Manitoba Co-operator, Dec. 15, 2011 by Farm Business Communications

LEARNING FROM THE PAST

FARMERS REDUCE FOOTPRINT

Rossburn couple promotes regional traditions » PAGE 34

Report shows environmental impact shrinking » PAGE 29

DECEMBER 15, 2011

SERVING MANITOBA FARMERS SINCE 1925 | VOL. 69, NO. 50

CWB: RULING

$1.75

MANITOBACOOPERATOR.CA

Meat plant progress

Federal plans for CWB in legal limbo

Proponents say construction could start in March

A defiant agriculture minister vows to press on By Allan Dawson

Keystone Processors changes its name but not its aim, while looking to confirm plant still kosher with producers

CO-OPERATOR STAFF

By Shannon Vanraes

CO-OPERATOR STAFF

parliamentar y expert says federal plans to change the Canadian Wheat Board are likely on hold until the courts have had their final say on last week’s ruling in favour of opponents. “The federal government can get the legislation through Parliament, but they won’t be able to implement it as long as it’s before the courts or the courts have agreed with the opponents,” said Ned Franks, who specializes in parliamentary procedure at Queens University. Federal Court Justice Douglas Campbell ruled Dec. 7 that Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz broke the Canadian Wheat Board Act by introducing into Parliament Bill C-18, the Marketing Freedom Act for Grain Farmers, which proposes firing the board’s farmer-elected directors and creating an open market as of Aug. 1, 2012. In a written decision Justice Campbell said under Section 47.1 Ritz had a statutory duty to first consult with the wheat board’s board of directors and get farmers’ approval for the change

new Winnipeg slaughter plant will go ahead despite the loss of $10 million in federal funding and an effort by Manitoba Beef Producers to end the voluntary $2 checkoff funding the project, according to its chief executive. “We are ready for shovels in the ground when we finish our financing, and when Mother Nature cooperates,” said Doug Cooper, president and CEO of ProNatur, formerly called Keystone Processors. “We’re expecting those two things to collide about the second week of March.” Cooper suggested that opposition to the project that surfaced at the Manitoba Beef Producers annual meeting didn’t reflect the views of a majority of the province’s cattle producers.

“They have every right to put in a resolution to lobby to do away with the checkoff and they did by a vote of 24 to 21,” said Cooper. “Now I don’t know if there are more than 50 cattle producers in Manitoba, but I’m betting there are.” But attendees at the Manitoba Forage Council’s recent annual Grazing School didn’t seem ready to rally around the project. “We’re not here to be antagonists,” Cooper told the unresponsive crowd, adding it’s time for producers to decide if they want the plant to go ahead. “This plant should be built if Manitoba producers want it, and the best way for them to say they want it is to continue the voluntary checkoff,” Cooper said. “And really it goes a step beyond that. Because this checkoff is voluntary, See MEAT PLANT on page 6 »

Butch Shadbolt (l) of ProNatur, and company CEO Doug Cooper, watch the ProNatur booth go up during the Manitoba Forage Council’s annual Grazing School. PHOTO: SHANNON VANRAES

Publication Mail Agreement 40069240

See CWB on page 6 »

COUNT US IN · DAIRY FARMERS SUPPORT MCEC PLAN » PAGE 3

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

INSIDE

on the lighter side

LIVESTOCK Making highquality forage no accident Everything from the seed, to harvest to storage factors in

CROPS

Prairie farmers are improving across the board

©thinkstock

A competitive edge in sustainability

Can humans claim the same?

FEATURE

In love with Jersey girls Dairy is a black and white world, unless you milk Jerseys

CROSSROADS Keeping the holidays safe Operation Red Nose comes to Arborg and Riverton

4 5 9 10

Editorials Comments What's Up Livestock Markets

Rats help each other alling someone a dirty, rotten rat isn’t considered a compliment. But saying they are as compassionate as one might be. Newly released research f r o m t h e Un i v e r s i t y o f C h i c a g o s h ow s ra t s a re demonstrably compassionate and helpful to other rodents. Compassion has traditionally been a trait associated with humans and higher primates. Rats, which love chocolate, routinely freed a fellow rat before chowing down on chocolate put there as a temptation to be a little selfish. “Basically they told us (freeing another rat) is as

important as eating chocolate,” study author Peggy Mason of the University of Chicago told the Associated Press. ”That’s a very striking thing.” Can humans make the same boast? In some cases, the rats took the chocolate chips out of the container, demonstrating they knew they were there, but they didn’t eat them until they had freed the other rat so they could share. The studies showed females demonstrated more empathy than male rats. All six females in the study freed their partner before eating, while 17 out of the 24 males

Rats, which love chocolate, routinely freed a fellow rat before chowing down on chocolate put there as a temptation to be a little selfish.

did. And, the male rats were less consistent, sometimes taking a day off from their compassionate duties. The female rats consistently freed their cage partner first.

Grain Markets Weather Vane Classifieds Sudoku

11 16 22 24

READER’S PHOTO

ONLINE Visit www.manitobacooperator.ca for daily news and features. Read the digital edition and search our archives for stories you’ve missed or want to read again. It’s easy. Go to the our website, select Digital Edition and then select Search Archives. You will need to use your MSER subscriber number (located on your paper edition’s label) the first time you log in.

www.manitobacooperator.ca Publisher Bob Willcox bob.willcox@fbcpublishing.com 204-944-5751

For Manitoba Farmers Since 1927 1666 Dublin Avenue

Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1 Tel: 204-944-5767 Fax: 204-954-1422

www.manitobacooperator.ca Member, Canadian Circulation Audit Board, Member, Canadian Farm Press Association, Member, Canadian Agri-Marketing Association

CANOLA INK

Associate Publisher/ Editorial Director John Morriss john.morriss@fbcpublishing.com 204-944-5754 Editor Laura Rance laura@fbcpublishing.com 204-792-4382 Managing Editor Dave Bedard daveb@fbcpublishing.com 204-944-5762 Director of Sales & Circulation Lynda Tityk lynda.tityk@fbcpublishing.com 204-944-5755 Production Director Shawna Gibson shawna@fbcpublishing.com 204-944-5763

photo: lenore berry

NEWS STAFF Reporters

ADVERTISING SERVICES

SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES

Allan Dawson allan@fbcpublishing.com 204-435-2392

Classified Advertising: Monday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Phone (204) 954-1415 Toll-free 1-800-782-0794

Toll-Free 1-800-782-0794 U.S. Subscribers call: 1-204-944-5568 E-mail: subscription@fbcpublishing.com Subscription rates (GST Registration #85161 6185 RT0001)

ADVERTISING CO-ORDINATOR Arlene Bomback ads@fbcpublishing.com 204-944-5765

Canada 12 months – $49.00 (incl. GST) 24 months – $86.50 (incl. GST)

Shannon VanRaes shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com 204-954-1413 Lorraine Stevenson lorraine@fbcpublishing.com 204-745-3424 Daniel Winters daniel.winters@fbcpublishing.com 204-720-8120

NATIONAL ADVERTISING James Shaw jamesshaw@rogers.com 416-231-1812 RETAIL ADVERTISING Terry McGarry trmcgarr@mts.net 204-981-3730

USA 12 months – $150.00 (US funds) Publications Mail Agreement #40069240 ISSN 0025-2239 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage for our publishing activities. Canadian Postmaster: Return undeliverable Canadian addresses (covers only) to:

Circulation Dept., 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, MB. R3H 0H1

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

No need to put lipstick on this pig Attendance up at annual hog industry event as higher prices put the shine back on pigs By Daniel Winters CO-OPERATOR STAFF / BRANDON

s t h e Ma n i t o b a h o g industry emerges from a long, dark tunnel, the mood at Hog Days could be described as one of “cautious optimism.” Although a good number of producers, especially the small independents, have dropped out after a number of years of abysmal prices, Manitoba Pork Council chair Karl Kynoch believes things are finally looking up. “I think there’s a lot more enthusiasm this year as prices are a lot better,” said Kynoch, who could be found at the MPC’s booth near the trade show in the Manitoba Room of the Keystone Centre. Although surviving pork producers are intent on grinding down debt accumulated over the bad years, the fact that hog prices have stayed positive this fall may indicate better days to come. Pork traditionally slumps in the fall, but throughout November and December, prices have held at the breakeven point. “That’s the lowest time of the

Students from New Era school in Brandon check out a Hog Talk station hosted by provincial swine specialist Robin Harte as part of the Manitoba Hog-tacular Field Trip. PHOTO: DANIEL WINTERS

year, so we’re looking at some decent margins next summer,” he said, adding that even though there is a lot of debt to pay back, producers are finally confident enough to start reinvesting in repairs and upgrades.

COOL victory

Canada’s recent victory at the World Trade Organization over countr y-of-origin labelling (COOL) requirements imposed by the United States are another reason to feel better about raising hogs, but Kynoch expects

more battles down the road, particularly if the U.S. decides to appeal the ruling. David Stead, chair of the Hog Days committee, who operates Stead’s Farm Supply, said that attendance at this year’s event was up. The lean years took their toll on attendance, and he described the turnout on the first day of the two-day event as the best he’d seen in four years. “With the hog industry now, everything is big. It’s either the Hutterites or the big players like

Continued support for checkoff Winnipeg processing plant needed by Manitoba dairy industry By Shannon VanRaes CO-OPERATOR STAFF

T h e D a i r y Fa r m e r s o f Manitoba (DFM) have voted to continue supporting the voluntary checkoff program. Thirty-four voting DFM members unanimously supported the resolution during the organization’s annual general meeting held at the Manitoba Dairy Conference in Winnipeg. The organization has approximately 350 members overall. “They see a positive vision... that there is going to be some slaughter capacity in Manitoba and the benefits that go with it,” said David Wiens, DFM chairman and a director with the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council (MCEC). MCEC is funded by the $2 checkoff and is the originator of ProNatur, the group contracted to design and build a new processing plant in Winnipeg, previously know as Keystone Processors.

The resolution noted cull rates on Manitoba Dair y Farms is at approximately 35 per cent according to Canwest DHI statistics, and indicated that the Manitoba dair y industry needs new marketing options for animals to minimize disease risk and future trade disputes. Currently, cattle are shipped to Alberta or the U.S. for slaughter. “That’s a long haul for the cattle too, and it does raise transportation issues,” said Wiens. “It’s better for the cattle to have a shorter haul and it’s better for the producers as well in terms of what they would receive for their cattle.” Dairy farmers at the meeting were upbeat about the prospect of a new plant. “I think it’s very important that we have a place to market our cull cows and possibly get a little more out of them,” said Terry Park, who farms north of Winnipeg. As outlined in the resolution, the DFM will also lobby

Maple Leaf so you’re not going to get a big pile of people in here like other years,” said Stead. “It’s turned around. There were a lot of years it was pretty darn depressing.” Rhonda Copeland, who is secretary of the Hog Days committee, said that 2009 saw attendance bottom out at a time when the industry was “in the tank,” but added that numbers were up to around 500 visitors on the first day this year. A Make-and-Bake contest aimed at attracting women to the show saw 140 entries, she said, which was exceptional considering it was only introduced this year. “The guys that rode it out, they are doing OK now, so that helps,” said Copeland. Doug Redekop, who runs a 1,500-sow operation, said that corporations such as Maple Leaf, Puratone, and HyLife (formerly Hytek) now dominate the Manitoba scene. His operation, even at its scale, is now considered smallish, with corporate barns running around 3,000 sows. “There’s fewer and fewer independents actually growing livestock and in control of their destiny than ever before.” Redekop, who was manning

a booth for Palmlite, a provider of production hardware such as generators and pressure washers, added that consolidation isn’t restricted to the hog industry. Grain farms are getting larger, too, and support industries have had to get bigger to benefit from economies of scale.

Pinch is off

His impression from trade show visitors was that producers are feeling better about spending on their operations. Low prices in past years pinched even the big players. Maple Leaf’s manager of business optimization, David Kraut, who gave a presentation on benchmarking using a software program called Agristats as a strategy for improving production practices, said that the corporation had downsized three years ago from 110,000 sows in 2006 to 34,000 currently in 14 barns operated by 150 staff. Feed grain prices are still high, but they have fallen enough to hearten producers, he said. Maple Leaf has benefited from a hedging strategy based on forward contracting, too. “I’d say things look fairly promising,” he said. daniel.winters@fbcpublishing.com

Identify your premises. Reduce your risk.

Apply for the Manitoba Premises ID Program today. As an agricultural producer, you know you cannot predict what tomorrow might bring. That is why you should protect your investment by identifying your land with the Manitoba Premises ID Program. This program links livestock and poultry to geographic locations for responding to emergencies. Premises Identification: • allows for rapid notification of livestock and poultry stakeholders • helps prepare for animal health and food safety emergencies such as disease or flood • reduces the impact of an emergency

David Wiens

PHOTO: SHANNON VANRAES

the provincial government to provide support to the establishment of the federally inspected beef slaughter and processing facility. The federal government withdrew $10 million in funding earlier this year.

Protect Your Industry – Animal health emergencies often occur suddenly and can threaten entire industries. By identifying your premises, you can assist in the actions needed to protect these animals from the effect of an emergency. It’s fast. It’s easy. It’s free. Premises Identification is easy and there is no charge. Contact your local Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives GO Office or visit

manitoba.ca/agriculture/pid.

shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

CANTERRA 1980 – An early bird hybrid superstar bursting with yield potential! Our exceptional canola varieties crush the competition with unrelenting yield momentum, unsurpassed standability and outstanding seed genetics.

MAFRI - Premises ID Publication: Manitoba Cooperator Find out more at Ad size: 4" x 85 lines Insertion date: Thurs, Nov 17, Dec 1, DecShutTheSellUp.com 15, Jan 5, Jan 19, Feb 2, Feb 23, Mar 15

Can you find a seed company about the seed and not the sell?

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

OPINION/EDITORIAL

The courts and government

here were some who were surprised by last week’s Federal Court ruling that the federal government has indeed broken the law by eliminating the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly without consulting farmers — including a few newspaper editors. Many said the court challenge put forward by the Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board, the board and a group of Laura Rance third-party interveners was a waste of time Editor and money. Justice Douglas Campbell disagreed, calling the government’s actions an “affront to the rule of law.” It is important to note that the ruling was not against Bill C-18, which the government is still hoping to have passed before the year’s end. The court has not ruled that the government can’t change the law, only that it must abide by the law in doing so. Campbell outlines why in an extensive, well-reasoned analysis citing a recent finding by the chief justice of the Alberta Court of Appeal Catherine Fraser. “The greatest achievement through the centuries of evolution in democratic governance has been constitutionalism and the rule of law. The rule of law is not the rule of bylaws, where citizens are bound to comply with the laws and the government is not,” she wrote. “Under the rule of law, citizens have the right to come to the courts to enforce the law as against the executive branch… The right in the hands of the people is not a threat to democratic governance but its very assertion. Accordingly, the executive branch of government is not its own exclusive arbiter of whether it or its delegatee is acting with the limits of the law. “The detrimental consequences of the executive branch of government defining for itself, and by itself, the scope of its lawful power have been revealed, often bloodily, in the tumult of history.” In Section 47:1, the existing Canadian Wheat Board legislation requires a consultative and democratic process that respects the wishes of farmers through the elected board of directors governing the CWB. “Section 47:1 speaks, it says ‘engage in a consultative process and work together to find a solution’,” Campbell wrote in his decision. “The change process is threatening and should be approached with caution. Generally speaking, when advancing a significant change to an established management scheme, the failure to provide a meaningful opportunity for dissenting voices to be heard and accommodated forces resorting to legal means to have them heard. In the present piece, simply pushing ahead without engaging such a process has resulted in the present applications being launched. Had a meaningful consultative process been engaged to find a solution which meets the concerns of the majority, the present legal action might not have been necessary,” he said. In other words, it didn’t have to go this way. Had the Harper government chose a less belligerent, more collaborative path, there was time in its mandate to develop a grain-marketing strategy that might well have included a transition to open marketing. The Canadian Wheat Board’s own plebiscite showed farmers are almost ready to make that move on barley. The government had the parliamentary — and legal — tools with which to move the industry in a new direction. Instead, it chose a high-handed approach laced with disrespect for farmers who don’t share its views, for Parliament and ultimately Canadian law. Justice Campbell also had this to say: “The second, most important effect is that the minister will be held accountable for his disregard for the rule of law.” Just how Ritz will be held accountable isn’t clear. While one editorial writer around these offices spent the better part of last week eating crow for writing that the court challenge was a waste of time, the Harper government should have been eating humble pie. Instead, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is shamelessly defiant. On one hand, he is appealing the ruling in an effort to get the law on his side. But if he fails at that, he’s going to ignore the law and proceed with his agenda anyway. The significance of this extends far beyond the business of selling wheat and barley in Western Canada. This ruling may not change the outcome of the CWB debate, but whether it realizes it or not, it is a huge embarrassment to the Harper government. There is no denying government by democracy is slow and ponderous. It is riddled with inefficiency and seemingly endless checks and balances. But the alternatives are far worse. A civil society doesn’t function very well if individuals or the government are only bound by the laws with which they agree. History is full of examples of leaders who espouse law and order, but who hold no respect for the law. It doesn’t view them kindly. laura@fbcpublishing.com

Contingency fund not farmers’ money By Jeff Nielsen

tatements regarding the recent increase to the CWB’s contingency fund once again point to the seriousness of misleading information being promoted by the “group of eight” directors of the Canadian Wheat Board. T h e b o a rd s u b m i t t e d a re q u e s t t o Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz in the spring of 2011 to increase the contingency fund ceiling to $90 million. This initial increase was made for crop year 2010-11 and since then, it became apparent that another request would be needed to ensure the amount allowed into the contingency fund would accommodate the 2011-12 crop year. These funds are generated when farmers sign up to use the PPOs (producer payment options) and are fees for risk management to ensure the fulfilment of contractual obligations. The programs were introduced due to a call from producers for the ability to market their wheat or barley outside of the pool accounts. These programs attempt to mimic an open market while maintaining the single-desk status of the CWB. Substantial use of these PPO programs shows that producers understand and accept that a basis that includes fees for risk and administration is the cost of doing business in the PPO programs. With that being said, it should be fully acknowledged that any excesses or profits incurred by the CWB in its execution of those contracts belong to the CWB. This is really no different than if a producer signs any commodity contract with any other player in the grain trade in Western Canada. Since these are not transactions done in any of the pool accounts, there should not be a transfer of excess funds from the contingency fund into the pool accounts.

OUR HISTORY:

Any suggestion that the excess in the contingency fund should go into the general pool accounts is false and goes against the policy in place that the board of directors and management has accepted and supported all along. The funds generated are the property of the corporation (the CWB) and must be protected from the “group of eight” who show contempt for producers who participate in PPO programs. It can be argued that the costs associated with these programs are excessively high. However, due to serious losses the CWB incurred in the PPO programs back in crop year 2007-08, changes to how the CWB administered the PPO program had to be implemented. Increasing the fees for risk management was prudent to ensure that there would not be a repeat of the losses experienced in the 200708 crop year. With marketing freedom, no doubt the CWB will have to adjust the options offered to farmers to make them more competitive with the grain trade. As to the excessive television, Internet, print media focused on Eastern Canada — even passing postcards out in Toronto subways — it once more proves that this group of individuals is not focused on representing western Canadian farmers. The board did not hold a vote to allocate $1.4 million for the ad campaign. Taking extreme liberties with board decisions shows how dysfunctional these eight directors have become. And furthermore it shows how they have broken the code of conduct directors of the CWB are supposed to follow. It’s time to move forward. It is time to allow our farms, businesses, communities, to have a strong future in all aspects of agriculture. Jeff Nielsen resigned as a farmer-elected director of the Canadian Wheat Board in October.

June 30, 1955

he Co-operator’s June 30, 1955 issue had news of a planned Manitoba vegetable-marketing board, and the announcement of a new $650,000 “Rust Lab” in Winnipeg to breed varieties resistant to some of the devastating rust strains of the early 1950s. In the U.S., 77.5 per cent of wheat producers had voted in favour of retaining strict wheat-marketing quotas, and our editorial commented favourably on that move to relieve a world wheat glut. Our classified section featured 30 good Yorkshire weanlings for $8 each, a John Deere D tractor on rubber for $450, and a Massey-Harris 12-foot rod weeder for $85. One of the 37 resolutions approved at the annual meeting of the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Association asked the national party executive to delete “progressive” from the party name.

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

COMMENT/FEEDBACK

Global warming: The argument versus assessing the risks By Daryll E. Ray

Letters

he United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) convened in Durban, South Africa on Nov. 28, 2011. The convention was the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UNFCCC that brought together representatives of the world’s governments, international organizations, and civil society. The deliberations were made all the more urgent by a report by the World Meteorological Organization ( WMO) on the second day of the meeting that 2011 is one of the warmest on record, despite the occurrence of a La Niña event that exerts a cooling influence on weather. In addition, the report said that the 2011 extent of Arctic sea ice was the second lowest on record. At the present time, it appears that the debate about climate change has moved from whether or not it is happening to one of whether or not it is caused by human activity or is the result of natural processes. The purpose of this column is not

We welcome readers’ comments on issues that have been covered in the Manitoba Co-operator. In most cases we cannot accept “open” letters or copies of letters which have been sent to several publications. Letters are subject to editing for length or taste. We suggest a maximum of about 300 words. Please forward letters to Manitoba Co-operator, 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, R3H 0H1 or Fax: 204-954-1422 or email: news@fbcpublishing.com (subject: To the editor)

Why should farmers have to pay? As a mixed farmer, with grain being the largest income, I have become sadly resigned to the fact that the CWB with its single desk will be gone. I say this because firstly, this present government, as wrong as they may be, are holding the trump card: their majority in Parliament. Secondly, I know that the CWB needs two items to be sustainable and effective. One is the single desk and the other is the blessing and co-operation of the government. Regardless of what the courts say, for anyone to believe that this government would co-operate with the CWB with a single desk, is sheer folly. Having said that, there are consequences of this Bill C-18 that leave myself and other Prairie farmers feeling very unfairly treated. The federal government wants to hand each and every grain farmer in Western Canada a bill of more than $7,000 to pay for the destruction of the CWB’s single desk. Perhaps if farmers had a say in the decision to end the CWB, it would be fair to ask us to foot the bill. But we didn’t have a say. The government plowed ahead unilaterally. The government’s plan is to expropriate the contingency fund and a number

to argue about the science. Rather our concern is what should farmers make of all of this and what impact might it have on their operations. Continued global warming could have a significant impact on agricultural production and where certain crops are grown. We are told that we will see an increase in extreme weather events — longer droughts in traditionally droughty areas, an increase in heavy rain events, and a shifting of crop zones nor thward so that Canada and Russia might produce more corn and soybeans, while U.S. and EU farmers will have to shift to warmseason varieties and warm-season crops. This brings us to a set of questions that we often ask. One, “suppose the WMO is correct and we are experiencing anthropogenic (human caused) climate change and we do nothing, what is the worst thing that can happen?” Two, “suppose we engage in activities to mitigate human-caused climate change and it turns out that human activity has nothing to do with the rise in global temperatures and

decrease in Arctic sea ice that we are seeing?” In the first case, by not reducing carbon emissions in our farming operations and not engaging in farming practices that increase carbon sequestration in our soils we contribute directly to global warming. In addition, by turning away from farming practices that increase carbon sequestration — practices that also increase the ability of the soil to resist erosion and increase the absorption of water — we put ourselves at risk of increased erosion during the fewer, but heavier rain events that are predicted. In addition, we may be unprepared for the shift in crop mix and the associated infrastructure that would be required. On the other hand, if we reduce our use of fossil fuels and engage in farming practices that sequester carbon in our soils, and it turns out that global warming is the hoax that some claim it to be, what is the worst thing that can happen? We have spent less money on increasingly expensive fossil fuel. We have created a soil that has greater

carbon content and an increased ability to hold water and other plant nutrients. Our yields may be down a little, but our costs are lower as well. And the infrastructure that we have built up to handle our present crop mixes still works well. Part of our response to issues where the answers might not be as clear as we would want them to be is to understand that our response needs to be an engagement in risk assessment, looking at the worstcase scenarios and determining which set of risks we want to take and how we respond. At this time, not all farmers agree on the science behind climate change, but all need to engage in a risk assessment exercise and determine what response they are going to make on their farm. To do nothing is to make a choice.

of sizable assets to help pay the costs of getting rid of the current CWB. The contingency fund is currently sitting at about $120 million. The Conservative government recently upped the contingency fund cap to $200 million — meaning this government could potentially grab up to $200 million from the fund to help pay for the dismantling of the CWB. The government would also take about $137 million in assets, including a fleet of 3,400 rail hopper cars and the CWB office building in Winnipeg. In addition, farmers will have paid $28 million — or nearly half the cost — of two new laker vessels by Aug. 1, 2012. The government plans to hijack these ships, meaning farmers will never receive the long-term revenue and cost-saving benefits the ships would have generated. Add it all up, and it comes to a reasonable estimate of more than $365 million — money that should rightfully be returned to farmers, not used to finance the government’s decision to remove the single desk and set up a government-controlled grain company in an open-market environment. The majority of farmers clearly oppose the dismantling of the single desk. So why should we have to pay for it?

The producers in Ontario had a say in their marketing choice. An act of Parliament didn’t make that decision for us, we did. Democracy is at stake here, let’s be careful how we proceed, as this will have set a dangerous precedent and undermine our democracy.

Bill C-18 has a direct effect on my family farm business because it has a direct negative effect on my access to the wheat market. The single desk is the only thing that forces grain companies to buy from multiple farms. Grain companies would much rather buy from a few large farms and shut the rest out of the business. The obvious result of Bill C-18 will be to create a rapid consolidation of wheat farms. Why should the Senate care? The free market works on the boomand-bust principle. When your daily bread is being grown on many farms, some are always booming while some are going bust and it all levels out to create a fairly stable food supply. Farm consolidation means that all that wheat production is going to boom or bust at the same time. The Canadian Wheat Board stabilizes bread wheat production by giving Canada’s Prairie wheat farmers an equal chance to sell wheat. Bill C-18 destroys the CWB equal access, and so farmers sell out and farms consolidate. It happened to me once already. In the 1990s, I was making good money selling hogs in Manitoba. Our family farm was extremely efficient. We were just expanding production when the hog single desk was ended. Our farm was a lowest-cost producer and I could outcompete anyone on price, efficiency and quality. But all that did not matter without the single desk because the hog buyers wanted less paperwork. They stopped buying from us, and from all of my neighbours. The loss of the single desk shut down 94 per cent of hog farms in Manitoba. Without CWB equal market access, most of us will get shut out of grain sales. There is every reason to expect the wheat business to follow the same pattern we saw in hogs. Canada’s farm economy will be almost fully converted away from family farms and Canada will be the poorer for it.

William L. Acheson, Somerset, Man.

Ontario farmers got a vote The following is an excerpt from a written submission to the Senate about Bill C-18. This should have serious scrutiny, and not just passed in haste. If it’s so true what Minister Ritz is saying that many farmers want the single desk removed, why is he so afraid of a producer vote? I honestly believe that he only represents a minority of farmers.

Edward Cikatricis Ridgetown, Ont.

The Ritz sidestep My wife says that I don’t know how to do the two-step and that I step on her toes all the time. Maybe I should take dance lessons from Gerry Ritz who seems pretty adept at the sidestep. He sidestepped his ministerial obligation under S. 47.1 of the CWB Act, and introduced Bill C-18 without consulting producers. The Friends of the CWB took Gerry and his gang to court and Justice Douglas Campbell ruled that the government’s action amounted to a breach of the law and “an affront to the rule of law.” Will Gerry, Steve and friends yield the dance floor to the courts? I think not. It’s not too long ago that the Reform people were expressing their fear and contempt for the judicial system. Stepping on the toes of farmers is one thing but stepping on the toes of the judiciary is quite another. Gerry had better practise some new moves before he ends up in the Supreme Court. Duncan Geisler Ashern, Man.

CWB loss will hurt family farmers The following is an excerpt from a written submission to the Senate. Kate Storey was denied time to appear before the committee studying Bill C-18.

Daryll E. Ray holds the Blasingame Chair of Excellence in Agricultural Policy, Institute of Agriculture, University of Tennessee, and is the director of UT’s Agricultural Policy Analysis Center (APAC). Harwood D. Schaffer is a research assistant professor at APAC. (865) 974-7407; Fax: (865) 974-7298; dray@utk.

Kate Storey Grandview, Man.

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

FROM PAGE ONE MEAT PLANT Continued from page 1

CWB Continued from page 1

they can request this money back, so if Manitoba producers want this they will leave it in.” Cooper urged producers who support the plant to contact Stan Struthers, minister of Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, and voice their support. The voluntary $2 checkoff was created to finance the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council, which was formed in the wake of the BSE crisis, with the province matching funds. The council changed its name to Keystone Processors Ltd. after merging with producer-owned Natural Prairie Beef Inc. in 2008, but due to potential brand confusion south of the border, the company has now been rechristened ProNatur. It wants to build a 63,000-square-foot plant on Marion Street in east Winnipeg capable of processing 250 animals a day. The plant has been designed so it can easily increase capacity to 500 animals a day. “It’s a good thing for the area,” says plant designer Jim Mitchell. “Everyone says, ‘Look at the big guy, you can’t com-

pete with him.’ But I’m telling you I’ve run all kinds of small plants and you can.” A major element of its business plan is to process kosher and halal beef, which requires having religious personnel on site to ensure cows are slaughtered in a way prescribed by Jewish and Muslim dietary laws. “In fact, 31 per cent of our throughput is planned to be (a) religious harvest,” said Cooper. He added meat processed at the plant would be shipped to three different continents. “There is a huge demand for this,” he said. Cooper said the plant will process at a slower pace to allow time for the religious certification to occur, but will be able to command a substantial premium for kosher and halal beef. He said the project has secured $18 million in funding from RBC, and is negotiating with private investors and venture capitalists to replace the $10 million in funding withdrawn by the federal government this summer. The company is also contacting beef

Jim Mitchell, ProNatur director of operations, speaks to a producer about the planned Marion St. processing plant during the Manitoba Forage Council’s annual Grazing School. PHOTO: SHANNON VANRAES

producers to line up a supply of cattle. “We hope to identify these niche markets and offer people an array of programs to choose from, and also develop relationships right through the chain,” said Butch Shadbolt, director of producer relations. shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

new eVeReST 2.0. RelenTleSS on weedS. eaSy on wheaT. ®

through a plebiscite. His failure to do so “is an affront to the rule of law,” Justice Campbell wrote. The case is likely headed for the Supreme Court of Canada, said Peter Russewll, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto. He is among those questioning whether C-18 will receive royal assent until appeals have been exhausted. Asking the Governor General to grant the bill royal assent puts the Queen’s representative in an awkward position, Russell said in an interview. “ The Federal Cour t r uling doesn’t make the law itself unconstitutional but makes the introduction of it into Parliament illegal,” he said. “I’m sure (Governor General) David Johnston is thinking about this. He has a legal background and a good legal mind. I hope he has some good people to talk to. He certainly has to make a judgment call.” While Johnston doesn’t have to sign a bill into law, effectively vetoing it, that has never happened in modern times. Russell agreed Johnston would prefer the government not ask him to give C-18 royal assent until the appeals have been exhausted. The ruling, which the government is appealing, doesn’t prevent C-18 from passing, which was expected to clear the Senate this week. However, opponents of the legislation say they will ask the courts to declare the law invalid because it was introduced illegally.

A new formulation with advanced safener technology built in gives new EVEREST® 2.0 an extra measure of crop safety in a wide range of conditions. EVEREST 2.0 is easy on wheat, but relentless on weeds, giving you Flush after flush™ control of green foxtail, wild oat and key broadleaf weeds. It’s highly concentrated, so you’ll use less product. And with a flexible application window and exceptional tank mixability, nothing is easier to use.

“Well, we fundamentally disagree with the declaration of the court in this particular situation.”

EVEREST 2.0. What a difference one generation can make.

RelenTleSS on weedS

eaSy on wheaT

wIde wIndow oF aPPlICaTIon

TReaT MoRe wITh leSS

GERRY RITZ

InCReaSed yIeld PoTenTIal

Minister of agriculture

“It’s the fruit of a poison tree,” said Anders Bruun, the lawyer representing the Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board, one of the groups that took Ritz to court. All Federal Court rulings are automatically eligible for appeal to the Federal Court of Appeal. The next avenue of appeal is the Supreme Court of Canada, which must grant leave to appeal before a case will be heard. The wheat board debate has expanded beyond the single desk versus an open market to include the rule of law, the role of the judiciary and Parliament and democracy itself, Bruun said.

To learn more, visit www.everest2-0.ca Always read and follow label directions. EVEREST and the EVEREST 2.0 logo are registered trademarks of Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC “Flush after flush” is a trademark of Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC. Arysta LifeScience and the Arysta LifeScience logo are registered trademarks of Arysta LifeScience Corporation. ©2012 Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC. ESTC-162

Continues on next page » ESTC-162 Everest20Launch_MB Cooperator_8.125X10.indd 1

1•403• 930 •4000 EXT: 1932

ConTaCT: JEN

CLIEnT: Everest

Job #: ESTC-162

VERSIon: F

SIzE: 8.125 x 10

CoLouRS: 4

DaTE: Nov. 24/11

11-12-09 12:58 PM

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

Continued from previous page.

The other groups that went to court against Ritz were the wheat board itself, the Producer Car Shippers of Canada, Council of Canadians, ETC Group, Public Service Alliance of Canada and Food Secure Canada. Wheat board chair Allen Oberg said the board is considering all legal options to force the government to let farmers decide the board’s mandate as outlined under 47.1. Ritz remained defiant in the face of the ruling and prospect of more legal action. “Well, we fundamentally disagree with the declaration of the court in this particular situation,” he told reporters Dec. 7. “I can tell you at the end of the day, this (court) declaration will have no effect on continuing to move forward for freedom for western Canadian farmers. “Let me be clear: we will never reconsider western wheat and barley farmers’ fundamental right to market their own wheat and barley.” That was welcome news to open market supporters, including the Grain Growers of Canada and Western Canadian Wheat Growers Assocation. T h e y s a y t h e g over nment should push ahead. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture issued a release calling on the government to consult with farmers. The National Farmers Union called for Ritz’s resignation. The Keystone Agricultural Producers issued a release saying the uncertainty created by the court challenges is causing farmers to miss out on marketing opportunities. “From the onset of this transition process, KAP has advocated for meaningful consultation with farmers and farm groups. Additional stakeholder engagement may have helped reduce apprehension throughout this process,” president Doug Chorney said. Contrary to Justice Campbell’s interpretation, Ritz said he believes Section 47.1 only requires the government to consult when adding or removing crops to or from the board’s single desk and not when eliminating the single desk altogether. “We still are convinced that Parliament has the right to introduce, amend or appeal legislation, period,” Ritz said. On that point, Bruun agrees. Ju s t i c e Ca m p b e l l ’s r u l i n g doesn’t undermine the supremacy of Parliament, he said, but it does confirm the minister is not above the law. “The government, in not complying with the law, is taking a step down the road to anarchy,” he said. “There was a right way to make this change and the government didn’t do it.” Wheat board suppor ters allege the government didn’t hold a plebiscite because a majority of farmers would have voted to keep the single desk. In the board’s plebiscite last summer, 62 per cent voted to keep the monopoly for wheat and 51 per cent for barley. The government contends collective r ights shouldn’t trump those of the individual. However, earlier court rulings

have found a compulsory single desk is legal. Observers say the government could have amended the current wheat board act to remove Section 47.1 and then repealed the act, ending the single desk without having to consult. When asked why the government doesn’t do that now, Ritz said: “Well, by repealing the act, you get two birds with one stone.” Oberg said the wheat board’s actions have been vindicated. It wants the government to hold a vote now. “If they had chosen to take that path to begin with a lot of farmer money and a lot of taxpayer money could have been saved,” he said. The Friends of Canadian Wheat Board launched its legal challenge before the government introduced C-18 but the government went ahead anyway. As a result any mar-

ket uncertainty is the government’s fault, according to Oberg. Proper process is important to democracy, Russell said. “When you hurry the whole process and don’t have adequate deliberations and... if you just brush that aside you’re really not respecting the parliamentary process,” he said. Government lawyers argued Ju s t i c e C a m p b e l l ’s r u l i n g would be moot because it couldn’t stop C-18 from passi n g . Bu t Ju s t i c e Ca m p b e l l wrote his ruling has two “meaningful effects.” One is to reveal the lesson that consulting, as the law required, could have avoided court action. “The second and most important effect is that the minister will be held accountable for his disregard for the rule of law.” allan@fbcpublishing.com

Wheat Board Chair Allen Oberg speaking to reporters outside Federal Court in Winnipeg Dec. 6. PHOTO: ALLAN DAWSON

MYTH To grow the highest yielding canola, I have to put up with cleavers and perennial weeds.

FACT Some of the highest yielding hybrids today have the superior weed control of Genuity® Roundup Ready®systems. Don’t compromise. Get all the yield potential plus superior weed control of Genuity Roundup Ready systems. The latest Genuity Roundup Ready canola and InVigor® canola hybrids were compared in 2011 trials* and the results are in! Genuity Roundup Ready has a win rate of over 55%. Along with the superior weed control from Genuity Roundup Ready systems, you get the top performance you’re looking for with higher yield potential and cleaner fields. Leave the myths behind. See your local retailer for details, or go to www.genuitycanola.ca.

*Source: 2011 Monsanto FACT™ trials. Genuity Roundup Ready represented by 73-75 RR; InVigor® by L150.

Individual results may vary, and performance may vary from location to location and from year to year. This result may not be an indicator of results you may obtain as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible. Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through StewardshipSM (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. This product has been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through StewardshipSM is a service mark of Excellence Through Stewardship. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Genuity®, Genuity and Design®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup WeatherMAX®, and Roundup® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC, Monsanto Canada, Inc. licensee. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2011 Monsanto Canada, Inc. 10460C-GEN Myth Ads-MBCoop.indd 1

11/25/11 9:56 AM

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

Farm and food groups welcome regulatory co-operation with the U.S. Industry leaders say the bid to harmonize regulations, cut red tape and allow for freer movement of goods will help both farmers and the economy By Alex Binkley CO-OPERATOR CONTRIBUTOR / OTTAWA

ar m groups and food industry associations have high hopes for a border streamlining and regulatory harmonization agreement announced last week by Prime Minister Harper and President Obama. Farm and food issues are “front and centre in this proposal,” said Ron Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. “The economic benefits that will come from regulatory reform will significantly improve the business opportunities for Canadian farmers and subsequently, further drive the Canadian economy,” said Bonnett.

“Unnecessary barriers and outdated regulations hamper trade possibilities and economic growth. If we want our farmers, agri-food businesses and all those along the agricultural value chain to innovate and advance in markets, we need to provide them with the proper environment.” The border plan has two components: The Action Plan for Perimeter Security and E c o n o m i c C o m p e t i t i ve n e s s includes pilot projects and indepth consultations to develop pre-clearance measures to facilitate trade and the flow of goods. The Action Plan on Regulatory Co-operation will look for ways to reduce trade barriers by aligning regulatory practices covering agriculture, food, transportation, chemi-

cal management and environmental protection, including food safety and pesticide policies. One of the first pilots will begin in April when the countries launch a trusted trader program for Canadian processed food companies and U.S. pharmaceutical companies. In June, the fresh meat industry will become involved in a pre-clearance project. By the end of the year, Canadian and American officials are to prwepare plans for validating the food inspection regimes of countries supplying North America and auditing their export plants. With more than 60 per cent of Canada’s agricultural and agri-food products exported to the U.S., industry leaders here

THINKSTOCK.COM

were quick to praise the deal’s emphasis on agriculture and food. “Working proactively to iron

If it’s ag we finance it Local office 1-800-387-3232

“We were looking for a partner and met the right combination with FCC.” Jim and Nancy Wert See their story and others at www.fcc.ca/advancing

10/11-17142-3C

17142_3C FCC Wert_8.125x10.indd 1

10/27/11 1:42 PM

out regulations that affect farmers on both sides of the border is simply good common sense for everyone involved – farmers, agri-industry and c o n s u m e r s,” s a i d St e p h e n Vandervalk, president of the Grain Growers of Canada. “Initiatives relating to food safety and plant protection show that both Canada and the U.S. see benefits to regulatory co-operation in these areas,” said Canola Council of Canada president JoAnne Buth. The agreement addresses financial risk mitigation tools, crop-protection product approvals, a perimeter approach to plant protection and common approaches t o f o o d s a f e t y, w h i c h a re “exactly what industr y has been seeking for many years,” said Jack Bates, president of the Canadian Horticultural Council. “This is a good day and our industry is committed to working with officials to ensure successful implementation of the action initiatives.” Regulator y harmonization just makes sense, said Travis Toews, president of t h e Ca n a d i a n Ca t t l e m e n’s Association. “Every time a regulation or a regulator’s interpretation of a requirement is different in Canada than it is in the U.S.… presents a barrier or an additional unnecessar y cost to doing business in each other’s countries,” said Toews. The Canadian Pork Council also welcomed the bid to get rid of “unnecessary regulatory divergences,” said chairman Jurgen Preugschas. The Canadian Meat Council also found positives in the deal. “Food safety is the most important priority of the meat industry,” said counc i l p re s i d e n t S c o t t E n t z . “Unfortunately, some of the measures in place today divert v a l u a b l e g ov e r n m e n t a n d industry resources to activities that increase costs while not enhancing food safety.” Nancy Croitoru, head of Food & Consumer Products of Canada, called regulatory harmonization “an exciting and much-needed step forward” while Christopher Kyte, president of Food Processors of Canada, said the agreement has “tremendous potential to smooth out trade irritants with the U.S.”

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

WHAT'S UP Please forward your agricultural events to daveb@fbcpublish ing.com or call 204-944-5762. Dec. 13 and 20: Canada/ Manitoba Environmental Farm Planning workshop Nos. 1 and 2, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Dauphin. For more info or to pre-register call MAFRI at 204-622-2007. Dec. 14 and 21: Canada/ Manitoba Environmental Farm Planning workshop Nos. 1 and 2, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Roblin. For more info or to pre-register call MAFRI at 204-937-6460. Dec. 15 and 22: Canada/ Manitoba Environmental Farm Planning workshop Nos. 1 and 2, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Ste. Rose du Lac. For more info or to pre-register call MAFRI at 204-447-4032. Jan. 5: Grain Information Day, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Selkirk Recreation Complex, 180 Easton Dr., Selkirk. Admission $10, lunch included. For more info or to pre-register call MAFRI at 204-4674700.

FNA seeks partnership with new CWB The company wants to work with the CWB to make the CWB work By Alex Binkley Co-operator contributor / ottawa

he Farmers of North America wants to help ensure the survival of the new Canadian Wheat Board, says Bob Friesen, vice-president of government affairs with FNA and a longtime former president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. “We want to help be the architects of a system that’s going to help farmers with cost competitiveness and help farmers maximize their profits,” he says in an interview. The organization has created a task force of experts in grain handling, rail service, marketing and producer car shipments to prepare its proposal for a partnership with the board. In a presentation to MPs, he noted that the government has promised financing guarantees for the new CWB and arranged

for cash advances. However, “farmers will need tools and assistance to successfully navigate the transition process. They will need ways to raise capital, make equity investments, market intelligence and business and market management to name a few. “There also has to be assurance of viable port position access and inland terminal access and we need to create and maintain a system within which we enable farmers to fit their individual marketing goals and producer car shipments into an already challenged and somewhat congested port handling system,” he adds. “We need to ensure that railways will continue to deliver and service producer cars in a way that is economically viable for farmers.” Friesen says it’s vital the new directors appointed by the government “have experience in

“We want to help be the architects of a system that’s going to help farmers with cost competitiveness and help farmers maximize their profits.” bob friesen, vice-president of government affairs with FNA

grain production and handling and in raising equity capital.” They also need a clear mandate. “It’s important the directors feel the weight of responsibility for making the new operation successful. “We need to also assist those farmers who want to take a greater role in the management and ownership of a new CWB to allow them to create a costeffective new grain company that will build and maintain competition in the system. And we need to ensure that a new board will have the incentive to transition the new CWB into a

viable company in the interest of all those producers who value it as an empowering market tool.” When the CWB debate began, the FNA leadership knew it had members on both sides of the fence and had to make the best of the situation, he says. The best option was to try to become “an architect in a system that will facilitate optimizing farmers’ revenue, reducing their costs, making sure they’re cost competitive, and empowering them in whatever grain-handling, transportation, and marketing environment we have.”

Jan. 7-14: Crop Production Week, Saskatoon Inn, 2002 Airport Dr. (and other locations), Saskatoon. For more info visit www.cropweek. com. Jan. 8-9: Manitoba Forage Seed Association conference, Victoria Inn, 1808 Wellington Ave., Winnipeg. To register call 204-3763309 or visit www.forageseed.net. Jan. 9-11: Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Till Farmers' Association annual workshop, Holiday Inn Riverside, 2200 Burdick Expwy. E., Minot, N.D. For more info visit mandakzerotill.org.

Breakthrough performance

Jan. 9-12: Western Canadian Crop Production Show, Prairieland Park, Saskatoon. For more info visit www.cropproductiononline.com. Jan. 17-19: Manitoba Ag Days, Keystone Centre, 1175-18th St., Brandon. For more info visit www. agdays.com.

Enhanced nodulation, excellent plant

January 23-27: 38th Grain Industry Overview Course, Canadian International Grains Institute, Winnipeg. For more info or to register visit www.cigi.ca. or visit www.canadianfga.ca.

growth, and extraordinary ROI.

Jan. 24-26: Red River Basin Land and Water International Summit Conference, Fort Garry Hotel, 222 Broadway, Winnipeg. For more info visit www.redriverbasincom mission.org or call 204-982-7250.

Technology®. This unique LCO molecule

Jan. 26-28: Canadian Beekeeping Convention, Fort Garry Hotel, 222 Broadway, Winnipeg. For more info visit http://manitobabee.org/ hive/.

Enhanced nutritional capabilities that

Optimize® combines a quality nitrogen inoculant with Novozymes’ LCO Promoter drives communication between the soybean plant and the nitrogen inoculant independent of soil conditions. The result? produce earlier, better nodulation and ultimately increased yields and higher ROI.

Feb. 9-10: University of Manitoba Transport Institute’s Supply Chain Connections conference: “The Mid-Continent Cold Chain,” Winnipeg. For more info or to register visit www.umti.ca.

LCO Promoter Technology

Feb. 15-17: Western Barley Growers Association annual convention, Deerfoot Inn and Casino, 1000-11500 35th St. SE, Calgary. For more info visit www.wbga.org. Feb. 21-23: Canadian Organic Science Conference, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. For more info visit www.oacc.info/cosc. March 9-10: Direct Farm Marketing Conference, Lakeview Resort, 10 Center St., Gimli. For more info visit www.directfarmma rketing.com or call 204-868-5152. March 19-23: 39th Grain Industry Overview Course, Canadian International Grains Institute, Winnipeg. For more info or to register visit www.cigi.ca.

Novozymes is the world leader in bioinnovation. Together with customers across a broad array of industries we create tomorrow’s industrial biosolutions, improving our customers’ business and the use of our planet’s resources. Read more at www.novozymes.com

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

LIVESTOCK MARKETS

EXCHANGES: December 9, 2011

$1 Cdn: $1.0201 U.S. $1 U.S: $0.98 Cdn.

COLUMN

Cattle Prices Winnipeg

(Friday to Thursday) Slaughter Cattle

December 9, 2011

Steers & Heifers $ — D1,2 Cows 52.00 - 60.00 D3 Cows 46.00 - 52.00 Bulls 64.00 - 79.75 Feeder Cattle (Price ranges for feeders refer to top-quality animals only) Steers (901+ lbs.) $ 100.00 - 133.00 (801-900 lbs.) 115.00 - 133.00 (701-800 lbs.) 120.00 - 136.00 (601-700 lbs.) 135.00 - 158.25 (501-600 lbs.) 140.00 - 166.50 (401-500 lbs.) 145.00 - 187.00 Heifers (901+ lbs.) 100.00 - 113.00 (801-900 lbs.) 110.00 - 115.00 (701-800 lbs.) 110.00 - 125.00 (601-700 lbs.) 115.00 - 126.00 (501-600 lbs.) 120.00 - 141.00 (401-500 lbs.) 125.00 - 172.25 Slaughter Cattle Grade A Steers Grade A Heifers D1, 2 Cows D3 Cows Bulls Steers

Heifers

Alberta South $ 115.45 - 117.75 115.45 - 116.50 61.00 - 74.00 52.00 - 65.00 86.00 $ 115.00 - 132.00 124.00 - 142.00 130.00 - 148.00 137.00 - 154.00 148.00 - 171.00 165.00 - 195.00 $ 108.00 - 125.00 115.00 - 130.00 118.00 - 135.00 125.00 - 141.00 132.00 - 153.00 140.00 - 170.00

($/cwt) (1,000+ lbs.) (850+ lbs.)

(901+ lbs.) (801-900 lbs.) (701-800 lbs.) (601-700 lbs.) (501-600 lbs.) (401-500 lbs.) (901+ lbs.) (801-900 lbs.) (701-800 lbs.) (601-700 lbs.) (501-600 lbs.) (401-500 lbs.)

Futures (December 8, 2011) in U.S. Fed Cattle Close Change December 2011 119.42 -2.48 February 2012 119.60 -4.12 April 2012 123.95 -2.90 June 2012 122.40 -3.45 August 2012 123.07 -2.83 October 2012 125.35 -2.85 Cattle Slaughter Canada East West Manitoba U.S.

Strength in cattle markets also spurs a rise in rustling Phil-Franz Warkentin CNSA

Ontario $ 113.65 - 123.55 103.33 - 123.05 50.46 - 69.04 50.46 - 69.04 62.87 - 80.30 $ 119.96 - 139.51 111.36 - 137.43 107.31 - 146.13 117.84 - 156.10 125.01 - 165.02 130.63 - 172.05 $ 107.81 - 121.82 112.60 - 129.41 114.85 - 135.47 108.14 - 140.97 115.44 - 147.27 124.78 - 154.05

Feeder Cattle January 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 August 2012 September 2012

Close 142.47 144.70 146.00 146.70 148.85 149.50

Change -3.63 -3.65 -3.57 -3.80 -3.05 -2.75

Cattle Grades (Canada)

Week Ending December 3, 2011 55,848 15,847 40,001 N/A 666,000

Previous Year 62,674 15,843 46,831 N/A 681,000

Week Ending December 3, 2011 416 19,969 18,869 927 1,098 10,038 535

Prime AAA AA A B D E

Previous Year 675 23,379 19,105 1,134 526 8,197 550

Hog Prices Source: Manitoba Agriculture

(Friday to Thursday) ($/100 kg) MB. ($/hog) MB. (All wts.) (Fri-Thurs.) MB. (Index 100) (Fri-Thurs.) ON (Index 100) (Mon.-Thurs.) P.Q. (Index 100) (Mon.-Fri.)

Current Week 163.00E 152.00E 158.35 163.00

Futures (December 8, 2011) in U.S. Hogs December 2011 February 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012

Last Week 168.64 155.86 157.92 162.31

Close 84.82 87.25 89.60 95.87 96.37

Last Year (Index 100) 136.98 125.45 127.18 127.39

Change -2.75 -3.02 -3.20 -2.93 -3.65

Other Market Prices Winnipeg Next Sale is December 15

Chickens Minimum broiler prices as of May 23, 2010 Under 1.2 kg................................... $1.5130 1.2 - 1.65 kg.................................... $1.3230 1.65 - 2.1 kg.................................... $1.3830 2.1 - 2.6 kg...................................... $1.3230

Turkeys Minimum prices as of December 11, 2011 Broiler Turkeys (6.2 kg or under, live weight truck load average) Grade A .................................... $1.925 Undergrade .............................. $1.835 Hen Turkeys (between 6.2 and 8.5 kg liveweight truck load average) Grade A .................................... $1.895 Undergrade .............................. $1.795 Light Tom/Heavy Hen Turkeys (between 8.5 and 10.8 kg liveweight truck load average) Grade A .................................... $1.895 Undergrade .............................. $1.795 Tom Turkeys (10.8 and 13.3 kg, live weight truck load average) Grade A..................................... $1.925 Undergrade............................... $1.840 Prices are quoted f.o.b. farm.

teady demand and strong prices remained the order of the day at Manitoba cattle yards during the week ended Dec. 9, as the last animals moving for the year continued to be met with good demand. “It’s like last-minute shopping,” said Robin Hill, of Heartland Livestock at Virden. With only one or two more sales to go before most yards shut down for Christmas and New Year’s, he said buyers were picking up cattle while they could. Volumes were starting to slow down a little, but were still on the large side for this time of year. Demand for feeder cattle came from both western and eastern feedlots, said Hill. Some cattle were also staying locally, he said. Lightweight feeders saw the most active demand, with steers topping out above $200 per hundredweight at a number of yards, and heifers bringing upward of $175. In the butcher market, Hill noticed a slight improvement on the week, with endof-year scrambling to make purchases also likely behind some of that strength. With the cattle market as strong as it is, there is some good money to be made in the sector. Anytime there’s a profit to be made, some Grinch inevitably tries to beat the system, and instances of cattle rustling have gone up with the strong prices. News reports over the past few weeks have touched on a number of cases of cattle rustling in the province, and Crime Stoppers is still looking for tips for at least one such case in the RM of Hanover. Cam Dahl, general manager of Manitoba Beef Producers, said the organization was

USDA strengthens fair-play rule Four “targeted” protections are added for livestock growers

Sheep and Lambs $/cwt Ewes Lambs (110+ lb.) (95 - 109 lb.) (80 - 94 lb.) (Under 80 lb.) (New crop)

Not many cattle shopping days left until Christmas

Toronto 108.41 - 130.71 191.49 - 218.96 211.07 - 229.02 214.24 - 233.82 231.80 - 295.41 147.50 - 280.00

SunGold Specialty Meats 40.00 - 65.00 Lambs —

Eggs Minimum prices to producers for ungraded eggs, f.o.b. egg grading station, set by the Manitoba Egg Producers Marketing Board effective June 12, 2011. New Previous A Extra Large $1.8500 $1.8200 A Large 1.8500 1.8200 A Medium 1.6700 1.6400 A Small 1.2500 1.2200 A Pee Wee 0.3675 0.3675 Nest Run 24 + 1.7490 1.7210 B 0.45 0.45 C 0.15 0.15

Goats Kids Billys Mature

Winnipeg ($/each) Next Sale is December 15

Toronto ($/cwt) 64.00 - 233.00 — 107.46 - 225.27

Horses 1,000 lbs. 1,000 lbs.+

Winnipeg ($/cwt) — —

Toronto ($/cwt) 15.58 - 28.10 16.33 - 23.80

washington / reuters / Poultry and hog farmers will gain more protection under U.S. rules intended to assure fair play in livestock marketing, said the Agriculture Department on Dec. 8 in finalizing an update to the rules. USDA adopted four rules that include provisions to determine if companies unfairly demand investments by farmers and whether farmers are given enough time to fix a problem and avoid termination of a contract. Two-thirds of hogs and 90 per cent of poultry are raised under contracts. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the rules will “help provide more fairness and transparency in the marketplace.” The new provisions take effect in 60 days. USDA began work on the rules in June 2010. The new rules are “a good first step”

“When they’re worth a lot less, people are stealing other things, I suppose.” cam dahl Manitoba Beef Producers

hearing reports of cattle being stolen from a number of different areas across the province. “The correlation is not difficult to find,” said Dahl, noting that “prices are going up, so cattle are becoming more valuable and the risk of cattle theft is also going up. “When they’re worth a lot less, people are stealing other things, I suppose,” he said, adding cattle are once again on the list of profitable things to steal. While talk of cattle rustling makes many people think of old western movies, “since the dawn of time, cattle rustlers have been very creative, and that has not gone away,” said Dahl. Since the Wild West days, there have been more checks and balances put in place that should deter some illegal activity, but Dahl said the incentives were large enough for thieves to work out ways to get around those safeguards. Increased vigilance is the best solution to thwart cattle rustlers, he said, and recommended producers make sure their tags are on their animals, among other precautions. Co-operation with the auction marts is also necessary, to keep rustling under control. “If people they don’t know, who have never sold cattle before, are suddenly bringing cattle to auction, hopefully questions are asked,” said Dahl. Phil Franz-Warkentin writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

but should not be the final step, said the National Farmers Union. “In choosing to prevent the competitive-injury portion of the rule from moving forward, Congress has clearly chosen to put the interests of large packers ahead of family farmers and ranchers,” said NFU, the second-largest U.S. farm group.

Sentenced to death beijing/ reuters / A Chinese court sentenced a woman to death and jailed her husband for life for lacing milk with nitrite that killed three children and made 36 sick, state media reported Dec. 9. Ma Xiuling and Wu Guangquan, two dairy farmers from Pingliang in northwestern Gansu province, were found to have deliberately added the industrial salt to fresh milk produced by their business rivals in early April, Xinhua said. Ma and Wu committed the act as a form of revenge in the wake of several business disputes, the spokesman added.

Looking for results? Check out the market reports from livestock auctions around the province. » PaGe 20

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

GRAIN MARKETS column

Oilseed supply projections weigh on canola futures Worldwide supplies also put wheat futures under pressure Dwayne Klassen CNSA

anola futures on the ICE Futures Canada trading platform were narrowly mixed during the week ended Dec. 9. The nearby January and March futures suffered some minor losses based on the huge sell-off seen when the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its latest supply/demand projections. The estimates raised U.S. soybean ending stocks by a larger-than-anticipated level and confirmed that global oilseed stocks were in ample supply. A pickup in hedging by elevator companies late in the week, as canola began to trickle into the cash market, also helped to weigh on those contracts. A lot of the activity seen in those months consisted of spreading with commodity fund positions being rolled out of January and into the March future, ahead of January becoming a cash delivery month.

For three-times-daily market reports from Commodity News Service Canada, visit “ICE Futures Canada updates” at www.manitobacooperator.ca.

Support in canola was associated with talk of fresh export business with China as well as the steady demand from domestic processors. The Statistics Canada production survey, pegging canola output at a record 14.165 million tonnes, failed to have much of a bearish impact on prices. Western barley futures on the ICE Futures Canada platform remained dormant. Cash bids for feed barley in Western Canada, meanwhile, continued to hold firm levels. Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT ) soybean futures experienced some significant declines, with most of the losses coming late in the week ended Dec. 9. Much of the liquidation was initiated by the bearishly interpreted USDA supply/demand report which put U.S. soybean supplies at a higher-than-anticipated level. Large global oilseed supplies further depressed prices. The buying back of previously sold positions restricted some of the downward price action in soybeans. Efforts were also made to talk up dryness concerns in the soybeangrowing regions of Brazil and Argentina. While there was some support derived from this talk, reports out of both countries indicated the crops were doing just fine. CBOT corn futures, meanwhile, were narrowly mixed during the reporting period. Some weakness was seen in the two nearby contracts while the deferreds were steady to fractionally firmer. Much of the weakness came from the continued lack of demand for U.S. corn from the export and domestic sectors. The fact feed wheat supplies in the U.S. remain abundant and cheaper also continued to add to the bearish price sentiment. The USDA report also did few favours for corn. The covering of short positions provided some support for corn, as did sentiment that values were due for an upward correction after experiencing some sharp declines. Wheat futures at the Chicago, Kansas City

and Minneapolis exchanges were lower on the week. The continued ample supply of wheat on the global market continued to be the main undermining price influence, with the lack of demand from the export sector for U.S. wheat adding to the downward price slide. There were few surprises in the crop production survey released by Statistics Canada last week, with the numbers for all wheat and canola being bumped up as anticipated. Canola production at 14.165 million tonnes was definitely large and was seen putting some downward pressure on prices on a longer-term basis. However, it was noted, with demand from export and domestic sectors running at record or nearrecord levels, the record-large canola crop will be needed. Before the release of the crop survey by StatsCan, analysts were working with canola carry-out at the end of the 2011-12 season in the one-million-tonne area. With production coming in about 1.1 million tonnes larger than what was forecast back in early October, the first thought is that ending stocks will also be up. There is some truth to that, but with the record export pace and record demand from domestic processors, the jump in the ending stocks outlook should be minimal at best. Some individuals were now working with Canadian canola ending stocks at the end of 2011-12 only being in the 1.2-million- to 1.5-milliontonne range. No t t o b e o u t d o n e, t h e U S D A a l s o released new supply/demand tables on Dec. 9, and its projections generally fell in line with pre-report ideas. Poor foreign demand and ample global supplies trimmed U.S. export forecasts for soybeans and wheat. U.S. soybean exports are now expected to total just 1.3 billion bushels in the 2011-12 marketing year, a 2 5 ‑ m i l l i o n ‑ b u s h e l d r o p f r o m U S D A’s November forecast. The lower U.S. exports, combined with an expected 10-million-bushel drop in the soybean crush this year, means U.S. soybean ending stocks will be 35 million bushels higher than the agency predicted a month ago. The new forecast for soybean ending stocks is 230 million bushels, up from 195 million. The USDA cut its forecast for U.S. wheat exports by 50 million bushels, to 925 million. “Larger supplies in several major exporting countries and relatively strong domestic prices, supported by the tight domestic corn supply-and-use situation, are expected to limit opportunities for U.S. wheat in world trade,” the USDA said. The USDA raised its forecast for U.S. wheat ending stocks to 878 million bushels, up from the November prediction of 828 million. The USDA left its forecast for U.S. corn exports unchanged at 1.6 billion bushels, but raised its prediction for ending stocks by five million bushels. Despite the domestic data for the U.S. crop, participants put much more significance in the global numbers from the USDA. For instance, global ending stocks of corn, soybeans and wheat continue to rise. In the case of corn, it was pegged at 127.2 million tonnes, up a greater-than-expected 5.6 million tonnes from the November report. Soybeans, at 64.5 million tonnes, were up almost a million tonnes and, at a whopping 208.5 million, wheat was up 5.9 million from the November report, essentially highlighting once again that the world is literally awash in wheat.

Export and International Prices Last Week

Week Ago

Year Ago

CWB export 1CW 13.5 St. Lawrence

397.40

400.80

425.50

US hard winter ord.Gulf ($US)

286.77

281.12

322.46

All prices close of business December 8, 2011. Wheat

EU French soft wheat ($US)

250.00

324.00

Chicago wheat (nearby future) ($US/tonne)

211.90

221.17

273.80

Minneapolis wheat (nearby future) ($US/tonne)

310.36

313.94

313.76

US corn Gulf ($US)

263.37

263.28

253.14

US barley (PNW) ($US)

287.00

200.00

Chicago corn (nearby future) ($US/tonne)

232.28

234.15

220.57

Chicago oats (nearby future) ($US/tonne)

191.28

208.79

255.48

416.08

414.43

470.82

1,106.91

1,091.92

1,186.07

Coarse Grains

Oilseeds Chicago soybeans (nearby future) ($US/tonne) Chicago soyoil ($US/tonne)

Winnipeg Futures ICE Futures Canada prices at close of business December 9, 2011. Western barley

Last Week

Week Ago

December 2011

217.00

March 2012

220.00

May 2012

225.00

Canola

Last Week

Week Ago

January 2012

499.50

499.90

March 2012

500.60

499.80

May 2012

504.30

500.20

CWB Pool Forecasts November PRO 2011-12

July PRO 2010-11

October PRO 2011-12

No. 1 CWRS 13.5

304

342

308

No. 1 CWRS 12.5

273

314

285

No. 2 CWRS 13.5

299

333

300

No. 1 CWHWS 13.5

304

342

308

Wheat

No. 1 CPSR

241

275

253

No. 1 CPSW

235

271

246 252

No. 1 CWRW

243

280

No. 1 CWES

274

312

278

No. 1 CWSWS

233

268

241

371

299

393

N/A

233

235

Sel CW Two-Row

318

249

322

Sel CW Six-Row

302

232

306

Durum No. 1 CWAD 13.0 Feed Barley No. 1 CW Pool B Designated Barley

* No. 1 CW feed barley, Pool A, as of October 27: $235.

Special Crops Report for December 12, 2011 — Bin run delivered plant Saskatchewan Spot Market

Lentils (Cdn. cents per pound)

Other ( Cdn. cents per pound unless otherwise specified)

Large Green 15/64

27.30 - 28.75

Canaryseed

Laird No. 1

26.00 - 28.75

Oil Sunflower Seed

Eston No. 2

23.50 - 25.00

Desi Chickpeas

26.00 - 27.25 — 26.10 - 27.50

Field Peas (Cdn. $ per bushel)

Beans (Cdn. cents per pound)

Green No. 1

8.50 - 9.00

Fababeans, large

—

Medium Yellow No. 1

8.55 - 8.70

Feed beans

—

Feed Peas (Cdn. $ per bushel)

No. 1 Navy/Pea Beans

—

No. 1 Great Northern

—

Mustardseed (Cdn. cents per pound)

No. 1 Cranberry Beans

—

Yellow No. 1

35.75 - 36.75

No. 1 Light Red Kidney

—

Brown No. 1

30.75 - 32.75

No. 1 Dark Red Kidney

—

Oriental No. 1

24.75 - 25.75

No. 1 Black Beans

—

No. 1 Pinto Beans

—

Feed Pea (Rail)

—

Source: Stat Publishing SUNFLOWERS

No. 1 Small Red

—

No. 1 Pink

—

Fargo, ND

Goodlands, KS

28.80

28.15

—

Report for December 9, 2011 in US$ cwt NuSun (oilseed)

Dwayne Klassen writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

Spot Market

Confection Source: National Sunflower Association

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

How can my farm benefit from Seed Interactive? Cutlass is the field pea check variety in Seed Manitoba, but I want to compare with Eclipse, the variety Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve grown on my farm. How can I do that?

SEED Interactive Advantage: Choose your own check.

Seed Interactive allows you to select varieties suited to the agronomic and management practices on your farm. Use the Variety Characteristics Report to generate an overall summary using all data, or to compare disease resistance and general agronomic performance. Use the Yield Comparison Report to compare two varieties at the same location. With both reports, choose your own check variety. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy and informative. Log on to customize selections for your farm. www.seedinteractive.ca

INTERACTIVE.CA A Manitoba Crop Variety Decision Tool

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

Cargill considers running 2012 wheat pool in Western Canada Len Penner sees a demand for pool options after the CWB monopoly ends By Rod Nickel WINNIPEG / REUTERS

argill may run a pool for western Canadian farmers’ spring wheat in 2012 and will also be ready to offer farmers f o r w a rd p r i c e c o n t ra c t s for their grains in an open market, the president of the company’s Canadian division said late last month. If a government bill to strip the Canadian Wheat Board of its monopoly as of August 2012 becomes law, grain handlers will be able to immediately offer farmers contracts to buy next year’s harvest. Ottawa’s bill would set up a free-for-all among grain handlers to buy the region’s prized grain, well before farmers even plant next year’s crop. Ca n a d a i s t h e w o r l d’s biggest exporter of spring wheat, durum and malting barley. “We have considered all of those particular (pricing) approaches,” president Len Penner told reporters after speaking to the Winnipeg C h a m b e r o f Co m m e rc e. “Part of what we need to assess is what role will (the CWB) play on the pooling side versus what other competitors will choose to do.” Penner said he thinks farmers will want to pool wheat, as they have in

Au s t ra l i a a f t e r i t e n d e d its own wheat-marketing monopoly in 2008. The wheat board will continue operating in the open market, albeit on a smaller scale without its monopoly. The number of pooling options Cargill may offer d e p e n d s o n h ow m u c h demand there is for them, Penner said. Po o l i n g o p t i o n s c o m e in different styles and can allow farmers to capture the average price of a commodity over a period of time, or simply turn a combined grain volume over to a company for marketing during a year. Cargill, the third-largest grain handler in Canada after Viterra and Richardson International Ltd., is also “ver y prepared” to offer farmers forward price contracts for next autumn’s harvest, Penner said. What remains to be seen is how willing farmers will be to lock in wheat prices e a r l y i n t h e n e w y e a r, after six decades of selling wheat through a single marketer. “It’s not the industry that signs up the contracts, it’s the farmer,” Penner said. In a given year, farmers may sell about one-quarter of yearly production of other crops through for ward contracts, and the signup for wheat might be slower, Penner said.

“Part of what we need to assess is what role will (the CWB) play on the pooling side versus what other competitors will choose to do.”

of direct result e th is , G 0 0 d, VT5 rid is canola hybri that this hyb R s R n N a E e G m g T in V . yield . The prefix VT Genetics m f o ra y g Viterra’s big g ro lo p o g n h in g and tec ust breed stands stron sive science t our own rob lu a c th x r e e e th rm o h rra wit lite perf bred by Vite ower of an e p ore. e th t e g u G yo to find out m 0 a 0 .c 5 a T rr V e h it it .v d W isit see . big yields. V rs e v li e able this fall d il a d v n a a ta a D l nola Tria 1 Viterra Ca 1 0 2 e th r fo Watch

ANCE M R O F R E YIELD P 100%

107%

45H21

VT500G

TE OM 20 10 VI *DATA FR

RR A CA NO

LA TR IA L

DATA .

LEN PENNER

President, Cargill Canadian division

NEWS

Thin ice fatal to fisherman STAFF / Search and rescue workers retrieved the body of a 48-year-old fisherman who drowned after his snowmobile fell through the ice on Lake Winnipegosis Dec. 10. RCMP say the man and a 38-year-old woman were returning from fishing on Lake Winnipegosis when their snowmobile went through the ice. Both are residents of the area. The 38-year-old female passenger was recovered by rescuers after spending several hours in the water. She was transported to hospital for treatment of exposure. RCMP remind snowmobile operators to use extreme caution when riding on waterways in the province as lakes and rivers are reported to have thin ice conditions and open water.

A DVICE

10432B-VT500 Print Ad-Manitoba CoOperator.indd 1

OPPORT UNITIE

ACCESS

09/22/2011 9:11:53 AM

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

SEED MANITOBA

Site Years Tested

Hilum Colour

Relative Seeds/lb

Variety The following Yield Comparison tables for— Roundup Ready Soybeans and 2500 Short Season 2350 Tundra -4 -4 — 91 29 CL Conventional are corrected appear in YSeed 1851 2450 Soybeans OAC Prudence 0 0 versions 0 0 from what 100 78 Experimental beingThe tested/proposed for registration in Canada Manitoba 2012 (pages 56lines andare262). corrected check yields of NSC Portage Mid CFS09.3.03 2 — — 91 6 GR 2802 Season OAC 07-03C 4 4 4 3 103along17with the IY CV% 2349 RR and OAC Prudence for the Conventional Soybeans, and Zone OAC 09-01C 4 4 — — 88 5 IY 2373 LSD%, are located in the shaded at the bottom of the tables. OT09-03 3 area 3 located 3 — 103 12 Y 2536 Secan 07-01C 3 4 4 2 99 17 IY 2235 Please note that SeCan the relative yield data the in 11-05C 2 2 within — — tables 100 are correct 6 IY the 1960 Experimental lines are being tested/proposed for registration in Canada versions appearing in Seed Manitoba 2012. If there are any questions please CFS10.3.02 7 7 — — 114 6 BR 2785 Long DH863 MAFRI pulse 5 5specialist — — 92 6 2045 contact Dennis Lange, at 204-750-4530 or IY Season Secan 08-01C 7 8 5 6 104 17 IY 2094 email dennis.lange@gov.mb.ca. Zone SeCan 11-06C 5 5 — — 104 6 LBR 2036

S E E D

C R

SeCan 11-10C SeCan 11-11C CHECK CHARACTERISTICS OAC Prudence

O P

7 5

119

— —

106 125 125 days to maturity

99 94

6 6

LBR BR

2426 2349

49 bu/acre

78 site years

1851 seeds/lb

Lodging1 (1-5)

1.0

1.0 1.0 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.0

1.0 1.0 1.1 1.5 1.0 1.0

C R

1.0

CONVENTIONAL SOYBEANS

Comments: Yield Comparisons

2350

84 100

-4

6 8

-4

90 73 — 100 100

88 100

—

78 91 100

86 100

93 100

2450 Experimental OAC Prudence 0 0 0 0 in Canada100 78 lines are being tested/proposed for registration CFS09.3.03 86 85 113 registration 82 93in Canada 84 Experimental91lines are 6being tested/proposed for Mid OAC 07-03C 99 6 104 83 106 95 122 88 Mid CFS09.3.03 2 2 — — 91 6 Season OAC 09-01C 100 6 105 80 117 89 111 98 Season OAC 07-03C 103 46 4 17 Zone OT09-03 — 4 — 3 105 96103 109 100 Zone OAC 09-01C 97 46 4 104 — 75 —121 589 Secan 07-01C 79 88 118 SeCan 11-05C 100 87103 96 94 OT09-03 36 3 102 3 109 —112 12 Experimental lines are being tested/proposed for registration Secan 07-01C 3 4 4 2 in Canada 99 17 CFS10.3.02 114 108 101 SeCan 11-05C 26 2 113 — 98 —133 100 129 6 Long DH863 92 6 99 90 108 81 96 79 Experimental lines are 6being tested/proposed for in Canada Season Secan 08-01C 95 103 76 105 registration 80 118 91 Zone SeCan 11-06C 104 85 — 110 —118 100 CFS10.3.02 76 7 114 109 696 SeCan 11-10C 99 6 94 82 122 87 107 Long DH863 5 5 — — 92 698 SeCan 11-11C 94 6 89 71 110 84 116 91 Season Secan 08-01C 7 8 5 6 104 17 CHECK YIELD OAC Prudence (bu/acre) 25 34 47 44 31 40 Zone SeCan 11-06C 5 5 — — 104 6 CV % 7.6 11.0 7.3 11.2 7.0 5.6 SeCan 11-10C 7 7 — — 99 6 LSD % 12 20 13 16 12 8 Sign Diff Yes94 Yes Yes SeCan 11-11C 5 5 Yes — Yes — Yes 6 CHECK CHARACTERISTICS OAC Prudence 119 106 125 125 49 78 days to maturity bu/acre site years

E E D

C R O P

S Morden

Rosebank

Site Years Tested Morris

Tundra Tundra OAC Prudence

Short Season

Yield % Check

St. Adolphe

Short Season

Relative Days to Maturity + / - Check Average 2011 2010 2009

Portage

Variety Variety

Carman

Company Heat

Stonewall

Manitoba Variety

Manitoba Zones Variety Zones Unit

Arborg

Site Years Tested

Variety Descriptions

2011 Average Yield

The Conventional Soybean variety trial was tested and the data donated by2011 Manitoba Pulse Growers Association. Yield: % of OAC Prudence

Hilum Colour

— — CL 100 100

— — — 98 — —

— —

— — — — —

GR — IY 108 IY — Y — IY — IY —

BR IY IY 40 53 7.3LBR 4.3 LBR 12 8 Yes BR Yes Y

1851 seeds/lb

NSMR2-EXP G2 NSMR2-EXP G4 PS 0083 R2 TH 33007R2Y TH 33006R2Y Beurlilng R2

1.0

1 Lodging and Matuity rating averaged across St. Adolphe and Morris 2011 sites.

62 SEED MANITOBA – 2012

DECEMBER 2011

— — —

— — Pekko R2 100 5 88 — 99 107 107 — — 99 Sampsa R2 109 5 — — 111 113 112 110 101 — Comments:LS004R21 102 6 83 113 112 109 103 — — 100 NSC Anola RR2Y 104 5 94 — 109 107 105 — — 101 The Roundup Ready variety trial was tested and the data donated by Manitoba Pulse Growers Association. NSC Libau RR2Y 98 6 84 102 111 95 104 — — 90 PR1182713R2 98 5 80 — 108 103 102 — — 93 C TH 33003R2Y 112 5 — — 123 98 101 108 123 — Variety Descriptions Bishop 100 5 85 — 107 104 100 — — 99 R TH 32004R2Y 111 6 — 118 107 122 107 108 114 — Manitoba Company Relative Days to Maturity Yield Site IDC 25-04R 100 8 80 104 103 98 Hilum 110 Relative 98 Lodging1 Rating Grou Variety Heat + /112 - Check 91 % Years O 24-10RY 105 8 83 93 113 117 100 100 115 103 Zones Unit Variety Type Average 2011 2010 2009 Check Tested Colour Seeds/lb (1-5) (1-5) Mid Chadburn R2 102 5 89 — 113 103 98 — — 105 Season LS0036RR 97 6 90 97 — 84 2375 29002RR RR1 -580 -6108 -7 102-3 85 21 Y— 3300 1.0 2.6 Susce P Zone 27005RR 104 4 — 95 102 95 — 107 112 — 2450 S00-W3 RR1 -4 -4 -6 -1 96 21 GR 3200 1.0 2.0 Semi T HS 006RYS24 106 5 92 — 115 114 110 — — 96 S 2450 900Y71 RR1 -2100 0100 -4 100-2 102 15 IY100 2700 1.0 1.8 Semi T NSC PORTAGE RR 100 8 100 100 100 100 900Y61 96 6 89 90 105 97 93 — — 92 Experimental lines that have been supported for registration in Canada NSC Balmoral RR2Y 109 5 103 — 113 111 113 — — 104 23-10RY RR2 -3 in Canada -3 — — 102 6 BL 2325 1.0 2.0 Semi T Experimental lines that have been supported for registration LS003R22 Pekko R2 104 6 77 112 104 RR2 -3128 -3110 — 110— 100 5— BL— 2768 1.1 1.5 Tole NSC Elie RR2Y 109 5 100 111 105 Short Sampsa R2 RR2 -1— -1112 — 114— 109 5— IB— 2480 1.1 1.8 Semi T NSC Richer RR2Y 114 5 97 — 123 113 121 — — 110 Season RR2 -1— -1104 — 108— 103 6— BL— 2488 1.2 1.1 Tole NSMR2-EXPLS004R21 G2 97 5 76 102 92 NSMR2-EXPNSC G4 Anola RR2Y 98 5 83 110 90 Zone RR2 -2— -2109 — 95— 104 5— BL— 3170 1.4 1.4 Tole PS 0083 R2 102 5 89 97 106 NSC Libau RR2Y RR2 -1— -1106 — 106— 98 6— BL— 2980 1.0 1.6 Tole TH 33007R2Y 109 6 — 111 113 102 113 105 111 — 1 Relative Lodging PR1182713R2 99 RR2 -1103 -1103 — 103— 98 591 GR98 2597 1.2 1.3 Tole TH 33006R2Y 6 — 98 — Seeds/lb (1-5) Beurlilng R2TH 33003R2Y 101 6 84 106 101 RR2 -1109 -1105 — 105— 112 5— BR— 2600 1.4 1.7 Tole LS0065RR Bishop 109 5 — 108 111 — 2500 1.0 RR2 -2— -2110 — 105— 100 6 BL112 2536 1.2 2.6 Susce LS006R21 103 8 85 112 115 113 108 95 103 96 TH 32004R2Y 100 RR2 -193 -1106 — 104— 112 694 BL95 3200 1.2 1.4 Tole 1851 1.0 Long 90M01 5 — 98 — Season 25-10RY 112 5 — — 116 99 108 108 125 — 2425 24-10RY RR2 -1 -1 — — 105 8 IB 2398 1.1 1.5 Tole Zone LS008R21 110 5 — — 108 97 106 112 122 — 2802 1.0 2425 LS0036RR RR1 -1— 0 96 -2 101-1 97 32 BL92 3800 1.0 1.5 Tole S01-K8 98 5 — 109 93 — 2349 1.0 2450 25-04R RR1 -1— -2104 -1 98 0 100 36 BR 2625 1.2 1.8 Semi T Laka R2 109 5 — 118 105 121 — NSC OSBORNE RR2Y 111 8 100 113 111 121 116 2373 1.3 2450 27005RR RR1 -1116 1110 -2 107-1 96 6 BR 3500 1.1 1.7 Tole 900Y81 96 6 77 101 105 112 92 — — 87 2536 1.2 2450 HS 006RYS24 RR2 0 0 — — 106 5 BL 2800 1.1 2.0 Tole Experimental lines that have been supported for registration in Canada 2235 1.1 2475 RR2 0— 0117 — 110— 102 5 BL136 2428 1.0 1.4 Tole TH Astra R2Chadburn R2 118 5 — 119 102 — 1960 1.0 NSMR2-EXP G8A PORTAGE 109 5 104 119 — 105 2500 NSC RR1 0— 0111 0 1060 100 45 BR— 4092 1.3 1.8 Semi T PR11109A3R2 119 5 — — 123 118 126 98 129 — 2450 NSC Balmoral RR2Y RR2 0— 0108 — 93— 109 5 BL102 2279 1.3 1.4 Tole PR1176020R2 104 5 — 112 102 — 2785Mid 1.0 PSX 11R2001M 111 5 — — 122 105 109 102 115 — 900Y61 RR1 0 0 — — 101 11 Br 2900 1.3 — — 2045Season 1.02425 Currie R2 111 6 99 115 115 116 107 — — 113 Experimental lines that have been supported for registration in Canada 2094Zone 1.1 CHECK YIELD NSC Portage RR (bu/acre) 34 21 51 37 34 40 48 35 LS003R22 RR2 06.4 06.1 — 6.5— 106 67.1 BL6.3 3000 1.2 1.9 Semi T 2036 1.5 CV% 9.2 6.4 7.7 2426 1.0 NSC Elie RR2YLSD% RR2 011 0 11 — 11— 109 512 BL12 2600 1.2 1.2 Tole 13 11 12 Sign Diff Yes Yes Yes Yes 2349 1.0 NSC Richer RR2Y RR2 0Yes 0Yes — Yes— 114 5 BLYes 2830 1.1 1.7 Semi T

1 Lodging and Matuity rating averaged across St. Adolphe and Morris 2011 sites.

— — —

2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 79 2012 91 2012 104 2012 2012 102

Stonewall

Yield % Check

Morden

Relative Days to Maturity + / - Check Average 2011 2010 2009

Seed Availability

Rosebank

Company Heat Unit

St. Adolphe

Manitoba Variety Zones

2011 Yield: % of NSC Portage RR Distributor

Morris

Previous Code

24-10RY 24-10RY Monsanto Canada Inc. 25-10RY 25-10RY Monsanto Canada Inc. 900Y61 PH10001 Pioneer Hi-Bred Ltd. 900Y81 PH10002 Pioneer Hi-Bred Ltd. Manitoba R2 Chadburn SC 2475 SeCan Variety Zone Variety HS 006RYS24 EXP006RY24 Hyland Seeds Short 29002RR 77 5 34 — 98 75 LS006R21 LS006R21 Delmar91Commodities Season S00-W3 92 5 74 — 100 97 96 LS008R21 LS008R21 100 Delmar101 Commodities Zone 900Y71 5 90 100 99 104 NSC BalmoralExperimental RR2Y linesNSMR2-EXP that have been30 supported for registrationNorthstar in Canada Genetics Manitoba S01-K8 LS006R21 102 Univar108 Canada108 Ltd. 23-10RY 6 84 104 101 Carman

Variety Descriptions

Variety

Beausejour

2012

The Conventional Soybean variety trial was tested and the data donated by Manitoba Pulse Growers Association.

NewComparisons for 2012 Yield

Arborg

Site Years Tested

CORRECTION

Comments:

ROUNDUP READY SOYBEANS

Roundup Ready soybeans (continued)

2011 Average Yield

CONVENTIONAL SOYBEANS

DECEMBER 2011

RR2 RR2 RR2 RR2 RR2 RR2

0 2 1 2 2 1

— — — — — —

Vegetable fundraiser a double-win formula

97 98 102 109 99 102

5 IY 2510 5 GR 2510 5 BL 2950 6 Br 2609 5 SEED MANITOBA IY 2855 – 2012 6 BL 2389

1.0 1.3 1.1 1.3 1.8 1.5

1.7 Semi T 2.4 Susce 2.5 Susce 2.3 Semi T 2.7 Susce 2.1 Semi T

2011 Yield: % of OAC Prudence

Site Years Tested

2011 Average Yield

Yield Comparisons

Morden

Portage

Carman

Stonewall

Rosebank

CHECK YIELD

Morris

Long Season Zone

CFS09.3.03 91 6 86 85 113 82 OAC 07-03C 99 6 104 83 106 95 OAC 09-01C 100 6 105 80 117 89 OT09-03 103 6 — — 105 96 Secan 07-01C 97 6 104 75 121 79 SeCan 11-05C 100 6 102 109 112 87 Experimental lines are being tested/proposed for registration in Canada CFS10.3.02 114 6 113 98 133 108 DH863 92 6 99 90 108 81 Secan 08-01C 95 6 103 76 105 80 SeCan 11-06C 104 6 85 110 118 100 SeCan 11-10C 99 6 94 82 122 87 SeCan 11-11C 94 6 89 71 110 84 OAC Prudence (bu/acre) 25 34 47 44 CV % 7.6 11.0 7.3 11.2 LSD % 12 20 13 16 Sign Diff Yes Yes Yes Yes

St. Adolphe

Mid Season Zone

Arborg

he Farm 2 School Healthy Healthy Living, Youth and while promoting good nutriChoice Fundraiser has Seniors Minister Jim Rondeau tion,” said Rondeau. “This is an important step in our fight sold more than 500,000 announced Dec. 8. “This outstanding initiative, against childhood obesity pounds of locally grown vegManitoba Variety Zones Variety etables to Manitoba families now in its second year, pro- and it also benefits Manitoba DECEMBER Short Season Tundra 84 6 90 73 88 78 86 58 93 — 2011 — since last September, raising vides Manitoba schools with farmers and stimulates our OAC Prudence 100 8 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 a healthy way to raise funds economy.” $245,545 for ManitobaExperimental schools, lines are being tested/proposed for registration in Canada 93 122 111 109 118 96

84 88 98 100 89 94

— — — 98 — —

— — — 108 — —

129 96 118 109 107 116 31 7.0 12 Yes

101 79 91 96 98 91 40 5.6 8 Yes

— — — — — — 40 7.3 12 Yes

— — — — — — 53 4.3 8 Yes

The new Roundup Ready 2 soybeans are here, and Thunder Seed is leading the way! Check out the 2012 Manitoba seed guide and see for DECEMBER 2011 yourself… Thunder 32004R2Y and 33003R2Y are the 2 top yielding, SEED MANITOBA – 2012 early maturing varieties in Manitoba! If you want bragging rights on your farm, Thunder ASTRO blows away the competition in the later season zone. Seed supplies are running out fast! Book your Thunder Seed soybeans TODAY! Please contact your local Quarry Seed dealer or call Quarry Seed direct at 1-888-274-9243. Thunder Seed…"Quality Pays on your farm"!!

CANADIAN DISTRIBUTORS

1800-274-9243

Participating schools sell bags of Peak of the Market vegetables in $10 and $20 bags. Half the proceeds remains with the school and the other half goes back to Manitoba farmers. To date,

this year’s program has sold more than 540,000 pounds of vegetables, which is equivalent to about 13 semi-trailer loads and is more than four SEED MANITOB times the volume sold in 2010, Rondeau said.

news

Malting industry gets federal boost The malting industry is getting $575,000 from the federal government to boost its marketing and competitiveness abroad. The AgriMarketing investment will enable the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre, the Malting Industry Association of Canada and the Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute to maintain existing markets through activities including technical marketing, communications, and the development of a Canadian Malt Barley Brand. The branding will help to highlight Canada’s commitment to quality and allow the industry to use a consistent and common marketing strategy with foreign buyers. Canadian exports of malting barley reached more than $312 million in 2010, accounting for almost a third of all malting barley exports.

New Group 1-resistant wild oat option Bayer CropScience has received registration for Varro herbicide, a new Group 2 graminicide that offers an alternative mode of action to help manage Group 1-resistant wild oats. “We have listened and responded to growers by bringing a new product to market – one that provides a solution to many of the weed problems they face each season,” says Lauren Davis, cereal grass herbicide manager at Bayer CropScience in a release. “With Varro, growers can now battle Group 1-resistant wild oats and be able to plant a pulse crop the following year, which is an important option to have, especially for our customers in the brown soil zones.” Varro herbicide can be tank mixed with many broadleaf herbicides like Buctril M and Thumper to target specific weeds and provides excellent crop safety on wheat, the company says.

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

Farm groups and industry urged to “break down silos” Officials say improved co-operation between farm groups and industry players could boost the fortunes of everyone

G 9 5 95 at

By Alex Binkley CO-OPERATOR CONTRIBUTOR / OTTAWA

f the end of the Canadian Wheat Board’s marketing monopoly isn’t enough of a sea change, a discussion has begun on whether it’s time to reorganize the farm and industry groups in the grain sector. The issue was a focus of discussion at the recent Grain Industry Symposium, and farmers can expect to hear a lot more about it in the future, said JeanMarc Ruest, chairman of the Canada Grains Council. The council’s directors want the issue “to receive some serious thought so we don’t miss out on the opportunities” to expand Canada’s role in the world grain trade, said Ruest. William Hill, president of the Flax Council of Canada, outlined a possible model that seemed to attract a lot of interest. The biggest need is for a single national voice to speak for the whole grain industry, break down the silos between commodities and manage issues that cut across the sector, he said, adding the Canada Grains Council could “take on that leadership role for the industry.” That would include developing industry positions on research and development, innovation and technology, government policy and regulations, food safety, sustainability and environment, and market access. Several speakers suggested the Canola Council of Canada would be a good model for the new commodity organizations, which

“It has created a bridge of trust along the value chain,” because it works on the basis “that everyone in the system has to be profitable.” BRANT RANDLES

President of Louis Dreyfus Canada

would have regional far m groups, processors, suppliers, provincial officials and other stakeholders as members. The canola council model was praised by Brant Randles, president of Louis Dreyfus Canada. “It has created a bridge of trust along the value chain,” said Randles, because it works on the basis “that everyone in the system has to be profitable.” Having all the players around the table “puts the overall interest of the canola industry first,” said Jim Everson, the canola council’s vicea-president of corporate affairs. That has played a significant role in increasing production, which stood at 9.1 million tonnes from 13 million acres in 2006 to a target of 15 million tonnes from 17 million acres in 2015. The disputes with the European Union over low-level presence of GMOs shows the need for making sure the industry is served by an organization that can be nimble in responding to a crisis, he said.

h t y t i l i b a t s d l e i Y . s e l a c s e h t s p ti g igh yieldin h a is a r r ss rom Vite t yield acro n e ll e c x VR9559G f e h hybrid wit 559G... 9 la R o V n . a s c ie R h p R . and geogra s n io our favour it y d n in o s le all c a c s at tips the h t ld ie y ig b iterra.ca. Visit seed.v

The Richardson Ground Squirrel Survey

Let us know how gophers are damaging your pastures and crops. Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI), in co-operation with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities is conducting a survey concerning the Richardson Ground Squirrel or, as they are more commonly known, gophers.

Your opinion matters - We want to know how producers like you are affected by the gopher population and how much damage these pests are causing to your pastures and crops.

Collecting the information this survey will allow the Manitoba government to apply for the use of appropriate pest control products such as liquid strychnine concentrate.

la is a Vi te VR9559G cano

rra researched

and recommen

ded variety.

To obtain a survey, please visit manitoba.ca/agriculture or visit your local MAFRI GO Office or your Rural Municipality office. Please complete and return your survey by December 23, 2011.

ADVICE Roundup Ready® is a registered trademark used under license from Monsanto Company Pioneer® and the Trapezoid symbol are registered trademarks of Pioneer Hi-Bred.

Ground Squirrel Survey Manitoba Cooperator 4” w x 84 lines d

S OPPORTUNITIE

AC C E S S

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

WEATHER VANE

Your smartphone just got smarter. Get the Manitoba Co-operator mobile app and get the latest ag news as it happens. Download the free app at agreader.ca/mbc

CHIMNEY SMOK E DESCENDS, OUR NICE W E ATHER ENDS.

General warm, dry pattern remains the same Issued: Monday, December 12, 2011 · Covering: December 14 – December 21, 2011 Daniel Bezte Co-operator contributor

artway through last week, the weather models star ted showing a major winter storm hitting our region during the second part of this week. For those of you who were hoping for snow, it looks like the news is not good. The main storm system is still expected to move out of the U.S. southwest by the middle of this week, but at the same time, an area of low pressure is forecast to move across the northern Prairies. It looks like this northern system will interfere with the development of the southern system and we’ll not see a big storm until the two systems merge over Ontario — well past us. We might see a few flurries and some winds a ro u n d t h e m i d d l e o f t h e week, but that’s about it. What we will get from this system is some cold air… but only briefly. Once the low deepens and continues to move off to the

east late this week it will place us in a strong northerly flow. This will open us up to a good push of Arctic air, bringing temperatures of around -15 C for highs with overnight lows around -25 C. While this might feel cold it is really nothing unusual. It looks like the general flow will start out from the northwest, but will then transition to a westerly flow by late in the weekend. This will result in moderating temperatures with highs likely to be back in the -5 C range by Monday. Conditions also continue to look dr y, with ver y few chances for snow. Looking further ahead toward Christmas, the weather models are singing the same tune they have been singing for the last month or so: warm and dry. Usual temperature range for this period: Highs: -19 to -3 C. Lows: -29 to -12 C. Daniel Bezte is a teacher by profession with a BA (Hon.) in geography, specializing in climatology, from the U of W. He operates a computerized weather station near Birds Hill Park. Contact him with your questions and comments at daniel@bezte.ca.

WEATHER MAP - WESTERN CANADA

This map is created by Environment Canada, although I do a fair bit of cleaning up of the map to make it easier to read. The amount of snow cover displayed on the map is approximate, as true amounts can change fairly quickly over a small area and this can make it fairly difficult to map accurately. Alberta, which is normally fairly difficult to map, was extremely hard as amounts varied rapidly over small areas. With the relatively warm temperatures so far this month across the Prairies, combined with little in the way of snowfall, it’s not surprising that a good portion of the agricultural Prairies have fewer than five centimetres of snow on the ground or even no snow — I’m dreaming of a green Christmas?

Christmas weather records

The trend of Christmas past is relatively dry, as is the forecast for Christmas present By Daniel Bezte CO-OPERATOR CONTRIBUTOR

ith Christmas and the holiday season just around the corner, my thoughts, at least partly, turn to snowstorms. That’s right, snowstorms. At this time of the year I always have a secret hope or wish that there will be a big snowstorm over Christmas. I’m not sure why I have these feelings. I know a big storm at this time of the year would cause all sorts of problems and hardships, but deep down inside I guess I just wish that I could be stuck at home for a few days. No pressure to go anywhere because you can’t, plenty of food available, family around you, and new presents under the tree. A perfect time to be forced to sit back and just relax… at least until you have to dig yourself out. In the past I have looked into December snowstorms and in particular Christmas snowstorms, but this year I tried to dig a little deeper and have expanded my look to cover all major centres across the Prairies. Unlike most reports you hear nowadays, I have included weather records that go right back to the late 1800s. Some people feel these records

are either inaccurate or no longer relevant, but I think they are still important. I’ve included a table that shows the maximum and minimum temperatures recorded in °Celsius along with the maximum snowfall for Dec. 24, 25 and 26 for Winnipeg and Brandon in Manitoba; Regina and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan; and Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta. If you examine the table you’ll see that if you’re looking for a place to go in the Prairies to experience a really warm Christmas, then Calgary would be the place for you. While all of the other centres have seen some nice, warm Christmases in the past, not one of the major centres comes close to Calgary’s record highs. The year 1999 was a really warm one across the entire Prairies, with recordwarm temperatures being set in every major centre except Saskatoon that year. If you want a chance at seeing some really cold weather during this period then you could pick pretty much any place, as all have seen Christmases colder than -35 C, although Winnipeg comes out the winner here with a bone-chilling -47.8 C on Christmas Eve in 1879! Interestingly, when you examine the precipitation records for

these three days, you’ll notice the Christmas period has been a relatively dry, storm-free period, but there are a couple of exceptions. Winnipeg did see a heavy dump of 30.5 cm of snow on Boxing Day back in 1916, but the record for biggest Christmas snowstorms has to go to Edmonton. Back in 1938 Edmonton recorded over 25 cm of snow on Christmas Eve and then a further 18 cm of snow on Christmas Day for a total of 43 cm. Christmas Eve 1938 started off nice in Edmonton, with temperatures climbing to around +4 C before the snow moved in. By Dec. 28 the temperature had plunged, with overnight lows falling into the low -40s. This same storm tracked southeastward across the Prairies, bringing record one-day snowfalls to Saskatoon, Brandon and Winnipeg. While I am sure there have been plenty of stormy days near Christmas across the Prairies, very few really big storms have occurred. When one looks at the present long-range forecast, this year doesn’t look like it will break the trend. Whatever weather you do end up with, I hope it’s what you wanted; if not, then remember the season and try to make the best of it!

TABLE: PRAIRIE WEATHER RECORDS FOR DEC. 24-26 Date

Max.

Year

Min.

Year

Ppt

Year

Dec. 24

3.9

1953

-47.8

1879

15.2

1929

Dec. 25

5.4

1999

-40

1879

9.4

1938

Dec. 26

2.8

1956

-38.9

1883

30.5

1916

Dec. 24

4.4

1953

-41

1983

5.1

1938

Dec. 25

7.2

1999

-40

1902

15.2

1938

Dec. 26

4.8

2005

-39.4

1891

7.6

1976

Dec. 24

1999

-40.6

1884

9.7

1950

Dec. 25

6.1

1943

-39.4

1933

7.1

1959

Dec. 26

6.1

1898

-39.3

1990

13.5

1916

Dec. 24

1928

-37.8

1917

12.7

1938

Dec. 25

4.5

1895

-38.9

1933

7.6

1922

Dec. 26

4.4

1928

-41.7

1934

9.9

1959

Dec. 24

10.4

1999

-41.7

1880

25.4

1938

Dec. 25

8.9

1987

-39.4

1880

17.8

1938

Dec. 26

1999

-38.3

1880

21.1

1955

Dec. 24

17.6

1999

-36.1

1983

5.1

1937

Dec. 25

14.8

1985

-35

1886

10.2

1923

Dec. 26

13.8

1999

-35.6

1886

10.2

1923

Winnipeg

Brandon

Regina

Saskatoon

Edmonton

Calgary

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

LIVESTOCK

Weather now for next week.

Get the Manitoba Co-operator mobile app and get local or national forecast info. Download the free app at agreader.ca/mbc

H USB A N DRY — T H E SC I E NC E , SK I L L OR A RT OF FA R M I NG

University of Manitoba to study greenhouse gases University researchers will use the investment to study greenhouse gas-related effects Staff

T Harvest moisture levels and storage conditions are key to preserving high-quality forage.

PHOTO: ALLAN DAWSON

Forage researcher offers tips for producing

HIGH-QUALITY SILAGE Coming up for air won’t help save your silage; proper packing is key to maintaining high quality By Shannon VanRaes CO-OPERATOR STAFF

an Undersander literally cuts a wide swath with his recommendations on preserving highquality forage. “We always saw an improvement in drying rate with a wide swath, and 10 out of 14 times we saw an improvement in the forage,” Undersander told delegates to the sixth annual Manitoba Dairy Farmers conference in Winnipeg. He noted some farmers moved to cutting windrows after buying conditioners. But he said although the implement may help stems dry, windrows prevent leaves from drying as their stomatal openings close when exposed to darkness, trapping moisture. “Unless you’re going to turn your windrows every half-hour, which is a terrible loss of time and labour, it’s not going to dry very fast, that’s all there is to it,” said Undersander, a forage research and extension agronomist at the University of Wisconsin. But it’s not a matter of preference. Undersander said improperly drying

forage such as alfalfa can result in a loss of two to eight per cent of dry matter, in addition to the loss of sugars and starches that are completely digestible. However, storing silage under overly dry conditions is also an impediment to quality, Undersander said. Storage should take place at about 60 per cent moisture. “But the key thing to think about is density,” he said. Proper storage density maximizes available space, reduces spoilage by decreasing dry matter losses, and lessens the amount of face decomposition, he said. He noted packing isn’t an issue with tower silos, but is with bunkers and piles. Undersander said packing silage in smaller layers, using a heavier tractor, and taking extra care around the sides and top of bunkers and piles to ensure even packing is important. “Packing should be based on porosity,” he said, adding the goal should be a porosity of 0.4 per cent or less, which equals 44 pounds of silage per square foot.

Dan Undersander speaks to producers during the sixth annual Manitoba Dairy Conference in Winnipeg this December. PHOTO: SHANNON VANRAES

This reduces the amount of oxygen present, and the amount of fresh, oxygen-rich air that can be sucked in when silage is removed from the top or front. “This is what our latest research of silage storage is telling us,” said Undersander. There are also new recommendations on how much silage should be taken off a pile or bunker. It’s recommended that 12 inches, instead of six, be taken off as air can penetrate more than 30 inches into the silage and cause rot or increase levels of mycotoxins. But removing larger sections means there is less time for mould to develop. Undersander noted producers may want to consider feeding more grass forage. Studies are examining whether increasing grass consumption can reduce lameness in dairy cows, which affects 20 to 25 per cent of dairy herds, Undersander said. Forty-two per cent of all lameness is tied to poor nutrition and possibly the increased reliance on corn silage, he added. Undersander said Manitoba’s cooler growing conditions produce forage with greater digestibility, but growers may want to consider a grass and alfalfa mix. Including grasses increases digestible fibres and reduces nonfibrous carbohydrates, which is a positive thing, he said. “Select your grass variety carefully, don’t just go buy the cheapest,” he said, adding producers should look for yield, late maturity, winter hardiness, rust resistance and seasonal yield distribution when making a choice. Timothy is the historical choice, but it isn’t drought resistant and 60 per cent of the yield is captured in the first cutting, leaving the second cutting scant. When you cut the crop also affects forage quality. “The science is quite clear that the carbohydrate (levels) always build up in the afternoon,” he said. shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

he University of Manitoba has received nearly $3 million under the federal Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (AGGP) to study cost-effective greenhouse gas mitigation practices for the cattle sector. “This project will help the agriculture industry improve its environmental performance while benefiting our economy and ensuring Canadian farmers stay competitive in the global marketplace,” said Vic Toews, the regional minister for Manitoba on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. University researchers will use the investment to study greenhouse gas-related effects in three priority areas: converting crops from perennial to annual grasslands, long-term crop rotations of 10 years, and allowing cattle to graze during the winter rather than keeping them in a confined area. The research is expected to lead to the development of new beneficial management practices (BMPs) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the cattle sector. Farmers who adopt these new BMPs can also benefit economically from improved feeding efficiency because two to 12 per cent of the energy of feed consumed by livestock is lost as a greenhouse gas. “This investment will ensure our world-class innovators at the University of Manitoba will be able to explore new methods to reduce greenhouse gases which will have economic as well as environmental benefits,” said president and vice-chancellor David Barnard. “We welcome this partnership and thank the Government of Canada for supporting the work of our outstanding researchers.” The Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (AGGP) is a five-year, $27-million initiative that focuses on the development of on-farm greenhouse gas mitigation technologies. The AGGP represents Canada’s initial contribution to the Global Research Alliance, an international network of more than 30 member-countries that will co-ordinate and increase agricultural research on greenhouse gas mitigation and make new mitigation technologies and beneficial management practices available to farmers.

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

SHEEP & GOAT COLUMN

Big sale with good prices for sheep and goats Buyers were most interested in the healthy, well-muscled lambs By Mark Elliot co-operator contributor

roducers delivered approximately 750 sheep and goats for the Dec. 1 Winnipeg Livestock sale. The buyers were preparing for some major purchasing for the Christmas season and possibly the start of the new year. Buyers were watching the age of ewes with some being purchased for breeding purposes. Ewe hairless breeds attracting lower bids compared to the heavy woolled stock. Demand for rams was strong with prices ranging from $1.10 to $1.19 per pound. No noticeable presence of rams of the hairless breeds were sold at this sale. There were limited heavyweight lambs on offer but prices were strong, ranging from $1.55 to $1.85 per pound. The 125-

Ewes

$122.50-$186.56 $36.75-$100

Lambs (lbs.) 110+

$187.50-$220.15

95 - 110

$178.50-$199.82

80 - 94

$156-$181.35

Under 80 70 - 79

$124.56-$163.53

60 - 68

$123-$142.80

54 - 57

$103.68-$112.29

43 - 45

$69.88-$88.88

pound Dorper-cross lamb, brought $187.50 ($1.50 per pound). The supply of the market lambs was considered low; there were only about 41 lambs at

the sale. The price ranged from $1.70 to $2.01 per pound. No hairless breeds appeared to be in this classification. Feeder lambs maintained a high percentage of the lambs

briefs

ICE Canada sets launch date commodity news service canada / ICE Futures Canada will begin trading new milling wheat, durum and barley futures and options contracts on Jan. 23, 2012, pending the enactment of Bill C-18, which will end the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly over those grains. The first available contracts for all three commodities will be the October 2012 futures and options, and will be modelled on ICE Canada’s canola futures and options. All three contracts will trade in $0.10 per tonne

Vote now in the Manitoba Canola Growers’ Election...

increments, with each wheat and durum contract representing 100 tonnes, and barley 20 tonnes.

Cattle rustlers strike St-Pierre-Jolys RCMP are seeking the public’s help regarding a theft of cattle taken from a property in the RM of Hanover sometime between Nov. 7 and 9. A group of five cows and a calf valued at more than $5,000 was taken. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact RCMP or Manitoba Crime Stoppers.

If you have not already voted please send in your ballot before December 20th. Please note revised ballots have been sent out. Be sure to follow the directions on the cover letter. The old ballots will not be accepted, please use the revised ballot.

sold at this sale. The novelty breeds were of little interest to buyers. The buyers were interested in healthy and well-muscled lambs. A horned Jacob lamb was passed. Bidding for the new-crop lambs was just like Easter — strong. Eighty- to 81-pound lambs brought a price range from $2.01 to $2.07 per pound. The 84- to 93-pound lambs brought a price range of $1.94 to $1.97 per pound. The lightweight lambs continued with this higher bidding, in the 70- or higher pound class. The hairless breeds brought the lower prices compared to the wool variety lambs. The hairless lambs brought a price range of $1.68 to $1.88 per pound. The other lambs brought a price range of $2.02 to $2.18 per pound. There was a good selection of the 60-plus-pound lambs for this sale. The group of 67-pound Dorper-cross lambs brought $129.98 ($1.94 per pound). The remaining lambs in this weight class were sold for prices ranging from $2.01 to $2.21 per pound. A group of seven 54-pound lambs, brought $103.68 ($1.92 per pound). A group of five 57-pound lambs brought $112.29 ($1.97 per pound). A 55-pound Rideau-cross lamb brought $111.38 ($2.0250 per pound). Two 43-pound Suffolk-cross lambs brought $69.88 ($1.6250 per pound). Two groups of 45-pound lambs brought $77.63 and $88.88 ($1.7250 and $1.9750 per pound). The dairy variety (doe) goats were of less interest for the buy-

ers at this sale. The meat does created the higher range of bids, from $0.83 to $1.25 per pound, while the dairy does brought a price range of $0.53 to $0.81 per pound. There was a good selection of bucks for this sale; either for breeding or for meat purposes. The indication showed high demand for the bucks, thus creating an increase in the dollar per pound. The price ranged from $1.42 to $1.75 per pound, for Boercross bucks. A 150-pound Alpine-cross buck brought $175 ($1.17 per pound) and a 195-pound Alpine-cross buck brought $225 ($1.15 per pound). A 55-pound purebred Nubian buck brought $87.50 ($1.59 per pound). The high bidding continued at this sale for the lighterweight goats (kids) for the meat industry. A group of 70-pound Boer-cross goats brought $130 ($1.88 per pound), and a group of 73-pound Boer-cross goats brought $132 ($1.81 per pound). A large group of 51 Boer-cross goats at 67 pounds brought $113 ($1.69 per pound). Three 68-pound Boer-cross goats brought $112 ($1.65 per pound). The price slightly dropped for the 50-plus-pound goat category. The price ranged from $1.03 to $1.59 per pound. The weight class of 43- to 48-pound Boer-cross brought a price range of $1.46 to $1.51 per pound. A group of three 42-pound La Mancha-cross goats brought $67 ($1.60 per pound). Five 39-pound Boer-cross goats brought $65 ($1.67 per pound).

Manitoba Chicken Producers (MCP), a Winnipeg based, not-for-profit hatching egg and chicken producer organization, is seeking a

Field Services Manager - term Reporting to the General Manager, the Field Services Manager is responsible for visiting producers, delivering MCP’s farm programs, and organizing live animal displays. The manager is also responsible for supervising summer staff. The successful candidate will: • enjoy working with people in a variety of settings • have excellent verbal and written communication skills • be detail oriented • be able to work independently with minimal supervision • be a skilled time manager • be committed to continuous learning • be able to do some physical labour • have a reliable vehicle • be willing to travel regularly within the province, and occasionally out of province A degree or diploma in agriculture is required. Animal production courses and work experience in livestock management are considered assets. A membership, or eligibility for membership, in the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists is also considered an asset. This is a twelve (12) month term starting mid to late April 2012, depending on the availability of the successful applicant. MCP offers a competitive salary. To apply, submit a detailed resume, including at least three references, and a cover letter summarizing the applicant’s qualifications. Send to:

Application deadline: 4 PM Wednesday January 4, 2012

Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Field Services – Confidential Attention: V Weeks Manitoba Chicken Producers 1357 Kenaston Blvd, Winnipeg MB R3P 2P2 Fax: 488 1163 Email: vweeks@chicken.mb.ca (pdf or Word documents only)

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

COLUMN

The cost of analyzing DNA samples has come down dramatically Bernie Peet Peet on Pigs

he science of genomics is increasingly being used by pig-breeding companies and organizations around the world to speed up genetic progress. Genomics is the study of the genomes of organisms and a genome is defined as the sum total of all an individual organism’s genes. Thus, genomics is the study of all the genes of a cell or tissue, rather than individual genes. The pig genome has recently been sequenced and hundreds of thousands of genetic markers have been identified. In recent years the cost of analyzing DNA samples has come down dramatically, making it commercially viable to use the new technology in breeding programs. The DNA analysis involves measuring 60,000 points on the animal’s chromosome and this information can be used to identify genetic variation. The genetic markers or single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are especially valuable in measuring traits with low heritability such as piglet survival, or traits measured late in life such as sow survival and traits that are difficult to measure such as robustness. While this new technology has been used for a number of years, its increased accessibility and lower costs have led to an acceleration in its uptake. This will result in faster genetic progress and consequently improved performance and higher margins for producers. Genomic selection complements existing conventional measurement and selection methods rather than replacing them, points out Hans Olijslagers, chief technical officer at TOPIGS in the Netherlands. “Although at first I thought that once we could see inside the genes of pigs then existing techniques would no longer be needed, the opposite is true,” he explains. “The old techniques are essential if genomic selection is to be a success. In traditional breeding we collect a lot of data about the performances of animals and link these to bloodlines. That enables us to specifically select characteristics. With genomic selection we look at the gene pattern of the animal and then see if we can link its gene structure to its performance.”

“Turbocharger of progress”

Olijslagers calls genomic selection the “turbocharger of progress,” due to its ability to boost genetic gains. “Once you have the link between genes and various aspects of performance, you can make predictions about the performances of an animal based on its DNA. That allows you to search more accurately for the right animals, which means you can make far faster progress in the selection process,” he says. Olijslagers notes that the big benefit of genomics is to boost

genetic gain in characteristics with low heritability. “The number of teats a sow has can be counted quickly and also has a high heritability,” he explains. “There genomic selection will only have a limited added value. Characteristics such as disease resistance, meat quality and sexrelated characteristics are far more difficult to measure. For example, at present it is difficult to measure the breeding value of a boar for female fertility. A boar does not give birth to a litter of piglets, and so you have to wait for its female offspring. Furthermore, fertility is a late-in-life characteristic with a low heritability. All of that is set to change with genomic selection.” In Denmark, the industry breeding organization DanBred has announced that it will use genomic information in all breeds and for the entire range of traits in the Danish breeding objective. It expects this to increase genetic gain by 20 per cent annually. Denmark is the first country to apply DNA information in its breeding program, it says. “Currently, breeding is based on mating the best boars and sows with each other to create genetic gain in the next generation,” says Nicolaj Nørgaard, director of the Danish Pig Research Centre. “The challenge is to pinpoint the animals which are genetically the best. Now this approach is changing due to genomic selection that is based on DNA testing. “Genomic selection boosts all the traits within the breeding objective,” explains Nørgaard. “This new approach enables us to obtain much better results more quickly for traits such as survival rate, feed conversion and environmental impact. “In applying genomic selection, only the DNA of the best animals will be tested, resulting in approximately 2,000 animals per breed being tested each year,” Nørgaard says. “The actual test is carried out by hair extraction from the animal, which then is sent to a laboratory in the USA.” He notes that the use of genomic selection in pig breeding was made possible by collaboration between the Danish Pig Research Centre, two Danish universities and the University of Beijing, which resulted in sequencing the DNA of pigs. The information forms part of the underlying basis for the DNA chip manufactured by American company Illumina, which is applied in breeding today. The financial benefit of applying genomic selection is worth approximately 0.25 euros (34 cents) more per finisher per year, according to DanBred. “In recent years, the breeding program has resulted in an expected gain in production of approximately 1.35 euros ($1.82) per pig per year. It is expected that this gain will increase to 1.60 euros ($2.16) by the time the effect of genomic selection has reached its full impact on production.”

“This new approach enables us to obtain much better results more quickly for traits such as survival rate, feed conversion and environmental impact.” NICOLAJ NØRGAARD, Danish Pig Research Centre

n! r of soo ea . r y ds py x co l bo ou ee ly n ur ai al ut yo m or inp for our sf m y ch n l u ar at e, i al f C nd n e : W zi rs ga be ma r em e M Pow t ke ar M

Genomic selection set to boost porcine genetic progress

We’ve got your farm profitability all wrapped up. If you aren’t already a Member of FNA, why not? Give us a call today. We’ve got a gift for you...

1-877-FNA-FARM | fna.ca (1-877-362-3276)

Your Land. Your Livelihood.

Your Legacy.

Register today for an environmental farm plan workshop. Take care of your land and chances are it will take care of you. Protect your operation today and for generations to come by implementing an environmental farm plan. An environmental farm plan (EFP) is a voluntary, confidential self-assessment designed to help you identify the environmental assets and risks of your operation. Free workshops Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) is conducting free EFP workshops. Register for this two, half-day workshop and you’ll be guided through an EFP workbook and learn environmentallyfriendly methods of: • crop and pest management • manure storage and handling

• livestock and pasture management • nutrient management • …and much more

Note: To remain valid, environmental farms plans must be renewed every five years. Check the date of your Statement of Completion to ensure you are still eligible to apply for the Environmental Farm Action Program. Application deadline is February 15, 2012. For workshop locations, dates and times visit your local Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives GO Office, or go to manitoba.ca/agriculture.

Bernie Peet is president of Pork Chain Consulting of Lacombe, Alberta, and editor of Western Hog Journal. EnvrmntlFrmPlningAdMBCoop2011.indd 1

11-11-09 12:49 PM

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

LIVESTOCK AUCTION RESULTS Weight Category

Feeder Steers

Ashern

Dec-07

Gladstone

Dec-06

Grunthal

Dec-06

Heartland

Brandon

Virden

Dec-06

Dec-07

Killarney

Ste. Rose

Taylor

Winnipeg

Dec-05

Dec-08

Dec-09

No. on offer

2,100

1,230

342

1,270

1,826

650

1,725

548

1,040

Over 1,000 lbs.

n/a

900-1,000

n/a

90.00-119.00

n/a

110.00-126.00

118.00-126.00

n/a

115.00-125.00

n/a

800-900

n/a

100.00-130.00

114.00-128.00

122.00-137.00

125.00-134.00

n/a

120.00-135.00

125.00-135.00

115.00-129.00

700-800

130.00-152.00

120.00-143.75

125.00-139.00

135.00-147.25

132.00-142.00

125.00-136.00

132.00-144.00

135.00-145.00

130.00-147.00

600-700

140.00-160.00

130.00-158.00

135.00-151.50

145.00-158.00

139.00-156.00

132.00-153.50

140.00-155.00

145.00-155.00

135.00-154.00

500-600

160.00-171.00

130.00-171.00

148.00-161.50

150.00-170.00

142.00-165.00

155.00-173.00

160.00-175.00

140.00-167.00

400-500

165.00-182.00

140.00-188.00

160.00-190.00

165.00-194.00

162.00-188.00

155.00-183.00

175.00-193.00

175.00-185.00

145.00-188.00

300-400

170.00-196.50

160.00-193.00

175.00-211.00

180.00-208.00

177.00-200.00

165.00-200.00

170.00-200.00

185.00-195.00

150.00-200.00

Feeder heifers 900-1,000 lbs.

n/a

85.00-114.50

n/a

100.00-120.00

106.00-118.00

n/a

110.00-115.00

n/a

800-900

n/a

85.00-117.00

110.00-118.50

115.00-129.00

112.00-124.00

n/a

115.00-120.00

n/a

700-800

n/a

100.00-127.25

114.00-124.00

120.00-132.50

119.00-130.00

n/a

115.00-130.00

120.00-130.00

110.00-125.00

600-700

125.00-146.00

110.00-134.50

120.00-133.00

125.00-143.50

125.00-143.00

118.00-132.50

125.00-140.00

125.00-135.00

125.00-133.50

500-600

130.00-157.00

120.00-151.50

125.00-136.00

135.00-167.00

128.00-147.00

125.00-146.00

130.00-154.00

135.00-150.00

125.00-140.00

400-500

140.00-176.00

130.00-173.00

130.00-152.00

145.00-172.00

145.00-170.00

135.00-159.50

150.00-167.00

145.00-165.00

130.00-151.00

300-400

145.00-175.00

130.00-179.00

145.00-169.00

150.00-175.00

140.00-160.00

150.00-177.00

155.00-170.00

140.00-170.00

Slaughter Market No. on offer

300

n/a

119

n/a

215

150

260

D1-D2 Cows

58.00-62.00

n/a

56.00-64.75

57.00-62.50

48.00-55.00

52.00-63.00

58.00-65.00

55.00-59.00

D3-D5 Cows

50.00 and up

n/a

48.00-55.00

42.00-57.00

n/a

42.00-51.00

50.00-58.00

46.00-52.00

Age Verified

62.00-70.00

n/a

58.00-63.50

55.00-60.00

n/a

49.00-64.00

Good Bulls

50.00-80.00

60.00-73.75

69.00-75.00

68.00-75.25

71.00-76.25

67.00-73.00

60.00-76.00

70.00-75.00

65.00-78.00

Butcher Steers

n/a

103.00-108.50

n/a

Butcher Heifers

n/a

102.00-106.75

n/a

Feeder Cows

n/a

40.00-75.00

60.00-70.00

n/a

60.00-73.00

n/a

Fleshy Export Cows

n/a

Lean Export Cows

n/a

57.00-63.00

n/a

* includes slaughter market

(Note all prices in CDN$ per cwt. These prices also generally represent the top one-third of sales reported by the auction yard)

just got smarter.

stay up to date on all things ag. Download the free app at agreader.ca/mbc Get the Manitoba Co-operator mobile app and get the latest ag news as it happens. Download the free app at agreader.ca/mbc

$5+

million reasons why Manitoba needs its own beef plant The result: Manitoba producers are missing out on more than $5 million a year. You read that right. This year, for example, the pricing difference between Alberta and Manitoba was an average of $130 per fed steer (avg 1,300 lbs).

So when people ask where the voluntary $2/head MCEC levy is going, tell them it might just save you up to $130/head. And remember, every $2 is matched by the province, turning it into $4. The money goes into an investment fund with a mandate to bring federally-inspected beef slaughter capacity back to Manitoba.

Bothwell Cheese takes “all the marbles” Bothwell Cheese has taken all the marbles after winning first place in the marble cheddar category at the 84th Annual British Empire Cheese Show, the company says in a release.

34th Annual

ZERO

LAG

January 9-11, 2012 Holiday Inn, Minot, ND

Platinum Partners

www.mancec.com

Gold Partner Silver Partners

www.sare.org.

Workshop and Trade Show Holiday Inn - Riverside

(204) 452-6353 Toll-free 1-866-441-6232

This is the sixth consecutive year that the Manitoba-based cheese maker has taken first place in this category. Bothwell Cheese also took first place in the Monterey Jack category at this year’s competition. The company finished in second place in this category last year and first in 2009.

Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Tillage Farmers Association

Alberta cattle producers get more for their animals than Manitoba producers. Why? Because they have beef plants close to home and we don't.

NEWS

Yourmobile smartphone Instant info. With the Manitoba Co-operator app you can

2200 Burdick Expressway East, Minot, ND 58701 Phone: (800)468-9968 701-852-2504 Ask for ManDak Block of Rooms Additional Lodging Accommodations: Grand International Inn Minot (800) 735-4493 or 701-852-3161

For More Info Contact:

Bonnie Staiger, Executive Secretary Ph. 701-223-3184 E-mail: mandak@westriv.com

Registration Information: www.mandakzerotill.org

Garrison Farmers Union Elevator

North Dakota State University

Workshop Sponsors

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

Jersey owners love their little brown cows The little brown cow is capturing the hearts and minds of dairy producers raising the Jersey breed By Shannon VanRaes co-operator staff

or many dairy farmers the world is black and white, but for Jersey owners it’s all shades of brown. “I thought, ‘How are these little brown cows going to compare to a Holstein?’” said Henry Delichte, secretary of the Manitoba Jersey Cattle Club. “But what they lack in size, they make up for in character.” Chatting over breakfast at the organization’s 84th annual general meeting in Winnipeg, other Jersey owners agreed with Delichte. Smaller than other dair y breeds, Jerseys are also gentle and well respected in mixed h e rd s, s a i d D e b b i e G ra y e of Graylane Holsteins and Jerseys. Prior to moving to Manitoba i n 2 0 0 4 , De b b i e a n d h u s band Matthew farmed in New Brunswick, where on a foggy night the herd went on the lam, holing up in a nearby church parking lot. “We couldn’t figure out how the two of us were going to get these cows back in,” she said. “But Matthew just grabbed onto this Lulu – you couldn’t even see the cows it was so dark, you just heard clop, clop, clop – and as he went with her the whole herd followed... so they certainly earn their respect.” But there’s also a lot to like on the economic side. Jersey milk is higher in butterfat, and the petite bovines eat about 30 per cent less than Holsteins, said Delichte. “If you put a high-quality grain in front of them and some forage, they are going to go for the forage,” he said. Longevity is also a factor that makes Jerseys a desirable breed, with Holsteins having about 1-1/2 fewer lactation cycles than Jerseys, said Steven Smith, president of the Manitoba Jersey Cattle Club. Fertility is higher in Jerseys, as well. “ T h e y a re l i k e ra b b i t s ,” said Smith, adding calving also requires less intervention compared to Holsteins. “Nature just takes its course.” Howe ve r, Ho l s t e i n s p ro duce a greater volume of milk, about 32 litres a day compared to 25 litres for Jerseys. “But when you look at all the numbers, it evens out,” said Delichte. Despite the breed’s long history, there are only 1,092 Jersey operations in Canada, 25 of which are located in Manitoba. And of those 25 farms, 75 per cent are mixedbreed operations. As its name implies, the breed hails from the British C h a n n e l Is l a n d o f Je r s e y, where it was first recorded as a separate breed around 1700. Since then they have been transported around the world, including to India and Brazil. Jerseys in Canada likely came over with early settlers and immigrants, said Matthew Graye. Interest in the breed is growing, according to Delichte, who said the milk component pricing system means having a cow that produces more butterfat makes sense.

“It still always comes back to profitability. Longevity is a huge part of that, but we need to continue to increase the amount of production in our cows on a year-by-year, and generation-bygeneration basis. If we don’t do that our breed will not flourish, our breed will disappear.” Steven Smith

“ Their milk is definitely r i c h e r,” s a i d D e l i c h t e. “I always make a point that the last cow I milk is a Jersey, so I have Jersey milk for my cereal.” But Smith told producers at the AGM that they can’t rest on their laurels. “It still always comes back t o p r o f i t a b i l i t y,” h e s a i d . “Longevity is a huge part of that, but we need to continue to increase the amount of production in our cows on a yearby-year, and generation-by-

generation basis. If we don’t do that our breed will not flourish, our breed will disappear.” Smith advocated genomics and using superior bulls — noting about 30 per cent of bulls currently being used are negative for milk production. “C ow s d o n’t g e t b e t t e r without good genetics,” said Smith, adding management techniques can’t increase a cow’s ability to produce more milk. shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

Henry Delichte, secretary of the Manitoba Jersey Cattle Club, takes the mike during the organization’s 84th annual general meeting. Photo: Shannon VanRaes

Something Special for the

Manitoba Co-operator Lovers on your Christmas List...

r ily, friends o m fa r fo t if g and es a great ut this form erator mak o p ll -o fi o st C u a J b ! o ing is easy toll free The Manit R - Call our ! And the giv O st 4 . li e r g u a o p y e n th o 00-782-079 m of -8 o 1 tt anyone : o e b n e o h th p t e over th e address a ils from you ta mail it to th e ec. 22 d e th ll a t er Before D % d e’ll ge r w O d n a r e or b at 3 oper num Manitoba Coave up to 2 n regarding com al informatio on ti di ad cpublishing. y an For cription@fb bs su l: ai m s esubscription 6.50 $70.00 Gift #1 ❍ 2 Years $8 00 8. $3 00 9. ❍ 1 Year $4 ❍ Renewal cription ______ bs Su ew N __________ ❍ __________ __ __ __ _____ __ __________ Gift Name:__ __________ __ __ __ ____ __ __ ____Prov.: __ Address:___ __________ __ __ __ __ __ __ : __________ City/Town: ________ Ph __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __________ Postal Code:_ __________ __ __ __ __ : rd Sign Gift Ca

and S rom: ____ __________ Gifts Are F __________

__________ _______ My Name: __ __________ __________ __ __ __ __ _______ __ Address:_ __________ __________ __ __ __ __ _______ City/Town: de: ________ _ Postal Co __ __ __ __ _________ Prov:_____ _ Fax: ____ __________ __ __ __ __ Phone:__ iption y own subscr 6.50 $70.00 ❍ Renew m ❍ 2 Years $8 00 8. $3 00 9. $4 ❍ 1 Year

Gift #2

6.50 $70.00 ❍ 2 Years $8 00 8. $3 00 9. ❍ 1 Year $4 ❍ Renewal ____ cription bs Su ew N __________ ❍ __________ __ __ __ ___ __ __ __ __________ Gift Name:__ __________ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ____Prov.: __ Address:___ __________ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ : ________ City/Town: ________ Ph __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __________ Postal Code:_ __________ __ __ __ __ : rd Sign Gift Ca

Gift #3

6.50 $70.00 ❍ 2 Years $8 00 8. $3 00 9. ❍ 1 Year $4 ❍ Renewal ____ cription bs Su ew N __________ ❍ __________ __ __ __ __ _____ __ __________ Gift Name:__ __________ __ __ __ ____ __ __ ____Prov.: __ Address:___ __________ __ __ __ __ __ __ : __________ City/Town: ________ Ph __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __________ Postal Code:_ __________ __ __ __ __ : ire rd qu d. nal gifts if re Sign Gift Ca r with additio a Please attach

sheet of pape

ion! Tax Dedurcsutbscriptions are

o-operato expense Manitoba C ible business ct u d e -d x ta a

cription: My 1st subs ($70.00) s ar ye 2 0) or 1 year ($38.0 Gifts: Additional 70.00) ($ s ar ye 0) or 2 1 year ($38.0 50 U.S. 1 year $1 (taxes include

d) Total

$ $ $

2012 issue. the Januar y ns start with Mastercard tio ip cr bs Vi su ❍ sa ❍ New gift Charge My: ❍ ed os encl __________ ❍ Cheque __________ __________ __ _ __ __ __ #: __ __________ Credit Card __________ __________ __ __ __ __ : __ Expiry Date nching rming ❑ Ra ently: ❑ Fa rr Are you cu

mpleted Mail this co ayment to: form with p

o-operator Manitoba C n Ave, 1666 Dubli MB Winnipeg, R3H OH1

22 1

The Manitoba Manitoba Co-operator 2011 The Co-Operator| |December October 15, 6, 2011

FARMER'S

MARKETPLACE Call to place your classified ad in the next issue: 1-800-782-0794

Selling?

FAX your classified ads to: 204-954-1422 · Or eMAiL your classified ads to: mbclassifieds@fbcpublishing.com

Classification

index Tributes/Memory Announcements Airplanes Alarms & Security Systems AnTiqueS Antiques For Sale Antique Equipment Antique Vehicle Antiques Wanted Arenas

Your guide to the Classification Categories and sub-listings within this section.

Roofing Building Supplies Buildings Business Machines Business Opportunities BuSineSS SeRViCeS Crop Consulting Financial & Legal Insurance/Investments Butchers Supply Chemicals Clothing/Work wear Collectibles Compressors Computers

AuCTiOn SALeS BC Auction AB Auction Peace AB Auction North AB Auction Central AB Auction South SK Auction MB Auction Parkland MB Auction Westman MB Auction Interlake MB Auction Red River Auction Various U.S. Auctions Auction Schools

COnTRACTinG Custom Baling Custom Feeding Custom Harvest Custom Seeding Custom Silage Custom Spraying Custom Trucking Custom Tub Grinding Custom Work Construction Equipment Dairy Equipment Electrical Engines Entertainment Fertilizer

AuTO & TRAnSpORT Auto Service & Repairs Auto & Truck Parts Autos Trucks Semi Trucks Sport Utilities Vans Vehicles Vehicles Wanted

FARM MAChineRy Aeration Conveyors Equipment Monitors Fertilizer Equip Grain Augers Grains Bins Grain Carts Grain Cleaners Grain Dryers Grain Elevators Grain Handling Grain Testers Grain Vacuums

BeeKeepinG Honey Bees Cutter Bees Bee Equipment Belting Bio Diesel Equipment Books & Magazines BuiLDinG & RenOVATiOnS Concrete Repair Doors & Windows Electrical & Plumbing Insulation Lumber

hAyinG & hARVeSTinG Baling Equipment Mower Conditioners Swathers

Swather Accessories Haying & Harvesting Various COMBineS Belarus Case/IH Cl Caterpillar Lexion Deutz Ford/NH Gleaner John Deere Massey Ferguson Versatile White Combines Various Combine Accessories Hydraulics Irrigation Equipment Loaders & Dozers Parts & Accessories Salvage Potato & Row Crop Equipment Repairs Rockpickers Snowblowers/Plows Silage Equipment Specialty Equipment SpRAyinG Sprayers Spray Various TiLLAGe & SeeDinG Air Drills Air Seeders Harrows & Packers Seeding Various Tillage Equipment Tillage & Seeding Various TRACTORS Agco Allis/Deutz Belarus Case/IH Caterpillar Ford John Deere Kubota Massey Ferguson

New Holland Steiger Universal Versatile White Zetor Tractors 2WD Tractors 4WD Tractors Various Farm Machinery Miscellaneous Farm Machinery Wanted Fencing Firewood Fish Farm Forestry/Logging Fork Lifts/Pallets Fur Farming Generators GPS Health Care Heat & Air Conditioning Hides/Furs/Leathers Hobby & Handicrafts Household Items LAnDSCApinG Greenhouses Lawn & Garden LiVeSTOCK CATTLe Cattle Auctions Angus Black Angus Red Angus Aryshire Belgian Blue Blonde d'Aquitaine Brahman Brangus Braunvieh BueLingo Charolais Dairy Dexter Excellerator Galloway Gelbvieh Guernsey Hereford Highland Holstein Jersey Limousin Lowline Luing Maine-Anjou Miniature Murray Grey Piedmontese

Pinzgauer Red Poll Salers Santa Gertrudis Shaver Beefblend Shorthorn Simmental South Devon Speckle Park Tarentaise Texas Longhorn Wagyu Welsh Black Cattle Composite Cattle Various Cattle Wanted LiVeSTOCK hORSeS Horse Auctions American Saddlebred Appaloosa Arabian Belgian Canadian Clydesdale Draft Donkeys Haflinger Miniature Morgan Mules Norwegian Ford Paint Palomino Percheron Peruvian Pinto Ponies Quarter Horse Shetland Sport Horses Standardbred Tennessee Walker Thoroughbred Warmblood Welsh Horses For Sale Horses Wanted LiVeSTOCK Sheep Sheep Auction Arcott Columbia Dorper Dorset Katahdin Lincoln Suffolk Texel Sheep Sheep For Sale

Sheep Wanted LiVeSTOCK Swine Swine Auction Swine For Sale Swine Wanted LiVeSTOCK poultry Poultry For Sale Poultry Wanted LiVeSTOCK Specialty Alpacas Bison (Buffalo) Deer Elk Goats Llama Rabbits Emu Ostrich Rhea Yaks Specialty Livestock Various Livestock Equipment Livestock Services & Vet Supplies Miscellaneous Articles Miscellaneous Articles Wanted Musical Notices On-Line Services ORGAniC Organic Certified Organic Food Organic Grains Personal Pest Control Pets & Supplies Photography Propane Pumps Radio, TV & Satellite ReAL eSTATe Vacation Property Commercial Buildings Condos Cottages & Lots Houses & Lots Mobile Homes Motels & Hotels Resorts FARMS & RAnCheS British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba Pastures Farms Wanted

Acreages/Hobby Farms Land For Sale Land For Rent

Oilseeds Pulse Crops Common Seed Various

ReCReATiOnAL VehiCLeS All Terrain Vehicles Boats & Water Campers & Trailers Golf Carts Motor Homes Motorcycles Snowmobiles Recycling Refrigeration Restaurant Supplies Sausage Equipment Sawmills Scales

FeeD/GRAin Feed Grain Hay & Straw Hay & Feed Wanted Feed Wanted Grain Wanted Seed Wanted Sewing Machines Sharpening Services Silos Sporting Goods Outfitters Stamps & Coins Swap Tanks Tarpaulins Tenders Tickets Tires Tools

SeeD/FeeD/GRAin pedigreed Cereal Seeds Barley Durum Oats Rye Triticale Wheat Cereals Various peDiGReeD FORAGe SeeDS Alfalfa Annual Forage Clover Forages Various Grass Seeds peDiGReeD OiLSeeDS Canola Flax Oilseeds Various peDiGReeD puLSe CROpS Beans Chickpeas Lentil Peas Pulses Various peDiGReeD SpeCiALTy CROpS Canary Seeds Mustard Potatoes Sunflower Specialty Crops Various COMMOn SeeD Cereal Seeds Forage Seeds Grass Seeds

TRAiLeRS Grain Trailers Livestock Trailers Trailers Miscellaneous Travel Water Pumps Water Treatment Welding Well Drilling Well & Cistern Winches COMMuniTy CALenDAR British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba CAReeRS Career Training Child Care Construction Domestic Services Farm/Ranch Forestry/Log Health Care Help Wanted Management Mining Oil Field Professional Resume Services Sales/Marketing Trades/Tech Truck Drivers Employment Wanted

✁

Classified Ad Order Form MAiL TO: Manitoba Co-operator, Box 9800, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3K7

FAX TO:

204-954-1422

Name: __________________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________ Province: ____________________________

phOne in: TOLL FREE IN CANADA:

1-800-782-0794

Phone #: ______________________________

Town: ____________________________________________

Postal Code: _________________________

plEASE pRInT youR AD BEloW:

Classification: ___________________________ ❏ I would like to take advantage of the Prepayment Bonus of 2 FREE weeks when I prepay for 3 weeks. No. of words VISA

❏

________________ x

MASTERCARD

$0.45

No. of weeks ____________________ = ____________________ Minimum charge $11.25 per week Add $2.50 if being billed / Minus 10% if prepaying: ______________________

Card No.

Add 5% GST: ______________________

Expiry Date:

TOTAL:

Signature: _______________________________________________ Published by Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1 WINNIPEG OFFICE Manitoba Co-operator 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1 Toll-Free in Canada 1-800-782-0794 Phone 204-954-1415 in Winnipeg FAX 204-954-1422 Mailing Address: Box 9800, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3K7

AGREEMENT The publisher reserves the right to refuse any or all advertising for any reason stated or unstated. Advertisers requesting publication of either display or classified advertisements agree that should the advertisement be omitted from the issue ordered for whatever reason, the Manitoba Co-operator shall not be held liable. It is also agreed that in the event of an error appearing in the published advertisement, the Manitoba Co-operator accepts no liability beyond the amount paid for that portion of the advertisement in which the error appears or affects. Claims for adjustment are limited to errors appearing in the first insertion only. While every endeavor will be made to forward box number replies as soon as possible, we accept no liability in respect to loss or damage alleged to a rise through either failure or delay in forwarding such replies, however caused, whether by negligence or otherwise.

noon on THuRSDAyS (unless otherwise stated)

Or (204) 954-1415 in Winnipeg

plEASE noTE: Even if you do not want your name & address to appear in your ad, we need the information for our files.

❏

ADVeRTiSinG DeADLine:

CAUTION The Manitoba Co-operator, while assuming no responsibility for advertisements appearing in its columns, exercises the greatest care in an endeavor to restrict advertising to wholly reliable firms or individuals. However, please do not send money to a Manitoba Co-operator box number. Buyers are advised to request shipment C.O.D. when ordering from an unknown advertiser, thus minimizing the chance of fraud and eliminating the necessity of a refund where the goods have already been sold. At Farm Business Communications we have a firm commitment to protecting your privacy and security as our customer. Farm Business Communications will only collect personal information if it is required for the proper functioning of our business. As part of our commitment to enhance customer service, we may share this personal information with other strategic business partners. For more information regarding our Customer Informa-

______________________

tion Privacy Policy, write to: Information Protection Officer, Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1. Occasionally we make our list of subscribers available to other reputable firms whose products and services might be of interest to you. If you would prefer not to receive such offers, please contact us at the address in the preceding paragraph, or call 1-800-782-0794. The editors and journalists who write, contribute and provide opinions to Manitoba Co-operator and Farm Business Communications attempt to provide accurate and useful opinions, information and analysis. However, the editors, journalists and Manitoba Co-operator and Farm Business Communications, cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and the editors as well as Manitoba Co-operator and Farm Business Communication assume no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any reader for this publication based on any and all information provided.

ADVERTISIng RATES & InfoRMATIon REgulAR ClASSIfIED • Minimum charge — $11.25 per week for first 25 words or less and an additional 45 cents per word for every word over 25. Additional bolding 75 cents per word. GST is extra. $2.50 billing charge is added to billed ads only. • Terms: Payment due upon receipt of invoice. • 10% discount for prepaid ads. If phoning in your ad you must pay with VISA or MasterCard to qualify for discount. • Prepayment Bonus: Prepay for 3 weeks & get a bonus of 2 weeks; bonus weeks run consecutively & cannot be used separately from original ad; additions & changes accepted only during first 3 weeks. • Ask about our Priority Placement. • If you wish to have replies sent to a confidential box number, please add $5.00 per week to your total. Count eight words for your address. Example: Ad XXXX, Manitoba Co-operator, Box 9800, Winnipeg, R3C 3K7. • Your complete name and address must be submitted to our office before publication. (This information will be kept confidential and will not appear in the ad unless requested.) DISplAy ClASSIfIED • Advertising copy deviating in any way from the regular classified style will be considered display and charged at the display rate of $29.40 per column inch ($2.25 per agate line). • Minimum charge $31.50 per week + $5.00 for online per week. • Illustrations and logos are allowed with full border. • Spot color: 25% of ad cost, with a minimum charge of $15.00. • Advertising rates are flat with no discount for frequency of insertion or volume of space used. • Telephone orders accepted • Terms: Payment due upon receipt of invoice. • Price quoted does not include GST. All classified ads are non-commissionable.

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

AUCTION SALES U.S. Auctions

AUCTION DISTRICTS

AUCTION SALES U.S. Auctions

Parkland – North of Hwy 1; west of PR 242, following the west shore of Lake Manitoba and east shore of Lake Winnipegosis. Westman – South of Hwy 1; west of PR 242. Interlake – North of Hwy 1; east of PR 242, following the west shore of Lake Manitoba and east shore of Lake Winnipegosis. Red River – South ofHwy 1; east of PR 242.

The Pas

Birch River

BUILDINGS AFAB INDUSTRIES IS YOUR SUPERIOR post frame building company. For estimates and information call 1-888-816-AFAB(2322). Website: www.postframebuilding.com CONCRETE FLATWORK: Specializing in place & finish of concrete floors. Can accommodate any floor design. References available. Alexander, MB. 204-752-2069.

Swan River

BUSINESS SERVICES

Minitonas Durban

Winnipegosis

Roblin

Dauphin

Grandview

Ashern

Gilbert Plains

Parkland

Birtle

Riverton Eriksdale

McCreary

Langruth

Neepawa

Gladstone

Rapid City

Melita

Brandon

Carberry

Waskada

FARM CHEMICAL SEED COMPLAINTS

Killarney

Elm Creek

Crystal City

Sanford

Ste. Anne

Carman

Mariapolis

Pilot Mound

Lac du Bonnet

Beausejour

Winnipeg

Austin Treherne

Westman Boissevain

Stonewall Selkirk

Portage

Souris

Reston

Interlake

Erickson Minnedosa

Arborg

Lundar Gimli

Shoal Lake

Hamiota

Virden

BUSINESS SERVICES Crop Consulting

Fisher Branch

Ste. Rose du Lac Russell

St. Pierre

242

Morris Winkler Morden

Altona

Steinbach

Red River

ANTIQUES ANTIQUES Antiques For Sale MULVEY FLEA MARKET, Manitoba’s Largest year-round indoor flea market, weekends 10-5. Collectables, Antiques & More. Lots of great stuff new & old. Fun place to shop. Osborne @ Mulvey Ave. E. Wpg. 204-478-1217. Visa, MasterCard, Interac accepted. Visit us online at www.mulveymarket.ca

ANTIQUES Antiques Wanted WANTED WILLYS CJ2A JEEP, in any condition. Call Richard, (204)837-3108.

AUCTION SALES AUCTION SALES Manitoba Auctions – Red River

Now Booking Spring 2012 Farm Equipment & Other Auctions Manitoba Auction Company ready to serve you, no matter how large or small. Call us today for a no obligation. Visit Bill Klassen Auctioneers www.billklassen.com or call 204-325-4433 cell 6230

AUTO & TRANSPORT AUTO & TRANSPORT Trucks 1991 F-250 3/4 TON extended cab XLT Lariat, 2WD, 460 engine, automatic, receiver hitch, very well maintained & looked after inside & out, original tailgate. Phone: (204)773-3252. 2005 FORD F-150 LARIET, extended cab, 4x4, fully loaded w/heated black leather interior, PW, PM, PS, cruise, tilt, chrome side steps, 2-tone dark green & gold, saftied, ready to go, $12,000 OBO. Phone: (204)347-5114 or (204)746-5485, St. Malo 2006 FORD F450 4X2 bus, DSL engine inoperable, 24 passenger, $2,000. Phone (204)795-9192.

BUILDING & RENOVATIONS BUILDING & RENOVATIONS Roofing

WINTER BLOWOUT!!

We also specialize in: Crop Insurance appeals; Chemical drift; Residual herbicide; Custom operator issues; Equipment malfunction; Yield comparisons, Plus Private Investigations of any nature. With our assistance the majority of our clients have received compensation previously denied. Back-Track Investigations investigates, documents your loss and assists in settling your claim. Licensed Agrologist on Staff. For more information Please call 1-866-882-4779

CONTRACTING CONTRACTING Custom Work SUPER CARBIDE PRODUCTS AT VW Mfg. Many products in stock! VW Mfg, Dunmore, AB, See our website: www.vwmfg.com or call (403)528-3350.

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT 1966 CAT 950 WHEEL loader, bucket, recent work order sleeves, pistons, bearings & heads, 20.5x25 tires, $21,000; 853 Bobcat, bucket, very good 12-16.5 tires, recent reman engine, $12,500; 3 of 621 Cat motor scrapers, 23H series, canopy, $25,000 each; 1975 Willock tandem axle drop LoBoy, WB suspension, 7-ft. neck, 20-ft.x9-ft. deck, 3ft.6-in. beavertail, safetied, $18,500; 1969 Freuhauff low bed, safetied, 8-ft.x18-ft. double drop deck, 30Ton, near new 255/70R22.5 tires, beavertail, $13,500. (204)795-9192. CATERPILLAR D3B BULLDOZER LGP, 6-way blade, 90% under carriage, rear hyd remote, excellent condition. Phone (204)378-5574. D6C W/CANOPY & BLADE; 945 Leibherr trackhoe $14,000; 840 Allis loader $9000; Clean out & wrista-twist buckets. Phone: (204)352-4306 FOR SALE: 1981 KOMATSU D53A dozer w/angle blade, winch, canopy, wide pads 34-in., asking $20,000. Phone (204)239-6690.

DAIRY EQUIPMENT STAINLESS STEEL BULK TANK, 1,000-gal. 2-in. drain opening, 2 compressors & automatic wash, $4,000. Phone (204)748-2166, Virden, MB.

FARM MACHINERY FARM MACHINERY Grain Bins BIG BINS & FLOORS at old prices, 20,000-56,000bu. bins holding prices until spring. NEW MOISTURE CABLES! Call Wall Grain for details (204)269-7616 or (306)244-1144 or (403)393-2662.

FARM MACHINERY Grain Cleaners

GOT ERGOT?? BARLEY IN YOUR WHEAT?? Get rid of it with a BUHLER SORTEX COLOUR SORTER Call Can-Seed Equipment Ltd. 1-800-644-8397 For details Local Service with the most knowledge

75 truckloads 29 gauge full hard 100,000PSI high tensile roofing & siding. 16 colours to choose from. B-Gr. coloured......................70¢/ft.2

Multi-coloured millends.........49¢/ft.2

Ask about our blowout colours...65¢/ft.2 BEAT THE PRICE INCREASES CALL NOW

FOUILLARD STEEL SUPPLIES LTD. ST. LAZARE, MB. 1-800-510-3303

FARMING

IS ENOUGH OF A GAMBLE...

Buy and Sell

anything you need through the Advertise in the Manitoba Co-operator Classifieds, it’s a Sure Thing!

1-800-782-0794

Buhler Sortex Z+1V Colour Sorter like new! Removes ergot at 150bu/ hr. or more. Monochromatic machine comes with isolation transformer & spare parts.

BUILDINGS

Blow out priced at $67,000. Call Can-Seed Equipment today 1-800-644-8397

10X22 OFFICE BUILDING on skids, fully insulated wired & 2 electric heaters, laminate flooring, 2x6 roof & floor, 2x4 walls, two 36x36-in sliders, outswing door. (306)524-4636, (306)528-7588

BUILDINGS

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

save! Renew early and

FARM MACHINERY Grain Dryers

FARM MACHINERY Parts & Accessories

FARM MACHINERY Salvage

NEW GSI GRAIN DRYERS FOR SALE. Canola screens, propane/NG, single or 3-phase. Efficient, reliable, and easy to operate. Significant early order discount pricing now in effect. Call for more information. 204-998-9915 www.vzgrain.com

FYFE PARTS

GOODS USED TRACTOR PARTS: (204)564-2528 or 1-877-564-8734, Roblin, MB.

NEW MC DRYERS IN STOCK w/canola screens 3002,000 BPH units. Why buy used, when you get new fuel efficient & better quality & control w/MC. Call Wall Grain for details (204)269-7616 or (306)244-1144 or (403)393-2662.

FARM MACHINERY Haying & Harvesting – Swathers 722 CO-OP IMPLEMENTS 26FT SP swather, $9000; 2 CIH PT swathers: 8220 25ft, $7250 & 750 50ft, $3750. Phone: (204)655-3447

FARM MACHINERY Haying & Harvesting – Various

Rebuilt Concaves

Rebuild combine table augers Rebuild hydraulic cylinders Roller mills regrooved MFWD housings rebuilt Steel and aluminum welding Machine Shop Service Line boreing and welding

Penno’s Machining & Mfg. Ltd.

Renew your subscription to the Manitoba Co-operator for 2 years BEFORE we mail your renewal notice, and we'll extend your subscription by 2 additional months. That's 26 months for the price of 24. OR - Renew for one year and receive 13 months for the price of 12!

Eden, MB 204-966-3221 Fax: 204-966-3248

POTATO EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS seed cutters, treaters, live bottom truck boxes, trailers, pilers, conveyors, clodhoppers & much more. Visit our website at www.gallantsales.com Call Dave 204-254-8126.

“For All Your Farm Parts”

www.fyfeparts.com

Tillage & Seeding

The Real Used FaRm PaRTs sUPeRsToRe Over 2700 Units for Salvage • TRACTORS • COMBINES • SWATHERS • DISCERS Call Joe, leN oR daRWIN (306) 946-2222 monday-Friday - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

FARM MACHINERY Tillage & Seeding – Air Seeders JD 787 W/730 DOUBLE disc drill, 44ft, $20,000; Flexicoil 2320 w/400 seeder, 50ft, Trelleborgs on cart $20,000; 2320 TBH or 787 TBT cart $13,500; Case-IH 2300 Concord TBH cart, $7500; 41ft JD 1060 double disc w/1610 flexicoil $9500; Stainless steel manifolds for JD 777, 787, FC 1610, 1720, 2320 $ Call. Brian (204)685-2896 or (204)856-6119, MacGregor.

WATROUS SALVAGE

FARM MACHINERY Tillage & Seeding – Seeding

WaTRoUs, sK. Fax: 306-946-2444

FOR SALE: 42FT 7200 cASE ih HOE DRILLS, rubber packers, Eagle Beak openers, hydraulic markers, good condition, always shedded, can be viewed at any time. Phone: (204)773-3252

NEW & USED TRACTOR PARTS NEW COMBINE PARTS

FARM MACHINERY Tillage & Seeding – Tillage

Large Inventory of new and remanufactured parts

1991 CCIL 807 35FT deeptiller, complete w/mulchers, gauge wheels, 12in. shovels, excellent condition. Phone: (204)376-5905 or cell (204)641-4175.

Check out A & I online parts store www.pennosmachining.com

TracTors

Combines FARM MACHINERY Combine – Case/IH

Call, email or mail us today!

1·800·782·0794

Email: subscription@fbcpublishing.com M SE R: 12345 2010/ 12 PUB Joh n Sm i t h C om p a n y Nam e 123 E x a m pl e St . T ow n , P r ovi nce, PO STA L CO DE

FARM MACHINERY Specialty Equipment

1-800-667-9871 • Regina 1-800-667-3095 • Saskatoon 1-800-387-2768 • Winnipeg 1-800-222-6594 • Edmonton

2008 CASE-IH 2588 combine w/2015 PU, 476 sep hrs, 594 engine hrs, Pro 600 monitor, y/m, rice tires, shedded, heavy soil machine, $193,000. (204)735-2886, (204)981-5366.

FARM MACHINERY Combine – John Deere 2011 JD 9770 COMBINE, Premier cab, 615 PU, small grains concave, Contour Master, 22.5-ft. auger, duals, 55 engine hrs, like new. Phone (204)467-2109, after 8:00pm

Combine ACCessories Your expiry date is located on your publication's mailing label.

FARM MACHINERY Combine – Accessories 36FT MACDON DRAPER HEADER, pu reel, $7500; NH adapter $1500. Brian (204)685-2896 or (204)856-6119, MacGregor.

FARM MACHINERY Loaders & Dozers 14FT DEGELMAN DOZER BLADE; Mounts for 2470/2670 Case 4wd or JD 8430. Phone: (204)662-4510.

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Case/IH

STEINBACH, MB. Ph. 326-2443

FOR SALE: 1066 IH tractor, w/after market 3-PTH, used all last winter & always started good, asking $6,500. Phone (204)435-2431.

Toll-Free 1-800-881-7727 Fax (204) 326-5878 Web site: farmparts.ca E-mail: roy@farmparts.ca

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – John Deere

FARM MACHINERY Salvage FARM MACHINERY FOR PARTS: COMBINES: IHC 1682, 1482, 1480, 1460, 915, 914, 715, 403, 402, 150, MF 860, 760, 850, 751, 750, 550, 510, 410, 405, JD 7720, 7701, 7700, 6601, 6600, 630, 96, 65, WHITE: 8900, 8800, 8600, 8650, 7800, 5542, 545, 542, 431, NH TR95, TR85, TR70, 1500, 990, 980, Coop 9600, 960 Gleaner L2, N6, N5 F, C2, Vers 2000, 42 Case 1600, 1060 Ford 642 Bel-arus 1500 Don; Swathers: Vers 4400, 400, 330, 103, 10 IHC 4000, 230, 210, 175, 201, 75 Coop 550, 500, 601, MF 655, 36, 35 JD 800, 290 NH 1090 White 6200 Cockshutt 503. We also have parts for tractors, square & round balers, press drills, cultivators, sprayers, haybines, & misc ma-chinery. We handle new & rebuilt parts for tractors & combines. MURPHY SALVAGE (204)858-2727 or toll free 1-877-858-2728.

4455 MFWD, 3PT, 15-SPD, w/wo FEL; 4450 MFWD, 3pt, 15-spd, w/wo FEL; (2) 4250 MFWD, 3pt, 15-spd; 2950 MFWD, 3pt, w260 s/l FEL; 4450 quad, 5800-hrs; 4640 3pt, 3 hyd’s; 4440 quad, 3pt; 4020 3pt, synchro, new paint & tires, mint; 3140 3pt, new paint, tires, hi/ low shift, mint; 1830 3pt. We also have loaders, buckets, grapples to fit JD tractors. BEN PETERS JD TRACTORS LTD 204-828-3628 shop, 204-750-2459 cell, Roseisle.

FARMING IS ENOUGH OF A GAMBLE...

Advertise in the Manitoba Co-operator Classifieds, it’s a Sure Thing!

1-800-782-0794

FOR SALE: 707 LEON loader w/bucket & hoses, good condition, $3,000 OBO. Phone (204)648-7136.

ATTACH YOUR MAILING LABEL HERE

FARM MACHINERY Parts & Accessories

Harvest Salvage Co. Ltd. Canadian Subscribers

U.S. Subscribers

❑ 1 Year: $49.00* ❑ 2 Years $86.50*

❑ 1 Year: $150.00 (US Funds)

*Taxes included

1-866-729-9876 5150 Richmond Ave. East BRANDON, MB. www.harvestsalvage.ca New, Used & Re-man. Parts

❑ Money Order

❑ Visa

ADVERTISING DOLLAR!

1-800-782-0794

Tractors Combines Swathers

Payment Enclosed ❑ Cheque

Stretch your

TAKE FIVE

❑ Mastercard

Visa/MC #: Expiry:

Phone:_____________________________

Email:____________________________________________________ Make cheque or money order payable to Manitoba Co-operator and mail to:

Box 9800, Stn. Main, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3K7 Help us make the Manitoba Co-operator an even better read! Please fill in the spaces below that apply to you. Thank you!

If you're not the owner/operator of a farm are you: q In agri-business (bank, elevator, ag supplies etc.) q Other total farm size (including rented land)_______________ Year of birth________ q I’m farming or ranching q I own a farm or ranch but i'm not involved in it's operations or management

My Main crops are: No. of acres 1. Wheat ____________ 2. Barley ____________ 3. Oats ____________ 4. Canola ____________ 5. Flax ____________ 6. Durum ____________ 7. Rye ____________ 8. Peas ____________ 9. Chick Peas ____________ Livestock Enterpise No. of head 1. Registered Beef ____________ 2. Commercial Cow ____________ 3. Fed Cattle (sold yearly) ____________ 4. Hog Weaners (sold yearly) __________

My Main crops are: No. of acres 10. Lentils ___________ 11. Dry Beans ___________ 12. Hay ___________ 13. Pasture ___________ 14. Summerfallow ___________ 15. Alfalfa ___________ 16. Forage Seed ___________ 17. Mustard ___________ 18. Other (specify) ___________ Livestock Enterpise No. of head 5. Hog farrow-to-finish (# sows) ______ 6. Finished Pigs (sold yearly) _________ 7. Dairy Cows ___________ 8. Other Livestock (specify) __________

✁

Occasionally Farm Business Communications makes its list of subscribers available to other reputable firms whose products and services may be of interest to you. If you PReFeR NOt tO ReCeIve such farm-related offers please check the box below. q I PReFeR MY NAMe AND ADDReSS NOt Be MADe AvAILABLe tO OtHeRS

Sudoku 5 7 1 7 6 1 4 3 7 8 3 4 5 8 9 4 1 6 8 7 5 4 6 3 5 2 6 2 8 7

Last week's answer

2 4 1 9 5 8 3 6 7

5 3 9 7 6 4 8 2 1

8 6 7 1 3 2 9 4 5

9 1 8 5 4 7 2 3 6

6 2 5 3 9 1 4 7 8

3 7 4 8 2 6 1 5 9

7 9 6 2 8 3 5 1 4

4 5 2 6 1 9 7 8 3

1 8 3 4 7 5 6 9 2

Puzzle by websudoku.com

Puzzle by websudoku.com Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Ford

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

1993 FORD 4630 MECHANICAL front wheel drive w/FEL, good condition, approx 1,700-hrs, $16,500 OBO. Phone (204)267-2043, evenings.

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Versatile 1985 836 VERS 4WD, 5,500-hrs, 4 hyd, PTO, PWR shift, 18.4x38 tires 90%, outback autosteer, VGC, $35,000 OBO. (204)745-6228

STEVE’S TRACTOR REBUILDER specializing in JD tractors in need of repair or burnt, or will buy for parts. JD parts available. Phone: 204-466-2927 or cell: 204-871-5170, Austin.

FOR SALE: 25 MIXED bred heifers, bred to Reg Hereford bull, start calving 1st week of March, $1,500 each. Phone (204)379-2408, St Claude.

1206 INTERNATIONAL; JD ACREAGE tractors & 650 Satoh w/loader, 3pth mower & blade. Phone: (204)352-4306

FOR SALE: 35 BLACK Angus cows due to have 4th or 5th calf Feb/March. Bred Black Angus, vaccinated Ivomec, preg checked. Herd reduction. Phone (204)242-0171.

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Black Angus

Big Tractor Parts, Inc.

38 BLACK ANGUS BRED heifers, start calving March. Phone: (204)746-0377 or (204)347-7490, St Malo.

STEIGER TRACTOR SPECIALIST

PUREBRED RED ANGUS HEIFERS & COWS bred to Red Angus Bulls. Accurate calving dates. Due March, April, few May. Excellent herd health program, BVD free tested herd, fully vaccinated including scour vaccine. Contact Albert, Glen, David, Larissa Hamilon (204)827-2358 or (204)526-5105 cell.

Geared For The Future

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Red Angus FARM MACHINERY Machinery Wanted WANTED: GOOD HD LOADER for JD 4055. Phone (204)376-2604, Arborg. WANTED: GRAIN DRYER GILMORE Tatge Model 570 or 570-bu. or large batch dryer. Phone (204)655-3458, Sifton, MB.

HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING

The Icynene Insulation System® • Sprayed foam insulation • Ideal for shops, barns or homes • Healthier, Quieter, More Energy Efficient®

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous 272 WHITE TANDEM DISC, 32ft w/Valmar attachment; 16ft discer model 310 w/tines $700; 7x41 Westfield auger w/gas engine $300; End gate Westfield auger $100; 3pt model 620 mower $600; 20ft tote tank, tall augers, can fill air tanks, $3500. Phone: (204)436-2364, leave message. AG-CON 300 HAY RECONDITIONER, like new condition, offers; 499 NH haybine, excellent condition, $7000. Phone: (204)383-5346 or cell (204)793-7396. DISCS WISHEK 14FT $16,000; Kewannee breaking disc $20,000; IH #770 16ft $8000; DMI 7 shank ripper $10,900; Sunflower 14ft ripper $12,000; New 400-bu gravity wagon $6700; 600-bu $12,000; New 13ft wagon $3000; Large selection used gravity wagons $2000 up; Used grain carts 450-1050bu; 4000lb creep feeder $1200; 150-bu feeder cart $750; Harsh 350 mixer wagon $6000; Mohrlang 420 mixer w/truck $6000. (204)857-8403 GRAIN MASTER PNEUMATIC GRAIN vac, 540 PTO, all hoses, excellent condition, $2050 OBO. 730 Case tractor, gas, standard shift, PTO, 3-pth, good rear tires, $3000. Phone: (204)728-1861 IH 550 MANURE SPREADER, 540 PTO, single axle, $1,000 OBO. Phone (204)866-2844. JD 654A ALL CROP Head, 6R36; JD 7100 3pth planter, 8R36; JD 777 air cart; Melroe 115 SpraCoupe; Flexicoil P30 Packers, 28ft. Call (204)745-0415 or (204)828-3267, Graysville KWIK KLEEN GRAIN SCREENER, 5 tube $4000; 7 tube $6500; Hutchinson #1500 $1750; Hutchinson #3000 $5000; Hicap 5-48 $2500; 10ft land leveller $2150; Lowe hydraulic post auger $2250; Danuser post auger $575; 8ft Lorenz snowblower $1700; Schweiss 8ft $1000; Gehl #6625 Skidsteer $13,900; New Holland #455 $6500; 10in. skidsteer tracks $750; New grapple bucket 66in. $1600; JD tractor cab $600. (204)857-8403 MAYRATH PTO GRAIN AUGER, 10x60, used very little. $1175.00; 3-PTH deep tiller $250.00 (would trade); Westfield PTO auger, 8x32. Phone:(204)347-5995. SCRAPERS FOR SALE!!! Cat, Laplante, Allis, Letourneau, converted to hyd., can direct mount. Will also do custom conversion. Looking for cable scrapers. Phone Borderview Enterprises toll free 1-866-602-4093. WIRELESS DRIVEWAY ALARMS, calving/foaling barn cameras, video surveillance, rear view cameras for RV’s, trucks, combines, seeders, sprayers and augers. Mounted on magnet. Calgary, Ab. (403)616-6610. www.FAAsecurity.com Advertise your unwanted equipment in the Classifieds. Call our toll-free number and place your ad with our friendly staff, and don’t forget to ask about our prepayment bonus. Prepay for 3 weeks and get 2 weeks free! 1-800-782-0794.

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

COMMERCIAL SUFFOLK EWE LAMBS ready for breeding. Also have ram lambs for sale. Phone: (204)835-2748, McCreary

46 CHAROLAIS/SIMMENTAL X COWS bred Charolais/Simmental, start calving January 10th. Full herd health program. 30 are under 5 yrs old. Will preg check. Asking $1700 OBO. For more details call or text Andy (204)821-6058 or Janelle (204)821-6043. Email huberdja@mymts.net

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Various

www.bigtractorparts.com

118 BLACK ANGUS X bred heifers for sale bred to easy calving Black Angus bulls, majority to calve April/May. Full herd health program. Phone: (204)424-5895 or (204)392-3764 128 BRED HEIFERS, BLACK Angus, Angus Hereford cross, 6 Red Angus, 2 Black Angus w/Charolais influence. From our own range calving herd, bred to calving ease, Black Angus & Angus Hereford cross bulls. Start calving mid-Feb. All shots, Ivomec. $1250. (204)873-2525, Clearwater.

40+ SIMMENTAL/CHAROLAIS/RED ANGUS X cows & heifers, bred Simmental & Red Angus. To start calving April 1st. Phone: (204)734-3543

WANTED: JD 6420 OR 6410 MFWD tractor w/loader & grapple, low hrs, reasonably priced. Phone (204)656-4032.

1-800-982-1769

LIVESTOCK Sheep – Suffolk

12 SIMMENTAL CROSS COWS bred to top polled red Simmental bulls, $1300 each. Also replacement Simmental Heifer Calf packages for sale in December. Phone Boynecrest Stock Farm 204-828-3483 or cell 204-745-7168 (Kelly)

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – 2 Wheel Drive

RED OR GREEN 1. 10-25% savings on new replacement parts for your Steiger drive train. 2. We rebuild axles, transmissions and dropboxes with ONE YEAR WARRANTY. 3. 50% savings on used parts.

LIVESTOCK Cattle Various

www.penta.ca

LIVESTOCK Cattle Auctions

REGULAR BUTCHER & FEEDER SALES

Every Friday 8AM Receiving open until 11PM Thursdays Presale Sundays

FINAL CATTLE SALE OF 2011 Friday, Dec. 16th

SHEEP & GOAT SALE 1st & 3rd Thursday of Every Month Next: Dec 15th Gates Open Mon.-Wed. 8AM-4PM Thurs. 8AM-11PM Friday 8AM-6PM Sat. 8AM-4PM For more information call: 204-694-8328 or Jim Christie 204-771-0753

www.winnipeglivestocksales.com Licence #1122

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Angus 25 RED & BLACK angus heifers, bred back to registered red & black angus bulls, to calf March & April. Phone:(204)824-2571, Brandon. 35 BLACK ANGUS/ANGUS X BRED COWS, bred to registered Fleckvieh bull. Start calving Feb. 1st, Avg 4 yrs old, $1350 each. Call (204)232-1620, Anola.

3 YR OLD PB Reg Ramboulliet ram for sale, $400; Two 18 mth old crossbred rams, $200 each. Call Jack (204)379-2840. No Sunday calls please. 5 MALE GREAT PYRENEES pups born October 13th, working parents raised with sheep, $250. Phone Blaine (204)567-3720.

Swine LIVESTOCK Swine Wanted

WANTED: BUTCHER HOGS SOWS AND BOARS FOR EXPORT

P. QUINTAINE & SON LTD. 728-7549 Licence No. 1123

Specialty LIVESTOCK Specialty – Goats

SIMMENTAL ANGUS X COWS: 90 2nd calvers, 45 cows & 65 1st calvers, start calving Feb. 20th. Phone: (204)372-6945.

30 FEMALE GOATS, 8-MONTHS old, 15 are Bore, and 15 are Cashmere & Kiko Cross. Your choice, $175 each. Phone:(204)854-2574.

FOR SALE: SEVEN 2 & 3 yr old Polled PB Charolais heifers, 1 Tan Noblemen daughter. 1 No Doubt daughter. 1 Solomon 2S daughter. All are pasturebred for Mar/ Apr calving to Pleasant Dawn Diamond 376X. 1 cow AI bred to LT BlueGrass 4017P due Feb 17th. Plus Polled Red bull calf, will be 2 on Aug 15th, proven breeder. Sire AI Red Rally 25X. Phone KEH Charolais Keith Hagan (204)748-1024, Virden.

W + RANCH HAS complete 1 iron 200 bred cow dispersal for sale Charolais, Simmental & beef booster M4 crosses. 30 bred heifers balance young cows under 8 yrs old, good feet & udders, no culls. Full herd health program. Heifers exposed on May 15th, cows exposed June 1st. Call Stewart Tataryn (204)646-2338 RM of St Laurent, MB.

3 YOUNG BUCKS, 8 mths old, one Nubian/Alpine cross, 2 Savannah/Boer cross, $150 each. (204)379-2840 St Claude, No Sunday calls please.

nutrition digestion prevention

LIVESTOCK Cattle Wanted

TIRED OF THE HIGH COST OF MARKETING YOUR CALVES??

99 PRE-CALVING 99 CALVING 99 PRE-BREEDING 99 FREE9DELIVERY 99 LOWEST9COST-TO-FEED

IRON & STEEL

LIVESTOCK

Large Volume of Red & Black AI bred heifers. Black & BWF heifers bred to SAV Final Answer 0035 (69-lb BW). Red & RWF heifers bred to Seddes Big Sky R9 (74-lb BW). 50 Tan heifers bred the same way, begin calving mid Apr. Pics & info at www.cloverleafcattleco.com $1,500 on choice Randy (204)483-0228 or Morgan (204)741-0748, Elgin, MB.

30 SUFFOLK X May born Ewe Lambs, 80-100lbs. Pics of stock on website www.mjmillarranch.com Facebook MJ MILLAR RANCH. Email: mitch@mjmillarranch.com Phone: (204)280-0822

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Charolais

1-800-587-4711

2 1/8, 2 3/8, 2 7/8, 3 1/2-in oilfield pipe; 3/4, 7/8, 1in sucker rod; 4.5, 5.5, 7-in., 8 5/8, 9 5/8s casing pipe. (204)252-3413, (204)871-0956.

HERD DISPERSAL 60 CHAROLAIS/ SIMMENTAL cross cows for sale. Bred Charolais start calving Feb 19th, will preg check, quiet herd, asking $1,400 firm. Phone (204)732-2425, evenings.

LIVESTOCK Sheep For Sale

RIOCANADA

1.888.762.3299

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Limousin FOR SALE: 20 BRED heifers & 20 bred cows, start calving Jan 15th, full vaccination program, papers avail. Diamond T Limousin (204)838-2019, cell (204)851-0809, Kenton.

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Simmental 11 RED SIMM/ANGUS BRED heifers, each. Stuart (204)762-5805, Lundar.

$1,575

12 TRADITIONAL SIMMENTAL BRED HEIFERS, (1 black WF, 1 red blaze, 4 polled). Bred to polled red blaze Simmental bull. Due to start calving Feb. 1, 2012. Vaccinated at breeding time, treated w/Noromectin pour-on. Delight Simmentals (204)836-2116, St. Alphonse.

300-700 LBS. Steers & Heifers Rob: 528-3254, 724-3400 Ben: 721-3400 800-1000 LBS. Steers & Heifers Don: 528-3477, 729-7240 Now CoNtRaCtiNg calves for delivery Sept 1 - Nov. 15

Contact: D.J. (Don) MacDonald Livestock Ltd. License #1110

LIVESTOCK Livestock Equipment 14 CYPRESS INDUSTRIES FEED bunks. Phone (204)825-4465, Crystal City, MB. 3PTH HAYBUSTER BALE SHREDDER, 1000 PTO, good working condition, excellent manouver ability. Phone: (204)773-3252. 50 EXCELLENT REPLACEMENT HEIFERS, home-raised, limo & limousin crosses, bred to purebred Red Angus, start calving end of March, 1000-1200-lbs, $1500 each. Phone:(204)424-5665,call evenings. ALTERNATIVE POWER BY SUNDOG SOLAR, portable/remote solar water pumping for winter/summer. Call for pricing on solar systems, wind generators, aeration, powerflex fencing products. Carl Driedger, (204)556-2346 or (204)851-0145, Virden. BLUE HILLS LIVESTOCK TRAILER 7ft.x22ft. w/new brakes, floor & rims $4500; Jiffy bale shredder w/updated rotor & hammers $7500; Set of used hammers for older style Jiffy bale shredder $150. Phone: Henri Van Mol (204)825-2028, Pilot Mound. FOR SALE: 1 SET of light harness w/bridles & very good 19-in. collars, $750 OBO. Phone (204)873-2319. FOR SALE: 2 NEW BOBSLEIGHS for horses w/2.5in. wide oak bent runners c/w 4ft.x120ft. deck, poles, double tree, neck yoke, $1100. Phone (204)866-4141. HEAVY BUILT CATTLE FEED bunks & troughs 3/8” thick steel, 500-gal capacity, 3.5ft x 16.5ft, good for grain, silage or water. Phone: (204)362-0780, Morden.

30 PLUS PURE BRED & commercial bred heifers, also 10 bred cows, excellent group of 2-year old & yearling bulls. Acomb Valley Simmentals, Minnedosa. Phone:(204)865-2246. MRL REGISTERED BRED HEIFERS. Red, Black & Fullblood Simmental and Registered Red Angus. Top quality, top pedigrees. The sisters to the bulls. AI bred to breed leading calving ease sires. MCMILLEN RANCHING LTD: Lee (306)928-4820, Dave (306)928-2249, Jim (306)928-4636.

LIVESTOCK Cattle Various 100 750-850LB YEARLING STEERS Angus & Angus/Galloway X, 1 owner, no growth hormones, never had grain, excellent for the grass finishing market, Market Price. Also Angus X cows to start calving in May, $1200. Phone: (204)758-3374. 30 BRED COWS, 15 Angus, 15 Char X, $1300 each. Phone: Ed Hunter (204)838-2174 or Email: ehunter@rfnow.com

FARMING IS ENOUGH OF A GAMBLE...

BLACK ANGUS HEIFERS BRED black angus, to start calving in April. Also have some later calvers and some herford heifers. Asking $1250 each. Call (204)937-3378.

Advertise in the Manitoba Co-operator Classifieds, it’s a Sure Thing!

BRED BLACK & RED Angus heifers, due to start calving April. Phone: (204)548-2883.

1-800-782-0794

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

Early deadline for the January 5th issue is Wednesday, December 21st at noon. Our Holiday hours are as follows: December 26th Closed December 27th Closed January 2nd Closed There will be no paper published on December 29th. Next issue is January 5th We wish you and your family a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!!!

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

LIVESTOCK Livestock Equipment

PEDIGREED SEED Oilseed – Canola

REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE Motels & Hotels

PEDIGREED SEED Oilseed – Canola

Book Seed Early

Box 426 Holland, MB. ROG OXO Ph 204.526.2145 e-mail info@zeghersseed.com fax 204.526.2524

Considerable Savings on Prepaid orders Before Year End SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Hay & Straw

PEDIGREED SEED PEDIGREED SEED Cereal – Various MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

WANTED: BUCKWHEAT, must be 2011 crop & dry. Will pay top dollar on pickup. Phone: (204)655-3458, Leave message

GRAVE THAWING PROPANE HOOD for sale, $850. Dolly wheels, $250 if wanted. Phone: (204)764-2015, Hamiota.

LaChance Seeds

MISCELLANEOUS WANTED

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

SPRUCE TREES WANTED, APPROXIMATELY 150 12” Colorado spruce required for spring planting. Call Richard (204)837-3108.

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES Motor Homes

WANTED: SIZE 22 OR 32 two phase type meat grinder. Phone (204)835-2433.

SINGLE? CANDLELIGHT MATCHMAKERS can help you find each other! Everyone deserves a Happy Relationship. Confidential, Photos & Profiles to selected matches. Affordable, local, 4 recent Weddings & an Engagement! Serving MB, SK, NW Ontario. Join Diane at her presentation at Ag Days in Brandon January 17th. Call/Write for info: Box 212, Roland, MB, R0G 1T0, (204)343-2475.

AVAILABLE BACHELORETTE

REAL ESTATE Farms & Ranches – B.C. BEEF, DAIRY, HORSES AND Hay! 375 acre ranch on 2 titles, 2 water licenses, 200 head range permit 45 minutes north of Kamloops, BC www.91ranch.com/forsale

REAL ESTATE Farms & Ranches – Manitoba 159-ACRES ARBORG AREA, approx. 100-acres NOTRE DAME OIL mature bush, balance pasture,USED $53,000. Call Mike, Golko’s Realty & (204)642-7979. FILTER DEPOT FOR FARMS AND RURAL PROPERTIES visit • Buy Used Oil • Buy Batteries www.manitobafarms.ca or call Delta Real Estate • Collect Used Filters • Collect Oil Containers (204)253-7373

Southern and Western Manitoba REAL ESTATE Tel: 204-248-2110 Farms & Ranches – Wanted

Stylish, funny, natural health care worker, 33 never married no ties, German descent tall. 5’9 slim 140lbs shy with men, really wanting a permanent relationship leading to marriage. My parents want to see me happy. I have no baggage just haven’t found Mr. right. I love the outdoors, come from a farming background. I’m professional, enjoy travel, cooking, skiing. Seeking a man who has similar personal interests. I have no debt, no bad habits, just at the age where I’m not into the bar scene, I did that in my 20’s. Between work & my free time I don’t have many options to meet a decent guy

Matchmakers Select

1-888-916-2824 Customized memerbships, thorough screening process, guaranteed service. Rural, remote, ranch, farming, small town, isolated communities. www.selectintroductions.com

PETS

PEDIGREED SEED Oilseed – Various

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Hay & Feed Wanted 3000-LB NON-ELECTRIC BALE SCALES, craddle type, skid steer, 3-pt & truck mount. Also various varieties of livestock units. ELIAS SCALES (306)445-2111 www.eliasscales.com WANTED: DAIRY, BEEF, GRASS & Straw bales in large square bales. Phone Mark 1-800-371-7928, Winnipeg.

2001 HOLIDAY RAMBLER ENDEAVOR 40-ft., 2 sliders, 330-HP Cummins, 7.5KW DSL gen, 64,500-mi., Roadmaster Chassey, hardwood floors, satellite, 2 TVs, excellent condition, $65,000. (204)325-2550.

PERSONAL ATTENTION DOWN TO EARTH single ladies (moms) I am a single man, young, early 60s, country living, require great sense of humour, drink very little, non-smoker. Seeking country gal late 40s to late 50s of same nature & honest. Reply to Ad# 1002, c/o MB Co-operator, Box 9800, Station Main, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3K7

NEW CARBERRY WHEAT Reg. & Cert, Good Rating Against Fusarium, Short & Strong straw. Reg. & Cert Kane Wheat. Phone (204)353-2694 or (204)229-1100 Elie, MB

SMALL SQUARE HAY BALES, alfalfa/orchard grass. Call 204-388-6864. If no answer please leave message. Also pet baby bunnies & guineapigs.

GOOD QUALITY GRAIN & Cattle Farms wanted for Canadian & Overseas Clients. For a confidential meeting to discuss the possible sale of your farm or to talk about what is involved, telephone Gordon Gentles (204)761-0511, www.farmsofcanada.ca or Jim McLachlan (204)724-7753, www.homelifepro.com Home Professional Realty Inc. REQUIRE GRAIN, CATTLE, MIXED Farms, Suburban Properties for local & foreign buyers. Call Delta Real Estate (204)253-7373 www.manitobafarms.ca WANTED: GRAIN & LIVESTOCK farms for both foreign & domestic buyers. Considering selling w/2012 or 2013 possessions, Now is the time to discuss all options. Professional service & confidentiality guaranteed. Call Rick Taylor (204)867-7551, HomeLife Home Professional Realty Inc. www.homelifepro.com

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES Snowmobiles

Old & New Crop Confection & Oil Sunflowers Licensed & Bonded 0% Shrink Farm Pick-Up Available Planting Seed Available

RECYCLING

BuyUsed Used Oil Oil ••Buy NOTRE •• Buy Buy Batteries Batteries DAME ••Collect CollectUsed Used Filters Filters • Collect Oil Containers • Collect Oil Containers USED • Antifreeze OIL & Southern,Southern Eastern, and Manitoba Western Western FILTER Manitoba DEPOT Tel: 204-248-2110 SCALES

ELIAS SCALES “NO WEIGH LIKE IT”

Call For Pricing Phone (204)747-2904

Toll Free 1-888-835-6351 Deloraine, Manitoba

SEED / FEED / GRAIN SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Hay & Straw 200 ROUND HAY BALES for sale. (204)866-2844, leave message. Anola, MB.

Phone:

500 5X6 HARDCORE GRASS bales, 2.5-cents/lb. 1250-1300-lbs average weight, no rain; 2nd cut alfalfa grass at 3-cents/lb. Phone:(204)727-5615. 5X6 ROUND HARDCORE ALFALFA/ALFALFA Timothy bales, excellent condition, $0.03/lb, 18% protein. Phone: (204)383-5346 or cell (204)793-7396. 600 MIXED HAY ROUND bales, $34/bale, open to offers on the lot. 5x6 round bales 1450lbs-1550lbs. Can sell single or package. Phone Richard Zaretski (204)345-0146 or (204)268-5283, Lac Du Bonnet. 71 HARDCORE 2ND CUT Alfalfa round bales in excellent condition, no rain, 1300lb average, $38/bale. Phone: (204)759-2753, Shoal Lake. 750 LARGE ROUND GRASS mix hay bales, no rain, good quality, 1700lb bales; 150 dry Oat & Wheat straw bales. Trucking arranged. (204)345-8532.

REAL ESTATE Land For Sale LAND TRADER ADVERTISING means world wide exposure. Sell it yourself, save commissions. One time fee of $189.-that’s all. Visit www.landtrader.ca call Shelley toll free 1-(877)729-4841. Free information brochure available

NOW BUYING

BIGGEST HELMET SALE EVER! “Canada’s Largest Helmet & Shield Selection & More.” For Snowmobiles, Motorcycles, Motocross, ATVs, Scooters & Mopeds. 981 Main St. Wpg (204)582-4130.

Platform Scales Several sizes to choose from (no electrics)

Crate scales stationary & portable

800 LARGE ROUND MILLET straw, feed test avail; 1500 large round straw bales also 500 Green Oat Straw; freight assistance may be avail, deliver can be arranged. (204)325-1383, (204)362-4874.

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Grain Wanted

Contact Denis or Ben for pricing ~ 204-325-9555

Is your ag equipment search more like a needle in a haystack search?

PETS & SUPPLIES

AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD PUPPIES BRED to work livestock. www.mjaussies.com Phone (204)859-2167.

ALFALFA MEADOW BROME RED Clover, large round bales, approx 1,400-lbs, feed test avail. Phone (204)725-1006.

SCENIC LAND FOR SALE in Riverside Municipality. 334-acres, all fenced, good water & trees. Very pretty, rustic land, great for pasture, hunting or house acreage. East half of 32-6-17. Phone: (204)824-2571.

PB AUSTRALIAN HEELER PUPS father is Red Heeler & mother is Blue Merle, excellent cattle dogs, ready to go mid Jan. (204)371-5120, Vita.

REAL ESTATE Land For Rent

REG GERMAN SHEPHERD PUPS. More info or pics e-mail rsweet@xplornet.com or call (204)732-2483.

WANTING TO RENT CULTIVATED acres for 2012, cash or crop share, long term lease preferred. Phone: (204)327-5324 or cell (204)362-0433

REG. PB AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD puppies. Born Oct 24th, ready to go new home Dec 19th. They will be vet checked, dewormed & have 1st vaccination. For pictures www.ccandk.ca (204)367-8945.

We know that farming is enough of a gamble so if you want to sell it fast place your ad in the Manitoba Co-operator classifieds. It’s a Sure Thing. Call our toll-free number today. We have friendly staff ready to help. 1-800-782-0794.

BROME ALFALFA ROUND BALES, 1st & 2nd cut, no rain, can deliver. Phone: (204)483-2717, Souris.

Bale scales

Hopper Feeders w/Scale, 3pt., trk. mt. or trailer, hyd. motor or electric

306-445-2111 NORTH BATTLEFORD, SK. www.eliasscales.com

Call our toll-free number to take advantage of our Prepayment Bonus. Prepay for 3 weeks and we’ll run your ad 2 more weeks for free. That’s 5 weeks for the price of 3. Call 1-800-782-0794 today!

DAIRY, BEEF & HORSE hay in large squares. Phone: (204)526-7139. FIRST & SECOND CUT hardcore round bales of Alfalfa/Grass mix. Feed tested & no rain. Phone: (204)836-2434, Swan Lake. FOR SALE: 190 MILLET bales, asking 2 cents per lb. Call (204)526-0936 or (204)248-2291. FOR SALE: ROUND HAY bales. Phone (204)859-2556.

LARGE ROUND ALFALFA/BROME BALES. Phone: (204)859-2724 evenings, Rossburn MB. LARGE ROUND ALFALFA GRASS Mix Bales, Phone (204)467-5984, leave msg.

NOW BUYING Confection and Oil Sunflowers, Brown & Yellow Flax and Red & White Millet Licensed & Bonded P.O. Box 1236 129 Manitoba Rd. Winkler, MB. R6W 4B3

Is your ag equipment search more like a needle in a haystack search?

Find it fast at

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Grain Wanted

HEATED CANOLA

BUYING HEATED OR GREEN CANOLA “ON FARM PICK UP”

1-877-250-5252

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Grain Wanted

Malt Barley

*6-Row* Tradition, Stellar, Celebration *2 Row* AC Metcalfe, Copeland We buy feed barley, feed wheat, oats, soybeans, flax & canola Also buying Nu-Sun® Oil sunflowers

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Grain Wanted

37 4th Ave. NE Carman, MB R0G 0J0 Ph. (204) 745-6444 Email: vscltd@mts.net

4 17-INCH RIMS OFF 2003 Ford F-150. Phone: (204)749-2006 between 8:00-10:00pm. FEDERATION TIRE: 1100X12, 2000X20, used aircraft. Toll free 1-888-452-3850 FOR SALE: 2 FIRESTONE 20.8x34, 50% remaining, $650 each; 2 Goodyear 20.8x34, 30% remaining, $350 each; 2 Firestone 18.4x38 w/tubes 80% remaining, $750 each. (204)648-7136 WANTED: 2 GOOD USED 14.9x38 rear tires & 2 good used 6x16 3-rib front tires. Would buy tractor if needed. Phone: (204)326-8908.

Andy Vanderveen · Brett Vanderveen Jesse Vanderveen

TOOLS

Vanderveen Commodity Services Ltd. Licensed and Bonded Grain Brokers

A Season to Grow… Only Days to Pay! 2012 Malt Contracts Available Box 238 Letellier, MB. R0G 1C0 Phone 204-737-2000 Toll-Free 1-800-258-7434 Agent: M & J Weber-Arcola, SK. Phone 306-455-2509

We are buyers of farm grains.

“Your feed grain broker”

Brokers of high/low vomi wheat and barley, corn, rye, feed pea canola and soybeans. Farm pickup prices available. Darcy Caners 204-415-3485 dcaners@pvcommodities.com Colin Hoeppner 204-415-3487 choeppner@pvcommodities.com Brian Harland 204-415-7123 bharland@pvcommodities.com Fax 204-415-3489 www.pvcommodities.com The Manitoba Co-operator. Manitoba’s best-read farm publication.

• Vomi wheat • Vomi barley • Feed wheat • Feed barley • Feed oats • Corn • Screenings • Peas • Light Weight Barley You can deliver or we can arrange for farm pickup. Winnipeg 233-8418 Brandon 728-0231 Grunthal 434-6881 “Ask for grain buyer.”

TIRES

FARMERS, RANCHERS, SEED PROCESSORS BUYING ALL FEED GRAINS Heated/Spring Threshed Lightweight/Green/Tough, Mixed Grain - Barley, Oats, Rye, Flax, Wheat, Durum, Lentils, Peas, Canola, Chickpeas, Triticale, Sunflowers, Screenings, Organics and By-Products √ ON-FARM PICKUP √ PROMPT PAYMENT √ LICENSED AND BONDED SASKATOON, REGINA, LLOYDMINSTER, LETHBRIDGE, VANCOUVER, MINNEDOSA

1-204-724-6741

Round up the cash! Advertise your unwanted equipment in the Manitoba Co-operator classifieds.

SHOP EQUIPMENT: Milling machine, metal lathe, 10ft brake. Phone: (204)352-4306

TRAILERS Grain Trailers 2010 CASLETON SUPER B trailers, excellent rubber; 2007 Casleton Super B trailers, new rubber. Both excellent condition & no fertilizer. Phone: (204)734-8355.

TRAILERS Trailers Miscellaneous STOCK TRAILERS GN Titan 7x24 $5500; 7x22 $3500; 6x18 $3500; 6x20 $3000; 6x16 BP $2750. New Decks for 3/4-1ton Trucks 9ft $2350; 11ft $2850; 11ft service body $1200; 48ft Loboy trailer $6500; Double axle dolly $2000. (204)857-8403

TRAVEL

Agriculture Tours

Australia & New Zealand – Jan/Feb. 2012 Kenya/Tanzania – January 2012 Costa Rica – February 2012 South America – February 2012 Ukraine/Romania – June 2012 Scotland/England/Wales – June 2012 Tours may be Tax Deductible Select Holidays 1-800-661-4326

CAREERS CAREERS Help Wanted DAIRY FARM NEAR LA Broquerie has full-time position for someone who has some experience in maintaining & repairing agricultural equipment, also enjoys doing field work in the summertime. To apply please call Werner at (204)326-0168 or (204)424-5109.

CAREERS Help Wanted FARM NEAR LANDMARK HAS Full-time and Parttime milking & stall grooming positions. Wages depend on experience & work performance. $10-$16/hr plus bonuses. To apply call (204)355-4133 & leave a msg or fax resume (204)355-9210 or e-mail rsbraun@nlis.ca HEAVY DUTY AND/OR AGRICULTURAL MECHANIC REQUIRED. Small construction company requires someone with: A strong background in mechanical, electro-hydraulic systems common in today’s construction/agricultural equipment; Experience in welding/fabricating an asset; Own tools/tool box (major tools provided); Minimum 2 years of experience in field; Valid class 5 license; Own transportation – shop is not located near transit route; A good knowledge of Winnipeg streets; Able to work extended hours when needed; Excellent communication skills in English; Reliable & conscientious; Must be able to pass a drug & alcohol test; Able to work independently under minimal supervision & also in a small team environment; Wages DOQ. Please send resumes in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat PDF to: ritchotent.hr@gmail.com

CAREERS Truck Drivers WANTING FULLTIME DRIVERS W/CLASS 1 license to haul oil in southwest Manitoba. Oilfield experience and oil tickets an asset. Will be required to work 7 day shifts w/3 or 4 days off in between. $30/hr starting wage for qualified drivers. Call or fax resume to 204-747-2917, leave message.

How to find the used ag equipment you need… Start here.

Find it fast at

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

Can you grow the best standing canola on the market?

CANTERRA 1970 Type

Growing Zone

Maturity (Days)

Height (Inches)

Lodging

GENRR HYB

Long

+ 2.5

EXC

Competitive yield and unsurpassed standability, YES YOU CAN have it all. • R to blackleg and fusarium wilt • Yields 106% of L150 in 2011 field trials • Unparalleled weed control of the Genuity® Roundup Ready® system

canterra.com

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

CROPS

estern Canadian agriculture is helping to feed the world while improving its ecological footprint, a newly released report says. “This is the cornerstone of what we need to be telling consumers in Canada and consumers around the world,” said Gordon Bacon, CEO of Pulse Canada, as he released the Canadian Field to Market Sustainability Project released Dec. 1 during the GrowCanada conference in Winnipeg. Pulse Canada was one of the organizations involved in the 120page study that compares the impact eight crops had on Western Canada’s environment between 1986 and 2006. “This is the story I want everybody to remember and feel really good about. For eight crops, in every environmental category across the board, improvement year after year.” The report entitled, “Application Of Sustainable Agriculture Metrics To Selected Western Canadian Field Crops,” cost about $164,000 and took a year to complete.

Eight crops, same story

It looked at spring durum and winter wheat, canola, oats, peas, lentils and flax — the crops using four “metrics” or “environmental indicators”: land use, soil loss, energy use and climate change. Environmental improvements came from increased no till, improved nutrient management, growing more crops in rotation, less summerfallow and higher yields, Bacon said. “(Increased yield) is where technology is coming in and paying dividends,” he said. “It’s technology and all the service providers that are allowing us to produce more for less.” For example, between 1965 and 2010 spring wheat yields jumped 66 per cent. During the same period there was a 23 per cent decline in spring wheat acres harvested. Taken together spring

GORDON BACON CEO, Pulse Canada

Field to Market project co-ordinated by the Keystone Center in the United States. It released a report on the impact a number of American crops had on the environment in 2009, Bacon said.

Benchmarks

Pulse Canada CEO Gordon Bacon released a report earlier this month showing western Canadian crop production has been reducing its environmental impact. PHOTO: ALLAN DAWSON

wheat’s land use efficiency, as expressed in a unit of spring wheat, improved 38 per cent, the study says. Canola yields between 1965 and 2010 were up 93 per cent, while harvested area grew to more than six million ha from 500,000, resulting in land use efficiency improving 45 per cent. “As was the case with all other crops, improved yields accounted for this improvement,” the study says.

Less soil erosion

There was a dramatic drop in soil erosion for all crops studied between 1981 and 2006 because of a change in tillage, the report says. “The adoption of no till in cereal production has had the great-

Pioneer brand CORn hybrids for Manitoba

est impact on soil erosion across Canada, owing to the large share of cropland producing cereals,” the report says. Bacon stressed results for different crops should not be compared to each other or the same crops compared between Canada and the United States, where a similar study has been done. What’s important is the trend of a specific crop over time. Most of the lengthy report documents extensive research and modelling used to measure the impact those eight crops had on the four indicators. “We wanted this to be very transparent,” Gord Kurbis, Pulse Canada’s director of environment, said in an interview. The study is modelled after the

Food companies are increasingly using environment benchmarks to reach consumers. Most of the impact occurs on the farm where food is produced. Other indicators that could be added include biodiversity and water quality, which is linked to nutrient management, Kurbis said. “We have opportunity now to make sustainability one of the cornerstones of marketing of Canadian agricultural products to Canadian consumers, to government and our customers around the world,” Bacon said. Bacon said Canada’s grain industry needs to set up a body to manage and fund the impact grain production has on the environment. While some federal funding is available, he called on farm groups CropLife Canada and the Canadian Fertilizer Institute to help, he said. The study was supported by Pulse Canada, the Canadian Wheat Board, the Canadian Canola Growers Association, General Mills, the Flax Council of Canada and Ducks Unlimited Canada. A g r i c u l t u re a n d A g r i - Fo o d Canada helped with funding through its AgriFlex program. allan@fbcpublishing.com

proving ground.

“This is the story I want everybody to remember and feel really good about. For eight crops, in every environmental category across the board, improvement year after year.”

The

CO-OPERATOR STAFF

By Allan Dawson

www.pioneer.com/yield

Grain production’s environmental footprint is shrinking and growers can use that to bolster sales

Western grain farmers receive “green” report card

Roundup Ready is a registered trademark used under license from Monsanto Company. All purchases are subject to the terms of labelling and purchase documents. ®, TM, SM Trademarks and service marks licensed to Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited. © 2011 PHL.

H USB A N DRY — T H E SC I E NC E , SK I L L OR A RT OF FA R M I NG

For all of your corn growing needs, call your local Pioneer Hi-Bred sales representative. They are ready to help you select the best seed products for each of your acres.

PR2236 v1 MC_P7213R_CPS.indd 1

2050 Heat Units

2100 Heat Units

Early hybrid with very good yield potential for maturity. Balanced agronomic package and very good root strength.

Hybrid with excellent yield potential and very good drought tolerance.

03/11/11 3:43 PM

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

Eight crops studied tell similar story Efficiency indicators are improving By Allan Dawson CO-OPERATOR STAFF

he following are edited excerpts from t h e “Ap pl ic ation Of Sustainable Agriculture Metrics To Selected Western Canadian Field Crops” report:

Spring wheat

The story for spring wheat is a very good one. All of the efficiency indicators improved consistently between 1986 and 2006. The improvement in soil loss efficiency is the most significant on a percentage basis. Between 1986 and 2006, soil loss efficiency improved by 62 per cent, energy use efficiency by 35 per cent, climate impact efficiency by 33 per cent, and land use efficiency by 31 per cent.

Winter wheat

As with spring wheat, the most

dramatic improvement was in soil loss efficiency. While soil loss efficiency improved by 76 per cent between 1986 and 2006, land use efficiency improved by 52 per cent, energy use efficiency improved by 44 per cent and climate impact efficiency improved by 41 per cent.

Durum wheat

All four efficiency indicators for durum wheat showed improvement between 1986 and 2006. Again, for durum wheat, the efficiency indicator showing the most improvement is that for soil loss, particularly between 1986 and 1996. For durum wheat, between 1986 and 2006, soil loss efficiency improved by 65 per cent, climate impact efficiency by 45 per cent, land use efficiency by 37 per cent and energy use efficiency by 30 per cent.

Oats

The overall efficiency of oat production improved for each of the four indicators measured (between 1986 and 2006). As for the other crops, the improvement in soil erosion stands out for oats. This is largely a reflection of reduced tillage, the impact of which is also seen in improved energy use and climate impact. For oats, between 1986 and 2006, soil loss efficiency improved by 54 per cent, energy use efficiency by 28 per cent, climate impact efficiency by 26 per cent and land use efficiency by 18 per cent.

Peas

The story for peas in Western Canada is also very positive. All four indicators improved significantly between 1986 and 2006, with the changes in the soil loss indicator efficiency leading the way. Between 1986 and 2006,

Protect Your Investment

The value of seed and fertilizer continues to grow – Protect your investment with Meridian powder coated, smooth-wall bins. Check out www.meridianmfg.com to see the newest evolution of storage to fit all your on-farm needs.

soil loss efficiency improved by 54 per cent, climate impact efficiency by 26 per cent, energy use efficiency by 25 per cent and land use efficiency by 22 per cent.

Flax

The production of flax has demonstrated improvements in all four indicator areas from 1986 through 2006. While the changes in soil loss indicators are most significant, the changes in energy use and climate impacts are also significant. For flax, between 1986 and 2006, soil loss efficiency improved by 59 per cent, climate impact efficiency by 27 per cent, energy use efficiency by 24 per cent and land use efficiency by 12 per cent.

Canola

Canola production efficiencies have improved significantly from a sustainability perspective, as

measured by the four indicators. While the most significant improvement was in the area of soil loss, improvements in all of the other areas were at least 25 per cent between 1986 and 2006. Between 1986 and 2006, soil loss efficiency improved by 66 per cent, energy use efficiency by 30 per cent, climate impact efficiency by 29 per cent, and land use efficiency by 26 per cent.

Lentils

The story for lentils is very positive based on the indicator analysis. There have been consistent improvements in all four indicators between 1986 and 2006. Between 1981 and 2006, soil loss efficiency improved by 61 per cent, climate impact efficiency by 44 per cent, energy use efficiency by 44 per cent, and land use efficiency by 33 per cent. allan@fbcpublishing.com

Big world grain crops ease tight supply By Charles Abbott WASHINGTON / REUTERS

The world is harvesting its largest-ever wheat, corn and rice crops this year, easing tight supplies that drove world food prices to record levels earlier this year, the U.S. government forecast Dec. 9. With the abundant harvests, including a record wheat crop in Australia, world stockpiles will gain a modest cushion after successive years of razor-thin stocks. The U.S. soybean inventory would climb to the largest in five years. Larger harvests will further dampen market prices that are already at their lowest in a year. China led the sharp five per cent expansion in world corn production this year, the U.S. Agriculture Department said in an update of the world crop outlook. Chinese corn production is up eight per cent from a year ago. Record yields and favourable weather created a mammoth crop of 191.8 million tonnes. Tight supplies drove corn futures prices to nearly $8 a bushel during the summer. Wheat and soybean markets also recorded historically high prices in a price surge that started half a decade ago in the United States. World wheat production is up six per cent this season from 2010-11 with a record 28.3 million tonnes in Australia. Rice output is up 2.4 per cent and soybeans are down 2.4 per cent. In the face of competition from Brazil and Argentina, U.S. soybean exports are forecast down two per cent from the November estimate. The U.S. stockpile would rise to 230 million bushels, larger than traders expected and the largest yearend supply since 574 million bushels in 2006-07.

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

Sustainability adds value to the Prairie oat crop Consumer demand for sustainable practices is growing By Shannon VanRaes

“It’s going to be a long time before we stop burning diesel fuel because we still gotta go up and down the field. But we are making progress, and that’s kind of the good news story.”

CO-OPERATOR STAFF

ustainable farming practices are not only key to growing oats, but selling them as well, according to representatives of the oat-milling industry. “This is becoming a much larger factor in what convinces a consumer to buy a product,” Bruce Roskens of Quaker Oats told producers at the Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA) conference in Winnipeg in early December. He noted consumer demand is now driving the move to sustainable practices, as consumers ask questions about where a product comes from and how it was produced. “Remember the consumer is always right, they may not have a clue, but the consumer is always right,” said Roskens. He noted sustainability on a farm could mean many things, but that consumers often view it as a process of shrinking agriculture’s carbon footprint.

Winter wheat growers look for snow By Adam Johnston COMMODITY NEWS SERVICES CANADA

Winter wheat farmers in southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan may get a special gift from Mother Nature within the next two weeks. There is snow in the long-term forecast. Drew Lerner, meteorologist, and president of World Weather Inc. in Overland Park, Kansas, said a northwesterly flow from the U.S. is causing the recent dry weather, which will last for the upcoming week ending December 16. However, there should be some relief coming, Lerner said. Pacific moisture from the northwestern U.S. and British Columbia area is anticipated to track its way east towards the Prairies in 10 to 14 days from now, creating the possibility of a significant snowfall in the southern regions of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, he said. Bruce Burnett, director of weather and crop surveillance with the Canadian Wheat Board said a lack of snow cover and colder weather recently is causing some concern. A January cold snap may kill some of the winter wheat crop if the current trend continues, he said. Western Canadian farmers planted 1.335 million acres of winter wheat in the fall of 2011, more than double the 540,200 acres seeded the previous year, according to Statistics Canada.

BILL WILTON

Bruce Roskens of Quaker Oats.

PHOTO: SHANNON VANRAES

That means growers may want to think about tracking fuel usage, and be able to show that progress is being made, he said. But the Quaker Oats representative said there is already a good news story around oats and sustainability, because it

requires fewer inputs and makes an excellent rotational crop. Jim Bear of the North American Millers Association agrees. “We also like the sustainability story that oats tell,” he said. “This is a crop that not only helps stabilize the soil... it also helps break disease cycles.”

Bill Wilton, president of POGA, said making the move to greater sustainability is just part of meeting the end-user’s demand, and being attuned to changing attitudes. “It’s going to be a long time before we stop burning diesel fuel because we still gotta go up and down the field,” he said. “But we are making progress, and that’s kind of the good news story. Equipment is better, it’s more fuel efficient, we’re understanding better use of inputs and selective use of inputs, rather than just broad spectrum use, and I really think we’re moving in the right direction.”

Gordon Bacon, CEO of Pulse Canada told POGA members that the numbers back up the idea that oats, along with pulse crops, are being produced in a more sustainable way. “We are producing more with less,” he said, pointing to the recently released Sustainable Agriculture Metrics for Western Canadian Field Crops report as evidence. However, he added Canada lags behind the U.S. when it comes to bringing industry and producers together to address issues around sustainable farming. shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

Whichever way you go – it’s BioStacked ! ®

Nodulator® N/T soybean inoculants are BioStacked®. BioStacked® means greater plant vigour, root biomass and more nitrogen-fixing nodules on every plant. Which in turn means increased performance, superior Return-on-Investment and most importantly, added yield potential. Designed for increased crop performance under Manitoba growing conditions, Nodulator® brand inoculants are available in BioStacked® liquid and BioStacked® sterile peat formulations, or our unique Spherical Granules. Whichever way you go, Nodulator® inoculants are quite simply the best investment you can put into your beans.

www.nodulatornt.com

BU2212NoNT_MC_FE.indd 1

BioStacked® and Nodulator® are registered trademarks used under license by Becker Underwood Canada Ltd. The Becker Underwood logo is a trademark of Becker Underwood, Inc. and is licensed to Becker Underwood Canada Ltd.

10/13/11 7:03 PM

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

COUNTRY CROSSROADS CONNECTING RUR A L COMMUNITIES

Operation Red Nose: Interlake communities adopt program Residents in Arborg and Riverton want to keep impaired drivers off the rural roadways too By Lorraine Stevenson CO-OPERATOR STAFF

“In a community our size, everyone knows everybody for the most part. So if there was an accident, whether a couple of people got hurt or there was a fatality during the holiday season, it would affect the whole community.”

rborg and Riverton are driving home a message this Christmas about not drinking and getting behind the wheel in their communities. The two Interlake towns recently became the smallest centres in Manitoba yet to adopt an Operation Red Nose program by lining up local volunteers to give a ride to those who might otherwise be tempted to drive after having a few drinks. They went ahead with their own service after talking to organizers of a similar program in nearby Gimli, said Arborg recreation director Tom Chiwilaboga. There, the local car club has run the program for the last six years. Arborg-Bifrost Recreation Centre and Riverton and District Friendship Centre have taken up the cause in their towns, kick-starting what’s now the ninth ORN to get going in Manitoba. The progam is also offered in Flin Flon, Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, The Pas, Thompson and Winnipeg. Need for this in smaller communities is just as great as in the bigger towns where ORN operates, said Chiwilaboga. People are just as likely to drink and drive out in the countryside where taxi services are few and far between. “Obviously, the first part of it is to keep the roads safer in the community,” he said. “You’d

TOM CHIWILABOGA

have to be pretty naive to think that drinking and driving doesn’t happen.” And while ORN programs are generally taken up by service clubs in bigger centres, the unique approach of a smaller place like theirs is that they can appeal to the community at large to volunteer for it. “In a community our size, everyone knows everybody for the most part. So if there was an accident, whether a couple of people got hurt or there was a fatality during the holiday season, it would affect the whole community,” Chiwilaboga said. They got organized a little later in the fall, but have had no trouble finding volunteers, he said.

Impaired driving is the No. 1 criminal cause of death in Canada.

©THINKSTOCK

“We have over 30 volunteers, so we’ve had a pretty good response from the community,” he said. “They also recognize the benefits of the program,” he said. “It could be one of their family members on the road, not driving impaired, but on the road where there are impaired drivers on the road. If they can help out and keep that person off the road then their family members and friends are that much safer during this time of the year.” They don’t expect the “everyone knows everyone” component of small-town life to deter folks from accepting their rides home either, he added. All volunteers with Operation Red Nose sign a form agreeing not to provide any information that might be used to identify a client, their passengers or their addresses. And people will recognize the obvious benefits of using this service to get home safely this season, said Chiwilaboga. A ride home can mean avoiding impaired driving charges or losing a licence, which leads to other things no one wants — like job losses, he added. Their ORN will cover the entire RM of Bifrost, surrounding both towns, and operate Dec. 16 and 17, December 26 and December 31. Volunteers are headquartered at the local curling rinks and on call from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. as they await calls to 376-NOSE. “I’m expecting we will get, at the least, a minimum of 10 calls a night,” said Chiwilaboga. “And that’s about what we can handle. Each community will have two groups of three working each night.” Rides offered through ORN are free, with sponsors covering its basic costs and volunteers donating their time. No one has to make a contribution but a donation is appreciated, with the proceeds going to supporting organizations. Any funds raised are dispersed in communities on youth-focused activities. Riverton’s Friendship Centre and Arborg’s Recreation Centre will divide the proceeds brought in through donations to their program. Safety Services Manitoba is the provincial host for ORN, and Manitoba Public Insurance is the major sponsor of ORN province-wide. The program’s name only sounds like a reference to Rudolph, or having one too many drinks. The name is actually derived from an annual winter military exercise practice by the Canadian Armed Forces in Quebec. The program operates during peak evenings and weekends in November and December with over 1,600 volunteers last year providing nearly 2,600 rides home for party-goers. Arborg and Riverton’s initiative to cut down holiday drinking and driving and protect their citizens comes on the heels of another initiative announced earlier this fall by the RCMP to reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes in rural Manitoba. Last year 87 people were killed and 312 seriously injured in crashes across the province, with impaired driving confirmed in over a third (34 per cent) and suspected in seven per cent. In November, RCMP announced it will create the Criminal Crash Investigation Teams using the expertise of 33 police officers across western Manitoba who have received specialized training in collision investigations and impaired driving investigations. Impaired driving is the No. 1 criminal cause of death in Canada. Those wanting to help out with ORN in the Interlake can contact Chiwilaboga at 376-5576 or Tanis Grimolfson at 378-2800 in Riverton. lorraine@fbcbpublishing.com

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

COUNTRY CROSSROADS

RecipeSwap

Send your recipes or recipe request to: Manitoba Co-operator Recipe Swap Box 1794, Carman, Man ROG OJO or email: lorraine@fbcpublishing.com

Tiny treats

Pineapple Dream Squares Base: No-stick cooking spray 1-1/2 c. all-purpose flour 1/4 c. brown sugar, lightly packed 1/2 c. butter or margarine, softened

Mini Chip Butter Crisps

Topping: 3 eggs 1 c. flaked coconut 3/4 c. lightly packed brown sugar 1/2 c. corn syrup 1 can (14 oz./398 ml) crushed pineapple, well drained 2 tbsp. butter or margarine, melted 1 tsp. vanilla extract

2-1/4 c. all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1-1/4 c. butter, softened 1 c. icing sugar 2 tsp. vanilla 1-1/2 c. miniature chocolate chips

To make base: Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9-inch square pan with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Press into bottom of pan. Bake until lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool slightly.

Preheat oven to 325 F. In medium bowl, combine flour and salt. In large mixer bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy; gradually beat in sugar and vanilla. Gradually add dry ingredients and blend until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place, 1 dozen at a time, on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten to circles about 2 inches in diameter with bottom of glass dipped in flour. Bake 10 minutes or until done. Remove from baking sheets and let cool on wire racks.

To make topping: In a medium bowl, whisk eggs just until blended. Stir in remaining ingredients. Spread over base. Bake until topping is set but still soft in centre, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into squares. Keep refrigerated.

Lorraine Stevenson

Dairy farmers of canada

Crossroads Recipe Swap

his time of year we’re trimming trees but not our waistlines. With food front and centre everywhere, it’s just too easy to layer on a few extra pounds that we regret the remainder of winter — and find hard to shed in spring. Dietitians routinely remind us at the beginning of each holiday season to eat mindfully, by not skipping meals before heading out to parties, by drinking wisely so that alcohol isn’t a stimulus to eat more, and by tasting and enjoying the wonderful food around us by taking small portions instead of large indulgences. Even visualizing ahead of time what and how much you’ll eat can keep you in check. Many of you are well into Christmas baking and planning by now, but I offer you these candy, cookie, tart and dainty recipes this week as a few “tiny treats” to make and share this season. Just don’t eat them all, all at once!

Preparation time: 20 minutes. Cooking time: 10 minutes. Yields: 72 cookies.

Makes 16 squares. ✷ Variation: Melt 2 squares semi-sweet chocolate with 1 tsp. corn or canola oil. Drizzle over cooled squares. Let chocolate set before cutting into squares.

Preparation: 10 minutes. Cooking: 1 hour Source: Manitoba Egg Farmers www.mbegg.mb.ca

Source: Dairy Farmers of Canada www.dairygoodness.ca

Pecan Cups Shells: 1 c. butter 1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese 2 c. flour

lillian deedman

Candy Cane Christmas Balls This Christmas candy recipe comes from Lillian Deedman of Killarney. 1 c. white chocolate chips 8 oz. light cream cheese, softened 4 c. icing sugar

Soften the cream cheese in the microwave. Stir in the white chocolate chips and microwave again for another 30 seconds. Stir well until chips are almost as soft as the cream cheese. Wear lightweight plastic gloves to prevent the dough from sticking to your hands, and add the icing sugar, then knead until blended and dough forms a large ball. Form into small balls about 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Roll in crushed candy canes. Store in an airtight cookie tin or freeze.

Filling: 2 eggs 1-1/2 c. brown sugar 2 tbsp. butter, melted 1-1/2 c. pecans, chopped 1/2 tsp. vanilla

To make shells: Beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Add flour and continue to mix. Put dough in refrigerator until firm to handle. After chilling, form dough into little balls and press into bottom and sides of small tart tins that have been lightly sprayed with non-stick vegetable spray. To make filling: Beat eggs and add all remaining ingredients and spoon into shells. Bake at 350 F or 30 minutes.

Manitoba egg farmers

Pink Tarts If pink isn’t a festive colour, try a different food colouring. These also freeze well. 2 c. sugar 4 tbsp. cornstarch 2 large eggs 2 c. whipping cream 2/3 c. fine unsweetened coconut 2 tsp. vanilla 2 drops of red food colouring 36 unbaked regular tart shells, or 72 unbaked mini tart shells

Makes 48 two-inch-diameter tarts. Source: Manitoba Egg Farmers

Recipe Swap

Preheat oven to 400 F. Mix sugar with cornstarch in a medium-size bowl. Add lightly beaten eggs, whipping cream, coconut, vanilla and red food colouring. Stir together well. Fill tart shells threequarters full and bake on cookie sheet for about 10-15 minutes at 400 F or until shells are slightly golden. Filling will be soft and not completely set. Filling will set while cooling. Makes 36 tarts or 72 mini tarts.

We’re always glad to get your favourite recipes or hear your suggestions for columns and food preparation ideas. To contact us by mail write to:

Manitoba Co-operator Recipe Swap Box 1794, Carman, Man. ROG OJO

Source: Manitoba Egg Farmers

Or email: lorraine@fbcpublishing.com Manitoba egg farmers

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

COUNTRY CROSSROADS

Learning from the past Rossburn couple promotes Aboriginal treasures Sabrina and Tom Schlup raise awareness of bison culture on Anpo Ranch, northeast of Rossburn. By Darrell Nesbitt FREELANCE CONTRIBUTOR

he history of human settlement in the Parkland region of Manitoba spans 10,000 years, and is a story of people taming and succumbing to their landscape. They persevered the harsh climate and extreme seasons and were rewarded with good, fertile soil and bountiful harvests in a land full of natural beauty and resources. The first Aboriginal inhabitants lived for thousands of years hunting bison, fishing and supplementing their diets with berries, roots and corn. Well suited for bison production, the Parkland region today has close to 20 per cent of Manitoba’s bison production. Among the producers are Tom and Sabrina Schlup, owners of Anpo Bison Ranch, located south of Riding Mountain National Park. Operating since 1999, they were drawn to the area’s rolling hills and pristine lakes. Located 12 kms northwest of Rossburn or eight kms north of the community of Waywayseecappo, Anpo Bison Ranch is much more than a working cow-calf bison operation, as they want to share traditional Aboriginal cultures.

PHOTO: DARRELL NESBITT

“Having learned so much from the bison — a total of 200 — free roaming on 800 acres of pasture, it’s our aim to share information with the general public,” said Sabrina, who is Ojibway, and her husband is Swiss. “Our business concept focuses on agritourism, as we, along with our children have a desire to educate the public and introduce people to material culture of the Northern Plains.” Agritourism describes the act of visiting a working farm or any agricultural, horticultural or agribusiness operation to enjoy, be educated or be involved in activities. A growing niche of tourism that overlaps culinary tourism, ecotourism and geotourism, it brings visitors if not in direct contact with the farm then at least a step or two down the path.

Knowledge shared

Traditional experiences that have lasted for centuries through word of mouth and daily activities are among those shared. Aspects of the Bison Culture Interpretive Centre include bison ranch, teepee camp, tanning, beading and porcupine quill embroidery. “Camp activities foster an understanding between cultures and restore the pride and health of the

human spirit within everyone,” said Sabrina. “By sharing experiences and culture, it’s our mission to open minds and reduce racism, as we feel the history of this land is very important.” Public visits are welcome spring, summer and fall, and range from a one-day outing to four days. Currently Tom and Sabrina and their two children, 14-year-old son Cheyenne and daughter Tashina (13) live the lessons passed down, by following traditional lifestyle of counting on tatanka (bison) to provide the gift of life, the gift of food and how the bison provides for their family every day. “Over a four-day period we expose participants to an intimate understanding of the world of the bison people who walked across this prairie landscape,” said Sabrina. “Camp activities foster an understanding between cultures. This camp allows participants to walk in the shoes of ancestors so they understand their history first hand. They will leave with a much larger appreciation of nature and the world we share.” Along with seeing bison, activities include making things like shields, rope, horn spoons and hoof cups, out of bison. Families and school groups will also learn about rawhide, beadwork, birchbark baskets, and bows and arrows. Aided by Aboriginal elders and youth, traditional songs, stories and games are also shared.

Bison products

The making of natural bison products also plays a huge role in the business side of life for the Schlup family, as does the tanning of various wildlife hides. “Buckskins and rawhide from bison, deer, elk and moose, are created which can be made into clothing, furniture, housing, tools, and toys,” Sabrina said. “We produce old-time Native American/Canadian tanned hides, all washed with natural soap and all done by hand.” On a custom-order basis Tom and Sabrina also sell off the farm, working with the First Nation communities, along with the Bison Co-op in Ebb & Flow marketing station to promote their nutritious bison meat. Knowing that marketing is important to their way of life, the Rossburn family enjoys meeting others at trade shows, powwows or through their website www. anpotan.com. It is here where you can view the creativity and craftsmanship by Anpo Ranch through the design of drums, robes, footwear and dresses, highlighting a portion of their products. Darrell Nesbitt writes from Shoal Lake, Manitoba

Decorating with cones

They come in a variety of sizes and shapes and are perfect for the season By Albert Parsons FREELANCE CONTRIBUTOR

I think many gardeners prefer to decorate for the festive season using as many natural materials as possible. One natural item that lends itself very well to being used to create Christmas decorations is the cone. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and each type is unique. Over the years I have amassed a large collection of cones gleaned from my own yard, my neighbours’ yards and from various locales that my family and I have visited over the years. What excitement when I would happen upon especially large or unusual cones during a summer holiday! These can be used in a variety of decorative ways. Some can simply have a piece of red yarn or gold holiday twine attached to them so that they can be used as Christmas tree decorations. Others can be fastened to wreaths and swags, using floral wire to fasten them in place. I often frost some of the cones with a bit of white paint to make them more unique. Not a lot of paint is needed; just a quick brush across the tips of the cones will make PHOTO: ALBERT PARSONS

them look like they have been dusted with snow. Of course artificial snow can be used instead, but I prefer paint since it stays put. Every year I make a large wreath by using old Christmas garlands wrapped around a simple willow frame and I use a lot of cones on the wreath, including some of the larger ones in my collection. If large cones are not available, a few smaller ones can be wired together to create a larger grouping to keep things in scale. While attending craft sales during the holiday season you may come upon wreaths made completely of cones. These are fairly simple to make although you will require a Styrofoam form and a glue gun — and lots of glue sticks. It is interesting to use different kinds of cones on such a wreath and a few sprigs of artificial greens, as well as some Christmas-themed ornaments that can be glued onto the wreath here and there for contrast. Finished off with a big bow, this can be hung indoors or outside as the cones are quite tough and will tolerate outdoor conditions. I use a lot of my cones in baskets that

are arranged with Christmas balls and artificial greens. I sometimes use fresh greens if I find some good branches at the community compost site, although garden centres sell boughs at this time of year as well. Very large baskets can be displayed on the floor while smaller ones can be placed atop tables and shelves. A small basket sitting on the desk or placed on the TV or piano creates a festive note which can be further enhanced by brushing a few of the cones with a bit of cinnamon oil to give off a lovely holiday scent. If you have a collection of attractive cones, use them to create a seasonal display. Either some cotton batten or some artificial (or fresh) greens can be incorporated into the display, with a few bright Christmas balls for added colour. A lighted garland could also be used. A few cones in a large, clear, glass container can also serve as a holiday focal point. The number of ways to decorate with cones is limited only by your imagination. Albert Parsons writes from Minnedosa, Manitoba

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011

COUNTRY CROSSROADS

Lap quilts providing warmth, comfort, smiles Alzheimer Society distributing to local seniors’ homes By Linda Maendel Freelance contributor

fter sewing for more than two months last winter, it was extremely gratifying to see a stack of 250 simple, yet beautifully pieced lap quilts, which the Alzheimer Society distributed to local seniors’ homes. We received thank-you notes from Lion’s Prairie Manor and The Douglas Campbell Lodge, both in Portage and Third Crossing Manor in Gladstone, expressing their heartfelt gratitude: “Thank you for participating in this project. You have enhanced the quality of life and brought smiles to the faces of those who received these lovely quilts.” This is an ideal project for Hutterites for a number of reasons: Hutterites are avid sewers, consequently there are always lots of leftover pieces around that are just too good to throw out. What better way to use them, than in quilts! Furthermore, we were in the middle of winter, where there’s more time for indoor activities like sewing. There’s just something warm and cosy about a few women getting together to create quilts with the wind howling a sub-zero song outside. Most importantly though, this is a very worthwhile project and would benefit residents of senior homes for years to come. “Each quilt should have an assortment of fabrics, such as corduroy, flannel, terrycloth, satin, cotton — the more textures, the better,” Anna Maendel, a teacher at Fairholme Colony instructed. She had come to Elm River last winter to tell us about the quilt project after learning

about it at a Special Area Groups (SAG) conference in Winnipeg. Altogether there were about 20 seamstresses creating lap quilts in their homes and some also contributing fabric. “I’m so happy that I’ve finally found a way to use those little pieces that keep piling up!” said one mother. “Of course, I can’t just throw them out.” This is definitely a project where all ages can be involved; one little girl diligently stacked and sorted the pieces. “I have a dress like this!” she informed my sister, Shirley, an avid quilter sewing nearby. “And this one is like the quilt on my bed.” “When you’re done, bring the quilts to the living room and I will sew on the buttons,” my mom offered, not allowing the “grandmother” label to slow her down much or stop her from offering her own well-practised touch. This year we’ll once again help the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba with their Lap Quilt Project. These quilts are found to be therapeutic for elderly people, especially those suffering from Alzheimer’s. They are created out of a variety of distinct textures and colours which can have a calming effect, besides providing warmth and comfort to the seniors. The quilts are about 90 cm square to fit nicely on the lap of someone in a wheelchair. This is an ongoing project. Should you be interested in volunteering your services, you may contact the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba: alznc@alzheimer. mb.ca. Linda Maendel writes from Fairholme Colony

Make a perpetual calendar DIY PROJECT

A unique and personalized way of keeping track of the days By Pat Gerbrandt Freelance contributor

With a new year approaching quickly, you may find yourself scrambling to find just the right calendar for a gift. This perpetual version can be personalized for any recipient. The card stock inserts are laminated for durability. Another advantage is the large print, which is appreciated by those with visual impairment.

Supplies: • A document holder and a business card holder • White or light-coloured card stock • A paper cutter or very sharp craft knife and a good ruler • A computer and printer (optional) • Stickers (optional) PHOTO: PAT GERBRANDT

I was fortunate to find an easel-style document holder with three sections. Check your business supply store for similar products. Attach a business card holder or it could be free standing.

Directions:

Begin by measuring the openings of the holder. Cut paper to fit, allowing at least 1/4-inch (2-cm) space all around for the laminating plastic. For the month pages (horizontal), cut three 5-3/4 x 8-1/2-inch pieces, and two pieces for the weekdays (5-1/2 x 8-1/2 inches), used vertically. The inserts for holidays are 4-1/4 x 8-1/2 inches. It takes four pages of business card stock for the days of the month. Trim them to 3 inches wide so they’ll still fit a business card holder after laminating. I printed on both sides of the paper, top and bottom of each page for month and weekday, and both sides for the number cards. That keeps the number of pieces more manageable. Make sure to place the weekday text close

enough to the top of that page so the “upside-down one” remains hidden. Whether you’re designing your calendar on a computer, or using your artistic flair to hand print the pages, make sure to choose a font and size that is easily read. Computer graphics can decorate the month pages, but stickers work just as well. Personal photos or favourite quotations would add meaningful touches. A theme for the year or seasonal embellishments are a nice touch. Once you’ve practised placing the words and numbers so they’ll fit just right, print your pages. You can get them laminated at most business supply stores. Make sure the business cards are laid out with enough space between them so cutting them apart won’t allow the plastic laminating to peel off. Make a date to craft this calendar for yourself or as a gift. Pat Gerbrandt writes from Grunthal, Manitoba

Sonia Maendel and Mary Waldner sewing quilts. PHOTO: SHIRLEY MAENDEL

How to save on holiday groceries Reduce your bill with a few tips and a little planning

University of Minnesota Extension A shopping list is the most common way that people plan their grocery purchases. According to Shirley Anderson-Porisch, family financial resource management educator with University of Minnesota Extension, you should start planning your list early for those special holiday gatherings. “Planning the purchase of anything can take time and effort, but the result will usually be money saved,” says AndersonPorisch. Anyone who uses a grocery shopping list has probably first gone through the steps of prioritizing purchases. They’ve probably done some research and compared various products — especially price. While

shopping, a well-organized list will help them choose the best product.” Anderson-Porisch has some other strategies consumers should take to the grocery store: » Understand “impulse buying.” Impulse buying is buying without fully considering the priorities used to make a spending plan. Be careful of “unadvertised store specials,” usually not found on the shopping list. The list will help you sort out needs from wants. The result of impulse buying is almost always overspending.

» Buy at your right time. Planning spending to meet needs, being aware of prices and paying attention to price specials or sales will help most people buy at their right time. In the past, stores ran seasonal specials. Today, stores run specials every day. Successful shoppers do their planning based on this marketplace reality.

» Pay cash if possible. Paying cash can help people save money in two ways — spending less and avoiding interest charges and

» Be careful of paying for the name. Most generic food products will provide acceptable quality even during the holidays.

credit card fees. Using cash provides a boundary or limit to what can be spent. If credit is used to buy food, pay the balance each month on the bill. Otherwise, it’s like taking out a high-interest loan to buy food.

Generic or store-brand products are usually priced less than the brand name. Even when a coupon saves a few cents on a brand product, the generic or store brand may still cost less money and provide the same finished product. Anderson-Porisch adds that the planning process is actually not complete until after the shopping trip, when the product has been used and the person considers whether or not he/she would buy the same item at the same price in the future. Learning from buying experiences helps control spending and gets the best deal. Make the most of your holiday dollars — make a plan for food spending and stick to it.

There’s hay. And now there’s Hesston Hay. ™

Welcome to a higher-quality brand of hay – and the most advanced way to produce it. Welcome to the new WR Series SP Windrowers from Hesston by Massey Ferguson ®. More than just a new model, this is an entirely new class of windrower. The f irst ever to use an onboard vir tual computer to maximize your productivity on ever y acre of ever y f ield – ever y day. The all new WR Series. An unparalleled achievement in SP windrowers. From the brand that invented the categor y. Come see us soon, or for a closer look and more detailed information, visit masseyferguson.com/windrowers

LITTLE MORDEN SVC., LTD. HWY 3 E MORDEN, MB R6M 1B4 204-325-9027

NOTRE DAME MOTORS, LTD. 150 HWY 244 S NOTRE DAME, MB R0G 1M0 204-248-2359

AG WEST EQUIP., LTD. HWY #1A W PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, MB R1N 3C2 204-857-5130

SHOAL LAKE FARM EQUIP., LTD. 1ST AVE SHOAL LAKE, MB R0J 1Z0 204-759-2527

TOROMONT CAT HWY #1 WEST ELIE, MB R0H 0H0 204-353-3850

DRUMMOND’S FARM SVC., LTD. HWY 2 AT HWY 34 HOLLAND, MB R0G 0X0 204-526-2740

The Manitoba Co-operator | December 15, 2011