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MEET IN THE MIDDLE Event fosters meaningful dialogue about food

Technology

Business

Production

Farm Life

Heated apparel warms winter work

Get a grip on new tax rules

Strip tillage helps boost corn yield

Award winning ranchers carve space in niche market

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FARM FORUM / JANUARY 2019

CONTENTS

COVER STORY

Event fosters meaningful dialogue about food /10 FEATURES

BUSINESS

PRODUCTION

Editor's Note / 4 Ag leaders talk tech and food at global forum / 7 Local grocers adapt to new buying habits / 14

Make soil and root health a priority / 26

Get a grip on new tax rules / 5

Strip tillage helps boost corn yield / 16

FARM LIFE

TECHNOLOGY

Award winning ranchers carve space in niche market / 20

Heated apparel warms winter work / 24

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EDITOR’S NOTE

PUBLISHER Bayer CropScience Inc. EDITOR Sherry Warner

FA R M FO R U M .C A / JANUARY 2 019

DESIGN/PRODUCTION Glacier FarmMedia LP Farm Forum is published seasonally by Bayer CropScience Inc. CONTACT FARM FORUM AT: Bayer CropScience Inc. Suite 130 160 Quarry Park Blvd. SE Calgary, AB T2C 3G3 T. 1 888-283-6847 F. 1 888-570-9378 E. farmforum@bayer.com www.cropscience.bayer.ca Contents of this publication are copyrighted and may be reproduced only with written permission of the publisher, Bayer CropScience Inc. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. Publications Mail Agreement Number 40743517 Registered in Canada Copyright 2019 WEBSITE www.farmforum.ca Return undeliverable copies to: Bayer CropScience Inc. Suite 130 160 Quarry Park Blvd. SE Calgary, AB T2C 3G3

PHOTO: TODD KOROL

ith all the food celebrities, bloggers and authors of diet and nutrition books touting their particular philosophy on food, it’s hard to know what to eat. With this in mind it’s more important than ever for the ag industry to build and maintain people’s trust, if it’s going to thrive. But just how do you do that when there is so much conflicting information out there? One event that aims to help build public trust in agriculture is the subject of this issue’s cover story. Meet in the Middle is an annual event that brings consumers and food producers together to share their perspectives on food while dining on locally sourced food and drink. The purpose, says Terry Andryo, a representative with ATB Financial and event organizer, is to ratchet down the stories people hear on mass media and allow face-to-face conversations. To read more turn to Page 10. With this emphasis on healthy eating, people’s buying habits are changing and grocery stores have had to adapt. Next time you’re shopping at your local grocery store, notice how much more fresh fruits, vegetables and meats are available, especially freshly prepared meals you heat and serve as well as fresh meal kits that include portioned ingredients that you put together and cook at home. Turn to page 14 to find out what other changes are coming. Just as people want healthy, safe food, they are willing to pay a little more for quality. And BC ranchers, Tyler McNaughton and Sacha Bentall, are counting on it. The 2018 OYF award winners for the BC/Yukon region have created a nice little niche market for their “ethically raised” meats. Find out more about these outstanding young farmers on Page 20. Rounding out this issue is a story on new tax rules and how they’ll impact your farming operation (Page 5); a conversation with Liam Condon, president of Bayer’s Crop Science Division, at Fortune Magazine’s Global Forum last October in Toronto, ON (Page 7); a newer technique for planting corn, called strip tillage, that allows you to reduce tillage without compromising yield (Page 16); and at a look at what’s on the market for heated clothing, a must have for any Canadian farmer. (Page 24) — Sherry

CONTRIBUTORS Trevor Bacque Jennifer Barber Toban Dyck Joy Gregory Todd Korol Gerald Pilger Clare Stanfield

ON THE COVER Meet in the Middle is an annual event that brings consumers and food producers together to share their perspectives on food over a meal of Alberta produced food and drink.

BUSINESS

Get a grip on new tax rules BY CLARE STANFIELD

ometimes it seems as if the Canadian tax code was designed deliberately to confuse — with its many boutique tax credits that have been created and axed multiple times over the past few years. How’s a person to keep up? Still, that’s mere child’s play when compared to figuring out some of the newer tax rules that affect the way farm businesses manage their returns, including the tax on split income (TOSI), capital cost allowances and investment income limits and much, much more. Rob Strilchuk, a partner with MNP’s tax and agricultural services, says you’re not alone if you find these rules confusing.

Even he finds this stuff confusing and he’s a CPA. Strilchuk is also a farmer, working in partnership with his two brothers on the family’s 115-year-old farm near Round Hill, AB. “As soon as I’ve finished the tax season, I go seed,” he says. That dual role — farmer and tax planner — means Strilchuk truly understands what farmers are grappling with when it comes to preparing tax returns and, as the 2018 tax deadline looms, has some thoughts about what you should keep in mind. TOSI changes things — a lot “We often see the family farm structured in such a way that everyone in the family

makes some money,” says Strilchuk. “Like kids in post-secondary school — they used to call it the ‘farmer RESP’ where you’d just roll some family farm corporation shares to the kids so they’d have an income when the shares were bought back. We don’t have that way to split income anymore.” It’s a tricky situation now since some family members who work off-farm or go to school also work part-time or seasonally on the farm, and there are ways to structure your business so that income paid to working family members is based on their contribution, and not subject to TOSI. Having said that, TOSI rules differ for people aged 18 to 24 and those who are »

FA R MFOR UM.CA / JA N UA RY 2019

BUSINESS

25 and over, so Strilchuk warns that you need to firmly “dot the i’s and cross the t’s” if you’re planning to sprinkle income to family members. “The age category from 18 to 24, and dividends paid to people who don’t work on the farm, will be scrutinized more.”

“Some people are very aggressive with expenses like writing off expensive vehicles when they’re not used 100 per cent for farm business. There are GST and tax concerns with things like that — and it exposes them to risk” Rob Strilchuk PARTNER MNP TAX AND AGRICULTURAL SERVICES

Accelerated depreciation can bite you The new Accelerated Investment Incentive (AII) announced in December has a lot of farmers excited since it allows you to write off 45 per cent of the cost of equipment purchases in the first year — tripling the previous 15 per cent limit. Makes you want to go out and buy a new tractor, right? Before you rush out to the dealer, maybe have an honest think about what your business actually needs. If it is that tractor, great. But if you’re just after the write off, you could be hamstringing yourself. “What a lot of people don’t realize is buying a new piece of equipment ties up their capital — they still have to pay for it,” says Strilchuk. So if you have other important demands on your capital, perhaps new iron isn’t the best way to go, despite the longing you feel deep inside. “You have to be in a financial position to do it,” he says, adding that the AII is a great tool if you have a spike in income and you want somewhere to spend the cash and reduce your immediate tax burden. You set the tone on investment income. The 2018 tax year is your chance to set your benchmark for 2019’s passive investment income limit for your farm company. This gets back to rule changes around passive investment within corporations first floated in the summer of 2017, subsequently revised, and now applicable to 2019 fiscal periods and forward. “We know your company may have some investment income every year and $50,000 is the maximum allowable limit before there’s an impact on your annual $500,000 small business deduction,” says Strilchuk. “But your limit is based on the prior year’s investment and 2018 is going to determine the limit you have for 2019.” Don’t be too aggressive, but don’t be cavalier, either Sometimes, it’s the little things when it comes to managing your tax bill. “Some people are very aggressive with expenses like writing off expensive vehicles when they’re not used 100 per cent for farm business,” says Strilchuk. There are GST and

FA R M FO R U M .C A / JANAU RY 2 019

tax concerns with things like that — and it exposes them to risk.” By the same token, he has seen many instances when farmers write off items that could be capitalized, like GPS equipment (because hey, it’s out of date already), or overlooking business-related expenses that can be fully deducted (leases, for example), but then not claiming back the GST. “Say you’re renting three large grain bins for three years and that costs you $75,000 over that period,” says Strilchuk. “You can claim back the $3,750 in GST on the lease payments, which is significant and often missed.” Low interest rates are still interest rates Not directly related to your tax bill but just as important to cash flow and income are interest rates, which, while still historically low, are rising. “If you’re looking at taking on new debt or refinancing debt, that has to come into play,” says Strilchuk. “Interest rates are one per cent higher than they were a year and a half ago, and may be another one per cent higher by this time next year,” he says. “That’s a 50 per cent increase in the overall interest rate in a twoand-a-half year period.” For those who brush it off thinking interest rates are still cheap, Strilchuk has an analogy for you. “If you pull up to the pumps today and diesel is $1 per litre, and next year it’s $1.80 a litre, you’d notice that kind of increase on your wallet. It’s the same with interest. Better take note of how much debt you’re trying to service because the banks are noticing,” he says. “Interest can become a very large part of debt servicing very quickly with how much farmers have borrowed for land and machinery.” Consider professional help There’s nothing wrong with using accounting software to get your taxes done on your own, but keep in mind that tax rules for farms are complex and highly specific. The Livestock Tax Deferral provision, for example, applies only to breeding stock and is county or municipality specific. Does the software know if you’re in such a county? “I don’t want to make light of how costly professional fees are,” says Strilchuk. “But if you think you’re saving fees, you’re also exposing yourself to risk, or missing opportunities.” FF

PRODUCTION

Ag leaders talk tech and food at global forum BY TOBAN DYCK

found myself somewhere I didn’t belong. I felt like a child who had snuck out of his room to hear what the adults were talking about. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s security detail, which included one dog, gave me and my camera bag the green light to enter the room. My initial thoughts were that this was not an event for farmers or those working in the ag industry. But I was wrong. Instead, I realized that while this particular event was largely city-centric, it covered issues that farmers know well. It addressed challenges that farmers understand. And it again reminded me of how much farmers know about how this world works — global trade, domestic consumption, world politics, environmental trends and all the dynamic muck in between.

“I wonder what the median salary is in this room?” asked the journalist sitting beside me. The answer I gave was way too low and exposed just how little I know of the people I was now observing. I was at the Fortune Global Forum in Toronto, which ran from October 15 to 17 last year. Facilitated by the editors of Fortune Magazine, the by-invite-only event brought together the leaders of the world’s Fortune 500 companies for a few days of networking and workshops. It was slick. Quite slick. Between me and the stage was a rope, a collection of office chairs and coffee tables for attendees to gather around — donated by renowned furniture designer, Herman Miller — and a lot of very well-dressed men and women.

Liam Condon, president of Bayer’s Crop Science division, was at the event as a panelist alongside Murad Al-Katib, AGT Food and Ingredients’ CEO and Carla Vernon, president of General Mills Natural & Organic Operating Unit, in a workshop called Feeding the World. This session was my reason for being there. I would take it in and then chat one-on-one with Condon in the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel while sitting on a Herman Miller sectional. But context is important. Condon’s session and my subsequent chat with him took place at the end of the conference — after I had sat in on a session about the trade war between China and the U.S., heard a talk given by Justin Trudeau and visited two farming operations in southern Ontario — and moments before my flight home. »

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PRODUCTION

Fortune Global Forum’s Feeding the World session moderator, Beth Kowitt, senior editor, Fortune (right), talks with (L to R): Carla Vernon, president of General Mills Natural & Organic Operating Unit, Liam Condon, president, Bayer’s Crop Science Division and Murad Al-Katib, AGT Food and Ingredients’ CEO. Below, Liam Condon talks with journalist Toban Dyck.

“I think we, as an industry, have made great strides on nutritional labelling. I think, particularly with digitalization, we can do a lot more to trace what is actually happening on the farm right through to what consumers are eating. But many still believe that science and food don’t belong together and that’s something we need to address” Liam Condon PRESIDENT BAYER’S CROPSCIENCE DIVISION

FA R M FO R U M .C A / JANUARY 2 019

China is not taking the hit the U.S. thinks it is, according to one session I attended. Other countries shipping products to China for assembly and export are the ones suffering. I also learned that the most affected in this trade war are multinational companies, many of which are headquartered in the U.S. Trudeau spoke briefly on the newly negotiated free-trade deal and about Canada’s desire to stay competitive, globally. The day after that, I rented a small sedan and left busy downtown Toronto to visit a couple farming operations. The fresh air felt great. Greg Hannam of Woodrill Ltd. spoke to Condon and a small entourage about his multi-faceted operation and how he hopes the level of service his company is used to receiving from Monsanto continues under Bayer. Assurances were given. The other farm — one in the throes of harvesting soybeans — was a chance for those of us on the tour to see Bayer technology in action. The farm owner was using the Climate FieldView platform in the cab of his combine to monitor and collect data on yields, varieties, crop types and much, much more. There was a FieldView representative

on the tour. I chatted with her about possibly implementing the program on my farm. It’s possible. Most things are possible. But making the investment has to make sense on a per-acre basis for farmers. It did for this farmer. He loves it. The program makes data collection on his operation accessible, shareable and useable. He was bound to say something positive — the soybeans he was harvesting were yielding north of 70 bushels per acre. The day was a fitting lead-up to the Feeding the World workshop, slated for the last morning of the conference. (I couldn’t get the high-yielding soys out of my mind and I kept thinking about outfitting our tractors with tech needed to run FieldView — restless night.) “You just acquired Monsanto and that is a dirty word for many consumers. Did that come up for you when you were looking at that deal?” asked the session facilitator. “We didn’t do the deal because of the reputation of Monsanto,” Condon said. “It was more related to the company’s portfolio and its people. At the end of the day, food is a highly emotional product. It’s consumed every day and people want to get a sense that it is wholesome and that nobody has played around with it. “Ideally, it should also be produced in a way that doesn’t harm the planet. There is an ideology out there that nature will produce the best food. Reality is,

mankind has always, through agricultural practices, developed food in interesting ways,” explains Condon. “Science allows us to do things in a much more targeted manner. But, as we do that, we have to be careful that we take consumers with us. Technology is far more advanced than consumer acceptance. What we need to do is invest much more time in explaining what some of the benefits are with some technologies.” The workshop bent towards organic production more than once. Carla Vernon is head of General Mills’ natural and organic division and spoke of the company’s efforts to service a consumer base that wants its food to be as natural as possible. “We consider this form of returning to some of our old practices a form of innovation that we’re very excited about,” she said. “I agree with you,” said Al-Katib. “But I think technology will allow us not to rely on the throwback.” He says that when he looks at the overall food trends, he sees a strong focus on “clean” labelling and that technology has a role to play here. “With the utilization of the satellite industry, the Internet of things, the ability to collect data, and then synthesize it, we have the ability to give consumers a truly traceable product.” The purpose of the session was to discuss the important role technology will play in feeding a growing population. “Every consumer wants to eat food

that is good for them, but also good for the planet,” said Condon. “I think we, as an industry, have made great strides on nutritional labelling. I think, particularly with digitalization, we can do a lot more to trace what is actually happening on the farm right through to what consumers are eating. But many still believe that science and food don’t belong together and that’s something we need to address.” Condon had a flight to catch. So did I. We didn’t have much time following the session. I wanted to know if Bayer’s purchase of Monsanto would change anything at the farm level. “In the short term, there will be no change,” he said. “They should expect the same quality service, the same quality products. And, as we integrate, farmers should notice things getting better. We’ll have more data through which farmers will be able to make smarter decisions.” I no longer felt like I didn’t belong. “Hey. Finally. This is your time,” said a journalist colleague of mine as she was leaving the room before the ag workshop began. “This one is for you.” It’s hard to know what a group of Fortune 500 CEOs will do with the information. But it’s clear that agriculture is starting to become a priority in places it previously had no place. People are starting to pay attention to it. And that’s a good thing. FF

FA R MFOR UM.CA / JA N UA RY 2019

COVER STORY

Event fosters meaningful dialogue about food

hat do you get when you mix 60 city slickers and 60 agriculture folks in a barn for the night? A rip-roaring good time, believe it or not! Meet in the Middle (MITM) is an annual event entering its third year with the express interest to build relationships and trust between urban and rural people. The one-night gathering of Alberta’s food industry, from both sides of the city limits, convenes at the Willow Lane Barn near Olds, AB. The goal is simple: Have people from different walks of life talk about food and their values surrounding it while seated around a long table, eating and drinking from an all-Alberta gourmet menu. Terry Andryo is the head organizer with ATB Financial and describes the event as a platform where people can share ideas in a

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comfortable atmosphere. “We need more consumers at the table and our purpose is to listen, not to push propaganda down their throats,” he says. The event grew out of the bank’s A Seat at our Table initiative, a four-way partnership with other like-minded Alberta groups, to foster discussion and appreciation of food production. Event organizers hand-pick people from both sides of the coin — from organic, nonGMO enthusiasts to conventional farmers who use crop protection products and have a strong business approach to their farm or ranch. “We’re looking for youth, squeaky wheels, people with voices, people with clout on social media. We need them there for different perspectives, or hear where they’re getting their information,” says »

PHOTOS: TODD KOROL

Meet in the Middle is an annual event that brings consumers and food producers to the table (literally) to eat and drink from an all-Alberta menu and share their perspectives on food | BY TREVOR BACQUE

FA R MFOR UM.CA / JA N UA RY 2019

COVER STORY

Andryo. “We can’t have everybody agreeing and nodding or we accomplish nothing.” The event format makes certain everyone has ongoing dialogue by strategically seating people with different viewpoints together to produce meaningful conversation. The entire event aims to underscore farming’s importance. “We get people out to a farm because everything they hear scares them and fear sells. The big purpose is to ratchet down the stories they hear on mass media,” says Andryo, adding that by having face-to-face conversations, true connections and trust are forged. “Lots of millennials are missing components of human connectivity; they’re so connected to devices. (With MITM) you’ll get an honest reaction because it’s not a prepared statement or speech. This is me and you talking,” he says. “It’s unscripted and it will bring a lot of honesty and true impressions from people. That’s how we see these long table events.” The venue, Willow Lane Barn, perfectly sets the mood so everyone can disconnect and relax for the evening. People have wide-ranging conversations, depending on their background or career, and usually walk away with one or two nuggets that resonate, such as the farmer who held up one bushel of malt barley and explained how much beer it produces and his profitto-production ratio versus the average cost of a six pack. As far as changing perceptions of agriculture and food production, Andryo knows that’s the long play, yet the research ATB has conducted around the event determined most people are aligned when it comes to their overall values. People want food that’s accessible, affordable and safe, Andryo says. That was the message from information gathered through social media, which included comments from people from all ages and walks of life. Andryo believes urbanites would benefit from learning more about food production and he’s been pleasantly surprised by the number of city dwellers who are supportive of the industry. Ultimately, changing consumer perceptions is a long game, and it may be years before there is a shift in purchasing trends, a potential signal that events like MITM are turning the tide and building public trust in agriculture. Lauren Davis, Bayer’s marketing communications manager for Canada, says he recalls being both excited and 12

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inspired by the engagement and format of MITM. “You get to chat with someone in a completely different space than you. I sat beside an organic food blogger on the bus ride after the event. I think it was eye opening for both of us,” says Davis. “Where else would I be able to sit and have an hourlong conversation with a person who has a completely different viewpoint, vantage point or background to what I have?” Davis also recalls hearing from an urbanite who spends her time rescuing orphan tree fruit with the purpose of feeding less fortunate individuals. “At the end of the day she cares about feeding people, she just goes about it in a different way than our farmers.” To learn more about the next MITM, taking place on Canada’s Agriculture Day, February 12, 2019, visit www.aseatatourtable.com. FF

FA R MFOR UM.CA / JA N UA RY 201 9

BUSINESS

Local grocers adapt to new buying habits BY JENNIFER BARBER

ver the past decade, consumers have made significant changes to the type of food they buy and where they buy it. In response, traditional grocery stores have made a number of mergers and acquisitions and changed up their product offering in order to compete in this new landscape. “The story about consolidation in the grocery (industry) is that it is continuing,” says John Scott, board chair of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute. “There were some big mergers in traditional grocery stores in recent years, and they are still struggling to find the kind of success they had in the past because people simply don’t buy all their food in one place anymore.” One of the big changes consumers will notice in their local grocery stores is that the middle of the store is getting smaller due to shifts in buying patterns. “Consumers now treat packaged goods like a commodity,” says Scott. “For consumers, it’s all about price when it comes to packaged goods. Because of this, people are moving to discount stores for their centre aisle purchases.” Just over 50 per cent of all packaged goods are purchased at discount stores like Wal-Mart, Costco or Real Canadian Superstore, says Scott. To reduce the risk of stocking too many products that fail to move off the shelf, traditional grocery stores will typically sell the top-two product brands together with a premium and a lower priced private label (store brand). While this might reduce options, Scott says consumers aren’t looking for variety as much as they are considering price.

FRESH AND READY Despite this change in how space is used, grocery stores aren’t suddenly becoming smaller — they are simply reallocating that space to prepared foods, fresh fruit, 14

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“Online retailing is definitely coming and grocery stores need to be careful not to walk away from this piece of the business. But, they have to figure out how to deliver fresh food safely and efficiently” John Scott BOARD CHAIR, CANADIAN AGRI-FOOD POLICY INSTITUTE

vegetables and meats. “This works particularly well in a country like Canada, which draws from many cultures and culinary experiences, so different cooking habits become integrated into our stores,” says Scott. “You see a richness in the fresh food sector in Canada that you aren’t likely to see in other parts of the world.” The recent rise in demand for freshly prepared foods is also influencing what’s on grocery shelves. Not only will you find freshly prepared meals that you just heat and serve at home, you’ll also find fresh meal kits that include correctly portioned ingredients that you put together and cook at home. Despite what you might have heard, says Scott, consumers are willing to cook, but are pushing convenience as a motivating factor in their purchase decisions. “Anybody who is meeting that demand for fresh food and freshly prepared food is generally doing okay in the retail grocery industry,” he says. “Stores are able to turn over their products and make money. It’s those in the traditional market attempting to sell lots of packaged foods at a premium price that are being left behind.” In order to address changes in consumer demand, some mainstream grocery stores are consolidating their business with smaller, niche grocers that meet those needs. In Canada, Sobeys purchased Farm Boy, a leader in fresh prepared food in Eastern Canada. Loblaws partnered with T&T Foods in order to meet the needs of its Asian clientele. In the U.S., Amazon purchased Whole Foods in order to meet online demand for high-quality fresh foods. It’s different in Canada where, even though the retail grocery industry is worth $120 billion, currently less than a single percentage point goes to online sales. Scott says that retailers still have time to figure out the online marketplace, because until

the delivery portion of that business meets consumer demand for convenience, it won’t be a replacement for bricks and mortar stores. “Online retailing is definitely coming, and grocery stores need to be careful not to walk away from this piece of the business. But they have to figure out how to deliver fresh food safely and efficiently,” he says. “Retailers are currently looking at different robotic systems that will allow for faster delivery but we still need to figure out what to do with food when it gets to the front door.” WHAT’S IN IT? It wasn’t that long ago that labelling was the dominant issue in food sales, but that focus has shifted. While consumers still demand answers about what’s in their food, it is less of a concern in packaged food where volume and price tends to drive sales. But for other fresh and freshly prepared food, knowing what’s in it is critical. “People will look at a product and if they don’t know what’s in it, they will immediately pick up their phone to get answers,” says Scott. “If they can’t find an answer, then they will just as quickly move on. It is critical for everyone to be transparent if they want to retain customer loyalty.” Not only does information need to be readily available, it has to be trustworthy. “If consumers don’t trust the source, they won’t believe what they are reading,” he says. “For example with meat, consumers want to know where it’s from, what that animal was fed, what its living conditions were like and how it was treated right up to and including slaughter. They need to see the whole picture before they will decide whether or not a product is trustworthy.” Food produced by Canadian farmers tends to be thought of as more trustworthy

in the eyes of many Canadian consumers, which works to the benefit of primary producers in this country. In the past, farmers’ responsibility ended when they delivered to their client, but it’s not that way anymore, says Scott. To better market themselves, producers have to make sure they have information readily available for all they grow or produce. Price is important but not for much of what people are buying these days, says Scott. “In the end it all comes down to trust. If consumers know what’s in the food, where it’s from and who is behind it, you’ve gone a long way to earning their trust. Transparency is the bottom line as it is what creates trust and it is the biggest thing consumers are looking for. Transparency isn’t nice to have — it’s a must have in today’s food market.” FF

Bayer brings transparency to crop science Bayer understands that today’s consumers are more interested than ever in where their food comes from and how it’s produced. In order to remove barriers to information for its customers and the general public, Bayer has launched its Transparency in Crop Science website. The site provides access to research results for different active ingredients, information on regulatory processes, background on different agricultural issues and research-related news. To learn more visit cropscience-transparency.bayer.com.

FA R MFOR UM.CA / JA N UA RY 2019

PRODUCTON

STRIP TILLAGE HELPS BOOST CORN YIELD BY GERALD PILGER

hen it comes to seedbed preparation, “corn is very finicky,” says Ben Rosser, corn specialist with Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). Ontario farmers find that minimizing tillage, which can leave cold, wet soil at planting, often results in lower corn yields. But, by using a newer technique, strip tillage, farmers can reduce tillage without compromising yield. Strip tillage involves working a narrow eight- to 10-inch strip where the corn row will be planted. So in typical 30-inch corn row spacing, one-third or less of the soil surface is disturbed under strip tillage — a happy medium between no till and conventional tillage. “Growers can plant into a blackened strip while most of the field remains undisturbed,” says Rosser, adding that the tilled strip reduces the problem of seeding into the residue from the previous crop, reduces soil-borne disease and insect problems, warms up faster in the spring, and dries faster under wet conditions. At the same time, you reap the environmental, conservation and soil quality benefits of zero tillage on the majority of the field.

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THE RESEARCH Over the past two decades, there have been lots of studies and trials comparing tillage systems, particularly in the U.S. Midwest. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have been comparing continuous and rotational corn yields under strip till, no till and conventional till since 2001. In a bulletin titled Strip-Tillage: How does it affect yield in Wisconsin?, which summarizes the results of this long-term study, Wisconsin corn agronomist Joe Lauer concluded that strip tillage can be used to overcome cool, wet soil in the spring and has the potential to protect soil from erosion with little impact on grain yield. (See table on Page 18) Jodi DeJong-Hughes with the University of Minnesota, and Aaron Daigh from North Dakota State University, have also collaborated on multi-year studies of strip tilling and published a paper titled Reducing Tillage Intensity in 2017. This paper looks at the actual benefits of strip tillage including improved seedbed preparation, soil structure, soil erosion, soil organic matter and economics. Their work highlights the advantages of strip tillage by warming and drying soil

in the spring. They compared spring soil temperatures under four different tillage systems in Minnesota and North Dakota. They found average temperatures in the seed row at two inches deep were 5.5 C (42 F) for no till, 8.3 C (47 F) for vertical till, 10 C (50 F) for chisel plow, and 10.5 C (51 F) for strip till. They point out the higher temperatures under strip tillage promotes faster emergence and crop development. Soil moisture is similarly affected by tillage method. In the same study fields, soil moisture ranged from 32 per cent of capacity under no till, to 25 per cent under vertical till and 19 per cent under chisel plow. In the strip-tilled band, moisture was 18 per cent of capacity and 29 per cent between the tilled strips. This means under strip tillage, a grower has the dry soil needed for a good seedbed as well as the moisture reserves provided by the untilled area. ON THE FARM: FALL STRIP TILLAGE Ken Nixon of Ilderton, ON, grows corn, soybean and winter wheat in a three-year rotation on silt loam soil. He is a dedicated zero tiller; recognizing the benefits zero tillage provides in preserving organic

matter and improving the soil. However, more than a decade ago, he switched to fall strip tillage in fields going into corn. “We strive for 100-plus bushel winter wheat crops and no-till corn does not work well, given our heavy residue from the previous wheat crop and our wet, maritime climate,” says Nixon. “We can get 40 inches of precipitation a year so we need to get the soil dried up and warmed up.” With that much moisture, pests such as slugs and millipedes often thrive in heavy winter wheat residue and strip tillage helps keep them under control. In an average year, Nixon found no significant yield advantage under strip tillage. But, in extremely dry years, when saving moisture through reduced tillage is critical for crop success, his strip-tilled corn fields out-yielded conventionally tilled fields by 20 to 30 bushels per acre. “One drawback is that with high interrow residue, there’s a greater susceptibility to frost damage in the spring,” he says. Still, Nixon insists the corn yield achieved through strip tillage is more consistent under various growing conditions than the yield achieved under conventional tillage. Strip tillage provides other benefits as well. It allows Nixon to spread his

workload out so instead of rushing to complete field preparation in the spring, he prepares his field for seeding in the early fall, right after the winter wheat comes off and before his soybean harvest begins. So when other farmers are pulling out their tillage tools in the spring, Nixon is already pulling out his planter. Strip tillage also allows Nixon to apply much of his fertilizer in the fall. In fact, Nixon uses his strip tiller to apply half of three years’ requirement of phosphorous and potassium, mixing the product into the top few inches of the worked zone, thereby reducing the risk of phosphorus runoff into the environment. Fall fertilization also reduces the spring workload and he receives better service from his fertilizer supplier when applying outside the busy spring season. Most importantly, Nixon says strip tilling helps preserve organic matter, the holy grail of soil health. The coulter strip till machine Nixon uses actually divides the crop residue and moves it sideways onto the untilled strip where it decays naturally, rather than burying it by plowing or disking. The loosened, fluffed and blackened strip reflects not a loss of residue, but rather a planting zone cleared »

FA R MFOR UM.CA / JA N UA RY 201 9

PRODUCTON of residue that’s ideal for seeding corn. Nixon points out that strip tilling is a completely unique tillage system so anyone considering strip tilling needs to assess their entire cropping system including soil type, topography, typical moisture, field traffic and compaction, stubble height, amount of residue, equipment type and availability, guidance systems, weed control, and fertility practices. You need to design a system that will work for you and your farm. Of course, the bottom line is, well, the bottom line. “It comes down to the dollars left in my pocket,” says Nixon. “And on that basis I am very happy with strip tilling corn.” ON THE FARM: SPRING STRIP TILLAGE Jason Robinson grows corn, beans, and sweet corn on light, sandy soil near Courtland, ON, so erosion and drought are always a concern. To reduce these risks, Robinson switched to spring strip tillage eight years ago. He decided on a shank type tillage implement due to the sandy soil. He wanted a tiller that was easily adjustable for varying conditions and that would work in both corn and soybean residue. Robinson notes a number of advantages of strip tillage. He gets 18 to 22 more bushels per acre of corn compared to notill. It’s also greatly reduced his workload. Where conventional tillage required multiple passes to prepare the seedbed, fertilize and plant, he now needs but a single pass with the strip tiller to both prepare the seedbed and apply all the fertilizer needed for the crop. Robinson cautions that care must be taken to ensure the amount of fertilizer is mixed across the entire strip and that salt/ chloride levels are not too high. For him, RTK guidance is absolutely necessary to make sure the strips are straight. This tech can be advantageous on the planter too, although planters tend to follow the strip nicely on their own. For Robinson, the big advantage of strip tillage is early seeding. Instead of having to wait for a few days after conventional tillage for wet soil to dry out, Robinson says he can often plant the day after strip tilling. In dry springs, he has even planted on the same day the strip tilling was done. He says he’s tried strip tillage before on soybeans but finds 30-inch spacing 18

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to be too wide for that crop. Knowing the advantages, though, he’s considering twin row seeding, using seven-inch spacing, into the 10-inch strip-tilled band — meaning two rows of soybeans within each 10-inch wide strip. For that, RTK guidance on the planter will be very important. According to OMAFRA’s Ben Rosser, the percentage of strip-tilled acres in Ontario is still relatively small, but there is a lot of interest and the acres are growing. “We’re excited to see this growing interest and are continuing to do more research into the benefits of strip tillage in both corn and soybeans.” FF

“Strip tilling is a completely unique tillage system so anyone considering strip tilling needs to assess their entire cropping system … you need to design a system that will work for you and your farm” Ken Nixon CORN, SOYBEAN AND WINTER WHEAT GROWER, ILDERTON, ON

GRAIN YIELD Corn grain yield response to no-till, strip-till and conventional tillage systems. Data collected from 2008-2015 at Arlington, WI.

Source: Strip-Tillage: How does it affect yield in Wisconsin? Joe Lauer, Wisconsin Corn Agronomist, May 25, 2016.

HAVE A BREAK THROUGH SEASON All growers know one thing: there are no guarantees in the field. With unpredictable weather, infestations, or just bad luck, yields vary from year to year. But, with the #1 cereal seed treatment they don’t have to. That’s why we’re constantly innovating to continually protect your potential from everything that may come your way. Because when your seeds emerge stronger, so do you.

• EMERGE STRONGER • cropscience.bayer.ca/RaxilPRO

1 888-283-6847

@Bayer4CropsCA

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

#AskBayerCrop C-52-12/18-11070239-E

FARM LIFE

AWARD WINNING RANCHERS CARVE SPACE IN NICHE MARKET BY JENNIFER BARBER

“Probably our greatest success has been the ability to farm how we want to as a couple and to be successful in that venture,” says McNaughton. “We started from scratch a decade ago and we are still here, we are still growing and we have been able to maintain our commitment to how we want our animals to be raised.” As 2018 BC and Yukon region winners of the Outstanding Young Farmers’ Program award, Cutter Ranch has come a long way over the past 10 years. The couple started as a sheep operation in Clinton, BC on Bentall’s family farm before purchasing a quarter section of land in Fort Steele, BC, which is where they currently operate. The plan from the beginning was to raise high-quality meat in a low stress environment for the animals. Both raised in farming families, returning to the land was always in the cards. “We knew there was an increasing demand for locally produced meat with a high standard of animal husbandry,” says McNaughton. “As consumers, we were unable to find the types of products we were looking for so our goal was to fit into that niche market, which continues to expand every year.” Their pork is raised using mobile pastures that allows them to move the animals frequently across the land. They seed the pastureland, so the pigs can be moved to even marginal areas of the ranch. In 2016, the couple streamlined their pork production by phasing out farrowing and using purchased weaner pigs. The decision to focus on pork immediately paid off. In the first year, sales of their pasture-fed pork increased 219 per cent and in year two, sales increased a further 30 per cent. » 20

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PHOTO: ZOE FERGUSON

rom sheep, to pigs, poultry to cattle, Tyler McNaughton and Sacha Bentall of Cutter Ranch tried different types of animal production and have landed on a model that allows them to stay true to their farming philosophy — use their land wisely and produce products they are proud of.

FA R MFOR UM.CA / JA N UA RY 2019

PHOTO: ZOE FERGUSON

FARM LIFE

FA R M FO R U M .C A / JANUARY 2 019

At the same time, the couple decided to eliminate poultry production and move into cattle ranching. Bentall says that while there was a big demand for their chickens, they were unable to scale up that part of the business and still manage other areas of their enterprise, including sales. The operation is lean — McNaughton and Bentall run the business entirely on their own. With two children at home, resource management is critical. “There’s always a bit of trepidation when you shift from one type of animal production to another,” says Bentall. “You don’t want to give up on something you have worked hard to build and something you enjoy. But there is a satisfaction that comes from making good, forward-looking business decisions.” While they always raised a few cows, two years ago they chose to rent a neighbouring farm to pasture cattle, which allowed them to continue with their low-density

PHOTO: CUTTER RANCH PHOTO: JESS N PHOTO: KATHY WOLVERTON

production philosophy. They now maintain that additional farmland with 35 cows that they see from calving through finishing to make sure that the end product is what they themselves would choose to eat. “Raising cattle was something that both of us already knew how to do,” says Bentall. “The increased demand for beef made it a good business decision but there is also the pure enjoyment for us of getting back out on the range, and back to our farming roots.” The couple use the term “ethically raised,” when discussing how they choose to operate their ranch. For them, that means doing as much as they can to create a low-stress environment for their animals. McNaughton says this meets the demands of those who buy their products. “We give our animals as much freedom as possible,” says McNaughton. “They are raised 100 per cent outdoors in a very calm environment. It’s a system that is very easy for us to do and it is very gratifying that there are others out there who are looking for this type of system.” They continue to change the mix of animals on the ranch. In the summer of 2018 they decided to disperse their sheep flock and invest even further into pork production. “We only operate on a quartersection and our goal is to raise our animals without confinement,” says McNaughton. “Sheep require space and we were unable to grow our business and keep producing sheep in the manner which we would choose.” In the past they have worked with local schools to bring children to the farm to witness the lambing process. While a busy time of year for visitors, Bentall says she thinks it’s important for kids to see where their food comes from. “Lambing is fairly

gentle and is safe for children to be around,” says Bentall. “We want to inspire kids to get involved in ag and witnessing new life is a wonderful thing to see. We want to continue to work with kids in the future and are working with local teachers to see what that would look like going forward.” In terms of selling their product, McNaughton and Bentall set up shop at three or four farmer’s markets each week. They also sell directly to high-end restaurants and food service businesses. They’ve developed a modular and mobile fulfilment system that allows them to deliver frozen meats quickly, and which also allows them to scale up as demand increases. “Our market right now is definitely a niche market, and our customers are willing to pay a premium for animals raised the way we have chosen,” says McNaughton. “We are continuing to build our relationships with grocery stores in this area and we do hope to eventually move into bigger markets and see our logo in more places. Right now people hear about us through word of mouth, and we’ve been able to sell all we produce without having to take any other marketing approaches.” Bentall says that in the future, they want to be able to scale up even further and she says direct connections with their customers helps them do that. “Today we get immediate feedback, which can be challenging but it gives us a great opportunity to instantly respond to what our customers want. We are open minded as to what the future will be — we know there will be different advances in technology, environmental shifts or consumer trends. But we feel confident that we have hit on a successful formula and we are just now hitting our stride.” FF

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TECHNOLOGY

Heated apparel warms winter work BY JOY GREGORY

anadian dairy farmer Niels Kieftenburg loves his job. But during the winter, when the mercury dips well below zero and his work days begin and end in the cold and dark, this young dairyman is grateful for the technology he carries, quite literally, close to his chest. Three winters ago, Kieftenburg spent several months installing a robotics system in a very cold dairy barn. “It seemed like I was always cold,” he recalls. One day, his farmer-client told Kieftenburg about a jacket he wore when coaching hockey, one decked out with a battery pack that supplied heat to wires in the jacket. The farmer said his coat kept the arena chills at bay. Soon after that encounter, Kieftenburg saw a similar sweater on sale at a hardware store in Millbank, ON. Made by DeWalt, the same company that makes his favourite power tools, Kieftenburg brought one home. Now, working full-time on the family farm near Listowel, ON, about an hour’s drive northwest of Guelph, he’s glad he did. The electronic sweater can be machine-washed. But since it takes a bit more care, Kieftenburg typically wears it under a regular lightweight coat that’s more easily tossed into the washing machine. He uses the sweater’s medium and low settings when in the barn and bumps the control to high when working outside.

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Three winters in, Kieftenburg loves his sweater. He controls the heat with a button located inside the collar and says few notice the battery pack that sits near his hip. And he’s perfected its operation. “If you’re on high heat, you won’t get a day out of a 20 volt, 5-amp battery,” he says. “But if you’re on medium heat you can get a good day out of a small battery (12 volts) and a big battery would last two to three days on medium-to-low heat, no problem.” A quick Internet search shows the market for heated apparel clearly, a-hem, “heating up.” You can find virtually any item of clothing with heat devices woven into them. It’s no surprise that heated gloves and socks are very popular given that hands and feet are the first to get cold when outdoors. Heated gloves and socks, as well as other heated apparel, are available for men and women at many stores including Home Depot, Canadian Tire, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Mark’s and Cabela’s. Heated gloves range in price from about $50 to $400 while heated socks range from about $40 to $300. Usually, more expensive gloves earn higher consumer reviews, in part because they can be plugged into a car charger or the USB port on a computer. Items are easily searchable on each retailer’s website. Those serious about this new wave of cordless gear should check out The Warming Store (TWS) at www.thewarmingstore.com.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, the company shot to the top of Internet search lists after CNN’s Anderson Cooper talked about wearing TWS gear during a blustery New Year’s Eve event in 2017. The company ships to Canada and some of its products are also sold through other online stores. The TWS website lets buyers sort through online reviews for heated jackets, vests, hoodies, shirts, gloves, mittens, socks and insoles. The company even carries heated long johns. These “base layer” pants are made of a synthetic poly-spandex material that wicks moisture away from the skin. Back at his farm, Kieftenburg admits he’s thought about heated insoles. “But, since I wear insulated rubber boots all day, my feet stay pretty warm.” The one item he hasn’t seen, but thinks about is heated snow pants. It would be very nice to pull already-warm snow pants overtop of regular coveralls, he says. He also thinks heated apparel will catch on in the Canadian farm community. And he’s probably right. In an occupation where -15 C working conditions are as normal as robotic dairy barns, self-propelled combines and GPS-guided sprayers, items like heated gloves, socks, long johns and jackets simply make sense. FF

Apparel like DeWalt's Heavy Duty Heated Work Jacket is a smart addition to any farmer's winter wear arsenal.

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WHAT’S NEW WITH BAYER PRODUCTS

Make soil and root health a priority This is particularly true for potatoes, which are susceptible to many above and below ground threats during crop emergence such as early blight, root rot, nematodes, early die complex, Colorado potato beetle and aphids to name a few. To help guard potatoes through the critical early season period, Bayer offers a complete suite of seed treatment and in-furrow applied products.

Velum® Prime nematicide is making big news. It makes yield-robbing nematodes a thing of the past, and offers in-season disease protection to diseases like early blight, which contribute to early die complex in potatoes. It’s applied infurrow at planting with existing in-furrow equipment. Titan® Emesto® is the number one potato seed-piece treatment used by Canadian potato growers. The unique red formulation is easy to apply and see. It protects against the broadest spectrum of insects plus all major seed-borne diseases, including rhizoctonia and silver scurf. It also provides two modes of action against fusarium, even current resistant strains. Serenade® SOIL is a biological fungicide aimed at root and soil-borne diseases. Applied in-furrow, Serenade SOIL builds a disease protection zone around the roots that continues to grow with the plant. This means that potato roots stay healthy and productive in the face of pathogens like fusarium, phytophthora, pythium and rhizoctonia, which are the leading cause of many early diseases in potatoes.

Go to cropscience.bayer.ca to find out more about Bayer’s leading line of potato products – and get more from your crop this year.

FA R M FO R U M .C A / JANUARY 2 019

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

ast and even stand establishment is the goal for every crop you grow, and achieving that largely comes down to seed treatments. It’s not that weather, crop rotation, disease and insect cycles don’t have a role to play, but the reality is that disease inoculum and insects are present in most agricultural soils, and the best way to reduce their impact on crops is by using a seed treatment.

WHAT’S NEW WITH BAYER PRODUCTS

ILeVO takes on SCN and SDS

ore soybean yield is lost to Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) than any other pest. Indeed, SCN can cause a 30 per cent yield loss without any visual symptoms to give it away, and has been said to account for more yield loss than the next five soybean diseases combined. Once established, SCN is permanent. Eggs can survive in the soil for a decade or more, and a single cyst can send up to 500 eggs into the root zone where the microscopic worms penetrate root tissue, change the basic biology of that tissue then feed on it until they burst out as adults to start the cycle again. The root damage caused by SCN creates entry points for other disease pathogens, most commonly Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), which is sometimes called a companion disease of SCN but is not actually caused by it. In fact, these diseases thrive in opposite environments: SCN damage is greater in hot, dry conditions, while SDS is more prevalent in cool, wet conditions.

Yield results from a replicated ILeVO soybean split planter trial. A field in Parkhill, ON with heavy SDS & SCN pressure and a very good SDS & SCN variety. Base treatment = 51.3 bu/ ac vs. Base + ILeVO treatment = 68.4 bu/ac. Resulting in a 17.1 bu increase.

What they do have in common is rapid spread and they’re both difficult to identify. For soybean growers across Canada, the question is not if SCN and SDS are in their fields, but when. So what can you do? While planting resistant varieties helps, it has not been enough in affected areas. Protect your soybeans with ILeVO™. It is

the first and only seed treatment registered with activity against SDS, and it is the only seed treatment registered to protect against SDS and SCN. ILeVO moves systemically to protect seeds, roots and shoots so your crops have a strong start. In field trials conducted on both sides of the border ILeVO has shown: • 3.6 bu/ac yield benefit over the base treatment in areas with known SCN pressure (Ontario 2015-16 trials); • 4.7 bu/ac yield benefit in fields with and without visible SDS symptoms (Canadian and US university trials, 2011 to 2016). If you’re growing soybeans this year, protect your yield with ILeVO.

For more information, consult your local retail or Bayer representative or visit cropscience.bayer.ca/ILeVO for more details.

The All New BayerValue Program:

Bigger and Better Than Ever With new innovations, more ways to qualify and the largest selection of participating products ever, you’ve never seen a BayerValue™ program like this. This year we’ve made it even easier to find the right solutions, improve your yield performance and help get the best possible return on your investment.

BAYERVALUE WEST

Western Canadian growers can save up to 18% on their favourite Bayer products.

NEW TO THE PROGRAM The BayerValue program still has the same segment rewards you’ve come to know and love, with more ways to qualify than ever before. Almost all Roundup Ready® canola hybrids qualify, as do the

new DEKALB® traits like LibertyLink® and TruFlex™. Additionally, we’ve added a full suite of Acceleron BioAg™ products to the qualifiers to further increase your rewards.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE BAYER OFFER Simply early book 1000 acres or more of highperforming Bayer herbicides by March 15, 2019 and save up to $2/acre. Ask your retailer for details or visit cropscience.bayer.ca/IBO.

Learn how to maximize your savings at cropscience.bayer.ca/BayerValue or by contacting your local retailer.

FA R MFOR UM.CA / JA N UA RY 2019

Get ahead of pea leaf weevil

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(at 17 C or above) to the nearest pea or faba bean field where females deposit 1,000 to 1,500 eggs in the soil near developing plants. Hatched larvae feed on the nitrogen-fixing nodules, and this is when PLW causes the most significant economic damage to crops. “By severely hindering, or outright stopping plants from fixing nitrogen, larvae can lead to decreased plant stands and significant yield loss,” says Kikkert. So, what should you do? Kikkert and the Bayer SeedGrowth™ team have these suggestions. 1. Seed early. “Adult pea leaf weevils start emerging from mid-April to mid-May,” says Kikkert. “If you can get your crops in before that, you can avoid a lot of potential damage from larvae.” Once plants get past the six-node stage, they’re big enough to outgrow the damage. 2. Use agronomic defenses. As with just about all crop pest problems, proper rotations, IPM and no-till can all help reduce PLW infestations. 3. Use an insecticidal seed treatment. If PLW was observed in your region last year, then an insecticide seed treatment on peas and faba beans is your first line of defense against crop damage and loss. “Trilex® EverGol® SHIELD contains

three fungicides and an insecticide that’s registered to protect against pea leaf weevil in peas and faba beans,” says Kikkert. “It will stop larvae from feeding on root nodules, plus it will work against the new generation of adults feeding on leaves.” 4. Trap crops. Planting trap crops along field edges can help reduce the number of PLW adults entering the field, but keep in mind that adults can fly several kilometres — one of the reasons it’s been able to expand its range so quickly. 5. Scout. “Look for signs of feeding as soon as the crop emerges,” says Kikkert. “Females lay their eggs over a three month period, so you have to keep checking up to the sixth node stage.” The economic threshold for spraying is one or more feeding notch on 30 per cent of plants. “At that point, you’re really working to limit the number of overwintering adults,” says Kikkert. “And you should definitely be using an insecticide seed treatment next year.”

Find more information at cropscience.bayer.ca or consult your local retailer or Bayer representative.

PHOTO: AAF

f you want a graphic (literally) indication of how fast the pea leaf weevil (PLW) problem is growing in western Canada, look no further than Saskatchewan’s PLW maps for 2016 and 2017. Native to Europe, PLW is definitely making itself comfortable in its new Canadian home. The first PLW sighting was in 2000 in a pea field near Lethbridge, AB. Since then, the insect has rapidly expanded its range north and eastward. PLW is now found in most pulse growing regions of Alberta and the Saskatchewan maps show its eastern edge leaping from Moose Jaw in 2016 to the Manitoba border in 2017. It’s important to note that distribution maps are a snapshot in time, while actual insect levels fluctuate with the season. Still, PLW movement eastward is concerning. “It could have spread across Saskatchewan a lot earlier than these maps indicate,” says David Kikkert, crop and campaign marketing manager, soybeans and pulses with Bayer, adding that increased reporting could be, in part, responsible for that massive one-year expansion. “We’re not sure we can say it spread quite that fast, but the ability of the pea leaf weevil to expand its range almost at will is a concern to pulse growers across Saskatchewan through to Manitoba.” Overwintered adults emerge in early spring to feed, then either walk or fly

WHAT’S NEW WITH BAYER PRODUCTS

2019 is shaping up to be a great year Pushing the status quo – searching for smarter ways to grow food

s our world continues to face enormous challenges, we believe that agriculture is a big part of the solution. And while we don’t have all the answers, our passion for discovery, collaboration and innovative spirit means we’ll never stop trying to find them. It is our greatest pleasure to provide our grower partners with new solutions, technologies and the support needed to address your toughest challenges. Here’s a look at what’s new for Bayer in 2019:

INFINITY FX IS NO LONGER A CO-PAK AND IS NOW AVAILABLE IN EASTERN CANADA For the first time cereal growers in Eastern Canada will have access to Infinity® FX, a new tool to help control Canada fleabane and other problem broadleaf weeds. In western Canada, wheat growers who have come to trust Infinity FX to take out their toughest broadleaf weeds including cleavers, kochia, buckwheat and volunteer flax, can now look forward to using the new pre-mixed, co-formulation. That’s three different herbicide groups (Group 27 pyrasulfotole, Group 6 bromoxynil, and Group 4 fluroxypyr) in one single solution, ideal for bulk applications.

MORE INNOVATIONS THAN YOU CAN SHAKE A STICK AT During the 2019 season, we will be onboarding numerous innovative technologies from Monsanto, meaning you’ll not only benefit from the full line of trusted Bayer solutions, but also have access to a wide range of established solutions related to this acquisition. We feel this firmly entrenches us as Canada’s premier crop protection and solutions provider and remain committed to keeping you informed on the progress of our integration.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to any Bayer representative or call our Customer Care Centre at 1-888-283-6847

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

IT TAKES A SYSTEM TO BREAK THE CYCLE With the movement towards zero till, western Canadian growers have longed for a reliable solution to control foxtail barley in wheat. And now, after 20 years, it’s finally here. Introducing the new Olympus® System. Simply tank-mix Olympus with your pre-season Roundup®

application and follow in-season with Varro® herbicide. The end is here for foxtail barley.

FA R MFOR UM.CA / JA N UA RY 2019

The underground war against crop disease

FA R M FO R U M .C A / JANAU RY 2 019

to take the long view when it comes to the value of using seed treatments. It’s not just about getting your crop out of the ground, it’s about keeping your eye on the finish line as well.” Bayer seed treatments are a big part of that. Raxil® PRO offers best-in-class protection from Fusarium graminearum and true loose smut. “With three active ingredients, it protects cereals against a broad spectrum of seed- and soil-borne diseases, is easy to use because it has one simple rate, regardless of disease pressure, and is easy to apply,” says Humphris. Similarily, Trilex® EverGol® offers robust early season disease protection for pulse crops. “Trilex EverGol also has three active ingredients that are effective against a wide range of pathogens, including botrytis, pythium and fusarium,” Kikkert says. “Where it

really stands out is in protection against rhizoctonia and ascochyta.” Kikkert adds Bayer’s insecticidal seed treatment, Stress Shield®, can be added to both Raxil PRO and Trilex EverGol for additional protection against early season insects like wireworm. “Seed treatments are the first step in a season-long effort to get the best possible yield,” says Humphris. “Getting that crop out of the ground, healthy and strong, sets the stage for success.”

For more information on Raxil PRO and Trilex EverGol, consult your local retailer or Bayer representative or visit cropscience.bayer.ca/ SeedGrowth

PHOTO: BAYER CROPSCIENCE

et, dry, warm or cool seedand soil-borne diseases can always find a comfortable home in your crops. And since the pathogens that cause early season disease are always present in the soil and sometimes on seed, it simply makes sense to take the fight to them before they can take it to you. That starts with testing your seed for the presence of disease before you plant. “It’s important to know what, if anything, is on the seed so you can properly manage for it,” says James Humphris, Crop Manager, Cereals, with Bayer. “Harvest conditions in a lot of areas were less than ideal last year, so there’s a good chance that this year’s seed supply is going to have some challenges, particularly farm-saved seed, so testing will be really important this year.” Disease pathogens like Fusarium spp., Pythium spp. and Rhizoctonia spp. exist in all prairie soils. “The levels of inoculum in any given field depends largely on cropping history,” says Humphris. “Having said that, keep in mind that soil pathogens can survive for a long time without any specific crop host to maintain them. They’re just waiting for the right conditions to ‘come out’ so to speak.” It’s easy to think those conditions would be cold and wet, but that’s not always the case. For example, Cochliobolus sativus, the pathogen that causes seedling blight and common root rot in wheat, thrives in warm, dry soil conditions. “Fungicidal seed treatments are the first line of defense when it comes to seed- and soil-borne diseases,” says Humphris. “Everything’s happening underground, so without a seed treatment, there aren’t a lot of options to control a problem once it gets going.” Early indicators that seed- and/or soilborne diseases are affecting your crop are brown roots or brown lesions on roots as well as coleoptiles, poor emergence, stand establishment and poor uniformity. “A weak or delayed start usually leads to yield and quality loss,” he says. “So it pays

2019 Early book1,000 1,000acres acres of of Bayer Early book Bayercereal cerealherbicides herbicides March15, 15,2019 2019 and and save acre. byby March saveup uptoto$2$2per per acre.

PER ACRE

Luxxur™ Varro®

ALL-IN-ONE CONTROL

SAVE

BROADLEAF CONTROL

SAVE

GRASS CONTROL

PER ACRE

Infinity® Infinity FX

Velocity m3 Tundra®

1,000

COUNTS AS DOUBLE THE ACRES

ACRE PURCHASE

GRASS CONTROL (ac.) Example 1

500

1,000

$1,000

500

$1,000 500

200

cropscience.bayer.ca/IBO

600 200

Example 6

1 888-283-6847

REBATE

$1,000

Example 4 Example 5

ALL-IN-ONE CONTROL (x2 ac.)

1,000

Example 2 Example 3

BROADLEAF CONTROL (ac.)

BUCTRIL® M, PUMA® ADVANCE, OLYMPUS®, THUMPER®1 (ac.)

@Bayer4CropsCA

$1,000 200

400

$800 $1,000

#AskBayerCrop

Always read and follow label directions. Buctril®, Infinity®, Luxxur™ Olympus®, Puma®, Thumper®, Tundra®, and Varro® are registered trademarks of the Bayer Group. Bayer CropScience Inc. is a member of CropLife Canada. 1 Buctril M, Olympus, Puma Advance and Thumper purchases under the Incredible Bayer Offer can be used towards the 1,000 acre total but do not qualify for rebates.

THE END IS HERE

FOR FOXTAIL BARLEY

Introducing the Olympus System, the first step in controlling foxtail barley and wild oats. Simply apply Olympus® with your pre-seed application of Roundup® and follow in-season with Varro® or Velocity m3 for season-long control of foxtail barley and other tough grass weeds.

cropscience.bayer.ca/Olympus

@Bayer4CropsCA

1 888-283-6847

#AskBayerCrop

Always read and follow label directions. Olympus® and Varro® are registered trademarks of the Bayer Group. Bayer CropScience Inc. is a member of CropLife Canada. Roundup® is a registered trademark of the Bayer Group, Monsanto Canada ULC licensee. ©2018 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.

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