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Noxious weeds in crosshairs of new website HELP WANTED }

New program needs organizations to start mapping their data, and volunteers to confirm species identification

THE OPEN MARKET: Good for bin salesmen

Basis } U.S. experience suggests farmers will be in for dramatic

fluctuations, and may want to store more grain

by sheri monk

af staff / pincher creek

here’s a new weapon in the war against noxious weeds. The Alberta Invasive Plants Council has launched a website in a bid to battle plant invaders. The website features EDDMapS, the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System, developed by the University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health to document the spread of invasive species. Essentially an online, ever-changing database of real-time information, the easy interface allows users to submit their sightings of invasive plants. Users can visit www. eddmaps.org/alberta to register or simply learn how the system works. Kelly Cooley, owner of CoolPro Solutions Environmental Consulting near Pincher Creek, served as project lead for getting the initiative off the ground. “We were very excited to get the project up in Canada,” said Cooley, who has been part of the invasive plant community since the 1990s. “The vision of it was always a truly North American system and I think that’s still what they’re trying to do.” Streamlining detection between Canada and the U.S. should help to co-ordinate timely responses to new threats. Cooley said the biggest challenge was giving the program Canadian context for its application in Alberta (which is the first province to develop its own EDDMapS version). “You had to make sure that everything was in the political and legal speak of Canada and Alberta rather than the U.S. model. The political systems are obviously quite different,” he said. Fifteen species were selected as targets for the pilot project:

Go long bins. That’s the advice of farmer Vaughn Cone, who says producers being able to store more grain will reduce risk in the new open market for wheat, durum and barley. photo allan dawson by allan dawson staff / moose jaw

uy or lease bins. That was the advice given to farmers attending the recent Farming for Profit conference who are wondering how to manage the increased risk that comes with an open market for wheat, durum and barley. “Storage will be king,” Moose Jaw farmer Vaughn Cone told the event organized by University of Florida agricultural economist Andy Schmitz.

“It’s about when they (grain companies) are going to need our grain, not when we want to deliver it. And if you want to deliver it when they don’t need it, be prepared.” Cone, who farms 8,000 acres, said he is leasing another four 25,000-bushel bins. Increased delivery flexibility was one of the advantages touted by open-market supporters for killing the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said farmers wouldn’t have to start their trucks and augers during the bitter cold in January.

There will be flexibility, but in an open market prices will signal when farmers should deliver, said Frayne Olson, an agricultural economist at North Dakota State University. Grain companies typically use the basis — the difference between the cash and futures price — to encourage or discourage deliveries, he said. Usually the basis is widest, resulting in a lower price to the farmer, at harvest time when elevator companies are flooded

see BINS } page 6

see WEEDS } page 6

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CATTLE PRODUCTION PRACTICES ARE UNDER REVIEW } PAGE 3

news » inside this week

inside » New ag building for Stampede Sod turned for year-round event centre

JULY 16, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

livestock

crops

columNists

Identifying poisonous plants

Sprayer operators can sleep in

China panics over meatfree diet for athletes Accidental doping }

Officials fear traces of clenbuteroltreated pork

Minimizing the effect of hot weather on pigs

Daniel Bezte Watch in spring and around water bodies

Research shows high noon is best time to spray

Analyzing the record hot spell in the U.S.

Researcher says new model of health care needed NEW APPROACH } Nutrition is key to a “wellness-based health system”

and that includes limiting people’s consumption of red and processed meat by sheri monk

shanghai/reuters

Chinese coaches and officials are panicking that meat-free diets imposed on Olympic athletes outside their training camps are hampering their performances in the lead-up to the London Games. Chinese athletes have been ordered to minimize the risk of accidental doping from clenbuteroltainted meat this year by steering clear of pork, lamb and beef. The coach of China’s women’s volleyball team, however, has blamed three weeks on a vegetarian diet for his team’s four straight defeats at the recent world grand prix tournament in Ningbo. “They have showed significant decline in their strength and fitness,” Yu Juemin told Beijing News after China lost in three sets to the United States July 1. “We dared not eat pork when we come out of our training camp for the tournament because we are afraid of clenbuterol.” The ban on meat products came from the China’s Sports Ministry this year and followed a warning from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) issued last November about contaminated meat in China and Mexico. “WADA’s message to athletes competing in these countries remains the same: eat only in restaurants and cafeterias that have been approved by your federation and/or event organizer,” it read. An acquatics sports official recently said the all 196 athletes in his charge had not eaten pork — a staple food for Chinese — for 40 days, and were surviving on fish and protein powder, state news agency Xinhua reported.

Making beef successful at retail, part 2

Bernie Peet

Lamb market falls to earth Prices drop drop from $1.75 to $1.35 per pound

brenda schoepp

af staff / calgary

ust over half of adult Canadians are obese or overweight, and experts say deaths caused by obesity-related health issues will soon exceed those caused by tobacco use. The situation is even worse in the U.S. where nearly three-quarters of Americans are obese, but despite the grim prognosis, obesity intervention still isn’t part of routine patient care, says the president of the Canadian Nutrition Society. “There are no protocols,” said Dr. Leah Gramlich, a gastroenterologist and associate professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Alberta. “There is no mandate that health officials have. It’s up to the faculties to determine the curriculum. The bar has been very low and that’s what we’re targeting.” But it’s not just how much people eat, but what’s in their diet, Gramlich told attendees at Future Fare, an annual event hosted by the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency. Gramlich applied for an ALMA grant for Wellness RX, an initiative being undertaken by her university to train Alberta health-care professionals about the role of a healthful diet — a diet which includes meat, dairy and eggs. “I’m aware of the limitations or implications of meat and processed meats for health — the American Institute of Cancer Research has just said that choosing more red meat more often is associated with an increase in cancer risk of XYZ percentage,” said Gramlich, who is also a

“I live in Alberta, and I like meat. I can talk about the health attributes of beef and not feel conflicted.” Dr. Leah Gramlich

Obesity is caused not only by how much people eat, but what’s in their diet. ©thinkstock medical director for nutrition services for Alberta Health Services. However, health-care professionals and the public need facts and context. “I live in Alberta, and I like meat,” she said. “I can talk about the health attributes of beef and not feel conflicted. It’s a great source of bio-available iron and in my practice, I see a lot of iron deficiency. It’s a really good source of lean protein, highly bio-available fuel and low fat. It’s not about selling more meat, it’s about debunking myth and empowering the public and health-care professionals through credible knowledge.” Along with educating health-care professionals about the risks of obesity, Wellness RX will provide training on overall sound nutrition and exercise to reduce the risk of obesity, but also diabetes and cardiovascular incidents caused by high sodium.

Wellness not illness

The program is designed to be a ‘grassroots strategy to facilitate shift from an illness-based health care system to a wellness-based health system’ and it’s expected that about 1,000 students training to become health-care professionals will go through it annually. People will increasingly expect and demand preventative medicine rather than reactive treatment, she said.

“We want to grow that enhanced knowledge and capacity for the public so they demand that information and that we put it in a place where it’s accessible, transparent, believable, and highly credible,” said Gramlich. “And how do we create a community movement that expects it, so that as a group we all ask what we could be doing with respect to our diet and activity to decrease our burden on the health-care system when we’re 80?” Food processors need to be part of that effort, she said. “I think that each part of this chain has accountability and responsibility and that we need to work together,” said Gramlich. “I don’t think that any one portion can be vilified. I think there are health issues that relate often to processed, packaged and preserved foods, and on the one hand from a convenience and societal perspective, those foods meet a lot of the needs of our society as we evolve. On the other hand, they may contribute to poor health outcomes.” It’s rare for a modern family to have someone at home to prepare meals — and that’s true in her home, said the mother of two. “I am cognizant of when we choose packaged, processed, preserved foods — I do try to choose them less,” she said.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JULY 16, 2012

Time has come to beef up the code governing cattle production in Canada ALMOST READY  Producers are being urged to read and offer feedback on the new

code of practice which will soon be available on the Internet Feeding practices and exposing cattle to stress from heat or cold are also attracting attention.

Ryder Lee, Manager of Federal/ Provincial Relations with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association BY ALEXIS KIENLEN AF STAFF / EDMONTON

eef producers need a new code of practice to fend off criticism from animalrights activists and so they can better make their case to consumers and governments, says an official with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. The last code of practice for beef was written in 1991 and the update will reflect changes that have been spurred by new research since then, says Ryder Lee, the association’s manager of federal/provincial relations. There has also been a major

change in consumer attitudes since then, Lee told attendees at the Alberta Beef Producers semiannual meeting in Edmonton. He pointed to the pressure being applied to ban battery cages for poultry and gestation crates for sows, as well as changes in the approach being taken by large buyers such as McDonald’s and Walmart. There will be more of that in the future and the new code of practice will help producers be prepared, he said. “It’s important to be able to have Canadian based research to be able to have that conversation,” said Lee, who farms near Fir Mountain, Sask.

There is little scientific data on pain and pain management and that leaves practices such as castration, dehorning, and branding open to criticism. Feeding practices and exposing cattle to stress from heat or cold are also attracting attention, he said. But public scrutiny isn’t a bad thing if you can explain that your practices don’t harm animals, he said, citing cattle transport as a good example. “We’ve got a good story to tell on transport,” said Lee. “Science that has been done in the past few years, supported by producer checkoff money in Ontario and Alberta, shows that

over 99.9 per cent of the cattle that we’re shipping are arriving just fine.” The National Farm Animal Care Council, formed in 2005, is involved in updating the code, said Lee. Along with livestock reps, the council includes animal-care groups, processors, researchers, restaurant and food services, the Society for Protection of Cruelty to Animals, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, transporters, retailers, and governments. The updated code will include all practices in the beef industry, from breeding to euthanasia. It will also include a lot of background information, so it can be

used and understood by people who are not producers. The beef code is currently being drafted and is almost ready for public comment. Lee advised all producers to read the code of practice once it is available on the Internet, and give their comments. One of the goals is to have the code serve as a practical guide to cattle management in Canada and should be a resource for all producers, even those who have spent decades in the cattle business, said Lee. There are about eight codes of practice needed for the various animal commodities in Canada. The dairy code of practice was the pilot and was completed in 2009.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING. ROUNDUP TRANSORB® HC HERBICIDE. Preharvest is the best time to control perennial weeds such as Canada thistle, quackgrass, and sowthistle. But, it’s important to get the timing of your application just right to be effective. For tips on how to better assess weed and crop staging, and how to effectively apply Roundup Transorb® HC herbicide, go to www.roundup.ca.

JULY 16, 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

Would supply management’s demise be good for Alberta?

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

PRODUCTION director Shawna Gibson Email: shawna@fbcpublishing.com

Director of Sales & Circulation

Tough competition } Mega-operations could take over, but they might be in another province — or country

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By will verboven

Alberta Farmer | Editor

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rban media pundits and self-styled experts are once again expounding on the evils of supply management and why it needs to be terminated. They have been emboldened by the Canadian government’s alleged decision to put supply management on the table as the price of joining the Trans Pacific Partnership trade group. As expected, export-oriented commodity proponents, mainly in crops and livestock, applauded the intent as a wise move to increase agricultural trade. From a federal political perspective, sacrificing supply management has few negative consequences — there are relatively few people involved with that sector and besides, farmers tend to vote Conservative (except in Quebec) no matter how much they are abused by their government. In Alberta over the years, supply management has been treated with ambivalence by the provincial government. Philosophically, the PC government supports a free market in agriculture. In general, that has worked very well and this province enjoys one of the largest and most robust agricultural economies in the country. That philosophy does not have much sympathy for restricted marketing concepts like supply-managed quota boards, which are seen to stifle opportunity and expansion. The Alberta government’s early opposition to the Canadian Wheat Board tends to reflect that approach. And it’s something the existing quota boards are extremely aware of, hence their ongoing and intense lobbying of the government to maintain the status quo. It has been a successful lobby as the government does indicate it supports supply management, but that support seems to be lukewarm and one senses the hearts of government politicians are not really in it. I expect that causes quota boards some anxiety.

I would suggest that the only reason the Alberta government ever allowed supply management to exist in this province was because staying out would have seen a flood of dairy and poultry products from outside the province decimate local producers. Without being part of a national quota scheme, Alberta producers would have had no protection and would not have been able to export those products to other provinces. There has always been an assumption within the bureaucratic braintrust of Alberta Agriculture that if there was no supply management, our entrepreneurial

We may be a privileged province, but we are not isolated from market and production realities. producers would be able to expand into mega-scale intensive dairy, egg, and poultry operations similar to what exists in the U.S., Europe, and parts of Asia. There are many successful examples of such operations in those areas that feature 5,000- to 10,000head dairy farms, and million-head broiler, turkey and egg-laying facilities. None of such scale exist in Canada and many find that a positive situation as it spreads the economic activity around the country and maintains the ideal of the family farm. I expect that marketing philosophers have given the situation much thought and concluded that with the experience from present intensive agriculture, including feedlots and irrigation, that Alberta is in a prime position to expand into mega dairy, poultry and egg production. All it would take is the demise of supply management. But that also presumes that competition from more production-favoured areas would not fill the gap opened up by a new free market.

That’s particularly relevant to chicken and turkey production and here’s why.

U.S. a threat

Alberta is not a large market from a North American perspective and anyone who has toured chicken operations in the southeast U.S. would know that it wouldn’t take a lot of extra effort for that production area to supply the entire Prairie market. That U.S. production area already supplies countless thousands of chicken wings to Alberta. Such a scenario would mean that the entire chicken industry in this province, if not the Prairies, from production to processing could be decimated by a flood of cheap imports. The counter argument is that our producers and processors would build mega facilities to compete. No doubt that will happen in time — but economies of scale would indicate that all such future megaproduction and processing would need to be concentrated in only one area. That could just as easily be all located in southern Manitoba rather than Alberta. In fact, it’s more likely considering that province’s long history in intensive agriculture, particularly hog production, which is larger than Alberta’s. A similar massive relocation of egg production to another province could also occur. Heck, we get eggs from Manitoba already, it wouldn’t take a lot to ramp that up. My point is: Be careful what you wish for. We may be a privileged province, but we are not isolated from market and production realities. Consumers and urban media experts may not care where dairy and poultry products come from, as long as they are cheap. But I would suggest that the end of supply management may well see a massive realignment of production and processing on the Prairies. To assume that will all occur in favour of Alberta may be wishful thinking. Next time — Part two: Bite the bullet and end supply management.

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ABP takes pre-emptive strike on directional checkoff By will verboven

Alberta Farmer | Editor

t the recent Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) semi-annual meeting, chairman Doug Sawyer took a bold pre-emptive strike against a topic that has been whispered about in cattle industry circles for years. He bluntly stated that his organization was opposed to the directed or directional checkoff. That took other cattle producer organizations like the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association (ACFA) and the Western Stock Growers Association (WSGA) by surprise. Spokesmen for both groups denied that their organizations were even thinking about such a checkoff — at least that’s their official line.

The last time the directed checkoff concept was mentioned (albeit too late) was during the run-up to the imposition of the refundable checkoff by the provincial government on cattle, sheep, hog and potato producers. It seems the ABP learned from the last checkoff campaign that it needs to lobby the government and the cattle industry early and hard to forestall any further arbitrary decisions by the provincial government on the checkoff issue. The last time around the ACFA and the WSGA lobby proved to be very successful in getting a refundable checkoff in place. It was a done deal before the ABP even knew what was going on. The supply management boards, who are masters at political lobbying

at every level, also provided a lesson as to the need for ongoing focused lobbying. You may recall that when the cattle, sheep, hog and potato commissions all lost their non-refundable checkoffs, the quota boards all kept their non-refundable checkoffs in place through hardcore lobbying. It would seem that this time around the ABP intends to take any checkoff challenge, real or imagined, straight to the front line with a bold offence. There is also an underlying concern that with most of the ag-connected constituencies in central and southern Alberta now represented by the Wildrose opposition, that the PC government may be contemplating some surprises for the ag industry. Perhaps nipping this issue in the bud is prudent politics.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JULY 16, 2012

Stop lying to Canadians on supply management DEREGULATION } Does not always bring benefits, especially in the long run In a June 21 opinion piece in the Globe and Mail, Martha Hall Findlay, former Liberal MP and executive fellow at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, called for the dismantling of supply management to allow Canada to participate in a Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. Maurice Doyon, professor at the Department of Agricultural Economics and Consumer Science at Laval University, responds. By Maurice Doyon

upply management has been part of Canadian agricultural policies since the 1970s. It is a system that has quite evolved over the years, and improvement is still needed. I more than welcome discussions on supply management — I have myself been quite critical of this system over the years. It is therefore with great interest that I have started reading the Martha Hall Findlay (MHF) report. Unfortunately, I found MHF’s report misguided and not fact based. I must confess that after one minute into the report I found a major mistake. This does not help in terms of the credibility of the report. MHF indicates that the price of four litres of whole milk in Canada is almost three times

more than in the U.S. In fact, she found that Canadians were paying almost $10 for four litres. One wonders where MHF buys her milk. She made the rookie mistake of multiplying the price of a litre of whole milk by four to get her prices. Then, she compared it with a U.S. gallon of milk. This amounts to taking the price of a beer in a pub, say $5, and multiplying it by 24 to get the price of a case of beer. In this case, $120, is quite an outrageous price, isn’t it? Moreover, why use whole milk, which represents less than 15 per cent of the milk consumed in Canada? Two per cent fat milk represents roughly 50 per cent of what Canadians drink and the retail pricing is different in the U.S. than in Canada. This would have been a more useful comparison. The federal government publishes detailed statistics on the

price of milk by cities. MHF could have found that in 2011, on average, the price for four litres of milk in Canada ranged between $4.45 in Regina and $6.95 in Charlottetown, for a city mathematical average of roughly $5.20. These large price variations for the same milk in Canada indicate that things other than supply management impact retail prices. For instance it reflects the impact of retailers’ market position or their market power.

What’s the option?

Beside the major price mistake, MHF failed to address the real issues such as what would happen if we were to dismantle supply management. What should we replace it with? Will the alternative be better for consumers, taxpayers, processors and producers? Deregulation does not always bring benefits, especially in the long run. As an illustration, the deregulation of the banking system in the U.S. is at the root of the recent financial crisis, as opposed to the heavily regulated one in Canada that is now our pride.

It is naive to think that all will be fine after removing an important piece of regulation such as supply management, especially given the important market power of retailers in Canada. One must know that the U.S. dairy policies imply major interventions from the government, are quite regulated and might soon include some type of supply control. It should also be noted that in its 2004 bilateral trade agreement with Australia, the U.S. negotiated exemptions for its dairy sector. New Zealand seems to be the example to follow, according to MHF. However, she failed to mention that the co-operative Fonterra, which is a quasi monopoly and a quasi monopsony, is not the result of market forces. Fonterra was created under the pressure of the New Zealand government with, as a reward, the assets of the former single-desk institution. This is far from a free market type of situation. In fact, in August 2011, the Commerce Committee of the New Zealand Parliament announced a milk price inquiry

following numerous reports that New Zealanders were paying too much for their milk. In spring 2011, New Zealand consumers were paying a price similar to the one in Montreal for two litres of two per cent fat milk. Another important issue that MHF seems to misunderstand is the trade implication of supply management. It is no surprise that Canada was invited in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. Canada is rich in natural resources, politically stable and economically fit. We certainly have a lot to gain from TPP, but we also have a lot to offer. Canada is likely in a strong position to negotiate and, has proven in the past, it is in a position to keep supply-managed sectors out of the TPP negotiations. This does not mean that all is good with supply management, but I would strongly argue that not all is bad and advise against dismantling this system, given that at its base it allows to correct for market constraints or imperfections that plagued numerous agricultural sectors.

CFIA advises caution on antimicrobial drug use Resistance } Canada’s chief vet says antimicrobial resistance is rising in the food-animal sector By Dr. Brian Evans Chief Veterinary Officer for Canada Canadian Food Inspection Agency

ince their introduction some 60 years ago, antimicrobials have revolutionized both veterinary practice and human medicine. When used appropriately, antimicrobials — including antibacterials, antifungals and antivirals — continue to play an important role in animal and human health. They reduce suffering and help farmers raise healthy animals, which in turn provide safe meat, milk and eggs for human consumption. They are also critical tools in human medicine. However, the misuse of antimicrobials in both human and animal health contributes to the development of resistant bacteria, thereby posing a risk to people and animals. It’s a complex, multifactorial problem that requires veterinarians to work closely with professionals in public health and animal owners to find solutions from both animal and human health perspectives. Earlier this year, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) identified the fight against antimicrobial resistance as one of its priorities for 2012. The OIE also advocated for good veterinary control of the registration, import, distribution and on-farm use of antimicrobials. The OIE’s call for better control of antimicrobials echoes last year’s statement from the World Health Organization

(WHO), which warned that the world is on the brink of losing these “miracle cures” due to the emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens. As the WHO noted, the development of resistance is a natural process that eventually happens with every drug. However, a number of factors in both human medicine and veterinary practice have accelerated this process. According to the WHO, in human medicine, drugs are sometimes dispensed too readily, “just to be on the safe side” — often in response to patient demand. In other cases, patients do not complete the full course of treatment. In some countries, substandard products are sold and individual pills are available over the counter. On the animal side, antimicrobials are routinely used in livestock feed for growth promotion and to prevent infections in food-producing animals. Some drugs can be purchased without a veterinary prescription, or used outside the approved levels with a veterinary prescription. Some of the drugs commonly used in livestock production are medically important for human health. For example, macrolides and tetracyclines are often incorporated into feed for growth

promotion or disease prevention, and fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins are frequently used to treat and prevent infections. Pathogens and commensal organisms resistant to these drugs in animals can be transmitted to humans, and the management of animal health then becomes a human-health issue. The reverse can also be true. Further exacerbating the situation is the fact that new drugs are not being developed quickly enough to replace existing drugs that are failing in the face of emerging drug-resistant pathogens.

Animal resistance is rising

Internationally, the OIE and WHO are raising awareness of the issue. In Canada, federal, provincial and territorial government departments continue to work together on surveillance, prevention and education. Federally, the Public Health Agency of Canada works with Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to conduct surveillance to monitor antimicrobial resistance through the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS), which shows that antimicrobial resistance is rising in the food-animal sector. The CFIA also monitors drug residues in

At the provincial and territorial level, both veterinary and medical regulatory bodies need to encourage their members to be vigilant…

food and verifies that medicated livestock feeds meet federal standards. Health Canada encourages the prudent use of antimicrobial drugs by health care professionals and patients, as well as by veterinarians, farmers and other food producers. As part of its efforts to address concerns about antimicrobial resistance, Health Canada has categorized antimicrobials based on their importance in human medicine and is currently addressing the growthpromotion claims of medically important antimicrobials. It has also developed a policy on the extra-label use of veterinary drugs and recommends against the extra-label use of critically important antimicrobial drugs (e.g., ceftiofur and fluoroquinolones) in massmedication situations. However, extralabel drug use and prescribing medication is a practice of veterinary medicine and is regulated by the provinces. At the provincial and territorial level, both veterinary and medical regulatory bodies need to encourage their members to be vigilant in their oversight and to prescribe antimicrobials judiciously. By recognizing that there are risks as well as benefits associated with antimicrobials and engaging in an informative and frank dialogue with all concerned, we can ensure that these valuable tools for health professionals are used prudently in order to preserve their efficacy for treating both animals and people. Society expects no less. This article was published in the July 2012 issue of the Canadian Veterinary Journal

Off the front

July 16, 2012 • Albertafarmexpress.ca

BINS } from page 1 with grain, he said. They are the narrowest in the middle of winter when deliveries are reduced. Since 2007, world grain markets have become much more volatile and so has the fluctuation in basis, Olson said. Before 2007, the wheat basis in North Dakota ranged from 30 cents a bushel under the futures price to 10 cents over for a 40-cent spread. Now the spread can be as much as $3. Being able to store grain when the basis is wide is one of the simplest ways of dealing with the risk, he said. “In the last few years the market has paid you substantial rewards for being careful about watching that spread in the cash and futures,” Olson said. Some of the grain contracts in the U.S. give the buyer the right to determine when the grain is delivered. “You don’t deliver when you want to — you deliver whenever the buyer wants it,” he said. “And that could be two weeks from now or two months from now. It could be 12 months from now.” Using futures and options markets is another way to offset price risk, but it’s important to know the difference between hedging (locking in a grain price) and speculating (gambling prices will go a certain direction), Olson said.

WEEDS } from page 1 Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), Hoary Alyssum (Berteroa incana), Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica), Meadow Hawkweed (Hieracium caespitosum), MouseEared Hawkweed (Hieracium pilosella), Orange Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum), Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), Pale Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacoris), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp.), Sulphur Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta), and Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis). Some species are here already, some may be here, and some have not yet arrived. All are considered a serious threat to ecosystems. To report a sighting, users enter information into an online form, which then allows more information and even photos to be entered. The real-time and interactive mapping feature allows observers to obtain a realistic sense of the range, spread and speed of an invasive species as it moves into

U.S. producers say storage pays for times when there is a wide basis.

“It’s about when they (grain companies) are going to need our grain, not when we want to deliver it. Vaughn Cone

a new area. This has the potential to allow landowners, governments and organizations the chance to get the upper-hand on an infestation before it becomes entrenched. Cooley said anyone is welcome to use the system, but groups and organizations with an interest in the problem are especially encouraged to become involved. “People that are involved in the organizations that are there to protect the native ecosystem or a special place like a park or a natural area,” he said. To ensure the integrity of the system, all submitted data must be reviewed by verifiers to ensure the sightings are accurate. The Alberta Invasive Plants Council is still looking for knowledgeable volunteers to help with verifying data. “We would certainly welcome anyone that has plant identification knowledge. They don’t have to be a botanist, but somebody who has reasonably decent skills in plant identification would be a welcome volunteer,” Cooley said. More information on the Alberta Invasive Plants Council can be found at www.invasiveplants. ab.ca.

Japanese Knotweed is one of 15 noxious species selected for the pilot project.

The Minneapolis wheat futures market matches most closely the type of wheat grown in Western Canada, he said. There’s not enough trading on ICE Future’s Winnipeg market, he said. An open market is a big change for Western Canadian farmers, said Dan Hawkins of FarmLink Marketing Solutions. “We’ll have to be patient for markets,” he said. Sometimes buyers will want

a No. 3 wheat, not a No. 1 and vice versa. “We have to sell into the strengths when the strengths come,” he said. It’s going to be different for grain buyers, too. “I had one buyer tell me that his trading area would triple in size because instead of knowing just what durum and wheat samples were in a 50-mile radius of his elevator he now needed to know within a hundred miles,” Hawkins said.

FARMER IN TRAINING

Twelve-year old Joseph Neufeld repairs fence with his father around a pasture east of Bassano, Alberta. PHOTO: KEVIN LINK

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JULY 16, 2012

Open-market supporter predicts pain from rushed end to monopoly MIXED VIEWS  Some see positives, but others fear farmers have lost their only advocate in the system BY ALLAN DAWSON

CO-OPERATOR STAFF / MOOSE JAW

prominent open-market supporter is warning that as many as one-third of Prairie grain farmers could be pushed out of business within five years because the ending of the CWB monopoly was pushed through too quickly. “In my view ideology never pays bills and it never puts food on the table without a good business plan,” said Rick Swenson, a Moose Jaw farmer, former Saskatchewan Progressive Conservative cabinet minister, and one-time Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association director. “And I don’t care if you’re a socialist or a free enterpriser, if you don’t have a good business plan you’re not going to be successful.” A range of issues, including railway market power, grain company access to port terminals, and the viability of producer cars should have been addressed before the federal government imposed an open market, Swenson told the 19th annual Farm for Profit conference. Swenson said elevator and freight charges are his biggest expenses, and the board was the only agency trying to rein in those costs. “A grain producer — and I don’t care how big your air seeder is — is not going to get into that queue with any amount of commercial viability unless you are, in my view, having some way to work collectively,” said Swenson, adding farmers will have to compete with increasing potash exports for rail capacity. He also predicted the CWB won’t survive in any form. “Any time you have a forced ending to anything it is an ugly experience for individuals,” he said. “Good business plans never require force.” Given more time, a “voluntary wheat board” would have evolved, but it won’t happen now unless farmers “get off our duffs” and make that happen, he said. Swenson’s view was echoed by Swift Current farmer Stewart Wells, a former CWB director and high-profile board supporter. He call the change one of the

biggest in Western Canadian agriculture since Confederation and likened the new CWB to the 1968 horror film Rosemary’s Baby, where the devil impregnates an unsuspecting woman. “What we’ve got here right now is (Agriculture Minister) Gerry Ritz’s baby and everybody knows that it’s problematic and it’s sort of a monster, but nobody really knows what to do with it,” said Wells.

More optimistic

Other speakers predicted things will work out fine. Moose Jaw farmer Vaughn Cone said he welcomes the open market because he can forward sell crops to cover his production costs. Former Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association

president Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel also supports the change, saying it will make her farm more profitable. Moreover, farmers can now put the divisive debate to bed and co-operate on other policy issues, she said. But not everyone is at that point yet. Farmer support for the CWB had increased since farmers were put in charge of its operations starting in 1998 and they should have been given 100-per-cent control, said former board director and Bladworth, Sask. farmer Ian McCreary. University of Manitoba agricultural economist Brian Oleson decried board opponents who “tried to revise history” and downplay its accomplishments. University of Saskatchewan pro-

fessor Gary Storey reminded the audience that the board was created to give farmers market power against railways and grain companies. “It turns out those companies were colluding,” he said. “They were fixing the price among themselves. We’ve thrown that out and we’re back to where we were about a hundred years ago or a little longer. “I hope things work out well, but I’m a little suspicious that history repeats itself.”

ICE futures on ice?

University of Saskatchewan agricultural economist Ken Rosaasen said the new ICE futures market for wheat, durum and barley fails to provide risk protection or price discovery because there’s so little

trade. “It’s a pretty significant noman’s land in terms of knowing what prices are,” Rosaasen said. “People used to complain about the wheat board not having a visible price, well, I think we’re worse off now.” Big grain companies have a vested interest in poorly functioning futures markets because it drives weaker competitors out of business, and increases their margins, while reducing farmers’. Canadian grain companies aren’t compelled to report export grain sales, he said. There’s a risk the so-called “Great Grain Robbery,” which occurred in the U.S. in 1972, could be repeated here, Rosaasen warned. allan@fbcpublishing.com

“If my daughter was interested in farming,

I couldn’t imagine a better life for her. I mean, what could be better than farming?” – Lisa Jenereaux, Nova Scotia

Share the love Sure, agriculture is challenging. It’s hard work. It’s stressful. There’s so much to do and a lot to learn. But could you imagine yourself doing anything else? Canadian agriculture is full of hard-working, business-savvy people like you who love what they do, challenges and all; people who see a future in ag and can’t wait to be a part of it.

“In my view ideology never pays bills and it never puts food on the table without a good business plan.”

But for Canadian agriculture to reach its full potential, this has to be better understood by the public and our own industry. The story of Canadian agriculture is one of success, promise, challenge and determination. And the greatest storytellers are the 2.2 million Canadians who live it every day. Be proud. Champion our industry.

Share your story, hear others and learn more at AgricultureMoreThanEver.ca

RICK SWENSON

06/12-18723-3E B

18723_3E_B Daughter 8.125x10.indd 1

6/18/12 7:14 AM

JULY 16, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

New agriculture building for Stampede YEAR-ROUND  The centre replaces an aging facility that can only be used from spring to fall STAFF

he Calgary Stampede has officially turned sod to launch the construction of the new Agrium Western Event Centre. This is the second time a new agriculture building has been planned to replace the existing aging livestock and sale facilities which are more than 50 years old. About eight years ago a plan was hatched to use $35 million from the sale of the Stampede Casino to build a new agriculture facility in the centre of the racetrack. That plan included a joint arrangement with Olds college for a Calgary campus. That concept was later abandoned. The new plan does not include Olds College, but it has expanded into a $60 million facility. The new Agrium Western Event Centre will be the largest facility of its kind in Canada. At

150,000 square feet the facility will increase the available agriculture space for holding yearround events at Stampede Park. Events are currently hosted from spring until fall, and this yearround arena will expand the number and type of agriculturerelated and other events offered in Calgary. The facility will include the main arena, with 2,500 spectator seats, a show arena floor measuring 125 feet by 250 feet, and generous concourse space. The centre also features an exhibition hall and a 20,000-square foot, clear-span space. The Governments of Canada and Alberta each committed up to $25 million toward the revitalization of agriculture buildings on Stampede Park, for which the total overall cost is $60 million. Most of this amount was dedicated to the construction of the new Agrium Western Event Centre.

(l to r) Michael Casey, Stampede president, Ted Menzies, federal minister of state; Premier Alison Redford and Michael Wilson, president and CEO of Agrium use a plow to turn the sod for the new Agrium Western Event Centre. PHOTO: CALGARY STAMPEDE

WHAT’S UP Send agriculture-related meeting and event announcements to: will. verboven@fbcpublishing.com

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July 16/20: Horticulture Week, Olds College, Olds. Call: Danielle 403-556-4677 July 17: Forested and Tame Pasture Criteria Location TBA, Bonnyville. Call: Cassie 780-4350606 July 17/19: Southern Alberta Youth Range Days, Rangeview Ranch, Cardston. Call: Steven 403-653-4977 July 18: ACPC/CCC Canola Diagnostic Clinic, Research Farm 9:30 am, Fairview. Call: Michelle 780-835-5015 July 19: Alberta Pulse Growers Crop Walk, Oyen/Acadia Valley area 9:30 am. Call: AINC: 800387-6030 July 19: Growing with Canola Crop Walk, Northwest of Debolt area, 11:00 am. Call: SARDA 780-8372900 July 20: Alberta Pulse Growers Crop Walk, Demo Strip 10:00 am, Strathmore. Call: AINC 800-3876030 July 20: Alberta Pulse Growers Crop Walk, Demo Strip 1:00 pm, Drumheller. Call: AINC 800-3876030 July 20: Alberta Pulse Growers Crop Walk, west of Linden 4:00 pm. Call: AINC 800-387-6030 July 23: Alberta Pulse Growers Crop Walk, Westaskiwin/Ponoka area 10:00 pm. Call: AINC 800387-6030 July 24: Crop Walk with UofA, research plots 11:00 am, St Albert. Call: Christy 780-422-3825 July 25: Canola GALLA, Location TBA 9:00 am, Brooks/Bassono. Call: Rick 780-678-6167 July 25: Vegreville Crop Walk, Ken Farion Farm 8:30 am, Vegreville. Call: Christy 780-422-3825 July 25/26: 9th Southern Alberta Grazing School for Women, Starland County, Delia. Call: Kerry 403-642-2255 July 26: Oilseeds, Cereals, Pulses Crop Tour, FS site LRC, Lethbridge. Call: Elizabeth 403345-6550

EDGERTON FARMER LUCKY WINNER

BY HELEN MCMENAMIN

AF CONTRIBUTOR / LETHBRIDGE

he early bird gets the worm, and the best weed control, at least based on conventional wisdom that the best time to spray is when wind in lightest in the morning. But the results of trials by Farming Smarter, southern Alberta’s farm research group, indicate that spray operators don’t have to set their alarms quite so early, or stay up so late. “We figured spraying at night,

at cooler temperatures when the herbicides would remain in the leaves longer, would probably be the best,” says Ken Coles, Farming Smarter manager. “Some chemicals photo-degrade — they’re broken down in sunshine, so we expected they might be more effective at night,” Coles said. “Also, plants close their stomata at high daytime temperatures — you’d think that would reduce herbicide effectiveness,” he said. “These days, with autosteer and GPS guidance, it’s not a big deal to work in the dark and it’s something lots of people do. But, with the sort

of impact we’ve seen, maybe we need to reconsider.” The researchers applied preseeding burn-down chemicals at three times — midnight to 1 a.m., 4 to 5 a.m., or noon to 1 p.m., all on a single day. They didn’t expect to see big differences due to timing — after all, they reasoned, products are registered with high enough label rates to perform well under all conditions. They used three-quarter rates of burn-down chemicals when weeds were small, so they’d see differences. They used full rates when weeds were bigger and harder to kill.

For preseed products, they applied glyphosate alone, and the non-glyphosate herbicide components of Prepass, Clean Start and Heat, so they would avoid interactions of the active ingredients. They also tested a range of widely used in-crop herbicides in Roundup Ready canola, Liberty Link canola, peas and wheat.

Consistent results

No matter what herbicide they used, the rate and whether it was a preseed burn-off or in crop, the

SEE SPRAYING  page 10

The

Wait until the sun is higher in the sky, suggests research by Farming Smarter in southern Alberta.

proving ground.

CONSISTENT  No matter which chemical was tested, the results turned out the same

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

It’s OK to hit the snooze button

SPRAY OPERATORS:

www.pioneer.com/yield

Wade Synder of Edgerton was the winner of the Bourgault Tillage Tools “Win Your Openers” contest at the Western Canadian Farm Progress Show June 22. Bourgault customers had their names entered in a draw, with the winner able to choose a prize. Synder’s selection, valued at $14,000, will be officially presented July 25 atTri- Ag Implements in Wainwright.

 AWARDED

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JULY 16, 2012

Pioneer brand CORn hybrids for Alberta ®

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08/11/11 3:05 PM

JULY 16, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

New credits for conservation-cropping improvements

sprayers } Cont. from page 9

Records } The new protocol also lists the positive proof requirements

results were completely consistent. Weed control was best when the herbicide was sprayed between noon and 1 pm. The worst time to spray, for all herbicides, pre-seeding or in-crop, was between 4 and 5 am. “I’m astounded,” says Coles. “It’s not what we expected at all. We thought a few things might be more effective during the day — it’s not recommended to spray Liberty at night, but I really didn’t think the impact would be so strong. And, I really thought that in the middle of the day, when the spray dries almost immediately, the chemical wouldn’t get into the plant as effectively.” Coles said visual ratings showed as much as 80 per cent greater efficacy for Liberty sprayed at noon compared to spraying at 4 or 5 a.m. “It wasn’t what I expected at all.” On the other hand, especially in spring, daytime temperatures mean that plants are growing rapidly, their metabolic rate is high, so the herbicide’s active ingredient can move rapidly through the plant and work well on its target site. Even more surprising was that crop tolerance was better at noon. And, crop damage appeared to be worse when herbicides were sprayed at dawn. Once again, the results were totally consistent across all the herbicides.

needed to meet new verification standards Agri-News

A new Conservation Cropping Protocol is now available for use by farmers to get paid for making environmental improvements. By increasing soil carbon levels through no-till management and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fuel use, farmers can earn carbon offset credits. The newest opportunity is for farmers in the brown and dark brown soil zones who can replace areas of summerfallow with no-tilled crops. “A growing crop seeded with low-disturbance no-till equipment increases biological carbon capture and storage compared with uncropped fallow fields,” notes Sheilah Nolan, climate change specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “The soil carbon increase from cropping summerfallowed land is more than double the soil carbon increase from no-till management, so carbon credits more than double.” Carbon credits are based on the decrease in area of summerfallowed land at the end of five years, compared with a three-year average baseline for the same farmed area.

Previous history of summerfallow activity and the use of no-till crop management must be confirmed with records. Companies who buy the offset credits are regulated under Alberta’s Specified Gas Emitters Regulation (2002). Companies can use carbon credits as a way to meet their requirement to reduce greenhouse gas emission intensities by 12 per cent each year. Carbon credits can be created from farm practice improvements that have a proven scientific basis for lower greenhouse gas emissions, are above and beyond business as usual, and can be verified by independent third parties. The new Conservation Cropping Protocol includes updates to the old Tillage System Management Protocol. The new protocol adjusts for higher rates of conservation tillage, which means that there’s less land to shift from full till. Reduced till no longer qualifies for offset credit, but no-till credits are available for all soil zones in Alberta until at least 2017 when a review is scheduled. The new protocol also lists the positive proof requirements needed to meet new verification standards for all protocols in the Alberta Offset System, effective January

1, 2012. Positive proof means that only goforward credits are allowed, so no historic offsets can be claimed. “Some of the records needed to meet the new standards are the same as those needed for the tillage protocol,” says Paul Jungnitsch, greenhouse gas offset agrologist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Other records such as crop plans, photos of equipment, or calculations of cropped areas and soil disturbance can be collected by farmers themselves or with the help of professional agrologists.” A detailed checklist of evidence needed to claim offset credits using the new protocol is available online. Along with new incentives for environmental improvements, this protocol gives opportunities for farmers to become familiar with the verifiable records needed for other types of emerging environmental markets. Management to reduce greenhouse gases also brings benefits of improved production efficiencies and increased adaptation to climate change. Funds for these initiatives were provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Flexibility, and Agriculture and Rural Development.

THIS IS NOT A HI-WAy SErvIcE DEALErSHIP.

“I’m astounded. It’s not what we expected at all.” Ken Coles

No it isn’t, but it is an ad for everything Hi-Way Service stands for. Things like honesty, integrity and helping you get the job done. It’s also an ad for service and going the extra mile when you need us. And above all, it’s an ad to let you know that none of those things are going away because we’ve got a new name and logo. That’s because, even though the name on the sign is going to change, the values that made us who we are won’t.

Temperature effect

Coles suspects cool temperatures at night and especially in the early morning may have affected herbicide performance. “We had quite wide temperature fluctuations, so that may be a big part of the differences in herbicide efficacy,” he said. “We’ll be studying that over the winter when we can look at the statistics and everything. We’ll also compare our results with those of Lakeland (Applied Research Association) at Bonnyville and SARDA (Smoky Applied Research and Demonstration Association) at Falher.” Over the winter, the research groups will compare their results from their different locations where temperatures likely varied quite a bit. They’ll also look at biomass measurements and yields. Coles is hoping to add fungicides to next year’s testing for the effect of time of day on the effectiveness of pesticides. Coles isn’t ignoring the reality of spraying — no matter how big your sprayer, there’s always too many acres to cover and the window of calm air or light breezes is too narrow. “We spray early in the morning because in southern Alberta that’s often the only time the wind calms enough to spray. But today, with new nozzle technology, we can spray safely in much higher winds than we could 10 years ago,” he said. “Maybe it’s time to rethink the ideal time to spray and when to take a break from spraying and when to go with full rates rather than cutting back. Maybe it’s better to go out for a few hours after supper than to be out at the crack of dawn.”

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JULY 16, 2012

Proper grazing is about knowing your plants GREEN MACHINES  Grazing expert says producers need to gauge ‘range readiness’

and carefully monitor the amount of defoliation BY ALEXIS KIENLEN AF STAFF / VEGREVILLE

ood pastures start with a good understanding of how plants grow. Attendees at the recent Original Grazing School for Women were given some key pointers by Edward Bork, who is director of the Rangeland Research Institute at the University of Alberta and also operates a grain and beef operation with his family near Chipman. Grasses can be grazed because they grow from the base — not the tip of plant — and recover quickly because of their large root mass — which account for up to 85 per cent of the plant’s mass and typically extend two to four feet deep. But producers need to understand concepts such as “range readiness,” said Bork.

“The objective is to remove enough green leaf area so plants are still healthy and have the ability to recover. This is a balancing act.”

root mass. Native grasses can be grazed to about the 50-per-cent level while tame pastures, such as brome, can be grazed to around 60 per cent. Bush pasture should only be grazed around 30 per cent. “The objective is to remove enough green leaf area so plants are still healthy and have the ability to recover,” said Bork. “This is a balancing act.” Moderate stocking rates can help maintain proper grazing. “If you overgraze one year,

you’ll pay a significant price the next year and the year after that,” Bork said. Plants that grow from the top, such as aster and alfalfa, present an additional challenge and require more careful management, he said. Producers also need to keep in mind that cows are picky eaters, and have a taste for fresh shoots and certain species. “This selectivity complicates

things a lot, but it also helps us,” said Bork. “Selective grazing is a good thing because it allows animals to pick out the highest nutritional items and put that into their diet.” Still, it’s important to ensure relatively even grazing or else some species will decline while less-favoured ones go to seed and spread. Properly managed rotational grazing prevents this from happening, said Bork.

So simple... It’s in the bag.

CGC changes grading specs for barley and red lentils HULLESS  New

system makes it clear that it could be for malting

EDWARD BORK

“At the minimum, we should wait until the plants reach the rapid growth phase,” said Bork, noting that defoliation impacts both shoots and roots. “If we remove a lot of the leaf area, the plant has to sacrifice some of those roots, because it doesn’t have enough energy to keep all of those roots alive.” Plant growth is slow at the start of the spring, and slows again as plants reach maturity. The rapid growth phase occurs in between and effective grazing keeps grasses in that state much longer. “You want to take off enough biomass to keep them in a vegetative state and actively growing,” Bork said. Grazing too early comprises grasses and prevents them from achieving maximum production. And growth rates vary among species — crested wheatgrass, meadow brome and smooth brome are fast growing while some of the native grasses, such as rough fescue, take much longer to build leaf area and

“It increases the control of where the animals graze, what they graze, how long they graze for, and the rest period in between,” said Bork. Rotational grazing can also be used to combat unwanted plants such as Canada thistle or leafy spurge — although those species are better controlled by goats and sheep rather than cattle, which find them very unpalatable and may lose condition if forced to graze such weeds.

The Technology Fee is now included in the price of a bag of Genuity® Roundup Ready® canola seed. You said make it simple.

Western Canadian farmers were asked their opinion about different purchasing processes and the seamless “in-the-bag” model was the clear preference.

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Growers typically make input decisions by the acre cost and value. This change in purchase process means growers can more easily assess the per acre value of the Genuity Roundup Ready canola system and compare it to other options. In addition, growers and retailers will no longer need to pay GST on the seamless model because seed is GST zero rated.

For more information go to genuitycanola.ca or see

Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. This product has been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Genuity and Design®, Genuity Icons, Genuity®, Roundup Ready®, and Roundup® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC, Monsanto Canada, Inc. licensee. ©2012 Monsanto Canada, Inc. 10589A MON-Genuity VCM-Grainews.indd 1

7/4/12 3:14 PM

4-H CONTRIBUTORS HONOURED WITH QUEEN’S AWARD STAFF

Fifteen Canadians have been honoured with Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals for their contribution to 4-H. They were awarded at a banquet dinner at 4-H Canada’s annual general meeting in St. John’s, Newfoundland last month. The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal honours Canadians of all ages and from all walks of life who have built and continue to build a caring society and country through their

service and achievements. It was created in celebration of Her Majesty’s 60th anniversary of accession to the throne. Of the 60,000 medals designated for Canadians, 33 were given to the Canadian 4-H Council to honour the significant contribution of individuals to the 4-H movement in Canada, with 13 to be presented nationally and 20 provincially. Recipients were: Rob Black, president, Canadian 4-H Council; George Klosler, Marie Logan, Judy Shaw, Bertram Stewart, Elizabeth

Crouse and Robert McAuley, all former presidents of the Canadian 4-H Council; Valerie Pearson, vice-president, Canadian 4-H Council; Mike Nowosad, chief executive officer, 4-H Canada, Matthew Tweedy, chair, Canadian 4-H Council’s Youth Advisory Committee; Lyndon Carlson, Dori GingeraBeauchemin, and James Hewitt, former presidents, Canadian 4-H Foundation; Hilda Bellows, co-chair, provincial 4-H council and long-time member of the 4-H program, and Gerry Sullivan, former president, provincial council, and long-time member of the 4-H program.

The Canadian Grain Commission has announced changes to the grading specifications for barley and red lentils. The CGC said the changes to barley, which were recommended by the Western Standards Committee, highlight barley’s potential for a diverse range of end uses. including food products. Currently, barley is classed as malting, hulless or general purpose. After August 1, it will be classed as food, malting or general purpose, which better describes potential end uses. Rather than having a separate hulless class, each class will have hulless and covered varieties. The CGC said that in the current system, if a variety suited for malting were a hulless variety, it would be classed as hulless barley, not as malting barley, which could lead customers to overlook its potential as malting barley. In the revised system, this variety will be more accurately classed as malting barley. The CGC also announced changes to grading specifications for the percentage of copper and bleached seeds in red lentils. It said research has found that copper and bleached seeds in red lentils will lead to a decrease in dehulling efficiency. In addition, copper and bleaching affects the colour of the cotyledons, making affected lentils less appealing for processors and end users, the CGC said. More information is available at www.grainscanada.gc.ca

NEWS » Markets

} stock move

JULY 16, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

India sells wheat to trim surplus

Drought hits Black Sea harvest

India has allowed two million tonnes of wheat exports from government warehouses as part of a strategy to trim bulging stocks to avoid the grains getting rotten. India, the world’s second-biggest wheat producer, has been struggling to manage huge stocks due to record harvests in recent years. On June 1, wheat stocks at government warehouses surged to a record 50.2 million tonnes. — Reuters

Hot and dry weather has forced Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan to reduce their harvest forecasts and the region’s total grain output could be at least 35 million tonnes less than in 2011. Russia’s SovEcon consultancy last week forecast the wheat harvest at 46 million tonnes, down 10 million from last year. Analysts said Ukraine is likely to almost halve its wheat harvest to 12 million tonnes from 22.3 million tonnes a year earlier, while Kazakhstan’s output could fall to 14 million tonnes from 27 million tonnes. — Reuters

Threats to U.S. soybean crop elevate canola futures World wheat } Crops under threat from drought in

Europe as well as North America

By Dwayne Klassen

anola futures on the ICE Futures Canada trading platform continued to benefit greatly from the extremely hot and dry weather conditions in the key growing regions of the U.S. soybean belt during the week ended July 6. The threat of reduced soybean yields in the U.S. definitely maintained the weather-based rally that has pushed ICE canola values to new contract highs. Support in canola also came from steady domestic processor demand as well as speculation that China has either purchased additional quantities of the Canadian commodity or were making serious enquiries. Some weather issues on the Canadian Prairies also were said to have provided support, but the jury on this is still up for debate. There is no doubt that some regions of the key canola-growing areas in Western Canada are experiencing excessive moisture due to recent storm activity. There are also a number of producers calling for precipitation soon in order to prevent yield loss due to dry soil conditions. There were also concerns about hail damage, but to tell you the truth, I can’t ever remember canola production being significantly reduced because of this event. In fact, most industry participants are of the belief that canola is developing well across the Prairies. There was some actual trade in milling wheat contracts during the week, with most of the action occurring between commercials. Values were bolstered by the upward price action seen in the U.S. markets, particularly Minneapolis wheat futures. ICE Canada also raised durum and barley bids, but there was little to no volume. Market participants linked the jump in price to ICE Canada trying to keep values in line with the action in Minneapolis. The lack of precipitation combined with extremely hot temperatures in the U.S. was the main factor that took Chicago (CBOT) corn and soybean futures up. Soybean values touched new fouryear highs during the period ended July 6 while corn managed to hit new 10-month highs.

Corn in the U.S. is in a critical stage of development, and the absence of precipitation during this heat wave was seen causing a major reduction in yield potential. There were reports out of the U.S. that some corn fields in the driest areas were barely waist high.

New estimates

Private analytical firm Informa Economics backed these fears up in new estimates made during the week. Informa estimated corn yields at 153.5 bushels per acre, based on harvested acreage of 88.9 million acres. Informa’s corn yield was 1.4 bushels below its previous forecast, but almost 10 bushels below Informa’s early-season yield forecast. Informa’s current corn yield forecast is 12.5 bushels below the 166 assumed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in its June supply and demand report. U.S. farmers were expected to harvest

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

13.641 billion bushels of corn in 2012, the firm said. Last year, U.S. corn output measured 12.358 billion bushels, The firm reduced its yield projections in nearly 20 states, with Kansas experiencing the largest drop. Meanwhile, Informa pegged U.S. soybean yields at 42 bushels an acre, which would be down 0.7 bushels from the firm’s previous forecast and would be 0.5 bushels above last year. Informa tempered its yield forecast for several states due to this season’s below‑average start. The estimates from Informa be compared with the USDA numbers scheduled for release after press time last week, on July 11. Preliminary yield projections from the private sector for the upcoming USDA report for corn ranged from 147.1 bushels per acre to 160.2 bushels. Pre-USDA-report soybean yields from industry participants ranged from 41.3 to 43.9 bushels per acre. This compares with the June USDA forecast of 43.9 bushels and the year-ago yield of 41.5 bushels. Wheat futures on the CBOT, MGEX and KCBT also rallied significantly during the week. Much of the upward price action was also related to the weather issues that influenced the price gains in corn and soybeans. Some of the strength, however, also continued to be tied to the poor

growing conditions for the wheat crops in the Black Sea region, China and Australia. The weather-based rally in the U.S. will remain a key focus of the markets in Chicago and Winnipeg in the near term, but it is important to remember that this type of price movement is normally short-lived. “There certainly can be a further push higher in both CBOT soybean and ICE canola, but once the weather situation eases, the push down will be quick and hard,” an industry participant warned. “Demand destruction” is another phrase being used to temper the bullish enthusiasm in the oilseed sector. What this means is that when values climb too high, end-users balk at having to pay those kind of prices and back away from the market. In this kind of situation they turn to their built-up reserves to cover immediate needs or even seek out cheaper alternatives. Another consideration that needs to be kept in mind and not forgotten is that the world’s macroeconomic issues continue to remain a factor that could surface at any given time and derail the weather rally. Dwayne Klassen writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JULY 16, 2012

Why what we do is important at retail | PART TWO FROM THE HIP  Retailers have become very

sensitive to negative perceptions of their products

BY BRENDA SCHOEPP

arketing a product at retail is much more than just offering great value or a sense of entitlement. It is providing the buyer with an opportunity to relate to the product through the story behind it. To understand what works for retail, especially in beef, we first must appreciate what today’s consumer will not tolerate. Animal welfare is holding position as the No. 1 consideration when buying products from food animals. Today’s consumers have little and often zero tolerance for cages and crates. We can look over the fence at the poultry and swine industry and say that maybe they should do something about that, but it is more of a problem in beef production than we give it credit for. Increasing awareness and photographic evidence of beef in confined feeding operations has consumers on edge. They don’t like what they see nor are they convinced it is the right thing to do. I was recently asked to describe the perfect cattle-feeding scenario and was unable to do so. It is complex because of the economics, yet its a very important question. Two things come immediately to mind — pen density and ration composition. We know that cattle do better in very small pens of 20 or so, such as a research pen. We also know they do well in large, light-density pens. Neither design is used extensively, even though critics liken the feedlot pen to the cage or farrowing crate. The fact that most feedlot finish-

ing rations are 80 per cent energy and some are now close to 100 per cent is seen as unnatural and tied to a host of disease-management issues. This diet is astounding to “foodies,” who believe that cattle should be on forage at all times. Their concept of wholesome beef is one of cattle raised on grass and out in the open. They cannot be fooled. Young adults in focus groups do not believe that most of the beef animal’s life is out on the field. They know it is in the feedlot and they do not agree with that way of production.

Will they pay extra?

The question most asked is whether consumers will pay for product that is raised without pen, crate or cage. The answer is yes! They will pay up to 20 per cent more. The Whole Foods retail chain has proven it and food service is demanding it. Poultry and swine have some tight timelines to conform to if they want to sell domestic and international product, and beef will be next. This change will be dictated to retail by consumers who will pass on the news to the beef sector. Consumers are also concerned about additives and processes. The perfect example of this is the pink

slime debate. Lean finely textured beef is treated with ammonium hydroxide and resold in U.S. food products. The YouTube video by Jamie Oliver that exposed pink slime in early 2011 became a global obsession within days and shut down three processing plants. A thousand jobs were lost, and it cost the U.S. industry 25 per cent of its ground beef market. To say that buyers of food do not know and do not care is simply not true. They want to know how the product was created and care very much about the process. Consumers either do not want these types of products on the shelf or at the very least have an expectation that they will be labelled correctly and are scrutinizing processing companies and retail outlets. Antimicrobial use is a growing concern and is being played heavily by anti-use groups. At the centre of the debate is not so much that animals are treated, but that humans and animals are becoming resistant to the drugs used. Although there is no current evidence tying antimicrobial resistance in humans to antimicrobial use in animals, there is an assumed connection by the public. A recent poll indicates that 86 per cent of the buying public

Animal welfare is holding position as the No. 1 consideration when buying products from food animals. Today’s consumers have little and often zero tolerance for cages and crates.

Monsanto sues rival DuPont for copycat seed technology

wants to have non-treated beef as an option at the store shelf. That speaks volumes to a retailer who is trying to increase traffic at the meat case. The broader driver for consumers is their individual core values. If they believe that someone in the process has been wronged, they will react. In 2009, meat packer JBS agreed to both civil and legal arrangements in South America in which they would not buy cattle from deforested land, indigenous territories or from properties that were blacklisted because of the use of slavery. This month, Greenpeace publicly claimed that JBS had failed those agreements with the purchase of 687 cattle and alleged they also broke the trust on an additional 7,100 head. The result was instant. Tesco, the world’s largest retailer, and three other food retailers from the UK, one from The Netherlands, and Swedish-based IKEA all cancelled their contracts for meat or leather from JBS. Why did retailers care? Because they knew the consumer would not tolerate such disregard to protect the environment. The chances of them buying meat sourced from JBS would be slim at best. In this very transparent world, there is little wiggle room and even less forgiveness from the consumer. And it is this consumer from which all our wealth comes from. That is why what we do is so important at retail. Brenda Schoepp is a market analyst and the owner and author of Beeflink, a national beef cattle market newsletter. A professional speaker a market research consultant, she ranches near Rimbey, Alberta. brenda.schoepp@cciwireless.ca or www.brendaschoepp.com

Don’t miss the boat

ONGOING BATTLE  Latest in a series of suits as

companies jockey for market dominance BY CAREY GILLAM REUTERS

Monsanto, the world’s largest seed company, is suing chief rival DuPont, accusing DuPont and its agricultural crop subsidiary of treading on Monsanto’s technological turf by copying key new plantbreeding innovations. Monsanto’s suit claims that a “seed chipping” invention, which it unveiled in 2007 as a way to speed up plant breeding, has been duplicated by DuPont in a “laser-assisted seed selection” tool introduced in 2008. Monsanto claims its business is suffering “irreparable harm” as a result. DuPont spokesman Dan Turner said the lawsuit was “without merit.” “Monsanto continues to use litigation in an attempt to limit Pioneer from being an effective competitor,” he said. “This tactic has not worked in previous cases, and it will not work in this matter.” Monsanto spokesman Tom Helscher said the company would not

comment on its lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. Monsanto is seeking a permanent injunction and treble damages for what it calls “wilful infringement.” Monsanto’s robotic seed chipper allows it to individually test every seed in its plant-breeding programs for selection of desired characteristics and to develop stacks of traits in its seed products. The company said it has used this technology in the development of its Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans, and has more than a dozen patents in place dating back to 2004. It calls a patent application by DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International a “copycat” application. The lawsuit by Monsanto is but the latest in a series of court battles between the corporate giants as they battle over the lucrative global market for agricultural seed, particularly corn. DuPont’s Pioneer seed unit last year sued Monsanto claiming it infringed on patents that help genetically modified corn seeds germinate.

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news » livestock

JULY 16, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Feed costs limit hog expansion

Alberta lambs reach Vietnam

The U.S. hog herd expanded only moderately this spring in the face of high feed costs.The USDA’s latest estimate places the U.S. herd at 65.8 million head, up 1.3 per cent from a year earlier. The number was below expectations but is still the largest in three years as a mild winter help push up piglet survival to a record 10.09 per litter. Analysts said that while hog prices have been fairly strong, feed costs are deterring expansion.

OC Flock Management of Bowden, Alberta has become the the first Canadian company to ship live ruminants to Vietnam with a sale of breeding lambs valued at $50,000. “We congratulate CLGA member OC Flock Management for securing this agreement with the Goat and Rabbit Research Centre. This first-ever delivery of sheep strengthens the CanadaVietnam partnership and signals the beginning of the next phase in the development of the nucleus herd project,” said Rick McRonald, executive director of the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association.

…producers should know which plants, and which parts of them, are poisonous.

Learning to identify plants poisonous to cattle Timing and location } Toxic plants are more

dangerous in the spring and alongside waterways by alexis kienlen af staff / vegreville

“

n the banks of the Beaver, where seldom if ever, any poisonous herbage doth grow.” That description from one of the lesser-known verses of “Home on the Range” is pretty much true in Alberta, but there are a few nasty plants out there, says Donna Lawrence, boreal forest specialist with the Rangeland Management Branch of Alberta Environment. Lawrence told the annual Grazing School for Women that producers should know which plants, and which parts of them, are poisonous. In some cases, seeds, leaves or roots can be the problem. It’s a good idea to avoid early-spring grazing areas in riparian areas, Lawrence said. “If you stick your cattle out there then, the riparian area is generally the only place that’s green. This is where they’re most likely to come into contact with poisonous plants.”

“When there are other plants out there, the actual chance of them running into that poisonous plant is pretty slim.” Donna Lawrence

Seaside arrowgrass. Photo: Alberta Tourism

Elephant’s head Photo: Creative Commons

Saskatoon. Photo: Government of Manitoba

buttercups are dried, so they are not irritants when they are found in hay.

Locoweed is a plant found on grasslands. Cows have to eat a large amount over a long period and will appear stoned if they eat it.

Horsetails are common in moist areas, and are a component in meadow hay. These plants can be a problem for young horses, as horsetails contain a toxin that can affect the way horses process thiamine. Horses affected by horsetail will develop flu-like systems, appear weak and lose weight. Horses need to eat a large amount of this over a long time before they get sick. Saskatoon leaves have some cyanide in the young growth, but animals have to eat a lot of it in order to be poisoned. In order to reduce risk, producers can wait until late in the growing season to graze Saskatoons. “There are way more cows grazing Saskatoon than ever get poisoned by Saskatoon,” said Lawrence.

Seaside arrowgrass is appealing to cattle because it accumulates salt. It is common in riparian areas and will green up before many other riparian plants. Making sure cattle are well watered and well salted will help keep them away from this plant. Seaside arrowgrass can also appear in native hay.

Locoweed Photo: Utah State University

It’s also important to manage riparian areas during drought because livestock will be attracted to these areas, and will graze even closer to water bodies, where poisonous plants can be a bigger threat. When forage health and diversity are maintained, poisonous plants will not take over an area, as they will have other plants to compete with. “When there are other plants out there, the actual chance of them running into that poisonous plant is pretty slim,” Lawrence said. Elephant’s head is another plant that can be toxic if consumed in large quantities. Cattle that eat it might also become more susceptible to lice, fortunately its unpalatable and rare. “They’d have to eat a huge schwack of it to be affected,” Lawrence said. Some species of buttercup can be an irritant to the skin of livestock. The irritant declines when

Field horsetail. Photo: bioimages.vanderbilt.edu

Tall larkspur can be a problem. It also greens up early in the spring. The leaves are poisonous early in the season, and then the poison transfers to the seed. If it is grazed later in the season, the poison can usually be avoided.

Tall larkspur. Photo: University of Idaho

Water hemlock is a native plant that also shows up in wet areas. The plant is severely toxic to both livestock and humans. The toxins build up in the roots and tubers. Anyone who finds water hemlock and decides to remove it needs to wear gloves and dig the plant out of the ground in the fall. These plants do not form large mats, but appear as individual, isolated plants. Water hemlock looks similar to water parsnip, which is common and innocuous.

Water hemlock. Photo: B.C. Ministry of Forests

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JULY 16, 2012

Heady lamb market falls to earth PAINFUL CORRECTION  The lamb market is contracting and feeders are feeling the pain BY SHERI MONK

AF STAFF / PINCHER CREEK

“I sold one liner load, but I have 300 left. You can’t give them away.”

hat goes up must come down, and while the lamb market is no exception, no one in the industry was prepared for just how fast or hard it would crash. “In the last three weeks it went from $1.75/lb to $1.35,” Howard Paulsen, Zone 1 director for Alberta Lamb Producers said earlier this month. “I didn’t really think there would be that much of a correction because we can’t supply the amount of lamb we need, but if it’s starting to come in from the States and forcing everybody’s play, there’s not much we can do about it.” The American lamb market has been struggling for several months, but prices stayed stable in Canada until very recently. Some lamb feeders were caught by the correction, such as Pete Walter,

PETE WALTER CAYLEY COLONY

A large lamb feeder says high prices brought too many into the Canadian market. FILE PHOTO the sheep boss from the Cayley Hutterite Colony. “I sold one liner load, but I have 300 left. You can’t give them away,” Walter said. He said most of Alberta’s finished lambs were going to SunGold Specialty Meats at Innisfail, formerly Sunterra Meats, and still Canada’s largest lamb processor.

The plant was purchased last year by Canada Gold Beef, as a means to ensure slaughter facilities would be available for its niche beef exports. Walter said SunGold sent a contract offer to lamb feeders earlier this year, offering a variety of pricing in between $1.61 – $1.77, depending on the month of

delivery. “Very few signed because there were so many restrictions on the contract,” Walter said, citing overfat penalties, and a new threeday wait for payment. Lamb feeders wishing to sell now are being offered approximately $1.35 after a large number of cheaper lambs were imported from the U.S. Roy Leitch, a major lamb feeder operating out of Brandon, Manitoba, says the price needed to come down.

“Lambs became way overpriced last year. We paid way too much for them and the whole market got out of hand. We way overpaid for the lambs and we couldn’t get the money out of them from the public, and the public couldn’t afford to eat them and basically, North America wide, we’ve lost 50 per cent of the consumers who eat lamb.” Leitch said recent high lamb prices brought more production and new producers into the market, compounding the current market glut. “With 100,000 more lambs in Canada than we usually have, and less people eating them, we’re in a serious correction,” said Leitch. “We didn’t get off scot-free. There was a tremendous amount of money lost in the feeding industry this year.” Rick Paskal, CEO of SunGold Specialty Meats, was out of the country and unavailable for comment.

Brazil ranches achieve Rainforest Alliance certification SUSTAINABILITY 

Ranches ranked for treatment of land, animals and employees STAFF

A group of four ranches in Brazil recently became the first in the world to earn Rainforest Alliance certification for sustainable cattle production. The Alliance says the ranches, all belonging to the group Fazendas São Marcelo Ltda., met a rigorous set of standards that promote the humane treatment of livestock, the conservation of natural resources and the rights and well-being of workers. Located in the Mato Grosso state in western Brazil, the ranches cover a total area of 79,000 acres including a 32,000acre reserve in the Amazon. This protected area helps to buffer natural forests and provide shelter and migratory habitat for wildlife. Altogether, about 60,000 cattle graze on the ranches sustainably managed pastures. The Alliance says that in addition to protecting wildlife habitat, the certified ranches ensure that the animals are well treated and provided with tree-covered pastures, which shield them from high temperatures, wind and rain. Fazendas Sao Marcelo’s care extends to its workforce and their families. Since most of the ranch workers are male, training is provided to worker wives on crafts and artisanal cooking, allowing opportunities for economic advancement. The most rural of the four certified farms provides a private school for 20 resident children, and the company supports the public schools near its other properties, subsidizing teacher training to enhance education for the 10,000 schoolchildren in neighbouring communities.

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JULY 16, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Minimizing the impact of hot weather on pigs peet on pigs } Ensuring that watering and ventilation

systems are working properly is important

By bernie peet

he onset of hot weather after a long period of wet and cool conditions means that it’s time to think about the comfort of pigs during the summer. Two aspects of management are the most vital to consider if the impact of hot weather on performance is to be minimized — environment and water availability. In summer, ventilation systems should move the maximum amount of air with the minimum resistance or pressure. Any deficiencies in the design of the system will be exposed in hot weather, especially sub-optimal fan capacity and air flow restrictions. If there is any doubt about these aspects, it is worth bringing in a ventilation engineer to check not only whether the capacity is correct, but also to check inlet sizes, system operating pressure and the control staging. Assuming the system has been

In summer, ventilation systems should move the maximum amount of air with the minimum resistance or pressure.

correctly designed and installed, a hot-weather check should include ensuring that all inlets open fully and adjusting them as necessary. Also, check that there are no restrictions to air movement between the outside of the barn and the inlets, for example at the eaves openings where air enters the loft, or where air from the loft enters an alleyway between rooms in the barn. If misting nozzles or drippers are installed in grow-finish rooms, check that they are coming on at the correct temperature and also that they are working correctly and producing a fine mist. Too coarse a mist will reduce the amount of evaporative cooling that takes place in the room.

Water intake

The pig’s water intake increases considerably during hot weather, up to double the intake compared to less hot conditions. Therefore it is very important to check daily that drinkers are working correctly for all the pens in the barn. It is good practice to check drinker flow rates at this time of year and rectify any situations where flow rate is less than optimum. Grow-finish pigs and lactating sows are the most vulnerable to poor flow rates and reduced water availability will lead to lower feed intake and worse performance. Table 1 shows likely water consumption and recommended flow rates for

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An adequate drinker flow rate for lactating sows will help to minimize the reduction in feed intake during hot weather. different classes of pig in winter and summer. Pigs need to ingest more water to keep cool in hot conditions because their primary means of getting rid of excess heat is panting, which expels warm, moist air from their lungs. Part of the reason that water consumption, or more correctly water disappearance, goes up in summer is that,

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when they are able, pigs will use the drinkers to wet themselves to increase evaporative cooling. They will also choose to lie where the air speed in the pen is the highest, usually in the dunging area, to increase their body heat loss.

Feed intake

Lactating sows are the most vulnerable to hot conditions and reduced feed intake typically leads to lower weaning weights over the summer, combined with increased weaning-to-service intervals. One approach to minimizing the impact of hot weather is by changes to the diet. As the sow eats less, the intake of lysine and other amino acids can be maintained by increasing their content in the diet. For example, a typical lactation diet with 1.0 per cent total lysine could be replaced with one containing 1.2 per cent. Another approach to consider is to replace some of the dietary energy provided by starch with fats or oils. These produce less heat as a byproduct of metabolism than starch, reducing the excess heat produced by the sow. However, the practical evidence for this being a successful strategy is not at all conclusive and the cost per unit of energy for oils is higher than that for starch. Feed tends to deteriorate quickly in hot weather, so careful trough management in the farrowing barn will help to

Check that air inlets at the eaves are not blocked and restricting air flow. maintain feed intake. Increasing the number of feeds per day is a simple strategy to both keeping feed fresh and also increasing feed intake. Feeding 4-5 times per day has been shown to result in higher intake. Also, as lactating sows will eat during the night when the room cools down, an evening feed can provide the biggest meal of the day. Reduced appetite due to hot weather has a huge impact on production. While some of this is unavoidable, careful attention to ventilation, water supply and feed management of the lactating sow will help to minimize the loss of performance.

water requirements and drinker flow rates

Category Nursery, 6 - 15kg Nursery, 15 - 30 kg Finishers, 50 - 70 kg Finishers, 101 - 120 kg Gestating sows/boars Lactating sows

Likely consumption, L Winter 0.5 - 1 2.5 - 3 4-5 6-7 6 - 10 15 - 25

Summer 1-2 3.5 - 4.5 6-8 7-9 10 - 15 20 - 35

Flow rate- L/min 0.7 - 1 0.8 - 1.2 1.5 1.5 1.5 - 2 2-3

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JULY 16, 2012

Seeing the grazing forest through the rangeland trees STOCKING RATE  It needs to be calculated basis what cattle will eat, not total production BY ALEXIS KIENLEN AF STAFF / VEGREVILLE

orests provide 45 per cent of public grazing land in Alberta, but many graziers don’t see their potential, says Donna Lawrence, a boreal forest rangeland specialist with the Rangeland Management Branch of Alberta Environment. “Forested rangelands are more susceptible to grazing, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be grazed sustainably,” Lawrence told the 10th annual Original Grazing School for women. She said almost all forage in a forest comes from shrubs and forbs (non-weedy flowering plants) rather than grasses. Forested rangelands have variable plant communities based on soil and typography, and cattle will not graze everything, so it’s important to know what shrubs the animals will choose to graze, Lawrence said. That makes stocking rates especially important. They should not be based on total production, because cattle will only eat some of the species. “Stocking rates are based on feasibility. Don’t plan on grazing everything, because livestock have preferences,” Lawrence said. She said cattle will graze raspberry, rose, Saskatoon and red osier dogwood, but will not graze hazelnut or buffaloberry if given a choice.

“Forested rangelands are more susceptible to grazing, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be grazed sustainably.”

need rest periods within the growing season, Lawrence said. When a shrub is grazed too deeply, animals will often eat into the second- or third-year wood, which limits regrowth. Forested rangelands take longer to green up than tame pastures, so are not suited to early-spring grazing. They are best suited to a one-time summer graze, when production is best. Lawrence said cattle cannot survive only on forested pasture, but need access to tame or native rangeland as well. Rotational grazing, and making good use of fencing, herding or other practices will push cattle into forested areas and encourage them to graze there. Smaller paddocks result in less selectivity. Lawrence recommended separating salt licks from water areas to encourage grazing. “Why not use that salt, throw it into the area that they’re not using, and force them to go into that area? They’ll be grazing along the way,” she said.

It takes about five times as much forested rangeland as tame pasture to maintain a bovine animal. PHOTO: B.C. MINISTRY OF FORESTS, LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES

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Alberta Agriculture’s publication Northern range plants (Agdex 134/420-1, $25) can help graziers assess the forage value and palatability of various species to determine stocking rates. Lawrence recommended 25 per cent of a forested area be grazed, and 75 per cent be left as carryover. It takes about five times as much forested rangeland as tame pasture to maintain a bovine animal. Cattle may also need some encouragement to graze forested rangelands, Lawrence said. They might need to be fenced or lured with water and salt in a way that forces them into the bush, away from their preferred range. Grasses, forbs and shrubs all

Boreal forest rangeland specialist Donna Lawrence says cattle can’t survive on forest alone, but it can make up part of their grazing ration. PHOTO: ALEXIS KIENLEN

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JULY 16, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

A healthy back indicates a sound horse EARLY CARE  A horse’s spine is just not sufficiently developed

to withstand heavy weight bearing until it is fully mature BY CAROL SHWETZ, DVM

orses were not naturally created to bear the weight of a rider, so conscious effort needs to be taken to develop and condition a horse’s back. This conditioning will then allow it to successfully and comfortably carry a rider without sustaining long-term damage. Seen from the side, the horse’s top line begins from the poll and ends at the base of the tail. A healthy top line is even, smooth, and continuous with no breaks, unnatural kinks, peaks, valleys, or indentations in front of or behind the withers. There is a tendency to roundness, and when seen from above healthy backs are symmetrical with smoothly contouring muscling mirroring one another on either side of the spine. The horse must develop the correct muscles which properly engage his back and hindquarters. Horses with poor carriage, such as hollow backs or inverted frames, place themselves in anatomical and bio-mechanical disadvantaged positions with far-reaching consequences. Damage befalls not only the back itself, but over time hocks, front heels, dental arcades, and soft tissues throughout the body are also affected . Growth plates in the back of a horse do not fuse until the horse is five to six years of age, so when weighted prematurely the responsibility for supporting the weight of a rider is placed upon the connecting musculature of the back. Unnatural strain sets the stage for hollow backs or inverted/upside-down horses. Although young horses cope with physical weight bearing, they fail to flourish and fail to remain sound into their teen years. The horse’s spine is just not sufficiently developed to withstand heavy weight bearing until it is fully mature.

Horses with poor carriage, such as hollow backs or inverted frames, place themselves in anatomical and bio-mechanical disadvantaged positions with far-reaching consequences. Unfortunately for the horse, it looks mature far before they are mature. A properly prepared riding horse understands how to carry himself. He must learn to coil his pelvis, step deeply underneath his mass with his hind legs, stretch his back, and telescope his neck. Once properly ground schooled he can learn to carry this feeling through while carrying the weight of a rider upon his back. Once schooling begins, development of a horse’s back takes time, a long time. It takes a year at least to establish a strong top line in a horse. All tack used upon a horse effects his

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movement. The type of bit and nature of its use in the rider’s hands impacts how the horse carries his head, and so has the ability to shape the horse’s entire body and manner of movement.

Saddle fit

Saddle fit is critical to healthy movement of a horse’s back. A rider sits on layers of living tissue nourished by blood circulation. Saddle pressure drives blood circulation out of tissues, depriving them of nourishment. The tiny nerves that pass out of the spinal column innervating the back muscles are damaged greatly with

43,000 PIECES OF A EQUIPMENT G !

unforgiving pressure. The muscles of the equine back are activated by electrical impulses which reach the individual cells through this network of tiny nerves. Without electrical impulses the muscles of the back wither, waste and sink away from the spine, leaving a weak back. Over time the horse loses its healthy top line, developing deep holes behind the withers. Healthy backs feel warm, soft, and supple. They are quiet and resilient. Signs of early damage to a horse’s back include heat bumps, uneven sweat patterns, and flickering and flinching upon touch once the saddle is removed. Over time white patches of hair along the back are testimony to damaged tissues as pressure harms the hair follicles, resulting in a visible scar. Most often these white patches are partnered with the visible hollowing of top-line musculature. Saddles are a bit like shoes. When they do not fit they can be uncomfortable or painful causing other physical problems as well. So, when saddles are not a good fit horses will communicate such with unhappy body language, often increasing volume with increasing discomfort. Signs of pain caused by ill saddle fit include, but are not limited to, resistance to touch, pinning ears, head tossing, lack of focus, spooking, swishing or wringing tail, grinding teeth, stiffness, reluctance to stride out, unusual posturing, lameness, cold-backed behavior, rearing and bucking. No amount of training or discipline will ever overcome pain. Adaptations for the pain under saddle can create habitually poor patterns of movement that may remain long after the saddle as been removed. Carol Shwetz is a veterinarian specializing in equine practice at Westlock, Alberta.

Codex standard set for Paylean, Optiflexx premixes REFERENCE POINT  Decision may clear

way for approval in EU and China STAFF

Ractopamine hydrochloride, a medicated feed ingredient to boost meat yield in hogs and cattle, has finally received approval by an international food-safety body. Ractopamine is marketed in Canada by U.S. animal health giant Elanco, under the name Paylean 20 premix for hogs and heavy tom turkeys, and as Optaflexx 100 premix for finishing beef cattle. Elanco said that the Codex Alimentarius Commission has decided to adopt an acceptable daily intake (ADI) and maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the product in pig and cattle muscle, fat, liver and kidney. Codex standards are the commonly accepted international

food safety reference points. Its standards are considered to be recommendations for voluntary application by member nations, but serve in many cases as a basis for national legislation. In this case, ractopamine has been approved for use in Canada since 2006, and is approved in the U.S., Mexico and a handful of other countries, but hasn’t yet allowed for farmers’ use by many other nations, most notably China and the members of the European Union. China has blocked imports of Canadian pork since 2007, citing potential residues of ractopamine. A Codex reference point for ractopamine, however, “helps assure consumers that their food is safe,” Elanco president Jeff Simmons said in a statement.

Visit us online for the latest regional ag news and information www.albertafarmexpress.ca

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JULY 16, 2012

BRIEFS

TPP partners take aim at Canadian pork producers

UFA launches Small Town Heroes 2012 contest

DISTORTING  The U.S., Australia and New Zealand say subsidies affect trade

UFA has announced its third annual UFA Small Town Heroes contest to reward individuals in rural Alberta who go above and beyond for their communities. Two grand prize winners will each receive $10,000 for a community project and an exclusive Paul Brandt concert in their home town. Eight runners up will receive $2,500 for a community project. Nominations are now open until July 22 at www. ufa.com/smalltown heroes. This year’s contesi will see UFA hosting a Small Town Heroes Top Ten Tour where nominees will be personally greeted and interviewed by members of UFA’s judging panel in their respective home towns. UFA is partnering with country music star, Paul Brandt who will be hitting the road in October, 2012 on the third annual Small Town Heroes bus tour. The bus will make several stops in small towns throughout Alberta for meet at greet opportunities at local UFA Farm and Ranch Stores and UFA Petroleum Agencies.

Reuters — Pork producers in the United States, Australia and New Zealand urged their governments July 10 to push for an end to Canadian pork subsidies as Canada enters into talks on an Asia-Pacific free trade agreement. “Canada needs to end its federal and provincial hog subsidy programs, which are distorting the

North American and world pork markets,” R.C. Hunt, president of the National Pork Producers Council, said in a statement with industry leaders from the two South Pacific countries. The action came as the 13th round of negotiations on the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) were wrapping up in

San Diego and the White House formally informed Congress that Canada would be joining future talks on the pact. The U.S., Australian, and New Zealand pork groups acknowledged domestic farm subsidy programs are not usually addressed by free trade pacts. “However, in this case, Canadian

agricultural subsidies are so wide ranging and have such a broad and far-reaching impact on overseas markets it is on these grounds we, along with the U.S. and New Zealand, urge the TPP negotiators and governments to deal with these issues fairly as part of the process,” Andrew Spencer, CEO of Australian Pork Limited, said.

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To Olds College for 100 years of quality eduation. MacDon Industries Ltd. would like to send sincere congratulations to the faculty, students, and alumni of Olds College.

Monsanto gains approval for next generation of RR The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada have granted full food, feed and environmental safety approval for Monsanto’s next generation Roundup Ready canola trait, paving the way for what Monsanto anticipates will be a commercial preview launch to farmers in 2014, a Monsanto release says. The new canola trait will be marketed under the brand name TruFlex Roundup Ready canola and is Monsanto’s latest Genuity canola trait. TruFlex Roundup Ready canola offers farmers a wider window of application and greater flexibility to use a higher rate of Roundup brand herbicides to provide more effective control of perennial weeds and tough-to-control annual weeds in their canola fields to maximize yield potential. “Dandelions and foxtail barley are two great examples of weeds that can be controlled with the TruFlex Roundup Ready canola system,” said David Kelner, canola technical lead for Western Canada.

2013 marks the 100th Anniversary of Olds College. 100 years of… • Making a difference in young people’s lives • Making a difference in rural Alberta and Canada • Making a difference in the MACDON INDUSTRIES LTD. industries they serve 4.500X1.20 000028323r1

4CXPOSITION #4 Join all of us at Alberta Farmer Express as we extend our most sincere congratulations to Olds College on 100 years of excellence in education.

OLDS DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP 2.429X2.00 000028826r1 4CXMUST BE PLACEMENT #1

For more information on how you can show your support in this space contact: Tiffiny Taylor tiffiny.taylor@fbcpublishing.com

JULY 16, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

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

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

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

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JULY 16, 2012

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Grain Wanted BUYING HEATED/DAMAGED PEAS, FLAX & 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

BOW VALLEY TRADING LTD.

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

1-877-641-2798

BUYING:

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

BUSINESS SERVICES BUSINESS SERVICES Crop Consulting

CANOLA WANTED

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

CALL 1-866-388-6284 www.milliganbiotech.com

INC. ANTIQUES ANTIQUES Antique Equipment NEW TRACTOR PARTS and engine rebuild kits, specializing in hard to find parts for older tractors, tractor seats, service and owners manuals, decals and much more, our 38th year! 1 800-481-1353, www.diamondfarmtractorparts.com

AUTO & TRANSPORT AUTO & TRANSPORT Semi Trucks & Trailers 30 MISCELLANEOUS HYBOY SEMI trailers; 8 step deck, and double drops; 5 equipment trailers; misc. gravel trailers, pictures & prices on Aberdeen/Saskatoon, www.trailerguy.ca (306)222-2413

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

155 CIH Puma

CONTRACTING Custom Work

Offers - Ph: 403-546-2170 or Email: elliott.sg@gmail.com

HAVE GUNS WILL TRAVEL! Gopher control in north Central Alberta, Call Cameron at 780-349-0343

Combines

TOEWS CUSTOM SWATHING, M150 Macdon Swather, w/30ft header and Canola shears, will swath Canola, silage and cereals. (403)888-6702, Acme, Ab.

FARM MACHINERY Combine – John Deere

FARM MACHINERY FARM MACHINERY Grain Dryers

FARM MACHINERY Combine – Various

FARM MACHINERY Combine – Massey Ferguson MF 860 COMBINE, 2900HRS, very good condition, field ready, 6 cly. standard, new PU belts, and new clutch, $6,500 (403)863-4997, Acme, AB.

Grain Dryers New Sukup Grain Dryers for sale. Propane/NG, canola screens, 1 or 3 phase. Also some used dryers available. Call for more info: (204)998-9915

FARM MACHINERY Combine – Various

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

FARM MACHINERY Haying & Harvesting – Various 2005 HESSTON 9260 C/W 15ft 9070 disc header, 25ft 5200 draper, w/fore & aft, triple delivery, pu reels, approx. 2000/hrs, very good condition. (780)963-0641, 780-203-9593 MORRIS 881 HAY HYKER, 8 round bale retriever/mover. like new, minimal use, mint condition, $16,000. (403)236-5415, Calgary Area

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

Combine ACCessories FARM MACHINERY Combine – Accessories JD 925 FLEX HEADER w/transport, $10,600 OBO good condition, shedded, (780)352-2818, (780)361-7947, Gwynne, AB. 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.

FARM MACHINERY Parts & Accessories 8FT TRUCK CANOPY, 102IN long x 66in. wide, off a 2006/07 GMC, never been used. $1,200. OBO (780)635-2401, trades considered. St. Lina, AB

RETIRED: CASE 8330 9ft haybind low acres, shedded ($6,900), Tram 10 ton farm wagon with 10 X 20 deck ($3,500 ) Older reel rake ($500), 92 GMC 2500 150K km 2wdr Rcab safety inspection ($3000), JD Saber 2354 lawn tractor ($3,000), Two Horse bumper pull trailer ($3,000) . 780-963-1155. Spruce Grove AB

FARMING IS ENOUGH OF A GAMBLE...

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

1-888-413-3325

You’ll be surprised what you can find in the Alberta Farmer Express Classifieds Call 1-888-413-3325 & ask about our Prairie Wide Classifieds Book your ad for 3 weeks & get 2 weeks free

1845 JD MODEL H, running, shedded, good shape. $3,500 OBO, (780)352-2818, (780)361-9747

JD 7400 TRACTOR, 740 loader w/grapple, 7550 hours, new tires, mfwd, new seat, one owner, (780)367-2483

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

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Various NEW TRACTOR PARTS and engine rebuild kits, specializing in hard to find parts for older tractors, tractor seats, service and owners manuals, decals and much more, our 38th year! 1 800-481-1353, www.diamondfarmtractorparts.com

2006 JD 9760 BULLET rotor, 950sep. hrs. loaded, exc. condition, JD 615 PU platform, done approx. 1000/ac, $185,000; JD 936D draper header, pu reel, w/upper cross auger. (403)344-2160, Aden Ab.

Stretch your

Ask About our Prairie Wide Classifieds

Hay Wagon

• Like New Condition - 225 hours • Joy stick • 32” Hay Wagon - 14 ton • Triple Hydraulics • 550 + 1000 pto • 18 Bale Capacity

ASSORTED DEUTZ AND OTHER diesel engines. KMK Sales, (800)565-0500, Humboldt, SK.

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – John Deere

2007 7730, MFWD, 4600HRS, 746 loader/grapple, rear wt. pkg. 3pth, 3hyd. green star ready, wide metric tires, fenders, mirrors, optional HID lights, $97,500 OBO (403)933-5448, (403)608-1116, Calgary Area

CONTRACTING

ENGINES

TracTors

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – John Deere

ADVERTISING DOLLAR!

1-888-413-3325

FARM MACHINERY Haying & Harvesting – Various

FOR SALE

FARM CHEMICAL SEED COMPLAINTS

“ON FARM PICK UP”

1-877-250-5252

FARM MACHINERY Haying & Harvesting – Various

NEW WOBBLE BOXES for JD, NH, IH, MacDon headers. Made in Europe, factory quality. Get it direct from Western Canada’s sole distributor starting at $995. 1-800-6674515. www.combineworld.com We know that farming is enough of a gamble so if you want to sell it fast place your ad in the Alberta Farmer Express classifieds. It’s a Sure Thing. Call our toll-free number today. We have friendly staff ready to help. 1-888-413-3325.

JD 2210, LDR, 3PTH, MFD • JD 2130, 3pth, loader JD 2755 245 loader • JD 4030 c/w loader JD 4050 fwa, 3pth loader JD 4255, FWA, 280 loader • JD 4430 c/w loader JD 4440, loader available • JD 4450 c/w loader JD 4450 FWA, 280 loader JD 6410 3pth, loader available JD 7710 fwa, 840 loader JD 7710, FWA, ldr. avail. low hours JD 7200, ldr, 3pth FWA • JD 746 loader, new Mustang 2044 Skidsteer, 1300hrs. Clamp on duals, 20.8x38-18.4x38 158 & 148 JD loaders FINANCE, TRADES WELCOME 780-696-3527, BRETON, AB

Big Tractor Parts, Inc. Geared For The Future

STEIGER TRACTOR SPECIALIST

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

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

Stretch your advertising dollars! Place an ad in the classifieds. Our friendly staff is waiting for your call. 1-888-413-3325.

JULY 16, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Various

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Various JD 3140, 6845 Hours, 97 Eng HP, 85 Pto HP, 3PTH, JD 260 S/L loader, 540&1000 Pto,s $13,900.

John Deere 450-B, With Hoe $15,000

JD 920, 40 HP diesel, REBUILT Motor, NEW Rear Tires, 3PTH, P/S, $11,500.

2005 Toyota 25 Forklift, 5000 lb Lift, $5800.

www.doublellindustries.com 780-905-8565 NISKU, ALBERTA

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

saving lives in rural Communities. one man at a time.

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Hereford BULLS FOR SALE: HEREFORDS, mostly dehorned, great selection including Surefire Heifer Bulls, Dependable maternal genetics selected for 38/yrs. We Deliver. www.bretonwestherefords.com (780)696-3878

Combines for Cures seeks to improve prostate HealtH in rural alberta

Specialty LIVESTOCK Livestock Equipment 5’X10’ PORTABLE CORRAL PANELS, 6 bar. Starting at $55. Storage Containers, 20’ & 40’ 1-866-517-8335, (403)540-4164, (403)226-1722

SEED / FEED / GRAIN JD 9400, 9420, 9520, 8970 JD 7810 & 7210, FWA JD 9860, 9760, 9750, 9650, 9600 JD 9430, 9530, 9630 CIH 8010 w/RWD, lateral tilt, duals 900 hrs. Case STX 375, 425, 430, 450, 480, 500, 530 CIH 8010-2388, 2188 combine 9880, 9882, 9680, 9682 NH, 4WD CIH 435Q, 535Q, 450Q, pto avail. MF 8160 FWA Low hours NH TJ 450, New Triples, Big Pump STX 375 Case with Big Pump

JD 4710, 4720, 4730, 4830, 4920, 4930 SP sprayers 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 854 c/w 2 sets tires. Selection of Combine Headers & Haying Equipment

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Feed Grain BUYING ALL TYPES OF feed grain. Also have market for light offgrade or heated, picked up on the farm. Eisses Grain Marketing 1-888-882-7803, (403)350-8777 Lacombe. FEED GRAIN WANTED! ALSO buying; Light, tough, or offgrade grains. “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Hay & Straw SMALL SQUARE BALES HORSE hay, Crossfield, Ab. 50/lb bales $3.00/per bale, 403-451-5384, (403)613-4570

“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

SEWING MACHINES INDUSTRIAL SEWING MACHINE FOR leather and upholstery (403)749-3871, Delburne, Ab.

TIRES FARM MACHINERY Loaders & Dozers

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Wanted

2003 CAT 928G WHEEL loader, 13,000hrs, 3rd valve, 2-3/4 yard bucket, tires 60%, very good condition. (780)963-0641, (780)203-9593, Stony Plain, Ab.

WANTED: 1939 STEEL WHEELS for JD model D, or complete tractor for parts, (780)349-2860, Westlock Area

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

WANTED: NH BALE WAGONS & retrievers, any condition. Farm Equipment Finding Service, P.O. Box 1363, Polson, MT 59860. (406)883-2118

1969 C60 CHEV TRUCK w/box & Hoist, $2,000; front mount post pounder, $750; Farm Hand 7 wheel side delivery rake, $750; 1966 Deutz D8005 tractor, $4,000; (780)349-2860, Westlock Area

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

2000 PREMIER/MACDON 2950 SWATHER, 972-25ft. triple delivery grain table, 922-16ft MacDon mower conditioner header w/5ft steel crimper, 2073/machine hours, excellent condition. (780)636-2463, 780-645-0492

HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING

2002 JD 1820, 45-FT., 10-in. spacing, double shoot, dutch paired row, 3-1/2in steel, $26,500; 1996 Rogator 854, 800/gal, 8ft. 4x4, 2 sets tires, 3790/hrs, GFS boom, Raven auto-rake, Raven cruiser, GPS, spd. hydro. 195hp Cummins, $65,000; Case Dot 28ft Tandem disc. $5,000 (403)665-2341, Craigmyle, AB.

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

3 BUNNING MANURE SPREADERS for rent, call Lawrence 403-588-4787 5710 BOURGAULT AIR DRILL w/midrow banders 6450 TBH tank; 100-ft. Flexicoil 67XL sprayer w/auto rake. Phone (403)312-4202 ACREAGE EQUIPMENT: CULTIVATORS, DISCS, Plows, Blades, Post pounders, Haying Equipment, Etc. (780)892-3092, Wabamun, Ab. FOR SALE: 3PH MESOLPA (Vicon) 8 wheel rake, all new teeth & bearings, $2,500; 1-MF 7ft 3PH Mower, $700. (403)934-4407 or (403)934-6666 HURRICANE DITCHER’S 3PTH, OR pull type, simple and efficient design, Taylor Farm Supply, 701-642-8827, please leave message. JD 1995 790 ELC TRACKHOE, low hrs; Komatsu WA 320-1 3yd loader, JD 3830 16ft hay header; UH 122 trackhoe; Cat 631 scraped 24-yd; Bomag 170 PD packer Cummings motor. (306)236-8023 JD 4995 16-FT DISCBINE 2009; 21-ft. & 25-ft. PU reel header; 47-ft flex coil 800 Deep Tillage; 45-ft Willrich Cultivator; Cummings 240bp skid mount clutch&trans; 860 MF PU & 20-ft grain. (306)236-8023. MF 655 SWATHER, $1,000; in good condition; Leon Loader c/w bucket/bale spike, $2,500; Please call 780-281-0291 between 7-9pm or email: rtbeddoes@gmail.com

1-800-587-4711

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS FOR SALE: MAGIC CHEF 30-in gas stove in nice condition, $150; Compost tumbler, approximately 18 bushels. Very low hours, $450. Phone:(780)597-3747, evening.

New 30.5L-32 16 ply, $2195; 20.8-38 12 ply $866; 18.4-38 12 ply; $783; 24.5-32 14 ply, $1749; 14.9-24 12 ply, $356; 16.9-28 12 ply $558. Factory direct. More sizes available new and used. 1-800-667-4515. www.combineworld.com

TRAILERS Trailers Miscellaneous 2001 TRAVELAIRE TT250, FULLY loaded, original owners, non-smokers, adults, equalizing hitch, w/sway bar, electric jack, new tires, propane tanks, and battery, $10,000 Firm, Bruce @780-405-6688

Agriculture Tours 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

IRON & STEEL

CAREERS

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

CAREERS Employment Wanted

FARM MACHINERY Irrigation Equipment

EARN $75,000/yr PART TIME in the livestock or equipment appraisal business. Agricultural background required. Classroom or home study courses available. 1-800-488-7570

50HP 3 PHASE ELECTRIC motor and Berkley pump, for irrigation system, good condition, (403)527-8720, Medicine Hat, AB.

RETIRED FROM FARMING, MOST machinery shedded, 1998 Peterbuilt, 460 Cummins, 18spd, w/36ft tandem Doepker grain trailer $75,000; Rock picker, $1,500; PTO wind power plant; 400 barrel fuel tank. $14,000 w/fuel; 3pth, 6ft cultivator $800. (403)586-0978, Torrington, Ab.

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Red Angus

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

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.

Used Flexicoil Aircarts, 4350, 3850 & 3450...........Call 50’ Flexicoil #75 Packer Bar, 1/yr as new ...$25,000 2320 Flexicoil TBH airtank, 1997, clean always shedded, exc. cond ...................................................$20,000 Flexicoil 6 run seed treater ................................. $2,000 2006 51’ Flexicoil 5000 airdrill, 10”,5.5” rubber packers......................................................................................Call 2006, 39’ Flexicoil 5000 airdrill 10”,5.5 rubber packers, double chutes, used 1 year, like new.......Call 33’ CIH 8500 airdrill, 7” steel packers, Eagle Beak openers............................................................................. $8,500 134’ Flexicoil S68XL sprayer, 2006, suspended boom, auto rake, rinse tank, single tips...........$39,500 130’ Flexicoil 67XL PT sparyer, 2006, trail boom, auto rate, rinse tank, hyd. pump, combo jets, nice shape ...........................................$26,500 51 Flexicoil Bodies c/w GEN. SC 4” carbide spread tip openers, single chute., like new..................... $3,500 9435 MF Swather, 30’, 5200 header, PU reel 200hrs...........................................................$100,000 810H 25’ Hesston grain table - PU reel ........$10,000 9352 I Westward MacDon swather, 800/hrs, 25ft 972 header w/PU reel,.............................................$95,000 New Sakundiak 7x1200 (39.97’) , 22HP RobinSubaru eng., battery & fuel tank .......................... $7,500 Flexicoil 10”x50’ Grain auger....................................Call CIH WD1203 swather 2011, 280hrs, 36’ header, split PU reel, roto shears, header transport, top auger, floating rear axle 1/yr ...........................................$100,000 1372 MF 13’ swing arm discbine 4yrs, like new...........................................................................$20,000

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

TRAVEL www.penta.ca

LIVESTOCK

New Sakundiak 10x1200 (39.97’) 36HP, Kohler eng. E-K mover, P/S, electric belt tightener, work lights, slim fit, 12 gal. fuel tank ............ $18,000 New Sakundiak 8x1200 (39.97’) , 25HP Kohler eng., E-Kay mover, battery, fuel tank............$13,000 New Sakundiak 7x1200 (39.97’) , 22HP RobinSubaru eng., battery & fuel tank ...................... $7,500 New E-Kay 7”,8”,9” Bin Sweeps .............................Call 2002 7000HD Highline bale Processor, c/w twine cutter, always shedded ......................................... $7,000 New Outback S3, STS, E drive, TC’s in stock New Outback E drive X c/w free E turns ............Call New Outback S-Lite .................................................$850 Used Outback 360 mapping.................................$750 Used Outback S guidance......................................$750 Used Outback S2 guidance .............................. $1,000 Used Outback E drive Case & JD Hyd. Kits......$500 Unused Outback Hyd. Kit Versatile 6 Series .......................................................................... $1,000

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

Giving the Gift of Grain

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

You would hardly think a grain donation might help save a farmer’s life, but that is exactly the strategy behind the new Combines for Cures™ (C4C) program. The Prostate Cancer Centre and Prostate Cancer Canada created this innovative program to increase the number of men in rural Alberta (aged 40+) to have a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test. This simple blood test can help with early detection and treatment of prostate cancer. Part of the program asks farmers to give the gift of grain. Grain collected as donations from now until the end of the year will help Combines for Cures purchase a mobile testing clinic – a Man Van™ – with money raised in rural Alberta. This vehicle will be dedicated to testing men in rural Alberta. “Making a grain donation is easy”, says Jay Burrows of Western Feedlots Ltd. “Just allocate a portion of your currently contracted deliveries (or pledge a portion of your new crop production) to Western Feedlots Ltd. (barley), or to Richardson Pioneer (oilseeds and wheat). Simply allocate an amount and we will make a split payment, with your grain donation going to “Combines for Cures”. We will do the paperwork, and forward a cheque to the Prostate Cancer Centre (PCC) on your behalf. Burrows says the cash value of a grain donation will be the price of grain on an existing contract, or if not contracted, the day it is delivered. After the donation is made, PCC sends you a tax receipt. Agrium Crop Production Services (CPS) retail outlets in the pilot test area (central Alberta) are also accepting cash donations or grain pledges. “Through CPS and ourselves we’ll organize a central location where we can consolidate the pledged grain,” explains Burrows. The C4C test pilot program officially launched in March, 2012, and from five testing locations the statistics proved the need for a rural Man Van. Over 70 per cent of those tested had never had a PSA test. “We believe universal access in remote areas to prostate cancer awareness and PSA testing is clearly important,” says Pam Heard, executive director of the PCC. “When we involve communities in an important health initiative we stimulate change for a healthier future. It’s a call to action for men to take charge of their health.” Airdrie rancher John Lee encourages his rural colleagues to get that PSA blood test when the Prostate Cancer Centre brings the Man Van to their community. Lee had five years of baseline blood tests that proved critical in his cancer diagnosis in September, 2009. “Early diagnosis is important because it gives you so many options. With today’s medical technology it gives you such a huge opportunity for a complete cure,” says Lee. Burrows agrees with Lee. “We know our farm friends and clients are often too busy to go to the doctor,” says Jay Burrows of Western Feedlots, one of the locations where farmers can make their donations. “With the purchase of the mobile testing unit, we’ll help bring the medical experts to you.” Heard says statistics show that establishing a baseline PSA level at age 40, can help detect the early onset of prostate cancer, which will allow for more rapid access to treatment if necessary. “Ultimately, we will save lives,” she says. For more information about Combines for Cures go to www.prostatecancercentre.ca.

FIND THE AG EQUIPMENT YOU NEED… TODAY. OVER

43,000 PIECES OF AG EQUIPMENT!

Find it fast at 04/2012-18522

ronsauer@shaw.ca

18552_02 PCC_C4C_JohnLee_AEF.indd 1

4/19/12 9:07 AM

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JULY 16, 2012

Ranchers and corporations team up to save water Beer-water ratio } MillerCoors wants customers —

and malt barley growers — to have enough moisture tems that hold water and reduce erosion to installing high-tech monitoring stations in pastures.

By Carey Gillam

Blooming Grove, Texas/Reuters

attle rancher Gary Price knows what it is like to worry about water. With 2,500 acres of rough rangeland situated about an hour south of Dallas, Price relies on rain-fed soils to provide the hearty grass forage he needs to fatten his cattle. “Ranching is really mostly about water and grass. So you’ve got to look at ways to control water,” Price said in an interview at his 77 Ranch, where temperatures over 100 degrees drive his cattle into the shade every day and have spurred swarms of hungry grasshoppers. A recent stretch of devastating drought in Texas and fears of ongoing water scarcity across many parts of the United States are pushing Price and others in ranching and farming into new frontiers of water conservation. In Price’s case, that means teaming up with a corporate partner, water-thirsty MillerCoors Brewing Co. The secondlargest U.S. brewer has been helping him build fences for new grazing rotations and plant native prairie grasses that grow thick, retain rainwater and limit runoff. Corporate America’s concerns about water availability are not new, but of late they are growing. With that in mind, public and private interests working on water conservation have started pushing partnerships with farmers and ranchers to protect water quantity and quality. “It is not going to be one organization or one company or one government that is going to solve this problem. It is going to take all of us collectively,” said Kim Marotta, MillerCoors director of sustainability.

Partners

MillerCoors acted after an internal assessment showed that three of its eight U.S. breweries, including one in Fort Worth, Texas, faced potential water shortages. The company is working on water conservation at its breweries, but also is identifying large agricultural water

Changed crop mix

Cattle rancher Gary Price watches his herd as they seek shade in 103 F degree heat on his ranch in Blooming Grove, Texas June 23, 2012. A recent stretch of devastating drought in Texas and fears of ongoing water scarcity across many parts of the United States are pushing Price and others in ranching and farming into new frontiers of water conservation. Photo: Carey Gillam users near its breweries and asking to partner with them on conservation. “We’re just starting that work,” Marotta said. “You have to start farm-by-farm.” The moves come as water gains stature as an critical asset, a must-have resource that everyone from farmers to investment fund managers need to control. At MillerCoors, for example, it takes about four gallons of water to make one gallon of beer. The Texas efforts follow the 2011 drought that cost state agriculture more than $7 billion in losses. Last year was the driest year in state history. While some parts of Texas have since received

rain, the drought appears to be spreading to the U.S. Midwest and to parts of the southern Plains again as scorching heat and cloudless skies burn up crops and pasture. “You have to do more with less,” said Ken Klaveness, executive director of Trinity Waters, a non-profit conservation group focused on the 512-milelong Trinity River, which supports water needs for over 40 per cent of Texans. “If you want your business to be here 15 to 20 years from now, you need to be proactive,” Klaveness said. Projects with farmers can range from planting of grasses with deeper root sys-

“It is not going to be one organization or one company or one government that is going to solve this problem.” Kim Marotta MillerCoors

Farmers are being asked to change irrigation techniques and equipment and plant a mix of different crops. Ranchers are asked to alter the ways they rotate their cattle grazing. MillerCoors is also working with 800 barley farmers in Idaho to alter their irrigation practices in ways that use less water. MillerCoors will not disclose how much it is spending, but Marotta said the effort was a high priority. Though he has long worked on ways to preserve water on his ranch, Price says creating a 40-acre wetland and planting more native grasses in recent years with the outside funding has helped make him better prepared for the Texas droughts. Three of Price’s pastures now sport large metal contraptions containing computers that monitor rainfall and runoff through varying types of grass. Though results are not yet in, the hope is that scientists monitoring the results will be able to determine which grasses are most effective and approximately how much water they help prevent from running off. Price also has new fencing and a showcase variety of the water-trapping native prairie grasses. The grasses grow so thick and lush even with scarce rainfall that his pastures have a marked distinction from those of his nearby neighbours who have cultivated more typical bermuda grasses. By preventing erosion and runoff when it does rain, and holding more moisture in the soil, Price is improving his ability to feed his cattle without costly supplemental hay. He is also reducing sediment contamination of nearby streams. Klaveness said many other landowners are moving to make similar improvements on their lands, including more than 100 who have applied for government grants for the work. “We have over 200,000 acres of landowner interest we are getting ready to mobilize,” he said. “The water we have is finite. We can’t make more.”

That’s just over one sheep per minute shear champion } South Dakotan tops with six in six Calgary Stampede release

fter previously winning every other major competition on the continent, Tony Troendle has finally laid claim to the Calgary Stampede North American Sheep Shearing Challenge championship. Troendle, of Lead, South Dakota., knocked off fellow American Hilary Gietzen of Minot, South Dakota in the open-division final. “It’s indescribable. It feels really, really good to win Calgary,” said Troendle,, who began competing at

the Stampede in 2006, and was runner-up in each of the past two years. Troendle sheared six sheep in six minutes, 29 seconds, compared to Gietzen’s seven minutes and 39 seconds, and with the judged portion of the competition a virtual saw-off, came out ahead with a total of 46.95 points, compared to Gietzen’s 49.28. Troendle takes home $2,000 and a Limited Edition Calgary Stampede Centennial Commemorative Pendleton Wool Blanket, while Gietzen collects $1,000.

In the intermediate final, Matt Breakey of Bragg Creek, defeated Clive Reynolds of Airdrie — shearing two sheep in four minutes, 11 seconds, compared to Reynolds’ time of 4:55, and coming out ahead with a total of 42.05 points to Reynolds’ 47.75. The Australian team, consisting of Pora and Steve Mudford, won the International Team Challenge over second-place Canada and the third-place United States. Australia scored 87.81 points, while Canada totaled 111.82 and the U.S. ended up with 113.29.

Tony Troendle sheared six sheep in six minutes 29 seconds.

 IMPACTED

JULY 16, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

RUSSIAN FLOODS HIT EXPORTS Floods that hit Russia’s Black Sea coast have wrought chaos on major road and rail links to its main grain export outlet, but stocks at the port of Novorossiisk are high and may delay any impact on exports, traders and analysts said last week. Russian Railways said it had halted rail traffic to the port of Novorossiisk to repair a bridge southwest of Krymsk, the town hardest hit when floodwaters came crashing down suddenly in the early hours of July 7, killing at least 171 people. — Reuters

STRONG EL NINO POSSIBILITY Japan’s weather bureau said last Tuesday its climate models indicate there is a strong possibility the El Nino weather pattern, which is often linked to heavy rainfall and droughts, will emerge this summer. The Japan Meteorological Agency changed the language in its monthly assessment of the six-month outlook for El Nino that it used in June, when it said it was more likely that normal weather patterns would prevail in Asia through to December.”The chances are now high that the El Nino weather phenomenon will emerge in the summer,” the agency said in a statement on its website. — Reuters

Will we dodge the heat the U.S. is seeing? SMASHED  Records are being broken for the most

consecutive days with highs of 100 F and up

Some views of current dust conditions at Colby in northwestern Kansas, about 360 km east of Denver, are reminiscent of the 1930s Dust Bowl. SUPPLIED PHOTOS

BY DANIEL BEZTE

hen trying to come up with ideas to write about, it always seems a good idea to create a series of articles, such as the one I have been working on about severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. For those of you who routinely follow these articles you are expecting an article about how tornadoes are formed. As much as I’d like to share that article with you this issue, sometimes Mother Nature leads with a headline I just can’t refuse. Thunderstorms and tornadoes will have to take a sideline for this issue and instead we’ll take a look at the historic heat wave that has ravaged much of the central and eastern U.S. So far this summer across the Canadian Prairies has been warm and fairly dry and in some places people have been talking about how warm it has been. Fortunately for us, at least until press time last week, we have missed out on the big heat that has been occurring south of the border. After seeing some of the images and looking at all of the records broken, I am glad we’ve been able to dodge this record-setting heat wave — at least so far.

Started early

Over much of the central and eastern U.S., what’s becoming an unprecedented heat wave has been occurring. What makes this heat wave fairly disturbing is the fact that most of it occurred in June. To put things into perspective, the big recordsetting heat wave everyone uses for comparisons occurred back in 1936. That heat wave started during June in the U.S., then spread northward during July, setting all-time heat records that until this year have yet to be touched. But touched they have been! According to the Weather Underground, in June 2012, 11 per cent

of the 777 U.S. weather stations with a period of record of a century or more broke or tied their all-time heat records for the month of June. Only 1936 (when 13 per cent of June records were broken or tied) and 1988 (12.5 per cent) had greater numbers of all-time monthly June records broken. So June 1936 had more records broken, but over a much shorter period of time; also, the records being broken this year were the ones set in either 1936 or 1988. Not only have there been a lot of all-time June heat records set this year, but a number of these records also broke the all-time yearly heat record — again, something almost unheard of during the month of June! Hot days and record-breaking hot days are not unexpected or something to get excited about, since they happen once or twice every year. What has been unusual about this heat wave is the consecutive number of days places are reporting temperatures over 100 F (38 C). The city of St. Louis hit these triple-digit values for 13 days in a row starting June 27. This streak is now the third longest in their history. Pueblo, Colorado reached 101 F (38.3 C) on July 4, which brought the number of consecutive days with high temperatures of 100 F or higher to a recordhigh 13 days as well. Finally, Chicago saw three consecutive days with a temperature of 100 F or hotter, which tied the record for most consecutive 100 F days, set back in 1936. I have included a couple of pictures of from the Colby, Kansas region. If they don’t remind you of the 1930s Dust Bowl, I don’t know what will. I guess the big question on most people’s minds is whether this heat will build northward or not. So far, the weather models show some fairly significant heat building over the Canadian Prairies over the next couple of weeks, but other than a typical summer heat wave, it is not currently looking like we’ll be pushing all-time record highs. Let’s hope this forecast holds true!

For this issue I’ve decided to break from the usual precipitation-based map and instead show you a graph of the mean temperatures over the last year. I checked out the graphs for several locations across Alberta and they all had a fairly similar pattern so I decide to pick a place from right in the middle of the province — Red Deer. Looking at the centre graph you can really see just how warm it was over the winter and how much of May and early June were a little cooler than average. While most of June and July have seen above-average temperatures, these are nothing compared to the winter. Just imagine what it would be like if we saw temperatures during the summer as much above average as we saw over the winter!