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Volume 39, Number 10 | APRIL 15, 2013

$4.25

PRACTICAL PRODUCTION TIPS FOR THE PRAIRIE FARMER

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Blackleg in canola evolving As the blackleg pathogen changes in Western Canada, an “R” rating for blackleg resistance may not be as meaningful as you expect

BY ANDREA HILDERMAN

I

f there is one thing farmers can count on it’s that when you’re dealing with biological systems, generally there is no “win.” This certainly is appearing to be the case when it comes to blackleg in canola in Western Canada.

Blackleg in canola is caused by the fungus Leptosphaeria maculans and it has spread to all canola growing areas in Western Canada.

Blackleg resistance has been bred into canola varieties and it’s very important to understand that the pathogen was fairly well controlled by those varieties, however, that will not continue for very much longer.

NEW RACES OF BLACKLEG Since 2003 the blackleg pathogen has started to change. New races of blackleg are overcoming the resistance of those varieties grown in Canada. Selection pressure on the pathogen has come from: • tighter rotations; • minimum till and other similar practices; • inoculum kept on stubble for the following season; and,

• the pathogen reproducing sexually leading to mutations and new races.

Dr. Dilantha Fernando is a professor of plant pathology at the University of Manitoba. He has been studying the blackleg-causing pathogen for many years.

“We are seeing an increase in new races of blackleg across the Prairies,” Fernando says. “No one province can be singled out as a particular problem, it is as widespread as canola itself.”

Fernando’s laboratory has been monitoring the pathogen. It’s changing and breaking down most of current resistance bred into canola varieties. “For 30 years or more, the same genes have been used for blackleg resistance in canola regardless of who bred the cultivars,” Fernando says. “It has been relatively easy for the pathogen to break down and overcome the resistance because most cultivars use the same gene, essentially.”

Farmers may find this confusing because varieties are being rated “R” or resistant to blackleg. Fernando explains where this anomaly lies. “The resistance rating is true. To the extent certain few isolates of the blackleg pathogen are used to test cultivars prior

Blackleg on canola stems. to registration, but not all the new races that are cropping up in the field.”

A farmer may see significant disease in an “R” rated canola variety if his fields are infected with one of the new races of blackleg.

And this is how the problem will become worse. The new races will cause disease on varieties considered resistant. Inoculum will be left on the stubble providing more

chances for sexual reproduction for the fungus, leading to potentially more races and more disease.

FUNGICIDES Fungicides are an option to reduce the disease levels of blackleg in canola, however, they will not provide 100 per cent control.

Additionally, application timing needs to be precise.

In This Issue

Publications Mail Agreement Number 40069240

Fernando has done work in this area, in collaboration with Alberta and Saskatchewan scientists. “It is also disappointing to note that while fungicides might give some control of the disease,” he says, “they are most likely not going to provide any economic benefit to the producer — we haven’t seen any significant yield increases as a result of using a fungicide.” But » CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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

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

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Crop Advisor’s Casebook

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Columns ........................... 14 Machinery & Shop ............ 19 Cattleman’s Corner .......... 24

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Spring farm boot challenge

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SCOTT GARVEY PAGE19

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APRIL 15, 2013

Wheat & Chaff STAMPEDE

BY JERRY PALEN

LEEANN MINOGUE

I

“His sore toe is turning into MY pain in the neck!”

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f the universe is kind to us at all, by the time this issue of Grainews gets to your kitchen table, the snow in my yard will have melted, and we’ll all be breathing a little easier around here.

Not that I’m holding my breath.

On the morning of April 1, when my husband told me it was -13 C, I assumed he was playing a lame April Fools’ joke. But it was true.

And we still had about three feet of snow on the deck.

(Of course, even on April 1, the weather forecast was calling for warmer weather “next week.” I’m not sure when this mythical “next week” is actually going to arrive. For the last two months, week after week the TV weatherman has shown us a screen with cold temperatures for the next seven days, and promised that things would definitely warm up “next week.” I’ve been waiting for next week most of the winter, and it still hasn’t arrived. I don’t think weather forecasters can really be this incompetent. I’m convinced this is a federal government plot to keep us all from packing up and emigrating to Australia.)

SPRING EXPECTATIONS I’m not going to use the “f” word.

Nobody is using the “f” word. But around here, the spring of 2011 is on everyone’s mind. That was the year when snowmelt and spring rain created a flood that kept us right out of the field. We didn’t seed an acre, and most of our neighbours were in the same boat.

If we hadn’t lived through 2011, we might be able to enjoy this never-ending snow. (Well, “enjoy” might be pushing the feeling a bit, unless you’re also a six-year-old with his first snowmobile who really enjoys digging in snow.)

But with the aftermath of 2011 still playing on our minds and our bank accounts, it’s very, very hard to ignore all the lingering snow and keep ourselves from saying the five-letter “f” word.

There are so many questions.

Should we have bought the new combine? Will a slow snowmelt leave us in a good position to seed? What are we going to do if we have another year like 2011?

There is an underlying anxiety here that would be hard to explain

to someone who doesn’t live on a grain farm.

A QUICK TRIP SOUTH To take our minds off potential spring rains and fill the time on a long Easter weekend, we took a quick trip south — about 90 miles south, to Williston, North Dakota.

While I won’t pretend to be a travel writer, I do have some suggestions for things you could try on your next trip to Williston.

1. Confirm that the media reports are true. Stories about outof-control oil development in North Dakota’s area of the “Bakken Zone,” a major oil find, have appeared in several different TV shows and magazines lately, including a recent cover article in National Geographic.

It’s really happening. People from all over the U.S. are flocking to towns like Williston to find their fortunes in the oilfields.

Between July 2011 and July 2012, Williston topped the U.S. Census Bureau’s list of fastest growing “micropolitan” areas, with a 9.3 per cent increase in population.

2. Win the “licence plate bingo” game. The kind of population growth they’re seeing in Williston doesn’t come without a lot of people moving in from out of state.

Many oilfield workers are so newly arrived in town they haven’t had time to re-register their cars for North Dakota yet. We saw licence plates from seven different states on the walk from our spot in the parking lot to the Walmart entrance.

(South Dakota, California, Oregon, Florida, Alabama, Ohio and Kansas.

Really.)

3. Play “guess that accent.” A man pushing a cart told a woman in a Walmart smock that he was flying home to Vermont in a couple of days.

“Yup,” she said. “I fly back to West Virginia on Saturday.” I heard voices that sounded like they belonged to people who’d arrived from everywhere from Boston to Alabama.

4. Imagine you’re in a supersize Legoland. We saw row after row of tiny white pre-fab trailers — at least 100 of them — conveniently located right across the highway from the truck stop. And this was just one of the new housing solutions we drove by on the highway north of town.

While it’s pretty possible that these tiny homes don’t look so adorable if you actually have to live in one, it is something to see.

5. Become a super-matchmaker for all of your single female friends.

The truck stop where we stopped for some gas was crawling with men. At least two dozen — coming in alone, or in small groups.

The only other women in sight were watching from behind the cash register. “Is it always like this?”

I asked. “You betcha,” said one.

The other woman had a southern accent. “And summa them are pretty dang cute, too.” (I’m not making that up. She really said “dang.”)

6. Play “guess how many new hotels have gone up since last time we were here.” There are new hotels everywhere in Williston.

About 10 years ago, Williston had maybe three hotels. The twostorey “International Inn” was one of the most interesting-looking buildings around. Now you hardly notice the International Inn for all of the new four- and five-storey hotels that have shot up overnight.

But don’t bother trying to get a last-minute hotel room — there’s no vacancy. As I’m writing this, a quick Expedia.ca search for hotel rooms shows that the Holiday Inn Express is charging $254 for a nofrills room for one night on April 15. (To be fair, that does come with a complimentary breakfast and free parking.)

7. Try to decide if this is great or terrible. We live in the middle of Saskatchewan’s Bakken zone. We thought we had seen the impact of oil on communities, bank balances and infrastructure. But Williston is Estevan on steroids.

How do you balance jobs, jobs, jobs and buckets of money against increased crime, the high cost of living and environmental risks?

I don’t know, but Williston is an interesting place to give it some thought.

IN THIS ISSUE If the weather actually does warm up around here, I’m going to be doing the same thing I do every spring: realizing at the last possible second that my son and husband both need new rubber boots. Right now!

If this happens at your house too, this is your lucky day. Scott Garvey has taken the time to testrun five different pairs of rubber boots to see which type was best for the job on his farm. Turn to page 19 before you head off in the mud to get to town.

Leeann

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Find us on Twitter: Leeann Minogue is @grainmuse Lisa Guenther is @LtoG Lee Hart is @hartattacks Scott Garvey is @machineryeditor

This photo shows a surprising amount of snow just south of my hometown, Lacadena, Saskatchewan on March 30, 2013. Mark Turner took this photo when he went home to his family farm to spend Easter weekend with his mom, Kay Turner. Lacadena is in west-central Saskatchewan, 60 My six-year-old waiting for the bus on our lawn in miles northwest of Swift Current. southeast Saskatchewan on March 29, 2013.

APRIL 15, 2013

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Wheat & Chaff Farm safety

Developing hazard control strategies

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s part of my job as a farm safety adviser, I make a habit of reading about farm-related injuries. It’s not a pleasant task, but I consider it a part of my job to be as informed as I can about the circumstances surrounding injuries and fatalities.

It chills me to the bone when I read or hear about farmers that are injured while working alone — by themselves, in pain, sometimes in the dark or cold, and with no means of sending for help. It takes me back to those nights on the farm when my dad sent everyone home to get some sleep but he was going to keep baling to beat the rain. Could that have happened to him?

When injuries happen, every minute counts.

Minutes can make the difference between saving a limb or amputation. Minutes can make the difference between life and death.

So when working with farmers to implement health and safety plans, I always stress the need to put in place hazard control strategies that take into consideration every possible circumstance, including working alone.

Control strategies are steps a farmer can take to protect the health and safety of themselves and their workers. Once a hazard has been identified, the first step is to see if you can get rid of it. This could involve shipping a bull or throwing out faulty tools. If you can’t eliminate it, the next step is to control that hazard. This could include replacing old tools, ensur-

ing guards and barriers are in place, replacing manual lifting with a mechanical option and developing safe work practices. Safe work practices should include a description of work including safety practices, communication processes, emergency procedures and required equipment and supplies. More obvious control strategies include frequent handwashing, regular equipment maintenance and repairs, job rotation and adequate supervision.

When it comes to working alone, developing a working-alone policy is really important. A policy might include anything from informing a supervisor or other person what you are doing, when and where you will be doing it, and how long it will take, a buddy system, making judicious use of cellphones, radios or other forms of communication and regular checks. These measures can help farmers ensure their employees are supervised. A farmer working alone can take comfort in knowing that systems are in place should something happen.

Putting in place control measures may seem daunting, but when you break it down into small, manageable steps, the solutions become clearer.

For more information on implementing control strategies or developing your own written health and safety plans, visit www.agsafetyweek.ca. † Carolyn Van Den Heuvel has spent the last year helping farmers implement the Canada FarmSafe Plan as a Canada FarmSafe Adviser for the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA).

Seed technology

DuPont and Monsanto agreements

D

uPont and Monsanto have reached agreements that include a multi-year, royalty-bearing licence for Monsanto’s nextgeneration soybean technologies in the United States and Canada.

Through these agreements, DuPont Pioneer will be able to offer Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans as early as 2014, and Genuity Roundup Ready 2 XtendTM glyphosate — and dicamba tolerant soybeans as early as 2015, pending regulatory approvals.

DuPont Pioneer also will receive regulatory data rights for the soybean and corn traits previously licensed from Monsanto, enabling it to create a wide array of stacked trait combinations using traits or

genetics from DuPont Pioneer or others. Monsanto will receive access to certain DuPont Pioneer disease resistance and corn defoliation patents.

“This technology exchange helps both companies to expand the range of innovative solutions we can offer farmers, and to do so faster than either of us could alone,” said DuPont Pioneer president Paul E. Schickler. “The agreements broaden the Pioneer soybean lineup.

Under these agreements, DuPont Pioneer will make a series of upfront and variable-based royalty payments subject to future delivery of enabling soybean genetic material.

It will make four annual fixed royalty payments from 2014 to 2017 totalling $802 million for trait tech-

nology, associated data, and soybean lines to support commercial introduction. Additionally, beginning in 2018, DuPont Pioneer will pay royalties on a per-unit basis of Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield and Genuity Roundup Ready 2 XtendTM for the life of the agreement for continued technology access, subject to annual minimum payments through 2023 totalling $950 million.

DuPont and Monsanto also agreed to dismiss their respective antitrust and first-generation Roundup Ready soybean patent lawsuits pending in U.S. Federal Court in St. Louis.

Additional terms of the agreements were not disclosed. † Monsanto.com

photo contest

GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOT Brenda Cartwright sent us this photo of her niece MacKenzie Reid.

MacKenzie was seven when this photo was taken at Leanhaven Farm near Gananoque, Ontario.

Brenda wrote, “The dairy and crop farm is owned and operated by MacKenzie’s grandfather, Brian McLean and uncle, Trevor McLean. This is their first attempt at growing sunflowers to that extent and the flowers did amazingly well in the hot summer of 2012.

Brenda took this photo while MacKenzie was helping her cut bouquets of sunflowers to sell at the farmers’ markets in Lansdowne and Gananoque.

If you’d like to see your photo on this page and receive $25, send your best shot 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 writeup 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

Agronomy tips from the field

Finding ROI in fungicide

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t grower meetings this winter, there was a lot of surprise about the damage to canola caused by Sclerotinia last year.

Maybe it’s that sense of uncertainty that’s behind the most common question I’m asked by farmers, regardless of the crop: “Should I pencil in for fungicide this year?”

My answer is absolutely, budget for fungicide because disease happens. But how can farmers evaluate whether this application will pay off in the end?

Consider the three points of the “disease triangle.” First, are your crop genetics susceptible to disease? Second, do the weather conditions favour an outbreak? And third, is disease already present? If you think the answer is yes to any two of these questions, you should plan on applying a fungicide.

The last question — “Is disease already present?” — can be tricky. With many diseases, if you see symptoms, it’s already too late. So be proactive. If the

field had disease last year or if you use a short rotation that could foster disease, then the answer to this question is yes.

During application, leave an untreated check strip so you can evaluate application effectiveness and calculate your return on investment (ROI). With experience and data, you’ll be able to predict when a fungicide spray will pay for itself. † This agronomy tip is brought to you by Aaron Bouchard, agronomic service representative for Syngenta Canada Inc.

Weather Lore

South winds and rain

A

wind from the south has rain in its mouth.

Weather lore is fun and it can also be practical. The people (often farmers) who first created weather rhymes and adages, such as the one above, spent much of their time outside and experienced enough weather to figure out some fairly reliable patterns.

A wind from the south often heralds an approaching low pressure system. As it blows clouds nearer, humidity increases and so does the chance of rain.

A pressure system is a whirl-

ing mass that moves across the earth, usually from west to east, rather like a spinning top. In a high pressure system, the air/ wind moves clockwise around the centre of the high, and we experience winds from north and west. In a low pressure system, air moves counter-clockwise, resulting in south, southeast and easterly winds, and often, precipitation. † Shirley Byers’ book “Never Sell Your Hen on a Rainy Day” explores over 100 weather rhymes and sayings. It is available from McNally Robinson at: http://www. mcnallyrobinson.com/home.

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APRIL 15, 2013

Cover Stories Crop disease » CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

evolving blackleg in canola there are other important benefits to using fungicide, including: • control of the pathogen, despite no yield increases; • the crop may be cleaner; and, • inoculum may be reduced for the next season.

Managing blackleg Fernando does have a proposal to manage the blackleg issue in Western Canada. “The primary measure is to introduce cultivar rotation,” he explains. “By rotating cultivars with different resistance genes, the chance of the pathogen overcoming the resistance is minimized. Think of it as confusing the pathogen.” About 70 per cent of varieties have the same genes for resistance in Canada, so there is a little leeway with other genes that could be used to farmers’ benefit.

“This is the good news,” says Fernando. “Now we know the genes that confer resistance so seed companies can use that information in their breeding programs. The key is to avoid using one resistance gene and/or to stack new genes for resistance.”

Some genes are easier to overcome than others. “A single resistance gene is easy for a pathogen to overcome,” says Fernando.

“We have identified so-called field resistance or adult plant resistant types. In this scenario, several minor genes are working together to provide resistance to blackleg, keep yield at acceptable levels and survive the onslaught of the pathogen.

“More good news for producers in Canada is that this situation has already been dealt with in Australia,” says Fernando.

“They went through this breakdown of resistance issue earlier than us, and cultivar rotation has been a successful tool to manage it.”

This is a good example of why it is so important to keep research funding at healthy levels so scientists like Dr. Fernando and his team can continue to do the basic science on these emerging issues.

Thereafter it will come down to the industry working together to implement successful strategies to manage the problem, which in this case has already been tried and tested on the other side of the world. † Andrea Hilderman has her master’s degree in weed science and is a member of the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists. She writes from Winnipeg, Man.

1 6 6 6 D u b l i n Av e n u e , W i n n i p e g , MB R 3 H 0 H 1 w w w. g r a i n e w s . c a PUBLI SHER

Lynda Tityk Associate Publisher/ Editorial director

John Morriss

Edi tor

Leeann Minogue field Edi tor

Lisa Guenther Cattleman’s Corner Editor

Lee Hart Farml ife Edi tor photo: dr. dilantha fernando

This photo shows blackleg infection on canola leaves, with concentric rings of spore-bearing structures. The pathogen that causes blackleg has been changing since 2003.

Spreading blackleg

T

he blackleg pathogen is capable of spreading, but this needs to be put in perspective. In comparison to rusts in wheat, which can spread thousands of miles, sclerotinia in canola which can spread miles or clubroot in canola which can also spread as far as infected soil dust is blown in the wind, blackleg can be

effectively dealt with using 500metre buffer zones.

“Research in Canada by my laboratory and independently in Australia has shown that 500metre buffer zones are sufficient to prevent the spread of blackleg from field to field,” says Dr. Dilantha Fernando. † Andrea Hilderman.

Blackleg is the biggest issue

By Andrea Hilderman

C

anola is a different crop in Australia than it is in Canada — different in the season required to grow it to maturity and the area seeded to canola. The former makes it susceptible to diseases that are not as economically significant in Canada and the latter makes it a less valuable crop to the overall agricultural economy than it is in Canada. However, farmers in Australia are as determined to keep canola as a viable rotational option as Canadian farmers.

Ask any Australian canola grower, agronomist or industry professional to list the top five problems growing canola in the land Down Under, and you’ll get the same answer: blackleg, blackleg, blackleg, blackleg and, of course, blackleg.

Joking aside, it’s really that important to the success of canola crop primarily because whereas canola is a 100+ day crop in Canada, it takes 200+ days to mature in Australia. That gives the blackleg-causing pathogen more time to do the damage of which it is capable — especially some of the more aggressive races found in Australia. Simply put, it has 100 more days, give or take, to inflict damage and yield loss.

Back in Canada, farmers are more concerned with lack of moisture, heat blast, early frosts, sclerotinia,

Clint Jurke has been studying the actions the Australian canola industry is taking to combat blackleg. insects and aster yellows robbing them of yield. It is only in recent years that blackleg has started to show it can be a problem again.

Blackleg continues to be a significant disease. It has the potential to cost farmers millions of dollars in lost trade if it is not kept on the front burner.

Clint Jurke, agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada recently returned from a study tour to Australia to see first hand how blackleg is managed there.

“Blackleg is a much bigger problem in Australia,” says Jurke.

“Resistance in many cultivars has broken down and this has led to a system of cultivar rotation by growers to keep the pathogen from getting the upper hand.”

Machinery EDITOR

Scott Garvey Produ ction Dire ctor

Shawna Gibson Desi gner

Steven Cote MARKETING/ CIR CULATION Dire ctor

Lynda Tityk

Ci rc ulat ion manag er

Heather Anderson president

of Glacier Agricultural Information Group

Bob Willcox H e ad O f f i c e 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, Man. R3H 0H1 Phone: (204) 944-5568 Fax: (204) 944-5562 Adv ert isi ng Sa l es

Crop disease

Fighting blackleg in Australia

Sue Armstrong

The biggest component of Australia’s solution involves having farmers pay close attention to the varieties of canola they seed.

Resistance groups The Australian industry has resorted to grouping blackleg resistance into six groups, and working with farmers to promote rotating varieties between groups.

“By rotating groups,” says Jurke, “producers are able to keep the pathogen on the defensive and have successfully prevented it from overcoming resistance with the ease it did in the past.” The groups of resistance include both varieties with single gene resistance and those with what could be called field resistance or quantitative resistance (multiple genes).

When they’re following recommended rotations, farmers won’t always have a large number of varieties to choose from. That really speaks to greater market segmentation in Australian canola as compared with Canada.

“In Australia, there are three types of maturity in canola,” says Jurke. “In addition to that, producers have to be on top of rotating their multiple herbicide groups and finally keeping GM production segregated from non-GM production fields. It can sometimes be a challenge to find a cultivar to rotate so that will work.”

Managing blackleg in Canada Canadian canola producers have options at hand to keep blackleg from breaking down resistance.

“The first and most important strategy any producer can engage in right away is field scouting,” says Jurke. “Essentially, most pro-

ducers have relied on the cultivar to do the job against blackleg, but we are starting to see that break down occasionally. Field scouting for blackleg symptoms will go a long way towards putting this disease back on the radar.”

If blackleg infections are becoming more noticeable, then the first line of defence is to lengthen out canola rotations. “The Australian situation is a worst-case scenario,” says Jurke. “If producers keep blackleg top of mind and utilize good rotations and management practices, we will never get to a worstcase scenario here in Canada.”

Jurke is a member of the Blackleg Steering Group which is made up of a cross-section of the industry including provincial producer organizations, the Canola Council of Canada, CFIA, public plant pathologists and the seed developers. This group is actively working on ensuring research is being carried out and production plans developed to assist growers to manage the disease.

The Blackleg Steering Group has also developed a 10-year strategic plan to stay ahead of blackleg.

Part of that plan included Jurke attending the Australian Canola Pathology Meeting in March.

“In Australia, 99 per cent of canola pathology concerns are blackleg concerns, so I am taking a lot of information back to the steering group for our next meeting,” explains Jurke. Canadian canola producers can expect to hear a lot more about blackleg over the next few years as the industry works together to ensure it never becomes the problem it has “in the land Down Under.” † Andrea Hilderman has her master’s degree in weed science and is a member of the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists. She writes from Winnipeg, Man.

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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.

APRIL 15, 2013

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5

Features Farm finance

Federal budget — few breaks for farmers With federal tax changes, farmers will find themselves paying higher taxes on corporate dividends

By Andrew Allentuck

T

he March 21 federal budget gives farmers little reason to smile. Farmers with privately held farming corporations will pay more tax. Famers subsidize their operations with town jobs are likely to be denied deductions for their losses. However, there is a proposed increase in the lifetime capital gains exemption.

Farming corporations

capital gains exemption Farmers who manage to make a good living will get tax relief when they sell or structure trans-

fers of their farms to children.

The March 21 budget proposes to allow owners of small businesses, farmers and fishers to use an increase in the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (LCGE) to apply a limit of $800,000 starting in 2014.

The LCGE will be indexed to inflation after 2014 and the increase in limits will be available to farmers and others who have previously used their full $750,000 exemption.

“That is a positive move,” says Doug Chorney, president of Keystone Agricultural Producers. †

CHANGES TO FEDERAL TAXES ON DIVIDENDS 2013

2014 and beyond

$1,000

$1,000

$250

$180

$1,250

$1,180

Federal tax (highest rate of 29%)

$363

$342

Dividend tax credit (a % of gross up: 67.7% in 2013; 72.2% in 2014)

– $167

– $130

Net federal tax (federal tax less the credit)

$196

$212

After tax proceeds (dividend – federal taxes)

$804

$788

Non-eligible dividend Gross up Taxable dividend (dividend plus gross up)

Andrew Allentuck’s latest book, “When Can Top federal marginal rate 19.58% 21.22% I Retire? Planning Your Financial Life After on dividends Work,” was published in 2011 by Penguin T:8.25” Canada.

Source: This table was provided by CIBC in the bank’s budget report.

S:7.425”

Beware of leaf disease.

Restricting farm losses Restricted farm loss rules apply to losses when a farmer’s main source of income is not farming nor some combination of farming and some other activity.

The new rules, designed to ensure that part time and hobby farmers don’t get too rich a tax deduction, follows an August 1, 2012 decision by the Supreme Court of Canada which said that if a taxpayer with two businesses, one of which is farming, makes good money in something else, then in spite of the fact that the farm may be bleeding red ink, there will be bar to deduction of farm losses. All that is required is that the farmer make a serious, bona fide effort to make money by investing time, labour and capital.

The decision was a 180 degree turn from the former rule from a May, 1977 case in which only farmers who got the majority of their income from farming could deduct their farming losses.

The 2012 decision allowed

Unchecked, leaf disease can reduce cereal crop yields by up to 40%.

Folicur® EW delivers exceptional leaf disease control, including rust, tan spot and septoria leaf blotch. Additionally, its wide window of application also provides outstanding suppression of fusarium.

Folicur EW – the most trusted disease protection you can get.

Visit BayerCropScience.ca/ItPaystoSpray to see how Folicur EW is performing in your area.

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

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C-50-03/13-BCS13012-E

T:10”

S:9.175”

Changes in the taxation of dividends will hit farming corporations. Dividends received from Canadian controlled private corporations that pay tax at the small business rate are having their tax rates raised.

The concept is that an individual receiving income from the corporation is compensated for income taxes paid by the corporation at the corporate level. The March 21 budget proposes to adjust the gross up factor applicable to these ineligible dividends from 25 to 18 per cent and then to push the dividend tax credit from 66.7 per cent of the gross-up amount to 72.2 per cent of the amount. As a result of these changes, the federal tax rate on ineligible dividend income for a person in the highest tax bracket will rise to 21.2 from 19.6 per cent.

“It’s a couple of percentage points on companies that shareholders own, so it has a negative effective,” says James Doer, managing partner of accounting company BDO in Winnipeg.

There has been overcompensation of shareholders receiving these ineligible dividends. The budget repairs this by raising taxes. As a result, $1,000 of non-eligible dividends paid in 2013 will be taxed at 19.58 after federal tax calculations.

Beginning in 2014, the tax rate will rise to 21.22 per cent.

As shown in the table, a farmer paying himself $1,000 in dividends in 2013 would pay $196 in federal personal taxes at the highest tax rate. In 2014 and beyond, these taxes would increase to $212.

deduction of farm losses in full rather than the $8,750 limit imposed after the 1977 case, called Moldowan v. The Queen.

The new budget restores the core of the 1977 rule and cancels the effect of the 2012 case by saying that a taxpayer’s non-farming income must be less than farming income if farming losses are to be fully deductible against income from non-farming sources. The budget also proposes to increase the limit of annual deductible farm losses to $17,500 from $8,750.

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APRIL 15, 2013

Features CROP PRODUCTION

MOTHER NATURE THROWS A CURVE BALL

CROP ADVISOR’S CASEBOOK

BY ALAINA STOESZ

A

t the end of June, Frank — who lives west of Yorkton and farms 4,000 acres of wheat, canola and barley — sent me an email with a picture of his spring wheat field, which was presenting some odd symptoms. In the photo, distinct areas throughout the field were yellowing and stunted.

Frank had just returned from holiday and was anxious about his field since it was almost at the critical flag leaf stage. I wasted no time and visited his farm that day. From the road, the affected areas appeared yellow, but as I entered the field I noticed many of the penultimate leaves had a greyish-dark green, water-soaked appearance. In addition, some of the leaves were already dead, the areas of necrosis extending toward the plants’ midveins.

“I’m baffled,” said Frank. “I think it could be water stress or herbicide injury.” But, after further discussion with Frank,

I discovered he had sprayed herbicide more than two weeks earlier and he had not noticed any plant damage then, so we ruled out herbicide injury or sprayer malfunction as the problem. However, I did notice that many of the stunted and discoloured areas were mainly on side hills.

Although the region had received multiple heavy rains the previous week, we were able to eliminate water stress because the damaged areas did not coincide with the wet areas in the field. After discussing Frank’s fertility program, and because the symptoms did not support it, we also ruled out nutrient deficiency as the source of the damage; however, we took a tissue test of the affected and unaffected areas to be sure.

This disease was unlike any other I had diagnosed in spring wheat in this region — the symptoms did not resemble tan spot, rust or leaf blotch. Since so much rain had fallen the previous week, we thought it could be the roots

W

ith plenty of moisture came plenty of bugs and disease last summer.

At the beginning of July 2012, farmers in the Tisdale area of Saskatchewan had noticed insect damage in their canola fields and in many alfalfa crops as well. The region had received a lot of moisture followed by warm, humid days, which led to increased disease and insect pressure. The main crops in the area consisted of canola, wheat, barley and oats — and many were being robbed of yield by a gnawing insect.

T

he winner of the Casebook contest from the last issue of Grainews is Paul Ed Hofer, at Lumsden, Sask.

We’ll be sending Paul a Grainews hat and renewing his subscription for a year.

Thanks for entering, Paul!

Alaina Stoesz suffering from the overly wet conditions; however, after digging up some of the plants, it was clear that the crowns were white and the root biomass and structure were normal and healthy.

Despite ruling out many potential causes of the plant damage, environmental factors remained high on our list of suspects because of the severe storms of the past week. After discussing the situation with my agronomy manager, we decided the symptoms could be due to a disease that rarely occurs in spring wheat fields.

Distinct areas throughout Frank’s field were yellowing and stunted.

I sent the tissue samples to the Crop Protection Lab in Regina.

Sure enough, the lab confirmed our diagnosis, wrapping up this curious case.

What unusual disease is affecting Frank’s spring wheat field? Send your diagnosis to Grainews, Box 9800, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 3K7; email leeann. minogue@fbcpublishing.com or fax 204-944-5416 c/o Crop

Leeann Minogue is the editor of Grainews.

Advisor’s Casebook. Best suggestions will be pooled and one winner will be drawn for a chance to win a Grainews cap and a one-year subscription to the magazine. The best answer, along with the reasoning which solved the mystery, will appear in the next Crop Advisor’s Solution. † Alaina Stoesz is a sales agronomist for Richardson Pioneer Ltd. at Yorkton, Sask.

SCOUT REGULARLY FOR DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS

CROP ADVISOR’S SOLUTION

BY KIMBERLEY SLADE

Casebook winner

Bill, a local farmer, called me with concerns he was having about his canola field. “It’s definitely an insect. I noticed some damage when the crop was around the 20 to 30 per cent blooming stage, and I fear it’s only getting worse.” Bill explained that something was taking bites out of the canola plant pods. “My neighbours say they have the same problem.”

At the field, the canola plants looked normal and healthy, but close examination revealed insect damage. There were visible bite marks on the canola pods, and some pods were falling off without maturing.

As we walked through it, we noticed many insects flying throughout and over the field. We conducted a sweep net test which revealed the field was infested with lygus bugs at threshold levels.

The lygus bug is easy to identify due to the light-coloured “V” or triangular shape on its upper back. Lygus bugs can vary in colour from pale green to reddish brown to black, depending on the species.

There are four main species in Western Canada — Lygus lineolaris, L. borealis, L. elisus and L. keltoni. Each species is thought to be equally destructive.

Typically, farmers should begin scouting canola for lygus bugs from the time the crop bolts until the seeds within the pods are firm. Lygus bugs tend to feed on buds, flowers and young pods, causing buds to turn white and fail to develop.

As a result, flowers will fall without forming pods, and pods will fall before maturity.

Bill’s crop yielded poorly.

However, it is difficult to say definitively how the yield was affected because it was a poor year in general for canola yields.

There was also an unexpected shortage of insecticide chemical due to increased insect pressure

in many areas of the province caused by the increased moisture levels.

In this case, and many others like it, it’s important for farmers to watch for increased insect pressure, especially in years with a lot of moisture followed by warm daytime temperatures. Be aware of threshold levels in order to determine when to spray.

Regular scouting of fields is necessary to determine if insects are invading your crops and at what level — before they rob you of yield. † Kimberley Slade is an area marketing representative for Richardson Pioneer Ltd. at Crooked River, Sask.

SPRAYING OFF LABEL

COSTS YIELD

Spraying herbicide on Genuity® Roundup Ready® canola, above recommended rates or outside the application window,

can cost you 3 bushels per acre or more in yield.

10630-MON-RR Spray-grain-news-9.5x5.indd 1

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW GRAIN MARKETING AND ALL OTHER STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES AND PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Genuity®, Roundup Ready®, Monsanto® and Vine Design® are registered trademarks of Monsanto Canada Inc. Licensee. ©2013 Monsanto Canada Inc. 2/27/13 11:42 AM

APRIL 15, 2013

grainews.ca /

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Features Crop disease

Glume blotch or fusarium?

The symptoms of glume blotch are often mistaken for fusarium

by Angela Lovell

G

lume blotch is a cereal disease that thrives in wet, humid growing conditions. It has generally been more prevalent in Ontario, but it does occur across the Prairies. Glume blotch symptoms on harvested grain can be confused with the fusarium damaged kernels (FDK) caused by Fusarium Head Blight, and can negatively affect the quality of grain, especially wheat, and cause downgrading.

Glume blotch symptoms on wheat kernels are caused by septoria infections, and are very similar to those caused by fusarium. The septoria damaged kernels, however, do not contain mycotoxins that would be found in kernals damaged by the F. graminearum pathogen.

spotting on winter and spring wheat in central parts of the region and wheat leaf spotting was also quite severe in breeding nurseries, probably due to wet, warm conditions during May to July, but the symptoms could have been due to other leaf disease pathogens such as tan spot.

Some wheat varieties are moderately resistant to glume blotch. Seed treatments and foliar fungicides are available, but farmers should spray only in cooperative weather. Leaf and glume blotch development will be arrested during dry weather.

What to look for Symptoms of leaf and glume blotch may first appear as small

spots on the lower leaves of seedlings, although symptoms might not be detectable at the seedling stage depending on weather conditions. These spots grow into larger, yellow, lens-shaped lesions which later turn reddish brown.

They become grey or greyishbrown and speckled as tiny black or brown fruiting bodies develop.

Septoria produces lesions that can be confused with tan spot, which has oval, tan-coloured lesions, however the presence of pycnidia indicate Septoria leaf spots.

On the chaff or glumes, brown marks start at the tips, develop downwards and later produce pepper-like brownish dots, which are characteristic of septoria glume blotch. Infection can also occur on the stems at the joints or nodes.

U.S. data recommends a fungicide application if 25 per cent of the leaves have one or more lesions in three or five spots sampled in the field. If the disease is present, but this threshold is not reached, farmers are advised to watch weather forecasts, because the disease can spread rapidly during periods of heavy rainfall.

Recommendations from North Dakota State University indicate that it’s not economical to apply fungicide unless there is significant leaf disease present. Yield reduction will be anywhere from 10 to 40 per cent when the flag leaf is affected. †

photo: jeannie gilbert, aafc

Angela Lovell is a freelance writer, editor and communications specialist living and working in Manitoba. Find her online at www.angelalovell.ca.

The septoria leaf and glume blotch pathogens can overwinter on seed or crop residue, on volunteer wheat and the leaves of winter wheat.

What is glume blotch?

Ron Howard, a plant pathologist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, says leaf blotch is usually more common than glume blotch, since leaf material is available for infection for a longer period of time.

Most leaf spot diseases require temperatures between 15 to 30 C, with an optimum of 20 to 25 C and periods of high relative humidity or leaf wetness for 48 hours or more.

The pathogen that causes glume blotch occurs later in the season because of the timing of head emergence. The septoria leaf and glume blotch pathogens can overwinter on seed or crop residue, on volunteer wheat and the leaves of winter wheat.

Dark-coloured fruiting structures present on old infested residue release spores that are spread by wind and cause early spring infections. Later in the summer, infection is primarily caused by rain-dispersed spores. Rain splash helps spread the disease, which is favoured by high humidity and temperatures between 20 and 28 C. The fungus cycles progressively on the crop as it develops, causing lesions which produce the fruiting bodies, releasing spores spread by rain splash to cause new lesions that begin the cycle all over again.

Stubble mulching and minimum till may increase the incidence of this disease, but short rotations, susceptible varieties and favourable weather conditions are the main risk factors for glume blotch development.

“Leaf diseases, in general, were quite prevalent in wheat fields across the Prairies from 2010 to 2012 because of higher-thannormal levels of precipitation,” says Howard.

Historically, glume blotch has been most severe on red spring and durum wheat in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan. Although it has shown up in plant surveys over the past two years, incidence and severity of glume blotch has been low in Manitoba, which has experienced generally dryer conditions.

Northwest Saskatchewan had very high levels of cereal leaf diseases such as septoria and tan spot in 2012 and at the heading stage glume blotch was present in many wheat fields sampled in the region.

Alberta surveys in mid-July to early August found severe leaf

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5496-F_Quilt_FlagLeaf_Grainews.indd 1

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APRIL 15, 2013

Features Seeding

The plan for 2013 Kevin Elmy’s plans for spring seeding include more cover crops, less canola and a strong focus on soybeans

By Kevin Elmy

W

hat a winter! Most farmers are looking forward to the challenges of this coming crop year, just to get out of this winter. Markets have been volatile.

Bins are being emptied. Plans are being made.

Plans at Friendly Acres On our farm, 2013 is going to look like any other year, with some modifications to our rotation and a few new strategies to reduce risk and increase net income per acre.

We put 170 acres of fridge forage winter triticale in the ground last fall, into both canola stubble and into cover crop ground. It will be interesting to see the differences this summer and fall.

We’ll be tissue testing early in the season to see what the plants need. For sure, it will get a foliar application of Alpine’s copper. If nitrogen is required, we will do a foliar application using the Fabian

system of melting 46-0-0 (Patrick Fabian wrote about this method in the March 11 issue of Grainews.)

Our canola acres will take a hit from our long-term average, similar to last year. We’ll seed half of our long-term canola acres, replacing the other half with cover crops.

Our goal with the cover crop is to create a good environment to seed next fall’s winter triticale into.

We’ll be using proso millet, tillage radish and crimson clover that we will seed late June or early July, and then hay in early to mid August. That way the bales can be moved and we can seed in late August. The canola stubble will wait until after it is harvested, which will spread out our workload. InVigor L120 is the canola we will seed. It’s early and stands well.

From our trials, it has performed well, with similar yields to L130.

Working budget numbers comparing a cover crop to canola was interesting. Using long-term numbers, and current local feed requirements, we come up a little lower income using cover crops instead

of canola, but our risk is down significantly due to lower input costs.

It also all but guarantees that we’ll be able to seed our winter triticale on time. That should translate into earlier maturing winter triticale and higher yields.

The other positive is that, under drier years, the cover crop will have more moisture to get the winter triticale establishing better, plus the ground will have adequate cover. When the top growth is poor and feed is required, there is an option to graze the cover crop before seeding the winter cereal.

Soybeans We’ll continue to seed 45 per cent of our acres to soybeans.

We’re hoping to get replicated small plots on our farm so we can produce statistically relevant numbers and properly evaluate varieties and agronomy.

Getting agronomic and variety information from Manitoba is okay, but Saskatchewan farmers need

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Kevin Elmy plans to seed 45 per cent of his acres to soybeans in 2013. local trials and information. The double rate of granular inoculant started on our farm from one of our strip trials. To fine-tune the rest of Saskatchewan soybean agronomy, we need to continue our research, based on initial information from Manitoba, so we can maximize our potential yields and returns. Ideally, there would be five of these sites because of the range of our climate and the sheer size of Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan Seed Guide uses Bow Island, Saskatoon, and Roblin to give us yield numbers for the province. This is not adequate or representative of Saskatchewan.

Our soybeans will be seeded half on soybean stubble, the rest on either winter triticale or on cover crop stubble. It will be interesting to see if there is any yield advantage to seeding soybeans on cover crop ground as opposed to winter triticale stubble. My theory is that when we get dry, and we will, using cover crops every other year or every second year will help store water, cover the soil and build microbes.

Depending on the time of year we seed, we may do some seeding rate trials in field scale strips. If we can’t get the small plots seeded, we’ll continue with our field scale strip trials. That is the only way we can get a good feel for how these varieties perform and how they react to our climate.

Other crops Our azuki bean experiment will continue into Year 2. Last year was almost the opposite of what the plants are accustomed to. We’ve been told they like to be grown in a drier environment. Considering the plants were under water for a third of the growing season, year one confirmed that saturated soils are not conducive to azuki bean production.

The samples we sent away met quality specifications for end users in China. Stay tuned for updates on 2013 production.

Verene Elmy, Kevin Elmy’s mom, in a field of soybeans near Sturgis, Sask.

We will also be performing some trials on corn grazing, testing new and proven varieties. Last year, we only seeded 15 varieties over five acres, out of 40 acres planned. The rest of the field was seeded to cover crops. This year’s plan is to seed 35 acres of the field to corn, leaving five acres to seed to cover crops, then graze it all off from October to December. We’ll be using varieties from Prairie Pacific Seeds, Maizex, Hyland, and Canamaize.

We took out a field of alfalfa last fall, so we’ll be seeding another down to Tophand alfalfa to get us back to 100 acres of alfalfa for hay and green manure. Our Shoshone sainfoin is scheduled to stay in for another three years.

Overall, we have been happy with our rotation, the crops we are growing and our net income per acre. There are no major plans for capital investment or equipment upgrades on the radar. We are just hoping for a normal year, but I’ve been waiting for a normal year for six years now. † Kevin Elmy operates Friendly Acres Seed Farm, along with his wife, Christina, and parents, Robert and Verene, near Saltcoats, Sask. Contact him at 306-744-2779 or visit www.friendlyacres.sk.ca.

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APRIL 15, 2013

grainews.ca /

Features SEEDING

How to treat treated seed Treated seed is a safe and efficient way to protect seeds.

Just make sure you handle it safely

BY REBECA KUROPATWA

P

esticides, including insecticides, play a significant role in maintaining a sustainable, abundant food supply.

“Without pesticides, the world would lose at least 40 per cent of its food supply due to pest damage,” said Pierre Petelle, vice president of chemistry at CropLife Canada, the trade association representing pesticides and plant biotechnology manufacturers, developers, and distributors.

In the early growth stage, insecticide seed treatments are a valuable way to protect planted seeds and crops from insects. “Only small quantities of insecticide are needed to coat the seed, which is then planted in the ground, reducing human and environmental exposure as well as exposure to non-target organisms, such as bees,” explained Petelle.

Today’s seed-applied insecticides have been in use in Canada for over a decade.

“The majority of treated seed planted in Canada is canola in the Prairies, where there have

been no reports of related bee deaths, despite millions of acres of plantings,” said Petelle. “In Ontario, treated corn seed and pollinators have successfully coexisted for the last decade.

Petelle recommends farmers follow a set of CropLife Canada’s Best Management Practices (BMPs), including “controlling a field’s flowering weeds before planting; communicating with nearby beekeepers and being aware of hive locations near your fields; following planter manufacturer recommendations when using seed box lubricants; properly calibrating your seeder for the conditions; providing pollinator-friendly habitats away from active fields; seeding at times of day when bees aren’t foraging (typically early morning or evening); and properly disposing of seed bags according to local regulations.”

EFFECTIVE APPLICATION Murray Belyk, manager, scientific affairs with Bayer CropScience at Regina, Sask., says, “Innovative seed treatment technology repre-

sents an environmentally sound approach to crop protection.

Treating seed provides targeted, effective application.

“By incorporating the seed (and applied pesticide) into the soil at planting, exposure to wildlife is reduced. Typically seed treatments reduce the number of spray applications required.”

Fungicide seed treatment is very important too (and in some cases, even more so than using insecticide), according to Belyk.

With many different seed treatment available, Belyk says it all comes down to (a) the crop type and (b) the pest likelihood.

“Diseases can be seed or soil borne.

Some seed treatments can be applied by the farmer, while others must only be applied by a commercial seed treatment facility.”

Belyk says, “The industry is continually improving the technology to improve the quality of treated seed and minimize exposure.”

SAFE HANDLING David Drexler of Researchman Consulting Inc. became

involved with seed treatments and bees at a very high level about seven years ago, when he returned from Europe to take on the role of head of research and development for Bayer CropScience.

“Safe handling and use of any crop protection product is important and critical,” However, in this case, the value outweighs the risk. “Treated seed is an incredible evolution in growers’ abilities to benefit from crop protection products. They don’t have to buy, store, or measure them, or calibrate a sprayer.

But Drexler advised caution about important issues concerning treated seed. Some circumstances increase the risk associated with treated seed. These include: 1. Strong winds (especially towards environmentally sensitive areas, like a body of water or an apiary).

2. Pollinators foraging nearby early in the foraging season (growers should consider controlling those weeds immediately on the field margins).

3. Treated seed is left on

PHOTO: MURRAY BELYK

Remember that treated seed contains crop protection products and needs to be handled like crop protection products.

the surface that could be consumed by wildlife (it needs to be buried through some kind of cultivation).

4. When the seeder isn’t properly calibrated for depth.

5. When there’s a seed spill at the filling site, which could be consumed by wildlife (it needs to be cleaned up immediately).

6. When seed bags are left at the filling site.

7. When seed bags are are shaken briskly to get that last seed out.

8. When dust forms in the bag during transport, handling, or storage.

Drexler says, “Realize treated seed contains crop protection products, and, therefore, should be handled like crop protection products — carefully and with attention to recommendations.” † Rebeca Kuropatwa is a professional writer in Winnipeg, Man.

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APRIL 15, 2013

Precision Farming APPQUEST

AppQuest: Grain bin contents estimator This handy app helps you figure out how many more truckloads you have in the bin JAY PETERSON

I

t seems in today’s world of multiple loading sites, different bin sizes, mass quantities of product and trucks loaded by different people, it can be easy to lose track of how much grain you’ve shipped versus how much you have left in the bin. For $5, Farmer Apps has tried to help relieve you with their grain bin contents estimator app.

The inputs into this app are very simple. It first asks you for the diameter of the bin and the height up to the bin eaves, in feet and inches. The more accurate you are,

the more accurately the program can calculate the grain in the bin.

Next, you enter the distance from the eaves to the height of the grain. This of course is where the many years experience of tapping on the side of the bin comes into play.

Lastly you enter the numerical value in pounds per bushel for the test weight. Now, select the type of bin — whether it’s a flat bottom, 45° angle hopper or a 60° hopper.

The last thing to select is the crop type and whether the grain is coned up, coned down or level.

There are six crops to select from.

The app is missing some of the major pulses we grow in Western Canada. One can probably get away with using another crop of a similar seed size and the proper test weight to get an accurate result.

PRECISION FARMING

Keeping track Keeping track of your field data is the first step on the way to precision farming

BY SHANYN SILINSKI

“Back in ’78 that field had its best yields,” he says, “And the rain that year was…” ld school field data and history, often captured on calendar squares or in notebooks covered in grease smeared pencil marks. In today’s electronic and outsourced world this data is very valuable.

Farmers rely on agronomists and analysts to give them information they can use year after year, but there are gaps in that information that only the farmers can fill.

At research farms across the country, researchers take soil samples, mark GPS points and capture aerial maps annually. These high-tech data forms are great tools for capturing the “right now” and tracking recent history, but what about the other information that makes a complete production history?

Farmers usually have a good idea of what crops they’ve planted, the long-term hitstory of their fields, and the of inputs they’ve used but are they tracking the results?

When you farm thousands of acres, keeping track of your farm’s history is a more difficult task.

Thankfully, technology can help.

O

COLLECTING DATA In every day farming and living we collect data continuously.

The importance is whether we are intentionally collecting the information and using it.

When you try something new on your farm, you’re doing research.

When you keep track of what happens, you’re collecting data.

The first step is to assess your data

collection methods. This is part of the recordkeeping of your farm.

Is your record keeping still on the calendar, or in a notebook? Are you using an app on the iPad or your smart phone? Many apps are available to record farm data.

Many times we consider our farms based on the yield data we get at the end of the season, and the cost of putting in the crop. Perhaps when we look at the bigger picture and track our results consistently we can find other trends.

A farmer recently told me this about his record keeping: “I have data maps and field maps. I’ve done some on farm trials. I have all this information but year to year I don’t know how it helps me. I know my hard costs but I feel like there is more I can be doing with the other information I have.”

Farmers who have access to yield data and field mapping may not always have the tools to use the information getting. By taking farm management to the field level, farmers can look at the long term productivity of their farm historically and make choices based on what has been successful in the past.

Data collection is the core of precision farming. Farmers who want a more in-depth analysis of their farms can engage in soil sampling, detailed mapping and scouting records. Knowledge is power. By tracking information, farmers can make informed decisions. At the end of the day that means better farming. †

Once you press “calculate” the app takes you to another page full of results. The first two are the possible maximum bin capacities, one in cubic feet and the other in possible bushels.

The last sets of results are the contents estimated left in the bin. The app gives you the percentage of the bin still full, contents in cubic feet and the bin content in bushels. Lastly the app gives you the CWT, tons, and metrics tonnes of grain.

This works well because you can then estimate the amount of hauling you need to clean out the rest of the bin.

This app is not really complicated but it can sure save some headaches.

Price: $4.99 † Jay Peterson farms near Frontier, Sask.

DOW AGROSCIENCES 9.000X6.00 000035113r1 4C

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Shanyn Silinski is a writer, speaker, rancher, mom and advocate, currently working as the national coordinator for the Animal Emergency Working Group. Find her blog at choretime.blogspot.com.

19452-07 DAS LiquidAchieve_13.167X9.indd 1

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grainews.ca /

11

Precision Farming Precision farming

DIY on variable rate Find out how one Alberta farmer makes variable rate fertilization work for him by creating his own prescriptions

By Angela Lovell

P

lenty of agronomy companies offer services to help farmers get the most out of their variable rate technology, which seems to get more sophisticated every year.

What began as GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) guidance systems to keep the tractor in a straight line and avoid overlap has evolved into Geographic Information Systems (GIS) that use satellite imagery to create nutrient management zones in fields and write prescription maps that tell the variable rate sprayer how much fertilizer to apply and where.

But is it worth the cost, which can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, to contract out these services, such as mapping

and prescription building for variable rate fertilization and seeding?

Or can a farmer do this himself?

the pivots) that were irrigated and the dry land corners (that were not irrigated) were going to yield differently,” says Stamp. “I was able to write a prescription just for the irrigated parts of the field. Then when we went to seed into the dry land areas of the field it automatically reduced the amount of seed and fertilizer.”

Stamp did this by downloading a satellite image of the field during a previous growing season from Google maps, a free online application that anyone with a computer can access.

With that image, Stamp could clearly see the areas that the irrigation pivot could reach.

They were vividly green on the image. The areas that the pivot didn’t reach, which were not quite as green, told him which areas were receiving irrigation and which ones weren’t.

Making your own maps One farmer who does do it himself is Greg Stamp, who farms at Enchant, north of Lethbridge, Alberta. Stamp uses Google maps and the Apex software, which came factory installed in his John Deere tractor, to write his own fertilizer and seeding prescription maps.

He finds this Do-It-Yourself approach especially useful in areas of the field where he knows there are already problems — for example low spots, saline patches or irrigation pivot corners.

“We have an irrigation farm and last year we rented a field we hadn’t farmed before and it had pivot corners, so the areas (under

photo: greg stamp

Greg Stamp wrote his own prescription map using satellite images.

“I just drew around the area with my mouse where it was dark green and that became one prescription and then everywhere else became another dry land prescription because it was outside of my pivot,” he explains. “Then I loaded it into the air seeder and pulled up that map and told the air seeder that I had a prescription for that map, told it which file I wanted to use and away I went. I was varying nitrogen and phosphorus and the seeding rate using three different tanks on the drill and it was all automatic. It’s one really good example of where it has been quite simple to do a DIY prescription map.”

Stamp took GIS training in university, so he does have a level of technical know-how that most other farmers don’t, but he does feel it’s something that, given a bit of time, many farmers could learn. “I think that anybody that can use a computer can do this, but like anything else it just takes time to sit down and focus on it and that’s usually the biggest challenge, we don’t always have the time,” says Stamp. “It all depends too on how you value your time. It may be that you can hire someone else and it’s more cost effective for you to do it that way.”

Data on hand What many farmers don’t realise, says Stamp, is just how much of the information they already have to hand that is needed to create a simple prescription map.

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“You know your land well, and if you know what is going on in a part of a field it’s quite simple to write a prescription for it. That’s where you are going to get the best returns,” he says.

“Once you get a handle on those things then you can focus on things like, ‘should I be putting more fertility here because I got good yields?’ or ‘should I decrease fertility here because yields are always good here no matter what I do?’”

As an example, Stamp created his own prescription maps for some low lying, saline areas in a field, where he knew from the yield maps coming off his combine that he wasn’t getting good production. “If I know that, I know I can cut my fertilizer rate and possibly my seeding rate as well. So using my yield map I can draw around the area where that yield is always poor and create a low prescription for that spot,” says Stamp.

The technology doesn’t do everything. There’s still a need for some basic, sound agronomy, like soil testing for residual nutrients in the soil that provide a benchmark to determine whether overall fertility is improving or decreasing over time.

Of course there will always be a need for agronomists and for many farmers the time factor and uptake to make their own prescription maps just doesn’t pencil out in the overall picture, and Stamp isn’t suggesting for one moment that everyone should go it alone. He admits his training was what got him interested in doing his own prescription maps and he does it largely because it gives him more flexibility, which as a hybrid canola seed grower, is often invaluable.

“If all of a sudden we can’t grow seed canola on a certain field because we don’t have isolation, we may have to grow something else instead at short notice,” says Stamp. “So I can make last minute changes very easily, I don’t have to rely on someone else for that because they would probably be very busy at the time I would want to make those last minute changes.” †

® TM

3/18/13 6:36 AM

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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/ grainews.ca

APRIL 15, 2013

Precision Farming PRECISION SEEDING

Precision seeding to boost yields Variable rate fertilizing is becoming more common. Now some farmers are moving on to variable rate seeding

BY LISA GUENTHER

P

recision and variable rate seeding have the potential to boost crop yields and cut seeding costs. Corn growers have improved productivity by adopting precision seeding, but so far attempts to apply the practice to Western Canadian crops have yielded more questions than answers.

Precision seeding involves placing a specific number of seeds at a precise depth and spacing. Corn growers became interested in precision seeding when the first high-yielding hybrids were introduced in the 1930s.

Corn seed costs jumped and the new varieties responded to better management. Precision seeding became popular with corn growers in the 1950s and 1960s, and yields rose, a researcher told a farm show audience.

Mainly because precision seeding leads to increased uniformity, Saskatchewan researchers found that precision seeding increased corn yields by 15 to 20 per cent.

an UltraPro Seedmaster precision roller to a Valmar roller. Seeding rates were set at 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 and 320 seeds per square metre. Row spacing at Melfort was eight inches, it was 12 inches at Indian Head.

Brandt presented preliminary results from Indian Head and Melfort at Crop Production Week.

But he was hesitant to draw conclusions from the limited data.

“I don’t want you to walk away thinking that I’ve provided you with the answers about precision seeding.”

Spring plant density closely matched the seeding rates at the lower levels at Indian Head. But plant density was lower than seeding rate at Melfort, and the ratio dropped as seeding rates rose at both sites.

Researchers also measured plant density after harvest. “What you’ll see right away is those numbers dropped down substantially when we look at the fall plant densities compared to the spring.”

For example, at Indian Head, plant densities rose to over 250

In 2012, Aberhart ran seeding rate trials on wheat, varying rates based on different zones between lighter and heavier land. His average target seeding rate was about 30 plants per square foot, but they were set as low as 20 plants per square foot, and as high as 40 plants per square foot.

But the higher seeding rates didn’t produce more yield than the regular rates. Aberhart said

gleaned information to put into practice in 2013.

“We put a lot of emphasis of plant spacing and density in the spring. But it’s equally likely, or even more probable, that density and spacing at harvest will be more revealing in terms of our understanding of what’s going on,” Brandt said.

Brandt said researchers will also need to look more closely

Which crops may most benefit from variable rate and precision seeding remains to be seen.

Aberhart thinks crops such as peas, flax, and soybeans may be more responsive to variable rate seeding than wheat. He did start variable rate trials with canola last year, but didn’t follow through with them. Because canola is such an elastic plant, Aberhart thinks financial bene-

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Which crops may most benefit from variable rate and precision seeding remains to be seen “But one thing we do know is that corn ain’t canola,” said Stewart Brandt, research manager with the Northeast Agriculture Research Foundation. Brandt presented preliminary precision seeding research at Crop Production Week in Saskatoon.

PRELIMINARY RESEARCH RAISES QUESTIONS Planting a single, small canola seed precisely is a mechanical challenge. Most canola seeding rates target a 30 per cent emergence rate, and the plants self-thin through the growing season.

Canola’s ability to compensate for low plant populations also allows farmers to get away with a shotgun seeding approach.

Brandt and his colleagues looked at precision seeding canola at sites near Melfort, Scott, Indian Head, Swift Current, and Redvers, Saskatchewan. They compared

BY DAN PIRARO

Bizarro

plants per square metre in the spring. After harvest, plant density was no higher than about 160 plants per square metre.

Brandt said self-thinning started at seeding rates above 40 seeds per square metre.

Yield at Melfort was slightly higher at higher seeding rates. But at Indian Head, yield plummeted at the highest seeding rates.

Brandt was initially puzzled by the Indian Head results. But after talking to Chris Holzapfel, research manager at Indian Head, he thinks the plots seeded at higher rates may have been more mature when the big wind blew through last fall, leading to more shattering.

Lodging and disease may have been factors as well.

VR SEEDING WHEAT Terry Aberhart farms near Langenburg, Saskatchewan.

Aberhart attended a few conferences in the United States, and heard about the success of corn growers using variable rate seeding. Dropping seeding rates in eroded areas reduced costs substantially and increased corn yields, Aberhart said.

Aberhart believes there are two approaches to variable rate seeding. “One is to increase your plant populations where the soil will support higher yields and reduce them in lighter, sandier areas.”

The other approach is to use seeding rates to offset mortality rates.

“So say a higher, salinity area is going to have increased mortality of seeds. So you might have to increase the rate there just to get the same amount of plants compared to other areas in the field,” Aberhart said.

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the late summer was dry, and he thinks that may have played into the results.

“We may have seen some yield increases if we’d had better moisture throughout the season. But it’s hard to say,” said Aberhart.

Determining which rates are best for each zone is the biggest challenge to variable rate seeding trials, Aberhart said. There’s little information on variable seeding rates for Western Canadian crops, and rainfall is a wild card.

MORE RESEARCH PLANNED Though initial trials haven’t yet produced new recommendations for management practices, both Brandt and Aberhart

at how lodging and maturity fits may come more from lowerdates play into the equation. ing seeding costs than bumping Plant spacing between and yield.

But Brandt does see plenty of within rows, metering systems, SBC13019.Varro.8 with precision seeding depth control, seed quality3-19-2013 and 5:41potential PM seed protection are also part CALMCL-DMX8127 of canola.

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, “And really, if we want to be the puzzle.

Marsha Walters to takeSPECfull advantage of Next year Aberhart plans to able None ORIGINALLY GENERATED: Marianne 100% measure mortality rates in difwhat precision seeding SAFETY: might 12.9167” x 8” None TRIM: 12.916 ferent zones to see how vari- offer us, we need to have one Helvetica Neue LT Std (75 Bo able rate seeding could even plant at harvest for every viaout the plant stand. He’s also ble seed that we place in the looking at fine-tuning seeding ground. And that’s a huge chalrates to maximize yield in dif- lenge with a small-seeded crop ferent zones. like canola.”

“What we’re looking at doing Farmers can view Brandt’s presthis next year is seeding three entation online at www.iharf.ca/ or four different rates in each presentations.php. † area, and then measuring which Lisa Guenther is a field editor with Grainews rate performs the best (in each based at Livelong, Sask. Contact her at Lisa.

Guenther@fbcpublishing.com. soil type),” said Aberhart.

12.9167”

APRIL 15, 2013

grainews.ca /

13

Precision Fertilizer PRECISION FARMING

Optical sensors for variable rate fertility Optical in-crop sensors like GreenSeeker can automatically assess your crop’s nutrient needs

BY ANGELA LOVELL

A

recent technology takes variable rate to a whole new dimension.

Optical in-crop sensors can make all your nutrient decisions for you by measuring the reflectance of the vegetative growth and using an index — the Normalised Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI) — to assess your

is needed to maximize yield potential. The system basically takes all this data and prepares the fertilizer prescription map on the go, varying the rate of nitrogen or other nutrients as needed.

There is now a handheld version of the GreenSeeker technology, which costs around $500 and gives an instant NDVI reading in the field. It’s

and over the last four years he has had a chance to put it through its paces under varying conditions. So far it’s given him excellent results.

Moats used to simply use a one-size-fits-all approach to fertilization, applying all his nitrogen at seeding, GreenSeeker has allowed him to spilt his nitrogen applications and more accurately match the require-

crop’s nutrient needs in real time especially useful for farmers that and adjust rates automatically as want to create experimental you travel across the field. plots or assess how a smaller GreenSeeker from Trimble part of a field is responding SBC13019.Varro.8.4C_REV1 rro.8.4C_REV1.indd was the first optical sensor sys- to certain fertilizer applications Grainews chemical treatments, says Insertion or Date: April 1, 2013 ellow, Black tem to be introduced into the marketplace a few years ago, but BayerRon Hughes, sales manager CropScience hasPAGE: since been joined by others for Pattison Liquid Systems, 1 BCS13026 the dealer for GreenSeeker in M: 12.9167” x 8”which Bleed: None use similar technology such as the OptRx Crop Sensor Western Canada. “It will give d (75 Bold, 55 Roman; OpenType) from Ag Leader Technology and you hard NDVI numbers so, CropSpec from TopCon. as you take repeated readings, Production Contact Numbers: These sensors emit 403 various you can build 261 7161 403 261 7152 up a picture as to light wavelengths which are whether there is any change in reflected back by the vegetation the crop,” Hughes says. and can be used to calculate the NDVI, which is closely correGREENSEEKER IN THE FIELD lated to the amount of biomass Lee Moats was one of two present. Generally, the more plant material, the higher is farmers in Canada to purchase the NDVI and the less nutrient a GreenSeeker system in 2009

C-76-03/13-BCS13026-E

ments of the crop. “We are really sold on it as a nitrogen management tool. The reason is we are not applying all of our nitrogen at seeding time,” he says. “We have another time period to make a decision that is closer to the time that the crop actually needs the nitrogen. And the closer you get to the right time the more relevant your decision making is. The GreenSeeker does all the decision making for you.”

To use the system, you have to put down a nitrogen rich strip for the GreenSeeker needs to use as a baseline for the maximum yield. This strip will provide the upper limit boundary, so it will usually have 125

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to 150 per cent of the normal fertilizer rate. Then, you load a pre-set algorithm for the particular crop type and the system adjusts accordingly.

In 2009 and 2010, with good growing conditions, Moats got record canola yields of around 63 bushels per acre, while using only two-thirds of the nitrogen (about 60 pounds per acre) that he would have ordinarily applied.

“Our experience with it was quite different than what we thought it would be,” admits Moats. “We were imagining that it would be a tool that would work as a way of reducing nitrogen rates in dry years when we didn’t need as much and increasing them in wet years when perhaps we would be under-applying. So far it hasn’t worked that way.”

In 2011, a year with excessive moisture and damaged crops Moats applied a lot less nitrogen, which saved him a significant amount of money. “We have applied much less nitrogen than we thought we would on some of our more moist years and I think the reason is that our long term zero tillage treatments of our soil has resulted in a lot more mineralization hap-

“We felt that the Greenseeker was the best system to meet our needs as we just don’t have the confidence in using historical yield maps and satellite images to predict our needs for this year’s crop,” says Moats.

ON-FARM KNOWLEDGE No one is suggesting for one moment, says Hughes, that a GreenSeeker or any other incrop sensing system will replace the skill and expertise of an agrologist. “It’s a complement to the knowledge that the farmer already has about his own land,” he says. “But it takes the emotion out of it because it’s hard, repeatable numbers over and over again. Every time the farmer goes over a field, whether he’s applying fertilizer at seeding, top dressing additional fertilizer or spraying herbicides or fungicides, the system is creating another level of mapping and, whether he has someone on the farm or he is getting outside professional advice, that data can be used to see what is going on in the crop over time.”

There are some downsides, admits Moats. GreenSeeker operations can sometimes conflict with

“GreenSeeker gets the timing and that placement right.”

— Lee Moats

pening over the growing season than we were really accounting for in the past,” he says.

When Moats went looking for a variable rate system he evaluated various options and settled on the GreenSeeker because he felt it better addressed the variability on his land that doesn’t seem to follow the idea of soil zones.

“Our variability going across the fields in some years has been quite exceptional — it’ll vary quite a lot just in a matter of 100 yards. And that variation is beyond our human ability to assess as we are driving along because you can’t see it, and our land is so flat that you wouldn’t anticipate much variation at all,” says Moat.

GreenSeeker is able to see what the human eye can’t and can make as many real time adjustments as often as it needs to. And because it is responding to needs of the crop as it grows, growing conditions are also taken into account.

“Our biggest issue, especially in recent years has been an excess of moisture,” he says.

“One year you may go and produce a crop on the low land that is extraordinary because the moisture has been short and the low land has had more moisture in it, but in recent years we have had exactly the opposite because there is excess moisture in the low land and production in the low land is poor because of moisture, not nitrogen.”

other operations such as herbicide or fungicide applications or even seeding — this is especially true for Moats, who is a winter wheat grower. That said, he isn’t about to go back to the way he used to apply his fertilizer.

“The mantra of the fertilizer industry is right time, right place, right form. Well the GreenSeeker gets the timing and that placement right, and it makes sure that you are applying the right rate for the crop’s needs,” he says. “I am not sure whether there will be a tool that will allow us to do a better job on those things.” † Angela Lovell is a freelance writer, editor and communications specialist living and working in Manitoba. Find her online at www. angelalovell.ca.

BY DAN PIRARO

Bizarro

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APRIL 15, 2013

Columns SOILS AND CROPS

The truth about Lake Winnipeg The Prairies are only a small part of the Lake Winnipeg’s phosphorus loading problem defined problem, with no review of existing information and no vision to use the data usefully.

In Saskatchewan our Lake Diefenbaker is a gem and our lifeblood. It is imperative that work continues to monitor the status of the lake, identify problems and look for solutions. That work must first summarize the decades of existing information. † 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, and he will dispatch a signed book.

EAsiER. In TandemTm.



4

1

5

NOW FOR THE FACTS

3

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2

6

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What follows comes from Table 7.3, page 83 of a report titled “State of Lake Winnipeg 1999-2007,” prepared by Environment Canada and Manitoba Water Stewardship.

The map on this page shows a Google Earth image of Lake Winnipeg, the position of the major rivers that drain into the lake and each river’s percentage contribution to the lake’s total phosphorus load (averaged from 1994 to 2007). At its northeast corner, Lake Winnipeg spills into the Nelson River and eventually, with a few power dams along the way, to Hudson Bay. The Saskatchewan River flows in at Grand Rapids, and its final hurrah is through a very large hydro dam. The Saskatchewan River, which takes its head all the way to the Rockies and passes through huge areas of productive farmland contributes a grand total of five per cent of the total of all phosphorus that goes in to Lake Winnipeg.

The atmosphere provides

This map produced by the former PFRA shows (in red) areas of the Prairies that do not flow into Lake Winnipeg.

Tougher.



L

ake Winnipeg is much in the news these days.

It is the 10th largest fresh water lake in the world. It plays important roles in power generation, fisheries, recreation and urban and First Nation communities.

In some recent summers it has turned a sickly green colour with algal blooms. The consensus of many studies is that phosphorus loading is the key trigger that flushes up the ugly mess.

Many reports show a map of the Lake Winnipeg Watershed that includes most of the farmland in the Canadian Prairies and some northern U.S. states. However, many of us farm land where the only drainage is to the nearest slough.

But the map showing most of the Canadian Prairies as part of the Lake Winnipeg Watershed ignores the fundamental topography of our land — sloughs.

The former PFRA produced a map showing non-contributing areas. All of the red colour on that map is land that has no connection to Lake Winnipeg. Some point out that the drainage area varies from dry to wet periods. In wet years sloughs fill and spill over.

In low relief land that is true. But it is easy to remove huge chunks of land from the Lake Winnipeg Drainage basin. In Saskatchewan, Old Wives Lake, Goose Lake and the Quill Lakes are only a few examples of basins that have no connection to Lake Winnipeg.

Many of the hill lands (like Allan and Touchwood) drain only to the nearest slough.



LES HENRY

more phosphorus than the Saskatchewan River — seven per cent. And the Winnipeg River, which extends all the way back to nearly Lake Superior and passes mostly through bush land contributes 15 per cent.

But the granddaddy of them all is the Red River. It contributes 68 per cent of Lake Winnipeg’s total phosphorus.

Much of the Red River basin lies south of the 49th parallel. The Red River Valley is flat and much of it was swamp before agricultural development. Before it could be farmed, it had to be drained. An extensive network of man-made drains hooks the water together and dumps it into the Red River.

The same as with many productive farmland areas around the world.

There is little doubt that agriculture plays a role in phosphorus loading, and work should be done — and is being done — to figure out ways to minimize that impact.

But why do so many use such a broad brush and pretend that all of Canadian Prairie agriculture is screwing up Lake Winnipeg?

We need a rifle rather than a shotgun to identify problems and craft solutions. And the studies must be focused on a specific problem area.

N o r m F l a t e n , We y b u r n Saskatchewan farmer extraordinaire, put it most succinctly. “We are drowning in data but starving for information.” Too much science is providing data on a poorly

7

Phosphorus Loading 1994 - 2007 Average 1.

Sask. River = 5% of P

2.

Dauphin River = 1%

3.

Red River = 68%

4.

Nelson River — Outlet

5.

East side rivers = 3%

6.

Winnipeg River = 15%

7.

Brokenhead R. etc. = 1% Atmosphere = 7%

Total sources of phosphorus in Lake Winnipeg.

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APRIL 15, 2013

grainews.ca /

15

Columns GUARDING WEALTH

Global bonds — not for the faint of heart Investors looking for high yield alternatives in the global market are in for a risky ride

BY ANDREW ALLENTUCK

T

hese are tough times for fixed income investors.

The Bank of Canada continues to suppress short term interest rates so that businesses can borrow cheaply and home buyers can finance houses and condos inexpensively. What helps stocks and the home building industry hurts anyone who wants a safe and solid short term return, for, as everybody knows, everything from bank accounts to five year GICs pay pittances.

Worse, there is a widespread belief that the U.S. stock market, which is up more than 100 per cent since the depths of the 2008 to 2009 financial crisis, will continue to soar.

Beware: trends are called that

because they are. The U.S., which drives the Canadian economy and much of our stock valuations, has profound budget problems, a still massive overhang of unsold houses variously built and not sold or in default, a dysfunctional federal government, a power structure that allows value preferences to clobber the daily business of keeping government running and national and household debts that would wreck any other country’s ability to operate.

GLOBAL BONDS In this stew of problems, investors have been showing renewed interest in global bonds. It is possible to buy a Republic of Iceland sovereign bond due Oct. 22, 2026 with a yield of 6.5 per cent. A

Government of Canada bond due June 1, 2027 was recently priced to yield 2.33 per cent to maturity. The Iceland bond has a Baa3 rating from Moody’s Investors Service, the lowest rung of investment grade. The Government of Canada bond is AAA, the crème de la crème of bond ratings. The Icelandic bond is priced in its currency, the krona, which takes it value from such things as fish sales. If you want to spend a lot of time in Iceland, the 2027 bond may be a smart buy. If you are just in search of yield and don’t want your income dependent on fish, it’s speculative at best.

Heightened risk has not deterred yield seekers. Last year, Zambia issued a bond payable in U.S. dollars priced to yield 5.625 per cent to maturity in 2023. Buyers asked

for an astonishing 15 times the US$750 million issue, never mind that Zambia has been in default 28 per cent of the 49 years since its independence in 1964.

So hungry for yield are investors that they have recently bought eight other bond issues from African countries. The issues are priced in U.S. dollars. One issue, from Ivory Coast in 2010, has seen its price double in the last 15 months, cutting the yield to seven per cent. Ivory Coast has been in default for 49 per cent of the 53 years since it declared independence in 1960.

Reaching for yield in the global bond market is something like climbing steep mountains without safety gear. It has become marginally safer. The global default rate for high-yield debt such as bonds from developing countries dropped 0.6 percentage points in the fourth quarter to end 2012 at 2.6 per cent at annualized rates, according to a report from Moody’s Investors Service. But that is still 26 per cent per year over 10 years.

It is not just African countries that default. The unenviable honour of being the world’s top defaulter goes to Greece, in default more than half the time is has been independent since 1800. Russia, whose bonds are now esteemed as a solid investments because of massive gas revenues, has been in default for 40 per cent of the time it has been independent since the fall of the Soviet Union. If you add in defaults on Tsarist railway bonds the USSR declined to honour in full, the number is much higher. Want worse numbers?

Honduras has been in default for 64 per cent of the years since its independence.

DIVERSIFICATION Anyone considering plunging into global bonds should keep a copy of This Time is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly by Carmen M. Reinhart and Kenneth S. Rogoff (Princeton University Press, 2009) close at hand. Brilliantly written, it is a compendium of horrors that should deter any sane investor from making direct investments in single bonds of developing countries.

It is, however, possible and even quite sane to invest in diversified funds of global bonds. The reason: risk spreading and access to countries at different stages of economic expansion and contraction. These funds blend sovereign bonds from the U.K., the U.S., France, Sweden and more countries with other issues from housing authorities in Hong Kong, foreign businesses, some emerging markets and supranational authorBY DAN PIRARO

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ities like the World Bank. These funds of mostly senior issues can be sound investments Global bond mutual funds have a respectable record. For the five years ended Jan. 31, 2013, Canadian mutual funds specializing in global bonds produced a 4.85 per cent average annual compound return, a little more than the 4.45 per cent average annual compound return of mutual funds with just Canadian bonds in the same period. If you are interested, shop for issues hedged to the Canadian dollar. That way, you get a bond return without currency risk.

Investors have been showing renewed interest in global bonds There are also exchange traded funds that have made successful bets on emerging markets debt.

For example, the JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond Index Fund (CAD Hedged) returned 9.43 per cent for the 12 months ended Feb. 28, 2013. But beware, the fund is smallish and therefore could be terminated by the manager. It has a lot of bonds at the low end of investment grade, a fair amount of exposure to rising interest rates and carries a relatively high 0.72 per cent management expense ratio. If this interests you, do some research starting at the iShares website and discuss it with your financial advisor.

Is it necessary to go offshore to get more yield or to diversify risk?

For yield, absolutely not. High yield fixed income mutual funds turned in a 6.67 per cent average annual compound return for the five years ended Jan. 31, 2013 with substantial risk. Canadian inflation protected bonds called Real Return Bonds, all government issues, produced an average annual compound return of 6.48 per cent for the period with approximately zero default risk.

If you don’t mind compromising the idea of having bonds separate from stocks, you can pick stocks and funds of stocks with solid and rising dividends paid faithfully for the last 10 or 20 years. Many are available as exchange traded funds with very low fees. You can also make a continuing dividend bet by loading up on shares of our chartered banks or American consumer products giants like Procter & Gamble.

Investing directly — without the aid and filter of a professionally managed fund — in debt of countries that are serial defaulters is simply foolish. It is not worth default risk, the problem of selling the bonds if you don’t want to hold them to maturity, accounting and currency valuation if they are not in something major like American dollars or U.K. pounds, and the fundamental problem with any sovereign bond — inability to seize property defended by an army. Buy a fund if you have a taste for global debt, keep the commitment small and remember: if the bonds pay twice or thrice what Government of Canada bonds pay, there’s gotta be a problem. † Andrew Allentuck is author of “Bonds for Canadians: How to Build Wealth and Lower Risk in Your Portfolio,” published by John Wiley & Sons in 2007.

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APRIL 15, 2013

Columns UNDERSTANDING MARKET BULLS AND BEARS

Finding ways to manage risk Grain companies lower their risk by passing it on to you. Now lower yours BRIAN WITTAL

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verytime you sign a contract to sell your grain, there is risk for you (the seller) and the grain company (the buyer).

Let’s look at how this process works, the risk both sides take on, and how both parties offset risks.

World buyers buy grain every month of the year — usually six to 12 months in advance to allow time for grains to be handled, cleaned and shipped to destination.

Numerous countries around the world grow grains at different

times of the year and export into world markets, so there is a lot of competition out there.

As Canada is a major grain exporting country we need to sell grain every month of the year, six to 12 months in advance, to meet the needs of the world buyers.

And, we need to market all of the tonnes we produce every year.

Because we don’t have the climate to grow two crops in one year, we must start selling next year’s crop before it’s in the ground, and continue to sell it before it is harvested. This can put grain companies at risk — they’re selling grain to world buyers based on the hope that the quality and quantity for the coming year will be at least as good as or better than the average of the last several

years. If there is a problem with quality or quantity at harvest, the grain company could be at risk.

How do they protect themselves?

When the grain company makes a sale, its contract with the end buyer will be for a specific grade and protein range.

But the contract may also include a clause that allows the seller the option to substitute with best grade available due to poor harvest conditions, upon the buyer’s approval. This helps the grain company reduce some of the unknown grade risk when making sales prior to harvest, but they do not know what kind of a grade spread will apply if they substitute another grade of wheat against the sale. This is why grain companies will not

lock in grade spreads prior to delivery — they need to know the over all quality of the harvest before they can realistically establish grade spreads.

From a pricing risk perspective, the grain company will protect itself by hedging its sale using futures contracts, as it still needs to buy grain from farmers to fill its sales contract. The grain company has to face that the risk that prices may go up before they buy the tonnes they need.

That’s why, when you sign a delivery contract with a grain company, you are obligated to deliver 100 per cent of the tonnes you contract, or buy out the contract.

This is part of grain companies’ risk management strategy, and it transfers the risk to you, the producer.

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MANAGING YOUR RISK The key word is “manage.” You can use a number of different strategies, including timing and luck.

Using a production contract with an Act of God clause will protect you for a portion of your production if you don’t have enough grain to deliver after harvest due to a crop loss event (drought or hail).

Some malt barley production contracts have a 100 per cent Act of God clause available, but this is very rare as it puts the buying company at risk if a major crop loss eliminates most of their contracted acres.

Using a deferred delivery contract (DDC) to price some of your grain pre harvest helps you manage some of the pricing risk but leaves you open to delivery risk. You can reduce or eliminate this delivery risk by buying call options. Some companies offer contracts that incorporate the use of an option in the contract for your added protection, at a cost.

Instead of using a DDC to pre price grain you could use the futures and hedge your production or use put options to set a floor price for your grain These strategies, of course, cost money and you pay it all up front, so you will need cash or a line of credit to do this. You could be doing them a year before you harvest your crop, depending on what the futures markets are doing, so using a line of credit and paying interest may not make financial sense. This is something you need to consider well in advance.

Using a futures hedge allows you to guarantee yourself a price on paper, and eliminates your delivery risk (since you’re only selling on paper). The risk is that it may take a bit of cash to keep your hedge in position until harvest, depending on what the futures are doing. Then you would deliver your grain and unwind your hedge. Another risk with a hedge strategy is, if you should get hailed out and the futures go up before you unwind your hedge, it will cost you money because now you have no grain to sell at the higher prices to offset the hedge costs you’ve incurred.

If you use a hedging strategy, pay close attention to the markets and stay in contact with your broker to ensure your hedge stays in place. Once you start to deliver, unwind your hedge properly.

Buying put options will help you set a floor price for your grain, so if futures drop by harvest time you are protected. If futures prices increase, you can sell you grain at the higher value and your options contract will expire with no value.

You protected your price and had no delivery risk because you didn’t price any grain until after it was harvested.

These strategies can only be used for grains that have actively traded futures and options contracts — canola, wheat, beans, corn and oats. We’ll discuss some of the other grains in the next article. † Brian Wittal has 30 years of grain industry experience, and currently offers market planning and marketing advice to farmers through his company Pro Com Marketing Ltd. (www.procommarketingltd.com).

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17

Columns OFF FARM INCOME

What I learned from doing spreads

Andy shares some general thoughts on investing, and a bit of his experience with spreads ANDY SIRSKI

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his winter I decided to broaden my financial education and learn how to do spreads. I think I’ve figured out how to do bull put credit spreads, where I choose a stock and a strike price and sell the expensive put and buy the cheap put.

The expensive put I sell brings in cash while the cheap put I buy reduces how much margin or put space the transaction needs. Don’t get me wrong, I still sell a lot of covered calls and intend to keep doing that. I can do bull put credit spreads in a rising market and bear call spreads during downturns.

If I can learn both reasonably well, I should be able to make some money from stocks whether the market is going up, down or sideways. But first a few thoughts on investing.

I bought my first shares in 1961.

I knew nothing and had little money but I wanted to learn. Most investors learn in steps.

think in terms of how to set up a portfolio. When I had little knowledge I should have bought shares in stocks like Disney (DIS), Enbridge (ENB), Imperial Oil (IMO), Fortis (FTS), or perhaps Canadian banks.

These shares pay dividends, which are usually increased year by year. And, the shares have stood the test of time. I bought FTS in 1995 for $35, the shares went to $100, split four for one, and are not at $33 again. Plus the dividend has grown almost every year. So I did do something right.

SELLING COVERED CALLS Some years ago I learned the strategy of selling covered calls

on stocks I own. This has several advantages — I get to keep the dividends and I can bring in extra cash by selling covered calls (like milking a cow). Plus, I can sell calls above the price of the day when the shares are going up and below the daily price if the shares are going down.

The disadvantages are that volatile stocks can outrun the strike price. Then I’m faced with the decision of whether to buy the call back and let the stock run, buy the call back and sell another, or just be happy with the money I took in by selling the call.

I don’t think we have to have a lot of experience to buy good stocks and sell calls on them. We just have to learn to be happy

making 10 to 18 per cent per year instead of hitting home runs.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED With the goal of learning how to use spreads to make some extra cash I started out on my new education by selling bull put credit spreads on three stocks: Thompson Creek Metals (TCM), Sherritt (S) and Potash Corp. (POT).

As I’ve been learning more about this strategy, I’ve made a couple of observations about spreads.

Observation 1 is that doing spreads takes a lot more thinking than selling covered calls.

Observation 2 is that I would likely be better off choosing a stock and strike price that is com-

MUTUAL FUNDS Most investors start with mutual funds. Sometimes it’s because a relative is selling them, sometimes it’s because investors don’t know enough, have no confidence in investing or are too busy to spend more time.

When you go the mutual fund route, you basically turn your money over to someone, pay a fee and likely don’t learn much.

Many funds have a front end or back end fee, plus a yearly management fee. That raises the average annual cost of the fund. Most managers will tell you the fees if you ask. I have saved multi thousands of dollars by not paying those fees over the years. Since I’m a self investor, I’ve learned a lot about stocks, the market and my feelings towards winning and losing.

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Exchange traded funds are fairly new to the market. They can now be filled with a broad or narrow group of stocks by sector, country, risk and so on. The management fee is around seven tenths of one per cent per year so quite a bit less than managed money would cost you.

ETSs trade like a stock all day long. Most ETFs hold 15 to 20 different stocks so even if one stock got hurt the other stocks should still hold up the value of the ETF. ETFs reduce the risk of any particular stock dropping like a rock because of some event in the company or in the market.

Since my objective is to learn how stocks work and how I react to things that happen to my stocks, ETFs are not part of my portfolio.

CORE STOCKS While no one taught me this thinking years ago, I see now that most investors should

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ing into season and has a rising chart and collecting maybe $150 to $250 per safer trade than trying to make $1,000 or $1,500 with a less safe trade.

I didn’t make any money with my lesson on doing spreads but I think it was worth the effort. You can do bull put credit spreads in trading accounts and with special permission from your broker.

I expect to make hundreds or maybe thousands of profitable trades, so the occasional cost of tuition is okay. † Andy Sirski is mostly retired. Along with playing with grand children, dry walling for relatives, blowing snow and having naps, Andy manages his family’s portfolio. He also publishes an electronic newsletter called StocksTalk where he writes about his trades, win or lose. If you want to read StocksTalk free for a month, email sirski@mts.net.

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APRIL 15, 2013

Columns Management Minute

Are you ready for growth in the cow-calf business?

If you’re planning an expansion, take a look at your financial ratios first ANDREW DERUYCK & MARK SLOANE

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e recently enjoyed a meeting with Les Eetsumbeef, a beef farmer who immigrated from Germany in 2002.

Eetsumbeef’s position was this: he has toiled through poor margins since the onset of BSE. His banker, Hans Immapocket, has treated Eetsumbeef like a leper in recent years, hardly passing a glance his way even

during the Christmas bonspiel.

The local Dodge Truck dealer quit phoning four years ago.

But Eetsumbeef is smiling now. His yard is full of hay, his pens are full of fairly priced calves and his cow herd is in great shape because he aggressively culled in recent years to generate cash flow.

Getting here hasn’t been easy.

Eetsumbeef has built up significant accounts payable with local suppliers, and his operating line of credit remains close

to his limit — as it has for many months now.

Les Eetsumbeef loves the cattle business and called us out to discuss his plans for expansion.

Eetsumbeef had 200 heifers in the pen, pasture for 150 and wanted to retain 150 this summer for breeding and retention in the herd. After much discussion and analysis, we were able to give him a report and our advice.

Firstly, the business has to be in a position of financial strength to support growth. Upon analy-

sis of Eetsumbeef’s liquidity, it was apparent that some of his accounts payable were high interest bearing accounts. We identified the following options to restore this working capital.

First, he could term out (pay down) accounts payable and his operating line of credit. This decreases the interest rate and lowers the impact on cash flow as the payments are made over time.

The reality is that Eetsumbeef’s historical income tax does not demonstrate the very recent pos-

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itive margins in the beef industry. The bank is in the risk business, not the farm speculation business and as such terming accounts payable out with the support of weak income tax is viewed as risking lending and may not be an option.

We determined that the sale of 100 heifers would clean up the accounts payable in full. The remaining cash flow projection indicated that the operating loan would not revolve completely — that was the focus of the last discussion Eetsumbeef had with Hand Immapocket. For that reason, in addition to the sale of the heifers, Les Eetsumbeef would request that the bank term out 50 per cent of the value of the 100 remaining heifers. This restores Les Eetsumbeef’s liquidity and allows the operating line to remain within its limit and revolve accordingly.

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We used the following targets in this financial planning; Current Ratio: current ratio = current assets divided by current liabilities. Target = 2.0.

Wo r k i n g C a p i t a l R a t i o : Working capital ratio = (current assets – current liabilities) / cash operating expenses. Target = 65 per cent. This indicates that roughly 35 per cent of the fiscal year’s operating expenses are financed Fixed Charge Requirements / Cow: Fixed charge requirements / cow = (payments + land rent + leases + taxes + living costs) / number of calving cows. Target = $300. This number was calculated based on historical expense levels, historical production levels, and a conservative estimate for future market levels, all three of which will be unique to each operation.

The moral of this story is that very few businesses can expand their way out of a problem. In order for expansion to make sense over cleaning up high interest bearing accounts payable, the return on the capital tied up for the expansion must be greater than the carrying cost of the payable. This also carries with it the false assumption that the guy carrying your payable has agreed to be the financer for your expansion.

The beef industry has endured tremendous hardship since BSE, floodwaters, and drought. The beneficial change in the markets has illuminated tremendous light at the end of this long tunnel but one has to be careful not to crash into the wall on the way out. † Andrew DeRuyck and Mark Sloane manage two farming operations in southern Manitoba and are partners in Right Choice Management Consulting. With over 25 years of cumulative experience, they offer support in farm management, financial management, strategic planning and mediation services.

They can be reached at andrewd@goinet.ca and sloanefarms@hotmail.com or 204-8257392 and 204-825-8443.

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APRIL 15, 2013

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19

Machinery & Shop SPRING FARMYARD BOOT CHALLENGE

Evaluating waterproof farm boots We put five different pairs of boots to the test to see how they perform in our first-ever Spring Farmyard Boot Challenge

BY SCOTT GARVEY

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ith so much water, slush and late-season ice and snow lying around this spring, we thought it would be the ideal time to take a look at insulated, waterproof boots.

Sloshing through slush and muck around the farmyard requires a good pair, and there are lots to chose from. So we picked five — all from popular prairie retailers — and subjected them to our version of a spring farmyard challenge.

While our methods may not be entirely scientific, we’ve evaluated each pair based on comfort, traction, warmth, and price.

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Then we ranked them based on our overall impressions.

To measure traction, we tested them on different surfaces. We actually measured how far we could get them to slide on compacted snow (that’s kind of scientific), then we tried them on ice. After that we walked across a wet and slippery concrete floor in the workshop.

Then we put them in what little mud we could find.

Here’s what we liked and didn’t like about each of them. Starting with our least favourite, which garnered the lowest rating in our tests, we move up the scale from there and finish with our Spring Farmyard Boot Challenge winner. † Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews.

Contact him at scott.garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

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In our first-ever Spring Farmyard Boot Challenge, we pit these five different waterproof boots against each other and rate their capabilities.

IN FIFTH PLACE — AGGRESSOR

SECOND PLACE, THE RUNNER UP — MUCK BOOTS

Brand name: Aggressor Purchased from: Mark’s

Brand: The Original Muck Boot Company

Purchased from: supplied by the manufacturer, but they’re available at Co-op, Canadian Tire and other retailers

Price: $42.93

Comfort level: excellent

Warmth: good

Traction: good overall

Price: $49.99

Comfort level: fair

Warmth: very good

Traction: Ok overall , good on snow, poor on wet concrete

Type: 12 inch rise, waterproof to the tops with a handy drawstring top closure, removable felt-like lining Comments: The soft compound and loose fit makes these feel sloppy when walking, allowing your heel to lift off the sole. There isn’t much ankle support.

Definitely not our favourite pair.

FOURTH PLACE — TRACKER Brand name: Tracker

Purchased from: Rona

Price: $49.99

Comfort level: fair

Warmth: very good

Traction: Okay overall, good on snow, poor on wet concrete

Type: 12-inch rise, waterproof to the tops with a drawstring top closure, removable felt-like lining Comments: Very similar to the Aggressor pair. These suffered from exactly the same fit and comfort drawbacks. We wouldn’t want to walk a long distance in them.

THIRD PLACE — WEATHER SPIRIT

Type: Rubber bootie with elasticized, tight-fitting upper Comments: Hands down, these are the most comfortable of all our test boots. They come very close to being an equal to regular work boots with their fit. Unlike all the others tested, the waterproof rubber portion on these only goes up to the ankle, so you won’t be fording deep puddles in them. The manufacturer says if you swamp them, they can be quickly blown dry, and they wash up easily with soapy water. The upper is made of breathable material to keep your foot cool in warmer temperatures, so they may be the best three-season boot in the lot. But the upper fits so tightly that you can’t get more than a pair of jeans and cotton coveralls tucked into them.

Overall, though, a really good multi-season boot.

FIRST PLACE, OUR SPRING FARMYARD BOOT CHALLENGE CHAMP — BAFFIN Brand: Baffin

Purchased from: Mark’s

Price: $229.99

Comfort level: very good

Warmth: very good

Traction: excellent overall

Brand/manufacturer: Weather Purchased from: Walmart Spirit by Rallye Footwear Inc.

Type: Ice Bear model, 14-inch rise, fully waterproof to top with safety toe and puncture resistance, -50 degree thermal rating

Price: $49.98

Comfort level: good

Warmth: very good

Traction: Not that great, poor on snow, fair on wet concrete

Comments: This is one impressive pair of boots. But their cost is more than four times that of any of the others, so they’d have to be good.

Their -50 degree thermal rating, though, seems more like marketing hype. We didn’t get the sense they were good for anything near that. They seem better suited for cool spring days than January blizzards.

When we tried to get them to slide on hard-packed snow, we nearly ended up flat on our faces. They dug in like an anchor. They were just as good on wet concrete.

Their high level of protection makes them a little rigid around the foot, so they do feel a little like we imagined walking in wooden shoes might feel. Nevertheless, they were still comfortable to wear, providing excellent ankle support.

If you will be walking through muddy and slippery barnyards carrying feed pails to bulls — or some similar task this spring — these are the boots you want.

Type: 12-inch rise, waterproof to the tops with a drawstring top closure, removable felt-like lining, non-metallic puncture barrier and protective toe, -40 degree thermal comfort and CSA approval ratings Comments: This boot has a similar design to the previous two, but with a firmer compound it provides better ankle support and has better fit, making it much more comfortable. The safety features helped convince us to give it a higher ranking. But it slid nearly twice as far on snow than any other boot, so we had to downgrade it for poor grip. However, it ranked third best on the concrete test.

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APRIL 15, 2013

grainews.ca /

Machinery & Shop EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE

Ten tips to get your air seeder ready for spring Here is our guide to making sure air seeders are properly set up and ready to go to work

BY SCOTT GARVEY

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t’ll be spring before we know it, and air seeders will soon be hitting the fields.

Now is the time for a last good look at them before their wheels start turning. Whether the machine is brand new or newto-you, focusing on fine tuning product delivery mechanisms will pay dividends through good, even germination and maturity.

To help farmers cover as many bases as possible, we’ve put together our top-10 checklist of key inspection points. Cut it out and take it out to farm shop. Tack it on the wall or drop it in your toolbox. That will help ensure you don’t forget anything. Good luck.

1. Start by giving the seeder frame an overall inspection With so much horsepower pulling on them, toolbars are subjected to a lot of stresses. Inspect the hitch and main frame for signs of cracks or damage. Check, then equalize the pressure in all tires.

This is particularly important if the seeder depends on the frame being level for accurate placement.

Ensure packer wheels are following accurately behind openers.

2. Check all bearings on rollers and auger delivery systems for possible damage Seed treatments and coating on crops, like canola, can leave a residue that can penetrate sealed bearings and may cause drag and bearing wear, which can slow rotation of the seed delivering system and cause inaccurate seeding rates.

3. Check for opener wear Opener designs vary in how much wear they can tolerate before placement accuracy is affected. On some, a relatively small amount of wear can cause wide placement variations. Pay particular attention to openers that follow in wheel tracks, as these typically see increased wear.

4. Check air lines and manifolds for leaks Use the soap-test method, just as you would for a propane line

8. Check faor excessive wear on components within the delivery system Determine if there is a bypass effect on seed and fertilizer caused by wear. Check auger flighting and or fluted roller delivery systems for wear by running the air fan in the stationary position and watch the end of the seed boot for seed and fertilizer delivery.

9. Test seed velocity at the wing edges Take the hose off the last opener on the outside wing of the air drill and attach it to the frame at the angle recommended by the manufacturer. This will help you evaluate air flow as it relates to fan speed. If seed and fertilizer are propelled either less than 12 inches or more than 24 inches from the end of the tube prior to

to the BBQ (and after you’re done setting up the seeder, maybe it’s time for some sizzling steaks. Just a thought). Squirt a water and dishwashing soap solution around hose connections at manifolds, metering systems, air tank seals and other joints — escaping air will set the solution to sudsing.

Eliminating leaks can make a big improvement in seed and fertilizer placement accuracy. Also, look for internal obstructions like mouse nests or other debris.

5. Turn product delivery lines 1/4 turn This will maximize the life of lines and even out wear patterns inside them, particularly at bends.

It will also reduce drag and help even out seed and product flow.

6. Check tank compartment seals

Opener designs vary in how much wear they can tolerate before placement accuracy is affected dropping, adjust the fan speed or air dampers at the fan outlet to regulate output and help reduce seed bounce, damaged seed or plugging at the boot.

10. Mark your settings on tillage implements After a tillage unit is levelled, mark all the adjustment nuts, lock collars and other adjustable components with a punch or chisel to make it easier to notice any changes due to backing off from vibration.

A special thank you the Canola Council of Canada and the former Alberta Reduced Tillage linkages group for help on putting this list together. †

Proper product flow requires pressure be equalized between the inside of the tank and the lines delivering product to the drill.

A loss of tank pressure will slow product flow out of the tank due to back pressure from higher pressure in the tubes. Not keeping pressure on tank seals during winter storage can help keep them in good condition and extend their service life.

7. Check seed monitor sensors A build up of seed coating on monitor sensors can affect seeding rate accuracy. Ensure the number of pulses per mile are set properly.

They can be affected by tire size, tire pressure and soil conditions.

Confirm tire circumferences; there can be a small variation between brands. Measure and be sure.

Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews and wishes everyone a safe and happy seeding season.

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APRIL 15, 2013

Machinery & Shop Seeding equipment

How to adjust planters

If you are using a planter this spring, getting good seeding results from it depends on how well it’s adjusted SCOTT GARVEY

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ost guys spend more time setting and managing combines and harvesting equipment than they do with their planting equipment,” said Bill Lemkuhl, a farmer and consultant from Minster, Ohio, as he spoke to a group of farmers at a planter clinic in Regina in March. “You need to be out there digging seed to find out what’s going on,” he added.

But if you’re using a planter and you haven’t spent time fine tuning it and looking for all the little things that can cause problems, don’t expect to find seed where it’s supposed to be was the main message Lemkuhl delivered.

To get reliable performance, farmers should be pulling planters into the farm shop well ahead of the season to give them a good once over, paying attention to detail. “It’s all the little things that will maximize your ear count (in corn),” he said.

Servicing planters “We saw a seven bushel per acre difference just by cleaning up and servicing that planter,” added Sandy Endicott, a senior agronomy manager at DuPont-Pioneer, who also spoke at the clinic. She emphasized that planters with even minor adjustment problems can cause significant yield losses.

And shiny new planters just off a dealer’s lot need an inspection before hitting the field, too. “When

they come out of the factory, they all have their little kinks,” said Lemkuhl. Farmers who don’t spend extra time adjusting them before heading out to the field will pay a yield penalty, he explained.

To start with, planters need to be level front to back and across their width. When determining if that is the case, Lemkuhl cautioned farmers not to just drop the implement down on a concrete pad in the yard and take a measurement.

Levelling a planter is a job that has to be done in the field.

“You cannot do it by yourself,” he explained. That’s because checking for level should be done while the tractor and planter are moving through the field. He recommends having a helper drive the tractor slowly while you check to see if the main frame is level while its working.

Getting the planter level may require adjusting the hitch height, and you need to ensure the bottom of the main bar on the frame is 20 to 22 inches (51 to 56 centimetres) above the ground. That ensures the row units will be in the correct orientation when they engage the soil.

If your planter is equipped with side marker arms, Lemkuhl says they should appear to be completely vertical (90° to the horizontal) if the frame is level, when you look at them from the side of the unit. If they seem to be leaning forward or back, it’s a good indication the frame position needs adjustment.

And getting the frame level from side to side is important as well.

Planters with a central fill hopper tend to have more weight in the middle, which can result in the centre section sitting lower than the wing ends. That can also be a problem if a farmer orders a wide planter without end marker arms.

A weight kit may be necessary to compensate for the missing arms and keep the wings level.

When inspecting a planter, take a close look to ensure the row units are running straight. “I’ve seen guys take planters to the corner of a field and make a 90° turn with the row units in the ground,” Lemkuhl said. “It’s not pretty.” Bent linkages won’t allow row units to engage the soil properly.

Down pressure needs to be consistent across the planter to ensure accurate seed placement.

With the row units down in their working position, make a check of how much pressure is on the gauge wheels. “Try spinning the gauge wheels by hand,” he said. “If you can just make that wheel spin with one hand, you just might be in the range you should be.”

“It’s very critical you have uniform (seed depth),” added Endicott.

When using a planter in no-till fields, Lemkuhl believes there are some extra things to consider.

“All planters made in the North American sales area were made for tillage conditions,” he explained.

No-till farmers should add row cleaners ahead of the row units

Doing preseason planter inspections will maximize yields. to prevent residue from getting trapped in the seed trench, which can cause disease and germination problems.

But row cleaners shouldn’t be set too aggressively. They should just brush reside away, leaving uncovered soil and not move dirt.

Lemkuhl offered other suggestions to consider when buying a planter for no-till operations as well. “Drag chains. I do think they’re a must,” he said.

“Especially in if you’re running an after-market closing wheel.”

And when setting the row units, he recommends the tail piece that holds the closing wheels should be level to slightly tilted up when the unit is set correctly. That will help ensure accurate seed placement.

Choosing an offset closing wheel configuration may improve a row

photo: scott garvey

unit’s ability to properly close the seed trench. And mixing the types of closing wheels in some soil conditions, particularly in no-till fields, can also improve performance.

And finally, keeping seed meters turning smoothly and accurately is a must. Lemkuhl recommends taking them out of the planter in the off season and storing them inside to prevent corrosion. If the metres on your planter are chain driven, replacing chains regularly is essential. Rusty or worn chains can create vibrations in the meters and prevent them from turning smoothly.

That results in uneven seed spacing.

“The best thing to check chains with is a bolt cutter,” he said. That may be excellent advice when servicing any farm machine. † Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews.

Contact him at scott.garvey@fbcpublishing.com

High seeding rates may improve Canadian corn yields “

Y

ou can see an increase in (corn) fields being seeded at 33,000 to 36,000 plants per acre,” said Sandy Endicott, a senior agronomy manager at DuPontPioneer. “The further north you go (in the United States), the more seeds per acre farmers are planting.”

Endicott was speaking to a group of farmers during a planter clinic held in Regina in early March. She explained that optimum seeding rates across the U.S. depend on what region farmers are located in. The farther north they are, the higher the seeding rate they needed to maximize corn yields. While there are no specific Canadian studies, that data from south of the border indicates Canadian prairie corn growers should be seeding at the high end of the plants-per-acre range.

But getting the best results from those higher seeding rates depends on how well your planter performs. Endicott recommended ensuring corn seeds are placed at least 1-1/2 inches deep. “Plant at least one and a half inches deep. Bottom line.” she said.

photo: scott garvey

Sandy Endicott is a Senior Agronomy manager at DuPontPioneer.

Corn seeds need to be planted at that depth to allow nodal roots to develop three quarters of an inch below the soil level and have access to soil moisture.

There may not be enough moisture very close to the surface.

“If you plant your seed shallower than that, those nodal roots need moisture and if there is no moisture, those roots won’t grow,” she added.

And if you’re still deciding what row spacing to use, Endicott said her research showed 20-inch spacings tended to provide the highest yields.

“What we find is a 20-inch seed row gives us about a two percent yield advantage.” † Scott Garvey

APRIL 15, 2013

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Machinery & Shop

Planter checklist

Before you head to the field with a planter this spring, here are 10 things you need to check 1. Level the planter, front to rear and side to side When the end marker arms (if your planter is equipped with them) are completely vertical, it’s a good indication the planter frame is level.

2. Check bushings and parallel linkage If bushings or linkage connections are worn or damaged on the row unit, it won’t track properly.

3. Drive system Ensure nothing is causing excess vibration that can interfere with smooth, even metering. Old drive chains can, and they should be replaced often. Check shaft connections between wings and the main section; they should line up perfectly.

4. Calibrate metres You may need to have a pro do this job.

aggressive, spiked closing wheel for better results in closing the seed trench.

8. Closing wheel alignment To check this, lower the planter row units down on a concrete pad and pull it ahead a few feet.

The marks left by the disc openers should run right down the centre of the two closing wheels.

9. Row cleaners They should be set to just remove residue ahead of the openers and not move dirt.

10. Seed firmers Installing Keeton seed firmers can help with seed-to-soil contact and improve the odds of even and consistent germination. † Scott Garvey

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f you are using a planter this season, ensure you give it a thorough preseason inspection. When doing that job, DuPont-Pioneer recommends you look at these 10 key areas. This list was compiled from information provided by speakers at the Regina planter clinic and information published online at www.precisionplanting.com.

5. Double disk openers The front of both opener discs should touch correctly. Slide a business card down between the two discs from the top and mark the spot the card stops. Do it again, but this time up from the bottom and mark that spot. The distance between those two marks should be within the manufacturer’s specifications.

6. Seed tubes Check the shape of the bottom of the seed tubes and replace any that have excessive wear.

7. Closing wheel system Pick the right combination of closing wheels for your operation. No-till farmers may benefit from using at least one

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APRIL 15, 2013

Cattleman’s Corner ANNIVERSARY

SSGA proud to be 100 years young

BY LEE HART

A

s the Saskatchewan S t o c k Growers Association (SSGA) uses new social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter to keep in contact with members as well as the general public, it is a clear sign that just because you turn 100 years old that doesn’t mean you’re outdated.

While the SSGA founding fathers who probably had to ride horseback half a day to get to town once a week for mail and supplies couldn’t have imagined the technology that has become commonplace today, the SSGA has worked hard to provide modern leadership, while staying true to its roots.

The organization that was created at a founding meeting in Moose Jaw in 1913 has kept pace with the changing production practices, politics and consumer preferences over the past 100 years, says Calvin Knoss, a longtime rancher at Rockglen in southern Saskatchewan, and a past SSGA president.

“I believe as an organization we are just as relevant today as we were 100 years ago,” says Knoss, who is also chair of 100th anniversary celebration events.

“There have been a lot of changes in the industry, and the SSGA has been at the forefront of many issues maintaining its original mandate to represent the beef producers of this province and be the voice of the people.”

CELEBRATIONS IN JUNE The SSGA 100th anniversary celebrations will be held in conjunction with the annual convention and general meeting in Moose Jaw June 9 to 11.

Social events include an SSGA ranch rodeo, beef barbecue and barn dance on June 9, with the convention events with a number of key speakers June 10. The day wraps up with a gala banquet and auction. The SSGA annual general meeting will be held June 11.

“The annual convention will be the foundation but we’re planning events around that to make it a bit more grander, more special as we also celebrate 100 years as an organization,” says Knoss.

The long-standing code of the West “Riding the Brand,” which meant that a cowboy had signed on for the mission, is the theme of the 100th anniversary.

“It is a fitting theme that recognizes the commitment, dedication and loyalty of the organization and ranchers during a century of contribution to the beef industry in Saskatchewan,” he says.

Knoss, who ranches with his wife Sandra and son Brett south of Moose Jaw, just north of the U.S. border has had long involvement with the SSGA. Born and raised on the ranch at Rockglen, Knoss got involved with SSGA 25 years ago. He attended meetings and conventions, joined the zone board and eventually became a provincial director before being

Calvin Knoss is an SSGA past president and chair of the 100th anniversary program. elected SSGA president. He has served as past president for the past two years.

AN INDEPENDENT VOICE Knoss says as businesses and organizations developed to serve the growing agriculture industry in Western Canada, the SSGA was formed to give the beef producers a strong voice. Over the decades the SSGA has been at the forefront of many big and small issues being an advocate on behalf of “independent, self-reliant cattle producers.”

The SSGA mission statement, in part, is to “advocate through education, communication, and research for an economically and environmentally sustainable cattle industry where cattlemen are free to do busi-

PHOTO: SSGA

Representatives of the newly formed SSGA in Regina for a meeting in late 1913. ness — within a free and open marketplace, free from industry limited laws and regulation.”

“While we are always involved in provincial and national policies and programs, one of our key areas of interest is to support development of international markets for beef,” says Knoss. “We are very aware of the market and the fact that while much of our trade is with the U.S. we are also in a global marketplace.

So it is important to ensure whatever policies and programs being considered actually support efforts to access new markets.”

While the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association is a newer organization created in 2009 to administer the beef checkoff in Saskatchewan, Knoss says it doesn’t replace the SSGA.

“The SSGA still has an important role to represent the interests of beef producers,” says Knoss.

“On certain issues, the views of a smaller, independent organization might differ from that of a larger organization which may have its own limitations.”

He points to one of the core values of the SSGA, “We believe the freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy. The loss of a single voice in deference to the majority view is a loss to all. The SSGA recognizes that the freedom to hold and state different beliefs and opinions contributes to the health of our organization and industry.” † Lee Hart is editor of Cattleman’s Corner based in Calgary. Contact him at 403-592-1964 or by email at lee@fbcpublishing.com.

INDUSTRY

Federal meat plant still a goal for Manitoba producers Supporters looking at alternatives to help launch the much-needed processing facility

BY JULIENNE ISAACS

C

huck Gall clearly remembers why he answered the call to sit on the board of the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council (MCEC).

“In 2003, the day they announced the border closure, we had cattle at the stockyard — our whole year’s income — and cattle were going through at the current market value,” he remembers. “One group of cattle went through, the next group came, and then all of a sudden (the buyers) were backing off on the price, and it dropped to $.60/lb. Then we found out the border was closed because of the BSE crisis.”

As there are no federally inspected slaughterhouses in Manitoba, plants in Alberta and Ontario could not absorb animals from all provinces, which resulted in a huge local glut.

Enter the MCEC, an organization formed in 2006 with the mandate of expanding the beefprocessing industry in the province. As one of its first projects,

the MCEC purchased a former hog-slaughtering facility in Winnipeg with the intention of transforming it into a small-scale beef slaughterhouse.

“Manitoba has a small population and there’s no way we can consume all of the beef we produce, so we really need an export outlet. Federally inspected plants are able to export out of the province and out of the country,” says Adam Dooley, spokesperson for MCEC. “The idea was to operate a plant that would be small — 250 head per day — that would be focused on marketing to premium niche markets, such as kosher and halal, around the world.”

In 2009, the federal government promised the project $10 million, and the province also pledged its support.

Soon after, MCEC and the federal government entered into long discussions regarding the business plan for the plant. In 2011, the federal government withdrew its support. “From our perspective, we felt we’d wasted two years trying to jump

through hoops, and we were forced back to the drawing board,” says Dooley.

MCEC took the federal government’s withdrawal from the project in stride. Since then, it has continued to invest in the slaughterhouse project. A major Canadian bank has signed on, as well as industry third parties and potential clients, who have signed letters of intent pledging to purchase 100 per cent of the plant’s output. A management team with extensive experience is in place. And until recently, the plant still had the province’s support.

But according to Dooley, the organization is facing a frustrating point in the plant’s life cycle. “The province has now made some public comments that indicate they would like to see a higher level of private equity, so they’ve asked us to change direction in what we’ve been building,” he says.

“As a result we’re seeking strategic alternatives for the project, such as selling the plant to private investors, or bringing on a thirdparty investor.

PRODUCER SUPPORT Dooley says that long-term studies of the cattle industry indicate input costs such as transportation and feed will continue to rise, even as the demand for protein increases around the world.

“We’re at a position where as a regional agricultural economy we could be laying the groundwork for a bright, prosperous future, where we’re getting our fair share of the market,” he says. “That’s only going to happen if we have a federally inspected beef plant in the province.”

For almost 10 years following the BSE crisis, the price of cattle has continued to suffer, according to Gall. “I’m a lifetime farmer, and that’s all we do, so our whole livelihood is at stake if we don’t have access to export markets,” he says.

He lists the benefits the plant would bring to local cattle producers. Freight costs to Alberta continue to increase, and the long journeys are costly both in terms of fuel consumption and pollution. A new plant in Manitoba would put profits in producers’ pockets, guar-

antee buyers, and kick-start a new platform for jobs in the province.

Most of all, Gall says, the plant would offer security to producers waiting for the next crisis to hit.

According to Jerry Bouma, a management consultant and expert on the Canadian beef market, MCEC’s Marion slaughterhouse would not only provide needed slaughter capacity in Manitoba, it would help cater to niche demands that are currently unmet. “With the right strategy and execution, the plant can determine better returns for the producer, but it could also inspire others to see that a small, focused plant is a competitive business,” he says.

Despite setbacks, MCEC will continue to tout the value of the plant for Manitoba’s beef producers. “We’re eternal optimists and we’ll continue to work with everyone to make this happen, because it’s the right thing to do,” says Dooley. “We hope that the organizations and people who have stood by us will continue to do so.” † Julienne Isaacs is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer and editor. You can reach her at julienne. isaacs@gmail.com.

APRIL 15, 2013

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Cattleman’s Corner REPORT FROM BIG MUDDY

Memories of the workhorse era BOYD ANDERSON

EDITOR’S NOTE: In this Part 1 of two columns, Boyd Anderson recalls the rise and decline of the once-thriving workhorse industry in Western Canada.

FEBRUARY 13, 2013

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have just returned from a walk to the Glentworth Post Office for my mail. It is just over four blocks and it is a lovely morning with a southwest wind. The ice and snow are starting to melt off of the street; I hope it is the start of a good chinook.

We have many farms and ranches calving right now and many big snowdrifts accumulated over the countryside.

This deep snow and wind make it hard on newborn calves.

I talked to one young farmer’s wife this morning and she told me that her husband had a newborn calf under the heater in the truck for two hours yesterday.

She hoped the calf would be fine and if he had a good suck, he probably would be. Lloyd and Nyla will be having calves in about two more weeks. Right now I have not travelled far, I think because of health problems and laziness. Everything seems to be OK now and so I hope to

PHOTO: BOYD ANDERSON

Leonard Anderson, pictured here in 1940, began ranching in Saskatchewan about 100 years ago raising horses for an expanding agriculture industry. relate some of the past month to whomever will read this.

It is just over 100 years since my father and mother came to this area of southern Saskatchewan from South Dakota. Dad’s parents were of Norwegian descent and Mama’s parents were of longtime American heritage and 50 per cent French Canadian. My father, Leonard Anderson and Abraham Price, my grandpa on my mother’s side, got together

in South Dakota and came into southern Saskatchewan by train to Ogema and then overland from there to their homesteads here on Rock Creek which is 40 miles south of present-day Lafleche. It is also 15 miles north of the American border. Glasgow and Scobey were the nearest American towns.

Shortly after arriving at the Price homestead with her parents, my mother, Mary Aquina, married

Leonard Anderson and they made their homes in adobe houses, which the men built on their respective homesteads on the banks of Rock Creek. This creek flowed continuously for 30 miles into Montana and then into the Milk, Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Leonard Anderson, my father, had moved to Saskatchewan to ranch. His idea was to raise horses that would be needed by the homesteader to plow and till the soil to grow the grain to sell to the world and hopefully to provide a home and settle the lands where the many people were coming by the thousands to make homes on the Prairies.

The area on Rock Creek where Dad and Granddad Price settled was perfect. Dad’s plan was to run mares on his grasslands. He would break the two- and threeyear-olds to the harness and sell them to the farmers for horsepower. His methods of farming and of harness breaking horses were simple. He let the mares and colts run loose on the prairie, and then break the two- and three-year-olds to the harness and then sell them to the farming community.

DEALING HORSES Sometimes he would make sales of 10 or 20 or more to dealers. Some of these horses would go to Eastern Canada and work in the forests in Ontario or Quebec. One sale he made that

I remember very well was when he sold 40 mares to a Russian delegation in 1927. The railroad had come to Rockglen that year and Dad, my brothers and I rounded up the horses. They were sorted and 40 were selected and then three riders herded them 40 miles to Rockglen where they were to be on their way to Russia.

The first time we put the herd into the corral, the buyer could not make a deal. The buyer said the horses were not quite right and Dad turned the horses out.

One week later, the Russians were back and the deal was made.

Another time, we rounded up a lot of horses and Dad sorted out about 40 head. These horses were herded to the railroad at Fir Mountain, which was 30 miles away. They were loaded on stock cars and carried by rail to Regina where they were used as bucking horses for the annual rodeo at the fair in July. As time went on though, more and more farmers were buying tractors and it was getting to be harder and harder for us to find buyers.

One good sale Dad had was when he sold 100 big, strong head to a horse dealer in Montana. He only received $15 each, which was not much per horse, but he got rid of these big horses. It was obvious to Dad the old way of raising horses for farming was over. † Boyd Anderson, 93, is a mostly retired rancher from Glentworth, Sask. and has been a columnist for Grainews for many years.

PRODUCTION TRENDS

Horses and ATVs each have a place

BY HEATHER SMITH THOMAS

I

f you want to start a lively discussion among cattle producers, just ask whether they prefer to gather/move/ sort/handle cattle by horseback or with an ATV. Some are adamant about the virtues (and drawbacks) of one or the other method, while others use both. Each has its place, with advantages and disadvantages.

Our son Michael and his wife Carolyn have used horses ever since they started working with cattle. In the past 15 years, however, they’ve also been using ATVs — quads or four-wheelers — after expanding their ranching operation.

“There were times we had four-wheelers when we were irrigating or fencing, and hadn’t planned to move cattle, but there the cattle were where they shouldn’t be and we just did it on the four-wheelers,” says Michael.

He still prefers to handle cattle with horses and feels it has its advantages, but there are times four-wheelers can be handy.

He’s seen abuse of four-wheeler use, however, especially when helping friends and neighbours gather cattle.

“The worst situation is when part of the crew is using horses and the others are using four-wheelers,” he says. “It can get pretty wild.

The horseback people can be in jeopardy.”

If a horseman and a four-wheeler are both trying to get a stubborn cow in from the field or back to the herd, working at speed, it can be dangerous. A person on foot trying to help may also get run over by the animal or the four-wheeler.

“Last spring my daughter got dumped off one of our mares when we were trying to get yearlings in from pasture,” Michael says. “The yearlings started running the wrong way and I went on a mad dash with a four-wheeler to head them off. I don’t know whether it was the yearlings running at her

or my four-wheeler roaring after them that spooked the horse, but the mare panicked, whirled around and dumped my daughter.”

Michael says there can also be problems if horses aren’t used to four-wheelers, but if the people using the ATVs are alert and savvy, it’s usually no big deal. They can pull back and let the horses do their job and not have a wreck.

He’s seen some trouble when helping on various ranches when people got excited and weren’t aware their four-wheelers were bothering the horses. “That can make it challenging for the riders,” he says.

THEY CAN GET ALONG But out in the open where there’s plenty of room, a lot can be accomplished by horsemen and four-wheelers working together.

“They need to be aware of each other, and let each do their job. Let a four-wheeler race ahead of the herd and open the gates, and if the horseman is doing something up close with the cattle, stay back and let the rider do it,” says Michael.

“When we help our neighbours round up cattle off the range, some of them ride four-wheelers because they can cover a lot of country on their low pastures. In that flatter country they can get around more quickly with the four-wheelers.”

It’s easier to work cattle quietly and efficiently with horses, but sometimes a fourwheeler is the only option.

“Some older ranchers are so crippled up they can no longer ride a horse, but they can still use a four-wheeler. And some people never were comfortable on a horse,” says Michael.

There are also situations and seasonal issues that make the ATV a valuable tool, such as moving and gathering cattle on frozen ground. “We use four-wheelers a lot

when calving, and most of the ranchers around here do if the ground may be frozen and slippery,” says Michael. “An ATV may slide sideways but it generally won’t fall down on you.

“In winter, working cattle can be risky with horses. You dial back your expectations, get your four-wheeler, take a little more time, and get it done safely. It’s all about taking your time to be in the right place at the right time, planning your strategy and movement. You can do nearly everything you want to do in most circumstances, with a little more patience.”

A few diehard ranchers just use horses during calving, says Michael. They leave a horse saddled all night to go out and check cows. For most of us it’s not practical to have a horse taking up space and feed in a corral, compared to just getting on your four-wheeler, turning a key and going.” If you keep the machine in good condition, it will usually start, even in very cold weather.

LOW STRESS IS KEY It doesn’t really matter which method you choose to handle cattle — horseback, on foot, or with an ATV or pickup — it can be done effectively if you use good judgment and low-stress cattle-handling methods. “It all boils down to knowing when to pressure them and when to hold back,” says Michael. “You need to think ahead and know the cattle.

“If cattle get used to seeing you on a four-wheeler all winter, you can do a lot, with less disruption, just travelling slowly among them all the time with the four-wheeler. They become comfortable and desensitized to it. When you show up with horses and dogs, they know it’s gathering time and become much more

PHOTO: HEATHER SMITH THOMAS

One of the Thomas’s neighbours uses a fourwheeler to move bulls to another pasture.

agitated. You’ll actually work harder to get them in that day than if you’d just quietly moved them around by yourself or with a couple people on four-wheelers.

It’s all a matter of what they get used to and how you go about it.”

Some ranchers can make it work smoothly no matter which method they choose.

“A person can go irrigating, open a gate and holler at the cows and go change the water and by the time you get back the cows are all in the new pasture, moving themselves. It’s a matter of training your cows to whatever method you choose,” he says.

People sometimes have wrecks with ATVs or with horses. “This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use ATVs or horses. It just illustrates a situation where something went wrong or someone used poor judgment whether horseback or with the ATV. It’s usually operator error!” † Heather Smith Thomas ranches with her husband Lynn near Salmon, Idaho. Contact her at 208-756-2841.

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APRIL 15, 2013

Cattleman’s Corner RANGE MANAGEMENT

Savory system analyzed HYLAND ARMSTRONG

PART 1 Editor’s Note: After reviewing the research, Grainews columnist Hyland Armstrong presents in this two-part column, a contrary view of some of the claims for the popular Savory Grazing Method. Whether you agree or not, before you shoot the messenger, Armstrong has compiled a long list of the reference material supporting his view. For a copy of this list please email the Cattleman’s Corner editor — lee@fbcpublishing.com — and read before you speak.

BY HYLAND ARMSTRONG

O

ver the past several decades, a number of ranchers have asked me if the Savory Grazing Method is a viable alternative to managing native range in Western Canada. In each case, my response is always the same. I usually take the time to go over the research conducted in North America and Africa to give the person an idea of just how complex the issue is.

During this discussion I point out there is very little scientific evidence supporting the ecological and economic assumptions of the

grazing hypothesis as proposed by Allan Savory. Finally, to drive my point home, I usually conclude, by adopting this grazing hypothesis, they would be placing the economic and ecological well-being of their ranch in jeopardy.

Although Allan Savory has based his grazing hypothesis on the observation of African ecosystems, he borrowed most of his concepts from South African ranchers and the pre-eminent researcher, André Voisin.

Nevertheless, he presents his grazing hypothesis as the only way of simultaneously 1) stopping and reversing desertification (improving range health) and 2) improving the profitability of a ranching operation. To achieve these goals his hypothesis relies upon using stocking rate, time (plant rest), stocking density and herd effect as tools to achieve a number of ecological goals: 1. Improve water infiltration into the soil.

2. Facilitate seed movement into the soil.

3. Increase mineral cycling.

4. Reduce the percentage of ungrazed plants (improve grazing efficiency).

5. Improve livestock distribution (more uniform use of range).

6. Increase the period when actively growing forage is available to livestock.

7. Accelerate plant succession.

8. Improve animal productivity.

In order to substantiate or disprove these assumptions, a great deal of research has taken place on North American and African grasslands. This research has focused on the impact stocking rates, as recommended by Allan Savory, have on: 1) the herd effect, 2) forage production, 3) livestock distribution and grazing efficiency, 4) plant succession/range health, 5) plant rest requirements following defoliation, 6) livestock productivity 7) simulation of natural ecological processes, and 8) ecological and economic sustainability.

Allan Savory and his supporters cite a number of problems associated with this research that include 1) it is impossible to study a “holistic” theory using reductionist methods, 2) the studies are limited in scope, and 3) the manner in which trials are conducted preclude any adjustments to management strategies as environmental conditions change.

Despite these criticisms, one must always be aware of the problems researchers face when they design a grazing trial. The most obvious are the budgetary and time constraints. In addition, the design of the grazing trial 1) must have a testable hypothesis and null hypothesis, and 2) the trial design must allow researchers to identify and control specific variables.

THE HERD EFFECT Allan Savory proposes under high stocking rates and densities a herd effect is created. The “herd effect” creates conditions that will improve in water infiltration, seed implantation, nutrient cycling and promote the “dunging effect.”

Research in Africa, Canada and the United States consistently does not show the same results.

As stocking rates (and stocking densities) increase, water infiltration rates decline and rates of soil erosion increase. Research conducted in Alberta showed this type of grazing did not significantly improve the incorporation of litter into the soil and significantly lowered the organic matter content of the soil. Research in Africa and the United States also showed the type of grazing system did not improve the accumulation of litter, the rates of defecation, (dunging effect) or seed implantation.

FORAGE PRODUCTION A basic tenet of the Savory Grazing Method is the optimization theory. This theory predicts that as stocking rates increase, forage production will increase until it reaches an optimal level. Thus, the goal of this grazing system is to utilize high stocking rates/grazing intensities in the belief they result in higher forage production.

On western Canadian grasslands, there is a direct relationship between forage production and stocking rates. As stocking rates increase, forage production declines. Research consistently shows forage production on a heavily stocked continuous grazing system and forage production on a Savory Grazing Method stocked at a stocking rate recommended by Savory are very similar.

LIVESTOCK DISTRIBUTION AND GRAZING EFFICIENCY One claim made by proponents of the Savory Grazing Method is this grazing strategy offers an efficient way to control the grazing patterns and behaviour of livestock. Under ideal circumstances, this may be true. However, the uneven distribution of resources on landscapes makes this an unattainable ideal.

Nevertheless, studies in Africa and North America clearly show the Savory Grazing Method does not significantly improve livestock distribution or forage utilization when compared to conventional rotation systems.

Furthermore, there is very little evidence that supports the notion this grazing system improves forage quality in all types of plant communities when compared to conventional rotational grazing systems. † Hyland Armstrong is a consultant and retired rancher from Cypress Hills, Alta. with a long educational and career background in animal science and range management. He can be reached at lightningbutte@hotmail.com or 403 528 4798.

BY SEAN MCGRATH

I

n my day-to-day work I deal with a lot of seedstock data and have a lot of focus on genetic evaluation, including trends. I also deal with many seedstock and commercial producers who have questions about genetics and sire selection.

My favourite seedstock producers are the ones who are connected to and focused on their customers in the commercial industry and the best commercial producers. I acknowledge and appreciate the work that seedstock suppliers do in creating genetics for their use. These people cover the entire spectrum of breeds and hybrids and every marketing approach/price point/value proposition you can imagine.

A lot of these folks want some coaching about measuring traits, and applying technologies beyond visual appraisal to selecting cattle.

There are also many folks who

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show up and look for eye-appealing bulls and purchase them. While individual breeders and commercial ranchers may counteract the trend, over time the law of averages will tend to drive selection across the industry back to the middle of the breeds being used.

LAW OF AVERAGES If we look at a population scale example, producers generally try to select bulls that minimize inbreeding and they will of necessity work through a cross-section of genetics from their breed(s) of choice. Across the board, this means the industry average will revert to the average of the breed.

By itself this is not necessarily a bad thing, in fact for a lot of traits where optimal is not maximum, “average” may be just about right.

Those folks using the available selection tools can counteract this trend to the middle, but one of the most important things the seedstock industry does is drive the average in a specific direction. One good example is calving ease. Another is growth performance. Every major breed exhibits a positive genetic trend for these traits. In essence this means that the average of the breed keeps moving in a positive direction due to selective breeding decisions by breeders. While there are still cattle that are below the breed aver-

age, overall the industry still makes significant progress.

There is still a lot of room for progress, particularly in important traits such as fertility, longevity, carcass merit and functionality and we can certainly argue for a lifetime about what the direction for a specific breed should be and what optimal really is.

There are two graphs that show breed wide progress for six major Canadian beef breeds from 2001 to 2012. I set 2001 EPD to 0 for each breed to give a common starting point. The values were adjusted so they would fit onto the same graph and we could see their progress from that point to today. It is important to remember that this does not mean that the breeds started out from an equal place in 2001 and that there are breed differences.

For this reason I did not print the names of each breed on the graph, as the article is focusing on progress rather than breed differences.

Across the board there has been a lot of movement in calving ease (getting better) and growth.

There are some breeds that were faced with more calving ease issues, and they have tended to focus more on improving calving ease than growth, and some breeds with growth issues that have focused more on growth, but overall the direction of the industry is apparent.

Birth Year

4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 -0.5 -1.0

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Weaning Weight Adjusted Genetic Trend for six Major Breeds 14.0 12.0 10.0 8.0 6.0 4.0 2.0 0.0

Adjusted WW EPD

Why seedstock progress matters

Calving Ease Adjusted Genetic Trend for six Major Breeds

Adjusted CE EPD

LIVESTOCK REPRODUCTION

-2.0 Birth Year

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Similar upward trends are also apparent for post-weaning (feedlot gain). This is industry driven, as bull customers get older and cow herds get bigger and feed production and delivery costs continue to increase.

This is also relatively impressive as growth and calving ease are genetically antagonistic traits and in the time frame of cattle breeding, 10 years is a very short time span.

In short, it is possible to argue for a lifetime about whether the

direction of the seedstock sector is the right one, but that direction greatly impacts the industry as a whole. Seedstock production is hard work and commercial producers working with professional seedstock suppliers and multiplying genetics into the commercial cow herd have changed our industry dramatically. † Sean McGrath is a rancher and consultant from Vermilion, Alta. He can be reached at sean@ranchingsystems.com or (780)8539673. For additional information visit www. ranchingsystems.com.

APRIL 15, 2013

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27

Cattleman’s Corner FENCING TIPS

User-friendly gates: tips for quick fixes HEATHER SMITH THOMAS

K

eeping gates in good repair can sometimes be a challenge, but this is an important part of maintaining a farm or ranch. A sagging or broken gate can be a chore to open and shut, and may also tempt an animal to jump, lean over or crawl through, possibly injuring itself — or getting out on a road or into a neighbour’s place. A free-swinging gate in a corral makes sorting cattle much easier than if you have to struggle with it. Here are a few tips for making your life with gates easier.

FIX A SAGGING GATE A wooden or metal gate can become a heavy burden to open and close if it begins to sag. Gate posts should be sturdy and set deep in the ground, to keep a gate from sagging, but sometimes the posts “give” a bit over time, unless set in concrete. Some ground is unstable and won’t hold a post, especially for a heavy gate. Sometimes frost pushes posts upward, and then the gate won’t open or close properly.

Occasionally a pole panel is used as a gate, in an opening that does not have a sturdy post for hanging a gate. Having to lift or drag the panel to open or shut it can be a back-breaking chore.

This problem can be solved by putting a small wheel on the moving end of the panel or sagging gate. The wheel takes all the weight and supports the gate — it cannot sag any further, and also enables it to move easily when you open or close it. You no longer have to pick it up and carry it to keep it from dragging.

Any small wheel will work for this purpose. On our gates we have used old wheelbarrow tires, small discarded machinery tires, or metal wheels — the kind you sometimes find in old junk piles or might salvage from a piece of ancient farm equipment. A wheelbarrow tire or some other small tire can be easily adapted so you can bolt the uprights (or even just one side of metal bracket that comes down either side of the tire to hold its small axle) to a wooden gate or pole gate.

An old wheel or tire with an axle attached to it can be securely wired to a metal gate. The horizontal piece of axle can be fastened to the bottom rail or pipe of the gate.

If you use stiff, strong wire and securely wire it at each end of the axle (close to the wheel) the wheel will stay solidly in place and the weight of the gate will not alter the angle of the wheel very much, if at all. You want the axle securely attached to the gate so the wheel or tire will stay upright, with no wobble. Then it will roll freely and easily on the ground, taking the weight of the gate without binding or catching.

to it when the gate is shut. These latches work fine if the posts are solid and never move. Sometimes, however, the gate posts shift over time, and the latch no longer reaches the hole it is supposed to go into on the gate post.

A simple way to fix this without having to reset the gate post or rehang the gate is to securely nail two small poles or boards on either side of the latch hole on the gate post. Then the metal latch (when pushed into shut position) will insert between the two poles or boards and “catch” to hold the gate shut.

ELECTRIC FENCE GATE CROSSING If you use electric fencing around pens or pastures (to keep livestock or horses from leaning, rubbing or chewing on the

fence, or from crawling through it), you’ll generally have an insulated gate handle wherever you have a gate, so you can open it to get through the “hot” wire to go through the gate.

On some gates that you go through a lot, you may find it easiest to put a tall pole on each side of the gate, so you can route the electric wire up and over the gate, high enough that people, animals or machinery being driven through the gate will not touch the hot wire.

On many gates, however, you may just use a plastic or rubber fence handle so you can undo and move the hot wire when you open the gate. In these instances, always situate the handle on the end toward the fence charger, so that the gate “wire” will have no electricity in it when the handle is undone and the gate is open.

Then if the wire “gate” is looped over the wooden or metal gate, or thrown on the ground while open, it won’t shock anyone nor short out and possibly start a fire in dry grass or weeds.

If the hot wire is spanning a metal gate, the wire may become a nuisance if it happens to touch the metal while the gate is closed. The wire may short out the electric fence or electrify the gate and shock anyone who touches the metal gate or tries to open it. It can be tricky to open and shut the gate if you forget to unhook the electric handle before touching the metal gate.

Even if the electric wire and its insulated gate handle are a few inches away from the metal gate, the wind may sometimes cause the wire to touch the gate.

One way to eliminate any risk of having the hot wire touch the

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But like Mary the farmers Canada who equipment, have been in ableWestern to increase their yields anduse theirour income enough to be put their three girls minimum and four boystillage, through to secondary school.

“I am Wonder able is now practising protecting his soil happy because I could educate my children. My son could get a masters degree so it canbecause produce betterThe crops and into the the future. of farming. housetoday — everything — is from farm,” Wonder says Elisa. learned about minimum tillage through a radio script produced by Elisa, Mary and millions of other farmers are learning about the benefits Farm Radio International, Canadian organization that provided reaches by of intercropping with apulses through radio broadcasts Farm Radio International, a Canadian organization with more than 400are radio farmers through more than 400 radio stations in Africa, which station partners in Sub-Saharan Africa, where radio is often the only medium often their source management information. for only delivering farmof extension information.

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EASY FIX FOR A GATE LATCH Metal gates are handy and some of these have latches that work with a handle to pull or push.

The latch is a metal prong that inserts into a hole in the post next

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gate is to put that segment of wire through an old garden hose.

Cut the hose to match the length of the metal gate, with a couple inches to spare on each end so there’s never any danger of the wire touching the gate. The hose will insulate the wire where it travels along the metal gate, and prevent any shorts or shocks if it does happen to brush against the gate.

If the wire you use for the gate portion is stiff, it’s easy to push it through the length of hose, and then attach the electric fence handle to the end of it. This is a good use for old garden hoses.

Even if they leak or have a ruined screw end, they will still provide insulation for an electric gate wire. † Heather Smith Thomas ranches with her husband Lynn near Salmon, Idaho. Contact her at 208-756-2841.

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APRIL 15, 2013

Home Quarter Farm Life SEEDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Understanding first-born farmers TYPICAL TRAITS ELAINE FROESE

I

am the first-born of five children who grew up on a farm.

When I encourage farm audiences I sometimes tease them that we will have a special group therapy session for first-borns after lunch, and the audience laughs knowingly!

Dr. Kevin Leman is the author of The Birth Order Book… Why you are the way you are, and I think many farm moms will find it a very good read.

Farmwomen are tired of wearing their “black and white sweaters,” the referee shirts of being the ones mediating between the farm founders, the dad, and the farming successor, the son or daughter who is in the process of finding out their leadership skills to run the farm in the future.

Dr. Leman is great about explaining the strengths and weaknesses of firstborns, and I’ll give you my impressions from an excerpt of his work: Dr. Leman’s book is a great read for farm families seeking to understand how other team members may see the needs of the farm differently. My husband is the baby of the family but exhibits firstborn traits, as he was the first male, and there was a three-year gap from his closest sibling.

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

Leadership ability

Take charge, know what to do.

May decrease initiative of others or come off as overbearing and aggressive.

Aggressive

Command respect.

Can be too goal focused and not sensitive enough to others.

Compliant

Co-operative, easy to work with, good team player. Can be taken advantage of, bullied, bluffed.

Perfectionist

Do things right, and be thorough with the job.

Criticize self, and others and not be satisfied with never doing a “good enough job.” May procrastinate.

Organized

Tend to be on top of things, on time and on schedule.

May need more flexibility with timelines.

Show impatience with disorganization. Don’t like surprises.

Driver

Ambitious, enterprising and willing to sacrifice to be a success.

Put themselves and other farm team under too much pressure and stress.

List maker

Set goals they reach and plans for the day.

Get lots done, more than others.

Too busy with the to-do list. May not see the big-picture vision and lose sight of the current needs.

Logical

Straight thinker, not compulsive.

Uses common sense.

May believe they are always right and fail to see more intuitive opinions of others.

Scholarly

Voracious readers, harvest information; good problem solvers who think things through.

Gathering facts may preclude other important things that need to get done. May be so serious they fail to see humour in situations when humour is desperately needed.

I don’t expect you to turn into “mini” psychologists. As I tell my coaching clients, “Counselling is about recovery, and coaching is about discovery.” My goal as a coach is to help farm families become more aware of their personal styles, communication preferences, and find out the strengths of the team that they can build on.

Middle-children qualities tend to be mediator, compromising, diplomatic, avoids conflict, independent, loyal to peers, many friends, a maverick, secretive, and unspoiled, according to Dr. Leman.

Leman feels the qualities of the last-born are manipulative, charm-

ing, blames others, attention seeker, tenacious, people person, natural salesperson, precocious, engaging, affectionate, and loves surprises.

I will let you be the judge as to the strengths and qualities of your birth order. I know that asking clients what their birth order is gives me a few more clues as to how they “might” be dealing with farm conflict and leadership issues.

If you would like some more tools to help you understand “why you aren’t more like me,” please contact me on my website at www.elainefroese.com/contact.

For under $40 per person I can do an online assessment with you

to figure out your personal style.

It really helped our farm team as we are comprised of an “influential, a driven ambitious, a balanced responsive, and a practical person.”

Also, revisit my blog at www. elainefroese.com/blog and read the previously published article called, “Why aren’t you more like me?” or Google that title and check out the website.

Spring on the Prairies is going to be interesting as the heaps of snow create water issues, and the calendar turns to May and farmers panic. Work hard at taking one day at a time. Be kind to yourself, and others on your team. Recognize that different folks have different

strengths. “Different is not wrong, it is just different,” might become your new mantra for managing the stress of a late spring.

Remember, you always get to choose your response. It is your farm, your family, and your choice. † Elaine Froese runs meals to the field near Boissevain, Manitoba. She is Skype coaching families across Canada as a CAFA member and certified conflict resolution and communication coach. Call 1-866-848-8311 to book her for your next conference or contact her at www. elainefroese.com/contact. Buy her book Do the Tough Things Right for Mother’s Day. Mom on the farm no longer wants to be the mediator. “Like” her at “Farm Family Coach” on Facebook, and start having courageous conversations. Contact Elaine to find out more about her “in-law telecoaching” focus group.

EXTENDED OUTLOOK FOR THE PRAIRIES Weather Forecast for the period of April 28 to May 25, 2013

Southern Alberta

Peace River Region

April 28 - May 4 Variable weather conditions and temperatures as mild sunny days interchange with cooler, wet windy ones. Risk of frost in some areas.

April 28 - May 4 Variable weather conditions and temperatures as mild sunny days interchange with cooler, wet windy ones. Frost in some areas.

May 5 - 11 Highs often in the teens. Sunny aside from heavier rain and a chance of snow on 2 or 3 occasions. Blustery.

May 5 - 11 Highs often in the teens. Sunny aside from heavier rain and a chance of snow on 2 or 3 occasions. Blustery.

May 12 - 18 Changeable. Fair and cool with patchy frost, but a couple of warmer days bring showers or thunderstorms. Risk of snow.

May 12 - 18 Changeable. Fair and cool with patchy frost, but a couple of warmer days bring showers or thunderstorms. Risk of snow.

May 19 - 25 Sunny and breezy. Highs in the teens and 20s set off heavier showers or thunderstorms. Risk of frost and snow in some places.

0 / 13 Grande Prairie 35.3 mms

Manitoba

April 28 - May 4 Variable weather conditions and temperatures. Windy at times.

Sunshine exchanges with occasional rain or snow.

April 28 - May 4 Weather conditions and temperatures vary as mild, sunny days alternate with some rain or snow. Occasionally windy.

May 5 - 11 Pleasant temperatures but 2 or 3 cooler, windy days bring rain and a chance of snow. Nighttime frost patches.

May 5 - 11 Sunny and mild but a couple of cooler, windy days bring some rain and a chance of snow. Frost pockets.

May 12 - 18 Highs often in the teens. Lows at times near zero. Sunny with showers or thunderstorms.

Chance of snow in places.

May 12 - 18 Seasonal with some lows near zero. Sunshine dominates but expect few showers or thunderstorms. Chance of snow in places.

May 19 - 25 Warm to cool with a frost risk, mostly central and north. Sunny with scattered showers and thunderstorms.

May 19 - 25 Sunny and breezy. Highs in the teens and 20s set off heavier showers or thunderstorms. Slight risk of frost and snow in places.

May 19 - 25 Temperatures vary. On warmer days expect showers or thunderstorms, some heavy. Frost risk, mainly central and north

Precipitation Forecast 0 / 14 Edmonton 43.5 mms

0 / 12 Jasper

28.6 mms

BELOW NORMAL

-1 / 10

57.5 mms

Banff

0 / 12 Calgary

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

Saskatchewan

52.9 mms

1 / 13 North Battleford 0 / 13 Red Deer 49.2 mms

3 / 16 Medicine Hat 19mms cms Lethbridge 42.3 51.4 mms 26 cms 2 / 15

-1 / 12 Prince Albert

37.0 mms

1 / 13 Saskatoon 44.2 mms

41.6 mms

-1 / 10 The Pas

NEAR NORMAL

1 / 13 Yorkton

1 / 15 50.7 mms 2 / 14 Regina Moose Jaw 50.8 mms

2 / 14 Swift 47.7 mms Current 45.7 mms

2 / 14 Weyburn 52.8 mms 2 / 15 Estevan 54.6 mms

Precipitation Outlook For May

37.3 mms

-1 / 13 Dauphin

52.7 mms

ABOVE NORMAL

-1 / 11 Gimli

57.4 mms

1 / 14 0 / 13 Portage 1 / 14 Brandon 56.8 mms Winnipeg 48.4 mms

Melita -1 / 14

52.4 mms

59.8 mms

Much Above Normal Below Much above normal normal below normal normal

Temperatures are normals for May 1st averaged over 30 years.

Precipitation (water equivalent) normals for May in mms. ©2013 WeatherTec Services www.weathertec.mb.ca

APRIL 15, 2013

grainews.ca /

29

Home Quarter Farm Life FROM THE FARM

Spread a Create it and little sunshine they will come DEBBIE CHIKOUSKY

O

ver the last few months we have had an inordinate amount of very ill people in our circle — everything from the common cold to meningitis and brain tumours. Thankfully all of these people have overcome their illnesses and there has even been a few babies born — always cause for celebration — but we have been in need of lots of simple, inexpensive gifts. Those kinds of gifts that just tell someone that people out there love them and are praying for them. This is how we started something called a “Sunshine Box.” The main idea is that several small gifts are wrapped and placed in a box and when choosing items for the box the theme of encouraging and pampering is followed. I came across an online site that specializes in assembling Sunshine Boxes for cancer patients www.fightingcancerinc.org/. This is a list of suggestions from the site on what is useful for cancer patients going through treatments, although many of these items would be useful for anyone: blank journals; puzzle books like crossword and Sudoku; teacup and tea bags; stationery, blank greeting cards and postage stamps; baby shampoo (for washing wigs); gift cards for pharmacy, grocery store, salon/spa treatment, car wash; wall plaques with inspirational quotes; picture frames; candles; mints, gum, hard candy (chemo leaves an awful taste in the mouth); mascara, moisturizer, nail polish and files; reading material and bookmarks; key chains; cute socks; seasonal decorations; hand sanitizer; bubble bath; jewelry; knick-knacks; handmade craft items; CDs, DVDs; handheld games like Rubix cube or electronic games; silk or flannel pillowcases (feels good on bald heads); neck pillows (for chemo days when many hours are spent reclining in a chair); fleece caps for guys or knit/crocheted chemo “hats”; memo pads; seed kits; tissues (small packs); nail clippers; playing cards; eye mask (to darken room); bath pillow; pill box; softbristle toothbrush.

My daughter and I crafted a couple of items for the Sunshine Boxes:

CROCHET-TRIMMED WASHCLOTH Supplies: • One washcloth • One crochet hook size D (3-3.25) with a sharp-enough head to pierce the cloth • Crochet cotton (I used Red Heart Lustre-Sheen Knit & Crochet Yarn because it is very soft and wouldn’t be scratchy against the skin) • Scissors Instructions: The washcloth acts as the crochet foundation chain. Taking the hook pierce it through the fabric and make a slipstitch, chain two (this will act as a single crochet) and then pierce it through the fabric again to the left. Draw the loop through and make a single crochet.

Keep repeating this till you’re all the way around the washcloth. Join the round with a slipstitch, turn, chain two and make three half double crochets in the space below as follows: cotton over hook, insert hook in the space below to be worked in (like when making granny squares), cotton over hook, pull cotton through the stitch, cotton over hook, pull cotton through all three loops on hook (one-half double crochet made). Continue making three half double crochets in the spaces on the straight sides. For corners make three half double crochets, chain three, make three more half double crochets. Continue with these till the round is completed. Slipstitch the beginning and end of round together and knot. Snip end and wind the tail back for a neat finish.

HOMEMADE BATH SALTS Supplies: 2 c. Epsom salts 15-20 drops of essential oil or fragrance oil Food colouring gel (optional) Instructions: Place Epsom salts in a zip-lock bag. Add the rest of the ingredients and squish them through the salt with your hands. Pour them into a container of choice.

(We collect decorative-shaped jars and recycle them.) Place two to three tablespoons in a tub of warm water and enjoy.

Whether it is for an ill person or a family in need of encouragement, a Sunshine Box will make everyone feel better. We’ve had lots of fun creating ours. † Debbie Chikousky farms at Narcisse, Manitoba.

BY CHRISTALEE FROESE

T

hey come to Carnduff, Saskatchewan from miles around, ordering everything from escargot to baby back ribs to steelhead trout.

The Olive Branch Bistro is very popular, and has had to turn away customers who couldn’t get a table, and founder/owner, 37-year-old Angie Haider has a hard time keeping up with the demand for her made-in-house cheesecake.

The 18 tables at the bistro are typically reserved in advance, in what was formerly one of this small, southeast Saskatchewan town’s first banks.

The town’s economic development officer said the entire community benefits from the success of the restaurant. “We feel very fortunate to have the Olive Branch Bistro in town because it brings in a lot of new people and a lot of visitors to the community,” said Tara Beck. “It has helped to put Carnduff on the map.”

Haider said the best part of her business is the regular clientele whom she gets to know so well she can start orders before they even arrive. “For example, if this one customer I have is coming, I’ll put the jerk bread appetizer in the oven before they get here

because it takes 20 minutes to bake and I know for sure that they’ll be ordering it.”

While Haider’s business has grown into a bustling one that keeps her and her staff of seven employees busy five days a week, it wasn’t always that way. Starting out in 2000, Haider took over a small coffee shop and turned it into a smoke-free restaurant before provincial legislation went into effect. She received a lot of negative feedback with some people telling her that she would never keep her doors open if she went smoke free.

“It was pretty stressful but I didn’t think I was making a bad decision.”

Haider stood her ground and slowly drew a crowd that appreciated her unique menu items and her smoke-free atmosphere.

In 2004, she purchased the building where the Olive Branch Bistro now resides, doubling her capacity.

With 80 per cent of her clientele coming from the surrounding area, Haider said people in rural areas are certainly willing to drive for something that is a little bit different.

“I think people come for the whole package — the atmosphere, the service, the food and the fact that everything is homemade and you can tell.”

PHOTO: DEBBIE CHIKOUSKY

The lucrative oil-related economy of the southeast area has served Haider well, and the a la carte menu, which gives customers the choice of every menu item, is rather unique to a smalltown setting. Haider said it took people a while to get used to the menu format and restaurant rules of no children under five and no groups over six people.

It’s still a struggle to convince people that they need to make reservations to guarantee themselves a table.

And while it’s been a learning curve all around, the most rewarding experience for Haider is when someone comes in for the first time to try her food and becomes a regular customer — a common occurrence at Carnduff’s Olive Branch Bistro.

For more information visit www.olivebranchbistro.webs. com. † Christalee Froese writes from Montmartre, Saskatchewan.

How to find the ag equipment you need... OVER Start here.

Find it fast at Crochet-Trimmed Washcloth.

PHOTO: CHRISTALEE FROESE

Angie Haider at the Olive Branch Bistro.

43,000 PIECES OF A EQUIPMENT G !

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Home Quarter Farm Life POSTCARDS FROM THE PRAIRIES

Life’s secrets, according to you…

People of the world, tell me this — what’s the one topic we should talk about more openly? Part 1 JANITA VAN DE VELDE

A

while back I shared with you that I had a hard time, following the birth of my first child. After the birth of my subsequent children, I braced myself for darkness to fall yet again. But it never did.

That’s when I looked back at those first few weeks following the birth of my first and declared, “What was that?” Although never officially diagnosed, I think I had postpartum depression. Being a good, old-fashioned suck-it-up-buttercup farm kid, I fought my way through it blindly. I never visited a doctor, or shared my demons with family and friends. No one talks about such things. How dare we admit being sad following the birth of a beautiful, healthy child. That’s just not done. That would be weird… frowned upon, even. Looking back now, I find it surprising that more people don’t talk about it. But I can understand why.

I don’t recall a lot about the days immediately following the birth of my first child. Even as I write this, my feelings are hard to retrieve, tucked away and hidden in a faraway place. My safe place. My, I-don’t-pull-these-memories-outto-fondly-embrace place. I don’t like to share my inadequacies or my fears, or hold these moments up to a harsh, unforgiving light.

But I suspect stories don’t flow until they’re ready to be told, and in sharing this, I may help those who feel the same way I once did; those who feel untouchable when it comes to being swallowed whole by consuming sadness.

Back when I was pregnant for the first time, I recall reading about emotional elements that

could unfold after childbirth.

Depression. Mostly, I would skip past these sections, thinking: “I don’t get sad. I don’t fall prey to feelings of depression. And if I do, I’ll just count my blessings and slap myself back to reality.”

Big talker, slow walker. The first day home from the hospital, hot tears of shame washed my face, as I inwardly burst over the loss of my old life — my freedom, the relative safety of never exposing my heart in this magnitude, never feeling this raw — all while addressing my feelings of inadequacy and the utter betrayal of maternal instincts. I had expected the weeks following the birth of my baby to be the most joyful of my life, and yet it was as though suddenly I was looking through the lens of a camera, and the world was set to grey. I worried about everything at once, almost as though I had to figure it all out.

Right away. How would I know if he was sad? In pain? Was I feeding him enough? Could he feel my love, even though I trembled with fear? Who would teach him how to walk? What if he got in a car accident one day? What if, what if, what if... what if I wasn’t good enough to be his mama?

As I cradled this wondrous new being, it dawned on me that I had perhaps forgotten how to love someone that fiercely — I was terrified of being that vulnerable, reluctant to bare my soul that openly at the risk of looking foolish, scared that I didn’t have all the answers. Scared to death of letting him down, and we had only just met. I desperately needed my mom; I certainly wasn’t ready to become one.

When I become a mother, my significance was altered.

Accepting who I was and what I’d become, feeling blessed for what I had, seeing my entire existence reflected back at me through the

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eyes of a child — absorbing that — completely and utterly understanding that I was simply a part of something much bigger than me, well, let’s just say it hit me like a bat upside the head. You know what else I learned? That it’s perfectly all right to want time to stand still, just for a while. To say to those around you, “You go ahead. I’ll catch up in a bit.”

Yes. Sometimes all we need is a moment or two to catch our breath... that moment to find ourselves again. And sometimes?

Sometimes we just need to talk about it. Your fears and struggles don’t make you a lesser person.

Rather, coming through them gives you a bigger heart. Let’s listen to each other with an open heart, and replace our judgment with compassion.

Here forthwith, are things you think we should talk about more often. Part 1 What we love about people.

We seem to always wait until it’s too late.

Mental health issues, particularly depression.

Anything related to sex or personal body parts. I still have a hard time talking about it, and it should be something that’s celebrated, not ignored.

Relationships. Of all kinds.

Faith.

Mistakes from the past — at least the unresolved ones. I do believe that these should be hashed out, not that they’ll be resolved necessarily, but at least so that everyone can get everything off their chests!

Apathy and the ability to take action.

Miscarriages. I think it’s healthy to talk openly about the loss felt from a miscarriage, whether it’s early on in the pregnancy or near the end. It’s still a taboo subject and yet half of all pregnancies end in miscarriages. I think it’s part of the healing to talk about the loss and all the feeling that comes with it.

What scares us and why.

Mental health issues. They exist and are more prevalent the more stress we experience. Why is the topic still so taboo?

The importance of faith in God, not religion.

Money. It is the root, in my opinion, of the breakdown of a lot of marriages. I learned the hard way.

The emotional and physical health of our elders, specifically our parents. I didn’t really know my parents until my dad was terminally ill, but on the bright side we were able to discuss prostates, colostomy bags and sexual health on a regular basis at the dinner table. It took facing death to realize that our parents hold back on how they are really doing and really feeling, I think in part because that’s their generation, and in part because I think they want to protect their children. They were just as scared as my sister and I, and ironically enough, it was refreshing to get to know my parents as adults… as equals. It helped me deal with the whole situation better because I knew more about how my parents were dealing with it. They get scared, they hurt, they have feelings, and they get angry with God just the same as I do, but I never realized it until it was almost too late. † Janita Van de Velde grew up on a farm near Mariapolis, Man. She holds a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics from the University of Manitoba, and has worked for a financial institution since graduating.

She lives in Regina, Sask., with her husband Roddy and their children Jack, Isla and James.

Her first novel, Postcards Never Written, was the recipient of the Saskatchewan Reader’s Choice Award and also listed by CBC as one of the top funny books in 2009. She donates a portion of proceeds from the sale of her book to World Vision to help those less fortunate.

For more information, or to order her book, visit her website at www.janita.ca.

Gluten-free eating

BY JULIE GARDEN-ROBINSON NDSU EXTENSION SERVICE

G

luten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats (unless labelled gluten free). It acts somewhat like elastic and provides a framework for bread. As yeast bread rises, gluten proteins stretch and allow expansion of the dough.

Gluten-free bread products usually contain eggs or some type of food gum that mimics the action of gluten.

According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, one out of every 133 people has celiac disease, which also is known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy.

They must avoid gluten for the rest of their lives.

This autoimmune disease often is accompanied by abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or skin rashes, among other possible symptoms. Damage to the intestinal tract may result in nutritional deficiencies, which can promote such conditions as osteoporosis or anemia.

People with celiac disease may experience unintended weight loss, joint pain, numbness in the hands or feet, depression, migraine headaches, fatigue, weakness and/or other symptoms. Children with the disease might not grow as well as expected.

Celiac disease can occur at

any age, but you cannot diagnose yourself. Specific blood antibody tests and other medical procedures are used to diagnose the disease.

Some people who have not been diagnosed with the disease may experience similar, but milder, symptoms. Another category, non-celiac gluten intolerance (or sensitivity), is being debated within the medical community. Be sure to discuss your health concerns with a medical-care provider.

Many gluten-free products are available, which is of great benefit to the many people who have celiac disease. However, gluten-free foods are not necessarily healthier for people who do not need to avoid gluten for a medical reason.

Gluten may be found in processed meats, ice cream, ketchup, soy sauce, mouthwash, toothpaste and many other items, and sometimes you’ll have to contact the manufacturer to know if the product contains it.

You need to be cautious about cross-contaminating glutencontaining foods with non-gluten-containing foods. For example, if you have one person eating gluten free in a household, you may need to have separate jars of mayonnaise and peanut butter for that person because the contents can become contaminated with gluten from bread crumbs. In addition, you may need to have two separate

toasters, so one could be designated for use with gluten-free products only.

The “gluten-free” designation often carries a higher price tag.

According to a research article published in the Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, all of the gluten-free products researchers studied were more expensive than similar products that contained gluten. In fact, the gluten-free products, on average, were 242 per cent more expensive.

Many foods are gluten free naturally unless they are crosscontaminated by gluten-containing foods during processing at a food company or during food preparation at home or in a restaurant. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, hard cheese, dry edible beans, meat, fish and poultry without breading or certain flavourings are naturally gluten free in their “whole food” form.

Rice and potatoes contain no gluten and are available as flour that can be used to make bread.

For more information about celiac disease, visit http:// w w w. c e l i a c . o r g . C o l o r a d o State University Extension has a fact sheet about glutenfree baking available at http:// www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/ foodnut/09376.pdf. † Julie Garden-Robinson, PhD, R.D., L.R.D., is a North Dakota State University Extension Service food and nutrition specialist and professor in the department of health, nutrition and exercise sciences.

APRIL 15, 2013

grainews.ca /

31

Home Quarter Farm Life SINGING GARDENER

How did your fruit trees winter?

Plus, thanks to all for emails, letters and calls Since storage tomatoes aren’t meant to be eaten in season, there’s no rush to get them started and set out. Depending on your location and nature of the season, the focus is on harvesting, usually in September or early October before frost hits and just after tomatoes begin to lighten up in colour. The outer skin may be a pale olive green, yellow, orange or pink and that’s normal. When cut open, you can expect red tomato flesh inside.

TED MESEYTON

I

t’s 11:30 during the quiet time of a Friday evening as I begin gathering words of wisdom and placing them on this page. Earlier in the day, one of many calls I received came from a gardener wanting the best dates according to the moon for planting long-keeper tomato seeds indoors (and it’s still not too late). A stroll into the home orchard is also on the agenda and I’ll share an email from Cecil Lake, B.C.

A GARDEN STORY

THERE’S MORE THAN ONE WAY … to skin a cat. That’s an expression I’m sure most gardeners and farmers have heard. Short and to the point, said statement suggests there are several ways to do something or more than one method to reach the same end. It certainly applies to witching for water. Allow me to say “thank you” to all the good folks from B.C. and into the Prairie provinces who’ve emailed, written and telephoned me about their experiences. A high interest certainly exists among people whether they possess this gift or not. A unique ability and ways of applying their tools and methods occur among witchers when searching for and determining depth of underground streams. Even watching someone do water witching is fascinating.

I talk to people, chew the fat and correspond; listen to their folk tales, old-time stories, home garden remedies, weather lore and water-witching experiences.

Collecting, studying and writing about folklore and moonlore have always sparked my interest since days of youth. Each of these has helped me along the way to become a bit of a selfappointed professional folklorist.

COMIN’ THROUGH THE RYE … is the name of an old song.

But, I, Ted, am wondering: How

SUE ARMSTRONG

LOVE HEARING FROM YOU 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, Man. R3H 0H1. Phone 1-800665-0502 or email susan@ fbcpublishing.com. Please remember we can no longer return photos or material.

— Sue

This trio of potato growers consists of George McKenzie (centre) his wife Mary McKenzie (l) and their friend Larry Chorney (r). According to George, some of their potatoes weighed five pounds. In an email to the Singing Gardener George writes: “I saw your article in Grainews about water well witching. I too can do this. I live on the Grimshaw Gravels, the largest underground freshwater lake in the world, where I live at Brownvale, Alta.” Ted says — there’ll be more on water witching in future; meantime do see George’s garden story in today’s column. did your fruit trees come through the winter? Let’s head for the home orchard and do some inspection and low-cost maintenance. Washing fruit tree trunks and growing the right plants nearby can help. Gather some tops from chives and nasturtium leaves and mix them into a large pail filled with water plus a tablespoonful of liquid soap. Leave it to brew for a few hours and then scrub down each fruit tree trunk using a whitewash brush or stiff broom, doing it from ground level up to the first side limbs.

Such a washing cleanses undesirable foreign material clinging to tree trunks and transmits a disagreeable flavour to insects.

Another tree trunk formula consists of a water paste about the consistency of thick paint made from rotted cow manure, wood ashes, diatomaceous earth and some paper glue to help it stick.

Chives tea can also be sprinkled on apple tree limbs and branches several times during the season to help prevent apple scab from forming on fruit and to improve tree health. Dolomite-lime mixed into water and applied as a whitewash on tree trunks will help too.

Dormant oil spray preparations act as a pre-season cleanup of overwintering pests, eggs and scale insects on fruit trees, evergreens and shrubs. Another choice is an all-season product called natural lime sulphur that performs insecticide and fungicide duties during both dormant and growth periods.

Dolomite-lime is available from West Coast Seeds, Delta, B.C., phone 1-888-804-8820 and dolomitic-lime, dormant oil spray and lime-sulphur are available at Early’s Garden Centre, Saskatoon, Sask., phone 1-800667-1159 or check at your local area garden centres.

MORE GOOD THAN BAD Contrary to popular belief there are far more good ones

than bad bugs. A mixture of beneficial herbs, nasturtiums and chives can be grown under, around and among fruit trees and does wonders to reduce incidence of insect pests. A sprinkling of chives tea every week or 10 days over gooseberry bushes, shrubs, cucumber and pumpkin vines, zucchini, Monarda bergamot, zinnias and other vulnerable plants helps prevent powdery and downy mildew.

If you’ve ever grown nasturtiums you’ll know they’re subject to attack by flea beetles. These pests dash like a dart and pepper nasturtium leaves full of holes in no time flat. A prayer that flea beetles don’t find your nasturtiums may help, but it also takes action. You’ve heard that ancient expression: God helps those who help themselves.

Here’s an old-fashioned cure against unwanted fungi spores and fungus attacks on plants.

Cutworms and root maggots find it distasteful too. Sprinkle soil surface with a 50/50 mix of wood ashes and dolomite-lime (mentioned earlier).

Another preferred protection against flying pests is to drape lightweight row cover material over nasturtiums and cole crops at the first sign of flea beetles and cabbage butterflies. Such fabric covering also protects against other troubling pests such as aphids, carrot rust flies, leaf miner flies, onion maggot flies and thrips, yet allows rain to penetrate.

GROWING GREEN ONIONS INDOORS Here’s a tried-and-proven suggestion, especially useful during non-gardening season. I, Ted, say multi-thanks to Maya Wenger in northern B.C. Hi Ted, Here’s a note on growing green onions indoors. I thought I’d pass this on to you, as you like

neat ideas. We accidently learned to grow green onions a different way: One February day when I was transplanting geranium cuttings, I had an inspiration and set a sprouting fall onion into a pot with soil. It was one of those yellow Dutch onions that I had stored over the winter. I always have a few that sprout about this time of year. I put it in its own pot of soil, twisting, turning and pressing it a bit so the bulb would be firmly connected to the soil. Then I let it grow. It worked fantastic. There was vigorous growth of the green onion shoots and then more regrowth when I cut them. The onion gives up its strength to the new shoots, which is why I think the shoots grow so fast. The bulb itself will not be edible when the shoots stop growing. So if you like green onions and you have stored fall onions sprouting in your basement, this is a fun thing to do.

And it is awfully satisfying for the green thumb heart to watch something grow so fresh and green while the snow still lies on the ground here in northern B.C. In a recent article you were talking about great tomato varieties. Here in the Fort St. John area (the Prairies of British Columbia), I find the Cluster Grande (I get it through Lindenberg Seeds in Brandon, Man.) is a great one. It is early, very uniform, grows in clusters of five to six fruits that weigh four to five ounces each.

They keep well once stored and have even won me some prizes at our local fall fairs. Love your writings, Maya Wenger, Cecil Lake, B.C.

STORAGE TOMATOES If you grow any variety of storage tomatoes such as Long Keeper, Mystery Keeper, Graham’s Good Keeper and Peron, it’s not too late to start some. The best seeding dates this month are April 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 and 26, 2013.

… according to George that speaks for itself. “My wife asked me to put some rows of fibre, like some straw, in the soil so it wouldn’t be so hard. Then she was going to open rows and seed in between the straw. I had 17 old alfalfa bales that I spread on it. WELL! When I went to work it down with my 34-ft. heavy disc that was hopeless. So we moved the garden to another place. The next year I got enough dirt on it to be able to plant the seeds. Boy did we get a great crop of vegetables for the next five years. You could dig the potatoes with your hand. One hill had 25 lbs. of spuds in it and we never watered the potatoes. I think the alfalfa bales with no weeds in them are the best.”

On another note: “We had about five deer in the yard waiting for the corn to get big so I fixed that by putting mig welding wire around the garden about three feet high. I tied the wire to conduit pipe posts used by electricians or use small stick posts about one inch square and three to four feet long placed 50 feet apart. The deer come up to it and when the wire touches them they jump back as they can’t see the wire. I’ve done this for five years now and so far no deer in the garden. They used to use piano wire for the fence but you can buy a small roll of mig welding wire at Peavy Mart, Princess Auto and all welding stores. It is very fine, making it hard to see. Pull the wire as tight as you can.

I have since bought a threepoint-hitch rototiller eight ft. wide and 2,200 lbs. to work the garden. This doesn’t pack the ground as much as other ways of doing it. Keep in touch.”

George McKenzie †

This is Ted Meseyton the Singing Gardener and Grow-It Poet from Portage la Prairie, Man. Gardening and farming are great teachers. The real test for both the gardener and farmer and in life itself is not in keeping out of the rough spots. It’s in knowing how to get out of them after we are in. Life is fragile.

Handle with prayer. It helps and hinders no man or woman on their journey. Those who run from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day. My email address is singinggardener@mts.net.

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