Farm Forum Fall 2015

InVigor Health hybrids bring price premiums

farmforum.ca

BAYER CROPSCIENCE Supporting Canadian Farm Families Fall 2015 · $5

CANOLA OIL

WEARS THE GOLDEN CROWN

TECHNOLOGY Precision ag takes the next step

BUSINESS

Agriculture powers the way to peace

PRODUCTION

‘Cutting Edge Expo’ showcases ag innovations

FARM LIFE

Robotic milkers keep these dairy farmers competitive

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PUBLISHER Bayer CropScience EDITOR Sherry Warner ASSOCIATE EDITOR Dave Wreford

VOLUME 28 / ISSUE 5 / FALL 2015

BUSINESS

CONTRIBUTORS Jennifer Barber, Dianne Finstad, Joy Gregory, Lisa Guenther, Gerald Pilger and Genesis Studio

Canola oil wears the golden crown | 12

DESIGN/PRODUCTION Farm Business Communications Farm Forum is published seasonally

by Bayer CropScience.

CONTACT FARM FORUM AT: Bayer CropScience Suite 200 160 Quarry Park Blvd. SE Calgary, AB T2C 3G3 T. 1 888-283-6847 F. 1 888-570-9378 E. farmforum@bayer.com www.bayercropscience.ca Contents of this publication are copyrighted and may be reproduced only with written permission of the publisher, Bayer CropScience.

Publications Mail Agreement Number 40743517 Registered in Canada Copyright 2015 WEBSITE www.farmforum.ca Return undeliverable copies to: Bayer CropScience Suite 200 160 Quarry Park Blvd. SE Calgary, AB T2C 3G3

PHOTO: ©SHUTTERSTOCK

The views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher.

PRODUCTION

‘Cutting Edge Expo’ showcases ag innovations

FA R M L I F E

6

Robotic milkers keep these dairy farmers competitive

T E C H N O L O GY

24

Precision ag takes the next step

28 4

Editor’s Note: Canola — a Canadian ag success story InVigor Health hybrids bring price premiums: Cargill program offers guaranteed market

16

Food policy takes a youthful turn: 2015 Youth Ag-Summit wrap up

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Agriculture powers the way to peace: The World Food Prize Foundation in action

32

PHOTO: CANOLA COUNCIL OF CANADA

ON THE COVER The popularity of canola oil, for both personal and commercial use, demonstrates growing confidence in this made-inCanada oil.

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FARM FORUM / WINTER 2012

Maximize cereal performance and savings with Bayer

36 FARMFORUM.CA / FALL 2015

3

Editor’s note

PHOTO: GENISIS STUDIO

C

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urrently, Canada produces 3 million tonnes of canola oil a year. And studies show that on the whole, this oilseed crop contributes $19 billion annually to the Canadian economy. No wonder canola is one of the country’s biggest agricultural success stories.

In this issue we take a look at canola oil’s special attributes that make it so popular with consumers, chefs and food manufacturers. In just a few decades, canola oil has become a staple in the kitchens of most Canadians, and the oil of choice for commercial use.

In fact, seven years ago, fast food giant McDonald’s switched to canola oil as its primary frying oil. The company now sources its entire North American supply of canola oil from western Canada. And that’s great news for canola producers.

We also take a look at Bayer’s new InVigor Health hybrids, with their features designed to meet the needs of the commercial vegetable oil market.

On the crop production side, we get the views of experts from Bayer’s Cutting Edge Expo tour as they offer tips on straight cutting canola.

Other stories in this issue include a profile of the 2015 Outstanding Young Farmers’ program winners for the Atlantic Region. David and Sara Simmons, of Pure Holsteins near Little Rapids, NL, integrated robotic milkers at their dairy operation to not only increase production but give themselves more flexibility in running their business and raising their young family.

When it comes time to replace or upgrade farm equipment, today’s producers are not just looking for the bells and whistles. They want tech that’s easyto-use and fits comfortably into their operation. Our precision ag story on page 28 takes a look at some of this new tech and how it can improve your bottom line.

The World Food Prize — dubbed the “Nobel prize” for food and agriculture — was established by the late Dr. Norman Borlaug, a 1970 Nobel Peace Prize winner for a lifetime of work to feed a hungry world. Our story on page 32 takes a look at how The World Food Prize has helped, and is still helping, pave the way to peace and better nutrition in many countries around the globe.

Enjoy!

— Sherry Warner

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PRODUCTION

‘ Cutting Edge Expo’ showcases ag innovations In many farmers’ minds, Bayer CropScience is synonymous with canola. But Bayer is much more than that: the company has built a reputation for innovative seed and crop protection products across a broad swath of agriculture, and is working hard to fulfill its mission: “Science for a better life.”

By Gerald Pilger

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FARM FORUM / FALL 2015

Photos: genesis studio

T

his summer Bayer CropScience took its harvest management expertise on the road through its Cutting Edge Expo tours in Killam, AB and Yorkton, SK. Not only were Bayer’s new product innovations on display, it partnered with other agricultural companies to give growers an opportunity to learn from professionals from diverse agricultural sectors.

The first Cutting Edge Expo was held at Killam, AB on July 21, and focused on improving harvest management in canola. While maximizing canola productivity starts with buying and planting a topyielding variety like InVigor, any gains earned by planting quality seed can be easily lost at harvest.

Swathing too early, poorly set equipment and combining too fast can quickly rob yield.

Jim Bessel, a consulting senior agronomy specialist and senior agri-coach with Agri-Trend, reported most growers are leaving three to five bushels of canola per acre in the field due to harvest losses alone. Bessel pointed out that if prairie growers could reduce harvest losses by just one percentage point they would earn $210 million more each year (based on 21 million seeded acres of canola and canola priced at $10/ bushel).

Unfortunately, some farmers have no idea of the extent of their harvest losses. They are more focused on the productivity of the machine than the quality of the job they are doing. Or they simply do not take time to measure the loss behind their combine. Âť

FARMFORUM.CA / FALL 2015

7

Farmers from across Alberta took part in Bayer CropScience’s “Cutting Edge Expo” tours this summer. They had an opportunity to get a look at the latest Bayer harvest management innovations and learn from professionals from diverse agricultural sectors.

Granted, given canola’s small seed size, getting an accurate measurement of harvest losses isn’t easy.

But it can be done. During the expo, Bessel displayed the proper tools for harvest loss measurement and described the procedure growers need to follow to measure loss. This includes turning off the straw chopper when collecting the sample — something very few producers do. He shocked a lot of farmers when he demonstrated just how few canola seeds represent a 1 bu./ac. harvest loss.

Lee Erickson, a producer from Donalda, AB said: “One bushel per acre harvest loss is our goal but it is really tough to achieve.” Tough, but not impossible.

Here are some of the techniques discussed at the Killam Cutting Edge Expo.

Straight cutting If planning to straight cut canola, Bessel recommends you start preparing in the spring by growing hybrids with increased shattering and lodging resistance such as InVigor L140P. Since 1988, Bessel has advocated straight cutting canola. He says it can reduce harvest loss as well as

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increase yield and quality by giving the plant more time for pod filling. However, Bessel warned growers that straight cutting canola is a skill that must be mastered.

He urged those straight cutting canola for the first time to “start small, start slow, and learn as you go.”

Focus on recognizing which canola crop can be straight cut and which should be swathed, says Bessel.

Canola crops that are knitted together, have good pod integrity, uniform growth stage, minimal weed growth, low disease pressure and low risk of frost are ideal candidates for straight cutting.

He adds that growers may also want to consider straight cutting canola that is very short, lodged, or extensively branched and at risk of increased losses if swathed. Bessel recommends swathing if a crop is uneven, immature, at risk of frost damage or heavy with green weeds and/or crop rejuvenation.

Most importantly, he urges, slow down when combining. Just because you have the power to put the crop through at five miles an hour doesn’t mean you should travel at that speed. It’s as important to minimize harvest losses as it is to maximize combine throughput.

“Slow down when combining.

Just because you have the power to put the crop through at five miles an hour doesn’t mean you should travel at that speed” — Jim Bessel

Bob Hurlburt a grower from Camrose, AB, attended the expo to learn more about straight cutting canola and said he was impressed with the day. “The speakers were quite knowledgeable and presented good information; just the facts. I picked up a few pointers that I can use. I took away what I wanted to learn.”

Protect your crop pre-harvest During the expo, Bessel also spoke about the use of preharvest herbicides when straight cutting. Glyphosate can be applied in canola pre-harvest once seed is below 30 per cent moisture. Above 30 per cent, there is a risk glyphosate residues will remain in the seed.

At 30 per cent moisture, seeds will have changed to a yellow-brown colour. The seed coat will likely be translucent and the seeds may still be slightly mushy, but they can be rolled in your fingers. The most important thing to realize is that glyphosate is not a desiccant; it is strictly a weed control measure.

“Glyphosate will not hasten harvest,” warns Bessel.

Reglone is a desiccant that can be used in canola preharvest but, like glyphosate, does not hasten harvest.

If used too early, Bessel says it can lock in green seed,

agronomy specialist and agri-coach with Agri-Trend

so you need to wait for 80 to 90 per cent seed colour change before applying Reglone. Since it’s a contact herbicide, you need to use high water volumes and the best time to spray is in the evenings. If using Reglone, be ready to combine as soon as the crop has dried down because increased pod shatter can occur after application.

Maximize your combine for straight cutting John Deere participated in the Cutting Edge Expo at Killam and the company had its latest combine on display. Craig Mosher, senior marketing representative, harvest platform, and Steve Coon, product engineer, are both with John Deer Harvest Works in East Moline, IL. They spoke about preparing a combine for straight cutting canola.

Mosher says John Deere recognizes straight cutting is becoming increasingly popular with canola growers.

It can result in higher yields, higher oil content and lower harvest costs, he explains. The company expects growers will be straight cutting half of the canola in Canada within the next five to 10 years. As a result, JD »

FARMFORUM.CA / FALL 2015

9

engineers are working with growers and companies like Bayer to fine-tune equipment and combine operation for successful straight cutting in canola.

Coon provided the following tips:  Cut canola as high as possible.  The reel should be up and back.  Set the reel finger pitch to the least aggressive setting (if adjustable).  On draper headers, slow down the side delivery belts; match belt delivery to ground speed.  Run the table as flat as possible (if adjustable).  Use rigid mode when cutting with a flex header.  Ensure the concave is level.  Match ground speed to a full concave.  Start with the slowest rotor speed possible, then increase as necessary.  Decrease concave clearance before increasing rotor speed.

John Deere is currently working on a number of changes to its combines to improve performance for straight cutting canola. In 2016, JD headers will be available with a full-length cross auger, eliminating the dead space at each end of the current top augers. In the near future a centre section seal kit for draper headers will be available to reduce header losses. The company already offers add-on fingers, divider rods and vertical knives to reduce problems with canola hanging on the dividers.

Dave Sereda, a producer from Bawlf, AB, really liked the inclusion of John Deere reps on a crop tour. “The expo was a really good idea. Growers found out they were looking at the wrong end of the combine when trying to reduce harvest losses,” he said. “The Expo also gave me the opportunity to talk with other growers and learn from my peers.”

Canola demonstration strip trials Those attending the Cutting Edge Expo toured Bayer’s Killam demonstration strip trials of its top canola varieties. Bayer reps explained the agronomic features of each variety in the trial and answered growers’ questions.

InVigor L140P, Bayer’s new variety with increased shatter resistance and reduced pod drop, attracted a lot of interest. While marketed as a great choice for growers wanting to straight cut, it also offers extra risk management options. All growers can swath later, thereby increasing yield potential. InVigor L140P also gives growers a hybrid that they can leave standing longer before swathing. And it can reduce risks of lateseason damage by hail or wind.

Beyond canola By no means was the Killam expo restricted to canola.

Attendees had the opportunity to tour a wheat herbicide trial comparing products such as Varro, Velocity, Tundra and others. The take away was that to prevent further development of weed resistance, growers must rotate

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herbicides and pay careful attention to herbicide performance.

Growers at the expo also heard about insecticides and fungicides and had the opportunity to see the STORM seed treatment system.

Brett Jans, agronomist with Edberg Crop Management Inc., described the day as fantastic. “It is good to get the whole picture. Agronomics can only do so much. You have to look at the mechanical side of production as well,” he said. “Bayer introduced L140P, which provides pod and shatter resistance, and John Deere is working hard on the equipment side to decrease losses. So it is great that these two companies are working together to inform growers.” FF Tips on straight cutting canola www.farmforum.ca/straightcuttingcanola

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BUSINESS

Canola oil wears THE golden crown Its market dominance demonstrates growing consumer and processor confidence in this made-in-Canada oil

By Jennifer Barber

W

hen executive chef Anthony McCarthy is preparing food at the Saskatoon Club, he uses a selection of ingredients that are fresh, flavourful and, when possible, grown in Canada.

When he cooks those ingredients, he chooses another local product — canola oil.

“Canola oil is a very versatile cooking oil,” says McCarthy. “Its mildness carries the flavours of other ingredients nicely. I can use it in many different ways — from a marinade, to a vinaigrette, in the fryer and

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FARM FORUM / FALL 2015

PhotoS: left: thinkstock, RIGHT: bayer cropscience

even in baking. It’s a great option for any cook to choose.”

This kind of confidence in canola oil has created secure markets for Canadian canola growers. According to a study by LMC International — an independent economic and business consultancy for agribusiness — canola contributes more than $19 billion to the Canadian economy annually, including more than 249,000 jobs. It accounts for a quarter of all farm crop receipts as reported by Statistics Canada, and this country alone produces more than three million tonnes of canola oil a year.

Canola oil began to gain prominence in the late 1990s when both consumers and the food industry were looking for healthier sources of dietary fat. Demand for the golden oil steadily increased as more people became aware of its healthy profile. Canola oil is free of trans fats, which have been linked to heart disease, contains only seven per cent saturated fat (the least amount found in any common edible oil), and is high in mono-unsaturated fat. No wonder it has become the fourth most-consumed vegetable oil in the world.

McCarthy says that from a culinary perspective, the high smoke point of canola oil makes it very useful in highheat cooking and it doesn’t solidify in the fridge or thicken when cooled — a mark of its low saturated fat content.

“In addition, canola oil contains 11 per cent alpha-linolenic acid, a plant-based Omega-3 fat,” says Shaunda DuranceTod, a registered dietitian and the CanolaInfo Program manager with the Canola Council of Canada. “The human

canola rules in canada Studies show that Canola contributes more than AND MORE THAN

$19B

annually to the Canadian economy*

249,000 JOBS

Accounts for 1/4 of all farm receipts**

canada produces

3 MILLion tonnes of canola oil a YEAR

* LMC International **Statistics canada

body does not make this fatty acid on its own, so we need to get it from the food we eat.”

She adds that some specialty canola oils are designed to be higher in oleic acid than regular canola oil, making them better for use in some applications such as food processing. “Their higher oleic acid content makes those specialty canola oils more stable for use in commercial frying and other food processing applications,” says DuranceTod. “This type of canola oil was developed to replace partially hydrogenated oil, which is high in trans fat. The canola industry has successfully developed an alternative, which is good for both food service and other food industry uses, and is also a good source of healthy fats.”

The market for canola oil in Canada is expanding as its reputation continues

to grow with big food companies like McDonald’s, which now uses canola oil as its primary frying oil. “As a company we switched to high oleic canola oil in 2008 as it was a healthier option for our customers,” says Sherry MacLauchlan, director of government relations and sustainability with McDonald’s.

She says consumers really drove the switch to canola oil. One of the key selling points for the change was that canola oil’s mild flavour produced the same taste and texture that people had come to expect from McDonald’s popular menu items like its fries.

McDonald’s sources its entire North American supply from Western Canada, and that’s great news for canola producers. “When we first started researching healthier oils in the early 2000s, there wasn’t enough trans-fat-free oil available in the whole world to meet »

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13

PhotoS: left: courtesy mcdonald’s. right: courtesy canola council of canada

Fast food giant, McDonald’s, uses canola oil as its primary frying oil and sources its entire North American supply from Western Canada. Canola oil offers a healthier choice for producing McDonald’s popular menu items, including its famous fries, without compromising on taste.

even our North American demand. But once we realized canola oil would be a good fit for our business, Canadian canola growers were soon able to meet our capacity needs,” says MacLauchlan.

Of the $1 billion McDonald’s Canada spends on food inputs in this country, approximately 85 per cent are sourced from Canadian suppliers. There’s also a good sustainability story behind the company’s switch to Canadian canola oil, says MacLauchlan, explaining that spent oil used in McDonald’s restaurants is often recycled into products such as biofuel.

And things are changing on the local valueadded front. “While McDonald’s has been sourcing all of its canola from Canadian farmers for the past eight years, up until this year it all had to be sent to the U.S. for refining, then brought back to our Canadian locations,” she says.

“With both crush and refining capacity now available in Canada, we can now do everything here,” adds MacLauchlan. When you’re talking the kind of volume McDonald’s demands, that change means significant cost savings on transportation, and a reduction in harmful emissions, which both reduce pressure on the environment.

“We estimate that refining canola oil in Canada will reduce the diesel fuel used in McDonald’s Canada’s supply chain by approximately 33,600 gallons per year, which

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saves more than 766,000 pounds of C02 while positively contributing to the Canadian economy.”

MacLauchlan says that McDonald’s is always looking at improving the quality of its inputs, and the mandate to do so comes from its customers, as long as that doesn’t come at the expense of taste. She says that while the company is occasionally asked questions about the GM nature of its canola oil, most customer concerns are about the nutrition profile of the food.

Those questions about GM canola can reach back all the way to the grower, and can be difficult to answer given the amount of misinformation available to consumers. But Kate Hall, managing director of the Council for Biotechnology Information, says she thinks the agricultural industry, as a whole, has gotten much more effective at responding to those questions.

“I think as an industry we are doing a better job connecting with consumers over their concerns with GMOs than we did in the past,” says Hall. “And that comes right down to the farmer level. Farmers are a direct portal to the industry and so we want to make sure they realize they have support when preparing answers to questions they may be asked.”

The Council for Biotechnology Information hosts gmoanswers.com, a website that offers consumers, growers and others in the industry a platform to ask questions about

“Canola oil contains 11 per cent alpha-linolenic acid, a plant-based Omega-3 fat. The human body does not make this… so we need to get it from the food we eat” — Shaunda Durance-Tod registered dietitian and the Canola Info Program Manager with the Canola Council of Canada

GM technology in food. The answers come from a host of food-industry volunteers. Hall says they don’t hide from emotional questions because they recognize that food is an emotional issue for many people. She says they find that when they are transparent in their answers, most people are simply interested in knowing their food is safe.

“The canola industry is so important and we find when farmers are open and honest and proud of what they grow, people respond in a positive way,” she says. “Canola growers have to be willing to engage and show people that they are astute business people who are taking part in an important industry that wouldn’t succeed if the food was unsafe.”

She says that today, more and more farmers are participating in conversations about GM products and that has shifted conversations from worry

about the health and safety of GMOs to a discussion on consumers’ right to know what’s in their food.

She understands the trepidation in engaging people on the topic, but says consumers in general are open to learning more about their food.

“I think the majority of people are much more open-minded on this issue than you might think,” she says. “I’d suggest not letting two bad conversations keep you from having eight good ones. People do have confidence in canola, and the high number of canola-based products in the market is a sign of that confidence.”

Canola oil is continually evolving to meet consumer and food industry demands. Sharing information that canola oil is a healthy choice, is good to cook with and is an in-demand product will help expand markets and opportunities into the future. FF

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InVigor Health hybrids bring price premiums

BY JENNIFER BARBER Not all canola oil is created equal. And for the commercial vegetable oil market, which has very specific requirements, InVigor Health hybrids fit the bill.

Commercial customers need an oil that can maintain its stability in high heat and serve as an ingredient in other food products, says Blaine Woycheshin, manager, oilseed crops, with Bayer CropScience. “InVigor Health hybrids produce canola oil that is ideal for those applications.�

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Bayer currently sells its InVigor L156H hybrid, and next year plans to introduce InVigor L157H in limited quantities to canola growers in Western Canada.

Both offer the high oleic acid profile and stability that commercial users require, while providing the yield potential growers expect from the InVigor brand.

In internal trials, InVigor L157H has shown a two per cent yield increase over the previous hybrid, and matures a day earlier than InVigor L156H. The InVigor Health hybrids support a program offered by Cargill Ltd.,

PHOTOS: LEFT: COURTESY OF CARGILL CANADA, RIGHT: ©SHUTTERSTOCK

Cargill’s plant in Clavet, SK, is the company’s first fully integrated canola crushing and refining facility in Canada.

“We have more than 200 customers for high-oleic canola oil and that stability is the backbone of our canola oil business” — Rick Wiebe MARKETING MANAGER, SPECIALTY SEEDS AND OILS WITH CARGILL

which crushes and refines the oil for its commercial partners. Growers participating in the program are offered a contract premium to grow these hybrids with a guaranteed market through Cargill.

“Our commercial customers have been switching to high-oleic canola oil as trans fats have virtually disappeared from North American shelves,” says Rick Wiebe, marketing manager, specialty seeds and oils, with Cargill. “While demand for this oil has been steadily increasing, demand from growers for our high-oleic canola contracts has really taken off in the past few years because of the performance of canola hybrids available to growers. Growers demand hybrids that perform consistently on their farms, and the hybrids we have in our program are delivering that.”

“InVigor Health hybrids grow like any other InVigor hybrid, so western Canadian growers are very familiar with the performance they can expect,” says Woycheshin. “However, by signing up with Cargill, they have the security of a contract premium. When Cargill requires a specific oil for its customers, we deliver what they want and what growers need from a genetics perspective.”

“We contract InVigor Health in most

areas of the prairies, and even in North Dakota so that we can further diffuse risk and ensure a full supply for our oil customers,” says Wiebe.

Cargill recently completed construction of a new crush plant at Camrose, AB, and added refining capacity to its Clavet, SK plant. The Clavet plant is now Cargill’s first fully integrated canola crushing and refining facility in Canada. Wiebe says the fact that canola production in western Canada starts and finishes in this country is a great sustainability story for Canadians.

“We have more than 200 customers for high-oleic canola oil and that stability is the backbone of our canola oil business,” says Wiebe. “We are continually looking to develop more opportunities for our specialty oils through innovation and transparency in the supply chain from seed development through to the consumer.”

Wiebe says that as markets continue to grow for high-oleic canola oil, Cargill is working with Bayer to develop the next generation of InVigor Health products. “The demand for healthier oils is always increasing, and we continue to develop new technology that meets that demand.” FF

FARMFORUM.CA / FALL 2015

17

Resistance is Spreading.

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

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O-67-10/15-10444275-E

PRODUCTION

By Lisa Guenther

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photos: lisa guenther

Food policy takes a youthful turn

W

e hear a lot of discussion about how the agriculture industry is going to ramp up production enough to feed improved diets to the nine billion people predicted to be on this earth by 2050. And while this was the theme of the 2015 Youth Ag-Summit in Canberra, Australia, the approach was quite different from other events I’ve covered.

First, there were the delegates themselves. The Summit drew about 100 young leaders from 33 countries. They were all between the ages of 18 and 25, which had the side effect of making the rest of us feel old. But this age group has

a big stake in the challenge of feeding that ballooning population without depleting our resources. After all, today’s young adults will be around to see whether we chose the right course or not.

But their youth wasn’t the most striking thing about this crew. It was their diversity.

Some were former farm kids who now farm themselves, work in the ag sector, or attend university. But many others were studying or working in fields such as medicine, law, international relations and environmental science.

That rural-urban gap was apparent at times. For example, during a field trip to a research station, professional shearer Ian

Elkins treated the delegates to a sheepshearing demonstration. As an aside, Elkins was the man who recently sheared a record 40-kg of fleece off a sheep that had managed to avoid the shearing shed for several years.

Afterwards, as I snapped pictures of the newly-shorn sheep, I started chatting with a couple of delegates who were concerned the sheep might suffer hypothermia (it was late winter in Australia). I explained why sheep had to be sheared before summer, while admitting I didn’t know everything about sheep production. Later I wondered if they’d seen a sheep shearing before that day. »

Youth Ag-Summit delegates pose outside the sheep shearing shed at the Ginninderra Experimental Station near Canberra, Australia's capital.

FARMFORUM.CA / FALL 2015

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Top left: Dr. Jose Jimenez-Berni, research scientist with Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Australia’s national science agency, shows delegates the specialized equipment researchers use to measure canopy temperature in wheat. Right: Belinda Cay, who works with the Australian government’s Grains Research and Development Corporation, tells delegates about her family’s farm on the Adelaide Plains in South Australia. Next page, top left: Ian Elkins, professional sheep shearer, demonstrates his shearing skills. Top right and bottom left respectively: the view from inside and outside the shearing shed.

But this Summit wasn’t about educating city kids. Everyone there had a different perspective on the food supply chain. And putting those different points of view together generated a bigpicture view. The conference agenda also included presentations by a selection of economists, researchers and other experts.

If you’ve been to a few conferences, you’ll know that conversations during breaks are often the best parts. The Youth Ag-Summit organizers built on this, setting aside time for breakout sessions so delegates could collaborate on solutions for sustainably feeding a hungry planet.

In chatting with delegates, the energy around this collaboration came up again and again. Bollem Raj Kumar is a mechanical engineer and spatial analyst from India. He and his colleagues designed a solar-powered machine that does everything from sowing to spraying.

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Bollem said one of the most exciting things was working with people from developed, developing and undeveloped economies with diversified backgrounds.

“Everyone has a story to tell about their experiences in the field of agriculture and the message is all about ‘feeding a hungry planet,’” he said.

In fact, when asked about what needed to be improved, he suggested giving every delegate a few minutes to speak in front of everyone. This would spur more interaction, Bollem said.

So what was the end result of all this? For one, the delegates drafted the Canberra Youth Ag Declaration from their recommendation on approaching the conundrum of feeding people sustainably. Kenya’s Samba Ouma and Australia’s Laura Grubb were selected from the delegates to present the declaration to the United Nations Committee on World Food Security in Rome this October.

On an individual level, each delegate was asked to come up with “three little things” they could do in their local communities. Bollem said his three little things were: to inspire, innovate and invest.

When I contacted Bollem for this story, he was already back to work, researching technology that would be reliable, sustainable and economical for farmers. The connections he made at the Summit will give him “a huge pile of opportunities” to implement his ideas and innovations, he said. And staying connected with the delegates through social media would allow him to hear new ideas and discussions, he added.

The last day of the Summit is what sticks in my mind the most. For several days, delegates had been listening to speakers, working in breakout sessions and attending evening events. Yet they still had plenty of gas left in the tank.

They finalized and presented their ideas

“This Summit wasn’t about educating city kids. Everyone there had a different perspective on the food supply chain.

And putting those different points of view together generated a big-picture view” — Lisa Guenther Staff Writer with Grainews and Country Guide

for the Youth Ag Declaration. When Grubb and Ouma were announced as the UN ambassadors, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. At one point, Summit moderator Simon Pampena joked that the atmosphere was like a spiritual revival.

The official program closed and Pampena organized one last group selfie. Delegates cheered as they crowded into the picture, hoisting large cardboard fruit over their heads. “The banana’s in the way,” Pampena yelled as he tried to snap a picture.

Then it was off to the National Portrait Gallery for the last reception. The evening’s soundtrack was loud dance music. Baarbara, a cardboard sheep that was a mascot of sorts, made a cameo appearance on the dance floor. “Those

Delegates of the Youth Ag-Summit in Canberra, Australia, pose for one last group selfie on the last day of the summit.

kids have a lot of energy,” I thought, as I snuck out on the first bus at 10 p.m.

Of course, the question is whether they can sustain that momentum.

Will the delegates follow through with their three little things, whatever they may be? What will happen after Ouma and Grubb present the declaration to the UN? Will delegates keep working together on that goal of feeding nine billion sustainably?

I don’t know the answers to those questions. But Bayer CropScience and organizations like Australia’s Future Farmers Network are banking on young leaders to find solutions to the big problems facing modern agriculture. And after talking with Bollem and his cohort, it seems the Summit sponsors have put their money on the right people. FF

Lisa Guenther, a staff writer with Grainews and Country Guide, is currently president of the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation. In August, she went to Australia to cover the Youth Ag Summit and look at how the agriculture industry is managing herbicide resistance. You can read more of her coverage from Australia in Grainews and Country Guide.

FARMFORUM.CA / FALL 2015

23

FA R M L I F E

Robotic milkers keep these dairy farmers competitive B y J e n n ifer B arber

“People ask me what I do now with all of my free time,” says David Simmons, co-owner along with his wife, Sara, of Pure Holsteins. “But the work is still there — we still have to feed the animals and look after the dairy. We manage animals individually instead of as a herd to make sure we get the most from each cow,” he explains.

“It’s not that we have more free time; it’s that our time is more flexible.”

The robotic milking system, installed in November 2014, was the first of its kind in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and its implementation is one of the reasons the Simmons were chosen as Atlantic Region winners of the 2015 Outstanding Young Farmers’ Program. The annual competition seeks out young farmers who represent innovation and excellence in their profession.

David and Sara Simmons have taken a lifetime of experience growing up on farms, and applied it to their own dairy operation. Sara was raised on a dairy farm in Moncton, NB, while David grew up on a Newfoundland poultry farm — originally owned by his grandfather then, later, by his father and uncle. Another uncle came on board to run the dairy side of the family business.

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David and Sara met at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College where they developed a plan for owning their own dairy, while at the same time helping transition David’s family farm over to the next generation. “I came back to Newfoundland in 2007 and worked with my uncle to learn all I could about dairy management before Sara joined me,” says David. “When she arrived a year later she took on the breeding and calving part of the business.”

When David’s uncle stepped back in 2010, he and Sara became managers of the dairy and within two years they took over full management of the 100-head herd. “After starting Pure Holsteins in 2011, we bought the cows and the equipment and leased the dairy facilities and the quota from my father and his two brothers.”

This succession plan has allowed everyone in their family to participate in the farm regardless of what point they are at in life. David’s dad recently retired while his two uncles continue to grow forage. And, as their farm careers wind down, they work with David and Sara to ensure a smooth transition. »

PhotoS COURTESY DAVID AND SARA SIMMONS

I

It’s 5 a.m. at the Simmons home near Little Rapids, Newfoundland — and everyone is still asleep. That’s unheard of for most dairy producers. But, with the help of two robotic milkers to replace a twice-daily conventional milking schedule, the Simmons now have more flexibility in their lives — including room for a little more shut eye.

David and Sara Simmons with their daughter Felicity at their dairy farm, Pure Holsteins, near Little Rapids, Newfoundland.

FARMFORUM.CA / FALL 2015

25

“They helped prepare us for success, and we continue to work with them daily,” says Sara. “We have made a lot of upgrades in the last few years to make the business more profitable,” she adds. “We put in fans throughout the dairy and laid down rubber throughout the barns. We have also been very focused on the genetics of our herd because high quality, registered Holsteins are generally healthier and produce more milk.”

Since they started Pure Holsteins, herd productivity has increased from an average of 27 litres per cow per day in 2010, to 38 litres in 2014. Sara estimates that the robotic system has increased each cow’s production by a further 25 per cent and, once fully optimized, has the potential to increase that by another 5 per cent.

The robotic units are placed perpendicular to each other in the barn. When a cow is ready to be milked, she enters a stall outside the milker. At this point the robot identifies the cow by scanning a neck collar. If she’s not ready to be milked, she has to leave the milker. If a cow is ready, a set of brushes cleans her teats and air dries them. Then, using a 3-D camera and lasers, the robot attaches to the udder and begins milking.

“Grain is like candy to cows and the robots automatically feed them,” says Sara. “We have no trouble getting them to come and be milked. And they quickly learn to enter the milker when they are ready,” she adds. “This happens at different times throughout the day, so we don’t have cows all trying to get in there at once. Each cow is milked

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FARM FORUM / FALL 2015

“We have also been very focused on the genetics of our herd because high quality, registered Holsteins are generally healthier and produce more milk” — Sara Simmons

in about five minutes and depending on what stage she’s at, is milked anywhere from one to eight times a day.”

The robotic system also allows the Simmons to keep better track of a cow’s performance, as it records her weight, milk temperature, ketone levels, and somatic cell counts.

This additional information helps David and Sara better track the health of their herd.

The next steps in their business plan include preparations to take more of a management role in the forage side of the farm. Right now, they have 550 acres in production — mostly alfalfa and legume/grass, with 80 acres in corn silage plus a few additional acres under a wheat, oats and peas rotation. This mix has allowed them to be entirely self-sufficient in feed, which is unusual for dairy farms in Newfoundland.

“We face a big change when my uncles retire,” says David.

“Right now we count on the forage being available, the manure spread and the snow cleared,” he explains. “That will eventually all fall to us and we think the improvements we have made and will continue to make should allow us to manage it all with minimal help.”

The Simmons are active in their community, and show their cows wherever they have the opportunity. They also

volunteer on the Deer Lake Agricultural Fall Fair committee, and David is president of the NS/NL Holstein Branch.

He also chairs a Young Farmers Forum steering committee. They hope their love of farming will continue to the next generation.

“Our daughter, Felicity, is still only four, but she is part of the dairy operation each and every day, which is easier now that we don’t have the same rigid schedule,” says Sara. “We hope she will have the same interest in farming as we have and we hope to set up the farm so that it will work for the next generation, as our set-up has worked for us,” she says.

“We would like to start a 4-H club in our community as we want to encourage kids to be interested in farming from an early age.”

David says their land can support up to 200 milking cows and replacements. With that in mind, the Simmons would like to eventually add a couple more robotic milkers, a new barn for replacement and dry cows, and then slowly increase the number of cows in their milking herd.

But right now, David and Sara are slowing their pace a little to allow them to reap the rewards of all their improvements, and enjoy the flexibility the new systems provide. FF

FARMFORUM.CA / FALL 2015

27

T E C H N O L O GY

Precision ag takes the next step

By Joy Gregory When it’s time to replace or upgrade farm equipment, cool new bells and whistles are not enough to satisfy today’s savvy shoppers: they’re looking for smart farming technology that’s easy to use and seamless in terms of how it integrates with their overall farm businesses.

From potential to performance Get ready for a closer connection between what a technology is designed to do, and how that potential is put into action by those who use it, says Jim Wood, VP Ag, Rocky Mountain Equipment (RME). “In the search for higher yields and better quality, the agronomy side of farming will become tied more tightly to the field equipment used to grow tomorrow’s crops.”

“There is no question the relationship between dealers and farmers is evolving from a transactional to more of a partnership relationship” — Corey Leonard VP Ag, Cervus Equipment

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RME’s move in that direction began about three years ago when the Calgarybased CNH dealer integrated its product and technology specialists. Known now as ag optimization specialists, these individuals are trained to help farmers understand how to make the best use of the equipment they buy, and improve its performance.

“These machines have a lot of moving parts,” says Wood. “We can’t sell a machine to someone and hear two years later that he didn’t know what a particular switch was for, or that he didn’t find value in the technology.”

Advances in telematics, which transmits real-world data from the field to a remote specialist, already allows some machinery dealer specialists to monitor their customers’ equipment from their own offices.

JDLink, for example, feeds John Deere

specialists information about how a particular machine is running. If there’s a problem with the transmission or engine oil temperature, they contact the owner.

Corey Leonard, VP Ag, Cervus Equipment in Saskatoon, says, that data is getting to machinery owners “before they even know there’s a problem.”

That’s critical information for the growing number of farmers who hire people to run their machines during peak seasons. “There is no question the relationship between dealers and farmers is evolving from a transactional to more of a partnership relationship,” says Leonard.

“It’s hard to imagine how far the technology will go,” says Wood. “But farmers will always be looking for ways to cut their input costs, improve production, get a better grade and harvest a cleaner sample.” He foresees a time when

The JDLink equipment management solution is a telematics system designed to remotely connect owners and managers to their equipment, providing alerts and machine information including location, utilization, performance, and maintenance data to manage where and how equipment is being used.

Clean Seed Agricultural Technologies, with its new highly advanced CX-6 SMART Seeder is an important advancement in agriculture. The SMART Seeder offers an unrivaled level of precision in modern no-till seeding.

producers will monitor and control farm equipment from the farm office. There may be a farm employee in the combine or tractor seat, but the farmer, in cooperation with technical machinery specialists, will be deciding what the machine does.

Next up: efficiency Wood sees efficiency as agriculture’s next technological frontier. The people who design and manufacture farm machinery have arguably maxed out on size and comfort. There’s simply not much room to go bigger, and they’re running out of ways to make time spent in the cab even more pleasant.

But producers who trade in halfmillion-dollar machines for new halfmillion-dollar machines are looking for technological advancements, and they won’t be disappointed by what’s expected on the market over the next 10 years, says Wood.

A case in point: Clean Seed’s no-till precision seeder. This machine lets an operator seed six different seed varieties at six different rates, and is a prime example of how a machine can drive efficiency through nuts and bolts (and bits and bytes). In addition to improving fertilizer placement, this technology can under-seed a crop, like alfalfa, in wheat.

“That’ll save a field pass the following year,” explains Wood.

Add in the integration of independent technologies, like telematics (real-time data transmission), geomatics (mapping)

and unmanned aerial technology (drones), and the same seeder will eventually let a farmer use soil samples and yield maps to calculate seed and fertilizer placement for every square foot of his field. “Right now, the best we can do is about 10- to 18-foot sections of the drill,” says Wood.

The ability to translate highly detailed field maps into such specific seed and fertilizer decisions still needs fine-tuning.

But auto-guidance technology is here and it’s dramatically changed the way many farmers run their businesses. “A lot of our customers are surfing the web, checking commodity prices or buying fertilizer for next spring while they’re combining,” says Wood.

Of course, the raw efficiency of autosteer goes way beyond multi-tasking.

“More importantly, it prevents overlap when you’re seeding or spraying. That improves input performance while cutting fuel and labour costs. Auto-steer also reduces operator fatigue, and that triggers further increases in productivity,” says Wood. “All of this makes an operation much more efficient.”

While farmers know only too well that technological potential doesn’t automatically equate to real-world performance, so do the people who make and sell agricultural equipment. Still, says Leonard, that push to improve financial margins is driving the growing interest in what precision-farming technology is capable of. FF

“In the search for higher yields and better quality, the agronomy side of farming will become tied more tightly to the field equipment used to grow tomorrow’s crops” — Jim Wood VP Ag, Rocky Mountain Equipment

FARMFORUM.CA / FALL 2015

29

Weather or Not

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With Raxil PRO Shield, what you seed is what you get.

C-55-10/15-10444275-E

BUSINESS

Agriculture powers the way to peace B y D i a n n e F i n s ta d

F

ood is a great global connector.

Farmers in Saskatchewan know their pulse price can be affected by crop conditions in India. Canadian scientists take plant material to South America to help speed up their genetic research. Governments in Africa cooperate with North American aid workers as they grapple with how best to distribute food to those in dire need.

In the midst of what seems to be a field of enormous challenges lies a program designed to put a spotlight on the victories. The World Food Prize —

In 1970 Norman E. Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for a lifetime of work to feed a hungry world. Although a scientist with outstanding contributions, perhaps Dr. Borlaug’s greatest achievement was his unending struggle to integrate the various streams of agricultural research into viable technologies and convince political leaders to bring these advances to fruition.

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FARM FORUM / FALL 2015

informally described as the “Nobel prize” for food and agriculture — has blossomed into an entity with global impact.

The prize itself was established by the late Dr. Norman Borlaug (19142009), a Nobel Peace Prize winner and one of agriculture’s most passionate and well-known scientists. Raised on a farm in Iowa, Borlaug’s research work took him first to Mexico, then to other places around the globe in his quest for disease-resistant and high-yielding wheat varieties. Along with improved crop management practices, his work is

Twenty years ago, The World Food Prize Foundation started a Youth Institute to help raise awareness among students about global agricultural issues.

credited for sparking what’s known today as the “Green Revolution.”

Borlaug initiated the idea of The World Food Prize, to “honour outstanding individuals who’ve made significant contributions to improving the quality, quantity or availability of food throughout the world.” The prize, which includes $250,000, was first presented in 1986 and subsequent laureates have come from more than 15 different countries.

Thanks to the sponsorship of Iowa businessman John Ruan, the prize became a foundation, which now hosts the annual Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium and several programs focused on inspiring the next generation to work in the global agriculture industry.

Dr. Kenneth Quinn has been the foundation’s president for the past 15 years. He spent more than 30 years in the U.S. Foreign Service and is a former ambassador to Cambodia.

Quinn is a self-described “city kid” who had virtually nothing to do with agriculture. He joined the U.S. Foreign Service with visions of attending receptions in chandelier-filled ballrooms in exotic locales. Instead, he found himself in Vietnam in 1968 in the midst of war. He was there when some improved rice seed arrived at the local villages.

“I saw how the combination of this new agricultural technology and improved rural roads transformed village life in every imaginable way,” recalls Quinn.

“It lifted people out of poverty, and at the same time, undercut the ability of guerillas and insurgents to recruit young people. It got at the heart of the Viet Cong movement, and contributed to helping end the war.”

Quinn was so taken with what he saw that he turned down his dream assignment in western Europe, choosing instead to stay on in Vietnam during the war. “That shaped the rest of my career,”

FARMFORUM.CA / FALL 2015

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“(I see) the role that agriculture can play in building bridges between adversaries; between people who have huge chasms separating them” — Dr. Kenneth Quinn President of The World Food Prize Foundation

he says. “I came to see how the power of agriculture and rural development was so essential to key diplomatic and foreign policy goals.”

The link between agriculture and peace was a new concept at the time, but it was one Quinn put to the test again 25 years later as ambassador to Cambodia. Using a limited budget, he applied the same formula of new seed, new agricultural technology and decent rural roads as a way to defuse the deadly insurgence by the Khmer Rouge.

Quinn’s passion to reduce hunger remains vibrant and has sparked the growth of The World Food Prize from a small, one-day awards event, to a weeklong series of discussions and initiatives at The World Food Prize Foundation headquarters in Des Moines, IA, which, last year, attracted 1,200 people from more than 60 countries.

“We’re carrying forward Dr. Borlaug’s legacy,” says Quinn, pointing out there are statues honouring the scientist both in Mexico and India, where his “miracle wheat” is credited with saving hundreds of millions from famine and starvation.

Last year, to mark the centennial of Borlaug’s birth, Quinn was the first and only former American ambassador invited to Iran to be part of a special

celebration honouring Borlaug. “I spoke at the Iranian government conference, and talked about his legacy and the role biotechnology could play,” Quinn says. Like Borlaug, the Iranians are huge supporters of biotech.

Quinn also talked about the possibility of the U.S. and Iran working together to deal with wheat rust. “Borlaug’s dream was that one day, using biotech, scientists could discover what it is that keeps rice from ever getting rust disease, and implant it into wheat,” he says. As a result of that trip, an Iranian scientist came to Iowa last year to be part of a panel discussion on the subject.

Quinn cites other examples of the power of agriculture to break down barriers to peaceful interaction: from Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev visiting an Iowa corn breeder during the height of the Cold War, to three Muslim scientists from Arab countries successfully nominating an Israeli Jewish scientist — a pioneer in micro-irrigation — for the 2012 World Food Prize, and joining in the celebration. “(I see) the role that agriculture can play in building bridges between adversaries; between people who have huge chasms separating them,” Quinn says. Agriculture can help build trust, which can develop

Bill Tiedje (seated at the microscope), from Newton, Iowa, was one of 12 high-school students awarded a Borlaug-Ruan Internship in 2006.

Bill went to the International Livestock Research Institute in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His resulting report is titled: Observations of Cattle Production and Trypanosomiasis in Rural Ethiopia. Trypanosomiasis is a tropical cattle disease spread by tsetse flies.

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Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, first WFP Laureate and chairman of the selection committee at the global Youth Institute. WFP events give youth an opportunity to meet and interact with ag scientists and WFP laureates.

The World Food Prize is the foremost international award recognizing — without regard to race, religion, nationality, or political beliefs — the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.

into further understanding and help diffuse tensions, he adds. “That legacy is embodied in our tradition here at The World Food Prize. We need to have our national leaders, beyond the ministers of agriculture, understand that powerful role.”

A walk through The World Food Prize Hall of Laureates is to take an inspiring trip around the world, to meet people from a broad array of functions, across the entire food production, processing and distribution chain. Those honoured range from the founder of Heifer International — a charitable organization working to end hunger and poverty around the world — to former presidents of nations, along with renowned biotechnology pioneers.

“There are so many incredible stories,” says Quinn. “The way I refer to The World Food Prize laureates is that they are the all-star team of the single greatest period of food production and hunger reduction in human history. And Norman Borlaug is the team captain.

“What we need now is the next team of all-stars, who are going to be the leaders and innovators and contributors to what

has to be, once again, the greatest period of food production and hunger reduction in human history. We have to do it all over again.”

That’s why, 20 years ago, The World Food Prize started a Global Youth Institute to inspire students by making them aware of the global issues the planet faces. There are also several international internships and fellowships that connect young people with current leaders in the field.

And there’s even the Borlaug Field Award, honouring scientific achievements in agriculture and food production for those under 40.

It’s easy to get caught up in the dayto-day challenges and individual roles in the agricultural industry. But The World Food Prize encourages everyone involved to step back and think about the greater good, to encourage achievements in agriculture and food that have worldwide implications. Quinn believes that will make all the difference.

“Science is, after all, the multiplier of the harvest,” he said. “That’s what is critical to uplifting poor people — multiplying the harvest.” FF

World Food Prize: www.worldfoodprize.org

FARMFORUM.CA / FALL 2015

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WHAT’S NEW WITH BAYER CROPSCIENCE PRODUCTS

COMPLETE YOUR CEREAL ACRE MAXIMIZE CEREAL CROP PERFORMANCE AND SAVINGS

G

etting the most out of every cereal acre means finding the perfect balance of products to maximize your return on investment.

Good agronomics and Good Economics

Completing your cereal acre with Bayer CropScience allows you to choose from a wide variety of high-performing and innovative cereal cropping solutions.

And, bundling these purchases through BayerValue helps further increase your profitability.

Protect your cereal crop throughout the entire season. Mix and match seed treatment, herbicide and fungicide purchases from Bayer CropScience to maximize your return on investment while saving on all three.

Herbicide Solutions: Bayer CropScience’s full lineup of cereal herbicides offer a multitude of solutions to address your weed concerns and help manage herbicide resistance. Choose from seven different cereal herbicides including Buctril® M, Infinity®, Puma® Advance, Thumper®, Tundra®, Varro® and Velocity M3.

Disease Protection: Seven years and 185 trials continue to prove that “It Pays To Spray.” For a high quality, high-grade crop, both Folicur® EW and Prosaro® help your cereal crops to finish strong.

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FARM FORUM / FALL 2015

photos: bayer cropscience

Seed Treatments: Get your crop off to a strong start. Raxil® PRO and Raxil PRO Shield seed treatments provide exceptional disease protection resulting in strong emergence and some of the highest returns on your farm.

A NEWSLETTER FROM BAYER CROPSCIENCE

Treating your seed: a worthwhile investment

I

t’s a fact – despite best management practices, you will probably have to deal with seed- and soil-borne disease in your crops. But current seed treatment technology means that disease can be easily managed — for a crop that emerges well has better plant stands and higher plant counts.

What was once a messy, confusing process is now simple to achieve with products that are easy to apply. Allan Anderson, a specialist with the Bayer SeedGrowth™ team, explains how today’s technology can effectively eliminate your concerns.

Q: Isn’t applying seed treatment messy?

A: Not anymore. Today’s seed treatments are packaged in a closed system that greatly reduces mess. The water-based, micro-dispersion formulations reduce dust and are easier to apply and clean up.

Q: Do I need specialized equipment to get good coverage?

A: In most cases you may just need to adjust how you currently use your existing equipment to maximize your advantage.

For example you may need to consider using restrictor plates, or re-calibration of your pump and nozzle.

Q: How do I make sure I am accurately calculating my application rates?

A: To make sure you are getting adequate coverage, you need three pieces of information: flow of the chemical and flow of both grain and seed density. Once you know all three, you will be able to achieve good rates.

Q: How do I keep the equipment used to transport my treated seed clean?

A: Proper cleanup is important, but with water-based formulations it’s just a matter of being diligent to make sure all treated seed and dust is removed from trucks and augers.

Q: What is the best way to store and dispose of treated seed?

A: The best way to store treated seed is to keep it in a cool, dry place separate from other products. To avoid crosscontamination, leftover seed should be disposed of according to local regulations.

Meet Allan Anderson, Bayer’s SeedGrowth Specialist I started in the Ag industry in 1995 in independent retail and worked there until 2011. At that time I joined Bayer CropScience as a Territory Sales Manager in East Central Alberta until the transition into the SeedGrowth Specialist role in May. During my time in retail, I covered almost every aspect of the business; from chem shed operation, custom application (operator and coordinator), sales, and even management. I spent the last half of my independent retail life managing the canola and bulk certified seed business. While in the certified seed business, I was the bulk storage facility operator, earned my seed grader certification, developed and operated the seed treating systems and quality assurance procedures and manuals. I have held a valid pesticide applicators license since 1996.

FARMFORUM.CA / FALL 2015 37

WHAT’S NEW WITH BAYER CROPSCIENCE PRODUCTS

E

arly season protection is critical and EverGol® Energy delivers with three active ingredients, from three different fungicide groups. With both systemic and contact fungicidal control, EverGol Energy helps plants achieve a stronger start in the early development stage with stronger roots, better nutrient uptake and quicker emergence. Its unique Group 7 chemistry, penflufen, was designed to protect soybeans against all major diseases, including rhizoctonia, fusarium, pythium, botrytis, and phomopsis. Use with Stress Shield® insecticide seed treatment for premium disease and insect control. In the end, strong and healthy plants have the potential for higher yields. Give your soybeans the best chance for early season success with EverGol Energy and Stress Shield.

SOYBEAN YIELD RESPONSE – RHIZOCOTINIA EVERGOL ENERGY Relative yield (untreated = 100)

EverGol Energy provides quicker emergence, healthier plants and higher yields

APRON MAXX®

114 112 110 108 106 104 102 100

Source: 9 Trials in America, North America, 2008.

Includes base of Stress Source: 9 Trials in North 2008. Includes a base treatmenta of Stresstreatment Shield and Metalaxyl for Shield insect control* *and YourMetalaxyl results may vary to agronomic, environmental and pest pressure variables. for according insect control*.

Yield in untr. = 30.9 (13-48) dt/ha = 100% rel. to agronomic, environmental and pest * Your results may vary according Rates expressed (g a.i./dt or g a.i./100kg/seed pressure variables.

EverGol Energy rate = 11.5 g a.i./100kg/seed Apron Maxx rate = 6.25 g a.i./100kg/seed Yield in untr. = 30.9 (13-48) dt/ha = 100% rel.

Rates expressed (g a.i./dt or g a.i./100kg/seed EverGol Energy rate = 11.5 g a.i./100kg/seed Apron Maxx rate = 6.25 g a.i./100kg/seed

New InVigor hybrids to fit your farm

F

or each canola field on your farm, there is an InVigor® hybrid to suit your needs. Bayer CropScience is committed to developing innovative hybrids to optimize performance in every canola field and addressing whatever your cropping concerns may be. For the 2016 growing season, Bayer CropScience is introducing two new hybrids to allow you even more options when choosing which hybrids work best for your farm.

InVigor L241C – For those regions where clubroot is problematic, Bayer CropScience has developed InVigor L241C with built-in clubroot resistance.* With a 2 per cent yield advantage and improved standability over the marketleading InVigor L135C, InVigor L241C offers growers a tool to manage clubroot. This hybrid should be used as part of an integrated pest management strategy to help prevent the breakdown of clubroot resistance.

InVigor L157H – New from the InVigor Health lineup, InVigor L157H offers a two percent yield gain, and a day earlier maturity over InVigor L156H. This newest InVigor Health hybrid offers you the performance of an InVigor with the added benefit of a contract premium.

Both of these new hybrids will be available for the 2016 season in limited quantities and select regions. Ask your Bayer CropScience representative for more information or visit InVigorResults.ca for complete trial results.

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FARM FORUM /FALL 2015

* To predominant clubroot pathotypes identified in Canada at time of registration.

A NEWSLETTER FROM BAYER CROPSCIENCE

Keep resistant weeds at bay with proven crop management practices

A

s you’re completing harvest this year, you may have noticed weed escapes in your field. Have you considered that these escapes may not be an application issue? In fact, they could have been caused by herbicide resistance.

Dealing with weeds during harvest can be a nuisance, but the real issues with resistant weeds are twofold: the effect they can have on your yield and the longterm impact on your operation. Once you have resistant weeds in your field, you need to address them before they limit your ability to effectively use certain herbicides on your farm.

The good news is there are simple ways to combat these weeds. Starting with one field, try a management approach that includes one or all of the following:

Liberty® herbicide is the only Group 10 herbicide on the canola market, with no known resistance in Canada.

Velocity M3 is a broad spectrum herbicide used in wheat that has three different groups, which can help delay the onset of resistance.

Infinity® is a unique Group 27 herbicide combined with a Group 6 for cereal growers; it’s very tank-mix friendly and has no known resistance in Canada.

In addition to herbicide rotation, early weed removal is also important to keep your crop from having to compete against weeds during the critical weed-free period – the 1-4 leaf stage of the plant.

For more information on how to manage resistance, visit MixItUp.ca

Varro® herbicide’s Group 2 chemistry provides control of wild oats and many other problem grassy weeds in wheat with the added ability to increase broadleaf tank mix partner’s effectiveness.

 Utilize the best crop genetics  Ensure you are being diverse in your crop rotations  Rotate your herbicide groups  Spot spray if you need to or hand pick patches of weeds before they spread And finally, try selective tillage or cultural practices such as increasing crop competitiveness by managing fertility, adjusting seeding rates, narrow your row spacing and try cover crops.

Rotation, Rotation, Rotation Simply put, proper rotation is a very effective way to manage herbicide resistance. That means rotation of crop, and rotation of herbicide groups.

Bayer CropScience has a full suite of herbicide solutions, representing a wide spectrum of herbicide groups to help you with this goal.

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

Always read and follow label directions. Buctril®, EverGol®, Folicur®, Infinity®, InVigor®, Liberty®, Prosaro®, Puma®, Raxil®, SeedGrowth™, Stress Shield®, Thumper®, Tundra® and Varro® are trademarks of the Bayer Group. All other products mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

FARMFORUM.CA / FALL 2015 39

BayerCropScience.ca/InVigor

1 888-283-6847

@Bayer4CropsCA

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

Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

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