GNN120507 by Farm Business Communications

Volume 38, Number 11 | May 7, 2012

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PRACTICAL PRODUCTION TIPS FOR THE PRAIRIE FARMER

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Try bait to sample wireworms Wireworms may be lurking in the ground beneath your feet. Learn how to recognize wireworm damage and use bait to get a good sample BY ANGELA LOVELL

ireworms are omnipresent insect pests that can attack many different crops including annual and perennial grasses, wheat, barley, corn and potatoes. They are becoming increasingly problematic, especially in areas where grassland or pasture has been broken up for cropping, due to their long life cycle and the lack of effective control methods.

WIREWORM LIFE CYCLES Perpetual populations of click beetles (the adult stage of wireworms) can be found in many undisturbed areas, such as grasslands or pasture. Click beetles emerge from the soil where they have overwintered in late April or early May, in search of new areas to colonize. Female adults prefer to lay their eggs in grasses or cereal crops, but the wireworm larvae — which hatch about three to seven weeks after the eggs are laid — will feed on other crops, including canola. Wireworm larvae generally take four to five years (yes, years!) to complete their life cycle. They spend all of this time under-

ground, so it’s often hard to detect them until there is evidence of crop damage. The larvae are hardy, and hibernate 25 centimetres or more below ground level. If they survive their first winter they can go at least two years without any food other than humus. From late May through June, the female click beetles can lay 200 to 1,400 eggs in loose or cracked soil and under lumps of soil. The young wireworms hatch in the early summer, and initially feed on the roots of germinating seeds, but cause little damage at this stage. As wireworms grow over the years, it’s common for them to feed on germinating seeds, and they may burrow into stems, causing above-ground parts of crops to turn brown, wilt and die. A large wireworm can kill two or more seedlings, and high populations can result in thin stands. These thin stands are often mistaken for poor germination, especially during dry conditions. Larval activity is governed by temperature and moisture conditions. Wireworms are most active at soil temperatures between 10 C and 20 C in the spring, at which time they move closer to the surface to find food. As temperatures increase and the

soil dries out in July and August, wireworms are forced to move deeper into the soil. Cool spring weather can restrict adult activity and lengthen the egg-laying period. Eggs are laid near the soil surface or in compact soil, and newly hatched wireworms are subject to high mortality (between 92 and 98 per cent) when moisture levels and temperature fluctuate rapidly. When fully grown, after four to five years, the larvae pupate in July and August, about five to 10 centimetres below the soil surface for about a month. At this time, the adult wireworms are formed, but they will not emerge from the ground until the following spring.

CROP DAMAGE More damage is generally seen on crops planted in silty, mediumtextured, well-drained soils and in soils that have been under previous continuous pasture for at least five years. There is usually less damage on crops grown in heavy or very light soils. Crops grown in newly broken sod can suffer great losses for one to two years, then the damage will decrease rapidly as long as there are

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PHOTOS: BOB VERNON, AAFC

A large wireworm can kill two or more seedlings, and high populations can result in thin stands. These thin stages are often mistaken for poor germination, especially during dry conditions.

In This Issue

Publications Mail Agreement Number 40069240

Wheat & Chaff ..................

Crop Advisor’s Casebook

Features ............................

Columns ........................... 14 Cattleman’s Corner .......... 18 FarmLife ............................ 26

Not all grasshoppers B:10.25” are pests T:10.25” LISA GUENTHER PAGE 6

UTVs hit the market

Machinery & Shop ............ 30

SCOTT GARVEY PAGE 35

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MAY 7, 2012

Wheat & Chaff LEEANN MINOGUE

It’s spring. That time of warmth and life, when farmwives’ minds turn to thoughts of… “What the heck am I going to send to the field for supper?”

THE REAL FARMWIVES OF GRIFFIN

“Flo, you’re in a good mood this morning.”

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These days there are several roles for women in agriculture and agribusiness. Women are running their own grain farms, making decisions at agribusiness companies, looking after dairy barns and even editing Grainews. But that doesn’t change the fact that, for my April birthday two years ago, my mom (who has turned field-meal delivery into an art form) gave me a field-ready Tupperware dual salt and pepper shaker, “to send out to the field with hard-boiled eggs.” Meal preparation still seems to fall to women on most farms I know. This came up when a bunch of the women in my neighbourhood got together one evening a few weeks ago. It’s 2012, not 1952, and we were a roomful of women who work on farms, commute to jobs in town, look after children and have community and family responsibilities. Yet still, when someone mentioned taking meals out of the field, everyone had something to say. One of the neighbours (I’ll call her Sheila, because there’s no way I’m using her real name) kicked things off by saying, “I refuse to take meals out to the field anymore.” Women gasped. “I haven’t done if for a couple of years now. ‘Bill’ either has to come in for dinner, or take sandwiches with him on the tractor,” Sheila said. “By the time I cooked a meal, packed it up, loaded up the kids, drove to the field and waited for him to eat, it was taking up too much time.” We didn’t answer — we just gaped with a mixture of horror and admiration. To be honest, I think we may have been less surprised if she’d told us she’d buried a body in her potato patch. When we married farmers, organizing food during busy seasons just seemed to come as part of the package. If you’re still lucky enough to have food delivered to your field, in the Grainews spirit of providing helpful farm advice, I offer three tips to keep your meal delivery on track. If you’re the person who prepares the meals, you might want to cut this out and stick it on the fridge door (or maybe the steering wheel of the tractor.)

TIP 1: TAKE WHAT YOU GET Believe it or not, some farmers are so spoiled for choice that they actually complain about

the food that’s delivered directly to the cab of their tractors. “Janice” told the story of one of her in-laws inspecting the meal she’d taken to the field, then driving to his mom’s farmhouse for something different. Don’t try this at home. We commiserated with Janice, refilled our wineglasses and shook our heads. Even the best cooks among us have resorted to store-bought cake, frozen pizza and last-minute meals from Kentucky Fried Chicken. We’re busy. Accept it with a smile.

TIP 2: GIVE CLEAR DIRECTIONS There is nothing more frustrating than driving up and down dirt roads looking for clouds of dust that might indicate a tractor. Especially with a hungry toddler and a cooling casserole in the back seat. Lots of women who find themselves delivering hot meals didn’t grow up in the area where they’re living now. Even after being married for 10 years, I still have trouble remembering the names my father-in-law and husband have for different fields. Trust me, telling someone you’ll be at “the Smith quarter” is more meaningful if you’re talking to a person who actually remembers the Smiths. “ A m y ’s ” h u s b a n d m a d e detailed maps for her when she first moved to the farm. This was helpful. Especially when he was actually at the place where he said he’d be. The first fall that “Gina” lived out here, she accidentally took supper to the wrong combine. The neighbour was out harvesting his own canola field, about a mile away. “He had a red combine, just like my husband,” she says. “I thought every farmwife must have done that at least once.”

TIP 3: SAY “THANKS” I doubt this would have come up if we hadn’t had a glass of wine (or two), but more than one of the women at this party said that after they made a hot meal, packed it up, found the right tractor and delivered the food, nobody said “thanks.” Husbands weren’t the biggest culprits. The worst offenders tended to be brothers-in-law, or hired help. We know you’re busy. If you’re not part of the family, we know food is part of your salary. You’re pressed for time, and you have things on your mind besides the threecheese homemade lasagna we’ve just served with a thermos of iced tea and a disposable fork. We’re happy to feed you. But when you don’t take time to say “thanks,” we don’t feel like part of the team, or that our contribution is appreciated. And keep this in mind: the person who brings your dinner probably doesn’t get the satisfaction of finishing seeding the whole field, or filling the combine hopper with canola. It’s embarrassing for smart,

accomplished women (like my neighbours) to admit that they need someone else’s “thank you” to feel important. It’s not something I’d put on my resumé, but when my little boy was a toddler, there were lots of days when my biggest measurable accomplishment was taking a chicken pot pie out to the grain truck. Once one woman at the neighbour’s party got up the nerve to bring this up, everyone else nodded and “Jen” piped up. “I’m so glad you said that! I’m always so disappointed when they just grunt and get back in the cab!” I’m relieved to report this is definitely not a problem for me. My husband and in-laws couldn’t be more grateful, no matter what I take out, and they always remember to say something nice. As for Sheila and Bill — they are still married. “I haven’t taken meals out for two years now, and Bill hasn’t starved to death yet,” Sheila said. She’s got a point. I’m no doctor, but Bill looks healthy enough to me. There may be something to this. And if I didn’t have such a nifty salt and pepper shaker and all those matching Tupperware field-ready plates with lids, I might try it out myself.

OR…. If you’re still looking for someone to pack your lunch, I’ve read about a website called www. farmersonly.com — a dating service specifically for farmers. The corporate slogan is “City folks just don’t get it,” and the site features tag lines like “You don’t have to be lonely, thanks to FarmersOnly.” The site is “free to join,” but they’ll ask for $49.95 for a sixmonth membership when you’re ready to stop just browsing and start emailing your potential spouse. Use it at your own risk — Grainews is not responsible for any fraud, deception, or poor-quality field-delivered meals that may result from the use of this service.

IN THIS ISSUE Lunches, dating and salt dispensers aside, there’s a lot of great information in this issue. You’ve already seen Angela Lovell’s story about wireworms on the cover, so you’ve probably guessed that we’re focusing on insect management. You’ll find information to help you find and conquer bertha army worms, flea beetles, cabbage seed pod weevils and grasshoppers. Once you’re done reading about bugs, please read Angela’s article about insecticide safety on page 8. You’ll find an article by Scott Garvey about Case IH’s Steiger tractors on page 34 (in the machinery section), and you can learn more than I ever wanted to know about livestock breeding from Debbie Chikousky’s column on page 16. I hope something here will be useful on your farm. † Leeann

MAY 7, 2012

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Wheat & Chaff Farm safety

Supervise kids in a safe play area

t’s sad but true. Sometimes even those eyes in the back of your head aren’t enough to keep kids safe on the farm. You’re standing right beside them, watching, and then in what seems to be slow motion, they fall, they cut a hand or much worse. And you were supervising! Supervision alone cannot prevent injuries to children on the farms. And children are still injured and killed on Canadian farms today. Data from the Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting (CAIR) program show 248 children and youth 14 and under, died in farm incidents between 1990 and 2008. That’s an average of 13 per year.

Almost half of them were under five years old and eight out of 10 were boys. Three-quarters of the children who died were related to the farm operator. A third were killed in a tractor incident. Four out of 10 were run over. Most were passengers. Some were bystanders. Most of these incidents happen to children who are not involved in work. They’re sitting on someone’s knee on an old tractor or they’re standing just out of range of the machinery operator’s field of vision. Maybe they’re reaching into an animal pen or leaning too close to a saw. Obviously these kids are not in a safe environment, even though they’re being supervised. In an active workplace such

Insect management

as the farm, you just can’t provide the very high level of supervision needed to protect young children. So what do you do to keep your kids as safe as possible on the farm? You need to provide an environment free of as many hazards as possible — a supervised play area with a fence. And now’s the time to get the plans and build the play space before your kids or grandkids get out of school for the summer. Download SafeKids Canada’s children’s farm safety fact sheet at www. safekidscanada.ca. There are lots of great tips on how to reduce the risk of injury to children on the farm. On that same site, look for the pdf

“Creating safe play areas on farms.” It provides a comprehensive guide for designing and building an outdoor safe play area on a farm. If you farm in Manitoba, think about applying for a grant to help build a safe play area. Manitoba Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives and Manitoba Labour and Immigration are working together to provide funding to cover expenses up to the first $500. Find the details by searching for “farm safety grant” at www.gov.mb.ca or email janelle.curtis@gov.mb.ca. † From the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association – www.planfarmsafety.ca

Grain maRketing

Farm management

Stewardship program ending Syngenta introduces new insecticide

weet, seed and field corn growers now have a new weapon to fight insect pests. Syngenta Canada Inc. has registered Voliam Xpress, a new pre-mix insecticide that delivers multiple modes of action for control of a number of yieldrobbing lepidopteran pests in corn. “The multiple modes of action delivered in Voliam Xpress mean that corn growers can effectively protect their corn from damaging pests while managing insect resistance at the same time,” says Eric Phillips, asset lead, fungicides and insecticides for Syngenta. Voliam Xpress is registered for use on corn, including field, pop and sweet types, as well as corn grown for seed production. Voliam Xpress protects corn against corn borer, corn earworm and western bean cutworm. The two active ingredients in Voliam Xpress, chlorantraniliprole (Group 28) and lambda-cyhalothrin (Group 3), work together to provide fast knockdown and residual control of lepidopteran pests. The insecticide controls pests by contact and ingestion. The pre-mix controls all life cycles of lepidopteran pests in the field with a single application. The ability to control adult moths and larvae while delivering ovicidal control makes Voliam Xpress a unique tool to corn growers. † www.syngenta.com

ederal funding for the Farm Stewardship Program is slated to end on March 31, 2013. In most provinces, there’s still time to find out if this program has anything to offer your farm. The Farm Stewardship Program has been in place since 2005, as a federal program delivered by provincial counterparts. The program is slightly different in each province. In Manitoba, it’s found in the Environmental Farm Action Plan. In Saskatchewan, it’s called the CanadaSaskatchewan Farm Stewardship Program. In Alberta, this is the Growing Forward — Stewardship Plans Program. Although there are differences in how the program is administered in each of the Prairie provinces, the basics are the same. The Farm Stewardship Program provides financial assistance for farmers implementing management practices that will benefit, protect or improve the environment. A number of projects are eligible for funding, ranging from relocating livestock confinement facilities to buying on-farm fuel storage or some types of variable rate technology. The program categorizes projects as “beneficial management practices.” Farmers can receive funding for 50 per cent of expenses for some beneficial management practices; others are funded at a lesser rate. Farmers can apply for funding for more than one project, but the maximum funding available is $50,000 per farm. The first step to applying for program funding is completing an environmental farm plan. Program representatives will help with plan preparation and hold

photo contest

GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOT This photo came to us from Glenda Hofer. Glenda lives on a colony with 66 people, a few miles west of Miami, Manitoba. She says, “On the farm we raise cows, sheep, chickens, and pigs. These lambs were probably born two to three weeks ago.” When Glenda sent this photo, there had been about 61 lambs born on the colony this spring. These ones look adorable, cuddled up next to their mother. Thanks Glenda! We’ll be sending you a cheque for $25. If you’d like to submit a photo, please email it to leeann.minogue@ fbcpublishing.com. Please send only one or two photos at a time and include your name and address, the names of anyone in the photo, where the photo was taken and a bit about what was going on that day. A little write-up about your farm is welcome, too. Please ensure that images are of high resolution (1 MB is preferred), and if the image includes a person, we need to be able to see their face clearly. — Leeann

workshops to make completion easier. Once you submit your plan and program staff deem it complete, you’ll be eligible to apply for funding. Provincial representatives will help with applications. Deadlines differ by province. In Alberta, applications are still being accepted, but 2012 approved projects must be completed by Dec. 31, 2012. The program website provides a self-assessment tool — an online questionnaire that may point you to areas where Growing Forward programs could benefit your farm. The information is online at www.growingforward.alberta.ca, or 310-farm (3276). The Manitoba program application deadline was February 15, 2012. However, if additional funds become available, applications will be accepted in the fall. More information is online at www.manitoba.ca/agriculture or 1-866626-4862. Saskatchewan is still accepting applications, however, projects must be completed by December 31, 2012. Applications for projects in some categories must be submitted by June 30, 2012. Details can be found at www.saskpcab.com, or by calling 1-866-298-7222. As environmental issues continue to be a key concern, it is quite possible that this program may be replaced by something similar, or even better, however, if you’re already considering an environmentally beneficial investment, such as purchasing a liquid fertilizer tank with secondary containment, taking time to look at a website or call a number may pay off. † Danell van Staveren writes from a farm near Griffin, Sask.

New CWB may market canola

he new voluntary Canadian Wheat Board may be looking to branch out to market other commodities, particularly canola, in time for the 2012-13 crop. However, the CWB is currently focused on transitioning its traditional wheat, durum, and barley marketing to an open market, and the introduction of new commodities is still forthcoming. “We expect, and want, to have a program for canola marketing this year,” said CWB spokeswoman Maureen Fitzhenry, “and our hope is that it would be available during the summer period.” Fitzhenry said specifics of any canola-marketing program from the CWB were not yet worked out, as the agency has focused its attention on getting its new wheat, durum, and barley programs up and running. The CWB is also still working on getting grain-handling agreements with grain companies in place before moving on to other crops. Cargill’s Canadian elevator network and Saskatchewan’s South West Terminal are the only grain handlers so far confirmed to have reached handling agreements with the CWB. Fitzhenry said more agreements should be in place “very soon,” but said there was nothing to announce just yet. †

AgCanada.com

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MAY 7, 2012

Cover Stories INSECT MANAGEMENT

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Bob Willcox ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/ EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

John Morriss

EDITOR

Lyndsey Smith (on leave) ACTING EDITOR

Leeann Minogue CATTLEMAN’S CORNER EDITOR

Lee Hart FARMLIFE EDITOR

Sue Armstrong MACHINERY EDITOR

Wilted emerging seedlings show evidence of wireworm damage from larvae feeding on roots, stems and leaves.

» CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

USE BAIT TO SAMPLE WIREWORMS no crops planted that are favourable for egg laying, such as cereals. “Any year that a cereal crop or grassy cover crop is planted will give rise to considerable egg laying,” says Bob Vernon, an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research scientist at Agassiz, B.C. Vernon has done considerable research into wireworms and is considered the foremost Canadian expert on the pest. Vernon says that recent work from the U.K. has suggested that wireworm populations prefer fields under reduced tillage, since regular cultivation practices are known to reduce wireworm populations. Sometimes, wireworm damage is confused with cutworm damage. With wireworms, the plant is wilted and discoloured but remains attached to the root. With cutworms, the plants are usually cut off completely at or near the soil surface.

SCOUTING FOR WIREWORMS Scouting for wireworms can be quite variable, depending on the method used, the time of year, field conditions, their activity cycles and the wireworm species present. There are over 80 species of wireworms on the Prairies, but only three of these species are of major economic importance. “There are no sampling methods currently available to growers that can be fully relied upon to accurately predict whether or not an economic wireworm population is present,” says Vernon. There are ways, however, to improve the efficiency of sampling. One way to sample the wireworms in a field is to use baits to attract them. Vernon says that farmers doing this should keep in mind the following: Wireworms are attracted to sources of carbon dioxide in the soil, such as germinating crop seeds, existing crops or decomposing plant material (such as plowed-under pasture). Baits such as whole potatoes, carrots, wheat seed, or prepara-

tions of wheat flour or whole bran in gauze packets (about one cup with or without a sugar or honey additive to promote microbial growth) also attract wireworms by producing carbon dioxide. For baits to work well, they should be placed in the field when temperatures are above 10 C (when wireworms are active and carbon dioxide production is high), and in sites where there are no competing carbon dioxide sources (such as green manure or other living plants) within one metre of the bait. “Bait attraction can be quite variable and even ineffective if these conditions are not met,” says Vernon. “In determining the number of baits to use per field, keep in mind that wireworm populations can be spotty, so you should cover as much of the field as possible,” says Vernon. “The more baits you put out (determined by how much time you want to spend), the more accurate the sampling, but at least 20 baits should be put out in fields between four and 10 hectares.” Baits should be placed at a maximum depth of 15 cm, and in the case of living baits (potato, carrots or wheat seed), checked in about 12 to 14 days. Prepared baits (wheat, bran, rolled oats in packets) should be checked in seven to 10 days. Baits left too long will begin to repel wireworms. Finding any wireworms in baits may indicate a problem. To assist in the development of wireworm control programs, you can put wireworms you collect in pill vials (in soil) and send them to Dr. Wim van Herk at AAFC in Agassiz, B.C. for species identification. Please contact Dr. van Herk for mailing instructions (wim.vanherk@agr.gc.ca).

CONTROLLING WIREWORMS Wireworms are difficult to control, partly because there are multiple species across Canada and many are specific to a particular area and environment. Control products that are effective in one province against one species may not be effective in another province against another species. Wireworm larvae do have some natural enemies, including

In AAFC trials at Agassiz, B.C., untreated wheat seedlings (in the foreground) are compared with seedlings that received a treatment of Fipronil (in the background). Fipronil is not yet registered in Canada, but appears to give good control of wireworms, even at very low doses. parasitic nematodes. And, if soil is disturbed and the larvae are brought to the surface, they are easy prey for birds and small rodents. Larvae are also susceptible to a number of bacterial diseases, which can be especially prevalent in soils with high moisture content. Wireworm control is limited to the use of seed treatments, which means management decisions and preparations can only be made prior to seeding. There are fewer options for control than there was in the past. Before it was banned in 2004, Lindane was a seed treatment used on cereal crops every three to four years to control wireworms. It was very successful, killing 60 to 70 per cent of

A large wireworm can kill two or more seedlings wireworms resident in the field and also the baby wireworms that hatched later in the season. This gave effective control both in this current crop and in subsequent crops. Newer insecticides, like Raxil WW or Cruiser Maxx, which are registered for use as wheat seed treatments, will provide damage suppression, but they don’t reduce wireworm populations in the same way. These products contain neonicotinoids and work by knocking out the resident wireworms long enough to allow the crop to establish. Later, the wireworms recover. “They call it an intoxicant,” says Harry Brooks, a crop specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. Wireworms are usually close to the surface and feeding at the same time that the new crop is emerging. “The product stops them from feeding for about a month, after which the soil has warmed up and that drives the wireworms down, so it’s fairly effective to prevent damage of the seedlings.” The problem is that newly hatched

baby wireworms are not killed, and with a life cycle of at least three to five years populations can continue to grow after treatment. Some agronomists recommend that farmers treat seed for two consecutive years after breaking sod to reduce wireworm problems to a non-economical level, but this should be done only if the risk of infestation is high. If wireworms are found in an emerging crop, there is no easy solution as there are no foliar insecticides currently registered in Canada for wireworm control. The damage which occurs is often noticed too late for reseeding of the damaged patch, and the yield loss doesn’t justify the cost of reseeding. Infestations this year are a signal to draw up a plan of action to deal with the wireworm problem next year.

ROTATIONS Including a legume like alfalfa or a pulse crop like peas in a crop rotation with cereals and oilseeds is an effective way to gradually reduce wireworm populations on the Prairies. These crops can better withstand wireworm damage, and are not preferred crops for click beetles laying eggs. A three-year study conducted by AAFC research scientist Christine Norohna at Charlottetown, P.E.I. showed that growing brown mustard or buckwheat for two consecutive years as part of a three-year rotation significantly reduced wireworm damage in potatoes grown in year three. One-acre plots of brown mustard, buckwheat, barley and alfalfa were planted in three different fields in three different areas of P.E.I. Each plot grew two consecutive years of that crop and then a potato crop in the third year. Results for the barley and alfalfa crops were similar, as were results for the brown mustard and buckwheat. The potatoes following the brown mustard and buckwheat had significantly less holes per damaged tuber than those following barley, and also had far greater amounts of undamaged tubers. † Angela Lovell is a freelance writer, editor and communications specialist living and working in Manitoba. Find her online at www.angelalovell.ca

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Your next issue! You can expect your next issue in your mailbox about June 4, 2012

The editors and journalists who write, contribute and provide opinions to Grainews and Farm Business Communications attempt to provide accurate and useful opinions, information and analysis. However, the editors, journalists and Grainews and Farm Business Communications, cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and the editors as well as Grainews and Farm Business Communications assume no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any reader for this publication based on any and all information provided.

MAY 7, 2012

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Features CROP PRODUCTION

CROP ADVIS0R’S CASEBOOK

SIZE STRUGGLE

OUTGROWING FLEA BEETLE INJURY

BY MARC MABON

ndrew, a farmer from Southey, Sask., didn’t like the look of his canola crop late last August. “My crop looks off,” he told me over the phone. He asked me to visit his 2,600 acre operation to assess the situation. “Why is my crop so far behind my neighbour’s?” he asked me when I arrived at his farm. “Could it be the variety? And why is my crop so short?” Compared to the development of his neighbour’s crop, Andrew’s field was maturing slowly, the plants looked stunted and their leaves had a bluish tinge. The number and size of the plants’ pods were also reduced when compared with neighbouring crops. I dug up a few of the plants to examine their roots. The roots were smaller than I would have expected of healthy, developmentally normal plants. This canola field was not ready to be cut; meanwhile, other crops in the area were being swathed. “The crop seemed to be slow for the entire growing season,” Andrew told me. One by one we eliminated a number of potential sources of the damage to Andrew’s crop. The hybrid variety Andrew had seeded

CROP ADVISOR’S SOLUTION BY PAULETTE IRVINE

PHOTO: INTERNATIONAL PLANT NUTRITION INSTITUTE

Andrew’s plant pods were smaller than the pods in the neighbour’s field. in the spring had a proven track record for its strong vigour, high yields and quality — I didn’t think the variety was the source of the problem. He’d also seeded at the same time as other farmers in the area, and at an ideal depth of three-quarters of an inch. Records indicated that no chemicals with the potential to cause herbicide injury had been applied to the field in the past three years. Since there was no evidence of feeding, we also ruled out insect damage. Marc Mabon Barley, peas and wheat had been grown in this field in the past, and Winnipeg, MB, R3C 3K7; email the crops yielded 75 bushels per leeann.minogue@fbcpublishing. acre, 30 bu./ac., and 35 bu./ac. on com or fax 204-944-5416 c/o Crop average, respectively. Last spring, Advisor’s Casebook. Best suggesAndrew had side-banded 80-0-0-20 tions will be pooled and one winwith three gallons per acre of seed- ner will be drawn for a chance to placed orthophosphate. However, win a Grainews cap and a one-year I had a hunch that past soil test subscription to the magazine. The results for this field would reveal answer, along with the reasoning which solved the mystery, will the true source of trouble. What is causing Andrew’s can- appear in the next Crop Advisor’s ola plants to be stunted and their Solution File. † leaves to turn blue? Send your Marc Mabon is a crop input manager for diagnosis to Grainews, Box 9800, Richardson Pioneer Ltd. at Southey, Sask.

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ob’s neighbour informed him that he’d just finished arranging for a sprayer operator to spray one of his fields for a flea beetle infestation. Within the hour, Bob was scouting his own canola field, which was located next to the flea beetle-infested field. He found signs of flea beetle damage that hadn’t been there the previous week. I arranged to meet Bob, who farms 3,000 acres of peas, wheat and canola near Kelvington, Sask., to assess the damage to his crop. The weather in this area had been cold and wet. However, June’s temperatures were proving warmer, and had heated up substantially during the previous week. Under cold and wet conditions the mobility and feeding of flea beetles is limited. Now it appeared they were on the move! The leaves of the canola plants adjacent to Bob’s neighbour’s field had symptoms of flea beetle feeding. The leaves were notched at the edges, and the surfaces had small circular pits. It didn’t take long to find the small black beetles feeding on some plants’ leaves.

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Bob’s crop was well into the three-leaf stage. The damage caused by the beetles was most severe at the periphery of the field near his neighbour’s infested field. I estimated the feeding damage to the true leaves at 20 per cent. “I was really hoping to avoid the extra cost of spraying this year,” Bob said. “I don’t think it’s come to that yet,” I said. “The damage to this field is still just below the economic threshold — which is an average defoliation of 25 per cent. Your field is also more advanced in its development than your neighbour’s crop, which had only reached the first true leaf stage. The plants in this field should overcome and outgrow any damage caused by the beetles.” You will have to monitor this field closely,” I told him. “As long as conditions for plant growth remain favourable, your crop should be fine.” Good rotation strategies and the use of seed treatments will help Bob protect his canola crops from flea beetle damage in the future. As predicted, Bob’s canola crop outgrew the damage and his yield was right on target. † Paulette Irvine is a location manager for Richardson Pioneer Ltd. at Kelvington, Sask.

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MAY 7, 2012

Features Insect management

Not all grasshoppers are pests Farmers in Alberta and Saskatchewan could see grasshopper infestations this year. But before spraying, make sure the hoppers in your crop are actually pests By Lisa Guenther

f the 80 grasshopper species on the prairies, only a few are pests. Some nonpests will eat weeds, including kochia, Russian thistle, and ragweed. The two-striped, Packard’s, lesser migratory and clear-winged grasshoppers are the most common grasshopper pests on the Prairies. “If it’s flying in the spring, it’s not a major pest species. If it’s singing, it’s not a major pest species. If it has coloured wings, it’s not a pest,” says Harry Brook, crop specialist

with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “If you’re out scouting and you see grasshoppers, you need to be able to identify them to make sure you’ve got the right species.” Each August, field staff count adult grasshoppers. Based on these numbers, Alberta Agriculture creates a grasshopper forecast map that shows areas that may have grasshopper problems the following growing season. The 2012 forecast shows severe or very severe risk zones in Alberta’s Peace and northern regions. Central and southern Alberta also have some severe risk zones. In Saskatchewan, the

Meadow Lake and southwest areas have the highest risk for infestations in 2012. Most of Manitoba is forecasted to be very low risk for this year. “Even if you’re in a green area, where it looks like there won’t be many, you’ve still got to check. You’re more likely to have a problem in those areas with higher numbers. But that doesn’t mean you’re free and clear in the other (areas),” says Brook.

Grasshopper scouting Brook recommends scouting regularly throughout the growing season. Grasshoppers lay

their eggs in the fall on undisturbed soil, traditionally found at the field edges. However, from farmers who practice zero-till, Brook has heard that grasshoppers may lay their eggs throughout the field. Brook also suggests checking south-facing slopes first, as the grasshoppers may hatch first there. Environmental and biological conditions often keep grasshopper populations in check. Wet conditions can drown newly emerged grasshoppers. Danyk flies will pounce on grasshoppers to deposit maggots, which eat the grasshoppers from the inside. Like a scene from a hor-

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When to spray Once grasshopper populations reach economic levels, farmers need to consider spraying. Brook suggests an economic threshold of about 18 grasshoppers per square metre. Younger crops, or crops under heat stress, are more vulnerable to grasshopper damage. Timing is crucial to effectively treating problem grasshoppers. Farmers who spray when grasshoppers first emerge will miss the unhatched grasshoppers, which may make up the bulk of the population. Dan Johnson has written a grasshopper identification and control guide for the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Johnson suggests considering control methods only once the grasshoppers start feeding and look like they will cause significant damage. But waiting until the grasshoppers are fully mature isn’t recommended either. “The later you wait, actually, the less effective are the insecticides you’re using, and the more mobile the bugs become. Once they become adults, you’re really stuffed because you can spray them all out, but even if you have an effective chemical, they’ve got wings,” says Brook. He recommends spraying once the grasshoppers are about a quarter-inch long. Whether or not the neighbours are spraying can also affect application effectiveness. “There’s nothing more frustrating than spraying your grasshoppers, and then they come off the neighbour’s property onto yours. So you spray them again. Then they come in off the neighbour’s property and you spray them again. Sooner or later you’ve got to say ‘enough’s enough,’” says Brook. Chemicals registered to control grasshoppers include Decis, Dibrom, Ecobran, Malathion, Matador/Silencer, Monitor, Sevin XLR, Cygon/Lagon, Ripcord and the chlorpyrifos group. Not all chemicals are registered to control grasshoppers on all crops. See provincial crop protection guides for details. Johnson’s grasshopper control and identification guide is available through the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers’ website (search for “grasshoppers” at www.saskpulse.com). The guide contains more detailed information on identifying grasshopper species, as well as cultural control methods. † Lisa Guenther is a communications specialist at Livelong, Sask. Find her online at www. brickhorse.ca

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ror film, the maggot eventually emerges from the grasshopper’s neck. Grasshoppers are also vulnerable to a fungus that forces them to climb a high piece of vegetation. The grasshopper dies while clinging to the plant and spreads spores to other grasshoppers.

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MAY 7, 2012

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Features Insect management

Making the decision to spray bertha armyworms While there haven’t been major outbreaks of bertha armyworms in recent years, this might be the year you hav e to decide whether or not to spray them on your farm By Lisa Guenther

he Prairies haven’t seen sweeping bertha armyworm outbreaks for a few years, but canola farmers need to watch for the voracious pests this growing season. Right now it’s difficult to say what the bertha armyworm population will be like in 2012, says Sean Miller, integrated pest management agrologist with Saskatchewan Agriculture. “It is a bit hard to tell. Last year in some of those areas, especially in the northwest, we weren’t picking up high counts in 2010. But, that said, there are those higher counts in the north central, northwest and east central regions (of Saskatchewan) that may be an indication they are on the increase,” says Miller. A bertha armyworm map is updated weekly beginning in the first week of July until early August. Farmers can find the map on

Saskatchewan Agriculture’s website. Manitoba and Alberta Agriculture also post moth count updates online during the growing season. (At www. agriculture.gov.sk.ca, www.gov. mb.ca/agriculture, or www.agric.gov. ab.ca, search for “bertha”).

Scouting tips Farmers need to scout fields regularly for the larvae once the moth population peaks, and continue scouting until harvesting begins or the larvae have been controlled. Miller suggests sampling five locations in each field, in a W, X or Z pattern. The locations should be at least 50 metres apart. At each site, farmers should mark a one square metre area and shake the plants to dislodge and count the larvae. “Take your time while counting. Carefully search the soil and the leaf litter within the soil. The larvae are difficult to see and may be hidden underneath soil clumps or cracks,

or even curled up within that leaf litter that’s dropped to the ground,” says Miller. Bertha armyworms are fairly distinctive. Young larvae will be pale green with yellow stripes on the side. Mature larvae are black with a brown head and pale orange stripes. While young larvae don’t cause economic damage, mature larvae feed heavily on leaves and seedpods. “Crop losses due to pod feeding will be the most severe,” says Miller.

Spraying suggestions When deciding whether or not to spray, it’s important to take into account the forecasted value of your crop and the costs of spraying, as well as the number of larvae in the field. For instance, if canola prices are expected to be $12 per bushel and it costs $10 per acre to spray, the economic threshold would be T:10.25”metre. 15 larvae per square

Economic thresholds for bertha armyworm in canola NUMBER OF LARVAE PER SQUARE MEETING

Expected Value of Canola ($ per bushel)

Spraying Cost ($/acre)

$10 $11 $12 $13 $14 $15 $16

$10

$11

$12

$13

$14

$15

$16

Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

These economic thresholds for bertha armyworm are based on an assumed yield loss of 0.058 bushels per acre for each larva in a square metre.

Larvae should be half an inch long before chemicals are applied. Farmers should spray in the early morning or late evening when the larvae are feeding. Farmers need to use enough water to cover the crop adequately, and more water is needed for crops with dense canopies. Follow application rates on the label, and use the higher rates if the population warrants it. If possible, spraying should be delayed until the crop is done blooming to avoid killing bees. If

application can’t be delayed, farmers can use a synthetic pyrethoid, such as Matador or Decis, and spray in the evening. There are several insecticides registered to control bertha armyworms in canola. They include Ripcord, Monitor, Matador/Silencer, Lannate, Decis and the chlorpyrifos group. Check provincial crop protection guides for more insecticide information. † Lisa Guenther is a communications specialist at Livelong, Sask. Find her online at www. brickhorse.ca

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MAY 7, 2012

Features INSECT MANAGEMENT

Six steps to safe insecticide use Insecticides are some of the most toxic chemicals used on Prairie farms. Remind yourself or someone you love about these 6 steps to insecticide safety BY ANGELA LOVELL

ome farmers may never spray an insecticide. Others may spray for grasshoppers or flea beetles in an emerging crop, but later season pests such as bertha armyworm, diamondback moth or aphids are often aerially sprayed. “There is not a lot of focus on insecticides generally because they are not used every year as herbicides are,” says Harry Brook, a crop specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.

TOXICITY Insecticides tend to have higher levels of toxicity than herbicides

and fungicides and, as a result, can have implications for human health and the environment. It’s important to follow safety precautions, understand the chemicals that you are working with and use them judiciously. “Unlike herbicides, insecticides can have significant human health issues and proper hygiene is even more important for that reason,” says Tom Wolf, a research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Saskatoon Research Centre. Insecticides use different mechanisms to kill insects at different stages of their development. Ovicides, for example, kill insect eggs; larvicides kill larvae. Unfortunately insecticides do not discriminate as

to which species they kill, so it’s important not to allow insecticides to be sprayed, spilled or to drift into non-target areas, to avoid killing beneficial organisms. Insecticides can be particularly toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms, as well as birds. For example, the common insecticide Lorsban (clorpyrifos), as well as other products such as synthetic pyrethroids, can be toxic to aquatic life at very low concentrations. “The Pest Management Regulatory Agency considers Lorban safe at 100 parts per trillion, that means about 0.4 millilitres of the active ingredient in an Olympic swimming pool, which is not very much,” says Wolf.

These products are handled several times — transported to the farm, moved to an on-farm storage site, mixed and loaded. In addition, empty containers and sprayers need to be cleaned out before disposal. All of these activities pose a risk to human safety and the environment because handlers are directly exposed to the concentrated product. When improperly used or spilled, some insecticides can cause serious and immediate, acute human health problems or longer-term, chronic conditions. Large quantities of insecticides which find their way into a water supply due to a spill can cause skin rashes, nausea, eye irritations or other toxic effects.

1. KNOW WHAT’S IN IT It’s important to be aware of the physical and chemical properties of the insecticide you’re working with. These include: toxicity, degradation, volatility, solubility, adsorption, absorption and bioaccumulation. These properties influence the insecticide’s potential to harm humans, animals and the environment. They should be indicated on the product label or on the product’s Material Data Safety Sheet, which will often accompany the purchased product or can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.

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2 KNOW WHERE YOU’RE USING IT Knowing your land is an important first step in applying any chemical control effectively and safely. Soil texture, depth and permeability play an important role in application and storage considerations. Fine textured (clay) soils, for example, have a higher potential for runoff but a lower risk of leaching. Coarse textured (sandy) soils have less risk for runoff but there is more potential for groundwater contamination. Slope of the land also can affect the risk of contamination from runoff, especially if close to a watercourse. Make sure to take this into account when choosing a storage site.

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As insecticides tend to be more potent than herbicides, they need at least the same careful consideration when it comes to handling, application, clean-up, storage and disposal. Alberta Agriculture offers a Farmer Pesticide Training Certificate Course which can be taken by correspondence and is required if farmers want to use restricted pesticides in Alberta. It has a handy interactive component with useful learning activities, which can be accessed online. Follow these steps to keep yourself, your family and the environment safe during this growing season.

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Handle any pesticide carefully and wear the appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment. Labels on chemical containers have symbols indicating what risk the contents pose to the user. Where there is minimal risk, no symbol is required, but protective clothing should still be worn. Different protective clothing is required depending on the toxicity level of the pesticide being used. There are many different formulations of insecticides such as powders, granules and liquids, some should not be tank mixed with other products. For example emulsifiable concentrate (EC) insecticides should not be mixed with fungicides or herbicides. Always check product labels for any possible interactions. Never smoke or eat while applying pesticides and avoid inhaling spray or dust. Wear a respirator if necessary. Have soap, water and a

MAY 7, 2012

grainews.ca /

Features towel available wherever you are handling insecticides so that if you do spill the product on your skin, or if it splashes into your eyes, you can wash them immediately. Always wash your hands and face when you are finished handling or applying insecticides and before break periods, lunch or going to the bathroom. Bathe or shower immediately after working with pesticides and change to clean clothing. Thoroughly wash soiled clothing before re-using. If any symptoms of illness occur during or shortly after pesticide handling or application, call a doctor or get the exposed person to a hospital immediately. Pesticide poisoning can have mild to severe symptoms ranging from headaches, nausea and skin irritation to breathing difficulties or fever. If in any doubt get a medical opinion. Make sure that take the label or container of the product to the doctor with you.

4. Avoid spray drift Avoid spray drift by paying careful attention to environmental conditions such as wind speed and direction, temperature and relative humidity. Generally it is not recommended to spray at wind speeds above 25 kilometres per hour. Avoid night spraying under conditions of temperature inversion, when air near the ground is cooler than the air above it causing poor spray dispersal. Temperature and relative humidity (RH) affect how quickly spray droplets evaporate. Droplets will evaporate more quickly at higher temperatures and lower RH, making them more prone to drift. Use the appropriate spray quality, carrier volumes, pressure and low drift nozzle types for the product and situation. Coarser sprays are less likely to drift than finer sprays. Reduce speed and use a lower boom height to further reduce drift and be aware of the impact spraying will have, particularly on other crops or sensitive areas downwind.

complete wash cycle with hot water and detergent but no clothing. It is best to air dry garments if possible rather than using the dryer. Fabric coveralls should not be used for highly toxic and concentrated pesticides. Close coveralls right up to the neck and wear over long-sleeved shirts and pants. Do not wear shorts under coveralls. Gloves: Wear chemical-resistant gloves which are designed for use with solvents and pesticides. Never use lined gloves, gloves with fabric wristbands or leather gloves. Headwear: Use a chemicalresistant hat or hard hat, preferably made of washable plastic and with a plastic, not fabric sweatband. The hat should be washed thoroughly after each use. Never wear baseball caps with cloth sweatbands because they will absorb the pesticide and re-contaminate if worn again. Footwear: Wear chemicalresistant, unlined boots. Neoprene boots are the best and knee-length boots offer the best protection. Do

tridge when you can smell a chemical odour or breathing is difficult. Use new cartridges at the beginning of each spray season and inspect the face seal while the respirator is being worn. Respirators cannot be worn securely by people with beards, moustaches or sideburns.

not wear leather or fabric boots and shoes, which will absorb pesticide and cannot be cleaned effectively. Wear pant legs outside the boots. Apron: A rubber or synthetic, liquid-proof apron will protect the front of your body when mixing or pouring chemicals. Make sure it is designed to resist solvents and that it covers the body from the chest to below the top of your boots. Face Shield: These should be made of clear plastic and attach to a hard hat. They offer additional protection for the eyes and face especially when pouring and mixing. Respirators: Dust masks will not protect against pesticide vapours and mists. Use respirators that have been approved by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Do not mix and match parts from different types of respirators. Chemical cartridge respirators are recommended for outdoor use when mixing and applying pesticides. Change filters daily and replace the car-

6. Store insecticides safely Each province or municipality may have regulations or recommendations concerning the storage and disposal of insecticides, so make sure to check the rules for your area. Storage facilities may be subject to national and/or provincial building and fire codes and will usually require no floor drains, a containment curb to retain spills and must be built from impervious materials. They need to be isolated from other work areas and have proper ventilation and security to prevent unauthorized access. There should be absorbent materials such as activated charcoal or

other chemical absorbents on the premises in case of spillage. All pesticides should be stored off the ground on pallets or shelves and where they are out of reach of children and cannot come into contact with human food or livestock feeds. Insecticides should be segregated from herbicides and fungicides to avoid cross-contamination. Never leave chemicals in unmarked containers; it’s best to leave them in their original containers. It is very dangerous to transfer any chemicals into bottles or other containers that are usually used for food or drinks, as they could be ingested by accident. Signs should be posted at the storage entrance warning of the contents and giving an emergency contact phone number and phone numbers for emergency services such as fire, police, ambulance and hospitals. † Angela Lovell is a freelance writer, editor and communications specialist living and working in Manitoba. Find her online at www. angelalovell.ca

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5. Wear protective clothing Always remember to discard clothing which has been worn when using insecticides before entering the house. Any items which have been badly soiled by highly toxic, undiluted chemicals should be discarded. Goggles should be chemicalresistant to protect from splashing and dust or granules. Don’t use goggles with cloth or elastic headbands, which absorb pesticides. Goggles should fit snugly to also protect the side of your head. If you wear glasses, purchase goggles which fit snugly over them and never wear contact lenses when working around pesticides. Coveralls: If you use disposable coveralls when mixing and applying pesticides they should be discarded at the end of the day, or at once if they become contaminated. Reusable fabric coveralls should be washed thoroughly each day before re-using. Separate pesticide-soiled clothes from other family laundry and wash as soon as possible after wearing using hot water and a long wash cycle. Use the type of detergent recommended on the chemical label. Generally a heavy-duty liquid detergent is best for laundering liquid type insecticides and a powder detergent for powder or granular forms. De-contaminate the washing machine afterwards by running a

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MAY 7, 2012

Features Insect management

Getting the jump on flea beetles Our changing canola practices have been beneficial for flea beetles. Here are some tips to help you stop them from taking a bite out of your profits By John Mayko

lea beetles are one of the most common and persistent insect pests in canola in Western Canada. They are present in virtually all areas and can cause significant plant losses when present at the seedling stage of the crop. In the years since lindane was phased out (lindane’s federal registration expired in 2004), much has changed in our canola farming practices. Many of the changes increase the potential for flea beetles to cause problems. First, there are simply more acres of canola. We have gone from a Western Canadian canola acreage of about 12 million acres in 2000 to over 18 million acres in 2011 — an increase of over 50 per cent. Obviously, there is a lot more habitat available for the flea beetles. Canola rotations have been shortened in most areas. Ten to 15 years ago, it was much more common for farmers to use one in three year or longer canola rotations. However, in many areas one in two year rotations are now the norm, and it’s common to hear of farmers using a canolasnow-canola rotation. There are more opportunities for flea beetles to build up.

Secondly, we have gone to direct seeding and earlier seeding. Soil temperatures are generally much cooler than when there was more tillage conducted and seeding was later. These cooler temperatures generally slow the emergence and early growth of the canola seedlings and make them more susceptible to insect feeding. A third agronomic change that benefits flea beetles is the lower seeding rates used for herbicide tolerant varieties. We no longer need to rely on crop plant competition to compete against weeds as we did with conventional varieties in the past. As well, we have moved largely towards hybrid varieties with the lure of higher yields. With these hybrid varieties comes a higher seed price, so there is a tendency for famers to reduce seeding rates as much as possible. These hybrid varieties generally are much larger seeded than past open pollinated varieties, so that for a given fixed seeding rate in terms of pounds per acre, there are far fewer seeds. This also dovetails with more recent seeding equipment advances, like independent row openers, that allow for more consistent seeding depth which further allows farmers to consider reducing seeding rates. While these practices are good in terms of optimizing seedling emer-

gence and reducing seeding rates, they still leave one fact. We generally have fewer numbers of canola plants per unit area then what we used to have. And that leaves far fewer plants for the flea beetles to feed on. Compounded by all these conditions, we also have the fact that with the seed treatment insecticides, the flea beetle has to eat some of the plant and ingest some insecticide before it dies. Even if the insecticide is effective, with higher flea beetle numbers, fewer plants for the beetles to feed on and slower growing plants due to earlier and resulting cooler conditions, is it any surprise that we have more problems with flea beetles? Another phenomenon has been noticed by entomologists and agronomists over the years. We have seen a bit of a species shift from the previously predominant crucifer flea beetle, which prefers warmer areas in the southern Prairies, to the striped flea beetle, which was previously found mostly in the northern Parkland areas and the Peace region. The striped flea beetle can tolerate cooler temperatures than the crucifer flea beetle, so it has adapted to the conditions of early seeding into direct seeded fields better than the crucifer flea beetle.

Optimize your efforts There are several ways to optimize flea beetle control efforts. Treat your canola seed with a higher rate of seed treatment insecticide whenever available. For example, some varieties are available with the choice of either Helix or Helix Xtra. If you have the choice, choose Helix Xtra if you have had or are anticipating problems with flea beetles. As well, make sure it has a good fungicide package suited to the predominant seedling diseases in your area. This will help your crop ward off seedling diseases as much as possible. Do whatever you can to get the crop to come out of the ground as soon as possible after planting and get off to a vigorous start. This means shallow planting (generally one half to one inch) in a firm, moist seedbed with an average soil temperature of at least 5 C. When the soil is warmer, seeds will generally emerge faster. Use some seed-placed phosphorus for the “pop-up” effect. As well, have the nutrient content of your soil and seed tested. If other nutrients are low, consider using a seed nutrient dressing to enhance the nutrition available to the seedling. Use a pre-seed burn-off to ensure that you don’t have moisture rob-

bing weeds stealing available moisture away from your seedlings and slowing their development. Make sure that you put as little fertilizer as possible (other than moderate rates of phosphorus) with the seed as higher rates of fertilizer can slow germination rates — the fertilizer can tie up available moisture. Higher rates of these fertilizers should be put away from the seed in a sideband, midrow or broadcast application. Scout your fields regularly, starting a week after seeding, at least every couple of days until the crop is well established. Be prepared to use a recommended insecticide for post emergent control, but only use it if the flea beetle feeding warrants it (25 per cent or more of the leaf area affected). However, the proper use of available seeding practices to assist in as rapid and vigorous germination and early season growth as possible, combined with the judicious use of post-emergent insecticide applications wherever warranted, can help in reducing the chances that flea beetles will end up taking a big bite out of your canola profits at the end of the season. † John Mayko is a senior agri-coach with Agri-Trend Agrology and offers agri-coaching services in the Mundare, Alta., area where he also farms with his family

EXTENDED OUTLOOK FOR THE PRAIRIES Weather Forecast for the period of May 6 to June 2, 2012

Southern Alberta

Peace River Region

Saskatchewan

May 6 - 12 Sunny days bring highs in the 20s. Shower activity with a chance of snow on 2 or 3 days.

May 6 - 12 Shower activity with a chance of snow on 2 or 3 days. Sunny days bring highs in the 20s. May 13 - 19 Pleasant on most days with scattered showers. Snow/frost in a few localities. May 20 - 26 Slight frost risk, otherwise sunny and seasonal. Scattered showers or thunderstorms. May 27 - June 2 Sunny, but showers or thunderstorms on 2 or 3 occasions. Seasonable temperatures.

4 / 17 Grande Prairie 35.3 mms

May 6 - 12 Seasonal to occasionally warm, with sunny skies. Some shower activity with a chance of snow.

May 6 - 12 Variable from warm to cool. Windy conditions. Scattered rain, with a chance of snow or frost.

May 13 - 19 Pleasant on most days with scattered showers. Snow/frost in a few localities.

May 13 - 19 Highs in the teens. Some lows near zero. Generally sunny, but expect rain on a couple of days.

May 13 - 19 Sunny and seasonal, but expect rain or showers with cool conditions on a couple of days. Frost patches.

May 20 - 26 Slight frost risk, otherwise sunny and seasonal. Scattered showers or thunderstorms.

May 20 - 26 Generally sunny and seasonable, apart from scattered showers or thunderstorms. Slight frost risk.

May 20 - 26 Generally sunny but with some thunderstorms or shower activity. Seasonal to cool at times..

May 27 - June 2 Generally sunny, but showers or thunderstorms on 2 or 3 occasions. Seasonable temperatures.

May 27 - June 2 Showers or thunderstorms alternate with sunshine. Variable temperatures.

May 27 - June 2 Sunny and seasonal, but warmer days set off showers or heavier thunderstorms.

Precipitation Forecast 3 / 17 Edmonton

3 / 17 Prince Albert

43.5 mms

2 / 15 Jasper

28.6 mms

BELOW NORMAL

2 / 14

57.5 mms

5 / 18 North Battleford 37.0 mms

3 / 17 Red Deer 49.2 mms

Banff

3 / 16 Calgary

Forecasts should be 80% accurate, but expect variations by a day or two because of changeable speed of weather systems.

Manitoba

52.9 mms

6 / 19 Medicine Hat cms Lethbridge 42.319mms 51.4 mms 26 cms 4 / 18

4 / 18 Saskatoon 44.2 mms

2 / 15 The Pas 37.3 mms

41.6 mms

ABOVE NORMAL

NEAR NORMAL

4 / 17 Yorkton

3 / 18 Dauphin

52.7 mms 3 / 15 4 / 19 50.7 mms 5 / 18 Gimli Regina 4 / 17 Moose Jaw 50.8 mms 57.4 mms Swift 47.7 mms 5 / 18 4 / 18 Current Portage 4 / 19 5 / 18 Brandon 56.8 mms Winnipeg 45.7 mms Weyburn 48.4 mms 59.8 mms 52.8 mms 5 / 19 Melita 3 / 19 Estevan 54.6 mms

52.4 mms

Precipitation Outlook For May Much Above Normal Below Much above normal normal below normal normal

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MAY 7, 2012

Features INSECT MANAGEMENT

The weevils are coming The cabbage seedpod weevil may be moving into Manitoba BY ANGELA LOVELL

he cabbage seedpod weevil is edging closer to Maniboba’s southwestern border. However, the insect, which is now a chronic pest in the southern parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan, has not moved into more northern areas of these provinces, and may not fare well in the longer, colder winter conditions of southern Manitoba. The cabbage seedpod weevil overwinters in leaf litter in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. Since it was found in Alberta in 1995, it has proliferated quickly. “In our field surveys in 1997 when we took a sweep in the most heavily infested fields, we would

get, on average, 0.5 weevils per inside the canola seedpods, helpsweep,” says Lloyd Dosdall, pro- ing to reduce numbers. fessor of Agricultural Entomology at the University of Alberta. “By LIFE CYCLE 1999 we were getting 10 weevils per sweep and by 2000 we were There is just one generation of getting 110 weevils per sweep, so cabbage seedpod weevils per year. the population was growing astro- They take about eight weeks to nomically.” develop from egg to adult and Over-reaction to the pests in favour cool, damp conditions. the early years, which may have Adult cabbage seedpod weecaused some farmers to spray insec- vils over-winter in deep leaf litter ticides when not really necessary, along tree lines or road margins, was reducing numbers of beneficial where they can survive on fat insects along with the weevils. reserves as long as the temperature Insect predators present in the doesn’t fall below -7 C, when they soil, like beetles and spiders, are will freeze and die. They emerge feeding on the cabbage seedpod in the spring once temperatures weevils during their pre-pupal reach 12 to 15 C. stage and parasitoids, like wasps, Once canola plants begin to bolt T:8.125” eat the emerging weevil larvae and start flowering, weevils are

PHOTO CREDIT: HÉCTOR CÁRCAMO, AAFC

Cabbage seedpod weevils, which measure three to four mm in length, are most recognisable by their long, pronounced snout. They can cause considerable damage in canola and other brassicas. attracted. Female weevils lay one cycle inside the pod and consume egg in the seedpod. They prefer to around 20 per cent of the seeds. lay eggs in pods about an inch to If weather conditions are such one-and-a-half inches long. After that the canola pods mature very laying the egg, females brush the quickly, this can prevent the larva pod with a chemical that tells other from completing its life cycle — it females that an egg is in that pod. will either die in the pod or when The larva will complete its life trying to exit. The larva exits by chewing a hole in the pod, then drops to the ground where it pupates. If conditions are extremely hot and dry it will become trapped in the soil and won’t finish its pupation. Once it finishes the pupal stage it emerges as an adult and looks for any plant in the cabbage family to feed upon to build up fat reserves prior to overwintering.

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The adult cabbage seedpod weevil is a small, ash-grey beetle, three to four millimetres long. It is a hardbodied insect with mouthparts that include a long snout. The larvae are white and grub-like and about two mm long. They feed within the seedpod of the host plants. Begin scouting once the canola or mustard crop starts to flower in June, using sweep nets to catch the adult beetles as they are attracted to the emerging flowers. The sweeps should be done at 10 different locations in each field, with 10 180° sweeps at each location. The weevils will generally be present in higher numbers along the edges of the field. Spraying should be done at late bud to early flowering. “It’s important to time the insecticide properly because once the larva is inside the pod, it’s protected and there is nothing you can do to prevent damage,” says Héctor Cárcamo, an insect pest management research scientist at AAFC’s Lethbridge Research Centre. “The ideal crop stage to spray is around 10 to 20 per cent flowering. You don’t want to wait until the crop is in full flower, because the female weevils will have already laid their eggs.” Other non-target insects that may also be affected by insecticide application include important pollinators like bees. Planting a “trap crop” that matures earlier than the main crop around the edges of the field, for example Polish canola, or planting a strip of the main crop a couple of weeks earlier at the field edges, may cause most of the weevils to aggregate in that area. Varieties with some resistance to cabbage seedpod weevil may soon be available to farmers in major canola-growing areas of Western Canada, and may also mean that Manitoba farmers can breathe a little easier. † Angela Lovell is a freelance writer, editor and communications specialist living and working in Manitoba. Find her online at www.angelalovell.ca

MAY 7, 2012

grainews.ca /

Features FARMER PANEL

Crop pests on farmers’ radars Farmers are always watchful, but insect damage in crops depends heavily on growing season conditions, and also where you farm BY LEE HART

rairie farmers aren’t expecting a major outbreak of any new crop pests this coming growing season, but those contacted for the May Farmer Panel say they need to be vigilant with seed treatments and prepared for in-crop insecticide applications as the situation warrants. Flea beetles on canola, wireworm in cereals, and seasonal outbreaks of bertha armyworm and diamondback moths, are among the insect problems farmers are wary of as they head into the seeding season. Most apply some type of seed treatment to help control wireworm and flea beetles. And as the season progresses, efforts focus on scouting fields and being prepared to act if pests appear. For some, their consulting agronomist is the go-to person who scouts fields and advises if some action is needed. Here is what the May Farmer Panel members had to say about their approach to controlling crop pests:

scouting fields and he also knows what is happening in the area so he can advise us if anything might be moving in from a certain direction. “With the livestock operation as well, there is always lots to be done on the farm, so the agronomist is my radar on crop pests. You have to hire good people to help with different aspects of the farming operation and the agronomist is one of them.”

FRED GREIG RESTON, MAN. Fred Greig says there are no serious insect problems on his southwest Manitoba farm. Wireworms

aren’t a particular concern, the Reston area seems to be on the edge of wheat midge region so midge isn’t a big concern, and depending on the year, bertha armyworm and diamondback moth numbers can vary widely. Greig, who operates the 4,500 acre Avondale Seed Farms, says he applies recommended seed treatments to all crops produced. He has tried products such as Cruiser MAXX for wireworm, but says the pest doesn’t seem to be present in sufficient numbers to warrant routine treatment with the product. “We continue to use Crusier MAXX on one to two quarters each year and do some side-by-side trails

just to see if we see a response and we will continue to try until we can be definite in our assessment of it.” Aphids in peas and soybeans tend to be “hit and miss” problems for his farm and other area growers. He is using a newer product from Bayer Crop Science, Trilex AL on peas to provide early season seed and seedling disease protection, to improve seeding vigour so the crop can better handle any stresses during the growing season. Flea beetles are common in canola, but he finds a recommended seed treatment such as Helix Xtra is able to control the pest. “The seed treatment generally seems to control the pest quite well, and rarely have we had to

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follow up with any in-crop treatment,” says Greig. “Perhaps one in 10 years we may have to use something additional.” With fairly cool, wet conditions in recent years, grasshoppers haven’t been a concern, he says. And diamondback moth numbers may be building slowly, but haven’t become an issue yet. “We need to be watching and always monitoring our fields in case something comes along,” he says. “And we also follow provincial websites for any alerts on pests. But overall, we are not seeing any particular insect problems.” † Lee Hart is a field editor for Grainews in Calgary, Contact him at 403-592-1964 or by email at lee@fbcpublishing.com

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PAT KUNZ BIESEKER, ALTA. There are no particular crop pests concerning Pat Kunz as he heads into the 2012 growing season. Wireworm in wheat has been a bit of a problem in past years, canola seed treatments appear to keep flea beetles in check and in late April it was too early to plan any strategies for in-crop pests such as lygus bug. Kunz, along with his parents and brother, crops about 2,400 acres

We just deal with it as it comes — PAT KUNZ of feed barley, wheat and canola on their mixed farming operation just northeast of Calgary. Along with crops, they also run a 2,500 head feedlot and a 120 head cow/ calf herd. “Basically, we just deal with it as it comes,” says Kunz. He has some fields where wireworm can be a problem in wheat. He applies a seed treatment when growing wheat on those fields, but this year the rotation has wheat on other land. “Wireworm may be increasing slowly, but it seems to depend on the year,” he says. “Generally it isn’t a problem.” All canola seed is treated for soil borne diseases and carries an insecticide to control flea beetles early in the year. And the pest hasn’t appeared in sufficient numbers to warrant an in-crop insecticide treatment. “It is a matter of scouting your fields and paying attention to what is happening out there,” he says. “And we rely heavily on our agronomist for advice. He is

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/ grainews.ca

MAY 7, 2012

Columns OFF-FARM INVESTING

Is it time to sell part of the farm? Some farmers are taking advantage of high prices to sell part of the farm, then enjoying farm life with less work and no debt ANDY SIRSKI

as good a time as any to gear down the farm, spend less money and cut your financial risks.

PRICED FOR PERFECTION

o far this year I have heard of at least half a dozen farmers who sold off part of their farm, kept farming debt-free and had big bucks in the bank. One farmer who did this was out of debt at age 41. Another was pushing 50 and had a million bucks in the bank. They’ll certainly keep farming, but with a lot less work and risk, and with money in the bank instead of an operating loan. The money won’t earn much, but for the first time in their life they now have assets, time and financial freedom at an age where they can still enjoy life. Two things helped these farmers make that decision. One is the high price of beef cows. For others, the high price of farmland helped them decide to sell some land. I’m not saying you should sell your farm. I’m saying that if the high price of fertilizer, fuel, repairs and the risks of farming are starting to make you think, this might be

In the stock market, “priced for perfection” means that shares are priced as if profits will continue to stay high and maybe go up. What does it mean in the beef business? A 90 per cent calf crop, easy winters, low interest rates and lots of good equipment. What is reality? Likely not a 90 per cent calf crop, year after year. And the price of bulls, repairs and labour is going to rise. Cattle producers in the higher cost zones where they might have to feed cows for 217 days each year face severe competition from farmers who can graze swaths, bales or grass without starting their tractors. Any producer without a comparative advantage likely will not survive unless someone on the farm brings in a good salary and is willing to spend some of it to feed cows. I think we will see more and more dual career cattle producers with a good education, a good job in the country and 50 cows. As one downsized farmer asked

me: why bother? But there are downsized farmers with grazing land and spare time who just like cows.

the same strategy will spread across more crops on more farms. The system is there, the knowledge can be learned.

CROPPING PROSPECTS

FARMING HAS CHANGED

With today’s equipment, the work it takes to expand your farm to crop “another quarter” has come down. It used to take days — now it’s hours. Sure, grain farming still depends on the weather. But crop insurance programs have been beefed up, odds of another low of another year of widespread flooding are low, and China will likely continue buying food to keep its 1.3 billion people from revolting. Russia and Ukraine might be able to boost production but the infrastructure needs to be improved. Likewise in Brazil. As corn and soybeans replace flax and oats in Western Canada and as new processing facilities and markets open up, the odds are good that there will be decent markets and prices for all crops you grow. I also sense that marketing knowledge is going to improve. A lot of readers of my newsletter know how to buy or sell calls and puts on B:10.25” stocks at the proper time to boost T:10.25” risk. I expect cash flow or reduce

I don’t like the word changed. It doesn’t say anything unless it refers to coins in your pocket. Has farming improved or gotten worse? Compared to what? Cash flow has improved on most grain and beef farms, but so have expenses. Expenses seem to go up when the outlook for commodity prices goes up — often months before you actually have calves or grain to sell. I have often argued that critical size matters a lot when you are planning a farm. In the Red River Valley that critical size seems to be around 2,000 acres per operator. Generally the number of acres goes up as we head west. However, at current farmland prices, in many areas it’s time to wonder whether buying land at these prices will, should, could or would improve economies of scale. There comes a point where, if an asset is too expensive to buy, a person might be wise to sell. I know it’s hard for many to

sell stocks, cows, and farmland at the top of the market. One of the problems is that tops and bottoms are hard to spot until they are behind us. Every person needs to think things through for him or herself. But over my 42-year career in the agriculture industry, I have known many farmers who sold cows and or farmland at good high prices. From my memory not one, I repeat, not one farmer has looked back and said it was a mistake. The idea of selling assets to bring down debt can be quite interesting. The critical size of a farm should shrink dramatically if debt is eliminated. Sure, the price of farmland might keep rising for some time to come. But farming less land means equipment and health should also last longer too. Which leads to an interesting question: if a farm needs more land to have a critical size, is there a price at which less land improves the satisfaction of the farm? I think so. † Andy Sirski is mostly retired. He writes, plays with grandchildren, keeps his Datsun running, gardens, manages his investments and publishes a newsletter called StocksTalk. To read it free for a month, go to Google and type in StocksTalk.net, or email sirski@mts.net

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MAY 7, 2012

grainews.ca /

Columns SOILS AND CROPS

Lessons from long term experiments LES HENRY

have never been a huge fan of research station soil fertility work, and in my day never did an experiment on university or government land. My worry was that the residuals from unknown manure and other applications would make the data of doubtful use in “ordinary” farm fields. This past winter I had the pleasure of hearing Reynald Lemke, research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), present a summary of long-term experiments from AAFC’s Swift Current, Sask., research station. It was a fascinating talk and made me

realize the value of these longterm field experiments. The Swift Current long-term wheat plots were started in 1967 so have now run for 45 years — long enough to see significant trends. The experiments were simple nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) applications on continuous wheat and fallow, wheat, wheat plots. The most striking statistic to me was recovery of N and P fertilizer expressed as the extra N or P harvested in the grain as a percentage of the N and P fertilizer that had been applied over the many years. When Reynald Lemke tallied up the long-term results at Swift Current it turned out that 98 per cent of the P applied could be accounted for in the P that was hauled off the plots with the wheat. The lights came on. In the intervening 40 years there have been many studies

of residual P from adding single high rates and following the residual response. That data has long ago led me to state: “P fertilizer is an investment in the land. If you own the land and farm it for many years the money spent on P fertilizer will always come home in spades.”

NITROGEN The recovery of N fertilizer in the grain from long-term experiments at Swift Current was actually greater than 100 per cent. At first flush that may seem impossible but it makes a great deal of sense. At the AAFC Research Station at Scott, Sask., there is a piece of ground that has been planted to wheat continuously for 100 years with no fertilizer applied. The five-year average yield is still about 15 to 20 bushels per

acre. So, if it still yields that much with no N fertilizer there must be some natural additions. This comes from nitrogen fixation by free living microorganisms, the bit of N that comes down in rain and a bit of N still being released form the soil organic matter. At the famous Rothamsted Research Farm in Jolly Old England the field named Broadbalk has plots that have grown winter wheat continuously since 1843 — yes, 1843 — with no fertilizer or manure. It still has a five-year average yield of about 15 bushels per acre. Now, in the U.K. the N that comes down in rain can be quite significant at times and in the wet winter they do lose N to leaching and drainage — all plots are tile drained. So, the positives and negatives of it all are different, but they still harvest some wheat with no fertilizer.

So, it makes sense that Swift Current could record more than 100 per cent recovery of N fertilizer (rates were modest) over the long term. That means that in the brown soil zone, if nitrogen fertilizer is used at a moderate to high rate (50 to 75 pounds per acre) and a dry year comes along, the nitrogen will be sitting there ready to use when the next crop is planted and when it rains. We should not think that the Swift Current data can be applied everywhere. In the black soil zones where excess water is not uncommon — especially the Red River valley — losses of N to denitrification and leaching will occur and excess N will be lost. † J.L.(Les) Henry is a former professor and extension specialist at the University of Saskatchewan. He farms at Dundurn, Sask. He recently finished a second printing of “Henry’s Handbook of Soil and Water”, a book that mixes the basics and practical aspects of soil, fertilizer and farming. Les will cover the shipping and GST for Grainews readers. Simply send a cheque for $50 to Henry Perspectives, 143 Tucker Cres, Saskatoon, SK, S7H 3H7

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110200497_TWNLN_Specialist_GN_v3.indd 1

12-04-04 3:13 PM

/ grainews.ca

MAY 7, 2012

Columns ANYONE CAN START FARMING

Getting ready for breeding season Find out how Debbie Chikousky makes sure her herd is ready for breeding DEBBIE CHIKOUSKY

pring on our farm is busy. We are finishing lambing and kidding and all of a sudden it is time to breed the beef cows.

PREPARING BULLS While researching how to prepare our bulls for breeding I discovered that the production of sperm cells requires at least 48 days. This means that you must begin to get the bull into breeding condition at least two to three months ahead of the breeding season. The first step is to ensure that the bulls are being fed to sustain a moderate body condition and are exercising enough to develop some physical endurance. Although the bulls are in a small pen, we provided exercise by letting them out to walk for water instead of bringing the water to them. It is also important to address any health concerns quickly because a high fever for just a day or so can damage all the stored sperm cells. It

will take at least 1-1/2 months for them to be replaced. In researching methods of increasing cowherd fertility we discovered the importance of the scrotal circumference of our bulls. Experts agree that scrotal circumference is a medium to high heritability trait, which directly affects the fertility of the male offspring — increasing scrotal size will increase fertility of future generations. Also, the scrotal circumference of a bull is positively related to the fertility of his daughters. Heifers from sires with larger than average scrotal circumference tend to reach puberty earlier than those from bulls with smaller scrotal circumferences. Increased scrotal circumference in sires is also favorably correlated to their daughter’s age at first breeding, pregnancy rate and days to rebreeding after calving. Due to low heritability, direct selection for female fertility traits has not been successful. The strong genetic relationship between scrotal circumference and female reproductive traits provides an alternative selection method. Ideally, a qualified veterinarian should perform a breeding soundness examination on all bulls, every year shortly before the beginning of breeding. If that is not feasible, then at least the young, the old and

the questionable (those that have been ill previously or are in poor condition) should be selected and checked. Few bulls are sterile; most produce some viable sperm and could settle a few cows. The purpose of the semen evaluation is to identify bulls with reduced semen quality. If one sample tests poorly, it is best to collect and examine a second sample. Even if the second sample also tests poorly, the bull should be re-evaluated three to six weeks later. By that time he should have recovered, if the problem was temporary. This is why it is very important to start early. A complete breeding soundness examination consists of the following: 1. Observation for physical problems. 2. Testicle palpation 3. Measure of scrotal circumference. 4. Palpation of seminal vesicles (per rectum). 5. Observation of penis while extended. 6. Classification of semen (sperm motility and morphology). The sperm motility must be evaluated on-site; maintaining the normal temperature of the semen B:10.25” during examination is critical. To T:10.25” morphology, evaluate the sperm

the sperm cells are stained on a slide. An important part of a breeding soundness evaluation is looking for soundness problems. This includes feet and legs, body condition, eye and mouth problems as well as lesions of the penis, prepuce or testicles. It is important to understand that a breeding soundness examination is neither a libido test nor a test of mating ability. The breeder best determines these at home by spending time observing the bulls’ performance.

TESTING COWS Once the bull is taken care of it is time to remember the cows. When the cows calve in the spring there is a period of time when her reproductive abilities are put on hold until her body can build up enough energy reserves to allow her to become receptive to rebreeding. This is called anoestrus. Cows that don’t have their nutritional needs met experience more problems with reproduction than cows in good condition. Cows in good condition, with a body condition score of three to five, are considered in optimum breeding condition. These cows can re-breed 30 to 40 days after calving, while the effects of anoestrus can inhibit a

poor-condition cow from rebreeding for up to 100 days. The cheapest way to make sure our cows are on a gaining nutritional plane is to wait until the grass is here and breed them on pasture, but that could make calving a bit later in the spring than what works for our farm. Since we do not feed grain to our beef cattle, our best option is to retain a portion of the best quality hay we purchased to feed post-calving when the cows have the highest nutritional draw. The other consideration is to supply the cowherd with a high quality mineral supplement. When the cows are healing from calving and nursing new calves their stores are at risk of being low. If their body perceives that they are not able to sustain another pregnancy due to malnutrition of any kind their anoestrus period will extend much longer. If the feed is sufficient and the supplements in place and the cows still seem a bit slow, it could be lice. We often have a problem with lice in the spring. A quick lice powder treatment does amazing things to a cow’s general condition. It also guarantees that the calves won’t have to deal with lice. † Debbie Chikousky farms with her family at Narcisse, Man. Visitors are always welcome. Contact Debbie at debbie@chikouskyfarms.com

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MAY 7, 2012

grainews.ca /

Columns GUARDING WEALTH

Choosing off-farm investments What’s next? For off-farm investments, a solid answer to that question will make the difference between statements that bleed red ink and those that soar into the black BY ANDREW ALLENTUCK

orld stock markets are soaring, but we’re not out of the woods yet. There are signs of recovery in Europe where the European Central Bank (ECB) has calmed stock and bond markets. In New York, where modest trend shifts turn into stampedes, the omens are positive. And in Japan, where the Nikkei 225 average appears to have returned to life with a 10.5 per cent gain in February, never mind that it remains 75 per cent below its high, there is elation that the two decade long night of losses could be ending.

1) Our banks are growing slowly and are facing requirements to boost capital reserves in the next few years. As capital requirements rise, the banks must lend less. That’s negative for earnings. 2) Our life insurance companies, which make much of their money by investing in bonds, are still not out of the woods. Bond interest rates are still low and bond interest is a major force propelling insurance company earnings. 3) Our materials business, which means exports to China, is under a cloud as China’s growth slows. 4) Canada’s energy business is troubled by vast discoveries of

natural gas in the U.S. and regulatory issues.

WHAT TO DO WITH SPARE CASH So we come to the core issue — what should farmers do with spare cash? Safety in the market requires diversification. But if diversification carries too high a cost, the rational investor and the careful farmer should not do it. The movement of investors to take on more risk in stocks is part bottom feeding in depressed markets like Japan, part enthusiasm for tech stocks that have gotten

more respect courtesy of Apple, a movement of conservative investors to Canadian utilities and relief that cornerstone industries like banking are not going to crumble in the near future. I don’t think that a relief rally is the foundation for a major commitment out of conservative stocks that pay hefty dividends — banks and utilities, pipelines and telecoms — and into hot stocks du jour. If you buy a stock with a good dividend, for example BCE Inc. with its 5.5 per cent yield and history of raising dividends, you will eventually come out with a profit, even if the stock drops 10 or 20 per cent in a bad market.

The greatest gain from stocks comes from dividends. In the U.S. and Canada, dividends have furnished 2.7 per cent of the four per cent average gain of stocks in the last 50 years. The implication is obvious: Invest by all means, but buy stocks with strong dividends and portfolios of stocks with strong dividends. Exchange traded funds with low fees of, say, 25 basis points (there are 100 basis points in one per cent) allow you to keep the dividends, most of them anyway. But when you pay average mutual fund fees of 2.6 per cent, the managers and salespeople get the dividends. In the end, the wise investor does not chase performance, like hot stocks that have probably already had their run, but pursues fundamentals like dividends from companies able to sustain and raise them. † Andrew Allentuck’s latest book, “When Can I Retire? Planning Your Financial Life After Work,” was published by Penguin Canada in 2011

WORLD STOCKS As of Feb. 29, stocks and bonds around the world showed gains. The new theme in the markets is that fear is over for a while. The trend is to buy assets with some risk and to shun those that are very safe. We are already seeing relatively strong performance in small caps. For example, the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index rose 2.4 per cent in February, 2012 compared to 1.4 per cent for the S&P/TSX 60 Index of large caps. Venture stocks are small companies that can turn a small jump in sales into a large boost in earnings. Big companies are restrained by the law of large numbers and cannot produce the same leaps of value. By the same token, a 25 per cent drop in a venture or small cap stock’s earnings can devastate its stock. For a big bank, it’s not going to be devastating. Moreover, investors’ enthusiasm for risk needs to be tempered with a dose of economic reality. There are signs of a U.S. recovery, with new car sales up and some auto parts plants are hiring workers who had been laid off. But the core issue in the U.S. economy, the housing sector, has not recovered as much as was expected. There has never been a boom in the U.S. while housing starts are faltering. But faltering they are. U.S. housing starts fell in February from a three-year high in January. All housing starts were down 1.1 per cent from the January, 2012 level. More importantly, perhaps, the January gains were in rental housing, not single-family dwellings, Bloomberg reports. The problem? Builders with good credit can get loans, but individuals cannot get housing loans as readily.

IN CANADA As America goes, so goes Canada. But going in the same direction is not the same thing as going in the same proportion. Canadian stocks’ modest gain in February, 1.5 per cent was led by health care, a very narrow sector that was up 8.2 per cent for the month, while materials were down 1.8 per cent and consumer staples were down by 1.3 per cent in the same period. Gold stocks fell 3.2 per cent on the back of a 2.3 per cent decline in the price of the metal. There are a few troubles ailing Canadian markets.

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MAY 7, 2012

Cattleman’s Corner MARKETING

Navigating the marketing maze You don’t have to be a marketing expert, but understanding a few of basics can help improve marketing skills BY SEAN MCGRATH

or many, marketing is one area of farm management generates a lot of fear and even mistrust, and yet is a large part of what we do unknowingly all the time. Marketing is a little bit about getting your name out there, a little bit about your product, a little bit about knowing costs, a little bit about knowing markets, a little bit about knowing your customers and a lot about knowing yourself. Marketing is a soft skill and it is usually easier to see the hard costs rather than the subtler price premiums, but marketing is an important and rewarding skill set to develop.

COSTS The first thing people are told in almost every marketing class is to know their costs of production. This is annoying and creates great consternation, but it is the truth. Knowing both your total and daily costs on calves is extremely empowering because it helps you avoid the psychological trap that catches so many producers.

When prices are rising, people get euphoric and hold onto inventory hoping to capture the very highest price. Once the market peaks, they hold onto inventory hoping the market has not peaked yet. Along with hope, people often also feel disgusted at missing the market high. The inverse happens at the bottom of the cycle as people sell off due to outright pessimism. The point is: You don’t need to top the market, you just need to be profitable. No one ever went broke making a profit. If you know your costs, you can consistently sell when the price is higher than your costs. A lot of people top the market and sell under their cost of production at the same time.

PRODUCT (VALUE PROPOSITION) Knowing your value proposition is more than just knowing your cattle, although that is part of it. Common examples of value include age verification, health status, sex, colour, weight and genetic makeup. Market timing can also be a value proposition as there are times of the year where

certain classes of cattle are short, or where tax money is more readily available. If your value proposition is that the calves are produced at the lowest possible cost, then your value proposition may simply be based on acceptable selling price. These are all fine things as long as both buyer and seller understand them.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE I don’t know a lot about markets, but I keep a few people on the hook who do. They send me regular market updates, ranging from daily through to weekly and monthly. It is still my responsibility to read them. You also need to keep an eye on the futures markets. That doesn’t mean you have to take a full course in hedging and options, or go out and hire a broker. Just be aware of where/when your cattle will finish. Even if you sell 500-pound calves, their price will ultimately be based on what the futures look like when they are predicted to finish. Feed, fuel and the Canadian dollar influence the price of calves. As the dollar goes down, the price goes up (all else being

equal). I don’t watch the dollar as much as I watch the price of oil. The Canadian dollar is driven by the price of oil (oil goes up/ dollar goes up/cattle go down). By watching oil, we often have a day or two advance notice of the direction the dollar is heading. This has served us well in some of the very volatile markets of the last decade.

THE NEW WORLD CUSTOMER Customers are changing as well. Direct marketers definitely know this, as many consumers are seeking to get to know their farmer and demanding certain assurances (and paying for them). On the commodity side, feedlots are getting bigger as they pursue economies of scale. Manny modern feedlot pens will hold 300 to 600-plus head of similar size and type of cattle. Think about that for a second. After you take out heifers, off-type cattle and replacements, it takes a cowherd of 1,500 head to fill one 600 head pen of steers in a modern feedlot. This creates an opportunity to earn a premium for those able to provide large uniform lots of cattle with similar backgrounds.

We don’t all need 1,500 cows, we need friends and neighbours. This is a large part of the concept behind pre-sort sales (another topic altogether). Trucking costs are also rising and even if you can’t fill a pen, being able to send full trucks is also a great opportunity. A truck holds roughly 60,000 pounds. The cost per head to ship 50 head of 600-pound calves is double the cost of sending 100 on the same trip. If you don’t have full loads, there are marketing opportunities to send heavier calves or truck share.

RISK PREMIUM There is always risk with owning cattle. There are health risks, market risks, debt risk and a host of other issues. Knowing your costs and appreciating your customers’ needs allows us to abandon unacceptable risk, or demand a risk premium for our efforts. Ever wonder why really lightweight calves are often sold at steep discounts? They are at a high risk of illness or death in a large commercial feeding

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Canada Beef and Kraft celebrate the Canadian Beef Producer This summer Kraft Canada will celebrate the beef industry by sharing the stories of four of Canada’s beef producers and will include some great beef recipes as well. The highly regarded What’s Cooking magazine produced by Kraft Canada will include a 12-page booklet dedicated to the Canadian beef industry as well as a full page ad and editorial within the May issue of the magazine.

“This was a great opportunity to build on our existing relationship with Kraft and their products,” says Joyce Parslow, Consumer Culinary Marketing Manager with Canada Beef Inc. “We provided the recipes, images and content and the Kraft team provided the creative design and printing.”

The booklet, Made in Canada, Real. Authentic. Beef. will be distributed to approximately 500,000 consumers in Ontario and Alberta. Beef producers from across the country share their stories and their commitment to such things as the environment and animal welfare as well as their dedication to providing healthy food for their families and the world. Beside the article about the producer is a great beef recipe designed to whet the consumer’s appetite and get them shopping for great Canadian beef. “This was an excellent opportunity to not only share the culinary advice and recipes we are known for, but to also show the consumers the amazing people providing the food for their tables,” says Parslow. The booklets will be available to What’s Cooking booklet subscribers and Canada Beef will have some copies available to order through their canadabeef.ca website.

Sharing the stories of the amazing people providing the food for our tables.

MAY 7, 2012

grainews.ca /

Cattleman’s Corner THE MARKETS

Cattle market softens in the second quarter Higher carcass weights and “pink slime” weigh on prices JERRY KLASSEN MARKET UPDATE

ed cattle prices continue to trend lower in the second quarter due to weaker beef wholesale prices and largerthan-expected production. Texas fed cattle traded as low as $119/ cwt in late April, which is down $11/cwt from the March highs. Alberta slaughter cattle have also been under pressure trading $109/ cwt to $111/cwt, down $8/cwt in comparison to late spring. Packing margins remain in negative territory and there is the risk of plant shutdowns in the upcoming months. March and April have been the most difficult months on record for the packing industry. The negative media hype regarding ammonia-treated ground beef has resulted in a sharp decrease in demand. Wholesale choice beef traded at $177/cwt in late April, down from the highs of $197 in late February; select beef was also quoted at $177, down $10/cwt from late March.

2012 beef production forecasts are down from 2011, quarterly pork production is up by nearly 100 million pounds each quarter compared to last year. I’m comfortable with the production estimate for the fourth quarter because placements will likely drop under year-ago levels in late spring and summer. This will tighten market-ready supplies in October and November. Producers should also remember that fed cattle made seasonal highs in early November and the market environment is setting up for a similar price pattern. Cattle-on-feed numbers in Alberta and Saskatchewan are running similar to year ago levels. The number of cattle slaughtered is only down one per cent so slaughter data is in line with the on-feed numbers. It is important to realize that average carcass weights

are 881 pounds compared to 851 pounds last year which reflects that feedlots are holding back on sales. Year-to-date slaughter steer and heifer exports to the U.S. for the week ending March 24 were 96,451, down 16.3 per cent from 115,278 head last year. Lower exports also confirm the backup with on-feed numbers the same as last year. There is going to be pressure on the basis in May and June. It will be difficult to increase fedcattle exports given the backlog of market ready supplies in the U.S.

SLUGGISH DEMAND Beef demand remains sluggish despite the warmer temperatures. Demand for ground beef is down an estimated 15 per cent to 20 per cent given the negative media hype regarding ammonia-treated

lean textured beef. Beef producers also need to be aware that average consumer income has actually deteriorated in 2012 when accounting for taxes and inflation. While beef products are still near record highs on the retail shelf, pork and poultry products are actually cheaper than last year. Fed cattle prices are expected to trade in a sideways range over through the summer period. In fall, prices could percolated higher but this will largely demand on the overall economic situation and consumer spending. Feeder cattle prices are expected to stay soft through the summer. The barley carryout for the 2011-12 crop year will be historically tight which will cause the feed grains complex to stay firm in Western Canada. Feedlots need a breakeven price above $120/cwt for fed cat-

tle in late spring and summer and with the current market at $109/ cwt, feeding margins will stay in red ink. At the time of writing this article, feedlots are holding fed cattle that were sold over two weeks earlier. Some backgrounding operations are holding 850pound cattle that were sold three weeks earlier. There is a backlog through the system and which eventually trickles down to the feeder market. Negative feeding margins, higher barley prices, and the current cattle backlog will continue to set a negative tone in the feeder market. † Gerald Klassen analyzes cattle and hog markets in Winnipeg and also maintains an interest in the family feedlot in Southern Alberta. For comments or speaking engagements, he can be reached at jkci@mts.net or 204-287-8268

HIGHER PRODUCTION Second-quarter beef production is coming in larger than expected due higher carcass weights. Producers have been holding back on sales but this is price negative longer term. All commodities and equity markets have come under pressure since early March and the speculative funds have been major sellers of live cattle futures. Feeder cattle prices have softened due to weaker fed cattle values and higher barley prices. Alberta feedlots are carrying larger number of fall placed calves which has limited their demand for replacement cattle. Negative feeding margins in Western Canada and in the U.S. will keep feeder prices under pressure over the next couple months. U.S. beef production estimates are coming in higher than earlier projections because of the heavier carcass weights. Cattle-on-feed numbers are running two to three per cent above last year but the year to date slaughter pace is five per cent behind year-ago levels. Therefore, at some point late in the second quarter or early third quarter, the slaughter pace has to catch up last year. This will also cause the USDA to increase third-quarter production estimates. It is important to note that while BY DAN PIRARO

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MAY 7, 2012

Cattleman’s Corner BETTER BUNKS AND PASTURES

Zinc key to good beef bull fertility PETER VITTI

ometimes it’s seems unfair beef cows and replacement heifers get more attention paid to their nutrient requirements, and bulls often are left to fend for themselves. Although, they make up less than five per cent of the beef herd, bulls provide 50 per cent of genetic material to make calves and 90 per cent of the genetic progress in most beef herds. Infertility of even one bull in a group rotation can have a significant detrimental effect on the breeding season. So it is important bulls are provided with proper nutrition at all times in order to prepare them for a successful breeding season, even though it may be several months away. As part of a well-balanced bull diet, it is best to check even the smallest nutritional details such as supplying sufficient dietary zinc. It has been known for a long time that zinc is essential for good bull fertility.

PIVOTAL ROLL Zinc’s role is pivotal in good bull reproduction for two microscopic reasons. First, it is involved in the production, storage and secretion of male hormones involved within the inner circle of male reproductive activities, namely; testosterone, insulin and adrenal corticosteroids. For example, testosterone is responsible for

puberty, sex drive and is needed to maintain the overall functions of the bull’s reproductive organs. Second, dietary zinc plays a crucial role at the cellular level in spermatogenesis or sperm production, and thus vital semen production. Subsequently, there is little debate as to the importance of dietary zinc in bull fertility. Over the last 50 years, university and extension research has clearly proven a zinc deficiency in cattle will lead to delayed puberty in intact young beef calves and low sperm count in older bulls, regardless of their breed and body condition score. One of the best field trials on the importance of zinc nutrition for bulls in recent years was performed by Kansas State University (KSU)’s animal science department, where different levels of dietary zinc was fed to fertile breeding bulls in both inorganic- and organiczinc forms. The KSU experiment entailed feeding three groups of angus yearling bulls, one of the three diets for 126 days: (1) 40 ppm zinc supplied by inorganic zinc sulphate, (2) 40 ppm zinc supplied by 2/3 zinc sulphate and 1/3 supplied by an organic-zinc form or chelated zinc, and (3) 60 ppm zinc provided by zinc sulphate. The results of this study showed the percentage of viable normal sperm cells was the highest in the treatment group fed the second diet of inorganic- and organic-zinc (68.9 per cent), followed by zinc groups of 60 ppm zinc (62.5 per cent) and 40 ppm zinc (55.8 per cent).

RESEARCH FINDINGS The researchers drew two concise conclusions from the study. The NRC-recommended dietary zinc level for beef cattle of 30 ppm might be too low for bovine breeding stock and more bioavailable organic zinc sources can improve bull fertility fed at relatively low levels in the diet. The research shows it is important for producers to apply some of these Zn-principles to their own bull feeding programs to help optimize bull fertility. Producers feeding organic zinc might start to notice other growth and healthy benefits in their cattle. Because zinc is part of specific enzyme systems involved in epithelial (skin) formation and repair, feeding extra dietary zinc is theorized to strengthen cattle hooves, particularly under most harsh field and housing conditions. Zinc is also needed for strong bone calcification, involved in tissue healing, and part of circulating enzyme systems that regulate cell-mediated immune functions as well as vitamin A metabolism in the body. Regardless as to how much dietary zinc a fertile bull ultimately needs, it should be supplied in a well-balanced commercial mineral-vitamin product that contains adequate levels of macro-minerals such as calcium, and phosphorus that compliment the rest of the diet; namely the forages and grains fed to young and mature bulls. Furthermore, other trace mineral aside from high zinc levels, which are also essential for bull health, growth and fertility such as copper, manganese, iodine,

PHOTO: FILE

Zinc is one of the key minerals in the reproductive performance of bulls. and cobalt should be formulated into a bull mineral at relatively high levels and be assured of a high degree of bio-availability. Selenium should also be provided at three mg/head/d as well as recommended levels of vitamins A, D, and high vitamin E (i.e.: +1000 iu/head/d). Finally, salt and a good source of fresh clean water should round out the bull diet.

RECOMMENDATION Likewise, a practical Zn-recommendation for breeding bulls is as follows; feed a standard $30 bag of well-balanced cattle mineral (with 40 ppm zinc on a complete feed basis) for much of the overwinter-early spring period (180 days) and then switched to a $40 cattle breeder mineral (a significant portion of zinc coming from organic Zn-sources) for about 60 days prior to the start of the breeding season

(re: it takes about 60 days for new sperm to be produced and mature). In one respect, zinc is no more or less important than those dozen or so above mentioned essential minerals required by breeding bulls. However, zinc is frequently singled out because of its strong nutritional association to good male reproduction. A good bull diet that follows this zinc concept should always assure that there is adequate dietary zinc to meet the beef bull’s specific zinc requirement, and be put alongside the other essential nutrients (including energy, protein, other minerals and vitamins), so they can all work together for the successful cause of developing fertile bulls that breed fertile beef cows and produce future profitable calves. † Peter Vitti is an independent livestock nutritionist and consultant based in Winnipeg. To reach him call 204-254-7497 or by email at vitti@mts.net

COMMENT

We need to cut coyotes some slack

We also have to look at the problems coyotes solve, not just the ones they cause BY STAN HARDER

n common with some other counties throughout Western Canada, our municipal government has introduced a bounty on coyotes and wolves. In their rush to a “one size fits all” solution I wonder if participating councils have given sufficient weight to greater good considerations and if verifiable studies have indeed been done affirming conclusively that coyote damage to the cattle industry is as extensive as anecdotally reported. Relatively few years ago the issue in many parts of the Prairies was not excessive numbers of coyotes but an over abundance of deer and rodents. Agricultural publications featured a constant flow of articles on how to protect winter feed and spring pastures from herds of foraging deer. Drivers were regularly cautioned to elevated vigilance as vehicle accidents involving these relatively large animals were becoming alarmingly widespread . At the same time unholy multitudes of gophers dug undulating waves of colonies into already drought-stressed fields and pastures.

Field mice were endemic, as anyone who worked the land or moved bales could attest. Deer and rodents are no longer an issue in our immediate area. Deer numbers have literally been decimated and more. Occasional gophers are seen as lonely sentinels on once heavily infested pastures, and mice have drawn down to populations not seen in decades, if ever.

CAUSE AND EFFECT That rising coyote numbers and declining deer and rodent populations might be cause and effect perhaps needs to be more ably considered. Our provincial government should have moved to change previously high deer populations by correcting the regulatory deer management environment. Onerous hunting fees and short seasons with meat-cutting shops all but impossible to find all contributed to deer populations inevitably rising out of control These blunders are now being compounded by participating municipalities placing bounties on the very species that solved the excess deer and rodent populations in the first place. This is

disingenuous at best and imperceptive at worst. If we were to compare overall economic damage caused by deer versus coyotes we would need to add the cost of deer-related road accidents. A coyote run over by a car is just another roadkill, flattened by succeeding traffic or shunted into the ditch. A deer/car collision has significant damage potential from minor scrapes to vehicle rollover, injury and operator death. When ranchers report loss of calves we need to consider broader dynamics beyond the seemingly apparent. That elevated coyote numbers alone are the primary cause is an entirely too one-dimensional conclusion. The more salient question is “why are ranchers losing calves to coyotes at all?” Reports of calves killed all too frequently originate from the same farms year after year, yet there are fenceline neighbours who have successfully raised cattle for decades without losing a single animal to coyotes. I’m confident definitive studies would show significantly more calves are lost to inadequate shelter, starvation, unsupervised calving, disease and inherent neglect than all coyote, bear and wolf predations combined. That a

calf might be found half eaten is no evidence of a predator kill — none. To suggest coyotes should be summarily shot for consuming alreadydead calves drops the level of debate to unhappy standards. Certainly coyotes will attack the calf of a cow disabled in the throes of giving birth if opportunity presents itself, but where is management that such an occasion is at hand? Care-committed farmers conduct consistent herd monitoring at calving time, and where bush pasture makes supervision difficult, the addition of a llama or donkey has proven to be excellent predator restraint. Both species bond well with cows and are outstanding guards. They are exceedingly watchful and will unhesitatingly kill a coyote (or dog) rather than surrender a vulnerable member to predation.

PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY Producers need to address responsibility by examining how they dispose of calves born dead or that die later. Are these bodies being casually tossed onto the traditional “bone yard” or are they buried/burned ? What about afterbirth? Is any effort being made to remove these from the calving area?

Once coyotes find a dependable food source they will keep coming back, and many a coyote has likely been saved from starvation by winning the lottery of finding another hundred pounds of beef lying conveniently dead and accessible near the calving pen. The issue of too many coyotes would solve itself if they were bloody well just left alone. If affected farmers were to accept that they have individual responsibility and the provincial government were to introduce a better deer management regime combined with a sensible carcass disposal program the downward change in coyote numbers would be dramatic and permanent. Coyotes expanded their population to meet the available (carcass beef, deer and rodents) food supply and would decrease numbers on the same foundation in reverse. Before we leap too quickly onto the “lets just kill them” bandwagon we might reflect on the good coyotes do. Coyotes are to ranchers what seagulls are to city garbage dumps. As well as keeping the lid on excessive numbers of rodents and deer, they are inveterate scavengers eating virtually anything dead.

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BUILDING TRUST IN CANADIAN BEEF

Cattleman’s Corner

How records anchor the industry Farms and ranch records underscore our beef industry customer commitment

o what exactly did you do there? A simple enough question for anyone in the beef industry market chain — to be asked about any aspect of their operation. At the producer level, a good test of that market readiness might be to ask that question about on-farm records. We are in a “prove it” world and on-farm records anchor our beef industry commitment. Good records should be easy to use and drive effective management decisions. They can’t do that if they sit on the shelf. They need to be used, to make more profit and engage customers. Just outside Wetaskiwin in central Alberta, the Pine Haven Colony has installed a computerized record-keeping system in its feedlot that anchors that business today. Like many opera-

Records are a helpful management tool, regardless whether they are computerized or handwritten.

tions it grew from a much simpler version of that system into today’s state-of-the-art unit. Here are six things those records do for their operation. Speedy, thorough record-keeping. Every animal that comes into the feedlot is entered into the record system. Details of all animal health products, such as label information, dosage and withdrawal time is entered into the system. All feeding data is entered. The result is that every animal is tracked from the time they enter to the time they leave, including slaughter data. Searches are superfast, says the Pine Haven feedlot manager and can be done by any criteria you wish. Instantaneous chute-side information. Processing record information is available at chute-side on touch screen computers. When an animal comes into the chute, its identification number comes up and its current weight is indicated. The treatment protocol comes up, including any product details such as the dosage and application and withdrawal information. There is even an optional checklist for everything that needs to be done. It makes processing simple and virtually foolproof even for new people. Complete records customization. The system allows Pine Haven to establish virtually any record-keeping parameters they want. For example, one identifier they have built into the system is ranch source. That allows them to pull together all the performance records for all

the cattle in any given time frame for any ranch client. That’s useful to both buyer and seller. Reports for cow-calf producer clients. Cowcalf producers who sell to the feedlot really like to know how their animals perform. That’s a simple report to generate out of the database, and links with slaughter information. That helps producers make management decisions such as genetics and whether or not to background. Confidence for their meat customers. Pine Haven feeds for the specialty markets and those options typically have extra recordkeeping requirements to meet market needs and back up their brand statement. Connection to industry requirements. The records on this system are “industry ready” for easy and instantaneous uploading, for example, to the Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS) national database and to Canadian Cattle Identification Agency. The commitment counts

One lesson from the hundreds of beef operations across the country using the Verified Beef Production (VBP) program is that effective record-keeping systems come in all shapes and sizes, from very basic handwritten ones to very speedy computerized ones. VBP auditors have found that you don’t have to have the latest software to have good records. Many simple systems have the sophistication to do the job. It’s the commitment to keeping records that counts.

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MAY 7, 2012

Cattleman’s Corner RANCHER’S DIARY

Calving season begins and ends HEATHER SMITH THOMAS

MARCH 29

ast month I mentioned the inverter (tilt) table that Lynn uses to help his back and ease the pressure on his sciatic nerve. We had several calls from people asking about this. There are many brands and models available (more than a dozen are sold through Walmart stores, for instance) at a variety of prices. Lynn paid $120 for his, which is probably less than a person would spend for two visits to a chiropractor! In mid-March we had more snowstorms and several inches of new snow. Several cows were starting to develop udders so we brought them down from the field and sorted off the ones that were due to calve first. A week later, however, some of the rest were also showing udders, so we brought them all down. We don’t want any of them calving up there in the snow — with the coyotes and wolves! We put chains on the feed truck to get around in the snow and deep mud. Even though April calving is supposed to be easier than January calving, it looks like we’ll still have to put some cows in the barn to calve, in this weather, so Michael helped Lynn put straw in our barn stalls. Lynn is still having serious problems with his shoulder, so last week the doctor scheduled a MRI to see how much damage there is. Part of the attachment

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is torn. We’re hoping he won’t need to have surgery. Last fall an Idaho potato grower who bought a big ranch in Texas (and wants to grow potatoes there) wanted Lynn to fly down there to locate some water for wells. We were so busy with fencing projects that Lynn didn’t want to go. Last week, however, the farmer called again and talked Lynn into flying to Texas. Andrea drove him to Idaho Falls Monday evening, and he took a private jet Tuesday morning. By that afternoon he was locating spots where they could drill wells. That area of Texas is really dry — with hardly any grass. The farmer flew Lynn back to Idaho Falls yesterday afternoon, and Andrea drove down to get him. He was really tired, and went to bed early. Then at 11 p.m. we heard a cow bawling and I looked out the window with the spotlight, and saw Cub Cake wandering around the maternity pen, bawling. We put her in the calving pen in front of the house, but it was so cold and windy that we decided to put her in the barn. She calved at 3 a.m. — a nice bull calf. So we have officially started calving!

APRIL 11 Weather was still wet and cold for several days after we started calving, and the first calves didn’t get to go out to the field right away. We put straw in the “sick barn” across the creek, and used it for a second-day shelter for pairs after they came out of the calving barn. Last Saturday we realized our neighbour was preparing to move his cattle down to the field below our place, so we moved

our yearling heifers around to the swamp pasture, where they won’t be adjacent to the neighbour’s cattle and bulls. We don’t want our heifers bred too early, and also don’t want them to get trich (since the neighbour last year had a problem with that disease in his herd). I called our heifers in from the field, and seven-year-old Dani helped follow them around to the swamp pasture. She loves to work with the cattle! All the kids enjoyed “helping” during the week they were out of school for spring break, riding their bikes down here from Andrea’s new house. Dani was also hoping to see a cow calve (since she didn’t get to see one born last year) and especially wanted to see Maggie give birth. She made us promise to get her up if Maggie started calving during the night. Dani had her clothes in a pile by her bed, ready to jump into at a moment’s notice. Maggie started calving on Easter Sunday morning, so Andrea brought Dani down at 5 a.m. Dani and I sat in the next stall in the barn, and watched Maggie calve. Later that day she and Sammy both sat in the stall with Maggie and the calf, and then Dani sat in the pen with Maggie and her calf (after we put them out of the barn), petting that calf. Dani has been helping us name most of the calves. She named one little heifer Shyterra, and was delighted that this calf would come up to the fence and sniff her hand. Emily enjoyed seeing Buffalo Girl (her old pet cow that we raised on a bottle); that cow always comes up to Emily to be petted.

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Inversion table has helped Lynn’s back. Rishira (a 16-year-old cow) calved 15 days early — a very tiny bull calf. Andrea had to break the sac and get him breathing; the placenta was detaching and coming out with the calf. He was very frail, so we put the pair in the barn, and had to help the calf nurse. He had a lot of trouble nursing, and we had to help him every six hours. He got pneumonia when he was only a day old, and we had to keep him on antibiotics for a week. Finally he is feeling better, and actually nursing without help. Today was a nice day and Andrea started harrowing our fields, so we can hopefully start irrigating.

APRIL 23 Last week, I went to the Salmon Select Horse Sale with granddaughter Heather and her roommate (they drove home from college for the weekend, to go to the sale), and bought a gentle young mare that will hopefully become a horse for Dani.

» CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

NAVIGATING THE MARKETING MAZE operation. Keeping these calves back and backgrounding them under less stressful conditions until they reach heavier weights is an example of marketing. If your cattle are stressed or their health is compromised, you will lose your risk premium, since the buyer is assuming all the things about your cattle that you are not willing to tackle.

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We are always marketing whether we know it or not, even when we’re just having a cup of coffee and chatting with someone. Your attitude affects others and having an optimistic outlook is very important. Don’t be scared to tell people what you are doing, but make sure you focus on the positive aspects. Even your spouse doesn’t want to listen to complaints all the time. I also feel very strongly that

PHOTOS: HEATHER SMITH THOMAS

Michael and Carolyn hauled the mare home for us in their trailer. Her name is Whatzit but we decided to call her April because she was born April 15 (Michael’s birthday). Dani was excited about the new horse, and led her around and brushed her. Andrea rode the mare a couple of days and she seems pretty mellow and kind. Dani rode her the next day, to the end of our lane and back, with Andrea walking alongside. Last week Lynn started irrigating, and is enjoying how easy it is to turn the water on, with the headgates and improvements we made at each creek departure. We’ve had some warm weather, so the creek is rising. All of our cows have calved now, except one. We are still waiting on Freddy. We are hoping she has a heifer, because three quarters of the calves this year have been bulls! † Heather Smith Thomas ranches with her husband Lynn near Salmon, Idaho. Contact her at 208-756-2841

people should be grateful, and that this is the most important part of marketing. It is saying thank you. We can condemn the feedlots or the cattle buyers, but the reality is that we are all free to own our cattle as long as we want. When you accept a cheque you made a conscious decision to sell and it is a good thing someone wanted to buy. I often hear comments about how the buyer of a set of calves will make good money, inferring they sold “below market.” If that is true, then by knowing your costs and having some market intelligence you should still own them. It is also true if you feel you are getting screwed, and then it is time to take a long hard look at the value proposition being delivered from your own operation. Contrary to popular belief, even cattle buyers have feelings, and a heart-felt thank you will not only make both of you feel good, but it will add value to your cattle. † Sean McGrath is a rancher and consultant from Vermilion, Alta. He can be reached at smcgrath@ telusplanet.net or (780)853-9673. For additional information visit www.ranchingsystems.com

MAY 7, 2012

grainews.ca /

Cattleman’s Corner Environmental Planning

Improved water system benefits beef operation Developing an environmental farm plan introduced this farmer to management changes which have improved his overall operation PART 4 OF 4 BY ANGELA LOVELL

chance conversation with one of the men helping him round up his 1,400 head of cattle first got Rob Purdie interested in an environmental farm plan (EFP). Purdie, a central Alberta beef producer, was hauling water to the herd at the time, and the helper suggested he look into pumping instead. Partial funding was available from the province after completing an EFP. In 2009, Purdie completed his EFP and now has a mile and a half of surface pipeline with eight watering stations, which services about 700 of his 2,000 acres of pasture. Purdie was surprised by the ease of the EFP process and gives credit to Ken Lewis, the local program technician for Red Deer County, Alta., who helped him prepare and submit his EFP. Purdie wasn’t able to attend the Friday seminars that Lewis offered to help farmers with their EFPs, so instead he came to the farm for one-on-one planning sessions at the kitchen table. “Ken was so up to date on what needed to be done and he really helped me through the whole process,” says Purdie. “All the people (at the Red Deer Growing Forward office) were very professional and really know their stuff.”

identified through the EFP process, but he emphasizes the commitment of the producer is still important. In Purdie’s case he received 50 per cent matching funds to assist with his BMP projects. That commitment extends beyond the money, however, says Purdie. “The EFP is only effective if you actually do something,” he says. “Even if it’s only one improvement.” Purdie also emphasizes the EFP program and related projects are entirely voluntary. “No one is telling you that you have to do anything,” he says. “The EFP just brings to your attention to things that should be done in a different way if you want them done properly. Nobody has forced me to do anything. There’s just encouragement to try new idea

and then there’s some assistance available to carry out those plans.” Another benefit for Purdie has been networking with other producers to see what they are doing as a result of their EFP’s. “I have had a chance to meet lots of people and learn more ways to do things because of their ideas,” he says. “It’s been very beneficial for me and my farm.” For more information visit Alberta EFP website at: www. albertaefp.com and for details on the stewardship funding programs v i s i t : w w w. g r o w i n g f o r w a r d . alberta.ca/ProgramAreas/ EnhancedEnvironment/index. htm. † Angela Lovell is a freelance writer based in Manitou, Man.

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A better life Implementing these projects has given Purdie more time and a “better life.” “I know the system works and it’s just real easy on the mind to know that things are going to be working when you go out there,” he says. With an improved watering system, his herd is healthier and he sees fewer cases of foot rot than he did when the cattle used dugouts. Also with more watering stations bringing the water source closer for the cattle, the individual animals access it two or three at a time, rather than 300 to 400 head at a time. This means manure is more evenly distributed and helps makes pastures more productive. Purdie still has aspects of his EFP to complete within the next few years, including upgrading aboveground fuel tanks and extending the watering system further to cover another two or three pastures. He plans to further update his EFP with Lewis’ help, including other projects like putting in a 3,000-gallon water reservoir to eventually replace dugouts. Many of these things he hadn’t really considered before going through the EFP process. “In the beginning I was just interested in the livestock part of it, but some other ideas have been brought to my attention through the program, which I never thought of,” he says. “When we set things up 20 or 25 years ago we did it to the standards of that time and over the last few years of course we know that the environment is much more of a concern and we need to look after it, so some of the rules have changed.”

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MAY 7, 2012

Cattleman’s Corner Reproduction

Early ration critical for bulls BY LEE HART

AGRICULTURE: IS A BRIGHT IDEA !

nyone keeping bull calves for breeding stock needs to pay attention to YOUTH AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE proper nutrition early in OLDS COLLEGE, OLDS, AB the calf’s life, says an Agriculture Saturday, June 23, 2012 (8:30AB to 5:00) Canada researcher in Lethbridge. OLDS COLLEGE, OLDS, John Kastelic says research at This year’s conference focuses on marketing beef and Saturday, June 23, 2012 (8:30 to 5:00) features industry speakers delivering workshops on specific the centre shows calves on a hightopics to help youth, aged 12 to 21, develop the skills in er protein and energy ration in the leadership andconference mentorship while addressing questions like: first six months of life have larger This year’s focuses on marketing • features “What isindustry Genomics?” scrotal circumference and higher beef and speakers delivering sperm counts than calves on a workshops on specifi topics to help want? youth, • “What doescthe consumer Morning Sessions: (9:00 to 12:00) lower protein and energy diet. aged 12 to 21, develop the skills in leadership • “What’s going on in the industry? Marketing Workshops – Olds College Morning Sessions: (9:00 to 12:00) And the key period for the higher and mentorship while addressing questions like: Consumer Trends- Overwaitea Food Group ration is within the first 25 weeks Marketing Workshops – Olds College • “What is Genomics?” of life. If calves are fed a lower proConsumer Trends - Overwaitea Food Group tein and energy ration in the first • “What does the consumer want? LUNCH: Special Guest Speaker six months, and then switched to • “What’s going on in the industry? a higher protein and energy ration LUNCH: Special Guest Speaker (1:00 to 4:30) Afternoon Sessions: later, they don’t catch up. Industry Trends: Various Speakers In the study, Kastelic says they AfternoonUnderstanding Sessions: (1:00 to 4:30) Genomics: placed groups of both Angus and Agriculture Agri-Food Canada Industry Trends: Variousand Speakers Angus/Charolais cross bull calves onto three different feeding Group Presentations (4:30 to 5:00) Understanding Genomics: programs. All calves were weaned Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at six weeks of age for the study. Group Presentations (4:30 to 5:00) One (control) group received 100 per cent of the recommended To help sponsor this event, visitnutrition for protein and energy, http://www.youthengagement.net another group was fed a ration 30 per cent higher in protein and energy and a third group was fed 30 per cent less protein and energy. All calves received the same vitamin and mineral package. At the end of the study, those calves on the 130 per cent ration reached puberty one month earlier than the low-ration group, and perhaps more importantly scrotal circumference was 20 to 30 per cent larger and they produced 20 to 30 per cent more sperm. To help sponsor this event, visit http://www.youthengagement.net

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Profiting through Productivity

99th Convention & Annual General Meeting May 27-29, 2012 Cypress Park Resort, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park Join us May 27 – 29, 2012 in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park for the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association 99th Convention & Annual General Meeting. With positivity in the cattle industry, producers are looking for ways to optimize production & maximize profitability. This year’s convention will feature an exciting line up of speakers to address issues from production to current market opportunities. An institution in the beef industry for nearly a century – you won’t want to miss the SSGA 99th Convention & Annual General Meeting!

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we need to cut coyotes some slack Anyone who has been exposed to the stench of a rotting carcass recognizes the service coyotes provide by devouring deceased creatures of all types before decay sets in. Dead cattle will be licked clean to the bone even in the heart of winter. Maggots will eventually do the same job but are active only in hot weather while taking months to accomplish the task. Only if we are inclined toward a blowfly and stink obsession are maggots a viable alternative to coyotes. We raised cattle for about a quarter century, half of those years in an area where less than 10 per cent of our pastures were open fields. We were backed onto miles of unsettled government land that hosted an abundance of wildlife including large numbers of bears and coyotes. Our dog kept the yard clear of trespassers and on range all species seemed to make whatever accommodations were necessary to live peacefully side by side with the cows. We have never lost a calf to coyote or bear predation. The only creatures of the forest we truly feared (on behalf of our cattle) were porcupines.

Taxpayer subsidy unnecessary By inclination or necessity some ranchers will not/cannot spend

Kastelic says the basic recommended ration was mostly barley silage and barley grain. The ration for the high-ration group had less silage, more grain and a canola meal supplement. The low-ration group had mostly silage and a small amount of grain. Kastelic says calves on the lowration diet, when switched to a higher protein and energy diet after 25 weeks never did catch up to the group that had the higher protein and energy diet from the start. He says they caught in weight in body size, but they didn’t have the same scrotal circumference or sperm production. So a higher protein and energy ration in the first six months of life for bulls kept for breeding stock is critical. He says the ration can simply be provided as creep feed. He did have a couple of caveats — a 30 per cent higher ration was beneficial during the first six months, but don’t overfeed bull calves after weaning. They should go back to a good recommended base ration. Excessive feeding after weaning is not better, as overfeeding after weaning can decrease semen quality. And he also cautioned not to put heifer calves on this higher protein and energy ration because they become too fat and the extra fat actually will suppress their milk production later on. Bull and heifer calves should be fed separately. † Lee Hart is a field editor for Grainews in Calgary, Contact him at 403-592-1964 or by email at lee@fbcpublishing.com

the required time with their herds and results suffer accordingly. Anyone satisfied with a calf crop of 90 per cent (or less) is neither in the business nor out of it but in a futile holding pattern presumably waiting for circumstances to change one way or the other. Asking taxpayers to subsidize such operations by billing for coyote and wolf bounties in compensation of presumed damage when inherent management neglect is the primary suspect does not bear the weight of considered logic. All this aside, I like coyotes. To me, nothing spells “prairie” as much as hearing the near and distant calls of these wild dogs after sunset and before sunrise. They exemplify the ultimate in species survival in an utterly hostile environment where guns, traps, snares and poisons are unremittingly pointed in their direction without remedy. Coyotes can legally be shot year round on cattle ranches and this is unlikely to change. What I would like to see, as a minor gesture embracing our fading humanity, is a moratorium on killing while pups are still in the den. We need to guard against demonizing any species to the point of advocating total eradication. Such paths are easier found than travelled. Clearly appeals to consideration of greater good have not yet been successful. Perhaps the debate needs to remain centred on perceived selfinterest, and this is entirely a matter of perspective. † Stan Harder is a mostly retired Angus breeder living at St. Brides, Alta. You can email him at snharder@telusplanet.net

MAY 7, 2012

grainews.ca /

Cattleman’s Corner Animal Health

Dealing with intestinal disorders BY ROY LEWIS

very spring brings sudden deaths of apparently healthy calves. Unfortunately, some internal conditions are beyond the control of even the best managers.

Perforated ulcers We see one to two per cent perforating ulcers every spring on many well-managed farms. These are ulcers on the abomasum (fourth stomach), which have eaten right through the entire wall allowing gut contents to spill into the abdomen. These calves die within 24 hours of this happening, and in fact most are found as a sudden death. If alive they are in shock, weak, dehydrated, may be down, and are often full or bloated on both sides of their abdomen. And very often it is one of your best calves. Numerous causes have been investigated, everything from clostridial diseases, to hairballs, to BVD, to copper deficiency, to genetics. Most of these probable causes were ruled out by Western College of Veterinary Medicine researchers in Saskatoon 10 years ago. They surveyed herds across Western Canada and found these calves generally are in the six- to eight-week range when they ulcerate and are generally on the upper end of growth. The incidence was just as high in well-managed herds, making it possible to rule out many of the suspect causes. At the six- to eight-week growth stage, these calves are changing from essentially a single-stomached animal to one that ruminates whereby the rumen is enlarging. As a result, the calf’s diet is changing from only mothers milk to roughage and something triggers this ulcer formation. Ulcers happen on calves picking at hay or where their mothers are primarily fed silage. No study has followed up since, but I rarely see ulcers on later born calves that go through this transition at pasture. The diet change is much more subtle going from milk-to-milk and very fine, soft new grass. Perhaps this more natural change has something to do with it. Perhaps calves that die on pasture are not found or examined, but hopefully in the future this question can be researched further. For now, producers have to live with the fact a low percentage of good calves get this condition and die. With a very few colicky calves, found early enough, can be

treated with surgery to repair the ulcerated area, but they must be found fast and treated before the ulcer has perforated.

Other issues Calves in spring, can also be presented to a veterinary clinic simply full with no manure present. If they are alert and lively, it may be a hairball or other object causing an obstruction. Often these are initially treated with laxatives to see if the object will pass. If not, the obstruction can be removed through an enterotomy incision made right over the obstruction. The calf will generally make an uneventful recovery. If this situation is left untreated, an intussusception may develop which is essentially the telescoping of the intestines

into itself. Peristalsis is the contraction, which moves feed down the intestinal tract. With an obstruction, or sometimes spontaneously, the intestines overdo this process and telescope on themselves. The swelling and scarring in itself will also cause a blockage. Surgery can be used to remove a section of the intestine and the two ends are then joined together. The intestines will heal quickly, and again, an uneventful recovery is often the result after a few days of convalescence. Torsions are intestinal accidents generally involving the small intestines, spiral colon, ceacum (equivalent to the human appendix) or the abomasum. Calves go into shock and bloat very quickly. Again, any corrective surgery must be performed right away. Otherwise blood supply to the intestines or stomach is damaged,

since the torsion acts essentially like a tourniquet on the affected tissues. If treatment is delayed even a couple of hours, the prognosis is very grave indeed on all intestinal related torsions.

Newborns Every year we have several cases of the small intestines of newborn calves eviscerating through an umbilical hernia site. Sometimes the hernial contents will be contained within a sac. If rushed to a veterinary clinic for emergency surgery, they can have a high rate of success. If the contents are contaminated by straw, dirt, or stepped on by the calf, the odds are reduced drastically. The best approach is to turn calves upside down so no more intestines fall out and wrap a clean wet towel around the area to prevent any

exposed intestines from drying out. If surgery can be performed with little contamination to the area, the veterinarian replaces the herniated contents, repairs the hernial site and covers them with antibiotics. It is critical producers discover the condition quickly and get calves to a clinic. The veterinarian can provide a fairly accurate prognosis and advise whether surgery is worth it. The causes of abdominal problems are varied. In half the cases diagnosis is made on autopsy. With others, there can be a favourable outcome if surgery is performed. Quickly have any of these conditions checked by your veterinarian, as they are true veterinary emergencies. † Roy Lewis is a practicing large animal veterinarian at the Westlock Veterinary Center, north of Edmonton, AB. His main interests are bovine reproduction and herd health

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MAY 7, 2012

Home Quarter Farm Life SEEDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

How to help Grandma finish well It’s all about communication and cherishing ELAINE FROESE

“

onour your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 5:16 (NIV). After 16 years of writing about Mother’s Day, you might suspect that I am running out of material. Thanks to the many conversations I have with farm folks who are in the adventure of family dynamic twists and turns, I usually have a conversation thread that keeps reappearing. Consider this verse: “There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.” Proverbs 30:11. Some families are not enjoying harmonious relationships on the farm. When I wrote about helping Grandpa finish well on March 19 I seemed to hit a nerve as witnessed by the emails I received. One fellow was distressed at the bad decisions that tear families apart. I am seeing similar distress when a daughter calls to talk about the bullying that Mom is enduring, and how things for transition to a new chapter for an aging mother are not going well. People have

stopped speaking to each other, and Mom starts crying when voices are raised. Helping Grandma finish well is about communication and cherishing. We all want to love and be loved. Everyone wants their voice heard, and their opinions to count. The trouble is that with aging, sometimes common sense is not common practice and people get stubborn when they feel pushed around. Is this true for your mom? 1. She is frugal. She has money but won’t spend it on herself and would much rather give it to her favourite charity or secretly slip a cheque to a sibling who is struggling financially. The hard part here is family secrets. They create tension and havoc when “fairness” is a core family value. My suggestion is to talk about her living needs, have a financial planner show her where her money is going and determine how long it is going to last. Talk as a family about “what does fairness look like to you?” No more family secrets. 2. She wants the family to get along, so she is a peacemaker and cries easily. People don’t talk about the real conflict issues with Mom, because they are trying to protect her. Mom is not stupid. She may be old, but her intuition and hearing is just fine thank you. I once coached an over-80 woman who was a bit taken aback by the directness of my questions. Once she understood my intent for clarity and better

understanding with her family, she opened up her responses and enjoyed the banter. She was taught to be polite, while I was teaching her to be assertive and ask for what she needed. I suggest that you give Mom a tissue for her tears, and listen to her responses. Avoiding the tough issues that need to be worked through stops now. Let

The trouble is that with aging, sometimes common sense is not common practice everyone explain their positions and describe their common interests. What is it that you all want for your mom? 3. Body and mind are failing, but the spirit is still strong. As Mom ages, you should have a power of attorney and an alternate in place, as well as a long-term health-care plan. Someone has to take charge, with respect. Bullying of elders is going on in the farms across the Prairies. Some kids are too keen to be on the home place, and are pushing Mom to town before she is ready. The other issue

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is that some moms will never be ready. So what do you do? Learn to let go. Research the supports you can have in place like home care. Know the financial needs of moving to a care facility or apartment for independent living. Listen to your mom’s needs and wishes. Confront the bullies and don’t allow nasty behaviour. Let your mom test out new living arrangements for the short term, and see how she likes the change. One family gives Mom time in town for the winter, and invites her back to the ranch for the summer. Assess your mom’s mental health. Don’t let failing memory and forgetfulness go unchecked. This is why it is good to have a sound, enduring power of attorney put in place as the farm manager when your mom is younger. Depression is also a factor if Mom has circumstances such as family feuding going on that is stressing her out. Don’t try and hide it. Talk about it. Seek professional help and treatment. 4. Procrastination is costly. Many folks have told me that they wish they would have acted on decisions years ago. Not making a decision is a form of avoidance, and in reality is a decision not to act. If your mom’s marriage was a benevolent dictatorship, she may not be used to the idea of making her own mind up. She will need time to process, and options to consider. Some elderly rural women are tired of giving in to others, and they decide to exert their independence by being stubborn if they are still testing out the strength of having their own voice. 5. Downsizing a family home chock full of memories is tough. I am only 55 and am working to fill boxes for the town-wide garage sale this spring because I am giving up my job as the family archivist. We all have too much stuff. We need more loving expe-

riences and fewer things to dust! How about setting aside time to share the stories of Mom’s treasures, and allocate the benefactors. What kinds of experiences would make Mom feel treasured? Are there some rituals that would help with letting go? One family planted a Mother’s Day tree on the family farm to celebrate Mom’s move off the farm. We have several family trees on our yard to celebrate marriage, birth and death. I suspect that if you ask Mom what she really wants for Mother’s Day, she would say, “time with my family.” 6. She will add the successor’s name to the title on her land. Some moms never had many assets in their own name, and now they do. If Mom is smart she will consider adding the successor’s name to the title of the quarters needed by the farm, or better yet, use her capital gains exemption and gift the land while she is still living. Land deals cause lots of family fights in the farm community. Be clear about who is generating income from the land, and give the farmers the right of ownership. If lack of trust has tripped up your plans, you need to build trust with Mom and have your business plan advisers help implement the business continuance plan. Your mom may be stubborn about transferring land when she fears she won’t have enough financial resources to honour the wishes of her will. Talk about her fears and find out how you can create more certainty and security for her future, as well as yours. Be thankful you have a mom to hug. Cherish one another and live long in the land you have been given. † Elaine Froese is a catalyst for courageous conversations. She Skypes from her farm home in Boissevain to encourage farm-coaching clients to plan well for change and resolve conflict. Visit www.elainefroese.com or go to “Farm Family Coach” on Facebook. Call 1-866848-8311 to have Elaine speak at your fall or winter conference. Share your success with her at elaine@elainefroese.com

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MAY 7, 2012

grainews.ca /

Home Quarter Farm Life

A good choice for busy families Whether you pre-soak or use canned, they are healthy and satisfying ALBERTA PULSE GROWERS

usy parents are all too familiar with that hectic stretch between the end of the workday and suppertime when hunger and exhaustion can cause tempers to flare. But Patty Morrison, co-owner of JDFT Inc., a gym in Red Deer, Alta., and mother to three young boys, has found a better way. “There are a number of food crutches, as I call them, and pulses would be one,” says Morrison, who lives in Red Deer with her sons, aged 11, six, and three, and her husband. Morrison takes care of the day-to-day tasks that come with parenting. Add that to her parttime work as a personal trainer and her responsibilities as co-owner of a growing gym, and time becomes tight. “To fit it all in, it feels like go, go, go, because there’s not a lot of downtime,” Morrison says. “In order for everything to work out, we actually eat at 4:30 every day for supper. And it’s something I’ve started to prepare throughout the day or the night before. We use our Crock-Pot a lot.” Preparation has been the key to Morrison’s success in feeding her family healthy, well-balanced

meals. “On Sundays, a day where I’m not working and I’m home all day with the kids, we prep for the week. That means getting beans and chickpeas ready to soak in the fridge. Those are things we have soaked and ready

High in fibre and protein, low in fat, and rich in vitamins and minerals, pulses help control blood cholesterol and blood sugars to go for the week so that we can just sprinkle them on everything that we eat.” Soaking dried beans and chickpeas is one way to cut down on time spent in the kitchen; using canned pulses — which include beans, chickpeas, peas and lentils — is another. And not all dried pulses require soaking prior to cooking, according to Wendy Benson,

C e l e b r at i n g

food and nutrition consultant with Alberta Pulse Growers. “Split red lentils don’t need to be soaked, and they cook in less than 20 minutes,” says Benson, a registered dietitian based in Calgary. “Canned pulses are almost ready to eat straight from the can, but they should be drained and rinsed before eating to reduce the sodium content.” Their quick preparation time is part of the reason Morrison calls pulses — both dried and canned — a food crutch. “If you do the prep work before your week starts, they’re so easy to get in the fridge, and they work in anything,” Morrison says. “We have beans ready so they can be tossed into salads or soups. Even if you’re not always cooking from scratch and you have to eat soup out of a can — you’re going to have those days — you can dress those meals up with pulses.” On top of being easy to prepare and versatile, pulses have another benefit that Morrison appreciates. “With kids, especially little grazers like I have, pulses help fill them up. The dietary fibre they get from them is amazing, and they’re not rummaging through my pantry 24/7.” And because pulses can be so filling, they aren’t just good for

35years

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

children who are always on the go; they’re also good for people who are looking to lose weight. “At the gym, we believe that losing weight is a side-effect of healthy living, so changing your diet and exercising are the things that we try to focus on,” Morrison says. “We want people to eat foods that make them full, because when you’re hungry, that’s when bad choices are going to come in. So eating highprotein, high-fibre foods like pulses helps you feel full.” High in fibre and protein, low in fat, and rich in vitamins and minerals, pulses help control blood cholesterol and blood sugars and may help control hunger. These

nutritional characteristics make pulses an important part of everyone’s healthy diet, according to Benson. That they are also affordable and easy to prepare is an added bonus. “Crock-Pot meals with pulses, such as chickpeas, lentils or beans, shave the halfhour or so Canadians use to prepare their main meals.” And Morrison agrees. “CrockPots are a busy mom’s best friend.” † Alberta Pulse Growers Commission represents 4,700 growers of dried peas, beans, lentils and chickpeas. APG’s vision is to have Alberta pulses recognized by consumers as environmentally friendly, healthy and nutritious and by all producers as being an essential element in a sustainable cropping system

of progress

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/ grainews.ca

MAY 7, 2012

Home Quarter Farm Life

Saskatchewan farm a family affair Couple stays in farming to give boys the chance to continue on BY CHRISTALEE FROESE

Sheldon, (l to r), Cody, Jeannine, Dell, Tyler and Tanner Real (the eldest son Jamie is missing from the photo).

t the Real farm, it’s a family affair. Twenty-year-old Jamie and 18-year-old Sheldon can be found preparing equipment for a slashing job in the oilpatch. Sixteenyear-old Cody is the technical guy, fine tuning the GPS system and tractor settings. Tyler, 14, sprays down some of the farm equipment, while 12-year-old Tanner observes in preparation for the day when he’ll take over some of the jobs his four older brothers do. “The main thing that keeps us in farming is the boys,” says Dell Real, who farms at Fertile, Sask. in the southeast corner of the province. “It would be a lot easier to sell out and put up our feet, but the boys want to stay in farming

and we want to give them that opportunity.” With 82 quarters of land and a seismic business called Real Slashers, it takes Dell and Jeannine Real, their five boys and up to three fulltime employees to keep the expansive farm afloat. Blake Dittmer has been a dedicated hired hand for 20 years. “The way things have gone with big machinery and higher expenses, we’ve had to get more and more acres to offset the costs,” says Dell. The side business in the oilpatch is a convenient and lucrative way to keep all five boys and the farm’s employees busy year round. “That’s why we’ve never quit our seismic business, it’s an effort to fill the gaps for the workers.” Jeannine takes care of the bookkeeping, and she can often be found

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on the combine or operating the air seeder as well. She says the main reason for expanding their operation has been to provide options for her sons to carry on the rural tradition. “If they want to farm, I’d like them to be able to do that. But we have also encouraged them to go to school because I don’t want them to feel like they’re stuck here.” Jeannine has a rich farming history as her dad, Gerard Poirier, was a self-taught innovator, designing and patenting the first Poirier Opener seed boot. She remembers her dad spending hours in his shop coming up with various inventions. The air seeders at the Real farm are all equipped with the one-of-a-kind seed and fertilizer boots, firmly planting one foot of the operation in the past while embracing the no-till practice of the present that has allowed the operation to grow. Dell has also followed in his family’s footsteps, taking over the home farm and utilizing the skills that he learned at a young age. “When I was 10, I’d get dropped off from the bus and I’d head straight out to drive anything and everything.” William Real started Real Western Farms Ltd. in 1976, retiring in 1990 with 2,000 acres to pass on to his son Dell. In the past 21 years, Dell and Jeannine have grown the operation to 12,000 acres, steadily expanding the farm as land became available for purchase or rent. The Saskatchewan couple always knew they’d carry on farming and they also knew that any children they had would immediately be part of the operation. “There were times when I’d be nursing the kids on the combine and dragging them here and there with me.” The five boys have always been an integral part of the Real farm, running equipment from a young age and playing a vital role in understanding the high-tech equipment. Dell and Jeannine recall getting a new combine several years ago and letting the boys figure out the settings. While the teenagers proved their aptitude for fine tuning the high-tech monitors, it left their parents in a bind when the boys went to school. “Here we are, dumb and dumber, trying to figure out these monitors because the boys were at school. We had to wait until they got home to fix it for us,” says Dell. † Christalee Froese writes from Montmartre, Saskatchewan

CORRECTION Thanks to the sharp reader who pointed out an inaccurate Celsius conversion in the April 2 article Understanding growing zones. Here’s the original info from the National Garden Bureau: Hardiness zones or ratings are listed in gardening magazines, reference books, plant catalogues and on seed packets. Each zone is determined by a 10 F difference in the average minimum temperature. Zone 1 is the coldest and Zone 11 has the warmest winter temperatures.

MAY 7, 2012

grainews.ca /

Home Quarter Farm Life SINGING GARDENER

Moon dates, mulching and manure It’s time to get ready for another season of gardening TED MESEYTON

e thank you Lord for Grainews readers, For unseen friends and all good deeders, Joy of the garden to the canola field, Gardeners and farmers… grant an abundant yield.

DECADES AGO … I listened to “The Good Deed Club” for children each Saturday on CBC radio sponsored by the T. Eaton Co. The program always opened with the same theme song. I certainly still remember the melody, so let’s see if I can recall a reasonable replica of the words: “Do a good deed every day, Obey the Golden Rule, Never say an angry word, Nor be unkind or cruel, Spread a ray of happiness, At home, at play, at school, And you’ll find there’s sunshine everywhere, Obey the Golden Rule.” During that time, I acquired a friend named Curtis. His name always reminded me that I had an obligation and responsibility to be courteous (Curt-ee-us). A good deed is never lost. Those who sow courtesy reap friendship; and those who plant kindness gather the same unto themselves. Also reminds me of a song I often sang during my youth: “Sow ’em on the mountain, Reapin’ in the valley (three times), You’re gonna reap just what you sow.”

SPEAKING OF SOWING … it’s that time of year, isn’t it! Aren’t the great outdoors wonderful? So what have you already direct seeded in some warmed-up soil in the flower and vegetable garden? If nothing, it’s time to get crackin’ and we know that doesn’t apply to eggs only. Just like the Golden Rule, everyone ought to have their own list of gardening rules. One of my favourites is Rule No. 1 because it allows the gardener to ignore all the other rules at least once. For example you might say: I am an expert at growing potatoes;

PHOTOS: TED MESEYTON

This canola field is located to the south of the cut where water was released at the Hoop and Holler Bend during spring of 2011, just a few kilometres southeast of Portage la Prairie, Man. Both pictures are taken from off Hwy. 331. especially at eating them. (Did you get the punch line?) This Grainews issue is dated May 7, so let’s start with planting potatoes according to the moon. Some recommended “spud” dates are: May 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19 and 20. Hopefully, you’ve already presprouted your seed potato. Before planting, remember to roll them first inside a paper bag containing some powdered garden sulphur. Shake off any excess. Also, buy a few booklets of those once-upona-time so-called penny matches. Place a couple of unlit matches in the hole on the underside of each planted potato. If you’ve had trouble with potato scab in the past, sulphur in match tips will help. Have you ever thought of rain and lightning as fertilizing agents? As scary as it is when lightning strikes the earth, large amounts of nitrogen are charged into the ground. Rain produces nitrogen, as does sulphur that also comes down with the rain. Next time after a thunderstorm, notice how plants, particularly grass look greener. It’s true! They really do become greener from electrically charged air freeing up much of its nitrogen content in rainwater.

MULCH GARDENING IS ANOTHER WAY … to plant potatoes. Just make a little indentation on top of the soil, set the seed potato so it stays

in place and pile a layer of mulch, dry leaves, straw or combination 25 cm (10 inches) deep on top. There will be some settling so more mulch can be added as the season progresses. Mulch gardeners (including myself) claim great success growing spuds this way. All you have to do is pull back the dressing at harvest time and gather clean potatoes. Potato beetles will be fewer as well. You can create an enriched mulch growing site on a plot of ground without ever cultivating, tilling, plowing, hoeing or raking. The first year, regularly cover the chosen area with layers of fruit and vegetable kitchen scraps, dry grass clippings, dried leaves, plant debris, shredded newspaper, shredded rags and well-aged cow manure then water it down. All are valuable at creating compost. The following season, dig small holes in the aged mulch and set out tomato transplants, peppers or melons. Experience the most vigorous vegetables you’ve ever grown. By the way, the moon planting dates mentioned earlier are also ideal for seeding beets, carrots, parsnip, radishes and onion sets. Do you keep track or a written record of how many birds, plants, insects and animals cross your garden path? It’s really quite amazing and remarkable how much life the Creator has endowed on so small a piece of ground.

SUE ARMSTRONG

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! Do you have a story about a farm or home-based business? How about some household management tips? Does someone in the family have a special-diet need? Share some of your meal ideas. Send them to FarmLife, 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H 0H1. Phone 1-800665-0502 or email susan@ fbcpublishing.com. Please remember we can no longer return photos or material. — Sue

COW MANURE BY ANY OTHER NAME … is still cow s---. This is an ode to cow manure and other byproducts called waste. I am a folklorist from a way back and there’s a folklore belief that few are aware of. But first let me ask: Why is it we can’t write what most everyone says? Cow dung and cow s--- are both four-letter words with the exact same meaning. The best all-round manure is released from cows and useful both fresh or dried because it’s what the experts call “cold manure.” (That really means it ferments slowly.) Nitrogen content of cow deposits is low; unlike chicken, goat, horse, rabbit or sheep manures. Pig excrement needs to be well composted in order to begin losing some of its frightful odour. To suggest that waste deposited by a cow would help heal a cut or wound was laughed at as folklore fantasy and blown into oblivion by anyone with a firm opinion. There are accounts and stories that fresh cow waste was applied to battle wounds during the First World War when nothing else was available. Be it myth or factual, science is now catching up and has taken a look at it. Researchers are saying yes… cow manure does indeed contain healing elements including specific essential protein substances, trace minerals and vitamin B12 manufactured in the cow’s stomach. The purpose of this little story puts into proper perspective what we call waste, rubbish, garbage, manure, scraps and byproducts of plants. Wastes are a natural part of the life cycle and food chain. Decay is ongoing and a necessary prelude to life. Did you know vitamin B12 was first discovered in dry chicken litter?

SAUERKRAUT AND RAISIN BUNS

For masses of old cottage garden three- to four-inch flowers all summer long, nothing much beats annual Lavatera trimestris. Makes a wonderful temporary hedge as well. Depending on the variety, Lavatera plants range from one metre (two to four feet) tall and can be direct seeded outdoors in open soil. Varieties include prizewinning Silver Cup in glowing pink, Mont Blanc with glistening pure-white flowers, Ruby Regis whose plants hide themselves in masses of cerise-pink blooms and Loveliness smothered in showy, bright deep-rose hibiscus-like flowers. Seeds are readily available at most garden centres.

Time for a bite to eat and a cup of rosehips tea. I’m eager to try ’em, so count me in! There’ll always be an interest in food and sharing of recipes as long as human beings enjoy eating. Readers sometimes guide me when it comes to my subject material. Most contact me by email, some telephone and even a few write via Canada Post. Back in early March, I received a letter from “S.M.” at Pilot Mound, Manitoba. She requests her name be withheld. S.M. sent along her

recipe for Raisin Buns (I call ’em Baked Perogies) made with sauerkraut and raisin filling and I share it with Grainews readers now.

INGREDIENTS AND METHOD 1 tablespoon yeast 1/4 cup warm water 3/4 cup scalded milk 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 egg, beaten 1/4 cup olive oil 3-1/2 to 4 cups spelt flour Dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in warm milk, sugar, salt, egg and olive oil. Add flour and knead 5 minutes. Let rise 2 hours. Roll out dough; cut into small squares (or size to suit) and place some filling on top. Pinch edges to seal and let rise until double in size; approximately 1 hour. Bake at 180 C (350 F) for 15 to 20 minutes. Filling: 4 cups sauerkraut 1/2 cup raisins Pour boiling water on raisins, soak 10 minutes then drain and stir into sauerkraut. Thank you S.M. at Pilot Mound, Man. Here’s a brief insight re spelt flour. It is one of the most popular and widely available non-wheat flours. Spelt is a cereal grain in the wheat family that has been cultivated for thousands of years — originally in Iran, then Europe and only in the past century has spelt been cultivated here in North America. It is similar in appearance to wheat but has a much harder outer shell. This ancient grain is not gluten free. Spelt and spelt flour are not for people with celiac disease or anyone on a gluten-free diet. Some health food and pure food stores may carry gluten-free spelt flour. Also, allow me to send an expression of thanks for a trio of recipes received from the files of one Mr. Ralph Clark at Lauder, Man. They include Baked Apple Butter, Boston Baked Beans and Chili Sauce. † This is Ted Meseyton the Singing Gardener and Grow-It Poet from Portage la Prairie, Man. Opinions and thoughts expressed are my own and for general information. Readers may not necessarily agree. Gardening is an opportunity that requires a rake, hoe, shovel and seeds. Some people miss out because gardening is dressed in overalls and looks like work. As a gardener, I am an executive wearing a pair of those overalls. Each garden brings its own unique blessings. Life’s events and experiences are like the weather — they come and go, no matter what our preference. My email address is singinggardener@mts.net

/ grainews.ca

MAY 7, 2012

Machinery & Shop Profi

Tractor test: Case IH Puma CVX 230 Profi field tests the Puma 230 and talks about their likes and dislikes

Puma’s horsepower At the end of 2010, Case IH started the roll-out of its new Stage IIIB/ Interim Tier 4 tractor line-up and was particularly vocal regarding claims for significantly improved

fuel economy and performance. Not that the previous model was all that bad. In fact, when we assessed the Stage IIIA semi-powershift Puma 180 in the December 2008 issue of Profi, its Powermix fuel consumption result of 287 grams per kilowatt hour put it in a strong position and set the benchmark high for the Stage IIIB-compliant Puma CVX 230 tested here. With this in mind it will be a comfort to past and potential Puma buyers to learn that both tractors share many features and components, including their 6.7-litre Fiat Powertrain Technologies engines, albeit the newer model benefiting

from an SCR catalyst to take care of exhaust emission clean-up. More importantly for buyers, though, is whether the latest Puma’s performance bite remains as powerful as its trademark and distinctive bark. To find out we handed our Puma CVX 230 over to the DLG (German Agricultural Society) testers. According to the brochure, this Stage IIIB motor should be knocking out 228 horse power. As it turned out, at rated speed only 197hp arrived at the PTO, and similarly only 27 hp of the claimed 34 hp boost power made it from the engine to the tail end. Note that boost kicks in when

Profi field tests a European version of the Case IH 230 Puma and reports on how it fared.

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ground speed exceeds 0.5 km/hr with the power take-off engaged, or when travelling over 15 kilometres per hour on transport duties. Despite these efficiency shortcomings our test tractor delivered a useful 21 hp of extra power, which brought the maximum PTO output to 240 hp — all good stuff. The tractor’s power boost curve also shows an impressive torque rise of 43 per cent, ultimately securing the tractor a “good” mark for its overall engine performance.

Fuel economy On the subject of fuel economy the Puma guzzled 240 g/kWh at rated speed and as little as 223 g/ kWh at max output, placing it among the more economical tractors we’ve tested. Indeed this return is six per cent lower than the tested competition, including the Puma 180 previously mentioned. But before we get carried away, it’s clearly important to take into account the amount of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) our test Puma consumed. This rate is 20 g/kWh and nudges the combined economy back to mid-consumption levels for this power bracket. The reality is that, in terms of our power-mix tests, the Puma CVX ranked as one of the best tractors we’ve ever tested and reinforces a trend we’re starting to witness with these latest Stage IIIB tractors. It posted a result of 263 g/kWh or 12 per cent below average and even when adding the DEF rate of just under six per cent, fuel operating costs should be low for the hp. Holding 48 litres, the DEF tank should have sufficient capacity for two fills of the 395-litre diesel tank. When the DEF level is down to five litres, the operator sees a yellow warning light, which turns red once capacity is down to two litres. At this stage the engine starts restricting its output by five per cent every two minutes until it reaches 50 per cent. If the user con-

tinues to drive with the DEF tank empty, the engine shuts off. The operator gets a second chance to restart the engine for 30 seconds to extricate himself from an awkward situation — sitting on a railway crossing, for example — but then the tractor will shut down again. Back to more normal circumstances, when the engine is turned off the SCR system withdraws all liquid from its lines, as DEF freezes at -11 C. Similarly, when the operator first fires up the engine in freezing temperatures, it runs for up to 30 minutes without using DEF. The intervening period allows a heater to warm the DEF tank with heat from the engine coolant.

Double-clutch system On down the driveline we find the infinitely variable speed transmission produced at CNH’s Antwerp factory. This gearbox has four mechanical ratios when going forward and two for reverse. The modern double-clutch system makes the automatic gear changes so smooth that the operator hardly feels them. Automatic Power Management, or APM, is the engine-transmission management system that allows the operator to use the split throttle controls on the multi-function armrest. Simply set the minimum engine speed with the left control and the maximum speed on the right. Programming the PTO speed is vice versa: the left control sets the target engine speed and the right split adjusts the amount the engine can die back before the ground speed is altered. There is the option of storing three transmission speed ranges and freely swapping between them. The speed range can be tweaked via the dial on the Multicontroller. If the Puma’s operator rises from the seat, the tractor auto-applies the parking brake. Indeed, the Puma’s handbrake lever is only present to com-

A8TSGN-E-MAG

ditor’s note: We’ll be including some of Profi’s field tests reports on new machinery in the next few issues. Some of the features on the European models tested are a little different than those on North American versions, but you’ll still get a good feel for these machine. For more information on Profi magazine, visit www.profi.com.

Visit www.proﬁ-int.com/grainews to receive a free sample e-magazine. Find out more about proﬁ at

www.proﬁ.com

The 6.7-litre FPT engine impressed our testers with its quiet running and economy. The SCR catalyst helps the motor to attain Stage IIIB/IT4 emission compliance.

MAY 7, 2012

grainews.ca /

Machinery & Shop ply with legislation and, proving the point, we never used it. Top marks go to the four PTO speed options, giving the Puma an advantage over some of its CVT competitors, and these PTO speed changes are implemented via a dial in the cab, which governs a motor on the speed selector. Those operators who prefer not to utilise a tractor’s headland management system — the Puma’s only allows recording on the move — will welcome the fact that they can still independently activate the autoPTO system that links PTO operation to linkage position.

LIFT CAPACITY Now we’re at the rear of the tractor, where continuous lift capacity was tested at 7.2 tonnes. This relatively modest figure could prove problematic when trying to hoist a heavy cultivator to the top of the linkage arc, although, to be fair, any potential issue was quickly overcome in our test by moving the link arms back one hole, giving access to a further 1.4 tonnes of lift muscle. The depth control migrates on to the latest-generation armrest, but sadly this move in location has been accompanied by the control losing its base ring stop. Other niggles include Case not offering a true electronic linkage control intermix function and persisting with CBM quick couplers that are reluctant to lock properly. On the plus side it’s now far easier to change the stabilisers’ position. Glance up from the stabilisers, and you’ll spot up to five rear spools, which can be joined by up to four mid-mount valves. Naturally, this multitude of spools requires a similar and bewildering number of control options in the Puma’s cab — either on the Multicontroller, a double-function cross controller or on four rocker switches. At least, though, there’s no need to activate the linkage and hydraulic systems after starting the engine, a requirement that often leads to novice operators looking befuddled and having to call for help. Owners of the previous generation CVX will have to get used to the idea of the back-end oil being shared between the transmission and hydraulics. Not that this is a particular problem; for the Puma, it’s just different. Oil is supplied by a 150 litre/min. or 170 l/min. swash plate pump. Our test tractor had the smaller version, which delivered 130.7 l/min. and 34.5 kW at the rear spools — hardly record breaking outputs so, where this is likely to be a concern, we’d recommend investing in the larger 170-litre unit. The rear spool valves do not couple under pressure and also have separate leaked oil containers.

will benefit from backlighting on 2012-production tractors. With its seven-inch touch screen, the AFS300 terminal provides multiple customised screens — a level of choice that can, at times, lead to confusion, although, to be fair, operators are able to program the spools without having to wade through sub-menus. If you’re planning on connecting ISObus implements, our advice would be to go for the AFS700 12-inch display. Summary: Experience gained over the past few months means that we’ve now come to expect Stage IIIB/ tractors to score top test marks on fuel consumption, and Case IH’s Puma CVX 230 certainly doesn’t buck the trend. In many ways the tractor builds on the strong foundations laid by the Stage IIIA Puma, though we still wouldn’t go quite as far as to say there’s no room for improvement. Perfect? Of course not. Commendable and attractive overall 200-250 hp package? Absolutely. † Profi

The Multicontroller provides plenty of functions, though some of the small keys are difficult to intuitively tell apart — and the same applies to the flexible membrane buttons on the armrest. The split throttle control sets the maximum and minimum engine speeds.

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IN THE CAB Maintaining this upbeat theme, there’s much to like about the Puma cab. The mechanical suspension is more stable than before and, though not quite as subdued as the 69dB(A) brochure claim, our test tractor still managed a pleasing 72.7dB(A) result. Our only cab grumble of note is with the ease of identification of some of the controls: flexible keys within the armrest are difficult to distinguish; and the same applies to some of the buttons on the Multicontroller joystick, which are arranged disconcertingly close together. Addressing this criticism, at least in part, Case IH confirms that the armrest panel and Multicontroller

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/ grainews.ca

MAY 7, 2012

Machinery & Shop NEW EQUIPMENT

Deere introduces balermounted moisture tester John Deere’s new hay moisture tester mounts on any baler and provides a continuous readout SCOTT GARVEY

or mixed farmers and other forage producers, determining when windrows of hay are ready to bale can seem a bit more like an art than a science. Of course, there are a variety of moisture testers on the market

that can provide some hard and fast data, but using them typically involves choosing spots to gather samples you hope are representative of the overall moisture levels in an entire field. There are a variety of factors, though, that can change conditions from place to place. Spot readings may not tell

the whole story in a field, and baling conditions can change in just a few hours. In February, John Deere announced its solution for farmers who want better and more detailed information about the kind of feed they’re making. It introduced a baler-mounted moisture tester

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that will provide a continuous readout in the tractor cab, letting the operator know the exact moisture content of hay being fed into the baler as it works through a field. With Deere’s tester, the operator will get an exact picture of the moisture content in hay swaths. And he or she will immediately see any change in conditions that occur throughout the day. That can be particularly important for those who often work late into the night, or want to avoid baling in very low moisture conditions during hot, dry afternoons. “The hay moisture tester takes the guesswork out of determining if the hay is too dry or wet to bale,” says Phil Lauer, product manager with John Deere Merchandise. “With moisture sensors mounted on the right and left sides of the bale chamber for greater accuracy, the operator can see an updated moisture reading every three seconds, right from the tractor seat.” The tester’s cab-mounted readout has a lighted LCD screen and controls, which makes it easy to see when working after dark. Two sensors in the bale chamber feed

input to the data screen in the tractor cab, which can provide moisture content readings from eight to more than 30 per cent, depending on the type of baler. The display reads in 0.1 per cent increments. To keep a high level of accuracy, the system can be quickly re-calibrated between bales. And operators can set upper and lower moisture readout limits to tailor the system to particular hay and field conditions. Deere says the sensors can easily be retrofitted onto any of its small-square or round balers. But if you don’t have a green baler, that’s okay, too. You can install this system in models from the other brands as well. “The Baler-Mounted Hay Moisture Tester is ideal for large and small hay growers and is a small investment to ensure that their hay crop is baled at the right moisture level for their needs,” adds Lauer. The moisture tester retails for $408.46, and it’s available through any John Deere dealer. † Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at scott.garvey@fbcpublishing.com

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PHOTO CREDIT: JOHN DEERE

John Deere’s baler-mounted hay moisture tester can be retrofitted on a small-square or round baler of any brand.

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MAY 7, 2012

grainews.ca /

Machinery & Shop TECHNOLOGY

Case IH telematics tailored to hay production Hay and forage producers can track production quality and costs with Case IH’s new AFS Connect telematics packages BY SCOTT GARVEY

he sight of a tractor and heavy disc breaking up hay and pasture land in mixed farming areas hasn’t exactly been a rare one in the last couple of years. Strong grain and oilseeds prices have been driving farm incomes and pulling acres aware from hay and forage production. “We’re seeing a reduction in hay acreage across North America,” says Kevin Shinners, PhD, professor of agricultural engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Because of high commodity prices in grain, we’ve seen a lot of hay ground ploughed under and put into row crops. With acreage dwindling, hay and forage pro-

advantages that have driven increased management possibilities in grain production to the feed sector. And Shinners thinks that’s a good idea. “With telematics, farmers can remotely capture data from harvesters and tractors,” he says. “If we can track things like fuel use and tonnage in each field, we can really start to get a handle on costs, figure out where there are inefficiencies and determine how to overcome those problems.” And he sees a learning curve ahead for hay producers who want to take advantage of those telematics products. “As researchers, we need to help producers exploit that information to make management decisions,” he continues.

PHOTO CREDITS: CASE IH

“With a bale weight system, you can monitor and control bale density, shape, weight and length, all from the cab.” — BRETT DEVRIES ducers have to do everything possible to get all we can out of every acre.” Shinners made those comments through a series of press releases issued by Case IH, which were meant to highlight that company’s haying equipment line and new telematics offerings. Through its new AFS division, which was created last fall, Case IH has just introduced two telematics products, AFS Connect Manager and AFS Connect Executive. They include features targeted specifically at hay and forage growers. The company says it intends to bring the same technology

FEATURES The features included in Case IH’s AFS Connect telematics products allow farm managers to keep track of all the details around the cost of producing bales, along with identifying areas for increasing efficiencies. “With telematics, we’ll also be able to direct all that information to an office computer, along with real-time information about how the equipment is operating, how much fuel is being used, engine speed, etc.,” says Brett DeVries, Case IH hay and forage marketing manager. Case IH dealers will be able

The AFS Connect telematics products Case IH has introduced include features designed to appeal to hay growers. to retrofit the new telematics exactly what you’re putting packages onto both Case IH and up.” competitive equipment brands To give farmers the ability to as part of their commercial keep detailed records of each introduction this spring. bale made, Case IH dealers will The company is pairing also be selling radio frequency those new AFS capabilities with identification (RFID) tags growoptions on its line of haying ers can attach to each bale to equipment, which capture data profile its specific quality data. that enhances the telematics “An RFID tag on a bale can products. “With a bale weight store a lot of important inforsystem, you can monitor and mation related to the quality control bale density, shape, of the bale,” says Shinners. “It weight and length, all from the includes which field it’s from, cab,” DeVries explains. “You where in the field it was made can monitor the moisture con- in and the bale’s moisture conTW 4 inch - 6 x 6.625 -_AGI 12-04-13 12:08 PM Page 1 tent in each bale, so you know tent. With that information, a

producer can feed the highestmoisture bales sooner and store the driest-moisture bales longer. The information can help a producer make decisions on which bales to use first and how to price them.” If hay growers find they need to follow the corporate mantra of “doing more with less” to keep up production levels with fewer acres, telematics may play a role just as important for them as it promises to be for grain and oilseeds growers. † Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at scott.garvey@fbcpublishing.com

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MAY 7, 2012

Machinery & Shop ENGINE TECHNOLOGY

Nebraska testing shows Steiger fuel economy gains Case IH just finished testing its Steiger tractors equipped with IT4 engines BY SCOTT GARVEY

ow that 2012 modelyear tractors with new Interim Tier 4-compliant (IT4) engines are making their way through testing at the Nebraska Tractor Test Lab (NTTL), the results are starting to trickle in. Case IH’s Steiger tractors were among the first machines to be evaluated. When Case IH management first showed the new IT4-compliant Steigers to the farm media in 2010, they promised the tractors would deliver lower operating costs, providing added value to offset the

extra cost of the new technology. The NTTL test results confirm that promise has been fulfilled. The new-generation tractors have a reduced appetite for diesel fuel. A recent press release from the company describes the NTTL test results for the 350- to 600-horsepower Steigers this way: “The Steiger 600 set the record for drawbar horsepower and fuel efficiency versus the competitions’ biggest tractor. Measured at maximum power in horsepower-hours per gallon, the Steiger 600 tested 8.4 per cent more fuel efficient than the Deere 9630 at maximum drawbar pull, and 10.5 per cent more

fuel efficient at 75 per cent drawbar pull, maximum power.” In fairness to John Deere, however, the 9630 isn’t their newest technology, and NTTL results for the new 9R tractors — replacements for that previous 9600 Series — aren’t out yet. But there aren’t many other tractors large enough for a fair comparison with the Steiger 600. “That’s the only thing we had in the market at the time,” explains Mitch Kaiser, marketing manager for Steiger tractors. It’s clear, however, that the new FPT (Fiat Powertrain Technologies) IT4 engines that power the big Case IH tractors have raised the

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PHOTO: CASE IH

The 12.9-litre engines under the hood of the 400 through 600 model Steiger tractors meet new IT4 emissions standards. bar on fuel economy. Compared to the previous Steiger lineup, the 2012 models have demonstrated significant gains. “We’re five to seven per cent better in fuel economy numbers than we were on

the previous (Case IH) Tier 3 generation of tractors,” Kaiser adds. In drawbar performance tests, the model 600 Steiger posted the most impressive numbers of any tractor in the Case IH high-horsepower group. It developed 16.69 horsepower-hours per gallon during maximum load. At the same time it delivered 490 horsepower to the drawbar in fifth gear, with a ground speed of 8.78 km/h (5.46 m.p.h.). At 75 per cent load it produced 15.77 horsepowerhours per gallon. (See the full test report at http://tractortestlab.unl. edu/testreports.htm.) “For one hour of operation on a Tier 3 Steiger 535, we would get 14.98 (horsepower-hours per gallon) of operation,” says Kaiser. “With the new 600, to talk about efficiency, we will actually pull 16.69 out of one gallon of fuel. So even compared to our previous tractors at less horsepower, we’re able to generate much improved fuel economy.” Customer feedback relating to fuel consumption on working farms has also been positive, he adds. “We just had a customer cover 900 acres on one tank of fuel with a 550-horse Steiger pulling a min-till air seeder with an anhydrous tank behind it. “We’re pleased; he’s pleased and so is the dealer.” The FPT engines rely on SCR (selective catalytic reduction) to meet IT4 emissions standards. That means they also consume DEF (diesel exhaust fluid). The rate at which it’s used up depends on a variety of factors. “It’s going to vary,” Kaiser says. “Big factors that affect DEF consumption are humidity, heat and cold, and it also varies depending on how you run the tractor. We said we’d be about five to six per cent. If you’re on a real heavy pull with high humidity and temperature, you might see eight per cent.” By becoming only the second ag manufacturer to adopt SCR technology to meet IT4 standards, the company took a gamble that farmers would warm up to the idea of filling DEF tanks on farm equipment; but because many farmers are already using SCR engines in their on-road vehicles, Kaiser says Case IH customers didn’t seem to mind making the transition in the field. “It’s been a non-issue,” he says. For the next-generation ag engines, the push for lower operating costs and further fuel economy improvements will continue. “We’re looking for fuel (economy) improvement to reduce operating costs with Tier 4B,” says Kaiser. “We already have a goal, but I can’t share that with you yet. We’re still tweaking it.” † Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at scott.garvey@fbcpublishing.com

T S t h

MAY 7, 2012

grainews.ca /

Machinery & Shop NEW EQUIPMENT

New UTVs hit the market Can-Am and JCB have introduced new side-by-side UTVs BY SCOTT GARVEY

ast summer, Quebec-based Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), introduced a new product in its Can-Am lineup: the Commander, a prototype electric-drive UTV. The electric-drive technology under the hood of the Commander was developed in conjunction with the Centre de technologies avancées BRP at the University de Sherbrooke. The Commander, like several other Can-AM products, will be built at a new BRP plant in Sherbrooke. Commanders will soon be appearing in the showrooms of Can-AM dealers across North America. “We will recruit from within our existing dealer network to develop the business and gradually expand as market demand grows,” says Mihai Rasidescu, vice-president, specialized vehicles group. “We will go out in phases and, starting July 1, 2012, the CanAm Commander electric side-byside vehicle will be on sale at some BRP dealers in Quebec, Ontario and Alberta.” The Commander has a top speed of 40 kilometres per hour, and a range of 40 to 160 kilometres, depending on temperature, terrain, battery type and driving conditions. Under the hood is a 48 volt, AC induction, air cooled electric motor that draws power from a 9.4 kilowatt-hour power pack of lead-acid batteries. H o w e v e r, a n o p t i o n a l f a s t charging, lithium battery system is available that bumps up the storage rating to 21.2 kWh, which provides extended range. MSRP for the Commander starts at $16,799 for the base model. There are more than 50 different options available for it. For more information visit www.brp.com.

UTVs by those, such as farmers, who need a small, capable workhorse. “This trend is driven by user desire for more comfort combined with the increased carrying capacity offered by the cargo deck of the UTV design concept,” says Michael Chandler, WORKMAX product sales manager. The two WORKMAX models are available in a variety of colours including camouflage. They can be ordered with a wide range of options, including a sealed cab for protection from the weather. They’ll be available from existing JCB dealers along with other selected off-road product dealerships. For more information, visit www.jcb.com. † Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at scott.garvey@fbcpublishing.com

PHOTO CREDIT: JCB

PHOTO CREDIT: BRP The company famous for its backhoes and high speed Fastrac ag tractors has entered the UTV The electric Can-Am Commander UTV is a brand new design and will be available from dealers by mid summer, 2012. market with two brand new models.

JCB WORKMAX JCB’s North American subsidiary, based in Savannah, Georgia, used the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky, to introduce its new, two-model UTV line. The company is offering gas and diesel versions of the new WORKMAX. The diesel WORKMAX is powered by a three-cylinder, 20-horsepower Yanmar engine, while the gas uses a 20-horsepower, two-cylinder Kohler engine. Both engines deliver power through a two-speed CVT transmission using a Kevlar belt. They also offer four-wheel drive with an electric, selectable differential lock. The engines and transmissions are positioned farther forward on the WORKMAX chassis than on many other brands’ designs, which provides a 50-50 weight distribution when the cargo area is fully loaded. The tipping cargo deck is rated for 400 kilograms (880 pounds). These UTVs are designed to appeal to those who want a sturdy, working machine, according to the company. “Even the product’s registered name, JCB WORKMAX, reflects the company’s market focus,” reads the corporate press release. JCB is launching the WORKMAX line to capitalize on what it sees as a move away from ATVs to

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