 participants died over the two-plus decades that researchers followed them. After taking into account other aspects of health and lifestyle, Hu and his team calculated the chance of dying was 12 per cent higher for every extra serving of red meat the men and women had eaten each day. “The results are not really surprising given that previous studies have found consumption of red meat is linked to diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers,” Hu said. “What’s surprising is the magnitude... Even a small amount of red meat is associated with a significantly increased risk of mortality.” Though he doesn’t necessarily recommend everyone drop their burgers at once, Hu said it’s not a bad idea to try to cut back on red meat, given this and other evidence of its less-than-stellar health record. “We’re not talking about everyone becoming a vegetarian — I think a small amount of red meat is still OK as part of a healthy diet,” he said. “We’re talking about no more than two or three servings of red meat a week.”

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

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Grant Deveson says the practice of rotating herbicides has been largely forgotten when it comes to glyphosate.

Deveson says CleanStart can be applied on its own or topped up with additional glyphosate for sharper control of larger weeds, winter annuals and perennials. Being a contact herbicide, it’s important to stick with the necessary water volume (10 gallons/acre). CleanStart can be applied pre-seed or up to three days post-seed.

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The agriculture industry is taking this news very seriously. There is a real concern that this new strain of resistant kochia will be hard to contain for several reasons.

“Authority is incredibly safe… but don’t let that fool you,” Deveson says. “It does a number on some pretty hard to kill weeds. That’s what makes it such a welcome option for those growing these sensitive specialty crops.”

Kochia is a highly prolific seed producer. In addition to spreading seeds through the wind, kochia is a tumbleweed. It can travel quickly and cover great distances – dispersing seeds along the way. Once pollen from glyphosate resistant kochia crossbreeds with other plants, the genetics responsible for the resistance can be passed on. Farmers and seed producers throughout Western Canada are being urged to reevaluate their burndown practices – and target kochia with products that offer a different mode of action. “Agronomists and scientists have preached the importance of rotating herbicides. But for whatever reason, this practice has largely been forgotten when it comes to glyphosate. Taking the proper steps now will help slow the spread,” Deveson says. Nufarm, a Calgary-based herbicide manufacturer, has recently introduced two new products that are proven to eliminate kochia in a spring burndown application: CleanStart® and Authority®. As Group 14 products, both provide an effective means of controlling glyphosate tolerant kochia plants.

CleanStart®: Kochia control ahead of all key crops. CleanStart® has become recognized as an advanced burndown solution for safe control of kochia and a broad spectrum of weeds ahead of pulse and canola crops. But what is not as widely known is that CleanStart is also registered for wheat, barley, flax, soybeans, potatoes, corn and oats… which makes it ideally suited for addressing glyphosate resistant kochia in most key crops grown on the prairies.

And that’s not all. Deveson notes there are a number of other Nufarm products growers can use to provide early season kochia control. Nufarm 2,4-D Ester and Amitrol 240 can both be tank mixed with glyphosate, and will take out resistant kochia. Meanwhile, Valtera™ is a Group 14 residual soybean herbicide that does an exceptional job.

Do your part to fight resistance. Herbicide rotation is an essential part of any weed management strategy. As we’re starting to realize, this applies to glyphosate as well. Ask your retailer or crop advisor about these and other options for early season kochia control.

Fighting resistant kochia in-crop. If you miss it at burndown Deveson says Nufarm has two exceptional products for taking down kochia (including glyphosate resistant plants) in cereal crops. Estaprop® is one of the best products available for controlling kochia in-crop. It is a very well established Group 4 chemistry known to clean up even heavily infested fields. Lately, there has been much talk surrounding Nufarm’s launch of Enforcer™, which contains two proven modes of action to battle all types of kochia. “Moving forward, Enforcer may emerge as the best in-crop broadleaf product for fighting the spread of glyphosate resistant kochia,” Deveson concludes.

“Because it is registered for so many crops, is easy to tank mix and is quite reasonably priced, CleanStart is being touted as the new line of defence for controlling glyphosate resistant kochia,” Deveson reveals. CleanStart is formulated with carfentrazone and glyphosate. It is the carfentrazone component that provides control of actively growing kochia plants on contact. This product provides dependable control of kochia plants 4” tall or less. In addition, CleanStart will control Roundup Ready® volunteer canola from the the 1 - 3 leaf stage, spring germinating dandelions and all weeds that are controlled with glyphosate.

1-800-868-5444 CleanStart® and Estaprop® are registered trademarks of Nufarm Agriculture Inc. Enforcer ™ is a trademark of Nufarm Agriculture Inc. Authority® is a trademark of FMC Corporation. Valtera™ is a trademark of Valent USA Corporation. All other products are trademarks of their respective owners.

NEWS » Markets

} high prices

MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Oil World sees larger canola crop Canadian farmers are expected to react to high canola prices by increasing their sowings, Hamburg-based oilseeds analyst Oil World forecast Mar. 20. “Canola plantings will probably be boosted to a record 8.1 million to 8.5 million hectares or 20-21 million acres, up sharply from the previous high of 7.6 million hectares planted in the spring of 2011 and the average 6.3 million hectares in the five years 1996-2010,” Oil World said.

Argentine truckers strike Argentina’s truckers called an indefinite strike to demand higher pay rates last Tuesday, parking their rigs in protest just as exporters were counting on them to haul freshly harvested soybeans to port. Most of the country’s crops are trucked from the Pampas Farm Belt to the export terminals and processing plants that dot Argentina’s rivers. The FETRA group of trucking companies said the government had failed to ensure the implementation of a guaranteed minimum hauling tariff that was agreed to after a strike in October.

Rising canola futures find point of resistance Warm weather } The early spring in the U.S. was seen encouraging

farmers to start planting corn rather than soybeans

By Dwayne Klassen

anola futures on the ICE Futures Canada trading platform moved higher during the week ended March 16. Concerns about the record pace of usage and the resulting depletion of old-crop canola stocks stimulated some of the upward price action. Chart-related speculative fund buying interest also contributed to the price advances. Much of that buying was tied to efforts by this group to see the May contract penetrate key technical resistance at the $600 level. While the contract briefly moved above this level, the push did not last long, and values were quickly pushed back below that mark. Further attempts by these participants will occur. If the contract can close convincingly above $600, there are ideas that a push to $625 may be in the cards. The strength in canola was also tied to worries about the dry conditions that currently exist on the Prairies and ideas that the dry weather will reduce the crop’s yield potential. The trade is currently anticipating that a record 20 million to 21 million acres of canola will be seeded this spring in Western Canada. However, with the potential yield losses, market participants are of the belief that area will need to be even higher in order to offset the dryness issues. As a result, some of the price advances in canola also reflected efforts by the commercial sector to buy more canola acreage. The market analysis branch of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada also released an updated supply/demand table during the latest reporting period, which seemed to confirm the tight old-crop supply situation for canola. The latest 2011-12 canola ending stocks forecast came in at just 700,000 tonnes, which was down from the government agency’s February projection of 1.1 million. AAFC is now forecasting Canadian 2012-13 canola carry-over at 850,000 tonnes, down from the previous month’s 1.25 million. At one point Canadian canola stocks above one million tonnes would have been considered more than adequate, but that is no longer the case. In fact, the canola sector becomes extremely concerned when stocks now drop below the one-million-tonne level. Demand in the new marketing year was also expected to outstrip the canola sup-

ply base in Canada, especially if projections for China to be an aggressive buyer hold true. China is seen buying as much as three million to four million tonnes of Canadian canola in the 2012-13 (Aug./ Jul.) season. That would be significantly higher than the one million to two million tonnes forecast for 2011-12.

New ICE contracts slow

Activity in the milling wheat, durum and barley contracts on the ICE Futures Canada platform remained non-existent. Most of the price action was again tied to arbitrage by ICE Futures Canada and was dependent on the placing of bids or offers by commercials. Activity in western barley futures on the ICE Canada platform also remained dormant.

For three-times-daily market reports from Resource News International, visit “ICE Futures Canada updates” at www.albertafarmexpress.ca.

Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) soybean futures experienced some significant gains during the period ended March 16. Support in the commodity continued to come from talk of fresh export demand from China. That buying interest was facilitated by ideas the reduced South American soybean crop size will force China to seek out alternative suppliers, primarily the U.S. The need to buy acres for soybeans also generated some of the price strength. The warm weather that has hit the Prairies has also dominated regions of the U.S. The early spring in the U.S. was seen encouraging farmers there to start planting corn rather than soybeans. There were also indications that soybean supplies are tighter than the numbers the U.S. Department of Agriculture is working with. That further lent support to CBOT futures. A solid crush pace during February also added to the uptrend in soybeans. CBOT corn futures posted gains, with old-crop values leading the upward price climb. Much of the support in the nearby months was associated with the extremely tight old-crop stocks picture. The advances in new-crop contracts were

restricted by the expectation of record area being planted to the crop this spring by U.S. farmers. Some of the support in corn also came from hopes of additional export business with China. There are ideas that China’s corn crop is in trouble, and that to make up the shortfall, China will turn to the U.S. for its supply. Wheat futures at the Chicago, Kansas City and Minneapolis exchanges posted some significant advances during the week. The uptrend in wheat was linked to some spillover from the gains seen in both soybeans and corn. The buying back of previously sold positions also influenced some of the price strength. Gains were also attributable to reports that Europe’s winter wheat crop was at least five million to six million tonnes lower than expected due to damage from extremely cold temperatures. However, burdensome levels of wheat on the world scene continued to restrict the upside price potential. Dwayne Klassen writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

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MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Considerations when signing a deferred delivery contract CERTAINTY  A deferred delivery contract can lock in a profit, but also prevents cashing in on future price increases AGRI-NEWS

deferred delivery contract (DDC) is the most popular type of grain-marketing contract provided by grain buyers. A DDC, as it is often called, locks in the price for a certain quantity of a base grade of grain to be delivered to a certain location at some date in the future. “Advantages of a DDC are that it locks in a price to protect against possible downside price risk, provides certainty for meeting cash flow commitments, and provides a delivery opportunity,” says Neil Blue, market specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Possible disadvantages are that a commitment for delivery of a certain quantity of a certain grade is made to a buyer, and a higher price than the DDC price cannot be captured on the quantity priced.” Some farmers, who in past years priced part of their grain produc-

WHAT’S UP Send agriculture-related meeting and event announcements to: will. verboven@fbcpublishing.com March 26: Spring Seminar, Castor Community Hall 1:00 pm, Castor. Call: Vicki 780-5827308 March 26/29: Grain and Oilseed Marketing Course, location TBA, Manning. Call: NPARA 780836-3354 March 27: CAFA Foreign Farm Labour, AARD Sparrow Drive 11:45 am, Leduc. Call: CAFA 877474-2871 March 27: On-Farm Energy Management, Ryley Legion 10:00 am, Ryley. Call: Vicki 780582-7308 March 28/29: Alberta Pork Congress, Westerner Park, Red Deer. Call” APC 403-244-7821 March 29: CAFA Foreign Farm Labour, FCC 110-2618 Hopewell place NE, Calgary. Call: CAFA 877-474-2871 March 29/31: Farm and Ranch Show 2012, Expo Centre, Edmonton. Call: Northlands 877-471-7472 March 30: CAFA Foreign Farm Labour, Mr. Mike’s Steakhouse 11:45, Grande Prairie. Call: CAFA 877-474-2871 April 4: 2012 Crop Update Workshop, Recreation Centre 10:00 am, Willingdon. Call: Evonne 780-656-3730 April 18: Women in the North Conference, location TBA, Peace River. Call: Agnes 780624-1161

Buy and Sell

anything you need through the

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tion before it was harvested, later questioned that decision. That regret may have been because of a production shortfall, or prices moving higher than their contracted prices, or both. “Regarding the concern of a production shortfall, it is possible that the farmer may have to buy out the portion of the contract that is not delivered, particularly if the price of the contracted grain rises above the contracted price,” says Blue. “With regard to the concern of missing out on a higher price than the contract price, it is natural to want the best price, but it is almost impossible to pick the top price in any year. A goal of having the average price for a given year’s crop in the top third of the year’s price range is more realistic. “Before signing a deferred delivery contract, it is a good idea to get an unsigned copy of the contract, read it and understand it, with the help of legal counsel if necessary. If you have concerns with the contract, have those con-

cerns addressed before signing. An amended contract is still valid if both parties agree to the changes. If the changes that you suggest are not mutually acceptable and those concerns are important enough to you, perhaps you should decide not to sign that contract.”

Questions

Some questions that should be answered before signing a forward pricing contract: • Will the price provide an acceptable margin above the costs of production? • Will this sales commitment assist in meeting some of the cash flow needs at the time of settlement? • Is the quantity to be priced consistent with expected production? For example, some farmers price no more than 50 per cent of their expected production before harvest. • If the contract does not provide an Act of God clause, how will a contract shortfall be handled? Also, how will a different grade

from the contract base grade be handled? • Is the contract price based on the analysis of current market information? • How will a delay in grain delivery from either party to the contract be handled? • In case of a dispute over the contract, how will that dispute be resolved? “For those commodities with a futures market, pricing grain via a sell futures may offer advantages to the producer over a deferred delivery contract, particularly if available basis levels are weak,” says Blue. “A sell futures position locks in the futures part of price without having a physical delivery commitment to a particular buyer. Thus, the producer can still shop around to various buyers for the best basis relating to the grade of grain produced. “Also, sell futures can easily be offset in the case of a production shortfall or weather-induced downgrading. Disadvantages of

“With regard to the concern of missing out on a higher price than the contract price, it is natural to want the best price, but it is almost impossible to pick the top price in any year.” NEIL BLUE ALBERTA AGRICULTURE

sell futures are the need to have a commodity futures account and the possibility of margin calls if the price rises above the entry point. Keep in mind that a higher futures price also implies a higher cash selling price for the commodity being produced.”

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 26, 2012

Glencore arrives on the Prairies in a big way THREE-WAY DEAL  Richardson gets processing and some elevators, Agrium gets the retail network STAFF/REUTERS

lencore , already the world’s No. 1 commodities trader, has agreed to buy Canada’s largest grain handler in a $6.1-billion deal that will shake up an industry that should flourish as global demand for food surges. Glencore has proposed an allcash takeover bid worth $16.25 per share, after which it will sell most of Viterra’s retail agriproducts business, plus Viterra’s 34 per cent stake in Canadian Fertilizer Ltd., to Calgary-based Agrium for $1.8 billion cash. Winnipeg-based Richardson International will buy 23 per cent of Viterra’s Prairie grain-handling assets, plus “certain processing assets” and the remainder of Viterra’s Prairie retail business, for $800 million cash. Agrium, whose ag retail arm

was formed largely through its 2008 takeover of Colorado-based UAP and its 2010 takeover of AWB in Australia, said buying Viterra’s retail assets on the Prairies “will provide growth in a market where we currently have a limited retail presence.” The deal will also see Viterra’s executive offices — many of which have shuffled to Calgary in recent years — consolidated in Regina, where Glencore pledged to make the Viterra head office the platform for its North American agribusiness. The Regina office will also be the base for Glencore’s plans to expand into the U.S. Glencore, based at Baar, Switzerland, said it also expects to “grow the Canadian business and anticipates ongoing investment in the Canadian operations.” Viterra’s current commitments to wheat research, global

GLENCORE

Viterra’s executive offices will switch back to Regina from Calgary. food security initiatives, funding for Prairie agricultural and educational institutions, community development and various charities will continue, Glencore said.

Synergies

The deal will also see Glencore further consolidate its existing agribusiness market share in Australia, where Viterra took over ABB Grain in 2009. Glencore

FACTS

• Consolidated revenues of US$144.978 billion for 2010; and net income of $4,106 billion • Total assets US$79.787 billion as at 31 December 2010 • The world’s largest physical supplier of third-party commodities in metals and minerals it markets • Among the world’s largest nonintegrated physical suppliers of crude oil and oil products • The world’s largest participant in the supply of seaborne steam coal • Among the world’s leading suppliers of sugar • One of the leading exporters of grain from Europe, the CIS and Australia • Headquartered in Baar, Switzerland • Employs over 2,800 people in its global marketing operations in some 50 offices in over 40 countries. In its industrial operations, Glencore employs over 54,800 people at 15 plants in 13 countries. • Glencore became a public company in May 2011 with a primary listing of $10 billion, largest ever on the London Stock Exchange and secondary listing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Source: company website

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said it expects the deal to create “further synergies and efficiencies for the benefit of Australian growers.” The marriage and shedding of assets already has the blessing of Viterra’s largest shareholder, Edmonton-based pension and endowment management firm Alberta Investment Management Corp. (AIMCo), which will vote its 16.5 per cent stake in favour of the deal. AIMCo in November had ripped Viterra’s board as “unresponsive and unaligned” and lacking in the “required skills or experience to meet the company’s leadership needs as a growing international agribusiness.” AIMCo’s senior vice-president Brian Gibson later joined Viterra’s board. Glencore’s takeover agreement includes provisions for a $185-million break fee for Glencore if Viterra ditches it at the altar for another deal — and for a reverse break fee of $50 million for Viterra if the deal is blocked for regulatory reasons. The two companies plan to file their arrangement agreement shortly with Canadian securities regulators and the Australian Securities Exchange. The acquisition gives Glencore — long a powerhouse in oil and metals — a huge new presence in grains, an area now dominated by Archer Daniels Midland, Cargill and Bunge. The friendly deal requires shareholder approval and must pass regulator reviews in Canada and Australia. Glencore said it expects no problems and is already planning further expansion in North America. Glencore, which is also in the throes of a $36-billion takeover of miner Xstrata, already markets and produces crops as well as metals, minerals and oil. It has earmarked agricultural commodities as an area for growth.

NEWS Lakeland receives biochar funding Lakeland College has received $900,000 in federal funding to acquire two mobile pyrolysis units to test, evaluate and demonstrate biochar products for the agricultural and environmental marketplace. Additional support towards this project includes a contribution of $450,000 from Alberta Innovates Technology Futures (AITF). Biochar is the carbon-rich residue produced by pyrolysis, a process of burning organic matter such as agricultural and forestry waste in a low-oxygen environment. The substance can be used to improve soil texture and crop productivity, as well as accelerate revegetation of uncultivable lands. Preliminary studies also indicate that biochar has the potential to clean up waste water in the petroleum sector. The transportable pilotscale pyrolysis units will enable Lakeland College’s Centre for Sustainable Innovation (CSI) and industry partners to evaluate the quality of biochar from various feedstocks. Lakeland will also co-ordinate field trials to assess the performance of biochar.

MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

HAY’S ON

This horse near Square Butte, Alta., is grateful for the handout. Hay stocks remain high because of the mild weather and low snowfall in southern Alberta. PHOTO: WENDY DUDLEY

Illinois cropland goes for $14,100 per acre

Built for

LandOwner newsletter reports that 159.8 acres of cropland in McLean County in central Illinois sold for a record $14,100 per acre at an auction Feb. 21. The farm also had two grain bins with a dryer, a machine shed and crib. More than 120 people attended the auction with 53 registered bidders and several active bidders above $12,000 an acre. The farm was purchased by an investor. “We have seen other auctions that have two bidders take a certain tract above that level, but this was a unique farm with desirable characteristics in a tightly held area of western McLean County. In March 2006 we sold the farm across the road for a record price at that time as well — $6,000 per acre,” said David Klein of the auction company handling the sale.

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

Good marketing means fully engaging customers EDU-TAINMENT  On-farm customers don’t just want products —

they want to learn about them and how they were produced

BY LORRAINE STEVENSON STAFF /GIMLI, MANITOBA

parse population and long distance on the Prairies don’t mean there aren’t good opportunities for selling direct from your farm, says the president of the North American Direct Farm Marketing Association (NADFMA).

North American Direct Farm Marketing Association president Kerry Engel says farms can create enticing environments for eating, shopping and creating memorable experiences. PHOTO: LORRAINE STEVENSON

“It’s about being really good at marketing and understanding your customer,” Kerry Engel, told a recent conference here. “It’s all about having a really good product and not spreading yourself too thin and doing one thing really, really well,” said Engel, manager of the food and health unit for the Alberta government’s rural extension department.

Creative and attractive displays of farm products, like this one at Carter Mountain in Charlottesville, Virginia are a huge draw to the public. PHOTO: CYNTHIA CHILDS

Engel has visited farms that direct market product or focus on agri-tourism all across Canada, the U.S. and parts of the U.K. and says a good business plan will make this work in lower-density areas too. She shared dozens of examples of direct-marketing ventures, large and small, and the marketing savvy that makes them successful.

Marketing savvy

Farmers are tapping into the voracious demand for local food by selling not only their farm-grown product but their knowledge of food production, said Engel. Farmers doing direct marketing are opening on-farm kitchens and delis, and teaching people how to preserve food, make sausage or prune trees, she said. The “new local” is about not just buying local food, but knowing how to grow, preserve and cook some of your own, she said. The NADFMA members’ innovative ventures include “farm to family” farmers’ market buses, or mobile farmers’ markets and observation hives at farms that sell honey. One farm that sells on-farm produce hosts a “Thursday night sunset” event inviting visitors to the farm. “Does that boost sales? You bet it does,” said Engel. The most successful farms engage their visitors with creative and whimsical displays. Engel showed slides of farms selling bedding plants displayed in antique bed frames, and horse farms with real horse tails attached to murals of horses’ behinds. Other farms specialize in hosting birthday parties and weddings.

“It’s about being really good at marketing and understanding your customer.” KERRY ENGEL

rley.

NADFMA members are responding to current trends. One is a growing consumer demand to learn something while they’re being entertained. “People want to be edu-tained,” she said. The other is demand for local. Engel said she predicted 15 years ago that consumers would start to want to buy direct from farmers and began encouraging farmers in the mid-1990s to start thinking about that. She also recalls the pushback she received, being told not to encourage direct selling of farm product. “To say I feel vindicated now is an understatement,” she told the 130 participants at the DFMC. “We are in the throes of the local movement right now.” Engel anticipates increasing interest not merely in buying local food, but in producing some of it oneself, plus continued demand for sustainability, authenticity, freshness, purity and ethics surrounding food production. “And this sentiment comes with expectations,” she said. “The consumer is going to be harder on us. People are redefining quality. We are seeing a more holistic approach, thankfully, away from nutrients to whole food.”

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MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Poisoning gophers a serious decision DESPERATE MEASURES  Using poison to control gopher populations puts their natural predators at risk it’s fresher, or wetter,” said Merrill. “I’m almost wondering if it isn’t because of the dampness in the bait. They don’t like the dry powder and you put out a damp bait and the gophers just eat it better.”

BY SHERI MONK

AF STAFF | PINCHER CREEK

utting out poison bait for gophers should only be done in extreme situations and as a last resort. Raptors, coyotes, weasels, badgers and foxes are often killed by scavenging on poisoned gophers, and reducing the number of natural gopher predators only prolongs the pest problem in the long term. However, if poison is the only option, producers have several poisons to choose from. Ready-to-use (RTU) strychnine baits are available commercially, as are several other toxicants such as Rozol on wheat, concentrated liquid Rozol and zinc phosphide (BOBS) bait on oat groats Timing is important. If done by May, more of the mothers will be killed and with them, either their unborn offspring or those too young to care for themselves. However, once the young emerge to forage above ground, keeping on top of the population becomes much more difficult.

Bring out your dead

One of the most important conditions is to pick up and dispose of the dead to prevent scavenging and thus the poisoning of non-target animals. nine Concentrate (LSC) can be purchased from an Alberta Agriculture Service Board, but only with the approval of the local field man. The LSC must be mixed and diluted to the same rate 0.4 per cent ration as RTU baits. Some studies have shown freshly prepared baits are more effective,

which is why it is made available for severe infestations. However, it’s also more dangerous for the environment as people may make the baits stronger, either because of human error or because they believe they will kill more gophers that way. “We’re not sure if it’s because

Producers must adhere to strict conditions in order to use liquid strychnine, such as baiting below ground, and having water available while mixing in case of spills or accidents. Strychnine cannot be used if there is a species at risk on the property, and the treated gopher holes must be filled in. One of the most important conditions is to pick up and dispose of the dead to prevent scavenging and thus the poisoning of non-target animals. Producers are required to monitor the treated area for carcasses every day for one week after baiting, and once a week for the following two weeks. “It doesn’t take long — it’s not something you have to wait until evening to do. You put it out and

you can come back within three hours and you’ll probably pick up most of the dead,” said Merrill. Strychnine kills gophers within minutes, often after consuming just a few kernels. It is a neurotoxin, and it excites the entire nervous system causing convulsions throughout the body. The cause of death is typically asphyxiation as the result of paralysis of the respiratory muscles. Many states and countries prohibit its use in any form because of the devastating effect it can have on wildlife. Domestic livestock and even people are sometimes accidentally poisoned during the mixing process. Victims will often die before they reach the hospital. “It’s effective, but it kills other things as well is the problem,” said Merrill. LSC had been banned in Canada because of the possible effect on non-target species, but it was reapproved in 2007 after pressure from the agricultural sectors in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Pick your poison

A comprehensive field study by Dr. Gilbert Proulx in 2007 comparing the effectiveness of Rozol, Phostoxin and strychnine concluded Rozol was most effective, but only if used before green-up. However, Rozol requires multiple baitings, which actually puts non-target species even more at risk. “We were hoping that the Phostoxin panned out better than it did,” said Phil Merrill, an inspector with Alberta Agriculture. “We were hoping that Rozol did better than it did. Rozol will effectively kill at a high enough rate that we can say it’s a good control before green-up, but after green-up it doesn’t kill the 70 per cent that it requires for population reduction. If you’re not killing 70 per cent of the gophers in your control program then you’re not knocking down the population enough to make an effect for next year.” Rozol takes a few days to kill the gopher, with the poisoned animal becoming sick and sluggish, making it an easy meal. Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and raptors such as hawks will pay for the mistake with their life as well. Zinc phosphide and Phostoxin are both non-selective and will kill everything down the gopher hole, including snakes, weasels and mice. Phostoxin can only be administered by someone with a pesticide applicators licence. Strychnine is often the weapon of choice to wage chemical warfare against gophers and RTU strychnine baits are available at ag supply stores. However, in cases of severe infestation, Liquid Strych-

For a few weeks every year, new life is your life.

“If you’re not killing 70 per cent of the gophers in your control program then you’re not knocking down the population enough to make an effect for next year.” PHIL MERRILL

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

Bison producers terminate their commission NOT DEAD  Assets of the commission will be transferred to a membership organization BY WILL VERBOVEN/EDITOR PONOKA

“We are the first victims of the refundable checkoff,” said Alberta Bison Producers chairman Marvin Moore following the BPA’s last-ever annual meeting here earlier this month. A resolution to dissolve the commission effective June 30, 2012 was passed unanimously. The BPA as a marketing commission under the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act was created by order-in-council in 2000 as the Alberta Bison Commission (ABC). Subsequently in 2004 the ABC, the Alberta Bison Association and the Peace Country Bison Association were amalgamated into the Bison Producers of Alberta. As a marketing commission the BPA had checkoff powers, but any levy had to be refundable. Moore said the refundability aspect of the checkoff turned out to be the undoing of the BPA. “We

felt the checkoff was bringing in only 20 per cent of what it should. It’s been a real struggle to collect the checkoff.” One of the biggest problems facing the BPA was collecting the $3 per head on all bison sales by Alberta producers. Unlike other commissions for cattle, sheep and hogs, there were few main sales points that the BPA could use for checkoff collection. Due to the nature of the bison industry there are multiple buyers, dealers, packers, private sales, feedlot operators and exporters, many of whom did not co-operate with the checkoff collection process. Even when the checkoff was collected, refund requests were considerable. “Over 65 per cent of the checkoff that was collected was refunded by producer request. We never seem to have enough money to do anything,” said Moore. Another issue affecting the BPA checkoff was the collection of a national checkoff administered

by the national producer organization, the Canadian Bison Association (CBA). Bison producers in Canada are required by law to purchase a national ID tag for every bison. The CBA manages the sale of those special tags and adds a national checkoff of $8 to the cost of each tag. Half of that checkoff is sent back to the provincial organizations, but it can only be used for promotional purposes. Although the national checkoff is also refundable, many Alberta producers felt that they were the only producers in Canada having to pay a double checkoff. On top of that they had to pay an annual membership fee. Although bison producers voted to end the BPA as a commission, they then by another resolution voted to resurrect the BPA as a regular membership association under the societies act. The new BPA is to assume all the assets and obligations of the former BPA and operate under the same name and representa-

“Over 65 per cent of the checkoff that was collected was refunded by producer request. We never seem to have enough money to do anything.”

BPA chairman Marvin Moore presides over its final meeting at the AGM in Ponoka. PHOTO: WILL VERBOVEN tion. Members then increased the membership fee to $125 annually to make up for the loss of checkoff revenue. Moore said, “We have about $200,000 in the bank so we are not broke.” Producers at the meeting expressed some concern over the recognition of the new BPA by the

MARVIN MOORE

provincial government especially with access to programs. Moore, a former minister of agriculture said, “From my experience it doesn’t matter if you are a commission or an association, producers will be treated the same and access and input into programs will remain the same.”

NEWS Decadent ice cream saves the day for General Mills

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REUTERS General Mills Inc.’s mix of foods and its limited exposure to Italy and Greece have insulated it a bit from Europe’s economic crisis, one of the company’s top executives said March 14. The maker of Cheerios and other cereals has seen some European shoppers buy more items when they are discounted, or trade down to store brands, said Chris O’Leary, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of the company’s international business. Like most food companies, General Mills raised prices on many of its products to offset soaring costs for commodities such as grain, and saw sales weaken as a result. Still, a recent launch of two decadent Haagen-Dazs ice-cream flavours shows that new products can win over shoppers even during difficult economic times. In late 2011, the company introduced Haagen-Dazs Secret Sensations, ice cream surrounding a liquid sauce, either “Chocolat Fondant” or crème brûlée. “Our Haagen-Dazs business remains quite strong in Europe this year despite the economic troubles,” O’Leary told the Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit. General Mills has annual sales of about $15 billion, with about $3 billion coming from international markets. General Mills is set to report results for its fiscal third quarter, which ended in late February, on March 21. Last month, it lowered expectations for the fiscal year after seeing some weak volume in the U.S. business.

MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

U.S. Corn Belt farmers itchy to plant early

SMOKY LAKE PRODUCERS WIN 2012 OYF AWARD

GAMBLE  Balmy

mid-March weather promoted pre-planting field work, but crop insurance doesn’t activate until April 5 BY CHRISTINE STEBBINS REUTERS

The Outstanding Young Farmers of Alberta 2012 award winners are Robert and Angela Semeniuk from Smoky Lake. The Semeniuks operate a commercial grain and oilseed operation, and also own and manage a commercial custom application business that covers 20,000 acres each year. Olds College hosted the OYF event this year, with a banquet of 80 guests including Minister of Agriculture Evan Berger, Olds Mayor Judy Dahl and Olds College president Dr. Tom Thompson. The Semeniuks received the award from Karen Hunter of ATB Financial along with Minister of Agriculture Evan Berger. They will represent Alberta at this year’s national OYF event that will be held in Prince Edward Island. SUPPLIED PHOTO

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hirt-sleeve weather in midMarch across America’s central Grain Belt tempted farmers to start planting corn early but expensive seeds and worries about insurance covering any sudden cold snap have kept crop planters out of fields. “We’ve got a lot invested in this crop. We want to be careful,” said central Illinois farmer Tim Seifert, who doesn’t want to take the chance of seeing young corn seedlings hurt by an April frost. “At $400 a bag for seed and the chance that insurance may or may not cover a loss if the crop gets hurt, it’s not worth the risk to plant too early,” he added. But Seifert, who farms near Springfield, had been out all week applying nitrogen fertilizer to his future cornfields, taking full advantage of 80 F days (27 C), clear skies and dry soils after a snowless winter. Soil temperatures are ideal for planting corn, 50° and higher across the top corn states of Iowa and Illinois. But he usually does not plant before April 5, when his crop insurance policy activates. Farmers like to plant corn as early as possible, as yields are generally higher in central Illinois if corn is seeded by midMay. Yields can slip as much as a bushel an acre per day after that. Also, farmers know that the outlook for a tight corn supply before the autumn harvest this year will mean early harvested corn will bring a hefty premium from processors and exporters competing for scarce supplies. “There is a lot of nitrogen fertilizer going on but hopefully they aren’t thinking about planting for a month or so,” Roger Elmore, a corn extension agronomist at Iowa State University, said in an interview on Friday. “Iowa farmers should wait until the week of April 9 in the southern part of the state and April 15 for the northern half to plant. The chance of frost and snow between now and the middle of April is pretty high,” said Elmore. That said, he added, daffodils had already sprouted in Ames, Iowa, where ISU is located. It is not surprising that the Midwest spring season appears to be coming a month early. It follows one of the warmest winters in U.S. history. Illinois farmer Leon Corzine said: “We generally plant on the early side but never this early. If the weather stays like this we’d plant in about 10 days for sure.” Corzine, who farms 100 miles northeast of St. Louis near Assumption, Illinois, and a distant cousin of former MF Global top executive Jon Corzine, was tilling a field on Friday, dealing with an early crop of weeds due to the warm winter.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

China’s corn crop may be overstated Shortfall } An investigation suggests that Beijing has overstated the

crop size by between 6.8 million and 24 million tonnes By Niu Shuping and Naveen Thukral

beijing/singapore / reuters

million tonnes below the official estimate. China’s officials say it has enough corn reserves and will not need to import large quantities this year. But traders are skeptical, arguing the officials are trying to talk prices down ahead of a shopping spree.

Holding on

that it has 10 million tonnes of stocks, which is less than a month of consumption and far less than the three months of consumption Beijing considers ideal. Aware of its longer-term import needs, China is increasing its supply sources, having relied on U.S. corn imports so far. It signed a trade pact earlier this month with Argentina, the world’s second-largest exporter, and suppliers in the Black Sea Grain Belt are looking at sales to China for the first time.

The growing realization that domestic corn supplies are tighter than previously thought is driving prices higher. Farmers have held on to their grain in expectation prices will rise more. “Corn processors have been rais- Appetite ing their purchase prices because China is widely expected to domifarmers are not selling,” said Zheng nate the global corn trade in the Guichen, deputy general manager years ahead after becoming a with Dacheng Group, the country’s net importer just three years ago. top corn processor based in Jilin Many analysts see the rise in corn province in the northeast Corn imports mirroring the quick rise in soy imports that have made China Belt. the top soy importer. China does not publish its invenT:8.125” Imports of 3.77 million tonnes of tory figures. But traders estimate

A keeper injects a piglet with vaccine at a pig farm in Baokang, Hubei province. A rapidly modernizing pork industry is increasing the demand for corn. REUTERS/Stringer

corn in 2011 were the highest since 1993-94. China will quadruple its purchases of corn, the U.S. Agriculture Department said in a 10-year outlook.

T:10”

eijing and the influential U.S. Agriculture Department may have overstated China’s corn crop by as much as 14 per cent, pointing to higher imports from the world’s second-largest consumer of the grain that could squeeze already tightening global supplies. If China plugs the gap between projected and actual domestic supply with additional corn imports, it would drive up international prices already near four-month highs. Wheat markets could feel the impact too if Beijing snaps up the grain as a substitute to corn for animal feed. “Many are skeptical over the corn output figure,” said Li Qiang, a senior analyst with JC Intelligence (JCI), an influential consultancy. “The industry expected an output increase, but not by as much as the bureau says.” China’s National Bureau of Statistics said that farms produced a record corn crop in 2011 of 191.8 million tonnes. But enthusiastic local officials often overstate the size of crops in China to impress central authorities and win bigger subsidies. A Reuters investigation based on assessments from some co-operatives, key trading houses and JCI suggests that Beijing has overstated the crop size by between 6.8 million tonnes and 24 million tonnes, the equivalent of between 12 days and 44 days of consumption. The impact of tighter-thanexpected supplies is already being felt in the domestic market. Competition between local industry processors and state-owned procurement agencies for supplies is pushing domestic prices higher. State grain buyers are struggling to replenish depleted national stocks, raising the risk the government will limit purchases by processors, whose rapid expansion has been blamed by Beijing for threatening the country’s grains supply. Strategic stocks are well below the government’s comfort level after three years in which Beijing has drawn them down to boost domestic supply and dampen food prices driven higher by growing demand for meat from an increasingly affluent population. Low stockpiles give Beijing little wriggle room before it has to import. The United States Department of Agriculture estimates the record crop plus imports of four million tonnes will meet China’s demand this year. But it may need much more to plug the supply shortfall caused by the crop overestimate, bolstering a global corn market already being hampered by a severe drought in agriculture powerhouses Brazil and Argentina. U.S. corn stocks are forecast by the U.S. agriculture department to shrink this year to their smallest level in 16 years, reducing U.S. export potential to meet China’s needs. Still, global wheat supplies are in a better position to take up some of the slack. Major producer Australia is expecting record-high wheat output this year, adding to bumper supplies from the Black Sea region. World wheat stocks at the end of the 2011-12 season look set to

eclipse the previous record set more than a decade ago, according to the International Grains Council (IGC), which raised its forecast for production to an all-time high. That will encourage China to buy more wheat and only take corn when prices dip or look relatively cheap. The government’s subsidy policy has led farmers to increase acreage dedicated to corn and grow less soybeans, so a rise in output could be expected. But JCI estimates China’s corn crop at 168 million tonnes, close to 24 million tonnes lower than the official data. JCI was the first to challenge the high official corn crop estimates in 2009, and the consultancy’s skepticism was borne out by China’s 2010 imports. Official think-tank China National Grain and Oils Information Centre puts the harvest at 185 million tonnes, more than six

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MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Buying forage seed this year? Ask for the seed testing certificate

TWELVE DIGITS  The numbers on a certified seed certificate provide

a wealth of information on the seed and its source AGRI-NEWS

“If you are thinking of seeding pasture or hay this year, and want to make sure you don’t bring any difficult-to-control weeds into your field, then set yourself up for success by purchasing high-quality forage seed,” says Stephanie Kosinski, forage specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Be sure to ask for a copy of the seed testing certificate before you buy your forage seed. This way, you know exactly what you are getting.” A seed testing certificate is a certificate that contains valuable information about the seed you are buying. The certificate is available with every lot of seed graded in Canada and is issued under the authority of the Canada Seeds Act. The seed testing certificate contains a seed testing certificate number, which is assigned by an accredited laboratory and some authorized establishments, and a 12-digit crop certificate number, assigned by the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association, for the classes of pedigreed seed. It is not present for common seed. The crop certificate number gives the following information: • The first two digits represent the year in which the crop was produced. • The third digit identifies the location of the grower who produced the seed. For example, if the third number is eight, the seed was produced in Alberta. • The fourth through ninth digits identify the grower who produced the seed. • The 10th digit identifies the pedigreed class of the seed. For example, if the

• •

• • • •

•

10th number is four, the seed falls in the certified class. The 11th and 12th digits are assigned by the Canadian Seed Growers Association. Seed sealing number (i.e. lot number) — this is a number assigned by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the registered seed establishment or the vendor of common seed. Crop kind — in the case of pedigreed seed, the variety name is also included (i.e. for certified class and higher). Grade (e.g. Canada Certified No. 1, Common No. 1 etc.). Sample size — grading is based on 25 grams according to the grade table. Amount and name(s) of prohibited, primary and secondary noxious weeds, other weeds and seeds of other crops. Both Latin and common names are included, except for the other weeds category. The Weed Control Act and Regulations is provincial legislation that may prohibit weed species in Alberta that are not necessarily prohibited by the federal act. Per cent pure seed, other crops, weed seeds and inert matter. Per cent germination, hard seeds (applicable to legume seeds) and pure living seeds. Hard legume seeds are included in the per cent germination even though they do not germinate during a germination test. Place and date of analysis, as well as name of the seed analyst. All seed certificates must be signed and stamped by a seed analyst to be official. “Seed testing certificates should be read

carefully before making a final decision about which seed lot to purchase,” says Kosinski. “A copy of the information from the certificate should be filed with your field records.

Seed tags

“All graded seed for sale will have an official seed sealing tag attached. If not, you should get an invoice with the same information. Official seed tags may be issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency or by authorized establishments.” The tag gives the following information: • Crop kind: e.g. alfalfa. • Variety: e.g. Algonquin. A sample of a CGSA seed testing certificate. Variety names are applicable only to certified or higher classes of seed, but not to com- present. You know exactly what you are mon seed. getting. • Grade and class of seed: e.g. Canada “If you don’t get the seed testing cerCertified No. 1. tificate, then keep the seed tag with your • Crop certificate number, applicable field records in case a problem relating to certified or higher classes of seed, to the seed arises. By referring to the crop but not to common seed (see notes certificate and the seed sealing certificate above). numbers on the tag, it is possible to trace • Seed sealing number, seed from each the place of origin and the seed testing lot of seed has a different number. certificates of the seed.” For more information on purchasing “Reading the seed testing certificate high-quality forage seed, check out the before buying forage seed is vital to How to Purchase High Quality Forage Seed ensuring you are purchasing high-qual- factsheet (Agdex 120/45-1) from Alberta ity forage seed,” adds Kosinski. “This Agriculture and Rural Development way, you can evaluate purity, germina- (www.agriculture.alberta.ca) or contact tion and find out what other seeds are the Ag-Info Centre at 310-FARM (3276).

High-quality seed is the first step to high-quality forage. FILE PHOTO

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

Shrinking cow herd fuels high prices — and risk CPIP  The floor prices being offered have

also climbed to record highs, reaching more than $900 on a 600-pound calf AFSC RELEASE

hile calving season is underway, Alberta’s beef cow herd continues to shrink — setting the stage for a smaller calf crop and tighter cattle supplies this year that are fuelling higher cattle prices and growing interest in Alberta’s Cattle Price Insurance Program (CPIP). “Feeder cattle prices hit record levels in February and remain about 20 per cent higher than this time last year. Cattle futures also look strong for the second half of 2012,” says Scott McKinnon, an Alberta market analyst with Canfax. “Supply is a big factor influencing prices.” The North American cattle herd dropped sharply in the last decade and Alberta’s cow herd declined steadily amid eight years of losses. The province’s beef cow herd sits at 1.66 million head as of January 1, 2012 — down 1.5 per cent from last year. Many producers have sold off herds to cash in on current prices, as others retain heifers to rebuild their herds, taking more feeder cattle off the market. “We’ll probably see at least five years of strong prices as supply slowly increases, although that may not translate into profit for everyone,” says McKinnon. Higher operating costs and increased calf prices are squeezing profitability for cattle feeders. “The tone is definitely optimism, but there’s always something that can throw a wrench into things,” he says, pointing to the European debt crisis, volatile markets, and a sluggish North American economy. High prices and uncertainty have triggered increased interest in CPIP price insurance among producers and lenders. “We’re seeing producers take on risk levels not witnessed since the ’90s, as far as investment per head at today’s prices. That’s why we’re actively encouraging them to consider price insurance,” says Reg Schmidt, general manager of the Feeder Associations of Alberta (FAA). “When prices reach record highs, they’re more likely to fall than climb higher,” he says. “I worry most about farmer-feeders and backgrounders,” he says, explaining they buy high-priced calves on the spot market and sell them as heavy feeder cattle to feedlots grappling with high operating costs and price pressure from packing plants. “They could get crushed from both sides if they’re not using risk management.” “Producers are very aware of the risks. We’re getting a lot more inquiries and writing new policies for CPIP-Feeder. We’ve also had strong attendance at CPIPCalf information sessions,” says Brenda Campbell, a field analyst

with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC). Because CPIP is market driven — based on forecasted Alberta cattle prices — the floor prices being offered have also climbed to record highs, reaching more than $900 on a 600-pound calf. “I’ve spoken with cow-calf producers who are excited by the prices they can lock in,” says Schmidt, explaining in today’s volatile markets, price insurance protects them from being caught in a down cycle when they sell. Most producers insure floor prices at the top end of CPIP premium tables to cover recordhigh input costs, says Campbell, “although many still choose lowerlevel disaster coverage to protect them from more extreme price drops when marketing their cattle.” She adds, “If average Alberta cattle prices drop lower than their

AFSC field analyst Brenda Campbell says higher prices are seeing a growing interest in CPIP. floor price at the end of the policy, a payment is mailed within a couple weeks. And they don’t have to sell the cattle to make a claim.” At the end of the day, price insur-

ance protects even the smallest producer from a drop in market prices — something they typically have no control over, says Campbell. She adds no minimum num-

ber of cattle need be insured and producers aren’t required to insure the whole herd. CPIP floor prices and premiums change three days a week reflecting futures markets.

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news » livestock

MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

New website on grasslands

Azerbaijan opens borders to cattle

A new website by the Rome-based Grassland and Pasture Crops Group of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) contains pasture/forage resource profiles that provide basic information about the pasture and forage resources of 100 countries around the world. Canada’s profile is prepared by Duane McCartney, retired beef/forage systems research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe. Visit www.fao.org and search for grasslands profile.

Canada could soon be exporting dairy heifers to Azerbaijan following a new agreement to open trade in cattle, the federal government has announced. The deal announced by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and International Trade Minister Ed Fast opens what is expected to be a new market for the Canadian genetics industry, said Rick McRonald, executive director of the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association (CLGA) in a release. “We expect that the first potential Azeri live cattle buyers will be in Canada next month. This could result in initial sales of 2,000 dairy heifers,” he said.

“Disinfectant is irrelevant if manure is not removed…”

Biosecurity a team effort SIMPLE THINGS } Whether it’s washing hands or changing boots,

small steps can have a big impact on biosecurity by alexis kienlen af staff | red deer

s your boot bath full of feces or dead frogs? You might as well just dip your feet in the toilet, says Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt, an expert on poultry biosecurity. And yes, the University of Montreal professor actually once came across a boot bath full of dead frogs. But it’s the former situation he runs into all too often. “Disinfectant is irrelevant if manure is not removed,” he said. “By the sixth time you dip, it won’t do anything. It can even increase the amount of manure on your boots.” Changing boots is more effective than using a boot dip, he added. All employees on a poultry farm need to be involved in biosecurity and emergency protocols, said Vaillancourt. Changing boots is just one way of cutting down on diseases, which can be transmitted through airborne pathogens, bodily fluids such as saliva or fecal matter, or contaminated objects in the environment. Rodents and insects also act as carriers of disease. “If there are barns with rodents in them, the birds are nine times more likely to catch a disease,” Vaillancourt said. Beetles and flies can also spread pathogens and there are less obvious hazards, such as employees who own poultry or keeping birds of two different ages in the same barn. Vaillancourt said he is a big

In case of emergency prepared } Poultry

operations need to have a plan in place

A British farm worker disinfects her boots after a suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease in 2007. A Canadian expert on biosecurity says foot baths are not effective unless manure is removed. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico

A PECK (Producer Education Creating Knowledge) conference was hosted by Alberta Chicken Producers, Alberta Turkey Producers, Egg Farmers of Alberta, Alberta Hatchery, Alberta Agriculture and the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). photo: alexis kienlen

fan of using Danish entries, which is a primary entrance room attached to the production area of the poultry barn. The entry has two sides, “dirty” and “clean,” divided by some sort of barrier. Inside the entry, producers or employees can change clothes and boots and wash hands. He recommends a physical barrier, like a door or a bench, not just a line drawn on the floor. Changing coveralls and frequent handwashing are also effective in reducing the spread of disease, as is regular disin-

fection of objects that are frequently touched, such as door handles. Employees are more likely to comply with biosecurity protocols when they intend to be in the barn for a long time, but are most likely to violate them when accompanied by a visitor. Vaillancourt said it’s important for owners and managers to lead by example, make the rules simple and provide proper training. Vaillancourt was one of several presenters at a recent workshop for poultry producers called PECK (Producer Education

Creating Knowledge), hosted by Alberta Chicken Producers, Alberta Turkey Producers, Egg Farmers of Alberta, Alberta Hatchery, Alberta Agriculture and the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Billed as an “interactive” event, the workshop features skits, songs, short presentations and interactive exercises. Students from the Heifer in Your Tank program at the University of Alberta demonstrated how preparation in the anteroom can reduce time needed for a barn visit.

If an emergency arises, everyone working in a poultry operation should know exactly what to do. “A lot of effort goes into training growers, but priority should also be given to training employees,” says biosecurity expert JeanPierre Vaillancourt. “Poor execution or a lack of an emergency plan can result in more problems.” A disease outbreak is not a static situation and the right decisions need to be made quickly. “You can’t prevent it once a disease has broken out, but you can make decisions that can control the damage,” said Vaillancourt. This includes talking to your vet, quarantining the entire area (which includes posting appropriate warning signs), getting word out to any service personnel who might be coming by the farm, and determining how to best reroute other traffic on the farm. In fact, controlling traffic and limiting access should be an ongoing concern, said the University of Montreal professor. “Farms that had employees travelling to other farms daily were 14 times more likely to get ILT (infectious laryngotracheitis, a viral infection of the respiratory tract),” he said. Along with a pre-arranged emergency action plan, growers should be constantly monitoring their birds. If there’s a concern, they should be able to consult experts in a discreet manner.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

Evaluating the pros and cons of large-group finishing peet on pigs } Pigs can be automatically sorted by weight,

and large groups are easier to handle

table 1 finisher pigs

By bernie peet

he introduction of automatic sorting scales for finishing pigs has led to a trend towards utilizing this equipment in pen layouts with several hundred pigs in one group. Such systems are well established in North America, but there is still limited information regarding pen design, performance, pig welfare and many other aspects. As so often happens with new technology, the advantages are oversold, while the disadvantages are sometimes conveniently ignored. Having said that, there is no doubt that large-group autosort systems (LGAS) have many benefits to the producer and the pig. However, any downside to the system needs to be understood and solutions found to minimize their impact on the bottom line. First, it is important to recognize that the key advantage of LGAS is derived from its ability to automatically select pigs for market and optimize average slaughter weight. This alone can be worth several dollars per pig, while there are also significant labour savings compared to removing pigs from their pen for weighing. The second big advantage, for both the pigs and the operator, is that pigs in large groups are easier to handle and transport. Research carried out by Dr. Harold Gonyou at the Prairie Swine Centre has shown that there are differences in the way pigs in small and large groups respond to stress. In his trials, pigs housed in large groups took about a third less time to load than those housed in small groups. Dr. Gonyou observes that pigs raised in large groups are more willing to investigate and travel in addition to interacting better with other pigs. Other research suggests that pork quality is better in pigs raised in large groups, perhaps due to the lower degree of stress prior to slaughter. Work at Iowa State University compared pens of 32 where pigs were not pre-sorted the day before shipping and pigs in groups of 192 that were pre-sorted the day before loading. Utilizing large pens and pre-sorting prior to shipping reduced the physical signs of stress during loading and unloading and reduced transport losses (dead and non-ambulatory pigs) at the plant by a massive 66 per cent.

Slower growth?

By way of downside, there is some evidence that pigs in large groups grow more slowly than those in smaller groups. An investigation

The second big advantage, for both the pigs and the operator, is that pigs in large groups are easier to handle and transport.

Performance of finisher pigs in small or large pens Large Small No. pens 12 96 Start Wt. (kg) 28.8 29.2 End Wt. (kg) 102.7 106.5 ADG (g/day) 800 830 Overall gain (kg) 73.9 77.3

Large-group finishing systems with autosort have many advantages, but lower growth rate may be a downside. at the Prairie Swine Centre compared the performance of pigs in groups of 18 or 108 at two stocking densities. Overall, the average daily gain (ADG) of large-group pigs was 1.035 kg/day, whereas pigs in small groups averaged 1.073 kg/day, a 3.7 per cent difference. Also, pigs in the large groups had poorer scores for lameness and lower leg scores throughout the eight-week study period. Recently published work from Iowa State also showed a performance disadvantage for pigs housed in large groups. It compared pigs in groups of 34 with pens of 272 pigs and found that ADG and overall growth were higher in pigs housed in the smaller groups (Table 1). The percentage difference in growth rate was also 3.7 per cent. It should be noted that in both these trials an autosort system was not used. The Iowa State researchers also examined health, in particular the number of body lesions and the number and types of treatments carried out during the trial. They found that there were a significantly higher number of lesions in pigs housed in large groups. Also, more pigs were treated in the large pens (198 versus 158 over the trial) and consequently a higher drug cost was incurred for the large pens ($127.63 versus $95.47).

Competition

If pigs in large groups are disadvantaged, is this likely to be worse where group size is very large and an autosort system is used? While there is no research data that directly supports this suggestion, work at Prairie Swine Centre observing the behaviour of pigs in LGAS pens indicates that some pigs may have difficulty adapting to the system. The challenge for pigs in LGAS pens is that they have to go through the autosort scale to get to a “feed court” where they can eat and drink. Some pigs have difficulties learning to do this, while once in the feed court they are also subject to more competi-

tion such that less-dominant pigs may prefer to avoid that area. The work at PSC compared groups of 250 or 650 pigs with LGAS with conventional pens of 60 pigs. Pigs in the LGAS systems modified their eating behaviour by eating five meals per day compared to the 10-15 for pigs in the smaller pens, suggesting that the

process of entering the feed court was less attractive than eating from a feeder placed in an open pen space. The researchers noted that some pigs had difficulty learning to enter and leave the feed court several times a day. They recommended that management should ensure that an adequate number

of feeder spaces are provided, that there is sufficient room for pigs to move around in the feed court and that there are suitable training procedures to facilitate the use of the autosort scale. One final disadvantage of large groups, with or without LGAS is that it is harder to identify sick and disadvantaged pigs. This means that a high level of stockmanship ability is essential in order to avoid higher mortality rates. Overall, the success of largegroup systems is strongly influenced by pen layout and the quality of management because inadequacies in these areas will impact pig growth and health. The key to developing improved systems will be to better understand how factors such as group size, feed court layout and training methods affect pig behaviour and performance. Bernie Peet is president of Pork Chain Consulting of Lacombe, Alberta, and editor of Western Hog Journal

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MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Calving season needs a business plan planning ahead } Prevention and a cow-calf handling

protocol will reduce losses By brenda schoepp

ssessing the risk of disease transfer is year-round work, but it is in the spring that many diseases manifest themselves. Chronic feedlot animals succumb to extreme changes in temperature, calves are exposed to cold and wet and suffer scours and other health issues, people are tired and access control is lax. Silent illness like Johnes or visible outbreaks such as scours are all common and rob farmers of performance and lives. Taking the time to evaluate the risk within the herd is a proactive step in prevention. Many diseases are manureborne and transferred, making control in spring tough. Access to pens by visitors may introduce contamination and is a common issue in nearly 70 per cent of herds. To mitigate the risk, it helps to have a few extra sets of “on-farm” boots that can be worn. This ensures that problems at one farm are not gifted to another. Buying cows and dairy calves from auction markets is a highrisk activity. It is like a bonus coupon, you may get more than what you paid for and it may not be what you want. It is best to buy cattle direct and ask the seller about their herd health history and protocol. Like buying a used car, it is acceptable to ask to check with the consulting veterinarian on the herd history before making a decision. Bringing in one diseased animal puts the entire herd at risk because of the nature of manure or airborne disease. These diseases are almost impossible to prevent from spreading and it is on the individual cow or calf as to their level of immunity or resistance. Those first hours are important for calves and they need colostrum. Unfortunately, if mother is an infected cow, this

We all know the rules about calving, but it never hurts to put them on the fridge for those days that we are tired enough to think about a short cut. may pass to the calf. An even greater risk to the calf is giving it colostrum from another cow or pooled colostrum from a batch. This increases the opportunity for disease as this is a cocktail of sorts. It may seem a trivial point, but a recent risk assessment in Alberta herds found that nearly 50 per cent of calves were given colostrum from someone other than their mother by mistake or design. Calving in the spring is challenging, with pools of mud and manure that tend to form. Calves are prone to lick or drink from these pools and in crowded conditions may have to bed in them. Scours are as common in calves as colds in a daycare, but that does not mean it needs to be so.

Scours cost money

Prevention through vaccination is only as good as the management practices that go along with

You Are Invited To The

the vaccination protocol. Treating scours may be an acceptable part of calving but it is costly in terms of time, medication and performance. Calves that have scoured or become ill have limited performance in the feedlot and an increased grading cost of $250. In other words, a sick calf, even a calf with only scours, is doomed as a feed converter and as a carcass. To ensure that cattle can live and perform to their full capacity, they need to be well from start to finish. We all know the rules about calving, but it never hurts to put them on the fridge for those days that we are tired enough to think about a short cut. Keeping calves warm and dry is of utmost importance. As calves are born they should immediately be moved with their mother to a clean, dry space. In the spring, having a clean pasture area with a little

protection is sufficient. This allows for feed and manure to be evenly distributed and for calves to stay out of low wet areas. Planning for calving areas in the fall makes sense and having carry-over forage on the field is even better. This gives calves natural bedding and gets the cow up and looking for tender shoots. Walking and scouting for treats may tease the appetite of a young cow who has had a tough time and put her in a better frame of mind. It will exercise those areas that are stiff and sore from the birthing process. Most importantly, exercise keeps the intestinal track moving thus enabling her milk output to be maximized. It’s difficult to have a successful business without a business plan as it is risky to calve without a calving plan. Lack of forward planning for assistance, pre- and post-natal care and

emergencies is the crux behind injury to man and beast and the cause of fatality in both. The cow needs to be able to see you and to see where she is going and to feel confident in that maneuver. Remember, labour is tough and extraordinarily painful and asking a cow to get up and saunter over to a foreign area when she is cramped with pain is asking for trouble. In all things, planning, practicality and common sense are needed. Cattlemen don’t need to have a fancy calving barn but they do need to plan for the health, welfare and disease prevention of the cattle on the farm. Brenda Schoepp is a market analyst and author of Beeflink, a national beef cattle market newsletter. A professional speaker and industry market and research consultant, she ranches near Rimbey. Contact brenda.schoepp@cciwireless.ca or www.brendaschoepp.com

ADM offers EU canola program Certification } To comply, a supplier’s entire supply chain must

meet the European standard for sustainability

25th Annual

MOCCASIN FLAT RANCH SPRING SALE, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012 1:00 P.M. At The Ranch Lunch at 11:30 am

1/4 miles east of Torrington on Hwy 27 and 1/2 mile south on #805, west side of the road

Auctioneer: Ryan Dorran 15 Heifers with Calves at foot * Easy Calving * Thick and Long * Posted Birth Weights * Halter Broke * Ultrasound

Mack Hutton Ph (403) 631-2410 (messages) Cell (403) 507-3018

22 Two Year Old Bulls * Semen Tested * Natural Marbling * Ranch Raised * Sale Weights * Good Scrotal Measure

Gerry Hutton Ph/Fax (403) 631-3734 Cell (403) 556-5222

Box 13, Torrington, AB T0M 2B0

PRACTICAL AND PROFITABLE!

major Prairie canola processor that’s certified to crush “sustainable” feedstock oils for the European biodiesel market has set up a program to certify its canola growers. ADM (Archer Daniels Midland) Agri-Industries at Lloydminster, Alta. has launched what it’s dubbed the Sustainable Grower Program, following its own certification through International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC). To comply with European export market requirements, a supplier’s entire supply chain must meet the European standard for sustainability, ADM said. Canadian growers who complete the Sustainable Grower Program will be able to deliver certified seed to the Lloydminster facility, the company said, and the certification status “will help

maximize the marketing potential and value of their seeds.” ADM created the Sustainable Grower Program “to help make it easier for growers in Western Canada to become certified sustainable and connect to highervalue global markets,” plant manager JP Montalvo said in a release. “Having our entire supply chain meet export requirements is important for the Canadian canola industry to remain competitive with other countries and other oilseeds.” The Lloydminster plant sources canola from local growers as well as from ADM’s elevators at Carberry, Man., about 50 km east of Brandon, and at Watson, Sask., about 40 km east of Humboldt. ADM said its program is offered free of charge and includes a kit to help organize all required cer-

tification documents. Based in Germany, ISCC was set up to guarantee biofuels — and their feedstocks — are produced according to the German Sustainability Regulations and the European Renewable Energy Directive, enforcing social, labour and environmental requirements for production and imports of biofuels. Europe’s demand for renewable energy is expected to grow “significantly” by 2020, Montalvo said. Canadian growers interested in the Sustainable Grower Program are asked to contact Curtis Lystang at ADMLloydminster@adm. com. The Lloydminster facility, which is ADM Agri-Industries’ first ISCCcertified site in North America, also produces food-grade canola oil for exports to Asia.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

Prevention and care of girth itch IRRITATION  Poor-fitting tack can make the skin

vulnerable to a fungal infection BY CAROL SHWETZ, DVM

orses being ridden or driven will occasionally develop a peculiar skin lesion immediately in the area behind their elbow, in the axilla or “armpit.” This skin lesion appears “rash-like” and is typically associated with the girth/cinch so the colloquial term “girth itch” is often used to describe it. The appearance of girth itch is variable. Early on, the hair pattern in the axilla becomes disrupted, no longer laying flat against the horse’s body. As the ailment progresses, hair and skin structures become involved with groupings of small raised plaques, wheals

and hives with scaling, crusting, and hair loss becoming increasingly evident. This condition may or may not be itchy. Unless halted, it can become deep seated in the skin layer, causing inflammation and creating an ever-widening weepy, crusty, raw, bald spot. Continued girthing worsens the skin damage and the horse’s attitude about being ridden. The causative agent for girth itch is a close cousin to ringworm in the fungal family. These soil-borne fungi proliferate whenever and wherever conditions become favourable. Ill-fitting tack plays a significant role in the advent of this condition. Friction and pressure from an ill-fitting girth blister the skin, setting up the

environment for infection and inflammation. Skin repeatedly softened by moisture from sweating, or hosing without adequate drying, also weaken the skin’s natural resistance to infection. As expected, younger horses with naive immune systems are more prone to infection. Management of girth itch depends upon the severity of the condition. Iodine or chlorohexidine-based shampoos can be used to bathe the affected areas removing scales, crusts, and dirt. Topical application of soothing salve containing aloe vera or calendula will further facilitate healing. When the skin is broken or inflamed it will be necessary to spare the horse being girthed for the

period of time necessary to heal the ailment, typically a minimum of two weeks.

Prevention

The longer the period of girthing, the more important girth fit and quality become to the horse’s comfort. The tender folds of skin in the axilla easily become distressed by an ill-fitting, soiled or overtightened girth. A poor-fitting girth will also disrupt your horse’s movement and focus. It is important that a girth fit snuggly but not tightly, keeping a well-fit saddle securely in place. Excessively tightening a girth will not compensate for a poor-fitting saddle. Cinches can be made from leather or cotton webbing.

These natural products, when kept soft and clean easily mould to the horse’s body shape and act as a wick to pull moisture, dirt, and heat away from the body. Cinches can also be made from synthetic materials such as neoprenes, nylons, and foam rubbers. Many synthetic materials tend to keep heat and moisture against the horse’s body, furthering excessive sweating and contact irritation. Mindful care to girthing a horse includes soft, clean, well-fitting girth equipment and appropriate hygiene of the girth region in horses. Attention to such detail can have a surprisingly pleasant influence on your horse’s attitude to being ridden or driven.

Equine Canada awards three Alberta coaches RECOGNIZED  Top

instructors lauded AGRI-NEWS

Three Alberta coaches were recipients of coaching awards presented by Equine Canada. The Equine Canada/National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) National Coaching Awards recognize coaches and instructors from all disciplines and contexts who exemplify the NCCP coaching and teaching practices. The Alberta Equestrian Federation commented that nominees may come from all corners of the country, and recipients are recognized for their contribution to the sport as a teacher and coach, whether their students are active in competitive sport, or are recreational sport participants. Congratulations go out to these three Alberta coaches: • Carola Friesen, of Lethbridge, the recipient of the EC/NCCP coaching award in the category Level 1 Western Coach, Western Region. • Archie Hurst, of Sherwood Park, the recipient of the EC/NCCP coaching award in the category of Saddle Seat Coach and Instructor.

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• Trish Mrakawa, Coach 3 — Jump and provincial master evaluator, of DeWinton, the recipient of the Coaching Excellence Award for outstanding contribution to the development of the coaching programs, in the category Jump High Performance.

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MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Multi-sireverification project

COME ’N’ GET IT

PARTNERED  ARD is

working with some select Alberta ranchers to demonstrate the practical use of the biometric identifier DNA AGRI-NEWS

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development is midway through a sire-verification program that uses a DNA verification system from IdentiGen Canada Ltd. to improve the economics of Alberta ranches. This project received funding through the Business Management skills and tools area, part of the federal-provincial-territorial Growing Forward initiative. In the first phase of its Sire Evaluation Technology Project program, Jim Hansen, livestock business development specialist with Alberta Agriculture, and project lead, partnered with some select Alberta ranchers to demonstrate the practical use of the biometric identifier DNA. From participating ranches, a DNA sample was collected from bulls and calves to identify parentage, and to determine which individual bulls were proven breeders and which bulls sired the healthiest, most viable calves. In the second phase, production data is being collected and evaluated. This data makes it possible to identify the individual bulls that sired the highest-quality calves in terms of growth performance, grade, yield and other indicators of meat quality. “Our goal is to help Alberta ranchers become more profitable. Toward that end, DNA is a rancher’s best friend, because it can help them greatly improve their profits by helping them determine which sires are proven producers,” says Hansen. “This technology, when used in a multi-sire breeding situation, will assist ranches in making better genetic selection decisions. We want to assist with tools that help Alberta producers improve their knowledge of the value chain. After all, we produce food.” “We are always looking for ways to use science in our breeding programs. I’m enthusiastic about the potential of DNA-based traceability systems to help Alberta ranchers continue to raise the best beef in Canada,” says Bill Newton, a veterinarian and director of Canada Gold Beef, whose ranch is located in Fort MacLeod, Alberta.

Ed Rath feeds a mixture of barley and oats to a pen of yearling calves on his farm northeast of Brooks, Alta.

PHOTO: KEVIN LINK

T:17

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

Cows and Fish shares the silver screen at Lethbridge premiere

Manitoba cow-calf producer to head CCA

BUILDING BRIDGES  Since 1992, Cows and Fish has worked

to promote riparian health for the benefit of everyone BY SHERI MONK AF STAFF

t first blush, cows and fish may not seem to share a lot of common ground, but a special film premiere this Friday (Mar. 28) will be about building bridges between the two. Cows and Fish is the common name for the Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society, a non-profit, grassroots society established in 1992 to promote the improvement of riparian areas. Its mandate is to foster a better understanding of how improvements in grazing and other management tools can enhance landscape health for all stakeholders, including agricultural producers and the general public. Cows and Fish will be unveil-

ing its REAL Beef Digital Stories in Lethbridge Friday as a short film premiere and reception to build connections between producers and consumers. The stories are a series of stories created by producers and consumers sharing personal stories of stewardship. Norine Ambrose, executive director for Cows and Fish, says the organization has always tried to tell producers’ stories, but it wasn’t until relatively recently that they thought of a new and innovative way to do it. “We recognized about five or six years ago that we really wanted to try to get that out from a more personal perspective, to get the actual people telling their own story,” she said. Ambrose says while land stewardship has always been important to landowners and agricultural producers, its importance

has really emerged in the public consciousness of Alberta, and because of that, it’s important that landowners are able to effectively share their stewardship stories. Between six and eight stories will be shown, and there will be an opportunity for dialogue, comment and networking after the screening. Some of the topics may include how consumers can buy locally to support sustainable agriculture by choosing growers to buy from. “That’s one example, and we may talk about bigger-picture issues like how we encourage government programs and policies that support stewardship and acknowledge its importance,” said Ambrose. Tickets for the premiere are free, but must be booked in advance and the event was already close to capacity more than a week ago.

VICE-PRESIDENT 

Dave Solverson of Camrose assumes new position

However, there may be additional screenings in the future, and at other locations throughout the province. Cows and Fish is also looking to partner with potential venues or other organizations to host additional screenings. Anyone interested in seeing or hosting REAL Beef Digital Stories should contact Ambrose at 403-381-5538 or by email at nambrose@cowsandfish.org. Additionally, some previously produced stories can be viewed online at www.cowsandfish.org/ photos/digital.aspx

Martin Unrau

Dave Solverson

N O IT C-60-02/12-BCS12055-E

T:10”

G N I R B

STAFF A cow-calf producer and former head of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association has been named as the new head of the national cattle producers’ organization. Martin Unrau of MacGregor, Man. was acclaimed as president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association during the organization’s annual meeting in Ottawa. Dave Solverson of Camrose, Alta., a vice-chairman with Alberta Beef Producers, was acclaimed to replace Unrau as CCA vice-president. Unrau, who also backgrounds some calves and grows grain crops, replaces Travis Toews of Beaverlodge, Alta., who remains on the CCA board as past president. “The Canadian cattle industry is in a really good situation right now; however, I am concerned about infrastructure dropping off because herd numbers are down. It’s one of those underlying issues that are always there when numbers are down,” Unrau said in a release. “I’m concerned that we might lose some slaughter and processing capacity, along with feeding capacity, in Canada and in the U.S. That’s a huge concern down the road, so we’ll have to look at that and deal with that.” Producers can expect a continued focus on market access and the rebuilding of the Canadian cow herd in order for Canada to become a solid player on a global scale, Unrau said. The CCA also announced new directors named by its provincial affiliates, including Cathy Sharp and Pat Rutledge (Alberta); Brent Griffin and Kevin Woods (Saskatchewan); Heinz Reimer (Manitoba); Tom Wilson and Matt Bowman (Ontario); and George Smith (Nova Scotia), plus Byron Templeton representing the Canadian Beef Breeds Council.

MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Getting the farm in shape for agri-tourists SAFETY FIRST } Farm safety and liabilities need to be addressed,

and that includes having adequate liability coverage and walking the property to assess hazards by alexis kienlen af staff | red deer

hat happens when you invite the public onto your farm? Will they behave themselves or go tromping through your kitchen? Do you have what it takes to run an agritourism operation or offer tours? Carolyne Saumer — owner of Saumer Time Alpaca Ranch — asked and answered these and other questions during a session held at the Alberta Farm Fresh Producers meeting. There are many things to think about before opening your farm to agri-tourism, she said.

“What does being open to the public actually mean?” said Saumer, who with husband Tom operates the popular farm venture northwest of Edmonton. “You’ll have strangers on your property.” Agri-tourism is a good way to promote a farm and its products, but Saumer recommends scheduled visits, clearly posted hours of operation at the farm’s entrance, and a lockable gate. “We rarely have to turn down the opportunity to offer a tour for the people who drop in, but we do encourage that they call in advance,” she said. “A missed opportunity can be a missed sale.”

Many farm visitors want to learn more about farming, but not all family members may be enthusiastic about interacting with the public, she said. And some people see an open gate as an opportunity to make themselves at home, said Saumer. Farm esthetics and presentation are a huge part of agri-tourism. “While it is a working farm, it should be neat and tidy — it doesn’t have to be perfect and it doesn’t need to be a show yard, but it does need to be presentable,” Saumer said. Farm safety and liabilities need to be addressed, and that includes having adequate liability coverage and reviewing the policy

Farm tours can be a wonderful learning opportunity as long as the safety of animals and guests is a priority. photo: lorraine stevenson frequently with their insurance agent. “Safety of animals and of guests is always a priority,” said Saumer. She recommends agri-tourism operators walk their property and troubleshoot in advance. “Take someone with you who

doesn’t know your property and have them point out things that might be a concern for them.” Operators need to identify and mark off potential hazards or make sure these areas are not accessible to the public. People need to be alerted to the presence of farm machinery and should be kept away from working vehicles. If animals are on display, then visitors, especially children, need to be educated about safe handling and know they shouldn’t startle animals. Operators may want to consider animal insurance. Good signage is a must. Highway signs need to be approved by Alberta Transportation, and parking areas need to be clearly indicated. When they arrive on Saumer’s farm, guests are invited to dip

“What does being open to the public actually mean? You’ll have strangers on your property.” Carolyne Saumer

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their shoes in a bleach and water mixture to reduce the chance of spreading disease. Handwash stations are provided. International visitors need to have been in Canada for at least three weeks before visiting the Saumer farm (www.saumertimealpacaranch. com). The Saumers also host several farm events a year. Consistency for farm events and mailing lists are important. “Track your customers,” said Saumer. “Know where they’re coming from and get their email addresses as a way to get them back on your farm.”

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Alberta company first to sell Canadian alfalfa to China Dairy demand }

China needs more forage for its goal of doubling milk production by 2015 staff

Green Prairie International, a global wholesale supplier of quality forage products located in Alberta, has become the first Canadian company to ship alfalfa into the Chinese market. Twenty containers of Canadian alfalfa hay have been shipped to China and 40 more containers have been ordered; the total estimated $600,000, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said in a release. Canada gained market access for alfalfa hay in March 2011. “This is the first of many shipments as China’s growing demand translates into new sales opportunities for Canadian producers, and jobs and growth for our economy,” Ritz said. “We are extremely excited by this new marketing opportunity between Canada and China,” said Mr. John Van Hierden, president and CEO of Green Prairie International. “This will create unprecedented opportunities for the Canadian forage industry. We believe this will create important economic and cultural benefits to both Canada and China.” Negotiations continue towards market access for timothy hay as China looks for more international suppliers to meet its growing demand for animal feed, the release said. Canadian alfalfa and timothy hay, meal, and pellets total exports worldwide were worth over $85 million in 2011. China’s hay and forage product imports increased significantly in the last five years, going from $119,000 in 2006 to over $103 million in 2011. China is significantly expanding its dairy industry — aiming to double its milk production by 2015 — and the growing demand for alfalfa hay on the Chinese market is offering some great sales opportunities for Canadian producers. During Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s recent mission to China, a Cooperative Agreement was signed that included the creation of a joint technical working group to move forward a Canada–China Cooperation Dairy Farm Pilot Project. The project would demonstrate how Canadian feed products, live dairy cattle, and Canadian management practices would contribute to this goal of doubling milk production.

Vote ends EU-U.S. hormone-treated beef row Beef quota raised } The U.S. responds by lifting its import duties

on all targeted European luxury foods By Gilbert Reilhac strasbourg / reuters

he European Parliament approved a deal between the EU and both the United States and Canada on hormone-treated beef March 14, ending one of the trading power’s oldest disputes. The case dates back to 1988 when the European Union banned all imports of beef from cattle treated with growth hormones, a move that prompted U.S. and Canadian sanctions of $125 million a year on European products from Roquefort cheese to truffles and mustard. The EU and Washington had agreed in 2009 that the 27-member bloc would keep its ban on hormone-treated

beef but that the U.S. would gradually lift its sanctions in exchange for a steep rise in the EU’s duty-free import quotas of hormone-free beef. The volumes of hormonefree beef exempted from taxes were put at 20,000 tonnes that year and are due to be lifted to 48,200 tonnes by August 2012, of which 45,000 tonnes for U.S. beef and 3,200 tonnes for Canadian imports. The United States lifted its import duties on all targeted European luxury foods in May last year. Although EU farmers had feared a surge in imports of North American beef, these failed to materialize as the United States became a net importer of beef after grain that formerly went to animal feed was used to make biofuels.

The EU has insisted its ban on hormone-treated beef, which is largely approved by EU consumers, rests on scientific evidence of health risks, though the United States and Canada reject such evidence. The main beneficiaries of the lifting of the U.S. sanctions are expected to be Italy, Poland, Greece, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, France and Spain, the EU Parliament said in a statement. The Council of Ministers still needs to rubber-stamp the decision but it already gave its informal approval, the Parliament said. Speaking to lawmakers before the vote, EU farm chief Dacian Ciolos said he hoped the deal would lead to a definitive resolution of the hormone-treated beef dispute

The United States lifted its import duties on all targeted European luxury foods in May last year.

at the World Trade Organization. Ciolos also noted the publication last week of draft rules by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to lift the ban on all EU beef imports, imposed in 1997 in the wake of the BSE crisis. He said he hoped the rules would be finalized “in a timely manner.”

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AF CONTRIBUTOR | CALGARY

armers need to step up and get involved in a new era of research, and it needs to be on farm, field scale, farmer driven, and collaborative, says Ty Faechner, executive director of the Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta. “I don’t think traditional research will ever go away,” Faechner told attendees at the recent Precision Ag 2.0: the Next Generation conference in Calgary. “We still need it and it needs to be strong. But, there needs to be more engagement of the farming community in research.” On-farm research is good for individual producers and for agriculture as a whole, he said. “On-farm research allows farmers to have control over what they are evaluating,” he said. “This provides an opportunity for people to be empowered. I think it can help us grow our industry, and I think it can make us more competitive internationally.” Faechner predicted there will be a paradigm shift with producers undertaking their own studies in order to maximize productivity. While they might share the results with neighbours or even at forums and industry events, the priority will be on individual queries and individual results. It’s certainly a change from how farmers have historically viewed research. In the past, research conducted at research stations was the only kind of scientifically accurate work possible. The typical research model, in place since the 1920s, is for researchers to identify a uniform site, arrange treatments in small plots according to an experimental design, collect the data, and then analyze the variance in data from the different experimental designs, said Faechner.

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Today’s high-tech equipment allows individual farmers to rival researchers’ precise application rates and yield monitoring. FILE PHOTO individual farmers to rival researchers’ precise application rates and yield monitoring. “There’s about 2,800 people who applied through a federal equipment grant back in 200607 to get GPS equipment on their machines,” said Faechner. “The government put something like $40 million into the program. We know people have the equipment. The next step is, what are they going to do with it?”

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Such on-farm studies can be field sized — “design based” in research lingo — and that offers many benefits. Small-plot studies can be affected by border effects, strong inter-plot competition, lack of correct herbicide systems and non-representative growing conditions. But field-based studies show exactly how a specific agronomic practice will perform in a particular field. Research funders are increasingly interested in on-farm, field-scale research, he said On-farm research may also be a matter of necessity, as traditional research continues to face increasing pressures. “We have a shrinking pool of resources to work on crop production problems in Western Canada and, when you look at traditional research, it’s quite expensive compared to doing on-farm work,” said Faechner. As well, “demographics would suggest that (the research community) is going to lose a lot of intellectual capital in the near future.” While Faechner recommends all producers consider on-farm research, he said they should be collaborative projects. “We want to encourage (farmers) to do research work on their own, but in a fashion that we can have our agronomists who work for business support them, so we can get some really good science,” he said. “Partnerships are what it takes to make this work. Not everyone has all of the skills to make this happen. That’s the reality. You need to have a team approach to this. Most producers we work with are very interested, but they may not necessarily have the time or the energy to put towards the analysis. “The potential for on-farm research is huge since farm co-operators offer equipment, land and motivation to become engaged. However, a method of scientifically recording and analyzing data from these fields has been missing, which is why collaboration with agronomists is so important.”

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MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Too soon to give up on winter wheat MODERATE TEMPERATURES  South Dakota-style winter may

have compensated for the lack of snow cover BY DANIEL WINTERS

WINTER WHEAT

PERCENTAGE OF LOSSES

STAFF | BRANDON, MAN.

he Prairie winter wheat crop may have been left looking a bit worse for wear due to unusually low snowfall cover, but there’s still life lurking below those browned-off stalks. That’s because it takes more than just a tap on the head to kill winter wheat, said Outlook, Sask.-area farmer Dale Hicks, who is also chair of the Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission. “There’s going to be damage on headlands and hilltops, but we’re not going to experience wall-towall death. That’s impossible,” said Hicks, on the sidelines of a workshop hosted by Manitoba Winter Cereals Inc. It takes at least 30 skull-shattering whacks, or more accurately, incidents of severe frost, to push the crown tissue over the “line of death.” Even without good snow cover, Hicks pegs the number of “damage events” on the Prairie crop’s Winter Survival Model at only five so far this winter during cold snaps in January and February. “We had a winter more like South Dakota, where they grow lots of winter wheat without snow,” said Hicks. Driving by at 100 km/h, a field of orange tops flat on the ground might look ripe for spraying out and reseeding. But when attempting to determine if a winter wheat crop is a writeoff or not, he urged farmers to pull up some plants and look for the telltale white to greenish-yellow “thread of life” at the base of the stalk. Black and mushy roots are a sure sign of death. But if it’s mainly white inside with a little brown around the edges, that means the plant has suffered limited injury from frost-induced dehydration — freezer burn. Even so, the end result might be a respectable crop, even with 10 per cent thinned, 10 per cent damaged, and another 10 per cent dead. “It might not be a bumper crop, but it still might fill in and yield more than spring wheat,” said Hicks. At any rate, the early spring gives farmers plenty of time to reassess whether the crop is worth keeping. If by mid-April it still hasn’t bounced back, then it’s time to consider pulling the pin. “I’ve held on to stands up until May 10, and only once had a winter wheat yield that was the same as a spring wheat yield,” said Hicks.

Dale Hicks shows a browned-off winter wheat plant picked from his farm. PHOTO: DANIEL WINTERS

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Experts develop salt-tolerant, high-yield wheat YIELD BOOST  Improved variety yielded up to 25 per cent more in saline soil BY TAN EE LYN

“When plants grow in salty conditions, the enzymes in the plants don’t work very well anymore.”

HONG KONG / REUTERS

cientists in Australia have crossed a popular, commercial variety of wheat with an ancient species, producing a hardy, high-yielding plant that is tolerant of salty soil. The researchers, who published their work March 12 in the journal Nature Biotechnology, hope the new strain will help address food shortages in arid and semi-arid places where farmers struggle with high salinity in the soil. “This is first time that... a genetic variation that has been lost in plants through domestication has been reclaimed from a wild relative and put back into the plant,” said lead researcher Matthew Gilliham of the University of Adelaide’s School of Agriculture. The researchers used a gene believed to be responsible for controlling the salt content in plants and that was isolated more

MATTHEW GILLIHAM UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

A gene believed to be responsible for controlling the salt content in plants was isolated from an ancient wheat variety. than 10 years ago from an ancient wheat variety. The gene makes a protein that is present in the roots of wheat and it helps block salt from travelling up the plant, Gilliham said in a telephone interview. Salt lowers yields and eventually kills the plant.

“When plants grow in salty conditions, the enzymes in the plants don’t work very well anymore,” Gilliham said. “We crossed the gene into modern, commercially grown wheat. It confers salinity tolerance by withdrawing the salts

from the xylem, retaining them in the roots and stopping them getting up the shoots where the salt damages the plant and stops it from photosynthesizing,” he explained. The researchers grew the new, improved wheat variety in soil

with high salt content and found that it produced yields up to 25 per cent more than strains without the ancient gene. “People will see how it works... maybe in five years it will benefit other varieties of wheat,” Gilliham said. He said farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, Australia, the United States and Russia may also benefit from the modified wheat.

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MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Planning safe crop chemicals storage DETAILS  If chemicals are to be stored for another year, there should be provision for security and containment BY MERISTEM MEDIA

any a hockey coach has touted the importance of attention to details as critical to success. The same can be said for running a farming operation, says Jock McIntosh of Alberta Environment and Water. Perhaps nowhere is this more relevant than when it comes to safe crop chemicals storage. “It’s not the most noticed or exciting part of farming,” he says. “It might not be the main thing on your mind when you’re dealing with dozens of other pressures and requirements. But it’s one of those things that should be at the top of any farmer’s priority list because it is a major safety issue. The details are key and they need to be looked after.” Environmental Farm Plans (EFPs) are a tool producers can use to ensure safe pesticide storage, says McIntosh, one of the editors who helped develop the wording

in the EFP workbook. “Having an EFP is a great way to make sure you are following the right safe storage approach.”

Six fundamentals of storage

There are a number of fundamentals that are absolute musts, says McIntosh. 1. Minimize what you need to store. If producers can keep what they store to a minimum, that is the best way to reduce risk. A good start is to look hard at exactly how much product you need and just buy that quantity. Sometimes the best storage decision taken is the decision not to store, says McIntosh. “We run into a lot of problems where people have product left over at the end of the year and we always encourage them to better manage it.” Often, thinking leftover product will be used the next year simply doesn’t work out, he says. “It’s easy to think, maybe it’ll be good for next year. Due to various crop rotation

strategies you may not likely use it or forget about it over the next two or three years.” Waste product becomes hazardous waste, he says. “My advice is think hard about whether you really want to store or not. If you have any doubt about using it the next year, it’s likely the best decision is to find another means to use it up and not to store in the first place.” 2. Secure your storage. Pesticides should be stored in a place where they’re completely separated from the other activities that happen on the farm. That means not just isolated storage but secured isolated storage. Fundamentals of safe storage should be followed for any type of chemical or other potentially dangerous product, says McIntosh. “It’s best if we can look at the safe storage issue from a broad perspective and keep our approaches consistent. It’s not just about pesticides. It’s with any hazardous substance that you’re working

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with on the farm. List them, talk about them, have a plan for them. If you’re not sure if something is hazardous, ask a trusted adviser.” 3. Think environmental protection. Environmental considerations top the list of where to locate storage. Water protection is No. 1. Make sure storage isn’t in an area that could contaminate either surface water or groundwater if a spill were to occur. “Deciding where to store is one of the most important decisions,” he says. “Where are you going to put that and make sure it’s not going to be in a flood zone or close to people? If there was a fire or explosion, what don’t you want it to be around? If you were to hit it with water in a fire response, where will that water run to? You don’t want contaminated water running into the ground or surface water.” Keeping storage isolated is just part of it, he says. “Have a plan. Have a good design.” 4. Have spill containment in place. If there were to be a spill, the best line of defence is to have good spill containment in place before it happens. For example, having a tray or pan under the stored product, and having everything on a non-absorbent surface. “This is a big issue,” says McIntosh. “What if a product case has a leak? Too often it’s something that’s not thought about until someone

wants to sell land or when there’s an obvious cleanup issue. You need a secondary containment option, designed to protect ground, surface water and property.” 5. Develop an emergency plan. Planning ahead is also the key to managing an emergency situation. In Alberta, a good resource is the Rural Emergency Plan available through the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan website or directly at www.ruralemergencyplan.com. “It’s a great tool to get families thinking and talking about an emergency — even if it’s around the supper table!” 6. Practise safe disposal. Safe handling and storage should accommodate the full life cycle of the product container. That means ensuring safe disposal once the containers are used. Producers may have their vendor handle this, or, depending on the size of the container (less than 23 litres), they may want to use a container collection site available through CropLife Canada’s CleanFarm program, says McIntosh. “The important thing is to not keep used containers on farm.” The process of completing or updating an EFP will walk producers through these fundamentals, he says. More information on EFPs in Alberta at www.albertaefp. com. Meristem Media articles at www.meristem.com.

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

Rural septic systems move on to the public radar PRESSURES  Increased rural subdivision is increasing attention

on the need for systems that protect the environment BY MERISTEM MEDIA

Over the years that Alberta farmers and ranchers have been completing Environmental Farm Plans (EFPs), farm waste management has consistently ranked among the top five environmental challenges concerns identified by producers. “We know that many municipalities across the province are facing pressures to better manage water quality,” says Alberta Environmental Farm Plan program co-ordinator, Perry Phillips. “They are dealing with issues such as grandfathering of older, substandard septic systems, application of sewage sludge to agricultural lands, as well as separation distances, particularly with regards to subdivision of farmsteads from the rest of the farmland. There are a range of concerns from esthetics to human health and groundwater protection.” Those two situations hold a message for rural areas in the years ahead, he says. Expect more pressure on rural septic systems. Developing an EFP for a farm or ranch is an excellent way to assess risks to human health and groundwater associated with on-site sewage treatment systems, says Phillips. But producers will also want to know their responsibilities in developing new or revamping existing systems with regards to standards of practice, permits and regulations.

Farm workhorse

It is always amazing to consider how much work a farm septic system does.

Alberta Municipal Affairs estimates the average person produces 340 litres of waste water that flows through a sewage treatment system every day. A family in a three-bedroom house, using the basic code design calculation of 1.5 persons per bedroom, produces 1,530 litres per day or half a million litres per year. Most landowners want to develop an effective, properly designed system, says Joe Petryk, senior field inspector for Alberta Municipal Affairs, who is a specialist in the septic area. In Alberta, standards for the design, installation and material requirements of on-site private sewage systems are provided by the Private Sewage Systems Standard of Practice under the Safety Codes Act. However, standards are just part of the picture. Ultimately, a septic system must meet the needs of the people living on the farm. For this reason, knowledge of the property and your family’s lifestyle is key, says Petryk. “Any given septic system is as unique as the property it serves. Site gradients, the number of people living on the property, water usage/conservation and soil characteristics are just some of the factors that must be considered when deciding the kind of septic system to install.”

Pressure versus gravity

Pressure-fed and gravity-fed systems are the two common choices when it comes to septic system discharge, with pressure fed generally preferred. In a gravity-fed system, sewage flows out of the tank or is pumped from the

tank into a lower-elevation treatment field, taking the effluent underground where it is absorbed by the infiltration area within the subsurface field. A gravity system can also be applied to an open-discharge system (surface discharge). “Pressure-fed systems use a pump set in the effluent chamber that forces the effluent into the treatment field or treatment mound, distributing it evenly throughout the field. We generally recommend pressure-fed systems because of this,” says Petryk.

Septic tank size

An estimate of the septic tank size can be calculated using a simple formula, says Petryk. “In single-family dwellings, the average volume of sewage per day is estimated at 340 litres per person. To get a general idea of the size of tank required, multiply the number of bedrooms by the number of prescribed people in the code per bedroom and then multiply the result by 340. For example, two persons in a twobedroom home would be “two multiplied by two multiplied by 340” to equal the number of litres required. The Standard of Practice should be referenced for any additional design requirements.”

Site evaluation key

Making the right decision on a treatment system depends to a large degree on soil characteristics of the site. The Standard of Practice requires a site evaluation to

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be conducted. Part of the evaluation requires test pits to be dug to produce a soil profile. A soil sample of the most limiting condition within the proposed treatment zone is collected and sent to a laboratory for analysis to determine the texture of the soil. The soil texture classification is now the approved method to determine the effluent soil loading rates for the treatment system design. A soils percolation rate test is no longer acceptable to determine the soils capacity to take on effluent and will only be used in support of a design that is based on a soil profile investigation. More detailed information on rural septic systems is available in a feature article with Joe Petryk, Build an effective farm septic system, available on the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan website www.albertaefp.com.

MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

NEWS

DOWN IT GOES

Canadian Farm Business Management Council renamed

Preparing for spring seeding Josh Prepchuk watches as his load of wheat empties into a floor grate at the Strathmore (Alta.) Seed Cleaning Plant. PHOTO: KEVIN LINK

The Canadian Farm Business Management Council has a new name — Farm Management Canada. FMC says the change is part of its 20th anniversary, with other changes including a new website fmc-gac.com and a new and improved Canadian Farm Manager magazine. Farm Management Canada is a national organization devoted exclusively to developing and distributing advanced farm management information. Supported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and private partners, it offers information products such as CD-ROMs, books and DVDs covering topics of relevance to farmers such as succession planning, marketing, human resources and finance.

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Farmers who contribute to grain and oilseed research through checkoffs are eligible for the federal government’s Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit. Each organization may vary, as it will have its own eligible percentage. The percentages are calculated by looking at the percentages of the checkoff dollars spent directly on research. Producers who choose to opt out of the program are not eligible for the tax credit. The tax credit percentages for producers who contributed to the wheat and barley checkoff administered by the Western Grains Research Foundation in 2011 are 84 per cent for wheat and 83 per cent for barley. In Alberta, the checkoff on barley is collected by the Alberta Barley Commission. Its tax credit rate is 22 per cent. The tax credit is earned at a rate of 20 per cent for individuals and 35 per cent for corporate producers that are Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPC). For example, if a producer contributed $300 to the WGRF wheat checkoff in 2011, the eligible amount would be calculated by taking 84 per cent (the wheat percentage) of the $300 = $252. If the producer files taxes as an individual they would take the $252 and would earn 20 per cent of this amount as a tax credit = $50.40. For producers who file as a corporation, they would earn 35 per cent of the $222 as a tax credit = $88.20. For more information, visit the WGRF website at www.westerngrains.com or the ABC website at www. albertabarley.com.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

Taking canola markets to the next level Premium brands } Just being good isn’t enough. Being special can elevate products like canola oil to new levels By Shannon VanRaes staff | Washington, D.C.

anola oil, low in saturated fat and high in healthy omega-3 fatty acids, offers clear health benefits to consumers. But marketers can’t expect the product to sell itself — they need to grease the wheels, speakers told attendees at the Canola Council of Canada’s convention here earlier this month. “(Canola oil) is very basic, although really beloved in the U.S.,” said consumer psychologist, author and consultant Kit Yarrow. “I think in the U.S. we are even more aware of the benefits of canola oil than you are in Canada. It’s really commonly associated with good health and has an excellent reputation, but it’s not necessarily special.” Yarrow said creating different categories of canola oil, possibly touting omega-3 benefits, or playing off the “extra virgin” label of olive oil could be effective strategies. “I’m not quite sure how that would apply to canola oil, but I’m sure there is a way to make it work,” Yarrow told delegates. And the benefits of selling small quantities of higher-quality, higher-priced oil isn’t the sale of the specialty oil itself — it’s the rub-off effect. Comparing it to luxury car companies that make most of their profits selling economy-class vehicles, Yarrow explained that having

Kit Yarrow, a consumer psychologist and author of Gen BuY, spoke about consumer trends during the Canola Council of Canada’s conference in Washington, D.C. Photo: Shannon VanRaes a high-end product available can elevate an entire brand category. In short, elevating one type of canola oil elevates all canola oil. “Price can have that sort of allure,” she said. Teaming up with other products is another way to imbue canola oil, or any other item, with the attributes of another brand. Yarrow noted the cosmetics industry often draws on farm imagery in products featuring fruits, or fruit flavour, even if there is no apparent connection between items like lipstick and pomegranates. Canola’s sunny-yellow flowers could just as easily become a symbol for advertisers looking

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to prmote the natural, healthy aspects of their particular products, she said. “Your area — food — because it’s so pure, because there is a purity associated with it in the minds of consumers, is being annexed into all sorts of brand categories using the rub-off effect,” said Yarrow. “I think there would be room for you guys to lend your image to other products, or for you to steal from the image of other products.”

Smarter consumers

But getting your message out today isn’t like it was 10 or 20 years ago, Yarrow said. Consumers have become empowered by

online information, more visually aware and more self-reliant. Shopper demographics have also changed, and all the while food options have increased, causing consumer indecision. In addition, more men are grocery shopping, fewer families are defined as “traditional,” and shoppers are now wary of marketing claims. “The way consumers really learn about the value of a product today is not by digesting one piece of information from one source, that is why your old ads just don’t work as effectively as they used to,” said Yarrow. “Trust today is built from information people acquire from many different sources.” Those sources include referrals by friends on Facebook, Twitter feeds or influential bloggers, as well as traditional print and broadcast media. Yarrow noted she began using canola oil several years ago after it was listed as an ingredient in cookbook after cookbook. “And that wasn’t an accident; good job,” she said. Another important shift in consumer trends is the yearning to belong. Although social media may give people the sense of being connected, in reality people today have fewer trusted friends than they did 30 years ago, said Yarrow. The type of friend you call for help when your child is sick, when you have a flat tire or when your dog is on the loose, is on the decline. This change has left consumers

I, _____________________________________

craving involvement and seeking communities, even ones centred around a brand or product. “Consumers actually really want to be involved today,” she said. “When they feel like marketers and retailers and brands are listening to their needs, they respond with their pocketbooks robustly.”

Changing tastes

Along with changes in how people make food-purchasing decisions, there has also been a shift in consumer taste buds. Foods like egg rolls, tacos and ravioli are no longer considered “ethnic,” and demand for spices is growing. One of the top food trends for 2012 is turmeric, a spice often used in Persian, Indian and Thai foods, while spicy dishes and new flavour combinations are popping up more and more. “Flavours have really gone wild these days,” she said. Yarrow said there are opportunities for canola oil to work with these consumer shifts and trends, but canola marketers must also be aware of the possible downside of their industry. “We’re still looking at something that is big business,” she said. But there is an antidote to any stigma the big business side of things may create. “It must always go back to the plant,” Yarrow said. “What we’re looking at here is a way to be really pure and simple. Quality and value is what your brand already has, and that is what consumers are really looking for.”

MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

CWB officials promote pools at grower meetings Hard to beat } CWB officials say getting an average return

is better than what most farmers get in an open market By Allan Dawson staff

hile the Canadian Wheat Board had its monopoly, some farmers complained getting a “good, average price” for wheat wasn’t good enough. But in the coming open market, the board is betting lots will think that’s pretty good. “The average of the market through a pooling operation does actually return people the best value, overall, over a long period of time,” board president and CEO Ian White told a meeting in Oak Bluff, Man. March 15.

“We find there’s still a large number of farmers who find pooling is a good option for them...” White said. Neil Townsend, the wheat board’s North American market analyst, said when wheat prices peaked several years ago at $25 a bushel, North Dakota farmers averaged just $7. “The average (price) is better than what most people get,” he said. “It’s impossible to always really get the top unless you’re lucky.” In an interview Townsend said an estimated 70 per cent of farmers earn less than the average selling price for their crops. “The pool is really a multi-year strategy,” he told the meeting. “It’s

“The average of the market through a pooling operation does actually return people the best value, overall, over a long period of time.” IAN WHITE CWB PRESIDENT, CEO

about getting the average price over an extended period of time.”

Wheat is different

Farmers are comfortable selling other crops on a cash basis. But wheat is different, Starbuck-area farmer Chuck Fossay said later in an interview. “It’s becoming quite apparent now that the marketing of wheat has always been a very complicated issue that most producers weren’t aware of,” he said. “It is not, and never was, as simple as marketing oats that basically has two grades or canola that has two grades. We are looking at a lot of different marketing factors.” Another farmer, who asked not to be named, said after hearing the board’s pitch, he’s a bit more optimistic it can survive in an open market, but added its fate ultimately rests with handling companies that have no reason to help it survive. The board’s future depends on good handling agreements and farmers. “It’s just going to be another grain company offering you } Continued on next page

CWB president and CEO Ian White says pools offer most farmers the best return over time. Photo: Allan Dawson

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} Continued from previous page

marketing opportunities and providing some additional competition in the marketplace,” Fossay said. For competitive reasons, there’ll be less information about the board’s expected pool returns, Townsend said. “Farmers need to accept there won’t be a huge amount of price discovery from the pool because... the pool is delivering the average price for the year...” he said. The board has protocols to ensure the pools get fair and full access to board sales and aren’t disadvantaged by cash sales, White said. “We’ll employ that methodology to make sure the pool gets the benefit of the sales we make.”

Providing value

Board officials emphasized the organization is working hard to provide value to farmers in an open market. But there were several references to how the board was able to manage issues like grade spreads, protein and blending when it handled all the wheat in Western Canada. In the new open market starting Aug. 1 there will be less flexibility because buyers have made sales based on what farmers said they would deliver, Townsend said. Fossay asked if the board will become the dumping ground for grain other companies won’t take and if so, whether the board could handle that. It depends on farmers, White replied

“If farmers want to deliver significant quantities to the CWB... we can do a lot more with it,” he said. “But if our book is smaller then we’ll be able to do less. That’s the consequence of this market arrangement.” The wheat board also did a lot of market development to generate premiums for farmers. The new board won’t have the resources for that, Townsend said.

Fewer resources, less flexibility

The board wants to continue providing the quality grain and service that customers say they want, he added. But the question is whether they’ll pay for it in a competitive market. Canada risks losing its topquality wheat brand, if exporters buy and sell on minimum specifications, Townsend said. Glencore, the firm rumoured to be trying to buy Viterra, sells wheat based on optional origin, meaning it doesn’t matter where it’s from, he said. “If a greater percentage of Canadian wheat starts to be sold as if it’s interchangeable with international wheat then that money we used to gather up for selling... that money is gone out of the system.” But in an interview, White said he thinks Canadian wheat exporters and customers will continue to rely on grades set by the Canadian Grain Commission, at least for a while. “A lot of customers are very used to our grading system and therefore I think they will be quite keen to continue to take those grades,” he said.

New ICE wheat contract will struggle Liquidity } A Winnipeg contract may have trouble competing with

the established spring wheat market in Minneapolis By Allan Dawson staff

he outlook for the new ICE Future Canada’s wheat futures market isn’t great, according to Neil Townsend, the Canadian Wheat Board’s North American market analyst. The long-running spring wheat futures market in Minneapolis didn’t get enough business before the Winnipeg market launched in January, he said. As a result, Minneapolis wasn’t “liquid” enough — a measure of how easy it is to get in and out of the market — as traders would like. “Speculators want easy in and easy out,” Townsend told farmers at a meeting in Oak Bluff, Man., March 15. “I won’t prejudge them (ICE) because they say they will be patient, but I don’t see how it turns around quickly for them. “It’s going to be a struggle and it will take some time.”

ICE Futures Canada’s new wheat futures contract faces an uphill battle, says Neil Townsend, the CWB’s North American market analyst. Photo: Allan Dawson

The whole spring wheat complex is not as “transparent” as the much larger hard and soft red winter wheat markets in the United States. The wheat board probably knows the spring milling wheat market better than anyone and will shed some light on it through a new market analysis newsletter being launched next month, Townsend said. Farmers can subscribe for $600 a year; grain companies will pay substantially more. The board has 75 years of grain-marketing expertise and the best weather and crop surveillance in Canada, according to Townsend. The newsletter will be distributed electronically, by fax and by mail. The wheat board still wants to sign agreements with Western Canada’s grain companies to handle its grain. So far Cargill is the board’s only partner. Talks are underway with Viterra, board president and CEO Ian White said in an interview. The talks are not being disrupted by Viterra’s potential sale, he added. The board wants to meet producer car shippers the first week of April, to discuss how to work more closely with them, White said. Almost all producer car shipments have been through the board. Handling producer cars in an open market will take a lot more co-ordination, White said. Knowing grain grades before shipping will be critical, he said. “And then we’ll have to organize the shipping to meet our sales program,” he said. “What we don’t want — and I don’t think any company wants — is the wrong grades at port.”

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.

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MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Experts search for ways to cut food waste Thrown away } An estimated 30 per cent to 50 per cent of world’s food goes uneaten by lisa baertlein and ernest scheyder reuters

leaning your plate may not help feed starving children today, but the timeworn advice of mothers everywhere may help reduce food waste from the farm to the fork, help the environment and make it easier to feed the world’s growing population. Hard data is still being collected, but experts at the Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit in Chicago said an estimated 30 per cent to 50 per cent of the food produced in the world goes uneaten. The average American throws away 33 pounds of food each month — about $40 worth — according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, which plans to publish a report on food waste in April. In a year, that means each person throws away almost 400 pounds of food, the weight of an adult male gorilla. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 23 per cent of eggs and an even higher percentage of produce ends up in the trash. “We forget we have all these fresh fruits and vegetables, and at the end of the week we have to throw them away,” said Esther Gove, a mother of three young children in South Berwick, Maine. “Now, I don’t buy as much fresh produce as I used to.”

Far-reaching impact

But the impact of food waste stretches far beyond the kitchen. Agriculture is the world’s largest user of water, a big consumer of energy and chemicals and major emitter of greenhouse gases during production, distribution and landfill

decay. Experts say reducing waste is a simple way to cut stress on the environment while easing pressure on farmers, who will be called on to feed an expected nine billion people around the world in 2050, versus nearly seven billion today. “No matter how sustainable the farming is, if the food’s not getting eaten, it’s not sustainable and it’s not a good use of our resources,” Dana Gunders, a sustainable agriculture specialist at the NRDC, said at the Reuters summit. In richer nations, edible fruit and vegetables end up in landfills because they are not pretty enough to meet a retailer’s standards, have gone bad in a home refrigerator or were not eaten at a restaurant. In developing countries, much food spoils before it gets to market due to poor roads and lack of refrigeration. High food prices are another factor, since some people can’t afford the food that’s produced, said Patrick Woodall, research director and senior policy advocate for Food and Water Watch. “It’s not a situation where you have to massively ramp up production,” Woodall told the Reuters summit. “Even in 2008, when there were hunger riots around the world, there was enough food to feed people, it was just too expensive.”

Waste not

food waste a growing problem Food scraps comprise by far the largest percentage of municipal solid waste, after recycling.

but the United States is catching on as producers, facing tepid sales growth, look to control costs. For example, a General Mills pizza plant found a way to use heat to make toppings stick to frozen pizzas better. The system is expected to prevent thousands of pounds of cheese and other pizza toppings from going to waste each year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said 33 million tons of food waste hit landfills and incinerators in 2010, the largest solid waste product in the system. EPA has launched a program to address the issue.

DuPont is working with farmers in Kenya to extend the life of raw milk. Often farmers Recommended fixes have to travel up to 20 kilometres to get their Experts from EPA and other groups have milk to market, and due to the country’s high floated a variety of recommended fixes. They temperatures, much of the milk gets wasted, say clarifying “sell by” and “use by” dates Jim Borel, an executive vice-president with could help consumers avoid throwing food in the garbage too soon. Some food could be DuPont, said. “This has broad application, but we’re “rescued” and used in soup kitchens, while certain leftovers could be used as animal focused on Africa right now,” Borel said. B:10.25” feed. Europe is a leader in tackling food waste, T:10.25”

Increasing composting could boost soil health and drought resistance, while also easing the burden on landfills and reducing decomposition of garbage into greenhouse gas methane. Gove, the Maine mother, has found her own solutions. She buys frozen blueberries and raspberries instead of fresh ones that may spoil; purchases meat in bulk; and freezes what she doesn’t immediately need. She also has introduced her kids to frozen banana treats, which means she’s able to keep the fruit longer. “Milk is one thing we don’t waste, though,” she said. “My kids go right through it.” Researchers say people of every age — especially children — contribute to the food waste problem. Gove said she has cut waste by starting with smaller meal portions for her children, who get more only when they ask. Still, she says, there is a limit to how far she’ll go. “I definitely don’t want to get rid of my kids,” she said.

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

GREENHOUSE FOCUS

Dairy producer switches to farming under glass HIGH TECH  Year-round greenhouses recycle water and

control temperature, CO2 levels and air flow BY HELEN MCMENAMIN

AF CONTRIBUTOR | MEDICINE HAT

lbert Cramer used to get up every morning to milk cows at his dairy farm near Thunder Bay, Ontario. These days he’s tending cucumbers and peppers near Medicine Hat. “I always liked the plant side of farming better than livestock,” he says. “I enjoy managing plants and this is a very hands-on business. And, like any other farming venture you need more and more growing area.” Cramer began his farming career as a dairy producer but wanted something a little less demanding that still involved growing things. He picked a greenhouse operation and moved to the Medicine Hat area in 1985. “We had no computer in that first greenhouse,” he says. “Everything was manual. But, it was much smaller, so it was easier. It’s no different from any other kind of farming, you have to get bigger to stay in business.”

try that’s heat treated, washed and screened before shipping from Sri Lanka. The compressed bales expand to 15 l per kg when water is added. The peat can also contain a beneficial fungus that fights plant pathogens like pythium. As much as 50 per cent of the nutrient solution leaches through the growing medium and is recycled. Water that condenses on the roof and from rain is also recycled. “The water flow off the glass roof is better than off plastic, too,” says Cramer. “All the water

runs into a little pond outside, we pipe it back in, adjust the nutrients and run it back through the irrigation system.” Controlling pests and disease is a continual challenge in a greenhouse, although controlling temperature, CO2 levels and air flow help. “We scout, scout and scout some more,” says Cramer. “We try to train everybody to watch for signs of pests or disease and manage to control them. The natural enemies and predators work well, so we don’t spray insecticides. We do have to watch

for mildew. It’s the worst disease problem in cucumbers.” With almost perfect growing conditions, cucumbers and peppers have to be picked every day. Greenhouse operators in the Medicine Hat area can’t get enough local workers to do the repetitive work of tying up plants and picking fruit. Cramer has 44 temporary foreign workers, mostly Thais and some Filipinos. “We couldn’t do it without them,” he says. “They’re good, very dependable workers and they like the work. We’ve been

able to renew them for up to four years, but it’s a huge amount of paperwork and dealing with the bureaucracy. It’s not always simple. Dealing with the language barrier can be demanding, especially in training.” Despite all the high-tech systems in the newest of greenhouses, winter production is only about 80 per cent of summer yields. But, winter prices are higher. In the summer greater demand for salads boosts demands and that can help prices too. “As soon as barbecue season hits, demand goes right up,” says Cramer.

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“…It’s no different from any other kind of farming, you have to get bigger to stay in business.” ALBERT CRAMER FARMER, MEDICINE HAT

Cramer, his two sons and sonin-law run two greenhouses, one 7.5 acres and another newer one of about 10 acres. In the older greenhouse, they grow English cucumbers and red, yellow, orange and mini-peppers. In the new range they grow only English cucumbers and mini-cukes. The new greenhouse has glass rather than plastic for better light transmission and it has a lighting system that allows him and his partners to grow year round. The main challenge of winter is inadequate light for summer crops. Lights are set for 18 hours light and six hours dark. Cold weather can still be a challenge for greenhouse operators as cool spots in the outer parts of the house can drop below 12 C and stress the plants. “We like the heat the highpressure sodium lights give off,” says Cramer. “But we use lots of natural gas as well.” The new greenhouse also has a roof curtain system made of a special woven fabric that breathes but retains heat.

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Commercial greenhouses don’t use soil as a growing medium anymore. They use coco peat, made from coconut husks. It’s a byproduct of the coconut indus-

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MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

GREENHOUSE FOCUS

Analysis key when growing bedding plants CAREFUL MEASURING  Growers need to know electrical

conductivity, pH, and levels of soluble salts, sodium bicarbonates and magnesium in their water

BY ALEXIS KIENLEN AF STAFF | EDMONTON

Knowing the composition of water is one of the building blocks for determining a fertility program. ©THINKSTOCK

What are your plants drinking? Commercial greenhouse growers need to determine this by getting a water analysis, as well as an analysis of the media used for growing, said Thom Rypein, technical sales representative with Direct Solutions, a division of Agrium Technologies. Knowing the composition of

water is one of the building blocks for determining a fertility program, Rypein told attendees at a recent bedding plant workshop at the Crop Diversification Centre North. Hard water is better for growing bedding plants and is easier to manage economically than soft water, said Rypein. When getting water tested, greenhouse growers should ask for pH levels, electrical conductivity, measure of soluble salts, and sodium bicarbonates and magnesium levels, he said. When sodium levels in the water are over 75 ppm, water management is needed and blending may be required. Water pH should be about 5.8 to 6.3 for bedding plants, depending on the variety grown while bicarbonates should be around 100 parts per million. “If you had no bicarbonates in your water, and went from an acidic fertilizer to an alkaline fertilizer, the reaction in your soil would yo-yo all over the place,” said Rypein. “This acts as a cushion to resist the pH swinging around too much. If the bicarbonates are too high, you can’t make that change anymore. One hundred is a nice number to work with.” The chemistry of water or wells can change over time and water should be checked repeatedly. He said pH can be adjusted by adding specific fertilizers. When choosing fertilizer, growers should check if it is nitrate or ammonia based. Fertilizers should contain nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus as well as micronutrients, and most fertilizers used for bedding plants are soluble or slow release. “We’re seeing people adding more lime or potassium bicarbon-

ate to help stabilize the pH in the mix for those higher-pH-loving crops like geraniums or marigolds,” Rypein said. “All fertilizers are basically salts. Some of them are more salty than others.” Fertilizers will come with a salt indexing chart. “If you have a salty water, choose a fertilizer that is not as salty,” said Rypein. Calcium should not be mixed with sulphates and phosphates when mixing fertilizers as this will create gypsum. Growers can feed their plants by choosing a water-soluble fertilizer that is given to the plants during regular watering times. “We eat four or five times a day — you feed your plants the same way, small amounts every time,” Rypein said. Some growers like to buy nutrients and then custom blend fertilizers, which may require more calculations. Calcium and magnesium need to be included in the feed program, with about three to five parts of calcium per one of magnesium in order to maintain balance, he said. Humidity and temperature have a huge impact on how plants use nutrients. If plants aren’t transpiring, they don’t take up water or nutrients properly. Temperature of the growing media is extremely important. Good growing media has air space for roots to breathe, retains moisture, supports the plant and offers some disease control. Sphagnum, peat moss and bark are included in most growing mixes. Perlite, vermiculite and rice hulls may be added for aeration, and some chemical materials may be added for fertilizer and stabilization.

“All fertilizers are basically salts. Some of them are more salty than others.” THOM RYPEIN

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

GREENHOUSE FOCUS

Seedling care equals happy customers TIMELY TIPS } Alberta greenhouse operators get the

inside dirt on producing healthy bedding plants by alexis kienlen af staff | edmonton

Healthy seedlings grow into healthy bedding plants, which results in happy customers. Commercial greenhouse operators from across the province learned how to better start their bedding plants during a recent growers’ workshop at the Crop Diversification Centre North. Most operators start their bedding plants by buying plugs from other plant suppliers, said Mohyuddin Mirza, greenhouse specialist with the Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association. The use of plugs makes it easier for growers to plan ahead, since they can be bought in advance, colour preferences can be selected, and frost damage avoided. Growers should keep good records, including records of what they dump, as these numbers should be part of production costs. Temperature, moisture, oxygen and light are four important factors that need to be considered during seed germination. “Many growers have a separate germination chamber where these things are controlled,” said Mirza. The temperature of the growing material (media) is more important than air temperature during germination process, and the growing medium needs to be porous. Mirza recommends using a growing medium that is less than 10 per cent soil. Water uptake in a seed occurs in three phases. When a seed is soaked in water, or a moistened growing medium, there’s a rapid physical absorption of water which occurs in the first eight hours. After this, there’s a lag phase when the seed channels the water and proteins and carbohydrates within the seed become active. Another rapid uptake of water occurs when the seedling emerges.

for rooting — plants will not root properly and diseases will come in,” Mirza said. The rapid growth stage of the plant is the generative stage when flower buds are forming. During this time, it is important to have balanced feed and mild stress on the plant. “You can watch the plant and create small water stress. You let it wait once, that’s all,” Mirza said. This will help the plant set flower buds, as will natural light over 12 hours. Edges of plants tend to dry

faster, so it is important to ensure all corners are watered. Plants require a lot of energy to produce flowers, which can grow at cooler temperatures. Plants work on 24-hour temperatures. Night temperatures tend to be cooler. Mirza recommends maintaining cooler temps for 12 hours and warmer temps for about 12 hours. In the final phase, plants are ready for sale. Growers should still continue to feed their plants, typically weekly. Hot temperatures should be avoided, as the plants will wilt during this stage.

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Temperature control

Seeds should be covered to a depth of twice the diameter of the seed. Once 60 per cent of the seeds have germinated, they can be moved from the germination chamber but shouldn’t be subjected to drastic temperature change. Most seeds germinate in a chamber with a temperature of 24 to 25 C, and are then moved to a greenhouse with a temperature around 18 C, which can cause the seed to collapse. “Don’t move them to 18 C right away. Give them a few hours in a place with a temperature in between before they come to a greenhouse,” Mirza said. In the beginning growth stages, flowers need to be removed, lots of water needs to be given and roots need to be teased to encourage vegetative growth. Maintaining a root temperature of about 18 to 20 C and providing sufficient phosphorus are important. “If it’s too cold, it’s a disaster

*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

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2/17/12 5:27 PM

MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

GREENHOUSE FOCUS

Year-round vegetables from southern Alberta CO-OP  Members can concentrate on production and let Red Hat

manage the marketing of products with a short shelf life BY HELEN MCMENAMIN

AF CONTRIBUTOR | MEDICINE HAT

Red Hat Co-op members grow peppers, tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers. ©THINKSTOCK

“Growing local is the only way that makes sense,” says Albert Cramer, a greenhouse operator from Medicine Hat. “People want to know where their food comes from. We can grow an Alberta product year round, that has to be better business than importing food.” Cramer markets his cucumbers, mini-cukes and peppers through Red Hat Co-op, based in Medi-

cine Hat. “We couldn’t do this without the co-op,” he says. “It’s a very hands-on business, so it’s great we don’t have to do our own marketing,” Cramer says. Co-op members grow peppers, tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers. “As a co-op we work together instead of fighting each other,” Cramer says. Red Hat began in 1966 with 10 growers. They took the name from the towns of Redcliff and Medicine Hat, its bigger neighbour just to the east. The area was the cen-

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tre of greenhouse development in Canada because of the low price of natural gas in the area, but also because it has the greatest annual sunshine of any area in Canada. The co-op now has over 50 grower-members, who together use 92 acres of greenhouses to grow lettuce, all sorts of sweet and some hot peppers, a huge variety of tomatoes, in yellow and orange as well as red and in all sizes, cucumbers, basil and other herbs. “As a co-op, we’re owned by our members, says Lyle Aleman, Red Hat’s general manager in Medicine Hat. “It’s all the grower-owners and their families who own the co-op. They come together as families to work together with their families to grade, pack and market their produce together. Buying from the co-op is really buying direct from the producer, it’s not like buying from a big corporation.” The Red Hat grading, packing and shipping facility is a 55,000-square-foot renovated building with a 19,000-squarefoot cooler. It ships fresh produce to retailers across Western Canada every day. “Our big advantage over our competitors is that we can ship to any location in Western Canada, overnight,” says Aleman. “And, the sooner produce gets to consumers, the fresher and better tasting it is.” The co-op has two salesmen who market the greenhouse produce to grocery stores. Red Hat’s main competition is from Ontario and B.C. growers. Each region has an advantage at different times of year, says Aleman. Every grower and the Red Hat facility is certified under the Canadian Horticulture Council’s food safety program that ensures all the growers and the packers use safe food practices. They also participate in a produce traceability initiative that ensures that if there is any safety concern, produce can be quickly and efficiently recalled. Red Hat co-op takes sustainability seriously. Growers use sustainable practices, recycling irrigation water, conserving energy, using natural pest control and other measures. The Red Hat packing and shipping facility and the company as an organization constantly look for ways to reduce its footprint from energy conservation to eco-friendly packaging.

“Our big advantage over our competitors is that we can ship to any location in Western Canada, overnight.” LYLE ALEMAN RED HAT

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

GREENHOUSE FOCUS

Buy local spreads to ornamentals and boosts opportunities GREEN THUMB  People who love to grow

can start very small and then expand BY HELEN MCMENAMIN

AF CONTRIBUTOR | LETHBRIDGE

Bedding plant sections are expanding in bigbox stores but at the same time, consumers are looking for locally grown, pesticide-free plants for their homes and yards. That’s creating opportunities for people who want to grow ornamental or edible bedding plants, says Mohyuddin Mirza of the Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association. Bedding plants are the specialty crops of the greenhouse world, and is a field where growers can start small and grow, he says. Some growers have started as a one-person project, selling to neighbours, then their spouse gets more and more involved and it may even become a career for the next generation. “You do have to really like plants and flowers and be willing and able to grow healthy, good-quality plants,” says Mirza. “And, you have to develop good relationships with your customers.” Mirza says he always recommends new entrants begin by creating a solid business plan.

Beware the pirate of the prairies

“The main things are the type of plants you’ll grow, knowing your market, and whether you’ll retail plants or wholesale,” Bedding plants are the specialty crops of the greenhouse world. ©THINKSTOCK he says. “More than half of Alberta’s bedding plant producers retail plants. Margins people start buying plants in April. Among home, start picking within a week and keep are better and especially in smaller commu- the most popular spring plants are hanging picking until September or even October if nities, many people like to buy direct from baskets, already blooming and ready to pro- they manage the plants well. As plant buysomeone local.” vide instant colour anywhere. Containers of ers purchase instant colour or crops the Expertise and after-sales service are salad greens, tomatoes and vegetables are demand for nursery material is extending becoming key, he says, noting many cus- also popular. into July and August. Many bedding plant tomers want “their plant expert” to come Container growing makes it easier for buy- suppliers are developing garden centres and look at their plants and offer advice — a ers to enjoy their plants and flowers right with supplies as well as plants. service big retailers can’t match. away rather than fighting cold soil and fickle About half of Alberta’s bedding plant proLarger greenhouses shouldn’t be afraid to weather in spring and then frosts as harvest ducers operate year round, growing poinapproach big retailers and box stores and comes close. settias, Easter lilies or even edible crops. offer to be a supplier, says Mirza. “In our cold climate, we’re hungry for “Our food habits are changing,” says “If you produce good-quality plants and colour and green plants after the winter,” Mirza. “We eat for health, buying more get to know your buyers, you can succeed as says Mirza. and more diverse fruits and vegetables — a commercial wholesaler,” he says. “We need them for our spiritual well- cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce and salad However, he notes, suppliers need a cer- being. Today the trend is not to plant in soil, greens, peppers as well as things like kale tain scale of operation, likely five or 10 acres but to fill containers with flowers and green- and broccoli. And these days we have the under glass or plastic to work successfully ery people can enjoy indoors and then put greenhouse technologies to help produce with large retailers. out to decorate front and backyards when those foods locally with the minimum of About 48 per cent of Alberta bedding plant the weather warms up.” pesticides.” producers run seasonal greenhouse operaTumbler tomatoes answer today’s The Alberta Greenhouse Growers Assotions, starting up in late February and usu- demand for quick results. After 40 or 50 ciation and its website (www.agga.ca) are ally closing sometime in June. But the busy days of growth the first fruit is almost ripe. excellent sources of information on greentime is starting earlier and lasting longer as A buyer can take a container-grown plant house production. T:10.25”

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MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Climate change means more Australian intense rains, droughts Records } New report says temperatures have been rising each decade since the 1950s australia rough weather ahead TEMPERATURE • Each decade has grown warmer since the 1950s. • Annual average daily maximum temperatures up 0.75 C since 1910. • Annual mean daily average temperatures up 0.9 C since 1910. • 2010 and 2011 were Australia’s coolest years recorded since 2001, due to two consecutive La Niña events. RAINFALL AND STORMS • Past 15 years drier than average across the southeast, despite record rainfall in 2010 and 2011. • The trend: Increased spring and summer monsoonal rainfall across Australia’s north; higher-than-normal rainfall across the centre, and a drop in late-autumn and winter rainfall across south.

A man stands near a weir at cotton producer Cubbie Station near Dirranbandi in Queensland, 600 km (373 miles) west of Brisbane, in this undated handout photograph obtained August 17, 2009. Cubbie Station, a Hong Kong-size farm long accused of draining too much water from the food bowl Murray-Darling River system, is considered a bogeyman at the centre of climate controversy in Australia. REUTERS/Cubbie Group Ltd./Handout

by david fogarty singapore | reuters

ustralia faces a quickening pace of climate change, according to a snapshot of the nation’s weather. A new government report says rainfall trends are changing and temperatures warming across the country. The report, compiled by the Bureau of Meteorology and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, comes after 18 months of record rains in the country’s east, triggering floods that ended a devastating drought. Each decade has been warmer than the previous one since the 1950s, the report said, with rising greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels, deforestation and agriculture blamed for the changes. “We’re certainly seeing where the

Are You

rain is falling is changing,” said Megan Clark, CSIRO’s chief executive. “We’re seeing more in spring and summer... a monsoonal signature across Australia’s north, and more rainfall in central Australia. The report is only the second joint climate snapshot, with the first released in 2010 before the start of an intense La Niña event that triggered months of flooding, crimping economic growth and causing billions of dollars in insurance losses.

In hot water

A second, weaker La Niña in 2011 brought more rains. Recently the Bureau of Meteorology said the event was coming to an end, but rainfall in parts of Australia could still be above average. La Niña is a periodic warming of the Western Pacific Ocean. It normally triggers above-average rains and cooler weather across northern and

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eastern Australia and Southeast Asia. The opposite phenomenon, El Niño, usually brings drought and warmer weather. Clark said 2010-11 stood out for the peak rains and the equally recordbreaking sea surface temperatures around northern Australia. “This consistent rise in our sea surface temperatures has been a bit surprising,” she said. “The other thing we’re seeing is when the conditions are right for rain, we’re getting a lot of rain.” The report shows minimum Australian temperatures at night have warmed by more than 1.1 C since 1910, with most of this since 1960, and that the rate of very hot daytime temperatures, higher than 40 C, has been increasing since 1990. Sea levels since 1993 around Australia’s north and northwest have been rising seven to 11 millimetres a year, two to three times the global average.

OCEANS • Global average mean sea level for 2011 was 210 mm above 1880 level. • Global average mean sea level rose faster between 1993 and 2011 than during the 20th century as a whole. • The heat content of the world’s oceans has increased during recent decades, causing oceans to expand and contributing to sea level rise. • Sea surface temperatures have increased by about 0.8 C since 1910. GREENHOUSE GASES • Fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions rose by more than three per cent per year from 2000 to 2010. • The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere in 2011 was 390 parts per million — higher than at any time for the past 800,000 years. THE FUTURE • Australian average temperatures are projected to rise by 1 C to 5 C by 2070. • Number of both droughts and incidents of intense rainfall expected to increase.

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

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

Ontario organization to administer some Prairie advances New player } Ontario’s ACC wants to expand in the West, but only into crops that aren’t covered now By Allan Dawson staff

advances for 20 different crops grown in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. W o rking w ith FNA m akes sense for Ontario commodity groups, Atkins said, because both organizations want to assist farmers. “Our intention is to grow the business and what FNA is doing for us is it’s trying to promote the application process for ACC,” he said. No matter who is administering it, under the cash advance program farmers can borrow More work up to $100,000 interest-free and The canola growers’ associa- another $300,000 at low-intertion has 55 employees, 45 of est rates. The loans, which are whom work primarily on cash repaid when farmers sell their T:8.125” interview March 15. Eighteen new employees have been hired and trained to work on the cash advance program, he said. “We are the biggest administrator now,” White said. “We know what we’re doing. We’re ramped right up ready for the new program.” In fact, the program for wheat, durum and barley has been operating since March 1, although cheques can’t be issued until April 1, he said. “We’re in as good of shape as we can possibly be.”

crops, provides cash flow allowing farmers to hold their crops until prices improve. The first cash advance program was introduced for wheat board crops in 1957 by John Diefenbaker’s Conservative government. A separate, but similar program, was introduced in 1977 for non-board crops. In 1989 the Mulroney Conservative government killed the interest-free portion of the program, but increased the amount farmers could borrow at low interest rates. In 1996 the Chretien Liberal government combined the separate cash advance acts and reinstated interest-free loans.

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“We are the biggest administrator now… We know what we’re doing. We’re ramped right up ready for the new program.” Rick White Canadian Canola Growers

C-55-03/12-BCS12047-E

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armers taking out cash advances on their crops this year will see some changes in who is administering the programs. As the Canadian Canola Growers Association expands its administration to take over the crops formerly handled by the Canadian Wheat Board, a new player has emerged to manage the program for several commodities in Ontario and for speciality crops across the country. ACC Farmers’ Financial (ACC), Canada’s second-largest cash advances administrator, announced an agreement March 13 with Farmers of North America (FNA) to offer Ontario farmers ACC’s national farm cash Advance Payments Program and provincial Commodity Loan Program. ACC is a not-for-profit Ontariobased agency comprised of 19 producer associations and marketing boards. It administers cash advances on around 50 crops, including cereal and oilseed crops in Ontario. But it also administers cash advances for farmers on a number of different crops across the country. In a joint news release, ACC and FNA said someday FNA might assist horticultural crop producers in British Columbia and the three Prairie Provinces with cash advances. “We’re the only ones that do things nationally, so we do flowers nationally, nursery and landscape nationally, the greenhouse industry,” ACC’s CEO Jaye Atkins said in an interview. “We’re doing everything from cranberries in Nova Scotia to chrysanthemums in British Columbia to ginseng in Ontario to goat meat in Quebec. We’re operating in just about every province today under one commodity or another, but also not interfering with organizations such as the canola growers.” Atkins says it has no plans to poach from the largest administrator, the Canadian Canola Growers Association. “We have no intention of going out and dealing with canola and wheat board crops (in the West),” Atkins said in an interview. For one thing, federal legislation doesn’t allow it, he said. However a different message was coming from Terry Drabiuk, FNA’s vice-president of operations, who suggested someday ACC, with FNA’s assistance,

might deliver cash advances in the West on crops such as wheat, which the Canadian Canola Growers Association currently administers. “We’re going to start in Ontario where they’re (ACC) strong and then we’ll move to B.C. after that,” Drabiuk. “Then they will be in discussions how they deal with wheat and barley and that stuff here (in the West).” Drabiuk also suggested the canola growers might be swamped having taken over cash advances on wheat, durum and barley from the Canadian Wheat Board. The canola growers’ has everything under control, general manager Rick White said in an

MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

UKRAINE WINTER GRAIN DAMAGE

ZIMBABWE WRITES OFF CROP

About 30 per cent of emerged Ukrainian winter grains were in poor state as of March 15, the Agriculture Ministry said. Record drought in July-November and severe frosts in January-February affected crops in Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions, forcing farmers to reseed the damaged areas with spring grains. The ministry said about eight per cent of the sown crops had already died. It said in a report that farms had sown 8.4 million hectares of winter grains for the 2012 harvest while 7.3 million hectares had emerged so far. — Reuters

Zimbabwe faces a huge grain deficit this year after a third of the current maize crop was written off due to a prolonged dry spell, state media reported. The southern African country, once a regional breadbasket, has struggled to feed itself since 2000 when President Robert Mugabe embarked on the seizure of white-owned commercial farms to resettle landless blacks. Agriculture Minister Joseph Made said the government had halted sales from its strategic grain reserves after a state crop assessment showed that a third of the 1.689 million hectares put under maize had been declared a writeoff. — Reuters

Comparing the different forecasts for spring weather BATTLEGROUND  Alberta may be on the dividing line between

two patterns, leading to unstable weather

©THINKSTOCK

BY DANIEL BEZTE

or those of you who have read this column over the last year or so you might have figured out that I really don’t like the idea of using average temperatures. We almost never have average temperatures, so why do we use this as a gauge as to how warm or cold a particular day is? Averages are made up by calculating the mean value of a whole series of numbers. If we were to look at temperatures for a particular day over a 30-year period I would really be surprised if we had more than a couple of days that were right around the average. Most of the days would either be warmer or colder than average. Over a period of 30 years we eventually get an average temperature. When you have a relatively stable climate, the “average” temperature will remain relatively stable. This means that any periods of unusually cold temperatures will eventually be followed by a period of warm weather. The result is that you have a “normal or average” temperature. So, of course, if we see a period of warm temperatures it only makes sense that we should eventually see a period of cold temperatures. However, I don’t believe we are in a relatively stable climate pattern anymore. The whole idea of global warming is that we will experience warm peri-

ods just like we did in the past, but these warm periods will be followed by the averaging cold period less and less often. The result is that the overall temperature increases. I still hear most people saying after one or two cold days, “I thought this was supposed to be global warming?” No, that is not global warming. Seeing nine months in a row of above-average temperatures might not even be seen as global warming. Seeing global record-warm temperature records outnumber record cold records by over 10 to one over the last five years does, at least to me, signify some kind of global warming.

Spring outlook

So, where am I going with this? Well, into our spring weather outlook of course! Looking at the different long-range weather forecasters, here is what we might expect our spring to be like this year. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac this spring is going to be cold and dry, with March being the coldest month and each month after that being a little warmer. Over at the Canadian Farmer’s Almanac they appear to be calling for a colder-than-average start to spring, with a slow warming trend towards average temperatures. Their call for precipitation is always difficult to figure out, but they do mention stormy, showery weather quite

often, so I would have to go with average to above-average precipitation. Over at Environment Canada they are calling for near- to below-average temperatures this spring along with near- to below-average amounts of precipitation. I also took a look at what the Weather Network was calling for this spring and it indicated that southern and central areas of Alberta would see near-average temperatures while northern regions would experience below-average temperatures. It also forecasted precipitation to be below average over southern regions with near-normal amounts of precipitation elsewhere. Last but not least is my spring weather outlook. For this forecast I am going purely on a gut feeling. With an early snowmelt across much of central North America and low amounts of surface water, I am leaning towards warmer-than-average conditions this spring along with below-average precipitation. I do feel that the northwestern part of North America will continue to see belowaverage temperatures and the big question is where the dividing line between this colder weather and the warm weather will end up. There is a chance that Alberta may end up being the battleground between these two patterns which would mean plenty of unsettled weather this spring.

This map shows the precipitation across Alberta from Nov. 1 through to Mar. 31. A good portion of the province saw very little precipitation during this period. The only regions to see average- to above-average amounts were the extreme western regions along with a corridor northwest of Edmonton and southeast of Grande Prairie.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

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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 ______________ =

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Minimum charge $15.00 per week

❏

VISA

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

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

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MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

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

AUCTION SALES

FARM MACHINERY Haying & Harvesting – Baling

AUCTION SALES Alberta Auctions – Central

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.

ACREAGE

AUCTION Sat. March 31 2pm. Penhold Hall

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

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Grain Wanted

Ernest Surkan of Penhold, AB. Three-5 acre lots, recently subdivided. Prime location just minutes South of Red Deer, AB.

BOW VALLEY TRADING LTD.

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

1-877-641-2798

BUYING:

HEATED & GREEN CANOLA

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

Auction is Inconjunction with 5-1/4 sec. of land. Photos, complete description & other information at Auctioneers website.

Galahad - 780-583-2476 www.PrecisionPac.com

www.PrecisionPac.com

CONTRACTING Custom Work

St. Paul - 780-645-5915

You always get what you want at:

Building Land Rollers since 1983

Andrukow Group Solutions Inc. www.PrecisionPac.com

MENZO

Combine ACCessories

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

We know that farming is enough of a gamble so if you 2/24/12 want 4:17 PM 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. 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.

Combine – Accessories

FARM MACHINERY Parts & Accessories

Hodgins Auctioneers Inc.

You always get what you want at:

CANOLA WANTED

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

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: Viterra

Vermilion - 780-853-4711

ANTIQUES Antiques 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

Custom Fabrication 10’ - 30’ Land Rollers • 3pth Units Available FARM MACHINERY DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 6

1-877-250-5252

ANTIQUES

2/24/12 4:17 PM

Provost - 780-753-3150

“ON FARM PICK UP”

www.milliganbiotech.com

FARM MACHINERY Salvage

DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 7

• Competitive Prices • Prompt Movement • Spring Thrashed

CALL US 1-866-388-6284

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

Agro Guys Inc.

SUPER CARBIDE PRODUCTS AT VW Mfg. Many products in stock! VW Mfg, 2Dunmore, AB, See2/24/12 our DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 4:17 PM website: www.vwmfg.com or call (403)528-3350.

BUYING HEATED/DAMAGED & DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 11 PEAS, FLAX2/24/12 4:17 PM GRAIN “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252 BUYING SPRING THRASHED CANOLA & GRAIN “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252

You always get what you want at:

Trochu - 403-442-2700

www.PrecisionPac.com

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

AUTO & TRANSPORT

Viking - 780-336-3180 www.PrecisionPac.com

Spraying EquipmEnt FARM MACHINERY

DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 8 Sprayers

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

Camrose - 780-608-2351 ENGINES

Andrukow Group Solutions Inc.

2/24/12 4:17 PM

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

Tillage & Seeding FARM MACHINERY Tillage & Seeding – Tillage

www.PrecisionPac.com

AUTO & TRANSPORT DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 49 Vehicles Wanted

Buy and Sell

anything you need through the

1-888-413-3325

2/24/12 ASSORTED 4:17 PM DEUTZ AND OTHER diesel engines. KMK Sales, (800)565-0500, SK. DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd Humboldt, 48 2/24/12 4:17 PM

BUGGY’S, DEMOCRATS AND CUTTERS for sale, refurbished, large display, wagons, totally restored and upholstered; also saddles, harness and tack. (204)857-4932, Portage La Prairie, MB

BUILDING & RENOVATIONS

Stretch your ADVERTISING DOLLAR! DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 4

1-888-413-3325

BUILDING & RENOVATIONS Building Supplies

2/24/12 4:17 PM

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

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

BUSINESS SERVICES

You always get what you want at: Agri-Pro

Falher - 780-837-2205 www.PrecisionPac.com

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

Viterra

www.PrecisionPac.com

Dawson Creek - 250-782-4449

Westlock - 780-349-4525

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Various

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

2006 JD 5325, 5 Cyl Turbo Diesel, 1386 Hours, 67 Eng HP, 58 Pto HP, 3PTH, 2 Sets Hydraulics, $18,500

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

1984 International 784, 67 HP Diesel, New Clutch, 3PTH, 540 + 1000 PTOs, IHC 2250 Loader, $11,500

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

www.doublellindustries.com

Mundare - 780-764-2511

780-905-8565 NISKU, ALBERTA

www.PrecisionPac.com

FARM MACHINERY Tillage & Seeding – Various

JD 9400, 9420, 9520, 8970

1994 NEW NOBLE 9000, 28ft. seedovator, w/192 JD 7810 & 7210, FWA TBH tank, BC Good condition. Rick DP2371_PPAC_Classified & AB.indd 5 $5,000 Call 2/24/12 4:17 JD PM9860, 9760, 9750, 9650, 9600 @(403)734-3831, Cluny, Ab.

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

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Various

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

“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

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

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

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – John Deere

Big Tractor Parts, Inc. STEIGER TRACTOR SPECIALIST

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

USED KUBOTA Utility Tractors (780)967-3800, (780)289-1075 www.goodusedtractors.com

You always get what you want at: United Farmers of Alberta

Lethbridge - 403-328-5531

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

You always get what you want at: Andrukow Group Solutions (Dekoda) Inc. Sedgewick - 780-384-2265

JD 4430 c/w loader JD 4440, loader available JD 7200, ldr, 3pth FWA, Steiger ST 270, 4WD Mustang 2044 Skidsteer, 1300hrs. 14’ Schulte rock rake Clamp on duals, 20.8x38-18.4x38 IHC 5600 DT 33’ 158 & 148 JD loaders Willmar 500 Fertilizer spreader FINANCE, TRADES WELCOME 780-696-3527, BRETON, AB

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 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!!

IHC 620 PRESS DRILL, 24ft, rubber packers, marker, one owner, stored inside, no rust, $4,750; Brandt 14ft hyd. drill fill c/w spout, $475; (403)782-2545

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

2002 JD 1820, 45-FT., 10-in. spacing, double shoot, dutch paired row, 3-1/2in steel, $29,000; 1 2004 McHale 991B bale wrapper, $9,000; (403)665-2341, Craigmyle, AB. 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 ACREAGE EQUIPMENT: CULTIVATORS, DISCS, Plows, Blades, Post pounders, Haying Equipment, Etc. (780)892-3092, Wabamun, Ab.

New Sakundiak 7x1200 (39.97’) , 22HP RobinSubaru eng., battery & fuel tank ...................... $7,500 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 S3, STS, TC E & X 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

Ron Sauer Machinery Ltd. (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

LIVESTOCK LIVESTOCK Cattle – Angus

You always get what you want at: Sturgeon Valley Fertilizer

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

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Red Angus 38 REGISTERED RED ANGUS bulls, (from 6 sires) 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.

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Charolais

Legal - 780-961-3088

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

30FT MORRIS DISC DRILL; MF 750 SP combine; 1482 PT CIHBC combine; 400/gal DP2371_PPAC_Classified & AB.indd 33 68ft Versatile spray2/24/12 4:17 PM er; 18ft Versatile PT swather w/2 reels; 21ft white Barb Wire & PT swather; 21ft MF 775 SP swather, pu and batt Electric High Tensile reel; 1975 Ford 3/4 ton for parts, good 360 motor. Reasonable Offers. (306)344-7758, Paradise Hill Wire Spooler

VERSATILE 2200 HOE DRILLS, 42ft. Atom jet openers, tarps, liquid fertilizer kit, $5,000 OBO; 1998 Dodge truck box, dually, $1,200; Summers 1996 8810 BOURGAULT 40-FT. air seeder, 450 trips, single chute, packers, 10-in. space, granular DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 10 2/24/12 70ft 4:17multi PM weeder, $4,800; kit, 3195 tank, always shedded, $32,000 OBO. JD 2210, LDR, 3PTH, MFD DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 34 2/24/12 Randy 4:17 PM (403)533-2240.

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Various

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

www.PrecisionPac.com

50’ Flexicoil #75 Packer Bar, 1/yr as new ...$25,000 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, PU reel 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 ........$10,000 9300 Westward MadDon swather, 1883 hrs. 21’, 960 header w/PU reel ................................................Call CIH WD1203 swather 2011, 280hrs, 36’ header, split PU reel, roto shears, header transport, top auger, floating rear axle 1/yr ..................................$105,000/ea. 1372 MF 13’ swing arm discbine 4yrs, like new ....................................................................................Call 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

www.PrecisionPac.com

Geared For The Future

JD 7520, 741 LOADER w/grapple, 3pth, 4600hrs, IVT trans., Exc. $82,500; (403)933-5448, (403)608-1116 DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 9 2/24/12 4:17 PM

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Kubota

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

You always get what you want at: United Farmers of Alberta

Strathmore - 403-934-6684 www.PrecisionPac.com

JD 1995 79DELC TRACKHOE, low hrs; Komatsu WA 320-1 3yd loader, Case W26 4-yd loader; Ford 1990655 extend hoe; UH 122 trackhoe; Cat 631 scraped 24-yd; Bomag 170 PD packer Cummings motor. (306)236-8023 JD 4995 16-FT DISCBINE 2009; also Honey Bee 25-ft grain header 47-ft flex coil 800 Deep Tillage; 45-ft Willrich Cultivator; Cummings 240bp skid mount clutch&trans; JD 7410 MFWD PS 740 SL; 860 MF PV & 20-ft grain. (306)236-8023. 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. MF 750 COMBINE, $6,500; MF 655 Swather, $1,200; Both in good running condition; 2-14ft IHC 150 Hoe press drills, good condition, $1,000; Leon Loader c/w bucket/bale spike, $3,000; 1948 W6 IHC McCormick gas tractor, for parts or restoration, $1,500; Please call 780-281-0291 between 7-9pm or email: rtbeddoes@gmail.com

You always get what you want at: Viterra

Brooks - 403-362-2072 www.PrecisionPac.com

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Hereford

RETIRED FROM FARMING, MOST machinery shedded, 1998 Peterbuilt, 460 Cummins, 18spd, BULLS FORBCSALE, REGISTERED Polled HereDP2371_PPAC_Classified & AB.indd 36 2/24/12 4:17 PM w/36ft tandem Doepker grain trailer $75,000; ford’s, Registered Black Angus, Yearlings and 2/yr Rock picker, $1,500; PTO wind power plant; 400 olds, Double N Ranch, Sundre, 403-638-2356, barrel fuel tank. $14,000 w/fuel; (403)586-0978, www.doublen.ca Torrington, Ab. WIRELESS DRIVEWAY ALARMS, calving/foaling barn cameras, video surveillance, rear view cameras for RV’s, trucks, combines, seeders, sprayers and augers. Mounted on magnet. Calgary, Ab. (403)616-6610. www.FAAsecurity.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)588-6160, Bowden, Ab.

HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING

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

www.penta.ca

1-888-484-5353

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Wanted

You always get what you want at: Viterra

Coronation - 403-578-3302 www.PrecisionPac.com

WANTED: NH BALE WAGONS & retrievers, any condition. Farm Equipment Finding Service, P.O. Box 1363, Polson, MT 59860. (406)883-2118 WANTED: Small square balers and end Wheel Seed Drills, Rock Pickers, Rock Rakes, Tub grinders, also JD 1610 cultivators (403)308-1238

IRON & STEEL

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Shorthorn

Cattle for saleBC - Shorthorn DP2371_PPAC_Classified & AB.inddQuality 37 yearling shorthorn 2/24/12 4:17 PM bulls, red, roan and white. Also a mature herd sire and a red long yearling. Prices start at $3000.00. PIPE FOR SALE 3-1/2IN., 2-7/8in., 2-3/8in., 1in. Greg Tough, Hargrave Man. (204)748-3136; Sucker Rods. Henderson Manufacturing Sales. gwtough@rfnow.com (780)672-8585

MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

LIVESTOCK Livestock Equipment

TRAVEL

Agriculture Tours

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

You always get what you want at: Viterra

Delia - 403-364-3735

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

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

www.PrecisionPac.com

You always get what you want at:

Viterra

www.PrecisionPac.com

Killam - 780-385-2188

REAL ESTATE Houses & Lots

PLAN TO ATTEND THE Warren and Norine Moore DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 38 Sale with guest 2/24/12 6th Annual Pound Maker Ram consignors. 115 yearling rams sell by auction Thursday, May 24th, 2012 at Fort Macleod Alberta. Suffolk, Dorset, Hampshire, Rambouillet, North Country Cheviot and Coloured. For more information call Warren (403)625-6519

Horses LIVESTOCK Horse Auctions

INNISFAIL AUCTION MART

PEDIGREED SEED Cereal – Wheat

CAREERS Farm / Ranch

SEED / FEED / GRAIN

CATTLE SALES

Every Wednesday 2 Horse Sales Each month

DAINES RANCH PROFESSIONAL RODEO

REAL ESTATE Farms & Ranches – Pastureland

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

GRAZING LEASES FOR SALE, Parcel #1 is 885/ac & Parcel #2 is 965/ac North Eaglesham area, Call Paul @ (780)359-2261

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Hay & Straw

Webb’s Crop Services

QUALITY ROUND HAY, VARIOUS mixes, delivery or loaded, volume discounts, Premium oat greenfeed also available. (403)637-2258, Didsbury, AB.

www.PrecisionPac.com

CAREERS Help Wanted DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 53 2/24/12 4:17 PM 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 masonfarms@netago.ca Delia, AB

Falher - 780-837-2065

You always get what you want at:

www.PrecisionPac.com

You always get what you want at:

DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 39 2/24/12 4:17 PM RM 588 2 PARCELS in grass, these two would make great acreages, 1 parcel in summer fallow. Phone (306)204-5445, Meadow Lake, SK.

Viterra

Fort Saskatchewan - 780-998-2808

Vermilion - 780-853-6565

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

You always get what you want at:

REAL ESTATE Land For Sale

You always get what you want at:

HAY FOR SALE: 980 round at 3 cents per lb, 2011 crop, Alfalfa Timothy, Orchard Grass Grass mix, Orchard Grass Clover mix, little rain. (780)696-2491 Breton, AB.

Viterra

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

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.

5/YR OLD 1400/SQ. FT. 2/bdrm bungalow, corner CERT #1 UNITY-WASKADA Midge Tolerant VB SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS lot, Coalhurst, Ab. all appliances included, fire4:17inPM DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 2/24/12 4:17 PM BC & AB.indd 45 2/24/12 4:17 PM Vigor & Germination tested 42 97%. Winter DP2371_PPAC_Classified & Volume Feed Grain place, on suite in MB, double garage, no steps, Pricing. (306)874-7590, Naicam, SK. covered patio, 12x14ft detached hobby shop, c/w overhead door, heated and insulated, small garden, BUYING ALL TYPES OF feed grain. Also have Must be seen to be appreciated! Call for appointmarket for light offgrade or heated, picked up on the ment weekdays only @(403)327-6075. Available in farm. Eisses Grain Marketing 1-888-882-7803, the spring. (403)350-8777 Lacombe.

MACHINERY AUCTION

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

CAREERS

Red Deer - 403-346-2931

REAL ESTATE LIVESTOCK Sheep For Sale

Ukraine/Romania ~ June 2012 Scandinavia & Russia ~ Land & Cruise - July 2012 Australia & New Zealand ~ Jan/Feb 2013 Kenya/Tanzania ~ January 2013 South America ~ February 2013 Costa Rica ~ February 2013 Select Holidays 1-800-661-4326

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

Viterra

Vulcan - 403-485-6696 www.PrecisionPac.com

Viterra

Lavoy - 780-658-2408 RECREATIONAL VEHICLES Motor Homes

Viterra

Sexsmith - 780-568-6060

FEDERATION TIRE: 1100X12, 2000X20, used airDP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 50 2/24/12 4:17 PM craft. Toll free 1-888-452-3850

2008 MONACO CAMELOT MOTORHOME, loaded, $210,000; (403)347-0723, Torrington, Ab.

www.PrecisionPac.com

TIRES

www.PrecisionPac.com

You always get what you want at:

www.PrecisionPac.com

FARMING IS ENOUGH OF A GAMBLE...

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Specialty LIVESTOCK DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 40 Livestock Equipment

You always get what you want at:

2/24/12 4:17 PM

5’X10’ PORTABLE CORRAL PANELS, 6 bar. Starting at $55. Storage Containers, 20’ & 40’ 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

Viterra

Grassy Lake - 403-655-2497 www.PrecisionPac.com

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

1-888-413-3325

COMMON SEED COMMON SEED Various

WE ADDED MORE TIRE SIZES! 23.1-26,DP2371_PPAC_Classified 12 PLY, BC & AB.indd 46 2/24/12 4:17 PM $1154; 11R22.5, $299; 13.00-24, 12, PLY $436; 16X70-20, 14 PLY, $795 (equivalent to 405/70-20); Stretch your 17.5-25, 24 PLY, $839; 20.5-25, 24 PLY, $1390; ADVERTISING DOLLAR! 23.5-25, 24 PLY; $1690. Factory direct. More sizes available new and used. 1-800-667-4515. www. 1-888-413-3325 combineworld.com

TRAILERS Grain Trailers

SEED OATS AC Morgan AC Mustang

Waldern AC Juniper

SEED BARLEY

You always get what you want at:

DP2371_PPAC_Classified BC & AB.indd 41

Viterra

Provost - 780-753-2355

You always get what you want at:

You always get what you want at: Viterra

Delivery Possible

W. Buis Holdings Ltd.

MASTIN SEEDS

www.PrecisionPac.com

AC Metcalfe Seebe Sundre & Busby

Buy and Sell

anything you need through the

www.PrecisionPac.com

1-888-413-3325

Winter & Spring Silage Peas

2/24/12 4:17 Triticale, PM

CDC Go Wheat Polish Canola

Sundre, AB 403-556-2609 mastinseeds.com

Foremost - 403-867-2436

Stettler - 403-742-4036

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012

Just because it’s in the bin, doesn’t mean it’s safe. Meridian Airmax aeration helps cool and dry your grain—preserving quality, minimizing the risk of insects and increasing your opportunity for better profits. To learn more, visit www.MeridianMFG.com © 2012 Meridian Manufacturing Group. Registered Trademarks Used Under License.

MARCH 26, 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.

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