Farm Forum Spring 2018

MAKE FARM SAFETY A DAILY PRIORITY | farmforum.ca

Supporting Canadian Farm Families SPRING 2018 $5

MURAD AL-KATIB

EY WORLD ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Technology

Business

Production

Farm Life

DSTs let farmers see new products in action

Consider market trends, then finalize crop plans

Mixed farming ensures steady growth for this OYF winner

Fitness tips to get you ready for spring

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farm forum / spring 2018

CONTENTS COVER STORY

This entrepreneur’s path to success is paved with pulses /10

photo: studio phenix

features

BUSINESS

FARM LIFE

Editor's Note / 4 Fitness tips to get you ready for spring / 14

Consider market trends, then finalize crop plans / 6

technology

In Eastern Canada, early control sets winter wheat up for the season / 26

DSTs let farmers see new products in action / 18

Make farm safety a daily priority / 8

production

Mixed farming ensures steady growth for this OYF winner / 22

FARMFORUM.CA / sp ri ng 201 8

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Publisher Bayer CropScience Inc. Editor Sherry Warner Contributors Trevor Bacque, Jennifer Barber, Dianne Finstad, Joy Gregory and Studio Phenix 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 2018 Website www.farmforum.ca Return undeliverable copies to: Bayer CropScience Inc. Suite 130 160 Quarry Park Blvd. SE Calgary, AB T2C 3G3

photo: studio phenix

W

ho doesn’t like a great success story? The best ones inspire, teach, motivate and even help change the world.

In this issue we celebrate Murad Al-Katib, crowned EY World Entrepreneur of the Year in a glitzy ceremony in Monaco last June. Al-Katib, founder of Regina-based AGT Food and Ingredients, was chosen out of 59 national EY Entrepreneur of the Year award winners from 49 countries, who all had their eye on the top prize.

That’s quite a feat for someone who, in just 15 years, turned an idea into the world’s largest vertically integrated supply chains for lentils, chickpeas and peas. Al-Katib’s advice to up and coming entrepreneurs is simple, “Do your homework, take calculated, bold risks and have no fear.”

Success comes in many forms and this issue’s Outstanding Young Farmers use a mixed approach to farming to ensure slow and steady growth. Brent and Kirsty Oswald operate Cottonwood Holsteins, a mixed diary and grain farm near Steinbach, MB, just southeast of Winnipeg.

Everything the Oswalds do and every change they make to their operation is an investment in their growth. Just two examples are the addition of a chicken broiler business and the installation of robotic milkers in their barns. Their advice is to be flexible, don’t bite off more than you can chew and make sure everyone is on the same page.

To help you bring in a successful harvest, keep an eye on current market trends. In our story on page 6, Bruce Burnett, director of markets and weather at Glacier FarmMedia, gives us the low down on what’s likely to affect commodity markets this year — an expected rise in oilseed acres, Spring moisture levels, the Canadian dollar and NAFTA. Shelby Reichel, Lee Crosson and Joe Von Freier are three prairie farmers who agree that demonstration strip trials are a great way to see new products in action before making an investment in those products.

DSTs work well because the trials are conducted under each farms’ specific growing conditions and farming methods, which the three also agree helps them make better decisions today and in the future.

Many successful entrepreneurs know the benefits of making exercise a part of their regular routine. In our story on page 14, grain farmer and high performance athlete, Gary Chambers talks about the importance of keeping fit and gives you some ideas on how to incorporate exercise into your daily schedule.

And finally, farm safety is such an important part of running a successful operation we feature it every once and a while to remind you to make farm safety a priority. Agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries in the country. But, you can help save lives and money by incorporating safety reminders into your daily routine. Turn to page 8 to find out how.

— Sherry

On the cover EY World Entrepreneur of the Year award winner, Murad Al-Katib, is the founder of AGT Food and Ingredients, the world’s largest vertically integrated supply chains for lentils, chickpeas and peas.

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business

Consider market trends, then finalize crop plans

By Trevor Bacque

G

rowing crops comes with a certain set of challenges, some not even in the field. Knowing the ins and outs of grain markets is simply part of the job these days, but it can sometimes be baffling.

We asked Bruce Burnett, director of markets and weather information at Glacier FarmMedia, to help cut through the noise and provide a balanced understanding of what’s likely to affect markets in 2018. This includes an expected rise in oilseed acres, Spring moisture levels, the Canadian dollar and NAFTA. Okay fine. But how do these things help you decide what to seed this year?

It’s a question that takes on a greater significance in 2018. India recently slapped Canada with a 50 per cent tariff on its pulse imports. Burnett thinks it’s a political issue, and one that may require 18 months to resolve. Prairie farmers should keep this in mind when making cropping plans. It’s no secret pulse acres have been on the rise, especially in Saskatchewan, the lentil capital of Canada. The question now becomes what will replace those acres? Burnett points to oilseeds and perhaps cereals as natural standins.

“Given current market prices, oilseeds are favoured in this scenario,” he says. “If things are dry in the south, there may be a tendency to plant more cereals, especially durum. A lot of farmers would like to see higher prices for their durum, but if you look at the alternatives, it’s not too promising for anything other than oilseeds.” But, he adds, those come with additional risk if you live south of Hwy. 1 in Saskatchewan and Alberta, where soils are typically quite dry.

Farmers around the globe are growing more wheat, corn, soybeans and other oilseeds and as a result, many Canadian producers will be watching what happens in areas other than their own. For example, if South America experiences inclement weather, production pressure shifts to the U.S. Add to this low American corn prices — trending between $3.40 and $3.60 on the futures market — and Burnett posits a likely shift to more soybean acres and a drop in corn.

That’s something canola and soybean

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FA R M FO R U M .C A / sp r ing 2018

growers, especially in western Canada, should consider next year, says Burnett.

“With the current oilseed situation, even though demand is strong, there will likely be an increased supply next year.”

The shift in seeding decisions is also influenced by an 18-month dry spell that stretches from Texas all the way into parts of the central and northern prairies. Farmers in Manitoba shouldn’t be concerned about moisture, since precipitation tends to be more reliable there, says Burnett. But Saskatchewan and Alberta may endure sustained periods of dryness.

Long-term dry spells occur from time to time on the prairies. “From my perspective, especially in the southern areas, we needed to see some fall recharge in those soils to provide farmers with some comfort,” says Burnett. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get that and winter precipitation has been below normal. There will be concerns in the spring in those regions. Spring moisture is going to be critical, but it’s critical in most years.”

Another thing to keep an eye on is the Canadian dollar. It has been trending above 80 cents for some time, but Burnett predicts that will drop somewhere between 75 to 78 cents for most of 2018. And that’s good news for prairie farmers.

“That is one of the things that impacts our farm gate returns,” says Burnett. “It does hurt prices when we have a dollar that’s up at these current levels. I’m expecting the dollar to slip, so we should get some headwinds for our pricing.”

Simply put, Canada is punching above its dollar weight and needs to come back to reality. “I think it’s overvalued relative to where we are at with our economy, especially with a growing U.S. economy,” he says and adds that a higher Canadian dollar does makes sense if other commodity sectors get going, such as oil and mining.

The Bank of Canada increased its interest rates in January by 25 basis points and Burnett expects another jump of the same amount at some point this year. He also believes that U.S. interest rate spreads alone should pressure the Canadian dollar.

“There’s a breaking point if the Canadian

“If NAFTA is scrapped by the U.S., I think it does have the potential to bring commodity futures down, especially corn and soybeans” Bruce Burnett director of markets and weather, glacier Farmmedia

dollar stays that high (80 cents or more) for an extended period of time.”

When it comes to NAFTA, Burnett says, farmers should be aware of what’s happening with negotiations but not necessarily build their marketing plans around it. “It’s very difficult to predict what’s going to happen,” he says.

“If NAFTA is scrapped by the U.S., I think it does have the potential to bring commodity futures down, especially corn and soybeans. That’s because Mexico is a significant customer of U.S. corn and soybeans but, without an agreement, I’m not sure how willing Mexico will be to take those commodities if the U.S. decides to increase tariffs on things like auto parts.”

Burnett views Canada-U.S. relations as a longer-term issue. “The risk for Canada is more in trade complaints from the U.S. for certain commodities. Wheat, hogs, beef, dairy … you go through a litany of issues,” he explains. “It’s in the back of our minds that the U.S. is a significant customer. If the agreement is scrapped and the U.S. becomes very aggressive on the trade front, it doesn’t take much in the way of a complaint from a commodity group to get the U.S. commerce department to investigate.” FF

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farm l ife

Make farm safety a daily priority Agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries in Canada. And by making farm safety reminders part of your daily routine, you are helping save lives and money

By Joy Gregory

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And Alberta’s Farm Safety Centre says there were 306 farm-related fatalities in the province from 1997 - 2014, and of those, 19 per cent were children.

While a lot of producers insist experience and the desire to stay in business keeps them safe, nearly half of those killed in farming incidents from 1999 to 2008 were owner operators. Another 14 per cent were their kids.

FROM 1997 TO 2014 THERE WERE

Let’s talk spring safety Blahey knows Canadian farmers have what it takes to turn farm injury stats around.

From his vantage point, safety has two faces: one is human (quite likely family), the other is business risk management. “Workrelated injuries and illnesses cost money,”

19%

306

FARM-RELATED FATALITIES IN ALBERTA WERE CHILDREN — Farm Safety Centre

PHOTOS: thinkstock

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very Canadian crop producer heads into a new planting season with both eyes on the prize: a bountiful harvest and money in the bank. But, getting to that prize means a lot of hard work and long hours.

And sometimes, says Glen Blahey, an agricultural health and safety specialist with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), not enough attention is paid to the safety issues related to how the work gets done.

Blahey says farm injury and fatality reports show that agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries in Canada. And the stats are downright ugly. According to CASA, the average number of farm fatalities from 2002 - 2012 was 85 per year.

he says. “They cost productivity. They cost efficiency. They cost credibility in the community.”

As for the business costs associated with farm incidents, Blahey says you can count on more than $275,000 for a fatality and $10,000-plus for an injury that requires hospitalization. “And those figures are in 2011 dollars,” he adds.

To stem the tide of red ink and, quite frankly, blood, sweat and tears, Blahey urges farmers to make safety a deliberate daily practice. Those who wouldn’t send a worker into the field without instructions about what they’re seeding or spraying should also make sure their workers know what they must do to stay safe.

These daily safety messages can be guided by information collected in a safety audit, says Bonita Hus of the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture.

The audit, a farm-specific checklist, is one of the most popular items at the ag trade shows Hus attends.

While she can’t be sure how many of the checklists are used, she knows that the data farmers gather from the checklists can save lives. “The audit is a good reminder of what you already know,” she says. “Collecting that information, then reviewing it with family and workers helps guard against complacency. It’s part of practicing due diligence.”

Hus has talked to farmers who question whether they have time for safety audits like the one offered online through her agency, or to complete a formal farm safety plan like the one offered by CASA. She urges them to reconsider.

First, in a business where time is money, economic data clearly shows farm safety saves money. Second, injuries most often happen when workers are tired and/or in a hurry. Because the plan and audit remind

you what not to do, they reinforce safe practices when you need them most.

Reminding workers about the dangers of a rotating PTO shaft, for example, can save life and limb by reinforcing safe practices, says Hus. She also recommends regular safety talks to repeat messages about the location of fire extinguishers and appropriate use of cell phones, which can be distracting when driving or operating machinery.

Know better, do better All it takes to make safety a working priority is a few minutes at the top of every day, adds Blahey. Basic risk management requires workers to assess the work they are doing and identify what has the potential to hurt them or make their actions unsafe, he says. “They then need to develop a logical approach to managing or controlling that hazard.”

Blahey recalls a frustrated producer telling him about young workers repairing a swather. They didn’t block the machine because they didn’t believe a header could drop without anyone at the controls. He challenges the idea that the producer was powerless in this situation. While youth and a lack of experience may have contributed to his workers’ ignorance, the boss sets the rules. That includes telling employees that non-compliance with safety rules could equal job termination.

Blahey’s safety-first approach to farm work extends to where farm operators keep information needed in emergency situations.

Data about legal land descriptions should be stored on all phones and posted in homes and working areas where farm workers can read them to 911 operators. “You’re kidding yourself if you think this information can be posted in one place, memorized or stored on just your phone,” says Blahey.

“Work-related injuries and illnesses cost money … they cost productivity. They cost efficiency. They cost credibility in the community” Glen Blahey health and safety specialist, Canadian agricultural safety association

The bottom line is that safety on the farm is not one person’s responsibility, says Blahey. “Saying I’ll figure out what to do if something happens is like the old adage: It’s too late to lock the barn door after the horse is stolen.” FF

FARMFORUM.CA / SPR ING 201 8

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business

This entrepreneur’s path to success is

paved with pulses

By Dianne Finstad

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FA R M FO R U M .C A / SPRING 2018

toP photo: thinkstcoCk, bottom PHOTO: AGT FOOD and ingredients

I

t might be hard to imagine that splitting lentils in Saskatchewan could turn a young man with an idea into a rock star in the business world. Then again, that’s what entrepreneurs do — they dare to dream.

But not even Murad Al-Katib envisioned being named EY World Entrepreneur of the Year one day, and yet that’s exactly what happened on a stage in Monte Carlo, Monaco last June, in a glitzy ceremony to rival any Hollywood show.

The prestigious program to honour entrepreneurs was created over 30 years ago by EY (formerly Ernst & Young) in the United States. In 2018, the program celebrates 25 years in Canada, and has been operating on a global level since 2001. Past winners read like a who’s who of successful entrepreneurs associated with companies like Amazon, Starbucks and Google.

Al-Katib, the enterprising founder of Regina-based AGT Food and Ingredients, formerly known as Alliance Grain Traders, was selected out of 59 national winners from 49 countries vying for the global title.

“Any time you have an opportunity to be recognized representing your country at a global competition, there’s a sense of pride,” says Al-Katib. “To win the title on Canada’s 150th anniversary was a humbling, emotional experience.”

Al-Katib’s success story is impressive.

From the launch of his company in 2001 with just an idea, a blank sheet of paper and a wife who was six months pregnant with twins, to the full realization of his vision for a global processing infrastructure for pulse crops, AGT is now the world’s largest vertically integrated supply chains for lentils, chickpeas and peas. After going public in 2007, the company now has more

bottom photo: AGT FOOD and ingredients, top photo: studio phenix

than 2,000 employees on five continents. It exports nearly a quarter of the world’s trade in lentils to more than 120 countries.

In Canada, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year contest gets close to 500 nominations annually. Winners are determined at each of five regional programs across the country, and in a number of categories.

From there, one winner is chosen at a national event to represent the country in the global competition. The independent judging panels at all levels are made up of entrepreneurs.

Francois Tellier is the National Director of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year program in Canada, and the EY crew was excited to see the global award come back to Canada for only the second time — the first was in 2007 to Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté.

“Murad’s story is absolutely fantastic,” says Tellier. “In 15 years, he went from starting a business in a basement to consolidating a global pulse industry — zero to two billion dollars, 15 acquisitions. »

FARMFORUM.CA / SPRING 201 8

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AGT’s products are processed in state-of-the-art facilities across western Canada, where they are cleaned, sorted and bagged, ready for markets around the world.

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PHOTOS: AGT FOOD and ingredients

business

from now!’ He’s never stuck in ‘we’re going to do it the way we’ve always done it.’ He’s always looking at something new.”

Despite all his global business activities, Al-Katib remains active in agriculture industry groups and issues as well as economic development efforts.

“He recognizes his business is not just within his walls, but outside his walls,” says Ammeter.

The global award has given a boost to Al-Katib’s passion for encouraging other entrepreneurs through judging the EY contest, coaching and even helping a campaign in his hometown to promote and develop entrepreneurs.

“I always say to entrepreneurs I have no fear,” says Al-Katib. “That’s not because I have such a high risk tolerance — it’s because I do my homework. Fear comes from the unknown. If I do my homework and can try and predict the outcome, why would I be afraid?”

That fits well with another piece of advice Al-Katib loves to share with entrepreneurs, about being passionate about your business idea.

“I said at the EY Strategic Growth

“Do your homework, take calculated, bold risks and have no fear” Murad Al-Katib AGT Food and ingredients EY world entrepreneur of the year

Forum, have passion. Follow your heart, but don’t forget your head. At the end of the day, it still has to make sense. You’ve got to do your work, and you’ve got to use good judgement. If you follow your heart blindly, passion has led to many, many failures in business.

“Do your homework, take calculated, bold risks and have no fear,” he says.

“That’s the progression of the philosophy I’m trying to take to the world entrepreneur platform I’ve been afforded now with the win.” FF

PHOTO: istock

At 44 years old, he’s accomplished what many never accomplish,” adds Tellier.

“He had all the elements to be able to win on a global scale — a great financial story, a great personal story, a great impact on his community, a sense of purpose, a vision for continued growth and significant impact on the global stage,” says Tellier.

Jim Nixon, Chairman and CEO of Nixon Energy Investments and chair of the EY World Entrepreneur of The Year judging panel says: “The judging panel, with broad geographical and industry perspective, came to a unanimous decision after a vigorous, balanced and informed debate. Murad is an incredible entrepreneur who has demonstrated outstanding value creation, organizational reach and expansion. Through sustainable agricultural practices, he is making a positive impact on the global environment.”

Allison Ammeter is a farmer from Sylvan Lake, Alberta and vice-chair of the Pulse Canada board, on which Al-Katib also sits.

“He enjoys talking to people about the pulse industry, about his opportunities, about the things he’s doing,” she says. “He’s always talking about ‘this is my idea for two years

FARMFORUM.CA / SPRING 201 8

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farm life

Give your body a spring tune-up

By Joy Gregory

I

t’s been said, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Well, so does a spring fitness program for farmers who want to invest in their health and wellness, says grain farmer and highperformance athlete, Gary Chambers of Morin, AB. A fourth-generation grain farmer who also works full-time as a real estate agent, Chambers holds a Phys Ed Degree from the University of Alberta. When he’s not working his 2,400-acre farm, Chambers races mountain bikes. And when he’s not working, racing or doing family stuff with his wife and son, he’s training.

“My friends joke that it’s not normal to train like I do. I get that. But I also think

that we’re fooling ourselves about our fitness levels,” says Chambers. “Today’s farmers are carrying huge amounts of stress. We’re working with big numbers and big equipment and that takes a toll on health and wellness,” he explains. “By the same token, our parents were driving themselves more, physically. Many of us are simply not nearly as healthy as our dads were when they were farming.”

While Statistics Canada does not collect health and wellness information specific to farmers, you don’t need to be a medical detective to see correlations between general health statistics and the farming population. By 2016, the average age of Canadian farm operators was 55.

Gary Chambers is a high-performance athlete and fourth generation grain farmer.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 16 »

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farm life That puts farmers in the middle of a Canadian cohort, aged 45 to 64, where 70 per cent are overweight or obese. Close to 30 per cent of that same age group has high blood pressure, which can be a sign of heart disease.

But what can you do if you aren’t an elite athlete and don’t have access to training programs and gyms? You take one step and then you take another, says Chambers.

Start slow, finish strong Health professionals recommend 2.5 hours of cardio a week. Cardiovascular exercise is aerobic, which raises your heartbeat and increases your oxygen intake thereby strengthening your heart and lungs. Set yourself a workable goal, says Chambers.

“Take a 15-minute walk down the road and you’ll have 30 minutes by the time you get back home.”

A new workout routine is going to tire you out so go to bed a little earlier and pay more attention to what you’re eating, says Chambers. “You can’t out-train a bad diet.”

As your cardio fitness improves, you’ll walk farther, faster and you’ll carry that physical and mental energy into the rest of your day, he says.

No one can stick to a fitness program every day of every week, says Chambers, who admits to gaining a few pounds every harvest. Instead of beating himself up over missed workouts, Chambers picks up where he left off. These days, he uses late fall and winter to build the physical fitness that fuels his spring fieldwork and summer bike racing.

When there’s no time for meal breaks, let alone fitness routines, Chambers makes exercise part of his field bio-breaks, performing squats, walking lunges, cardio — like jumping jacks or running on the spot — and stretches to balance all that sitting. “Four, 20-minute breaks a day adds up,” says Chambers.

Farmers who don’t know how to start an exercise routine, and those concerned about pre-existing issues like knee or back pain, should start their fitness journeys by visiting their doctor, says Shannon Penfound, a personal trainer with the Canada Games Sport for Life Centre in Winnipeg.

Once cleared to start training, find a personal trainer or physical therapist who can teach you how to do exercises that will reduce knee or back pain by building supportive muscle tissue. If you don’t have 16

FA R M FO R U M .C A / spring 2018

time for regular sessions with a trainer but want the direction of an exercise leader, find a YouTube routine to follow, says Penfound.

Cardio, which builds heart strength and lung capacity, is essential, she says. She also recommends fitness newbies focus on exercises that increase strength, flexibility and stability. Her top two, squats and planks, don’t need equipment and are the kind of exercises you can do during those field breaks recommended by Chambers.

Research shows it takes time to start a habit. “Figure out what works for you,” says Chambers. He suggests farmers try wearable fitness tracking technology or program their phones to signal fitness reminders.

Since guilt about work and family time can sidetrack fitness, he also encourages farmers to talk to their families about what they’re doing and why it matters.

“No one would make you feel guilty if you were starting a fitness routine after a heart attack, so you shouldn’t feel bad about taking time to prevent one either.” FF

“Farmers who don’t know how to start an exercise routine, and those concerned about pre-existing issues like knee or back pain, should start their fitness journeys by visiting their doctor” Shannon Penfound personal trainer, canada games sport for life centre

Fitness advice from Farm Strong www.farmforum.ca/farmstrong Tips on managing harvest stress www.farmforum.ca/managingharveststress Gary Chambers shows how to build a home gym www.farmforum.ca/buildahomegym

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C-60-03/18-10918377-E

technology

DSTs let farmers see new products in action Many growers participate annually in demonstration strip trials to see how new products will work on their farms under their specific growing conditions

E

arly adopters — those among the first to use a new product or technology — help trial new things, be it a smartphone or piece of software, often before they are available to the general public. In agriculture, one way growers can be among the first to see a new product or technology in action is through participation in demonstration strip trials or DSTs. “We’ve been doing Bayer demonstration strip trial plots for more than 10 years, mostly looking at new InVigor canola hybrids and how they compare to other varieties that are currently available,” says Shelby Reichel, who farms, together with his two sons, west of Trochu, AB. “We learn a lot — not just about how these different varieties perform, but also how they perform specifically under the way we operate.”

Bayer has been running InVigor DSTs for almost 20 years. The company mainly looks at hybrid performance and, in recent years, has trialled different harvesting

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methods. In addition to InVigor trials, Bayer also conducts fungicide trials across different crops. Each trial is managed by a grower co-operator, together with a local field marketing specialist, and conducted under that grower’s particular farming conditions.

Lee Crosson has participated in seed treatment, fungicide and variety trials.

“We’ve always taken part in research plots as we want to see first-hand how new varieties work on our farm,” says Crosson, a seed grower near Welwyn, SK. “There is a lot of information out there but nothing is as valuable as the information you gather from your own farm.”

Every year, Joe Von Freier, who farms near Wetaskawin, AB, conducts plot trials for numerous variety and crop protection products. “Every variety performs differently depending on where you grow it,” says Von Freier. “Seeing how each performs not only in our general soil type, but in our own specific soil is great information to have.” And, through

working with different companies, he learns how the different products and varieties should best be used.

Every winter, all three growers are approached by their local Bayer representative and, together, they pick out a 20-acre piece of land that meets the canola variety trial requirements. The piece of land needs to be uniform and fairly level. It should also be easy to access as people often come to tour the trials in action. Variety trials are made up of eight to 10, 500 ft. long strips seeded side-by-side. Each variety has replicated strips for statistical relevance.

“Once we have the piece of land, together with Bayer we set up the plots and seed using our own equipment,” says Reichel.

“Our replicated strip is 10 swaths away from the first strip. We work together to calibrate, seed and then clean the seeder in between each strip. This part can take a while, but we work together to be as quick as possible.”

Von Freier says for variety trials, all the seed is provided so his investment is

PHOTO: bayer cropscience

By Jennifer Barber

primarily in equipment and time, and that’s mostly at the beginning and the end of the season. He says Bayer usually brings a summer student to help, so there are three of them seeding the plots.

Once the trial is seeded, Bayer monitors the crop throughout the growing season.

Because of the narrow width of each strip and the fact that weed control is system dependent, Bayer brings a small plot sprayer out to apply different herbicides to the canola systems. Fungicides are applied across the entire trial site by the cooperator grower.

During the summer, DST locations are made known to local growers who can come by and see the results for themselves, or take part in a formal tour. Crosson gets a fair number of visitors to his trial plots each year, something he is very comfortable with. “We aren’t trying to hide anything and as seed growers, it’s nice to be able to show off what we are doing that season and what we could be growing in coming seasons,” he says. “We plan to keep running trials and bringing people to the farm.”

At the end of the season, each grower cooperator works with Bayer to determine the best time to harvest. In the past three or four years, Reichel has made the switch to straight cutting canola, so he’s mainly been running trials with shatter resistant hybrids and straight cutting them for some good results.

“Nobody likes to waste time if they don’t have to, and straight cutting canola is a real time saver,” he says. “It is quicker to spray than it is to swath, and we spray every acre before harvest. We get a much more uniform crop to harvest if we delay it a bit to straight cut. It’s also easier to manage trash when we straight cut.”

This past year, Reichel trialled InVigor L255PC, which is Bayer’s first clubroot resistant pod shatter hybrid. While he is fortunate that clubroot is not a concern in his region, pod shatter resistance has offered him unforeseen benefits. “When we started trialling pod shatter hybrids we were hopeful that they were less susceptible to pod drop and shatter due to the wind, and they »

“Running trials helps us make decisions today and down the road” Joe Von Freier Farmer, Wetaskawin, AB

FARMFORUM.CA / SPR ING 201 8

19

technology were definitely that,” he says. “But we also have a large population of deer that move around our farm. They can do a lot of damage to the crop and these pod shatter hybrids were less susceptible to damage from animals as well.”

Von Freier does not like to spray before harvesting, so once he and his field representative decide it’s time to harvest, they are usually out in the field within five days. As he both swaths and straight cuts on his farm, either method can be used, depending on the trial.

Trials help build buzz before new product launch

“In our own fields, straight cutting is good because you get that timing flexibility and the kernels tend to be blacker and plumper,” says Von Freier. “But we usually use a combination of tools. If I have the time I might swath, then straight cut.

Combining is the last thing we do. Having that flexibility means you aren’t pushing your dates too close to winter.”

Even for early adopters, the technology they trial is not always immediately used on their farms. Von Freier sometimes keeps the information he learns in his back pocket

so he can solve looming concerns before they have a big impact on his operation.

We have a four-year rotation so we have been very fortunate in terms of some of the disease problems some of our neighbours have had to deal with, especially with clubroot,” he explains. “By trialling varieties with resistant traits or different fungicides we learn how these tools will work if we need them down the road, and know we will still have good yield potential. Running trials helps us make decisions today and down the road.” FF

While a lot of internal research goes into bringing a new product to market, the uncertainty around regulatory timing means public demonstration strip trials tend to happen after a product has been approved and available for purchase.

One exception is new Olympus herbicide. Bayer received registration earlier than expected, which allowed it to conduct demonstration strip trials a season ahead of the product launch.

“In many ways this is how we’d prefer to launch a product so people can see how it works under a variety of growing conditions before making a purchasing decision,” says Tim Gardner, senior field marketing specialist with Bayer CropScience. “We will set up demonstration strip trials this summer and do a graduated introduction to how this product works before we make it available to growers in the 2019 growing season.”

Olympus is a unique piece of chemistry for Bayer. It’s a pre-seed herbicide used in combination with glyphosate, to target foxtail barley as part of an integrated, seasonlong weed control plan. Foxtail barley has been identified as a significant problem in 16 per cent of prairie wheat fields.

“Foxtail barley is a perimeter weed that is definitely on growers’ radar,” says Gardner.

“It is a bunchy weed that overwinters well and its density is creeping up. It needs to be beaten down throughout the season with a variety of measures if you want to get control over it before the next growing season,” he adds. “Olympus will be of particular interest to growers who have this specific need.”

Gardner is currently in the process of setting up trials with growers across the prairies.

Bayer plans to run up to 200 trials over the 2018 growing season. The trials will have a simple protocol: 80-acre side-by-sides comparing with glyphosate alone. Once the protocol is established, Gardner says he’ll leave it up to territory sales managers to work with local growers to set up the trials. Growers will be able to see how the product helps against their local weed concerns, depending on their region.

Olympus also has incremental control for wild oats and works well to control downy and Japanese bromes. “It’s nice that we have a good controlled launch so we can show growers how this product works as part of an integrated weed management system,” says Gardner. “Through our field marketing trials we know what this product is capable of, but trial work in real-world conditions under a number of different scenarios will help get growers excited about it. It’s a win-win for both us and our customers.”

PHOTO: bayer cropscience

— Jennifer Barber

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STAND YOUR GROUND It’s time to lower the boom on your most serious weeds and combat resistance at the same time. As a Group 10, Liberty® herbicide provides growers with a powerful tool to address the weed concerns of today and tomorrow.

cropscience.bayer.ca/Liberty

1 888-283-6847

@Bayer4CropsCA

#AskBayerCrop

Always read and follow label directions. Liberty® is a registered trademark of the Bayer Group.

Bayer CropScience Inc. is a member of CropLife Canada.

O-68-03/18-10918377-E

production

Mixed farming ensures steady growth for this OYF winner

By Jennifer Barber

W

hen the Oswalds broke ground on their family farm in the 1930s, it was a mixed operation with everything from cows to grain to bees. Everything that could be farmed, was. Over time the farm narrowed its focus and concentrated on a few core businesses. Now the third generation to farm that land, Brent and Kirsty Oswald, have gone back to that mixed approach as a way to ensure slow and steady growth.

“When my dad took over the farm in the 1960s, all the small side businesses were slowly (eliminated),” says Brent. They got rid of the bees first because Brent’s dad was allergic then turned their attention to primarily dairy farming. This worked well for Brent’s dad but, he says, “When we started to look at succession planning, we decided that expanding the farm into other areas would help our growth.”

This approach helped the Oswalds earn the 2017 Outstanding Young Farmers’ Program award for the Manitoba region.

They own and operate Cottonwood Holsteins, a mixed dairy and grain farm near Steinbach, MB, located about 60 km southeast of Winnipeg. Together with the help of three full-time employees, they milk 145 cows and farm 2,400 acres. Since taking over the family farm almost 10 years ago, slow and steady is the way the Oswalds have grown their operation.

“In 2008 we milked 140 kg of quota and last year it was 200 kg,” he says. “Ten years ago we were farming 1,500 acres and today it’s 2,400 acres.” The Oswalds

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were recently awarded some chicken production quota in the provincial lottery so now they’re working to set up a broiler chicken business. “We don’t look for big growth every year, but we want to make smart decisions that help our business in the long run.”

And even in challenging times, the Oswalds still manage to move the farm forward. In 2016, Brent’s dad passed away.

At the time he was still an active participant on the farm. The following year was very difficult but, Brent says, he is proud of the way the farm continued to grow and perform at a high level of production and efficiency, despite the loss of his father.

“We look at everything we do, every change we make, as an investment in our growth,” says Brent. “And not everything is long term. A few years ago we invested in a pig barn, which was a good investment initially, but eventually we realized it wasn’t going to keep our farm growing,” he explains. So, it was sold and the money was invested back into the dairy, where it would have the most impact.

While mixing things up helps to grow the farm, new technology helps them operate more efficiently. Brent installed DeLaval robotic milkers in the dairy barns.

While the robots don’t really help Brent cut down on the amount of time spent in the barns, they do allow him more flexibility in running his business.

The robotic milkers have helped cut down milking time substantially, to the tune of six hours that Brent can now

spend elsewhere on the farm. And his cows are calmer now that they aren’t been herded to holding areas every day.

“When my parents had the farm, my mom ran the dairy and my dad ran the farm,” he says. “With the robots I can do both and more. Technology is repeatable and consistent so it is very trustworthy, and that’s allowed me to spend more time with the herd. By more closely managing the herd we have seen a slight increase in production but a big change in overall herd health.”

Brent also installed an automated feeder.

“Automated feeding is a huge time saver,” he says. “We fill the silo in September and the feeder keeps the cows properly fed until the next year. It keeps them from bottlenecking, and reduces labour costs feeding the herd on a daily basis. I can check on their rations while I am out seeding which means I can be in two places at once.”

He hopes to bring similar technology to his chicken barn, allowing him to do the initial setup and then the technology will take over from there. Brent currently has

a phone app that allows him to check the temperature in the barn, the feed rations and water, all without having to be there all the time.

Despite farming 2,400 acres of field crops, only 10 per cent is used for feed while the rest are cash crops. Even here, the Oswalds are always looking to increase production in their corn, soybean, wheat and alfalfa rotation. And in the future, Brent would like more of their grain production to go back to their herd.

Their growth plan is flexible and »

Brent and Kirsty Oswald, pictured here with their son Brenden (7) and daughter Taylor (10), own and operate Cottonwood Holsteins, a mixed dairy and grain farm in southern Manitoba.

FARMFORUM.CA / SPR ING 2018

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production any changes are based on markets and opportunities. “Last year our three-year plan was to double the dairy but then we won the chicken quota so we decided to go in that direction instead,” he says.

“We don’t want to bite off more than we can chew, and we don’t want to add more full-time personnel. I already only get a few hours of sleep a night, and I would like any changes we make to allow me to get more, not less.”

That being said, their growth is far from stagnant. The Oswalds are currently undergoing the approval process to set up a gravel pit in one area of the farm.

“We have a piece of land where I realized I could get more by the yard than I could by the acre so I want to turn the worst piece of farming land into something productive,” he says.

When it comes to family, the two have been looking at how to incorporate more leisure time into their daily life. “When I was a kid, leisure time was working on the farm with your family,” he says. “I want to have an oasis on the farm where we can get away together and spend time not farming, so we are installing an indoor swimming pool. Leisure time should be more than sleeping four hours a night.”

If Brent has one piece of advice, he would say to truly commit to your

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FA R M FO R U M .CA / SP RING 2018

“We look at everything we do, every change we make, as an investment in our growth” Brent Oswald

succession plan. The loss of his father made that point crystal clear. “Everyone talks about it and a lot of people do it to a certain extent,” he says. “But I would recommend to get together with your lawyer, your accountant and your staff to make sure everyone is on the same page for the ‘what ifs’. If you know the direction you want to go, take a team approach and make sure you are planning for the future.” FF

It’s hard to imagine that one small seed could hold so much promise, but it does. And when you consider the importance of having a successful season, a cereal seed treatment you can rely on makes a huge difference.

Raxil® seed treatments provide first-class disease control and a faster, stronger emergence that helps you realize the full potential of your crop.

Depend on Raxil.

cropscience.bayer.ca/Raxil

1 888-283-6847

@Bayer4CropsCA

#AskBayerCrop

Always read and follow label directions. Raxil® is a registered trademark of the Bayer Group.

Bayer CropScience Inc. is a member of CropLife Canada.

C-55-03/18-10918377-E

WHAT’S NEW WITH BAYER PRODUCTS

In Eastern Canada, early control sets winter wheat up for the season

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FA R M FO R U M .CA / SPRING 2018

fleabane. When mixed with Stratego® PRO fungicide, winter wheat growers are able to also manage those early diseases, before the disease – or weeds – can damage the yield potential of the crop.

“The disease can be region specific, but for areas that can successfully manage powdery mildew in particular, a good herbicide and fungicide

package is critical,” says Kaastra. “The gold standard for control would be a T1 application of an early herbicide, sprayed together with a fungicide to save a pass and to take on those early and mid-season diseases. Then follow it up with a T3 fungicide application, like Prosaro® XTR, when the crop is flowering to help manage for fusarium.”

To learn more about Infinity, visit cropscience.bayer.ca/infinity.

And for more information on disease control with Stratego PRO and Prosaro XTR, visit cropscience.bayer.ca/ Stratego-PRO and cropscience.bayer.ca/Prosaro-XTR.

TOP PHOTO: JEANNETTE GREAVES, BOTTOM PHOTO: STACEY DAWSON

T

he lush fields of winter wheat have the potential for greater yield than spring wheat in many areas of Ontario and Quebec. Where growing it works, winter cereals are generally the preferred crop. However keeping both weeds and disease out of the crop is critical to achieving a yield bump over its spring counterpart.

While some weeds germinate in the fall and can be controlled before fields go dormant, most winter annuals are tackled in early spring. Aggressive weeds such as glyphosate resistant Canada fleabane are of particular concern for winter wheat growers. The key to controlling those weeds is getting in early and stopping them from robbing your yield.

“If you wait until the canopy closes then it’s too late, and you won’t get that contact that is needed to eliminate those weeds,” says Allan Kaastra, Agronomic Development Horticulture and Row Crops with Bayer. “An early, T1 application of herbicide plus a fungicide will take care of those competitive weeds and early season disease so the pressure is much lower when the crop starts to build yield.”

In Eastern Canada, the primary early diseases in winter wheat include septoria leaf spot and powdery mildew. As the crop matures, common rust and stripe rust start to make their way into the field. Then finally at heading, fusarium is the primary disease concern for winter wheat growers.

Infinity® herbicide is an effective early application herbicide that will take on tough to kill glyphosate resistant Canada

WHAT’S NEW WITH BAYER PRODUCTS

Take early control of weeds in corn

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our corn crop’s potential is the greatest right at seeding.

However, weeds can start robbing that potential from day one.

Weeds and corn will compete for moisture and nutrients, weakening the crop’s emergence, establishment and ultimately its yield at harvest.

By taking the optimal early season corn herbicide approach, often best obtained using a two-pass, set-up acre program, you will help your corn get through the critical weed free period, which research proves to be from emergence to the sixleaf stage. Research from the University of Guelph shows that up to three bushels are lost per day, for every day corn is under heavy weed pressure during this critical weed free period. After the six-leaf stage little, if any losses to yield are usually seen.

CONVERGE XT START THIS SEASON WITH THE BEST Get the best out of your corn field by using Converge® XT herbicide. It offers broad-spectrum weed control and a wide application window, including a proven set-up acre use pattern. Converge

XT has the ability to recharge with as little as a ½ inch of rain for residual activity that continues to control later flushes of weeds. Converge XT can be applied before planting or prior to crop emergence, up to the three-leaf stage of corn.

VIOS G3 AN EASY TANK MIX WITH GLYPHOSATE FOR IN-CROP BROAD-SPECTRUM RESIDUAL WEED CONTROL From the start of the season to the end of harvest, it takes a lot of work to keep your corn looking its best, but it doesn’t have to. If you prefer an in-crop herbicide application to control weeds in your corn, Vios™ G3 is an easy, simple to use product that gives you the performance you need.

Tank mix Vios G3 with glyphosate for broad-spectrum, in-crop residual weed control. Just one 1.78 L jug treats 40 acres of corn, keeping weeds out of your field and off your mind.

Protect your corn and maximize your yield. For more information on these products and which are the best fit for your farm, visit cropscience.bayer.ca

The NEW BayerValue/Hot Potatoes Rewards Program gives more opportunity for savings for Eastern Canadian and horticulture growers

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or an easy way to collect cash rewards or to join the exciting group trip in 2020, learn more about the BayerValue/Hot Potatoes® Rewards Program.

There are three steps to help earn you up to 12 % in total savings: • For a base rebate, purchase a minimum of $1000 within each of any two segments (fungicides, herbicides or other) to get a four % rebate. If you purchase $1000 in each of the three segments, that rebate is bumped to five %.

• When you purchase a minimum of $1000 each of two bonus products, you will get an additional four % rebate.

Purchase $1000 each of three bonus products and get an additional five % rebate.

• When you purchase a minimum of $74,000 worth of Bayer products you will get a one % purchase bonus, and that number jumps to two % when you purchase over $100,000.

For more information on eligible products in the different segments, and a list of bonus products, visit cropscience.bayer.ca/BayerValue. You can also contact your local retail for more information on the BayerValue/HotPotatoes program.

FARMFORUM.CA / SPRING 2018

27

Take another look at your weed profile

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he list of top weeds is changing, and along with that shift comes a necessary adjustment in management practices to control those weeds. The most recent weed survey shows higher overall densities of weeds in recent years, although those densities vary somewhat depending on where on the Prairies you are growing.

The weeds that have long been problematic continue to appear across Prairie fields. The top three most prevalent weeds — green foxtail, wild buckwheat and wild oats — have remained in the top three since the 1970s. While they continue to pop up each season, growers have become adept at managing them and crop protection products have evolved to better manage those weeds.

However, the overall weed profile on the Prairies continues to shift. Foxtail barley, sow-thistle and broadleaf plantain made it into the top 20 for the first time in 2017. Foxtail barley, in particular, has steadily increased since the advent of no or minimum tillage farming practices. While the weed was identified by settlers more than 150 years ago, it was easily managed by tillage.

Foxtail barley is a short lived perennial weed that relies on seeds for reproduction.

Without tillage, it is able to disperse and establish, although its seed bank will only remain for two-three years.

To ensure you know what weeds are in your fields, scout regularly and take a season-long approach to tackling whatever weeds threaten the success of your crop.

Take control of cleavers

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The benefits of Command®?

• It is a soil applied herbicide that is quickly absorbed into the root systems of spring germinating cleavers, providing residual activity for up to four weeks.

• Command® controls initial weed flushes, taking the pressure off in-crop herbicide applications for better season-long control.

• As a Group 13 herbicide, Command® also takes on Group 2 and Group 4 herbicide resistant cleavers.

This season, talk to your local retailers for full details on how to save up to $900, or visit cropscience.bayer.ca/Command

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FA R M FO R U M .C A / SPRING 2018

TOP PHOTO: BAYER CROPSCIENCE, BOTTOM PHOTO: MB AGRICULTURE

ow that you’ve booked your favourite InVigor canola hybrids for the upcoming season, it’s time to think about your pre-seed burn down options for controlling cleavers — and that’s where the three for three hundred offer comes in.

Save $3/acre on your first 300 acres of FMC’s Command® herbicide with the purchase of 300 acres of InVigor hybrid canola.

WHAT’S NEW WITH BAYER PRODUCTS

More ways to save with the 2018 BayerValue West program

The BayerValue® West program continues to provide growers with access to savings on the full suite of Bayer’s innovative crop protection solutions, but the savings don’t stop there. In addition to your InVigor® Purchase Bonus you’ll also receive valuable savings on a wide range of your favourite Bayer innovations. Plus, you can combine your BayerValue savings with other programing to save even more. Earn an additional 2% on your fungicide purchases (up to 17% in total) by taking advantage of the Fungicide Multiplier Bonus. And with the Incredible Bayer Offer, you can save up to $2/acre more on your cereal herbicide purchases.

For more information visit CropScience.Bayer.ca/BayerValue, contact our rebate fulfillment centre at 1 888.283-6847 or ask your local retail.

Start the season clean

A

fter years of high seeded canola acres, many growers face the challenge of controlling volunteer

canola.

“When seeding into a new canola crop, growers need to start thinking about volunteer canola as a weed,” says Blaine Woycheshin, Crop Manager - Canola with Bayer. “Canola is not very competitive during emergence so a clean field is very important for successful emergence. It can be hard to distinguish volunteer canola from a newly emerging canola crop, so an effective pre-seed burndown that

addressees volunteer canola is critical.”

Volunteer canola in your field is a problem because: • It’s not the canola you paid for • The volunteer can be a host for disease • Volunteers can be tolerant to your current system, making them difficult to control Pardner® herbicide is a pre-season tank-mix partner with RoundUp WeatherMAX® herbicide and other glyphosate technologies to control volunteer canola, regardless of herbicide tolerance. Glyphosate alone can leave

behind glyphosate resistant weeds and other volunteer canola, so a tank mix with Pardner provides a more reliable solution and gets your season off to a clean start.

For more information on how to make Pardner a part of your canola program, visit cropscience.bayer.ca/Pardner.

Two powerful tank mix partners Save up to $2 per acre when you tank mix Luxxur™ herbicide and Trophy® for powerful control of key broadleaf and grass weeds in wheat. Ask your retail for details or visit cropscience.bayer.ca/Luxxur for more information FARMFORUM.CA / SPRING 201 8

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Visit itpaystospray.ca for updated fungicide trial results

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or 10 consecutive seasons, Bayer’s Fungicide Trial program has taken a closer look at disease in your crop, determining when to spray and assessing the value of a fungicide application. These comprehensive trials have shown time and time again that a fungicide is a powerful tool to help protect the value of your crop.

A decade of trials have seen everything Mother Nature can throw at a Canadian crop — from dry years to wet, seasons with very low disease pressure to those where disease was rampant. In virtually every trial, a fungicide application resulted in a positive return on investment with a higher yielding and better quality crop at harvest. Even in dry years, trials have shown how little moisture it takes for disease levels to increase.

Bayer has conducted 364 large scale side-by-side replicated trials together with grower co-operators. Each trial has an untreated check to gauge disease pressure. Trials are conducted at common sites and under grower management and each co-operator fertilizes, seeds and

ZONE SPRAY Precisely what you need, exactly where you need it As part of a NEW Digital Farming initiative, Bayer is excited to announce the launch of Zone Spray. Using inseason satellite imagery, Zone Spray enables you to make a more informed decision on which parts of your field are best worth protecting. With Zone Spray you can selectively protect the highest production zones of your crop while optimizing your fungicide application. For more information, or to sign up, visit digitalfarming.ca

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FA R M FO R U M .CA / SPRING 2018

harvests using their standard practices.

In addition to looking at economic thresholds, the trials looked at fungicide timing to determine the optimal time for a fungicide application on cereals. The results showed that unless there was high disease pressure at the flag leaf stage, waiting to apply at, or slightly past heading, gave a better quality and yield result.

Bayer’s field marketing team works with growers to ensure the integrity of trial protocols and to help out wherever they can. This team of 14 people with diverse backgrounds has expertise across a wide array of agricultural topics. Team members assess the trials at 14 and 21 days post treatment to gather data that is displayed on the fungicide trial maps online.

The itpaystospray.ca website includes updated maps for your growing area, as well as an ROI calculator to show you the return you can expect from a fungicide application. Trials have been conducted on wheat, barley, oats, canola, lentils, soybeans, dry beans and peas. Delaro® on pulses and soybeans and Proline® on canola are the latest fungicides tested through the fungicide trial results.

To see the value of a fungicide application in your area and on your crop, visit itpaystospray.ca. The complete results are also available in the 2018 Bayer Fungicide Trial booklet, also posted on the site.

STRAIGHT UP WILD OAT CONTROL Wild oats hanging above the crop canopy are like a billboard for poor weed control.

Varro® herbicide provides outstanding control of wild oats and other problem grass weeds to keep your wheat field looking great all season.

Varro – wild oat control that’s worth talking about.

cropscience.bayer.ca/Varro

1 888-283-6847

@Bayer4CropsCA

#AskBayerCrop

Always read and follow label directions. Varro® is a registered trademark of the Bayer Group.

Bayer CropScience Inc. is a member of CropLife Canada.

C-72-03/18-10918377-E

HATES WEEDS AS MUCH AS YOU DO. There’s nothing quite like knowing the worst weeds in your wheat fields have met with a fitting end. Following an application of Luxxur™ herbicide, you can have peace of mind that your wild oats and toughest broadleaf perennials have gotten exactly what they deserve.

SPRAY WITH CONFIDENCE.

cropscience.bayer.ca/Luxxur

1 888-283-6847

@Bayer4CropsCA

Always read and follow label directions. Luxxur™ is a trademark of the Bayer Group.

Bayer CropScience Inc. is a member of CropLife Canada.

#AskBayerCrop C-72-03/18-10918377-E