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But cutting corners too much can effect yield » PAGE 17

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FEBRUARY 2, 2012

SERVING MANITOBA FARMERS SINCE 1925 | VOL. 70, NO. 5 |

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NEEDED POST-CWB

he sun was just peeking above the horizon as the Boeing 777 banked south just over Cairo, Egypt and headed for Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital that serves as the hub for all of Africa. We’d been travelling ahead in time, losing a night as we left Washington, D.C. at around 11 a.m. on Saturday, flying 13 hours non-stop and landing at our destination at 8 a.m., nine hours ahead of the clocks back home. The air felt heavy as we stepped from the plane, which is odd because we were step-

KAP committee looking for answers to issues being created by move to an open wheat and barley market

Don Dewar, chairman of an ad hoc Keystone Agricultural Producers committee looking at issues in a post-single-desk system, speaks to farmers. PHOTO: SHANNON VANRAES

See ETHIOPIA on page 6 »

By Shannon Vanraes CO-OPERATOR STAFF

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ith the end of single-desk grain marketing in sight, producers and farm organizations are focusing on filling in the gaps and supporting a stable transition to an open market. “ T h e re a re m o re q u e s t i o n s t h a n answers,” said Don Dewar, chairman of an ad hoc Keystone Agricultural Producers committee looking at issues grain producers will face in the open market. The committee is looking at non-marketing functions once handled by the Canadian Wheat Board, as well as producer cars, the Port of Churchill, country-of-origin concerns, and futures contracts, Dewar told delegates at KAP’s annual general meeting.

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“I think we know there is no such thing as a free market, so we know that some of the grain companies are going to exert significant control on how we do business,” said Dewar. “And the fear is, that without checks in place, it’s possible major grain companies could restrict business operations or producer car shippers or the voluntary wheat board.” To prevent that outcome, the committee hopes the Competition Bureau will play a role in regulating the industry as changes occur, and it is looking at ways to encourage the bureau’s involvement. KAP president Doug Chorney spoke to farmers about the future of producer cars, based on his observations as a subcommittee member of the nation-

“One of the key competitive disadvantages that I see in my role on the committee, is the multi-car incentive and how that favours highthroughput and inland terminal shipping points.”

DOUG CHORNEY

See POST-CWB on page 7 »

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

INSIDE

on the lighter side

LIVESTOCK

Farming is so profitable that…

Cost of production

is no object…

European beef production practices seem bizarre

New owner of Illinois golf course may not be collecting green fees

CROPS Finding the “sweet spot” for phosphorus Just using starter rates will short change over the long haul

FEATURE Family key to ranching success Holistic management instructor says profitability follows unity

Staff

CROSSROADS Driving Mr. and Mrs. Daisy Rural Canadian seniors are especially dependent on automobiles

4 5 8 10

Editorials Comments What’s Up Livestock Markets

In a new twist that is probably a sign of the times in the U.S. economy, a 347-acre golf course in Illinois will be sold by auction Feb. 21. Though it might be just a clever way to attract free publicity for the auction, the company handling the sale issued a news release speculating that the buyer may not be collecting memberships and green fees. “Crane Creek has a loyal

customer base of area golfers, but farmland is in high d e m a n d r i g h t n ow, a n d it wouldn’t surprise me if someone chose to convert the course back to agriculture,” said Murray Wise, CEO of the auction company. Before the golf course was built, the property had been used for a Christmas tree farm, and it includes 40 acres that are mostly tillable now. Another 61 acres of pasture and timber are already in the fed-

eral Conservation Reserve Program. “Much of the golf course land per se would make excellent pasture and is also suitable for hunting and recreation,” Wise said. The sale comes as U.S. farmland prices are reaching unprecedented levels, driven by high corn prices and low i n t e re s t ra t e s. Fa r m l a n d prices in Iowa have risen by 261 per cent since 2000, and some land recently traded for $20,000 per acre.

Grain Markets Weather Vane Classifieds Sudoku

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

Farm group wants common sense applied on winter fertilization ban KAP delegates say exemptions should be allowed when conditions are appropriate By Lorraine Stevenson CO-OPERATOR STAFF

anitoba should lift its recently introduced winter fertilizer application ban to allow for more flexibility with changing weather and corresponding soil temperatures, say members of the Keystone Agricultural Producers. The year-old nutrient management regulation prohibits application of nitrogen and phosphorus between Nov. 10 and April 10, and that means farmers may not be able to fertilize during best conditions, said farmers at KAP’s annual meeting last week. Allowing exemptions based on weather and soil conditions makes more sense than set-instone fixed dates, said Eric Dyck, who farms near Springstein.

“We feel that the restriction dates could push farmers to apply fertilizers at times that could mean more losses to volatilization,” Dyck said. “An application process to allow exemptions to these restrictions, based on good agronomic practices, as well as taking into consideration environmental factors, would allow farmers to fertilize at ideal times for optimum production.” Windows of opportunity sometimes open during the winter or early spring, and farmers growing forages, forage seed, or winter wheat can suffer yield losses if they miss them, he added. A permit process, similar to the approach taken for stubble burning, would be more sensible, other delegates argued.

“We feel that the restriction dates could push farmers to apply fertilizers at times that could mean more losses to volatilization.” ERIC DYCK

“There’s no process in place and that’s what we’d like,” said Cal Penner, a District 3 KAP member. “Right now it’s a subjective decision.” KAP delegates are also concerned about the looming ban on using coal to heat farm buildings. The province will ban coal usage in 2014 and just this month

KAP eager to partner in watershed planning

introduced a coal tax to generate an incentive fund to help farmers switch to biomass fuels. Farmers say it will take a lot longer than two years for the province’s biomass production and distribution industry to produce sufficient quantities of alternatives such as biomass pellets and cubes. It will also take longer to put in place the required infrastructure. Natural gas is also not available in many areas of the province. “I don’t see us switching in just two years,” said Fisher Brancharea producer Paul Gregory.

Landowner protection

Other resolutions passed at the Jan. 25 meeting included calls for Manitoba Hydro to include in the compensation package the cost of liability insurance so

that any mishaps around towers don’t end up costing farmers higher premiums. KAP is also calling for legislation that would protect farmers and other landowners from potential financial losses such as decreased land values due to public work projects, and for updates to the provincial Oil and Gas Act that would require well site locations be determined before surface rights being granted. KAP will also continue to push for improved telecommunications in rural Manitoba, citing a lack of affordable rural Internet service as well as cellphone service, saying that puts farmers without access to either at a competitive disadvantage. KAP passed a similar resolution during their July meeting. lorraine@fbcpublishing.com

EYEING CANINE DINNER?

Ron Kostyshyn tells KAP delegates he wants to partner with them and others on a comprehensive Prairie-wide watershed strategy By Lorraine Stevenson CO-OPERATOR STAFF

he province’s new agriculture minister’s first words to Keystone Agriculture Producers delegates last week were to assure them he’s a farmer who understands their challenges. And he knows the value of teamwork. “I’m still going to maintain that mindset,” said Ron Kostyshyn, the newly minted minister of Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives. “We need to partner on a number of ideas.” One of the key ways the farm organization can expect to be engaged by government is on issues of water and watershed planning and management, said Kostyshyn, who has worked with conservation districts. “Our government is committed to a plan,” Kostyshyn told reporters outside the meeting. “We need to start having some forethought of what’s being done on the landscape, not only in the province of Manitoba but in Saskatchewan

and Alberta where our watersheds start.” Indeed, a comprehensive watershed strategy topped KAP’s election wish list last fall, and president Doug Chorney said he’s encouraged by Kostyshyn’s comments. “He has told us that the government definitely is willing to work with organizations like KAP, and make a plan to deal with water issues going forward,” said Chorney, who was acclaimed for a new term as president at the AGM. “I’m really confident that he’s hearing our ideas and is willing to work with us.” Conservation districts, Ducks Unlimited, and the International In s t i t u t e f o r Su s t a i n a b l e Development will be other obvious partners in that effort, but planning needs to begin soon because this will not be something done quickly, said Chorney. “We are not going to find shortterm solutions to long-term problems,” he said. “It’s taken us years to drain every wetland. It’s not going to be fixed in a few months.”

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The Association of Manitoba Municipalities this past November also called for comprehensive watershed planning to stop devastating flood events of 2011 from recurring. Kostyshyn, who runs a 200head cow-calf operation near Ethelbert, was questioned by delegates about those still waiting to receive financial compensation for flood-related damages, including farmland losses. “We’re in a scenario of a lot of claims and we are processing them,” he said. “The money hasn’t run out. The money is still there and the claims will be processed.” Last week, the province also announced 34 Manitoba communities affected by last year’s flooding will share $2.5 million in post-flood economic stimulus grants to fund 42 projects, including hiring economic development officers, community marketing and promotion and restoration of local infrastructure damaged by flooding. lorraine@fbcpublishing.com

I took my pug dog to our farm west of Souris on January 29 for some exercise. We came across a friendly eagle who was happy to sit and visit with us for some time. He was eyeing up my fat pug dog....supper maybe? PHOTO: LARA MASON

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

OPINION/EDITORIAL

It’s today’s price, not the future price

tirling Moss, a famous racing driver of the 1950s, once said that the male of the human species will admit to not being good at just about anything except being a good driver or a good lover. If we are talking about some of the grain farmer subspecies, we might add a third skill, that being a good marketer. But just what is a “good” marketer anyway? Defining “good” will become even more John Morriss important with the impending changes to Editorial Director the wheat board. It’s not just a joke to say that among the many implications is that farmers, and the rest of the industry, won’t have the wheat board to blame anymore. Not getting enough cars at the local elevator? Wheat board’s fault. Can’t grow high-yielding varieties? Wheat board. Price too low? Wheat board. “The average price is not good enough,” or so we’ve often heard in this debate. But after next Aug. 1, farmers as a group will still receive an average price. That means half will sell for less than average, but they can’t blame it on the wheat board. Perhaps the overall average price will be higher because the board monopoly has ended, so everyone will be better off. However, that implies that the price of Canadian wheat and barley will rise because there will be several companies bidding on a sale to an overseas customer, rather than one as is the case now. Presumably that won’t happen, so if there is to be higher overall revenue, it will have to come from higher efficiencies and therefore reduced costs in the system. Since the grain companies are also looking to capture some of those efficiencies and add them to their bottom line, it means that farmers will have to be on their toes. Now that the board is losing its monopoly, it seems that some of those who advocated the change are pointing that out, and doing a bit of butt covering while they are at it. The Alberta Government, which for decades has been saying that farmers would be better off by doing their own marketing, now seems a bit more cautious. In a recent release, an Alberta Government risk-management analyst warned that “producers choose not to use pooling strategies in order to capture higher pricing opportunities may also be exposed to greater downside risks.” Suggesting that farmers consider futures and options, the release says, “The potential benefits from these more volatile markets can be measured using simulation and traditional option pricing theories that calculate the actual probability of achieving higher target prices resulting from increased volatility.” We’re not just sure what that means, but if it means farmers can increase their returns by using futures, it’s not correct. There are several misconceptions about futures, such as the often-heard phrase, “Listen to what the futures market is telling you.” If the futures market is functioning properly, it tells you precisely nothing. Futures markets were invented specifically because it is impossible to tell the future. Grain merchants needed to protect themselves against changes in price between the time they bought grain from farmers and the time they delivered it to a customer. Futures markets determine today’s price for delivery in the future, not the future price. Another misconception is that farmers can “hedge” using futures. Perhaps it’s just terminology, but that’s wrong too. A “hedge” is as described above — an offsetting cash/ futures sale by a grain merchant who makes two transactions — buying the grain from the farmer, and selling it to a customer. Farmers only make one transaction — the sale. Unlike grain merchants, farmers are always long, and therefore they are always speculating. They use futures to lock in a price at a different time than they physically deliver the grain, which may well be a good idea, such as to lock in a profit. But that’s only buying peace of mind, or buying insurance to keep the banker happy. It’s speculating that today’s price is better than a future price, but if the futures market is functioning properly, there’s a 50-50 chance of the price being higher or lower when it’s time to deliver. If a farmer follows a consistent sales pattern — every month, every quarter, whatever, but consistently over a few years, his or her price will end up exactly the same as any other strategy. If using futures is part of that consistent strategy, say by locking in a price for part of the crop before it’s harvested, then the price will actually be slightly lower by the amount of the commission fees. Futures have their place, and part of being a good marketer is using them directly or indirectly to lock in a profit. If there are farmers who can do consistently better by using futures, then more power to them. They should forget about all that expense and worry of planting a crop and simply trade futures instead. john.morris@fbcpublishing.com

It’s time Manitoba becomes a leader on the drainage issue By Bob Grant

looding was a problem not only in Manitoba this past year, but it was also a major issue in Saskatchewan. Both provinces faced enormous costs associated with lost crops, washed-out roads and culverts, and in some cases, people lost their homes. In fact, flooding in Manitoba will cost taxpayers $1 billion in damages and flood-fighting efforts. This wasn’t the first year Manitoba was forced to deal with water issues. We’ve been plagued by a number of consecutive wet years in areas throughout the province, affecting people’s livelihoods and causing tremendous emotional stress and hardship for hardworking Manitobans — those that are enduring the real costs of the flood. Yet, as a province, we haven’t done nearly enough in terms of implementing real solutions to this recurring issue. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), who witnessed the devastation flooding brought to their province and taxpayers, realized the ramifications of flooding on the land; more specifically in terms of drainage and how that affects people and property downstream. As public demand for accountability in the drainage decision-making process continues to grow, SARM recently approved a resolution regarding “non-permitted drainage” at their mid-term convention this fall. “Enforcement of Drainage Legislation: Whereas municipalities and landowners are experiencing danger to infrastructure and property from non-permitted drainage activities, which creates financial hardship for both municipalities and landowners; Be it resolved that SARM lobby the provincial government to enforce provincial land drainage legislation.” (SARM resolution POP4-11M) Saskatchewan leaders have taken up the cause of encouraging the enforcement of exist-

OUR HISTORY:

ing drainage legislation in order to reduce the financial and physical impacts of having more water than they can handle. Manitoba and Saskatchewan both faced unprecedented levels of flooding in 2011, and in both provinces, wetlands continue to be lost at alarming rates. The science is clear: wetland drainage makes flooding worse. Enforcing drainage regulations will not be easy or, in some cases popular, but it is essential if we are to better manage our surface water resources in the face of increasingly variable climate extremes. These Saskatchewan municipal leaders get it. They realize that what they are doing to the land not only affects their own province, but also their neighbours to the east — us. They realize what they are sending downstream, not just water, but also sediment and nutrients, is causing water quality problems in many of our rivers and lakes. But most importantly, they are doing something about it. In the past, similar resolutions were put forward by Manitoba municipalities that resulted in increased awareness of the impact of unrestricted drainage to the government, but it’s time this issue gets back on the provincial agenda. We need to move forward in a more proactive way to raise the awareness of wetland loss, and how this loss adds to our flooding woes, and put a stop to it once and for all. An independent flood review is currently being debated in political circles and the media. If this review does happen, it absolutely must include an evaluation of the effects of wetland drainage and degradation, and provide recommendations to protect and restore their flood-fighting capabilities. Politics aside, whether we do a review or not, we need to stop draining wetlands or our next flood will be worse. Bob Grant is manager of provincial operation for Ducks Unlimited Canada.

February 6, 1975

ur Feb. 6, 1975 issue covered concerns that a recent grain price boom was softening, following reports that the Soviet Union and China had cancelled wheat and corn purchases from the U.S. The Canadian Wheat Board announced contracting programs for some new varieties, including Glenlea wheat, Wakooma durum, Beacon barley and Klages barley. The House of Commons Agriculture Committee approved a plan to set a higher price for domestic wheat sales. Dr. Keith Downey outlined plans to improve the maturity and fatty-acid profile of Canadian rapeseed, and Transport Minister Jean Marchand assured MP Ray Hnatyshyn that there were no plans to examine changes to the Crow Rate.

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

COMMENT/FEEDBACK

Magic-bullet solutions only last so long Increasing incidence of herbicide resistance puts the attention back on the need for crop rotation By Les McEwan

Letters

e’ve all done it. Pushed our crop rotations, that is. You know that field had canola on it two years ago, but the seed you have already purchased, the fertilizer you applied last fall, or the delivery contract you already signed all make us do things that we know are not in our best agronomic interests. In our case it was a shift in the acres to maintain our normal four-year rotation. I didn’t like it, but we needed to sow Roundup Ready canola on the same field two years in a row. The field in question had a history of broadleaf weeds, most notably lady’s thumb, so I managed to console myself with the knowledge that at least I had an opportunity to clean up some weeds. And it did. At least it had a significant impact on the lady’s thumb populations. What I did notice however, was that I was left with regrowth of redroot pigweed that the glyphosate was apparently weak on. For a product improperly used to belie its weaknesses should come as no surprise. Glyphosate has been used for years as the silver bullet to clean up weeds when nothing else would. Quack grass, Group 1-resistant wild oats, and wild mustard in GMO canola have all fallen victim to its broad-based ability to clean up fields in a single swoop, but it would seem the silver has started to tarnish. Glyphosate-resistant kochia was recently detected in Alberta. A first for Western Canada, but it joins giant ragweed that was detected in Ontario in 2009 and the Canada fleabane that was detected in 2011. These followed discoveries in the U.S. of glyphosateresistant palmer amaranth (know there as pigweed), mare’s tail in South

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)

Are court cases really baseless Mr. Ritz? It was really quite funny to watch the minister of agriculture strut around in front of his flock at the recent Western Canadian Wheat Growers conference. He used his bully pulpit to call the recent court cases, against his government implementing legislation dismantling of the Canadian Wheat Board’s single desk, baseless. Like too many bullies, he first sounded arrogant as he said, “we’re still very antagonistic with the eight and the Friends of the Board.” Then he started to sound desperate and almost delusional when he claimed, “this is a done deal folks. No one is going to blink at this point and no one is going to change and no one is

What will prevail over the long haul will be sound agronomic practices, innovation, and wise old farmers.

America, ryegrass in Australia and Johnson grass in Argentina. The threat of resistant weeds however, pales in comparison to the charges being made by a retired professor from Purdue University. Dr. Don M. Hubner has reportedly sent warnings to USDA secretary, Tom Vilsack citing production problems with increased diseases in GMO crops and reproduction issues in animals being fed GMO grains. While Dr. Hubner has over 40 years of research experience, his findings have not been wholeheartedly embraced by the scientific community. Purdue University has tried to distance itself from the controversy, and has released a statement saying that the studies have been taken out of context. Others argue that Dr. Hubner’s claims are not the result of peer-reviewed science and that what he is doing borders on sensationalism. It is also unfair to extrapolate the animal studies to humans. While a cow or a pig being fed on a farm that grows GMO feed grains may see over 80 per cent of its diet derived from those products, very few Canadians would consume over 20 per cent of their diet from corn, soybeans or canola. The level of exposure is dramatically different.

going to back off. C-18 is the law of the land.” At least one federal judge has disagreed. So I’m not sure if he is trying to convince himself, or his boss, Stephen Harper it is a done deal. However, it appears that the Western Grain Elevator Association and even the Western Canadian Wheat Growers are not convinced it is a done deal. They continue to appeal the court rulings and are trying to get intervener status in other cases. Farmers are using their own money to defend our wheat board. However, it would appear the Western Grain Elevator Association and Wheat Growers have no end of money and who knows where that is coming from? For a minister who was so critical of the CWB spending money on legal cases, he now seems to have no hesitancy in watching his shadow groups blow money in supporting his dirty and illegal work. If it is a done deal why are these groups so interested in participating in court appearances? Kyle Korneychuk Pelly, Sask.

New ag critic networks south of the border

Recently I — along with Lakeside MLA Ralph Eichler and Emerson MLA Cliff Graydon — attended the 11th annual Legislative Agricultural Chairs Summit and the State Agricultural

Glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth has become a major weed problem for southern U.S. cotton and soybean growers. photo: Laura Rance

Canola/snow rotations

So what does it all mean for the farmer deciding what to grow next spring? No. 1, it means more studies will have to be conducted before we know the full extent of whether Dr. Hubner’s allegations are true. No. 2, it means we need to start paying closer attention to those crop rotations that have been getting notoriously compressed into a canola/wheat (or in some cases, canola/snow) rotation. With different crops we need to alternate different herbicides and production practices to halt the onslaught of resistant weeds. If you thought the answer to Group 1- and Group 2-resistant grassy weeds was glyphosate-tolerant wheat, think again. We already have the option of Roundup Ready canola, soybeans and corn, the acreages of which could increase if our climate were to warm as predicted. In addition, glyphosate

Rural Leaders board meeting in Washington, D.C. In attendance were elected and government officials from 47 states and eight Canadian provinces. There were also representatives from a number of major commodity groups, including the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and the Canadian Pork Council. Un i t e d S t a t e s S e c r e t a r y o f Agriculture Tom Vilsack and United States Department of Agriculture officials addressed the delegates and fielded questions. Congress and Senate staff presented briefings on major farm issues including the U.S. Farm Bill, which is up for review and renewal. Other sessions dealt with topics such as food safety, the environment, clean energy, and the urban-rural disconnect. In attending conferences like this it is abundantly clear that no matter which state or province you are from, the agriculture sector faces similar challenges. However, the industry stakeholders and public policy-makers are also deeply committed to ensuring the industry is sustainable and successful over the longer term. Agriculture is seen as the one sector of the economy running a positive balance of trade. As the world’s population rises, there will be increased demand for our safe, high-quality food products. Our producers and processors will play a key role in meeting this demand. As Progressive Conservative agricul-

is also being used as a pre-seeding burn-off, pre-harvest thistle control and post-harvest weed control. The tolerance to this product by weed species is already sounding off alarms, and it’s time to heed the warning. Additionally, if there is any linkage between humans and the animal studies that Dr. Hubner is citing, adding a GMO wheat to our own diet may not be a good plan either. We consume a lot more wheat products than corn, soybeans or canola. In the final analysis, there really are no silver bullets. GMOs will continue to have a role in our farming plans as part of a rotation, but they cannot be the be-all and end-all for the modern farmer to feed a hungry world. What will prevail over the long haul will be sound agronomic practices, innovation, and wise old farmers. Les McEwan farms near Altamont

ture and rural development critic, the networks I build at meetings like these are invaluable as I work on issues of importance related to agriculture and Manitoba’s rural economy. I look forward to your input moving forward. Blaine Pedersen Progressive Conservative Agriculture Critic

Malting industry now needs federal money

Recently Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz pledged over half a million dollars to develop a “Canadian malt barley brand” (Dec. 9). Imagine that, someone trying to brand Canadian malt barley to command a premium price. It would appear the minister did not know the Canadian Wheat Board has been doing this on behalf of farmers for over 75 years. This is just a taste of the ironies to come. Farmers had input in the process but now that has been handed over to the malting barley industry groups. It looks like things have barely begun. The big players in this crew can’t even brand on their own and need Ritz’s help. The big boys like to talk big but they need the minister’s money. It will be interesting to see if the minister will provide the trade with money to brand Canadian wheat. Eric Sagan Melville, Sask.

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

FROM PAGE ONE ETHIOPIA Continued from page 1

Co-operator editor Laura Rance is travelling with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank in Ethiopia this week. This is her first report, and updates are being posted on the Co-operator’s website www.manitobacooperator.ca

ping into thin air. At its highest point, the capital city of Ethiopia is 2,390 metres above sea level and we were told its elevation makes it the third-highest capital in the world (next to La Paz, Bolivia and Bogota, Colombia.) But the early-morning haze was rich with smells — diesel from the multitude of vehicles travelling the streets, many of them belching black smoke as they sputtered along, and spices as we passed open-air restaurants and markets on our way to the hotel for a few hours of R and R before taking in a sightseeing tour of the city. There was also a hint of woodsmoke from cooking fires. We learned later in the day the most accessible fuelwood in the city is cut from eucalyptus trees growing rampant up the hillsides, which explains why there was an exotic tang to its acridity. Sounds also add to this colourful assault on the senses. This is a land of open windows so the air is filled with everyday living, children, laughter, dogs, city traffic and even some crowing roosters. Frequently through both day and night, the haunting sounds of a soulful male voice chanting the Ethiopian Orthodox gospel in Amharic, the dominant Ethiopian language, ripple through the alleys and side streets near our hotel. And the tastes: Our first meals in this country were richly spiced, some with a little heat, but deliciously prepared. Despite the fact it was Sunday, a Christian holiday just like at home, the streets were busy. The African Union is holding its annual summit in Addis this week, bringing heads of states from across the continent to the

A young man escorts two donkeys carrying supplies up the mountain overlooking Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Photos: Laura Rance

city. Traffic jams were inevitable as security forces blocked the streets to allow diplomatic delegations to pass. There was no such pomp and circumstance for our delegation, a group of five Canadian journalists accompanied by Jim Cornelius, executive director of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and Sam Van der Ende, CFGB’s Ethiopian project co-ordinator. We are here on a Media Food Study Tour with visas granted by Ethiopian government. But our hosts are forever conscious that in this part of the world, foreign journalists are sometimes suspect.

Touring projects

We are guests and we are here to learn more about food-security issues through the eyes of local CFGB partners. Over the next several days we will be travelling into the countryside to experience first hand the kinds of projects Canadian farmers and the bank’s 15 partners support through their fundraising efforts at home. For me, this trip is an opportunity to do much more than escape the Prairie winter and reverse the thermometer from minus to plus. (Daytime temperatures here are hovering around 24 C and dropping to 11 C or so at night.)

Church of the trilogy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

And it’s kind of cool to think I’ve now been to two out of the three highest capitals in the world, having travelled to La Paz, Bolivia in 1997. (Guess there’s more than one way of moving up in the world.) But I accepted this opportunity for a different reason. I suspect I’m not alone in this, but I’ve never been to this country. And until my arrival here, the first images that came to mind whenever Ethiopia is mentioned were images of famine and starvation portrayed in the media coverage of those tragedies. Of course I know at a conscious level that Ethiopia is about much more than droughts and distended bellies. But shaking those subconscious imprints on our memories can be difficult.

Ancient and diverse culture

There is no question that famine has been a part of this nation’s history and that hunger continues to stalk vulnerable sectors of its population. It has no doubt influenced its culture and its view of the world. But it does not define Ethiopia as a country. While on a tour of the national museum, our guide recites history in the context of millennia. Ethiopia’s Awash Valley is where the famous Lucy, a skeleton dating back 3.2 million years, was discovered in 1974. The speci-

men is scientifically known as Australopithecus atarensis, and considered the “missing link” in the evolution between apes and humans. Ethiopians trace their civilization back to King Solomon’s times. Emperors in the 12th and 13th centuries were paying homage to their spiritual beliefs through structures such as Lalibela, a collection of churches carved out of a mountain in the country’s north that are considered architectural marvels even today. They successfully thwarted European invaders, not once, but twice, maintaining their independence as a sovereign country while much of the African continent was carved into colonies. Ethiopia is home to about 80 million people occupying an area nearly twice the size of Texas. There are 80 different ethnic groups and a population that is spiritually divided m a i n l y b e t w e e n Mu s l i m , Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity with a sprinkling of indigenous religions. But unlike Canada, which is considered one of the most urbanized countries in the world with 80 per cent of its population living in cities and towns, Ethiopia’s urban/rural breakdown is almost exactly the reverse. It is a rural country with agriculture making up nearly half

I’ve never been to this country. And until my arrival here, the first images that came to mind whenever Ethiopia is mentioned were images of famine and starvation portrayed in the media…

of its GDP and 80 per cent of its exports. Nearly 25 per cent of the population earns its livelihood from coffee, but Ethiopia is also known for its flowers, leather products, pulses, oilseeds, beeswax and increasingly, tea. The sun is rising again. As we follow the Rift Valley south today, I know I’m going to be visiting communities in which food security remains elusive. I expect to learn about the complexities of the work the Canadian Foodgrains Bank supports. But I also know my first objective for this tour — reformatting my simplistic image of Ethiopia — has already been accomplished. I plan to relax and enjoy the ride.

A painting in Ethiopia’s National Museum depicts the famine that has periodically been part of Ethiopia’s long history. But it’s an image that doesn’t do justice to the country’s rich diversity and landscape.

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

FROM PAGE ONE Post-CWB Continued from page 1

wide Crops Logistics Working Group. Simply having access to producer cars isn’t enough, he stressed. Marketing arrangements are needed to achieve terminal authorization, and that requires appropriate government regulation, he said. “Currently the Canadian Grain Commission Order specifies the process of allocating producer cars and that has not changed,” Chorney said. “But it may in the future with the modernization of the Canadian Grains Act.” The working group aims to identify issues around transportation and make recommendations to the federal government. According to the wheat board, producer car use was at nearrecord levels in 2010-11. Prairie farmers loaded 12,784 producer cars, overwhelmingly with board grains, during the crop year. Most of Western Canada’s 120-plus producer car-loading facilities and 14 short line railways are owned by farmers in co-operatives or joint ventures, but some at the KAP meeting questioned whether they can survive. Robert McLean, a former KAP vice-president who has been involved with the producerowned Boundary Trails Railway Company, asked committee members their thoughts on the

“Our goal, or mandate, is to develop tools and recommendations for government to protect these small shippers.” DOUG CHORNEY KAP president

KAP president Doug Chorney spoke to farmers about the future of producer cars.

issue, but also cautioned against pessimism. “There are going to be both challenges and opportunities,” said McLean, adding legislation is needed to ensure short lines continue to be viable. The Boundary Trails short line is continuing to evolve and recently bought its first locomotive, he said.

Multi-car incentives

“One of the key competitive disadvantages that I see in my

role on the committee, is the multi-car incentive and how that favours high-throughput and inland terminal shipping points,” said Chorney. “The railways, some believe, are artificially building those incentives up.” He noted the current incentive is roughly $8 a tonne, while in U.S. northern tier states, multicar incentives run between $25 and $35 a tonne. The result is no cars are shipped from small shipping points.

PHOTO: SHANNON VANRAES

“My concern is that railways here will potentially raise the incentive,” Chorney said. “We have no way to control that because they are private companies that operate under commercial terms. Our goal, or mandate, is to develop tools and recommendations for government to protect these small shippers.” Concern over grain contracts and wheat futures were also addressed during the meeting. A resolution calling for KAP

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to review grain company contracts passed with overwhelming support. A similar resolution had previously been defeated. “I’ve heard people say if you don’t like a contract, don’t sign it,” said Reg Dyck, who farms near Starbuck. “But that’s a choice we can’t always make.” The transition away from the single-desk system will also result in more integration between the Canadian wheat and barley sectors and American grain industries, said Dewar. This could impact the varieties of grain grown in Canada. “I think it’s important that we try to maintain our reputation, which has been built on our higher-quality Canadian varieties,” he said. shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

WHAT'S UP Please forward your agricultural events to daveb@fbcpublish ing.com or call 204-944-5762. Feb. 1-2: Manitoba Swine Seminar, Victoria Inn, 1808 Wellington Ave., Winnipeg. For more info visit www. ManitobaSwineSeminar.ca or call Dallas Ballance at 204-475-8585. Feb. 4: Exploring Your Small Farm Dream: Is Starting an Agricultural Business Right For You?, United Way Building, 580 Main St., Winnipeg. For more info visit www.manitobafarmmentorship. ca. (Venue changed from Harvest Moon Centre, Clearwater.) Feb. 8-9: Manitoba Special Crops Symposium, Victoria Inn, 1808 Wellington Ave., Winnipeg. For more info visit www.manitobaspe cialcrops.ca or call 204-745-6488. Feb. 9-10: University of Manitoba Transport Institute's Supply Chain Connections conference: "The Mid-Continent Cold Chain," Winnipeg. RESCHEDULED to May 24-25, 2011. For more info visit www.umti.ca.

Retire redundant regulations rapidly Business lobby group says farmers overly regulated by rules that benefit no one By Alex Binkley CO-OPERATOR CONTRIBUTOR / OTTAWA

oo many government farm regulations waste time and do nothing to improve health and safety of consumers, says a report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Farmers in Canada are hardest hit by regulations, an alphabet soup of rules including land-use restrictions, product labelling, food safety, border inspection, pesticides and data collection, said Virginia Labbie, CFIB’s senior policy analyst for agribusiness. The CFIB study found that “72 per cent of farmers want all levels of government to place a higher priority on cutting red tape, more than on any other measure, to help them compete and remain in business,” she said. Tax relief came in next at 68 per cent.

“With governments in the midst of finalizing a plan to support the future of agriculture in Canada, taking immediate action to reduce the regulatory burden will allow farmers to continue to provide consumers with high-quality, homegrown food,” said Labbie. Farm groups endorsed the call for fewer regulations. Farmers “face a myriad of regulations each day and any effort to streamline or reduce redundancy will help their bottom line,” said Ron Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. The process for developing regulations needs to include a “realistic assessment of what the regulations are supposed to accomplish,” he said, adding that too often regulations follow a token consultation with farmers. Then there’s the irksome

requirement to keep supplying government with information and data that’s already been submitted, he noted. Farm groups have to collaborate on “developing an inventory of unnecessary and redundant regulations to present to the government,” said Bob Friesen, president of FNASTAG. There’s plenty of scope for reduction in pesticide and fertilizer regulations, he added. And then there are issues like efficacy testing that should be left to the market. “If a product doesn’t work, farmers won’t buy it,” he said. Governments should focus on the safety of the end product and not the process that produces it, said Richard Phillips, executive director of the Grain Growers of Canada. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said the government has

adopted the proposal from the Red Tape Reduction Commission to require “the removal of at least one regulation each time a new one is introduced that imposes administrative burden on business.” His department, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Canadian Grain Commission are working to streamline regulations, he said, pointing to “a more flexible seed variety registration” as an example. Canada is working with the U.S. through the Regulatory Co-operation Council to make the pesticide registration process more efficient and timely, he added. CFIB would like the auditor general to report annually on the state of government regulation. “We need to make a review of regulations a permanent feature on the political menu,” said Labbie.

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. 16: Manitoba Model Forest seminar on non-timber forest products (wildcrafting, herbal teas, etc.), 1-3 p.m., Little Black River FN. To pre-register contact Ken Fosty at 204-340-5013 or email kfosty@treecanada.ca. Feb. 21-22: Western Canadian Holistic Management Conference, Gallagher Centre, 455 Broadway St. W., Yorkton, Sask. For more info call 306-786-1531. Feb. 21-23: Canadian Organic Science Conference, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. For more info visit www.oacc.info/cosc.

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Feb. 22-23: Precision Ag 2.0, The Next Generation: Western Canadian Precision Agriculture Conference, Deerfoot Inn and Casino, 1000-11500 35th St. SE, Calgary. For more info visit www. precision-ag.ca. Feb. 23: Manitoba Model Forest seminar on non-timber forest products (wildcrafting, herbal teas, etc.), 7-9 p.m., Winnipeg River Learning Centre, Pine Falls. To pre-register contact Ken Fosty at 204-340-5013 or email kfosty@ treecanada.ca. Feb. 23-25: Growing Local Conference, Marlborough Hotel, 331 Smith St., Winnipeg. For more info call 1-800-731-2638 or visit http://foodmattersmanitoba.ca.

On and Off YOuR fIeLd.

March 1: Special Crops Production Day, Keystone Centre, Brandon, including presentations on sunflowers, soybeans, corn. For more info contact NSAC (204-745-6776), MPGA (204-745-6488) or MCGA (204-745-6661). March 9-10: Direct Farm Marketing Conference, Lakeview Resort, 10 Center St., Gimli. For more info visit www.directfarmmarketing.com or call 204-8685152. March 15-16: Canola Council of Canada annual convention, Fairmont Washington, 2401 M St. NW, Washington, D.C. For more info visit www.canolacouncil.org. March 19-23: 39th Grain Industry Overview Course, Canadian International Grains Institute, Winnipeg. For more info or to register visit www.cigi.ca.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

Washington wants healthier school meals in bid to reduce obesity in kids But fries stay on the menu and pizza is classified as a vegetable By Ian Simpson WASHINGTON / REUTERS

According to the U.S. Congress, this is a vegetable.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK.COM

chool meals for millions of children will be healthier under obesity-fighting USDA standards that double the fruits and vegetables in cafeteria lunches. But french fries remain on the menu. In the first major changes to school breakfasts and lunches in more than 15 years, the new guidelines will affect nearly 32 million children who eat at school. They will cost the federal government about $3.2 billion to implement.

The new meal requirements are part of the Healthy, HungerFree Kids Act championed by first lady Michelle Obama. President Barack Obama approved the measure in late 2010. The guidelines, to be phased in over three years, double the amounts of fruits and vegetables in school lunches, and boost offerings of whole grainrich foods. The new standards set maximums for calories and cut sodium and trans fat, a contributor to high-cholesterol levels. Schools may offer only fatfree or low-fat milk. About 17 per cent of U.S. children and teenagers are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About one-third of U.S. adults are obese.

Fries with that?

Lawmakers altered the guidel i n e s i n Nov e m b e r. T h e y

barred the USDA from limiting french fries and ensured that pizza counted as a vegetable because of its tomato paste. Tr a d e a s s o c i a t i o n s re p resenting frozen pizza sellers like ConAgra Foods and S c h w a n Fo o d , a s w e l l a s f re n c h f r y s e l l e r s Mc Ca i n Foods and J.R. Simplot, were instrumental in blocking changes to r ules affecting those items. Margo Wootan, nutrition policy director for the nonprofit Center For Science in the Public Interest, said the new standards were a big improvement despite food industr y lobbying and the congressional revamp. “The new school meal standards are one of the most important advances in nutrition in decades,” she said. “A h e a l t h i e r p o p u l a t i o n will save billions of dollars in future health-care costs,” a d d e d D a w n Un d u r r a g a , staff nutr itionist with the E n v i r o n m e n t a l Wo r k i n g Group. As an example of a new meal, the USDA said an elementary school lunch could be whole wheat spaghetti with meat sauce and a whole wheat roll, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, kiwi, low-fat milk, low-fat ranch dip and soft margarine. That lunch would replace a meal of a hot dog on a bun with ketchup, canned pears, raw celery and carrots with ranch dressing, and low-fat chocolate milk.

BRIEFS

Seed-applied liquid nutrient approved STAFF / A new liquid formulation of a seed-applied nutrient has been cleared by the CFIA for use on wheat, barley, oat and corn. Colorado-based Loveland Products’ seed treatment Awaken ST will be distributed by ag input retailer UAP Canada. Awaken ST’s micronutrient package includes five per cent zinc plus boron, copper, iron, manganese and molybdenum, the company said. The combination “helps develop a larger, more extensive root system, quicker emergence, greater plant biomass and improved plant health and vigour,” UAP product manager Eric Gregory said in a release. The company says Awaken ST’s formulation can be applied using traditional treating equipment. Awaken “can be applied on its own, blended or applied sequentially with traditional chemical-based fungicide or insecticide seed treatments,” the company said.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

LIVESTOCK MARKETS

EXCHANGES: January 20, 2012

$1 Cdn: $1.00 U.S. $1 U.S: $1.00 Cdn.

COLUMN

Cattle Prices Winnipeg

(Friday to Thursday) Slaughter Cattle

January 27, 2012

Steers & Heifers $ — D1,2 Cows 57.00 - 64.00 D3 Cows 50.00 - 58.00 Bulls 70.00 - 80.00 Feeder Cattle (Price ranges for feeders refer to top-quality animals only) Steers (901+ lbs.) $ 115.00 - 122.75 (801-900 lbs.) 130.00 - 138.00 (701-800 lbs.) 135.00 - 151.00 (601-700 lbs.) 150.00 - 162.75 (501-600 lbs.) 155.00 - 184.00 (401-500 lbs.) 160.00 - 190.00 Heifers (901+ lbs.) — (801-900 lbs.) — (701-800 lbs.) — (601-700 lbs.) 135.00 - 160.00 (501-600 lbs.) 140.00 - 168.00 (401-500 lbs.) 145.00 - 179.75 Slaughter Cattle Grade A Steers Grade A Heifers D1, 2 Cows D3 Cows Bulls Steers

Heifers

Alberta South 114.00 — 67.00 - 79.00 55.00 - 69.00 79.83 $ 120.00 - 143.00 130.00 - 152.00 140.00 - 162.00 150.00 - 176.00 170.00 - 195.00 180.00 - 210.00 $ 115.00 - 130.00 122.00 - 140.00 131.00 - 146.00 137.00 - 159.00 147.00 - 175.00 155.00 - 187.00

($/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 (January 26, 2012) in U.S. Fed Cattle Close Change February 2012 124.55 0.35 April 2012 128.05 0.25 June 2012 126.50 0.20 August 2012 128.72 1.25 October 2012 131.12 1.10 December 2012 132.02 1.27 Cattle Slaughter Canada East West Manitoba U.S.

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

Fewer animals are expected to be available this spring Phil-Franz Warkentin CNSA

Ontario $ 117.89 - 126.55 113.87 - 125.42 58.62 - 75.11 58.62 - 75.11 72.81 - 90.57 $ 126.94 - 145.42 124.67 - 146.90 128.95 - 157.12 130.13 - 169.08 146.51 - 182.52 151.59 - 192.67 $ 121.01 - 133.26 118.95 - 136.06 116.80 - 139.15 125.23 - 149.38 134.40 - 159.69 135.10 - 169.81

Close 153.00 153.62 155.92 156.80 158.10 158.10

Change 1.30 -0.38 0.72 0.63 1.20 0.95

Cattle Grades (Canada)

Week Ending January 21, 2012 54,325 14,940 39,385 N/A 628,000

Previous Year 61,283 15,008 46,275 N/A 639,000

Week Ending January 21, 2012 340 19,982 21,734 655 558 7,700 166

Prime AAA AA A B D E

Previous Year 509 28,375 19,799 800 398 4,172 317

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 173.00E 159.00E 157.18 161.95

Futures (January 26, 2012) in U.S. Hogs February 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012

Last Week 169.22 155.86 155.75 160.69

Close 85.95 86.80 95.40 96.85 96.80

Last Year (Index 100) 150.17 138.88 138.57 141.03

Change 0.55 -0.70 0.10 0.33 0.45

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

Winnipeg 85.00 - 100.00 — 200.00 - 220.00 220.00 - 236.00 220.00 - 236.00

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 January 29, 2012 Broiler Turkeys (6.2 kg or under, live weight truck load average) Grade A .................................... $1.910 Undergrade .............................. $1.820 Hen Turkeys (between 6.2 and 8.5 kg liveweight truck load average) Grade A .................................... $1.890 Undergrade .............................. $1.790 Light Tom/Heavy Hen Turkeys (between 8.5 and 10.8 kg liveweight truck load average) Grade A .................................... $1.890 Undergrade .............................. $1.790 Tom Turkeys (10.8 and 13.3 kg, live weight truck load average) Grade A..................................... $1.890 Undergrade............................... $1.805 Prices are quoted f.o.b. farm.

Toronto 94.78 - 126.73 — 214.53 - 224.04 208.98 - 237.01 223.74 - 278.81 —

SunGold Specialty Meats 40.00 - 65.00 —

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 Winnipeg ($/each) Kids 180.00 - 190.00 Billys — Mature —

Toronto ($/cwt) 62.50 - 265.00 — 105.51 - 245.24

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

Winnipeg ($/cwt) — —

Cattle buyers get what they can, while they can

Toronto ($/cwt) 21.29 - 31.29 27.32 - 35.42

olid demand for feeder cattle kept values well supported at Manitoba’s auction yards during the week ended Jan. 27, as warmer temperatures saw volumes increase as well. After bitterly cold temperatures slowed movement at some yards the previous week, it was back to business as usual in the last full week of January as temperatures flipped over to unseasonably warm levels. A major reason behind the aggressive demand for feeder cattle these days is the fact that numbers on offer in the spring will likely be on the smaller side, according to Dave Nickel of Gladstone Auction Mart. Buyers are picking up cattle now while they can, he said, amid ideas that the animals just won’t be there later in the year. The demand is there for all classes of feeders, but, as always, the best demand is for the higher-quality animals, Nickel said, noting that the buying was just not as aggressive on the second and third cut. Eastern and western feedlots remain the primary destinations for the feeder cattle moving through the Manitoba yards, with about 10 per cent sticking around locally, according to market participants. There is talk that the strong feeder cattle market could remain that way for the next three years. Cow numbers have dropped significantly, both locally and in North America as a whole, which means it will take some time to bring those numbers back up, Nickel said. On the slaughter side, prices were steady to slightly higher, with all of the auction yards reporting good demand. It was a similar story in the butcher market as in feeders. Nickel said buyers are looking to stock up on cows now, as they know there won’t be that many on offer going forward. The strength in both the feeder and butcher cattle markets is not just a matter of localized supply-and-demand issues. Rather, the tight supply and strong demand scenario is playing out across North America and globally as well.

No E. coli risk with wheat DDGS Alberta Beef Producers reports that scientists from Alberta Agriculture, AAFC Lethbridge and private industry are studying the impact of wheat distillers grains on the shedding of E. coli 0157:H7. This research addresses concerns that feeding wheat dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) to feedlot cattle may increase the risk of E. coli 0157:H7. Cattle were fed finishing diets containing no DDGS, 22.5 per cent corn DDGS, or 22.5 per cent wheat DDGS. The research has found that diet did not affect the numbers of E. coli 0157:H7

USDA data also points to signs that herd reductions are slowing down and could be turning the corner back toward increases by 2013.

Lowest inventory

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released semi-annual cattle inventory data on Jan. 27 that was widely seen as supportive for cattle and beef values going forward. As of Jan. 1, 2012, the U.S. cattle herd was down two per cent compared to the previous year and, at 90.8 million head, represents the lowest inventory since 1952. A separate report from the University of Missouri put out during the week pointed to a four per cent increase in U.S. beef demand in 2011, the first such increase after the 2008 recession and three consecutive years of declines. However, the USDA data also points to signs that herd reductions are slowing down and could be turning the corner back toward increases by 2013. More heifers were being held back for replacement, which generally signals the start of herd expansions. Older ranchers continue to exit the industry altogether, and the young guys aren’t sticking around to take their place, Nickel said. However, with profitability returning to the cattle sector, he noted that those staying in the industry are looking to expand. In other outside news that may temper the upside in local cattle markets, the Canadian dollar moved back near parity with its U.S. counterpart during the week, which should continue to keep U.S. buyers out of the Canadian market. Feed grain prices were also showing a little firmness, which would cut into the profitability of livestock feeders. Phil Franz-Warkentin writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

shed in manure, surviving in manure, or found on cattle hides at the end of the feeding period.

Oak Lake bison ranch big winner at U.S. event Bison Spirit Ranch of Oak L a k e, M a n . s w e p t t h e Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion categories for bulls entered into the Gold Trophy Show a t t h e Na t i o n a l B i s o n Association annual conference in Denver, Colorado last month. High Country Bison of Austin Texas garnered the Grand Champion Female

award for a two-year-old bred heifer, and Wichita Buffalo Co., of Hinton, Oklahoma earned the Reserve Grand Champion trophy for a yearling heifer. The association reports strong prices for breeding stock this year. Two-yearold breeding bulls brought an average of $9,321 during the association’s Gold Trophy Sale, compared to the $6,650 average in 2011. Two-year-old bred heifers averaged $4,050, yearling heifers averaged $2,856, and heifer calves sold for an average of $1,475. The animals entered into the special ranch-ready pen of five yearling heifers sold for an average of $2,950 per animal.

Looking for results? Check out the market reports from livestock auctions around the province. » PaGe 36

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

GRAIN MARKETS column

Traders feel out ICE’s new wheat, barley contracts Speculators sit tight waiting for liquidity to build Dwayne Klassen CNSA

anola futures on the ICE Futures Canada trading platform posted small to modest advances during the week ended Jan. 27. Most of the buying interest was concentrated in the deferred values, where concerns about dry growing conditions during the spring and summer on the Prairies fuelled some of the strength. The strong export lineup at Canada’s West Coast, strong domestic crusher demand and spillover from the advances seen in CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) soybeans, helped to influence the price advances. The upswing in the value of the Canadian dollar, along with steady farmer deliveries of canola into the cash pipeline in Western Canada, restricted the upward price action. Overhead technical resistance was also evident and further capped the upside price potential. The new milling wheat, durum and barley contracts offered on the ICE Futures Canada platform saw some action, with much of the trade tied to the feeling out of where values should be among commercial accounts. Volumes were on the light side, but the process of building liquidity appeared to be underway.

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

Western barley futures on the ICE platform were little changed, although the May contract found some light commercial support. CBOT soybean values climbed significantly during the period ended Jan. 20. Suppor t was der ived from South American weather concerns and some spillover buying from the uptrend that surfaced in CBOT corn futures. Weakness in the U.S. dollar and firmness in the cash market contributed to some of the price strength. Fresh macroeconomic concerns helped to offset some of the price advances. The upside in soybeans was also restricted by ideas the weather situation in Brazil and Argentina was beginning to stabilize and that drier weather in the forecast will help to speed up the harvest of the s oy b e a n c ro p s t h e re. T h e c o n t i n u e d absence of export demand for old- and new-crop soybeans also limited the price gains. CBOT corn futures were higher, with the old-crop futures leading the upward price push. A lot of the support came from the belief among market participants that supplies of old-crop corn in the U.S. were a lot tighter than what the U.S. Department of Agriculture has forecast. With the anticipated supply tightness, export outlets have stepped up their

demand, which in turn took corn futures higher. Firmness in the cash market also generated support for corn. Overhead technical resistance capped some of the upward price potential in corn. Bouts of profit-taking also restricted some of the advances. Wheat futures at the CBOT and Kansas City and Minneapolis exchanges posted gains during the week, with some of the strength linked to reports that Russia’s grain export program will be scaled back, leaving some room for U.S. wheat to finally recapture a portion of the globe’s wheat market. The upward price action in CBOT corn also spilled over to provide support. The weakness in the U.S. dollar also allowed wheat to be better valued on the world market. The reduction of the large short positions that speculative and commodity funds had been holding in wheat was another key factor behind some of the price strength. However, the advances in the U.S. wheat market were tempered by the fact the world wheat supply situation is still extremely abundant. The new milling wheat, durum and barley contracts on the ICE Futures Canada platform began trading Jan. 23, with the October contract the first month offered. There was some playing around before the first trade was made, especially as the participants making the bids and offers sorted out their differences. Most of the action was commercial in nature, with speculators still sitting on the sidelines waiting for liquidity to build. Market players also had a lot of issues with the quote vendors as they tried to work out the kinks in the new contracts. There are ideas that demand for the new milling wheat, durum and barley contracts will pick up further. However, that activity was seen coming as more and more grain companies begin to forward-contract with producers in Western Canada. Some of the reluctance to trade the new commodities was also being linked to worries over pending court actions being taken by certain individuals regarding Bill C-18, the federal bill deregulating Prairie wheat and barley marketing. There was also talk this week about Russia imposing some form of restriction on its grain exports. The talk in the trade is that the export pace to date, and food security concerns for the upcoming 2012-13 season, will encourage the Russian government to curb the wheat export program. Whether or not Russian officials will actually move forward on this is anyone’s guess, but any kind of tariff tax or quota would have a friendly impact on the world wheat market. Market participants indicated that the flaw in the slowdown in the Russian wheat export program is that this is just part of the natural ebb and flow of movement. Russia’s wheat export pace, in years characterized by supply “surplus,” always flies out of the gate, pausing only if Ukrainian competition undercuts it, and ultimately slows when southern Russian winter wheat supplies tighten. The bottom line is that the market is talking about and perceiving a threat around Russian export policy. However, given that world wheat supply is not tight, and in the absence of any unexpected wheat demand, conventional wisdom will start to discount the bullishness of potential Russian export restrictions.

Export and International Prices Last Week

Week Ago

Year Ago

CWB export 1CW 13.5 St. Lawrence

384.15

374.16

462.70

US hard winter ord.Gulf ($US)

291.78

284.18

358.97

All prices close of business January 26, 2012. Wheat

EU French soft wheat ($US)

271.00

261.00

370.00

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

240.10

222.28

310.91

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

303.93

296.68

358.58

US corn Gulf ($US)

n/a

267.80

279.42

US barley (PNW) ($US)

n/a

287.00

204.00

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

240.10

240.75

256.20

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

195.01

184.31

252.88

449.24

432.98

514.18

1,145.28

1,127.86

1,265.58

Coarse Grains

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

Winnipeg Futures ICE Futures Canada prices at close of business January 27, 2012. Western barley

Last Week

Week Ago

March 2012

212.00

May 2012

216.00

215.00

July 2012

220.00

Canola

Last Week

Week Ago

March 2012

524.40

526.00

May 2012

531.30

529.30

July 2012

531.50

528.90

CWB Pool Forecasts January PRO 2011-12

December PRO 2011-12

Wheat No. 1 CWRS 13.5

307

344.96

305

No. 1 CWRS 12.5

271

317.73

271

302

337.13

299

No. 1 CWHWS 13.5

307

344.96

305

No. 1 CPSR

237

277.77

238

No. 1 CPSW

232

274.67

232

No. 1 CWRW

241

284.23

241

No. 1 CWES

277

314.96

275

No. 1 CWSWS

237

268.72

233

342

302.94

352

229

235.72

N/A

Sel CW Two-Row

313

265.74

314

Sel CW Six-Row

297

247.98

298

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

* No. 1 CW feed barley, Pool B 2011-12, as of January 19: $223.

Special Crops Report for January 30, 2012 — Bin run delivered plant Saskatchewan Spot Market

Spot Market

Lentils (Cdn. cents per pound)

Other ( Cdn. cents per pound unless otherwise specified)

Large Green 15/64

26.10 - 27.50

Canaryseed

Laird No. 1

26.00 - 27.50

Oil Sunflower Seed

Eston No. 2

23.00 - 27.50

Desi Chickpeas

24.75 - 26.75 — 26.10 - 27.50

Field Peas (Cdn. $ per bushel)

Beans (Cdn. cents per pound)

Green No. 1

8.30 - 9.25

Fababeans, large

—

Medium Yellow No. 1

7.90 - 8.40

Feed beans

—

Feed Peas (Cdn. $ per bushel)

No. 1 Navy/Pea Beans

—

Feed Pea (Rail)

No. 1 Great Northern

—

Mustardseed (Cdn. cents per pound)

No. 1 Cranberry Beans

—

Yellow No. 1

34.00 - 35.75

No. 1 Light Red Kidney

—

Brown No. 1

30.75 - 31.75

No. 1 Dark Red Kidney

—

Oriental No. 1

22.60 - 23.75

No. 1 Black Beans

—

No. 1 Pinto Beans

—

3.50 - 5.50

Source: Stat Publishing SUNFLOWERS

No. 1 Small Red

—

No. 1 Pink

—

Fargo, ND

Goodlands, KS

26.90

25.90

—

Report for January 27, 2012 in US$ cwt NuSun (oilseed)

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

Total Payments 2010-11

Confection Source: National Sunflower Association

Crop problems lead to options bets on $7-$8 corn U.S. corn plantings expected to surge but weather woes in Argentina are boosting price prospects By Sam Nelson CHICAGO / REUTERS

or the past month, investors who foresee a potential shortfall in U.S. corn production at a time of brisk demand have placed lowrisk bets that new-crop prices will surge 25 to 45 per cent by the end of this year. T h e y ’re b a n k i n g o n corn to surge back to the $7- or even $8-perbushel mark after it stumbled 25 per cent in late 2011 from a record of nearly $8 per bushel set last summer. The price of Chicago Board of Trade new-crop December corn futures i s c u r re n t l y j u s t ove r $5.50 per bushel, while o p e n i n t e re s t i n t h e C B OT De c e m b e r o u t of-the-money $7 corn calls has tripled since mid-December to over 20,000 contracts. The $8 calls have seen similar buying. “Funds are buying the $7 and $8 calls, which is an inexpensive and lowrisk way for them to bet on some kind of weather disaster or economic problem that would rally the corn market,” said Matt Pierce of GrainAnalyst.com. “The premium in $7 calls as of (last Tuesday) is 19 cents and only nine cents in the $8 calls, so they are a good buy.” So m e v e t e r a n t ra d ers said the cheap premium for the calls was probably a “no-brainer” for a hedge fund manager with lots of money. Tr a d e r s e x p e c t 2 0 1 2 promises to be another spirited battle between corn bulls and corn bears. T h e re a re f o re c a s t s for the U.S. corn supply to fall to its lowest in 16 years, which bulls find appealing. Harsh weather in Argentina, the world’s second-largest corn exporter after the U.S., has lent further support to the bullish case. Co r n b e ar s c ite the potential for a big U.S. corn crop this year i f f a r m e r s p l ant cor n fencerow to fencerow, as expected.

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

Grain revenue jumps for CP Rail’s Q4 Staff

A jump in revenue from slightly higher grain traffic in the last three months of 2011 helped bolster a beleaguered Canadian Pacific Railway in its fourth fiscal quarter (Q4). CP on Jan. 26 booked net income of $221 million on total revenues of $1.408 billion for its quarter ending Dec. 31, up from $186 million on $1.294 billion in the yearearlier period. During the quarter, Calgaryb a s e d C P m ov e d a b o u t 121,000 carloads of grain, up three per cent from 118,000 in the year-earlier Q4 — but it posted total grain revenue of $323 million, up eight per cent from $299 million in the previous Q4, for revenue per carload of $2,669, compared to $2,534 a year earlier. “During the fourth quarter we delivered record asset velocity, a direct link to better

CP’s grain revenues were up for the final quarter, but down three per cent for the year.

service, positioning us for a lower operating ratio,” CP CEO Fred Green said in a release. CP posted a slightly lower profit for the full year, booking $570 million in net income

on $5.177 billion in revenues, down from $651 million on $4.981 billion in fiscal 2010. CP’s total revenues from grain traffic were down three per cent for the year at $1.1

billion, compared to $1.135 billion in fiscal 2010. Grain carloads were down four per cent at 450,000, for revenue per carload of $2,444, up one per cent.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

“Buyer resistance” pressures durum Wheat prices seen strong short term, but under pressure for distant months

“There are shortterm reasons to be optimistic about the wheat market but, in general, wheat fundamentals paint a fairly negative picture.”

Staff

B:17.4” T:17.4”

alues for durum wheat have slipped furthest back in this month’s pool return outlook (PRO) f ro m t h e Ca n a d i a n W h e a t Board, thanks largely to “buyer resistance” against high durum prices. Durum values in the January 2011-12 PRO, released Jan. 26, are down $2-$11 per tonne from December levels, while other wheats vary from $5 per tonne higher to $3 lower. Feed barley values are flat, while m a l t i n g b a r l e y va l u e s a re down $1 per tonne from last month. Price prospects going forward for durum remain “weighed down, in part, by the ability of demand to hold out until early-season 201213 production comes online” in the second quarter of this year from producers such as Mexico, North Africa and the

CWB

Buyers are waiting until they see prospects for durum crops in North Africa and Arizona.

U.S. desert region, the CWB said.

Wheats

“There are short-term reasons to be optimistic about the wheat market but, in general,

wheat fundamentals paint a fairly negative picture,” the CWB said. Weather conditions in South America’s corn- and soybeangrowing areas have built some strength into the corn market,

PHOTO: CWB

which in turn directly affects the wheat market. As well, markets are beginning to take note of potential production in the Northern Hemisphere in 2012-13. “Legitimate concerns

S:17.4”

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Strengthening feed barley values in the Black Sea, European Union and Australia, along with “intermittent” demand from the Middle East, have led to a firming of international feed barley values in January, the CWB said. The global coarse grain situation is forecast to loosen in the next production cycle, however, pressuring feed values. No. 1 CW feed barley (Pool A) is flat at $229 per tonne ($4.99/bu.) in the latest PRO. International malting barley values have been “relatively flat” since the December PRO, the board said. Ma rk e t c o n d i t i o n s l e a ve Select CW two-row and sixrow malting barley both down $1 per tonne at $313 and $297 ($6.81 and $6.47/bu.) respectively. S:10”

re g a rd i n g U k r a i n e w i n t e r wheat conditions and western Canadian snowpack issues have provided the market with ammunition to build a ‘wheat’ story,” the board said. H o w e v e r, “ h i g h l i g h t i n g 2012-13 production potential returns the focus back to the fact that the world has irrefutably produced a record wheat crop in 2011-12.” The board said it has so far priced about 57 per cent of its expected 2011-12 crop year deliveries of wheat, and expects to have priced about 75 per cent by the end of March.

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Russian traders fear resumed export restrictions

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

NOT A TYPICAL JANUARY SCENE

An export ban was imposed last year due to shortages caused by a severe drought By Melissa Akin MOSCOW/REUTERS

rices for Russian export wheat jumped again last week as traders confronted bare elevators in Russia’s southern export regions and hesitated to buy grain inland for export, fearing export duties could be imposed and stop it leaving Russia. Traders and analysts believe Russia’s government, which has said Russia should export no more than 23 million to 25 million tonnes of grain during this crop year, could consider imposing protective duties from April, when exports are likely to hit that level. Exports for the 2011-12 crop year were expected to hit 20 million tonnes by the end of January. “The market is actively discussing the possibility that export restrictions could be imposed, starting from April, linking them with the record pace,” SovEcon analysts wrote. “There have been no official comments on this topic. We do not exclude that they could appear in the near future.” In Russia’s main deepwater export ports on the Black Sea, prices for wheat with 11.5 per cent protein content rose to $265 per tonne from $259 per tonne, while wheat with 12.5 per cent protein content rose to $271 from $265, the Institute for Agricultural Market Studies (IKAR) said. Prices for grain delivered to port were heard in the region of $260 to $270, an increase of as much as $10 from the previous week. “Some exporters are at perpetual short-covering,” IKAR said. Traders were reluctant to offer wheat for April lifting for fear of falling foul of a possible duty regime, mooted as a possible means of preserving domestic supply before Russia lifted an export ban on July 1, 2011. The ban had been imposed in August 2010 to combat potential shortages after a catastrophic drought. “That is why there are almost no export contracts fixing for April, and consequently, there are no relevant originations in deep continental Russia regions, such as Urals and Western Siberia.” Overall stock levels, excluding those at small farms, stood at 42.5 million tonnes, up 13 per cent, reflecting a resurgence in agricultural production, State Statistics Service (Rosstat) data obtained by Reuters showed. But in the Southern Federal District, a main producing and exporting region which was comparatively unhurt by the drought and ended the 20102011 crop year with its elevators overflowing, stocks were down 17 per cent at 7.6 million tonnes.

At the end of last week there was virtually no snow in these fields near St. Leon.

PHOTO: JEANNETTE GREAVES.

Q: What are my options now? Q: Should I be planning already? Q: What does this mean for me? Q: Will marketing wheat be just like marketing canola? Q: Who’s going to help me through this process? Q: Is August 2012 the real end date? Q: How will I manage the transition? Q: Where can I voice my opinion? Q: Does my opinion count? Q: Who can I call if I have questions? Q: Can I survive in a competitive market? Q: How will I sell my wheat? Q: How will I sell my barley? Q: What role will the ICE Futures play? Q: What will happen with the foreign exchange? Q: How will premiums and discounts be applied to my wheat? Q: What will happen to the Canadian Grain Commission? Q: What is the new base grade? Q: Am I going to need more storage? Q: How is rail transportation going to work? Q: How can I access the US price? Q: Will the quality of my wheat continue to be controlled? Q: How will I know the quality of the wheat, durum or barley I’m delivering? Q: Who will my wheat be sold to? Q: Will the CWB still be a valid option for selling my barley and wheat? Q: How am I going to move my grain? Q: What is a good basis? Q: Am I expected to know about international trade? Q: Will everyone else know more than I do? Q: How long will this process take? Q: Are grain companies going to build more storage? Q: How will this impact price? Q: Who can I trust?

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

Tracking microclimates could help feed the world The world needs to boost food production to meet demand By Rinat Harash and Ari Rabinovitch JERUSALEM / REUTERS

cientists in Israel have developed a way of using satellite images to help farmers detect small-scale changes in climate and improve their harvests, a method that could bolster food supplies for an increasingly hungry world population. Rather than analyze the weather and topography of large swathes of land, the new system divides fields into smaller microclimates that guide farmers on the best way to work each individual plot.

It tells them when it is best to plant seeds, when to spray pesticides and even which crop is most suitable for each squarekilometre field, said Uri Dayan, a climatologist from Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Since the method was published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society in September, Dayan and codeveloper Itamar Lensky have been working to develop it into a global interface that will help farmers on any continent. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said that global food output must increase by 70 per cent by 2050 to meet the needs of an expected 9.1 billion people. Crops are very sensitive to their environment and even the slightest changes can ruin a harvest. Factors like pests, patho-

gens and weeds cause the loss of more than 40 per cent of the world’s food supply, the FAO says. Even two adjacent fields that appear identical could contain individual microclimates which require separate attention to maximize production, Dayan said. Lensky, who heads the remote sensing laboratory at Bar Ilan University near Tel Aviv, said their system uses real-time thermal images made available from NASA and then analyses the surface temperature of each plot at a fine scale. “Once we understand how nature works, we pack it into an algorithm, and the results of this algorithm we can give to the farmers,” he said. In one application, their system mapped a patch of

BRIEFS

land that it forecast would be attacked — and when — by the harmful heliothis, a moth that causes billions of dollars of damage to global agriculture each year. This knowledge allows a more effective use of pesticides. Once the scientists find a partner for development, a global interface to guide farmers could be up and running in a couple of years. The system will improve as satellite pictures are taken with higher resolution, they said. Gideon Yisrael, who has worked the fields of central Israel for 40 years, called the development a game changer. “It will provide farmers with a good measurement for making good decisions and hopefully bring them more success and more harvest,” he said.

MacDon to manufacture windrowers for John Deere STAFF / Winnipeg-based machinery farm equipment maker MacDon Industries will be the manufacturer for several lines of self-propelled windrowers and mower conditioners to be sold worldwide under John Deere paint. U.S.-based ag and heavy equipment giant Deere and Co. announced a “strategic agreement” Jan. 27 with Winnipeg-based MacDon, allowing Deere to expand its hay and forage product portfolio globally. More details about the availability of products coming out of this agreement will be announced later this summer, the two companies said in a release. “After an in-depth evaluation of the global commercial hay and small grains industries, we determined that specific MacDon self-propelled windrower products would most effectively enable us to serve our customers and expand our overall product lineup,” William Norton, Deere’s vice-president for hay and forage equipment, said in the same release. The deal, he said, will allow Deere to expand its product line and “better serve our dairy, livestock, commercial hay, and small-grains customers.” The deal calls for MacDon to manufacture select models of John Deere-branded self-propelled windrowers, including draper and auger headers, and pull-type auger mower conditioners. John Deere will also continue to manufacture select models of its own, the company said. MacDon — which began in 1949 as ag equipment maker Killbery Industries before it was bought by the MacDonald family in 1971 — maintains a major manufacturing plant in Winnipeg as well as facilities in the U.S., Australia and Russia. It has a network of over 700 dealers in those countries and Canada, and distributes to over 30 other countries.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

WEATHER VANE

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T H E M O R E C L O U D T Y P E S P R E S E N T, T H E G R E A T E R T H E C H A N C E O F R A I N O R S N O W.

Expect conditions mild to start, then cooler Issued: Monday, January 30, 2012 · Covering: February 1 – February 7, 2012 Daniel Bezte Co-operator contributor

think the first thing I need to point out is that the usual temperature range for this time of the year is now getting warmer, which means we are past the middle of winter and heading toward spring! That is pretty much how this forecast looks. It doesn’t look like the overall pattern we’ve been in this winter will change much during this forecast period, as the models show plenty of mild air and little in the way of precipitation, be it snow or rain. As has been the issue with nearly all of the forecasts this winter, it is not what type of weather we will see, but rather, just how extreme it will be and how the timing of these systems will work out. Currently the weather models show a ridge of high pressure building over the western U.S. and southern Canada, slowly sliding east during the first half of this forecast period. This will result in continued

w a r m t e m p e r a t u re s r i g h t through the weekend, which is not only well above the long-term average, but well beyond the usual temperature range. For next week, the models show the western ridge of high pressure re-establishing itself while a strong area of low pressure stalls out over northeastern Canada. This will place us in a northwesterly flow and, depending on the exact position of these two features, we will likely see cooler temperatures as colder air backs in from the northeast. The coldest temperatures will be seen in northern and eastern sections, while the s outhwest will be t he warmest. By Wednesday we should expect to see highs in and around the -10 C range, with overnight lows around -20 C. Usual temperature range for this period: highs, -21 to -5 C; lows, -32 to -14 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 issue’s map shows the snow cover across the Prairies as of Jan. 29. This map is created by Environment Canada, but I do a fair bit of work cleaning up the map to make it easier to read. Because of this, the map should only be taken as giving approximate amounts of snow, because snowfall can vary greatly over short distances. If not for the heavy snow cover over northern regions, this map reminds me more of what we would typically see in late November. It’s easy to see from the snow cover where the warm air has been so far this winter, along with how the main storm track has been from the far northwest to the southeast.

Semi-permanent highs and lows The Icelandic low and Azores high undergo seasonal changes in intensity and position By Daniel Bezte CO-OPERATOR CONTRIBUTOR

y the time you read this ar ticle it will already be Febr uar y and you will probably be expecting the usual monthly weather summar y and looking forward to seeing what the longrange forecasts call for in the next month. Unfortunately, because I write these articles in advance to meet publishing deadlines, the long-range outlook will have to wait until next week. Instead, this week I am going to try and tackle a subject on which I’ve received the most questions over the last couple of weeks, and that is just why there are semi-permanent areas of low pressure around Iceland and semi-permanent areas of high pressure over the Azores region of the Atlantic Ocean. For much of this winter, the talk across the Prairies — at least most of the agricultural part — has been about the record-warm temperatures (hint for next week’s article). The explanation for these warm temperatures has centred on a weather pattern known as the Arctic Oscillation and its close cousin, the North Atlantic Oscillation. Early in January I wrote an article that

discussed how these oscillating pressure patterns over the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean can impact the weather over our region of the world. Now the question I am getting is, why are these particular patterns in place to begin with? Hopefully I will have enough room to fully discuss this topic this week, as it is a fairly broad topic. Several years ago I wrote a series of articles discussing the hows and whys of the Earth’s general atmospheric circulation patterns, so now it’s time to see how good your memory is!

The single cell

The fundamental driving force behind Earth’s weather is the fact that the equatorial regions receive an excess amount of energy (heat) while the polar regions have an energy deficit (more energy goes out than comes in). The second thing we have to keep in mind is that in general, warm air rises and cold air sinks. Now, if we put these two points together, we’ll see that all the extra heat around the equator wants to rise up and all the cold air around the poles wants to sink. Now, in your mind’s eye you can picture the cold air sinking at the poles. It hits the

ground and the only direction it can flow is toward the equator. At the same time, the warm air at the equator is rising up and then hitting the top of the troposphere (the part of the atmosphere w h e re a l m o s t a l l w e a t h e r takes place). When this warm air hits this point (known as the tropopause) it can’t rise any farther, so now it has to spread out horizontally. This means that the only direction it can flow is toward the poles.

begins to curve, primarily due to the conservation of angular momentum. By the time this air reaches about 20-30 degrees latitude, it is flowing from west to east. With more air continuing to rise up and move into this region, the air begins to pile up and the only place for it to go is downward. Since downward-moving air creates regions of high pressure, this creates a band of h i g h p re s s u re a ro u n d t h e Earth at these latitudes.

All the extra heat around the equator wants to rise up and all the cold air around the poles wants to sink.

We now have a simple circulation pattern where warm air rises at the equator and then flows toward the poles, while cold air sinks at the poles and flows toward the equator. This is known as the single cell model of the atmosphere. If only it were this simple! The trouble with this model is that the Earth rotates and this creates all sorts of problems. The rising air at the tropics, flowing toward the poles,

The same thing happens with the air at the poles moving toward the equator. As it travels toward the equator, it is curved, and ends up flowing from east to west. This curvature takes place near 60 degrees latitude. Again, air flowing toward the equator will pile up in this region, but now the only place for it to go is upward, and upward movement of air is associated with areas of low pressure. This

gives us a region of low pressure circling the globe around this latitude. So we now have an equatorial cell of low pressure and rising air at the equator, sinking air and high pressure around 20-30 degrees latitude, and another region of sinking air and high pressure at the poles, with rising air and low pressure around 60 degrees latitude. This now gives us a basic u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f w h y we have what is known as a semipermanent area of low pressure known as the Icelandic low, and the semi-permanent Azores high. The reason they are called “semi-permanent” is that they undergo seasonal changes in both intensity and position. The position and strength of these features is controlled by the amount of energy entering and exiting each part of the system we have described. If a change occurs to one part of this system, it will have an effect on the whole system — and it gets even more complicated. Heck, we haven’t even talked about the area in between these two cells, namely the areas between 30 degrees and 60 degrees, which just happens to be our own neck of the woods. See? I knew I would run out of space.

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

CROPS

By Daniel Winters CO-OPERATOR STAFF / BRANDON

sing low rates of phosphorus fertilizer is good for the environment and the farmer’s bottom line. But cutting corners too much can affect yields and impact l o n g - t e r m s o i l f e r t i l i t y, s a i d John Heard, a soil fertility specialist with the crops branch of Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives. “There’s really only four rates of phosphorus application: zero, starter rate, crop-removal rate, and buildup,” Heard said in a presentation at Ag Days. The total amount of naturally occurring phosphorus in the root zone could range from 400 to 2,000 pounds per acre. But about 99 per cent of that is insoluble — combined with calcium, magnesium, iron or

aluminum; or not in a form that plants can use. At any one time, only one to two pounds of P per acre are readily available to the crop. Topping it up to ensure good yields is good agronomy. “An active crop can use up all the phosphorus that’s available in the soil two times per day,” he said. “So, it’s very important that soil-test reserves of readily available phosphorus meter out at a rate that meets crop demand.” Replenishment ability is the figure captured in a soil test for P205, the plant-available kind that also comes in trucks or bags from fertilizer dealers.

Manure boosts P

To monitor soil fertility, about 40,000 samples are taken around the province every five years by the International Plant Nutrition Institute. In 2010, 57 per cent of

FILE PHOTO

the samples in Manitoba were found to be low or very low. Similar tests done in 1990 found only a quarter of soils were very low in phosphorus. But after 2005, soils in some areas began testing very high, especially where farmers had access to large quantities of manure. From eight to 15 parts per million of P205 is the “sweet spot” in terms of the environment and agronomy. At the medium to high test range, a farmer has more flexibility because when fertilizer prices are high, corners can be cut over the short term. When prices soared during the past three to five years, many Manitoba farmers did exactly that. Statistics show that more P was exported in the form of grains than was applied. But falling behind on P soil reserves puts the farmer at the mercy of fertilizer prices that fluctuate from year to year, because bumping up the soil test by one part per million requires an application of 20 to 40 pounds per acre. “If you keep the soil down, I guess that means you think that phosphorus prices are going to be cheaper in the future,” said Heard. “But I’m kind of a ‘pay-as-yougo’ person. You may as well pay with the productivity you have now rather than future productivity.” Good fertility management is based on four principles: source, rate, time, and place.

“Pop-up” effect

MAFRI soil fertility specialist John Heard gives a presentation on low-rate/low-analysis fertilizer use at Ag Days. PHOTO: DANIEL WINTERS

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There’s a reason why most new seeding rigs are designed to place fertilizer near the seed in the seed row, with the goal of achieving the “pop-up” effect on seedlings while minimizing fertilizer costs. “You get the same yield response

with about 25 pounds of seedplaced phosphorus as what you get with 50 pounds broadcast and incorporated,” said Heard. Starter P can supply the “pop” but still fall short of crop removal rates. Using more in the seed row makes seed toxicity a concern, particularly with canola, although less so with wheat. A rate of 20 pounds per acre of starter P placed in the seed row with canola would only match crop removal rates for a 20-bushel-peracre crop. Using more to put the amount in line with actual yields would jeopardize seed safety due to the ammonium that is usually included with starter fertilizer types. “It doesn’t mean that yield stops at 20 pounds of phosphorus, it just means that you’ve got to put it on in some other way,” said Heard. How to determine actual application rates in the real world? One technique, which works with both liquid and granular types, is to lay down a tarp and drive over it with the seeder running and then look at the result. Standing still, the liquid fertilizer appears to be pouring out at a steady stream. But at seeding speed of five to eight miles per hour, it should be distributed one drop at a time. At a rate of 15 pounds of P per acre, there should be a space of about 3.5 inches between drops. “With crops like canola, for every bushel that you remove and take to the Cargill elevator, you are also hauling them back one pound of phosphorus fertilizer that you bought from them six months earlier,” said Heard.

proving ground.

Fertility specialist John Heard suggests laying down a tarp to check actual fertilization rates.

The

But using just starter rates will shortchange soil reserves over the long haul

Aiming for the “sweet spot” with phosphorus

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

Analyst says another price surge unlikely Canola prices still profitable as biofuels and retail investment spark a shift in canola price paradigms By Shannon VanRaes co-operator staff / brandon

n economic storm overseas has resulted in a few waves hitting Canadian shores, leaving canola markets slightly dampened by volatility and uncertainty. The European debt crisis, along with a weak American economy, has affected canola markets, ProFarmer Canada’s Mike Jubinville told farmers attending Ag Days. “Certainly this has always been and will continue to be an important contributor to determining price direction for all commodities, canola in particular,” said Jubinville. And the global economy isn’t going to perk up overnight, he said. “Right now it still seems we’re caught in this sluggish marcoeconomic environment,” the analyst said. “I think the global economy is still trying to find its legs.” This will likely prevent any explosive rally in canola prices, said Jubinville, adding that means there’s no reason to hold on to old-crop canola. “I’ve decided to make aggressive sales on old crop this year,” he said. For new-crop, fall-delivered cash prices, Jubinville predicted farmers will see around $10.70 to $10.90 per bushel. “From a historical perspective, $11 is a pretty reasonable price, and I think it’s a price level that makes money,” he said. “So would I talk anyone out of starting a graduated process of marketing new crop with an $11 starting point? No, I wouldn’t.”

“The retail investor, the you-and-me people, through these massive pooled funds, speculative funds, hedge funds, ETFs, have allowed retail investors to participate in commodity markets to a level that never happened before.” Mike Jubinville

retail investor, the you-and-me people, through these massive pooled funds, speculative funds, hedge funds, ETFs, have allowed retail investors to participate in commodity markets to a level that never happened before.” shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

ProFarmer Canada president Mike Jubinville (r) speaks to a canola producer at Ag Days.

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Old highs are new lows

Canola pricing has seen a paradigm shift in recent years, in which old highs have become the new lows, he said. “Canola futures had traded for the last 25 years or so in the range of maybe $250 to $275 a tonne to as high as $400, $450,” he said. “But then, once every generation, we seem to have one of these massive paradigm shifts. The last shift was in the 1970s, when we had a big shift with the highs and lows in the market making a leap higher. I think that is what has happened in this environment.” But Jubinville said he’s not expecting another price surge anytime soon and said he expects canola prices to be between $10 and $12 per bushel for the foreseeable future. The analyst also wondered how long canola oil will command a premium price. “We can only operate at a premium for so long before a substitution effect starts to take place,” he said. “Canola competes with other vegetable oils and oilseeds, so ups and downs in those markets affect us as well.” Recent shifts in canola pricing are linked in to increased demand for biofuels and changes in investment practices, he said. Canola futures aren’t just for producers any longer, and more and more investors are looking to agriculture as a safe haven of investment and it is having an impact on prices. “We’ve... had the speculative interest that has entered the commodity market field to a degree that has never happened before,” Jubinville said. “The

Photo: Shannon VanRaes

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

Port group to close as CWB monopoly ends Analysts worry that information on vessel arrivals will no longer be available By Rod Nickel winnipeg/reuters

he 103-year-old organization that co-ordinates shipments through Canada’s two biggest grainshipping ports is winding down, saying it may not be needed once the Canadian Wheat Board loses its monopoly. The Winnipeg-based Canadian Ports Clearance Association (CPCA) will cease operations this summer on Aug. 31, one month after the wheat board loses control over Western Canada’s wheat and barley sales. The association, which has eight employees, co-ordinates the transfer of western grain from port terminals into vessels, and also sends daily notices to subscribers of ship lineups at Port Metro Vancouver, B.C. and Port of Thunder Bay, Ont.

The role was deemed necessary under the monopoly system because the CWB, while responsible for Prairie wheat and barley sales, does not own grain terminals or vessels. Even so, the organization has its start in 1909, decades before the CWB formed. The biggest Canadian grain handlers including Viterra, Richardson International and Cargill own much of the grain movement pipeline — from country elevators to port terminals — leaving the CPCA’s role less critical than it may have been during the monopoly era. “When it’s (direct) sales and I’m buying from you, I don’t know if we need a party in between us to tell me where to put my boat in,” said Doug Hilderman, president of the non-profit association, which is controlled by grain shippers

and shipowners. “The core function they’ve had is essentially irrelevant now.” In any case, the CWB started arranging shipments directly with vessel owners a couple of years ago anyway, which weakened CPCA’s role, Hilderman said. A CWB spokeswoman declined to comment. Once the association winds d ow n , t h e m ov e m e n t o f Canadian grain will become less transparent without CPCA’s daily freight reports, Hilderman said, adding that no organization has stepped up to replace that function. Ultimately, there may be a need to recreate the CPCA, he said, adding he’s disappointed the storied association couldn’t continue. Agricultural traders and analysts, especially those who do not work directly for grain exporters, may be especially

So far, all export wheat and barley is owned by the wheat board and vessels are directed to wherever it’s available. After Aug. 1, they will go to the terminal designated by the seller.

hard pressed to track export demand for crops and factors that may be influencing cash and futures prices. “Vessel lineups for Thunder Bay and Vancouver are very

important parts of what I do,” said Chuck Penner, analyst at LeftField Commodity Research in Winnipeg. “Knowing what’s coming and going helps explain what’s going on in the markets.”

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Richardson buys independent terminal in Alberta

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staff / Canada’s secondbiggest grain handler has made another play to expand its handle in northwestern Alberta’s Peace region, this time buying from an independent player. Richardson International announced Wednesday it will buy the Great Northern Grain terminal and crop input business at Nampa, Alta., about 26 km south of Peace River, for an undisclosed sum. Edmonton-based Great Northern Grain, which also operates producer car loading services plus a smaller grain terminal at Killam, Alta., recently finished an expansion at Nampa, adding 2,500 tonnes of storage capacity, a new grain-cleaning building and new cleaning equipment. Richardson also pledged to start work this spring on an additional expansion at Nampa, boosting the terminal’s storage capacity by 14,000 tonnes and increasing the rail car spot to handle 104-carunit trains. It will also add retail fertilizer services. Richardson noted this deal marks its fourth acquisition in the Peace in the last two years, including the purchase of crop input centres at Falher, Fairview and Manning in 2010 and near-complete construction of a 20,000-tonne fertilizer storage shed with rail receiving at its Dunvegan facility at Rycroft.

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BASF asks growers for three-year commitment on lentils

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

BIRDS, SCHMIRDS

Growers need to submit only their Clearfield lentil acreage annually Staff

n a revamp it says will simplify the process for Prairie farmers, BASF Canada has moved to a three-year “Clearfield commitment” producers will need to sign to grow Clearfield lentils starting this year. The new commitment, announced Jan. 26, essentially requires a grower wanting to seed Clearfield lentils to complete and sign a Clearfield commitment for lentils, which will remain in effect to the end of the 2014 growing season. Once they have signed their commitment, growers need to submit only their Clearfield lentil acreage on an annual basis. Growers can complete the form for their commitment at their local herbicide retailer, through their Clearfield lentil seed dealer or online through the company’s Secure Grower website. Growers must also agree to “Clearfield-confirm” test all seed used in the production system for lentils, thereby ensuring the seed meets the required herbicide tolerances. The testing is done free of charge. “BASF Canada is committed to ensuring the Clearfield production system continues to be the best way to grow lentils,” Danielle Reid, the company’s associate market manager, said in a release. “Part of that commitment includes responding to growers who’ve asked us to simplify the process involved with growing them.” By signing the agreement, g r ow e r s w i l l h a v e g re a t e r a c c e s s t o t h e A g So l u t i o n s rebate program, as well as product support from BASF Canada, the company said.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

Study determines effect of global warming on wheat yields Temperatures above 34 C accelerate “senescence” or aging of the wheat plant By David Fogarty SINGAPORE/REUTERS

xtreme heat can cause wheat crops to age faster and reduce yields, a U.S.led study shows, underscoring the challenge of feeding a rapidly growing population as the world warms.

“What’s new here is better understanding of one particular mechanism that causes heat to hurt yields.” DAVID LOBELL

Wheat is the world’s second most produced crop after corn.

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Scientists and farmers have long known that high heat can hurt some crops and the Stanford University-led study, released on Jan. 30, revealed how the damage is done by tracking rates of wheat aging, or senescence. Depending on the sowing date, the grain losses from rapid senescence could reach up to 20 per cent, the scientists found in the study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change. Lead author David Lobell and his colleagues studied nine years of satellite measurements of wheat growth from northern India, tracking the impact of exposure to temperatures greater than 34 C to measure rates of senescence. They detected a significant acceleration of aging that reduced the grain-filling period. The onset of senescence imposes a limit on the time for the plant to fill the grain head. “What’s new here is better understanding of one particular mechanism that causes heat to hurt yields,” Lobell told Reuters in an email. He said that while there had been some experiments showing accelerated aging above 34 C, relatively few studies considered temperatures this high. “We decided to see if these senescence effects are actually occurring in farmers’ fields, and if so whether they are big enough to matter. On both counts, the answer is yes.” Climate scientists say that episodes of extreme heat are becoming more frequent and more prevalent across the globe, presenting huge challenges for growing crops. Wheat is the second most produced crop in the world after corn and the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization says global food production must increase by 70 per cent by 2050 to feed a larger, more urban and affluent population.

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Lobell said his team’s findings could help refine steps to adapt crops and growing times as the planet warms. “Heat-tolerant varieties will be key. Whether this means faster growing in order to escape extreme heat, more capable of coping with extreme heat, or a combination of both is hard to say,” he said. “One challenge with sowing earlier is that there is a summer crop, usually rice, which has to be harvested before wheat is sown. That is why in many places wheat is actually sown well after the optimum window climatically.” Lobell said extreme heat wasn’t the only reason for lower yields. “But in hot places it is important enough to be among the top few reasons for why heat hurts,” he added. A 2010 study by scientists in Australia found wheat output fell by up to half during a growing season where temperatures were 2 C higher than average, with much of the losses caused by temperatures above 34 C.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

DONATION FUNDS FARMERS WITH DISABILITIES (RENOVATIONS)

BRIEF

Weaker sun will not delay global warming Sun’s output is likely to decline up until 2100

Theresa Barylski, (centre) relationship manager for Farm Credit Canada in Carman presents Manitoba Farmers with Disabilities president Jill Stafford and co-ordinator Neil Enns with a cheque for $11,000 awarded through the FCC AgriSpirit Fund, plus a second cheque for $750 from the FCC Carman Office. The funding will go towards renovations of the new MFWD Health and Safety Centre in Elm Creek. PHOTO: LORRAINE STEVENSON

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LONDON / REUTERS / A weaker sun over the next 90 years is not likely to significantly delay a rise in global temperature caused by greenhouse gases, a report said Jan. 23. The study, by Britain’s Meteorological Office and the University of Reading, found that the sun’s output would decrease up until 2100 but this would only lead to a fall in global temperatures of 0.08 C. Scientists have warned that more extreme weather is likely across the globe this century as the Earth’s climate warms. The world is expected to heat up by over 2 C this century due to increased greenhouse gas emissions. Current global pledges to cut carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions are not seen as sufficient to stop the planet heating up beyond 2°, a threshold scientists say risks an unstable climate in which weather extremes are common. “This research shows that the most likely change in the sun’s output will not have a big impact on global temperatures or do much to slow the warming we expect from greenhouse gases,” said Gareth Jones, climate change detection scientist at the Met Office. “It’s important to note this study is based on a single climate model, rather than multiple models which would capture more of the uncertainties in the climate system,” he added. During the 20th century, solar activity increased to a maximum level and recent studies have suggested this level of activity has reached, or is nearing, an end. The scientists used this maximum level as a starting point to project possible changes in the sun’s activity over this century. The study also showed that if the sun’s output went below a threshold reached between 1645 and 1715 — called the Maunder Minimum when solar activity was at its lowest observed level — global temperature would fall by 0.13 C. “The most likely scenario is that we’ll see an overall reduction of the sun’s activity compared to the 20th century, such that solar outputs drop to the values of the Dalton Minimum (around 1820),” said Mike Lockwood, solar studies expert at the University of Reading. “The probability of activity dropping as low as the Maunder Minimum — or indeed returning to the high activity of the 20th century — is about eight per cent.”

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

COLUMN

Cattle prices start 2012 at a new historical high “Rectangle pattern” provided a clue as to the breakout in cattle futures David Drozd Market Outlook

Market psychology

Since the rectangle basically outlines a trading range, the buying and selling which comprises this pattern denotes support and resistance levels within the current price trend. The upper horizontal boundary begins to form due to profit-taking by longs, which turns prices lower. This decline in turn attracts bargain hunters. The lower boundary represents a line of support where the demand, or buying of contracts, exceeds the supply. Similarly, the upper boundary represents a line of resistance where the supply of contracts for sale exceeds the demand, or buying of contracts. Between these two extremes the market is in equilibrium, with neither buyers nor sellers able to gain a lasting advantage. Prices remain trendless for a time until either the buying at the upper boundary exceeds the selling, or the selling at the lower boundary exceeds the buying. When either occurs, the scales are tipped and prices break out of the formation.

When a rectangle develops in an uptrending market, one should realize that a breakout through the upper boundary not only cleans out the supply of contracts which had previously halted the advance, but it puts all shorts into a losing position. Similarly, in a downtrend, when prices break through the lower boundary of this formation, all longs are placed on the defensive. To understand where on a chart, that the anxiety level of shorts or longs increases is very useful, for it is shortly thereafter that their contracts become fuel for the fire. A short-covering rally will drive prices higher, following a breakout to the upside. In the same way, a long liquidation break drives prices lower, when prices break below the lower boundary.

When chart formations form on a longer-term chart, like this monthly nearby feeder cattle futures chart, they take on a higher degree of reliability than on a shorter-term chart. This is extremely useful for providing ranchers, farmers and traders alike, with a reliable longterm perspective on price direction. Send your questions or comments about this article and chart to info@agchieve.ca. David Drozd is president and senior market analyst for Winnipeg-based Ag-Chieve Corporation. The opinions expressed are those of the writer and are solely intended to assist readers with a better understanding of technical analysis. Visit Ag-Chieve online at www.ag-chieve.ca for information about grain-marketing advisory services, or call us toll free at 1-888-274-3138 for a free consultation.

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ive cattle and feeder cattle rallied to a new historical high last week. In reaching $150, feeder cattle prices achieved a technical measurement derived from a rectangle pattern. Rectangles, or box formations as they are sometimes called, are found frequently on futures price charts. Most of the time, they are continuation, or sideways consolidation patterns, in which prices will pause for a duration of time without making progress. As illustrated in the accompanying chart, a rectangle formation consists of a trading range which is bounded on both the top and bottom by horizontal lines. Within this sideways range, the price fluctuations must form at least two tops and bottoms. The pattern reaches completion when the price exceeds either the upper or lower boundary. The completion of this rectangular pattern as seen on the chart became evident when prices exceeded an area of resistance at $120 in December 2010. A breakout of the sideways pattern is denoted as “A” in the accompanying chart. A minimum objective is derived from taking the measurement of the height of the rectangular pattern and adding it to the breakout point, which in this case, is the horizontal line of resistance at $120. In this example, feeder cattle had been trading in a $30 range between an area of support at $90 and a level of resist-

ance at $120. By adding $30 to $120, the technical measurement gave ranchers and traders an objective of $150, which came to fruition 13 months later. The breakout from a rectangle is considered to be highly reliable as a forecasting tool. A minimum measurement is determined by the vertical distance of the rectangle projected at the point of breakout. It is common for prices to exceed the formation’s boundary only to return to the pattern before moving in the direction of the original breakout.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

Edible bean acres set to double

Carry-over will still be tight due to last year’s poor crop By Phil Franz-Warkentin Commodity News Service Canada

dible beans are shaping up to be a popular crop to plant in southern Manitoba this spring, with bean area set to rebound off of 2011’s very small acreage. Market analyst Darren Frank, of FarmLink Marketing Solutions, said that of all the new-crop options in southern Manitoba, edible beans might be seeing the most interest. Beans “are sure the leader

right now,” said Frank, noting that new-crop pricing options are very strong for beans. “Right now (edible beans) are pencilling in as a ver y profitable option,” said Ivan Sabourin, of Roy Legumex Inc. in St. Jean Baptiste, noting that acres are expected to nearly double the 2011 level. Manitoba farmers planted only 51,000 acres of edible beans in 2011, well below the 146,000 planted the previous year. Growers in the northern U.S. also saw a sharp reduc-

We’ll clean the bins out this year across North America.” Historically strong prices are expected to encourage area back into 1/10/12 3:11 PM Page 1 edible beans.

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tion in acres, leading to a very tight North American supply situation. Sa b o u r i n s a i d t h e m a i n pinto, black, and navy bean varieties will all see acreage i n c rea ses i n 2 0 1 2 , a s h i storically strong prices will encourage area back into the crop. Even if acres do double across Nor th Amer ica, Sabourin said the carry-over for the 2012-13 crop is still expected to be the second tightest ever, after the current 2011-12 marketing year. Spot edible bean prices in Manitoba can be found in the 50-cents-per-pound area for the most part, said Sabourin. New-crop bids are generally at a discount, with new-crop contracting for pinto, black, and navy beans coming in at around 40 cents per pound. The more exotic varieties are attracting bids as high as 50 cents per pound. “We’ll clean the bins out this year across North America,” said Sabourin, noting that he’d never seen a carry-out as small as what’s projected this year. With the carry-over expected to be near zero, that will make weather conditions during the 2012 growing season very important in moving the spot prices, said Sabourin noting that it will likely take a couple more years before beans are back in an oversupply situation.

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staff / New Brunswick is ordering people at over a dozen locations in the province to either slaughter or ship out captive whitetailed deer they’re alleged to be keeping on their premises. The only option available for individuals keeping such deer is to harvest the animals for personal use or to ship them to another jurisdiction where captivity is allowed, the province said. That can only be done with CFIA approval. The operators have been told not to release captive white-tailed deer into the wild, due to the risk of spreading disease to wildlife. The province’s order follows the death last Oct. 9 of a 55-year-old man at St-Leonard, about 40 km southeast of Edmundston. He had gone into a fenced field near his home to tend to a herd of deer. It’s believed the man had been attacked by a dominant male deer in the herd, RCMP said.

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

Mr. Bean comes to Winnipeg

As part of their efforts to attract attention to the health value of pulse crops, scientists at the Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine (CCARM) at St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre in Winnipeg asked for help from their Communications and Media Services to make a portrait of British actor Rowan Atkinson’s character “Mr. Bean” — from beans. Atkinson’s management company approved use of the image, and asked for permission to add it to their Facebook page. A video on the image and promoting the health benefits of beans is at ccarm.ca.

NEWS

Chinese premier favours modernization over grain imports BEIJING / REUTERS / China must push forward with modernizing agricultural technology as it faces increasing difficulty in meeting local food demand, Premier Wen Jiabao said in a recent essay. “The fundamental way out is to enhance the construction of modern agriculture to boost the complex agricultural productivity continuously,” Wen said in an essay released by the Communist Party’s influential magazine Qiushi, or Seeking Truth. The essay said the country must “give agricultural technology a more prominent status.” The agricultural sector faces challenges because of a shortage of land and water resources, rising production costs, labour issues, and pollution, Wen said. China will promote agricultural technology innovation, seed cultivation, mechanization, and further increase subsidies in the sector, especially for grain production, Wen added. Grain imports “must be put under control,” he said. The central government estimates that China’s national grain consumption will go beyond 572.5 million tonnes by 2020. Its grain output reached a record high of 571.21 million tonnes last year, up 4.5 per cent on year, the eighth year of growth in a row. Although China is largely self-sufficient in wheat and rice production, it’s now the world’s top soybean buyer, taking around 60 per cent of global traded supply.

In 2010, the country also returned to importing corn in earnest after years of blocking foreign grain, buying 1.57 million tonnes. The country is expected to triple corn purchases this crop year.

f o s l e v e l w e N h g i h t n e t s i s n co d n a e c n a m r perfo t yields, n e l l e c ex d e d d a n a h t i . w s u n o b m u i prem L C 0 956

Argentine downpours refresh drought-hit crops REUTERS / Argentine corn and soy benefited from soaking rains last week, and they were expected to continue in the weeks ahead, reviving hope that farmers can salvage a good part of crops parched by weeks of hot, dry weather. The drought, which hit in December after months of below-average rainfall, jacked up grains futures prices and raised concerns about global food supplies. Argentina is the second-biggest exporter of corn and third-largest supplier of soybeans, which serve as an important source of protein for the world. “The weather should continue to normalize in the weeks ahead, with more regular rainfall in eastern and central parts of the country,” said the state-run National Institute for Agricultural Technology. But the showers arrived too late for some grains fields. One agricultural specialist predicted a 2011-12 soy harvest of 42 million to 43 million tonnes, about 20 per cent under original forecasts. He and other private analysts expect this season’s corn crop to be well under the record 23 million tonnes produced in 2010-11. One estimate pegs the corn harvest at just 17 million to 18 million tonnes and a soy crop of just 39 million tonnes.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

China ban on Indian meal could benefit Canadian canola Some cargoes are contaminated with a green dye used to colour sacks By Niu Shuping and Ken Wills beijig / reuters

hina will boost imports of rapeseed and rapeseed meal from Canada, after Beijing banned Indian meal after tests showed it contained a toxic chemical. If China buys more canola, from Canada, the world’s top exporter, it could firm ICE canola prices, which have been rising for the past two weeks in anticipation of larger imports. China imported Indian oilseeds worth $161 million in 2011 before halting purchases late last year after tests showed some cargoes were contaminated with malachite green, a dye widely used in India to brand grain sacks. China bans malachite green from ingredients used to produce animal feed. Traders said cargoes of Indian rapeseed meal loaded after Jan. 1 would be denied entry to China. “We have been told to stop imports until the two countries have resolved the issue,” said one trader with Guangdong Junjie Agriculture Trade Co. Ltd., a major buyer of Indian meal. “We don’t expect the ban will have much impact on supplies. China has been buying from Canada and meal supplies from domestic crushers have also increased, which would fill the gap,” the trader added. A rapeseed meal trader with Guangxi Jiahe Grains and Oils Co. Ltd. also said there were few Indian supplies being unloaded now, adding: “We will look into Canadian meal to see if quo-

tations are attractive. But meal from domestic crushers is ample and prices are cheap.” Indian grain exporters said they were working closely with Chinese officials to lift the ban. A Chinese inspection team is likely to visit India in March, exporters said, and China’s quarantine bureau said on its website it had informed India of the steps it had to take for the ban to be lifted. “We have already issued an advisory note to all extraction plants asking them not to buy rapeseed or rapeseed cake packed in jute bags with green identification marks,” said B.V. Mehta, executive director of the Mumbai-based oilseed-processing body, the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India.

Canadian imports to rise

Indian rapeseed meal tends to suffer from quality issues, but it is cheaper than both Canadian and domestic Chinese supplies. China imported a total of 1.2 million tonnes of rapeseed meal in 2011, out of which just over half was from India. The 648,386 tonnes imported from India represented an increase of 84 per cent on the year, while imports from Canada dropped 10 per cent to 671,450 tonnes. Traders say they expect China to increase canola imports by nearly 40 per cent in 201112 due to expanded crushing capacity. China will harvest its own rapeseed crop in May and June, and its domestic harvest last year was about 13 million tonnes.

China was already expected to import more canola meal this year.

Lu Yun, an analyst with Shanghai JC Intelligence Co. Ltd., said even before Indian imports were banned, China was more likely to increase canola imports from Canada, because it meant higher profit margins for crushers. “Even without the ban, we expect imports of rapeseed meal (from India) will decrease sharply this year,” said Lu. “China has increased imports of canola from Ca n a d a , w h i c h h a d g i v e n

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pretty good margins for crushers earlier.” Rapeseed imports in the first half of the year would increase significantly, with monthly imports hitting as much as 300,000 tonnes, said Lu. One Canadian grain industry official said Chinese demand for canola has been robust since autumn and it may be difficult to attribute any added boost to the ban on Indian meal. China’s canola seed imports are limited to a handful of crush-

ing plants by its restrictions on Canadian canola with the fungal disease blackleg. China has no similar restrictions on canola meal, which is a byproduct of oilseed crushing that is mainly used to feed animals. “China has been buying Canadian canola anyway, reasonably regularly, so (blackleg restrictions) seem to be an issue they pull out when it’s advantageous to them,” said Ken Ball, a futures and options broker at Union Securities in Winnipeg.

“China has increased imports of canola from Canada, which had given pretty good margins for crushers earlier.”

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Attention Canadian$! We Need Your Help to Save The Canadian Wheat Board and Protect Canadian Democracy What Can You Do? You can make a generous donation to the Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board (FCWB) to help us save the CWB. Not only will farmers lose the additional revenue from single-desk marketing, but they will also have their assets expropriated by the federal government without any compensation—the $200 million Contingency Fund, 3000 hopper cars, the Winnipeg head office building and the CWB’s down payment on two lakers. Your donations will support our court challenges. Working together as farmers and urbanites we can save the CWB and preserve the democratic rights of all Canadians.

Where and How Can You Donate? Send a cheque payable to the Friends of the CWB, Box 41, Brookdale, MB R0K 0G0 or donate on line at www.friendsofcwb.ca or via credit card by phoning (204) 354-2254. Give us your contact information so we can keep you up-dated.

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* With a generous donation you will be invited to sign on to a Class Action Suit should one be launched by the Friends of the CWB. “Canadians should understand that at stake here is not just a technical point of law, but the integrity of parliamentary government.” Peter Russell—Professor emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto, Dec. 30, 2011

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

Continued dry weather could mean more acres in Manitoba By Adam Johnston Commodity News Services Canada

lat demand for Canadian sunflower seed, along with tight supplies and reluctant sellers, are keeping western Canadian sunflower bids within a narrow range, according to industr y participants. “It’s kind of at a stalemate to a certain degree for prices despite what little sunflower is out there,” said Roger Kissick, sunflower analyst with Linear Grain. Grant Fehr, of Keystone Grain, said the slow North American birdseed market this winter, along with soft demand in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, due to the large sunflower crops in Eastern Europe, have weighed on sunflower cash bids. Short-term demand for Canadian sunflower will continue to be slow. Argentina’s harvest is expected to start in three weeks, which will weigh on prices, and advance the global supply, Fehr said. However, despite the weak demand, prices have managed to hold steady. Restricted supply, along with reluctant sellers, have been supportive towards values, Kissick said. With tight supply and reluctant sellers keeping sunflower cash bids solid, drought concerns in Argentina could advance prices later in the year, Fehr said. The potential for new export business in the emerging Pacific Rim markets, including China, was also seen adding to the firmness in Canadian sunflower values. As sunflower producers look for new export business, total Canadian area is expected to increase. Farmers are expected to plant around 90,000 acres in the spring of 2012, said Claire Kincaid, agronomist with the National Sunflower Association of Canada. That’s more than double last year’s 42,000 acres that were seeded across Canada, she said. Kissick said that if the dry weather seen so far this winter continues into the spring, the area seeded to sunflowers would increase even more, given that sunflowers were more resistant to dry conditions than alternative crops. Confectionery sunflower seed varieties make up roughly 75 per cent of Canada’s sunflower production, while the oilseed varieties account for 25 per cent. The oil sunflower seed types have been bringing 33 cents per pound in the spot market, while confectionery sunflowers have been bringing 30 cents per pound, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data.

Weather a mixed blessing for insects Low risk of grasshopperslikely seen for Manitoba and in 2012 to increase, decrease, or remain fairly stable for theSaskatchewan next year and are also important factors in the overall forecast for 2012. White areas on the map are areas where data was not collected.

By Phil Franz-Warkentin Commodity News Service Canada

nsect populations overwintering in Western Canada are likely enjoying the warmerthan-normal temperatures seen across the Canadian Prairies this winter, but the lack of snow cover could lead to increased mortality if and when the mercury does drop. Environment Canada forecasts for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta are calling for unseasonably warm temperatures over the next week, with above-freezing conditions likely in many areas. Normal temperatures for the period are generally in the -15 C to -20 C range. Warmer temperatures do make it easier for many insect species to survive the winter, said John Gavloski, extension entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture. However, at the same time, a lack of snowfall can be harder on many populations, he added. “The milder weather

Figure 1. Average density of grasshoppers in Manitoba during August 2011. Figure 1. Average density of grasshoppers in Mantioba during August 2011. for Manitoba for 2012 insects that overwinwill be easier on a lotThe ofGrasshopper insects…ForecastThe but having any snowfall can ter in the soil, either as an egg, Whatnot the grasshopper population map shows also make it harder on many of pupa, or adult, rely on the snow Most of the surveyed area (99.97%) rated as very light risk. Of the 116 counts done in August 2011, 112 to provide insulation, them,” said Gavloski. were between 0 and 4/m2 (the very light category). The cover highest counts were 7/m2 near Domain, and said Snow data for Gavloski. In a year with little counts of 6/m2 coverage and 5.8/m2 east of Glenboro. Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and snowfall, such as this one, when Alberta shows minimal coverage the temperatures do inevitaRecent trends in grasshopper populations bly drop the soil temperatures in most areas. Grasshopper outbreaks usually develop after a few years of conditions that are favourable for a steady increase in numbers of those species of grasshopper that can become pests of crops. Comparing the current August grasshopper counts with those of previous years can determine if the populations tend to be rising or falling.

also drop sharply — increasing the mortality of insect populations overwintering. “The lack of snowfall might lead to a lot more winter mortality,” he said. As an example, Gavloski noted that a few areas of Manitoba had problems with bertha army worms in 2011, but those populations will be negatively affected if soil temperatures drop below -10 C for an extended time. The Agricultural Departments in all three Prairie provinces released grasshopper forecasts for the upcoming growing season over the past month. Using data on adult populations collected in the summer of 2011 the maps show very low risk of grasshopper infestations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan in 2012. However, there are some areas of Alberta, particularly in the north-central and Peace River regions of the province, that are showing a higher risk of grasshoppers this year according to the maps.

The following table shows the percentage of surveyed area in Manitoba in each of the grasshopper population density categories for data collected from 2002 to 2011.

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Sunflower prices remain in narrow range

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

COLUMN

4-H reports

he Co-operator will publish 4-H reports once a month. Reports can be submitted by the third week of the month by email to news@fbcpublishing.com, by regular mail to 4-H Reports, c/o Manitoba Co-operator, 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, Man. R3H 0H1 or by fax to 204-954-1422.

Portage Beef

The club’s second meeting was held Jan. 12 at the High Bluff Hall. There were 12 members present and the topics included discussions about g e t t i n g n e w T- s h i r t s, a n d names of potential judges. There will be six heifers shown at our achievement in July. February is speech month. Our next meeting will take place Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. and is open to the public. — Avery Coltart

Graysville Beef

The club had its Christmas party Jan. 5, for which we took a tour of Triple E and Elias Woodworking in Winkler. We learned interesting things such as how long Triple E has been building campers, and how it’s the only RV manufacturer left in Canada. At Elias, we got to see its big manufacturing business and very large warehouse full of wood ready to be turned

into beautiful cabinet doors. After the tours we came back to Carman to go bowling, then had pizza and birthday cake for my little brother. We had our January meeting on the 15th at the Carman agriculture office. We have set our club communications night for Feb. 10 (storm date Feb. 17) at Carman Collegiate starting at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome, if you would like to come see many good speeches and visual presentations from our members. Winners will go on to compete in Morden on March 3 (storm date March 17), then those winners will compete in April at Brandon. As you may know, every year our members show their cattle at the Carman fair, competing in various categories, but this year at the fair there will be the provincial Stockfest competition. This will bring competitors from 4-H clubs across the province, so there will be lots of new people at the fair this year. I will bring you more information about this as the date gets closer, but you should try and come out to the fair to see the show. We also want to thank Brad Dunn for donating a trimming chute to our club. This is much appreciated, and will be put to good use by our members.

Our next meeting is Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. at Carman Collegiate. If you would like to know what our club is all about, or are thinking of joining us next year, feel free to come out. — Stephane Le Heiget

Neepawa and Area Silver Spurs

On Oct. 1 we had our fall clinic at the Neepawa Fairgrounds. Our clinician was Todd Craplewe, who taught us how to get respect from our horses on the ground. We also learned that accuracy should always come before speed! Everyone learned lots and had fun! On Oct. 20, the club held its reorganization meeting. At this meeting we held elections for new officers including vicepresident, secretary, treasurer and news reporter. Kelsey Ellis was vice-president last year, so she moved up to president for the year. Shelby Gillies was elected as vice-president. Daisy McKee is the new secretary and Abbey McLeod was elected as the treasurer. Christina Paramor is our news reporter. Grace Buchanan is our scrapbooker. Jessica Lukin is our new 4-H banner scanner. At John Deere on Nov. 25, we decorated our float for the Santa Claus parade on Nov. 26. On Dec. 22 we were sched-

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uled to go to the Roxy Theatre to watch a movie for our Christmas party. — Christina Paramor

Neepawa and Area Beef

The club held a reorganization meeting Oct. 25 at the Arden Curling Club. We elected our new executive officers: president, Sydney de Koning; vicepresident, Ffion Lewis; secretary, Lauren McKee; treasurer, Dylan Oshanyk; news reporter, Daisy McKee; and scrapbooker, Rebecca-Lynn Pedersen. Our head leader is Tom Madson. At our second meeting Nov. 8, we played a guessing game of identifying cattle supplies, and then we did a balloon relay with questions to test our knowledge about showing cattle. We also received our project books. On Nov. 20, we had our weigh day. This year, all the members brought their calves to Ad and Debbie de Koning’s farm to use their weigh scale. A f t e r a l l t h e c a l v e s w e re weighed, we headed into the garage where we enjoyed a hot meal. On Nov. 26, club members gathered at John’s Electric to decorate the float, and then rode in the Parade of Lights that evening. — Daisy McKee

Suit alleges railways overcharged from $577 million from 1994 to 2007

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We met on Dec. 11 at the Westbourne Community Centre for our business meeting and Christmas party. We discussed our speeches, which are to be held in February. For the Christmas party, Karleigh and Ken brought Noel the wooden horse for us to play the game “Pin the parts on the horse.” Then came the highlight of the afternoon: Heather had invited Taryn Bailey to help us learn how to goat tie and rope. We started out learning the technique by tying our feet. It’s actually harder than it looks, but after a little practice we got the hang of it. We then moved on to using the goat dummy to better our skills. We also tried roping on a cow’s head. It was a lot of fun and we would like to express our thanks to Taryn. We hope to see her in the spring to put it together on horseback! After finishing with Taryn we had some free time to use the curling rink before supper. We would like to welcome our new member Eva. We hope you will enjoy your time with us and 4-H. A huge thank you to Ken and Heather for putting on our Christmas party and to all the parents for a delicious potluck supper and help in the kitchen. — Jodie Davis

Class action against railways considered Staff

we know corn

Gladstone

proposed classaction suit against Canada’s two major railways over grain freight rates was due Feb. 1 in a Calgary courtroom, where it will be decided whether the suit can proceed on all Prairie farmers’ behalf. In a letter to potential “class” members, Regina lawyer Tony Merchant said the certification hearing in Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench is expected to run over eight days, through to Feb. 10. Merchant said $675 million, plus interest and further amounts accumulating each year, are “what we believe we can establish are ongoing wrongful charges,” which he said makes the case a “billion-dollar farm issue.” The claim is filed in the name of Edmonton-area farmer Tom Jackson, a former commissioner with the Alberta Pulse Growers Commission and one-time director candidate for the Canadian Wheat Board, as the suit’s representative plaintiff. In his brief filed Dec. 30 ahead of the certification hearing, Merchant’s suit alleges that between Aug. 1, 1995 and July 31, 2007, C a n a d i a n Na t i o n a l a n d

Canadian Pacific railways (CN, CP) “did charge unfair and unreasonable shipping rates” based on “unreasonable” hopper car maintenance costs. The claim stems from a February 2008 ruling by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) that has since substantially lowered the maximum annual revenue CN and CP are allowed to keep for moving Prair ie grain. The CTA ruling, upheld in November 2008 by the Federal Court of Appeal, found that the railways’ costs for maintenance of grain hopper cars, previously “embedded” in both railways’ federally capped grain freight revenue at $4,379 per car, were in fact $1,371 per car. Merchant’s claim alleges the railways set tariffs and shipping rates under the maximum rate scales and maximum revenue e n t i t l e m e n t a l l ow e d t o them for handling Prairie grain under the Canada Transportation Act “without regard” to their actual hopper car maintenance costs. Me rc h a n t’s b r i e f e s t i mated the amount allegedly overcharged from 1994 to 2007 at about $1.66 per tonne, for a total of $577 million.

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

USDA report shows even fewer cattle than expected Meat packers are scrambling for supply; said to be losing $98 per head By K.T. Arasu and Theopolis Waters CHICAGO/REUTERS

he U.S. cattle herd has shrunk for the fifth straight year to a 60-year l ow, a g ov e r n m e n t re p o r t showed Jan. 27, as a devastating drought and record high feed costs hit production, which will likely mean even higher beef prices for consumers. One of the worst droughts since the dust bowl days in the 1930s plagued the top cattle state of Texas for more than a year. In addition cattle producers there and in other states faced high feed costs as corn prices in June soared to a record of almost $8 per bushel. Stiff competition with crop farmers for land also played a role in shrinking the herd. The U.S. Agriculture Department report showed the cattle herd at 90.77 million head as of Jan. 1, down 2.07 per cent from a year earlier and the biggest percentage decline since 1989. That also was a deeper cut than what analysts expected. A Reuters poll showed analysts, on average, expected 91.26 million head. “ T h e b i g d ro p i n c a l ve s weighing under 500 lbs. and the big drop in cow population is going to give the report a generally bullish tone,” said analyst Dan Vaught of Vaught Futures Insight in Altus, Arkansas. Fewer calves and breeding cows means fewer animals to rebuild the herd. “I would say we should have two more years of smaller cattle inventories,” said Ron Plain, University of Missouri livestock economist. Meat-packing companies are going to have to scramble for cattle.

Short slaughter supplies

“The first thing they should be shaking their heads about is there are not enough cattle to keep all the beef packers in

“When cattle prices shoot up you raise the price of your finished product. In doing so, you run the risk of people turning away from beef, and some of that has happened, at least domestically.”

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the beef business,” Plain said of the meat companies. Beef processors, on average, had losses of about $98 per head on Friday due to the high cost of cattle, according to Hedgersedge.com LLC, an agribusiness risk management and market research fir m. That date indicates processors have been losing money since mid-September. As a result processors are scaling back cattle slaughter. They also are passing the higher costs on to consumers, which could drive down demand for beef. “When cattle prices shoot up you raise the price of your finished product. In doing so, you run the risk of people turning away from beef, and some of that has happened, at least domestically,” said a source at a meat packer. “The consensus in the industry is that packers are losing money, and it’s going to take longer to pull out of this hole than most people thought. We’ve cut back some (slaughter), but not to the point of taking off days,” he added. Beef prices at the retail level have surged, setting record highs for four straight months late last year and more increases are coming. “Beef is going to get awfully pricy compared to the rest of the meats,” warned Plain.

U.S. CATTLE HERD AS OF JANUARY 1

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

Family key to ranching success Holistic management instructor says profitability follows from family unity and working with nature By Daniel Winters CO-OPERATOR STAFF / HOLLAND

attle prices are up, but for ranching families, the cost of not getting along with each other has stayed the same.

Of the three fundamental principles of holistic management, “car ing for your people” comes first, followed by “improving the land” and “making a profit,” says Don Campbell, a Saskatchewan

rancher who teaches holistic management, which is focused on sustainability and working with nature. “It takes a very long-term view,” said Campbell, who runs 700 head of cattle on 4,200 acres near Meadow Lake, Sask. “We’re not going to say, ‘Let’s get through my life, or this crop year.’ We’re going to say, ‘Can people farm and ranch in this area 50 to 100 years from now because of the management that we’re applying?’ “To be successful long term, it’s essential that you care for the people, the land, and the money. Otherwise, it’s just a matter of time until you fail.” Campbell, who spoke at a recent Beef and Forage Days workshop, said his grandson’s urgent need for heart surgery when he was just 15 days old reinforced that perspective. “We need to have our sons and daughters become better people than we are if we’re ever going to have a better world,” he said.

Defining success

Adopting a holistic management approach begins with all family members coming together and developing a goal based on their desired quality of life, what they value

“What makes life worthwhile? It’s all about loving and being loved.” Don Campbell, a holistic management instructor and rancher, outlines the basic principles of HM: caring for your people, improving the land, and making a profit. PHOTO: DANIEL WINTERS

DON CAMPBELL

Part of your well-balanced farm business.

PHOTO: CO-OPERATOR FILE

and consider important, and how they want to treat each other and be treated. They also need to define their collective vision of what “success” will look like. Once the goal is nailed down on paper with input from everyone, “buy-in” from all parties comes naturally and the discussion can begin on what to produce, and how to produce it in a profitable and sustainable fashion, said Campbell “Then we realize that when we succeed, we all succeed t o g e t h e r,” s a i d Ca m p b e l l . “Not as individuals, but as communities.” Financial planning, land management, and “testing questions” along the way are just the tools to make it all happen, he added. “ What makes life worthwhile? It’s all about loving and being loved,” he said. Since holistic management was introduced in Canada in the 1980s, people who have adopted its principles generally report they now have a “better quality of life” and “more time for what’s important,” he said, adding the next items on the list are improved land and higher profits. In 1972, Campbell took over the ranch purchased by his father in 1948, and faced all of the same problems as ranchers do everywhere. He put up hay, calved in March with a flashlight in hand, and struggled to make a profit.

Less work, more cattle

But since the 1980s, when he began managing in a holistic manner, he has increased the number of animals on his land base while at the same

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time lightening his family’s workload through May calving, bale grazing, and intensive grazing. Real change, he said, happens in your head. Haying with a team of horses and a five-foot sickle mower isn’t all that different from using a big tractor and modern equipment. It still takes all summer, he said. By intensively grazing his whole ranch using heavier stocking densities, he was able to make more profit, which meant that he could buy hay from his neighbour instead. “ T h a t ’s a m u c h b i g g e r change than going from a horse mower to a discbine,” said Campbell. “It’s about changing how you see and think, not by buying a better tractor or a better cow.” Thirty years ago, Campbell and his two brothers tried working together on the family ranch. Within a year, only Campbell was left, and hard feelings lingered for years. In 2 0 0 2 , Ca mp bel l’s two married sons came back to the ranch. The inter-generational transfer this time was smoothed by holistic management principles that gave them the people skills to get along, and the financial ability to support them all. In Campbell’s view, the purpose of farming or ranching should be to create a good life for the whole extended family. “We have the privilege every day to get up and go to work with our children,” he said. “You can’t put a price tag on taking your grandchildren out on horseback, checking cattle, working together, and seeing them on a daily basis.”

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

Analysts say bull run in U.S. cattle may continue Negative packer margins could be an obstacle By K.T. Arasu and Theopolis Waters CHICAGO / REUTERS

exas rancher Jim Selman is on the verge of going out of the cattle business, a victim of one of the worst droughts since the dust bowl in the 1930s. The 300-cow herd on his 3,000acre ranch in Gonzales county has dwindled to a mere seven animals, as the verdant pastures turned into dried-up brush and hay prices went through the roof. Scenes like this have become the hallmark of the once robust ranching community in Texas, the cradle of the cattle industry, and to a lesser extent in states like Oklahoma and Kansas. Fears that the U.S. will “run out of cattle” and suffer from a shortage in beef supplies have lit a fire under the live cattle futures market. Futures have surged 40 per cent over the past five years, peaking at a record 126.075 cents per pound last week. They are up 15 per cent in the past year. “I will not be terribly surprised if prices head even higher,” said Arkansas livestock analyst Dan Vaught. However, prices will first likely retreat during the winter and spring when supplies typically rise, he said. Poor margins for packers are also discouraging them from buying. Beef packers are, generally, swimming in red ink because the price of beef has not kept pace and some estimate they are losing about $100 for each head of cattle processed. Packers have been buying cattle despite running heavy losses because they needed to meet previously signed contracts and protect market share.

Texas cattle eating “range cubes.” Some Texas cattle producers have been providing supplemental feed for 16 months.

PHOTO: TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE

Drought ignites markets

A historic southern Plains drought that has lasted about a year is at the heart of the price rally, as the absence of pasture forced ranchers to liquidate their herd or send them to feedlots at an accelerated pace. The lack of pasture, coupled with a surge in corn prices, which hit a record high near $8 per bushel in June last year, forced some ranchers to send underweight cattle to feedlots, shrinking the supply of calves. That saw feeder cattle futures set multiple record highs in January as feedlots scrambled to secure supplies. “As far as cattle go, because so many of them were brought in because of the drought there isn’t a lot to choose from now,” said trading adviser Joe Ocrant. “Also, a lot of the cattle that are coming out of feedlots now are lighter-weight cattle, which means we’re getting less beef from them.” Strong beef exports to countries such as South Korea and Japan have also been driving prices for cattle higher.

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

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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

When cost is no object, things can get weird Brussels subsidizes EU beef production, but off-farm income in Canada often serves the same purpose By Daniel Winters CO-OPERATOR STAFF

hat happens when cost of production is removed from the equation in beef ranching? The results can end up being bizarre, said Bart Lardner, a research s c i e n t i s t a t t h e We s t e r n Be e f Development Centre in Lanigan, Sask., who recently visited beef operations in Finland. In that Scandinavian country, which lies north of 60 degrees latitude, European Union regulations dictate how long cattle can be out on pasture, what kinds of facilities they can be housed in, and a myriad of other rules that make beef production “unbelievably expensive.” In return, the “frustrated dairy producers,” who keep their animals in barns nine to 10 months of the year, receive subsidy payments to keep their operations afloat. “A lot of the young producers said, ‘We wish those regs were not there. We wish it was a free-enterprise system,’” said Lardner, who was invited

to tour their operations and offer constructive criticism. “My criticism was too much concrete, too much steel,” he said. “You guys have to start thinking outside the box here.” At one point, he stood in a barn, which they called a “feedlot” and watched as 200 intact two-year-old males attempted to ride one unlucky bull. Regulations didn’t allow the owner to castrate his calves, while forcing him to spend more than $500,000 on steel and concrete. Wellmeaning bureaucrats in Brussels had forked over 65 per cent of that cost in support payments, said Lardner. In the EU, the packers control how farms are run, he added. “They want big cows, big carcasses, no fat, no marbling — no eating experience,” said Lardner.

Also a subsidy

While Canada doesn’t have those sorts of subsidies and a much less burdensome regulatory environment, on some ranches, a wife working in town helps to prop up operations that perpetually bleed

cash through wasteful practices, he said. And instead of bureaucratic “diktat,” coffee-row gossip rather than science remains the prime source of production information for some, he said. “You can’t manage what you can’t measure,” said Lardner, who bases his research on work with a herd of 300 Black Angus cows on 2,000 acres of mostly improved forage, and 400 acres of cropland at the Western Beef Development Centre. Winter feeding costs are key in Canada, he noted. In 2010, beef economics benchmarking work conducted by the centre and using real data gathered from Saskatchewan ranches pegged winter feeding costs at 71 per cent of the $533 cost of raising a calf. Winter feed and bedding for the mother cow amounted to $381. While Brussels might be worried that cows suffer from the cold and wind, Canadian ranchers use drylots because cows will need more feed to stay in condition when exposed to the elements. There’s some truth to that, said Lardner, noting that a cow in good

PHOTO: ALLAN DAWSON

Not all types of manure are equal in fertilizer value A study at the Western Beef Development Centre looked at Russian wild rye pasture response from three different types of manure, raw from a drylot system, and leftovers from bale grazing and bale processing 64 cows on the field. Soil samples prior to application were taken to ensure a level playing field. “There was no difference between the check and where we put the nutrient out with the manure spreader,” said researcher Bart Lardner. “That’s because most of the nitrogen had left the manure pile.”

Where the cows had done the spreading, under the on-field systems, there was 250 per cent more ammonium and nitrate nitrogen. The reason? “We were capturing nitrogen from the urine,” he said. Nitrogen is excreted mainly in the form of urea in a beef cow. In the summer warmth, the urease enzyme becomes active and converts it to a form plants can use. Pasture regrowth where the cows wintered was “phenomenal” at 2.5 times

as much yield as the drylot manure and control strips. Lardner’s colleagues looked at how much nutrient was captured from the “fertilizer bales.” They found that 34 per cent of the nitrogen and 22 per cent of the phosphorus in the round bales showed up in the pasture the following year under in-field bale grazing and bale processing wintering systems. With the drylot manure scooped out of the pens, only one per cent of the N and three per cent of the P emained.

Bart Lardner, a research scientist at Western Beef Development Centre in Lanigan, Sask., gives a presentation on reducing winter feeding costs at Ag Days. PHOTO: DANIEL WINTERS

shape can stand the cold, but a 20-kilometre-an-hour wind will “peel the backfat off in a week.” The solution is natural shelterbelts, tree lines, and where those don’t exist, portable windbreaks. For managing cattle movements, there are solarelectric fencers and frost-free watering systems. Government grants can be used to reduce the cost, he added. “You don’t need to chop a hole in the dugout anymore. You really don’t,” he said. Feed testing is cheap and can save thousands over a winter. Producers may be concerned about protein content, but energy is the top concern in winter feeding, said Lardner, who urged producers to search for the best, cheapest supplement available. For example, last year in his area abundant rainfall sent hay yields soaring. Hay was big in volume, but low in quality, and many ranchers who skipped feed testing were surprised to find their cows in poor condition as calving season drew near. Swath grazing is one way to put the “four-legged manure spreaders” to work. But he advised ranchers to have a “Plan B” — the drylot pen — in case Mother Nature sends freezing rain or blizzards. Reduced costs of in-field wintering have captured the attention of big operators such as the massive 28,000head Poundmaker feedlot near Lanigan. Faced with $4 barley and $7 corn, Poundmaker has lately been trying to put on pounds by backgrounding stocker yearlings using cheaper in-field feeding and then finishing them on high-cost, grainbased rations for shorter periods. “The high cost of gain in a drylot is forcing us to look at extended grazing systems,” he said. The feedlot operator has also noticed that in-field backgrounding has resulted in more “bulletproof” animals healthwise hitting the drylot pens for final finishing, he said. daniel.winters@fbcpublishing.com

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

COLUMN

Precision pork production — a vision of the future Feeding programs would be designed to meet the requirements of each pig in the barn Bernie Peet Peet on Pigs

magine a finishing barn where each pig receives exactly the right amount of nutrients each day to optimize its growth, maximize the efficiency of nutrient use and minimize the excretion of waste. A barn where sophisticated feeding equipment identifies each pig and delivers a precise dose of blended feed using complex mathematical models to predict the pigs’ requirements. A barn where feeding costs are slashed due to the use of such technology. This was the vision described by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researcher Dr. Candido Pomar at the recent Banff Pork Seminar. In current grow-finish operations, feeding programs are d e s i g n e d t o o p t i m i ze t h e response of a group of pigs, however nutrient requirements vary greatly between individual pigs and requirements change over time, also on an individual basis. “ To optimize population responses, nutrients are provided at levels that satisfy the requirements of the most demanding pigs in the group, with the result that most of the pigs receive more nutrients than they need to express their growth potential,” Pomar said. “This is because, for most nutrients, underfed pigs will exhibit reduced growth performance and overfed ones w i l l e x h i b i t n e a r- o p t i m a l performance.”

“Precision feeding is based on the fact that animals within a group differ from each other in terms of age, weight and production potential and, therefore, each has different nutrient requirements,” Pomar said. “It involves the use of feeding techniques that allow the right amount of feed with the right composition to be provided at the right time to each pig in the group.” Commercially, phase feeding is used to adjust the supply of nutrients to meet the calculated requirements of a group of pigs, based on their weight and gender. This involves feeding a number of successive diets, each differing in protein, energy or amino acid content, to match the requirements of the pigs, normally at the beginning of each feeding phase. The more diets that are fed, the more precisely the nutritional requirements of the group can be met, although normally the number of diets is limited by practical considerations. However, phase feeding typically only meets the requirements of 20 per cent of the pigs in a group with any degree of precision.

needed to simulate growth and estimate nutrient requirements. “The proposed system automatically collects real-time individual feed intake and body weight information and this information is used to estimate optimal nutrient concentration of diets to be given daily to each pig in the group using new modelling approaches,” Pomar said. A new automatic and intelligent precision feeder (AIPF) is under development at the University of Lleida, Spain, in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The AIPF identifies each pig that introduces its head into the feeder and then blends two or more premixes to deliver small meals providing the estimated optimal nutrient concentration. In a recent simulation experiment, pigs were fed ad libitum either according to a typical three-phase feeding program or fed individually with daily tailored diets such as could be provided using precision-feeding techniques. “Feeding pigs with daily tailored diets reduced N and P intake by 25 per cent and 29 per cent respectively and the corresponding excretions were both reduced by more than 38 per cent,” Pomar said. “Feeding costs were estimated to be reduced by more than $8/pig.” However, the highest-performing pigs in the group received more protein and P when fed with daily tailored diets than when fed in the three-phase feeding program.

Precision feeding

Precision feeding overcomes the limitations of feeding systems in which optimal dietary nutrient levels are predetermined for specific feeding phases, according to Dr. Pomar. The precisionfeeding concept requires the exact nutrient requirement of each animal to be determined. Clearly, this is affected by a wide range of animal, environmental and management factors, meaning that complex mathematical modelling is

Record nutrient intake

The feeding system will know past nutrient intake and growth patterns for each pig, which

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Dr. Candido Pomar of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada speaking at the 2012 Banff Pork Seminar.

will enable it to avoid supplying excess nutrients such as protein and P to the pigs and consequently potentially polluting manure constituents. “The use of advanced computerized technologies also allows remote real-time monitoring of nutrient consumption and pig growth so that the producer can see what is going on wherever he is and make decisions about marketing strategy, for example,” Pomar said. “In addition, by identifying any drop in feed intake, it allows early identification of diseases and precise application of individual treatments, thus improving herd performance and reducing veterinary costs.” Other options include the ability to manage the supply of

nutrients to specific groups of pigs, for example gilts destined for the breeding herd which could be fed higher levels of phosphorus. Precision feeding would enable producers to manipulate the growth rate and carcass characteristics of individual pigs to meet their production objectives or specific market requirements. The possibilities seem endless and, with the experimental equipment already in use and a commercial-scale prototype being developed, it may not be long before this vision of the future becomes a reality. Bernie Peet is president of Pork Chain Consulting of Lacombe, Alberta, and editor of Western Hog Journal.

NEWS

Texas cattle herd — still big, much, much smaller Southwest U.S. drought pushes beef cow slaughter figure by 200,000 over 2010 The Texas beef cow herd is at its lowest level since 1960 after record drought forced ranchers to export more than 150,000 head of cattle to greener pastures in 2011, three times more the 45,000 in 2010, says a Texas AgriLife Extension Service economist. Texas, the U.S.’s largest beefcow-producing state, saw a decline in 2011, in the number of beef cows of 660,000, to 4.365 million head. “That’s the smallest cow herd since 1960,” David Anderson said. “This decline was fuelled by the drought, which left 2011 as the record-holding driest year on record in Texas.” Nationally, beef cattle numbers continue to decline to historic levels. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Jan. 1 cattle inven-

tory for all cattle and calves totalled 90.8 million head, two per cent below the 92.7 million on Jan. 1, 2011. It is the lowest Jan. 1 inventory of all cattle and calves since the 88.1 million on hand in 1952, according to USDA. Slaughter numbers continued to escalate in 2011 due to drought, Anderson said. “The southwest region, which is Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, slaughtered almost 200,000 more beef cows in 2011 than the year before,” he said. “Nationwide, beef cow slaughter numbers were up 170,000 head. And also fewer heifers were held back to enter the cow herds due to the dry conditions. Each of these contributed to Texas’s smaller cow herd.” Cattle prices are predicted to continue to be at all-time highs. Retail beef prices are expected to remain high as well reflecting less supply, according to economists. The USDA report revealed the national 2011 calf crop was estimated at 35.3 million head, down one per cent from 2010. USDA reports it’s the smallest calf crop since the 34.9 million born during 1950.

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

Cattle business in 2012 will see higher prices, consolidation The contraction of the cow-calf sector will have a ripple effect throughout the value chain By Sheri Monk

“We’re not all going to be able to run the hotels full — it ain’t gonna happen.”

FBC STAFF / LETHBRIDGE

he good news: higher cattle prices. The bad news: fewer producers to take advantage of them. Speaking to the annual Tiffin Co n f e re n c e a t L e t h b r i d g e College last month, veteran cattle-market analyst Anne Dunford reviewed some of the record cattle prices in 2011 and predicted even higher for 2012. But she pointed out that those prices are the result of diminished supply caused by producers leaving the business after several years of low prices. “It’s pretty obvious why cow-calf producers have done what they’ve done — an exodus out of the industry. It’s been a long time since there’s been any money made and it’s pretty hard to stay in this business if you aren’t making some money.” Dunford reeled off some of the numbers from 2011. Fed cattle averaged $106.27 per hundredweight, up from $89.13 in 2010 and breaking the previous record of $102.82 in 2001. D1 and D2 cows also set a new record, averaging $70.31, up from $54.39 in 2010 and beating 2001’s record of $63.99. At $123.24, feeder steers were $3 shy of breaking the $126.28 record set in 2001, but were still up more than $20 from last year. Likewise, steer calves were just shy of the $157.59 record in 2001, coming in at an average of $151.50 in 2011, up $30 from 2010. “I think we’ll break both of those records in 2012,” Dunford predicted. On the beef side, the average for AAA cutout in 2011 was $172.48, under the 2001 record of $197.68, but up 19 per cent over 2010. However, overall, retail beef set a new record at $6.09/lb., beating the 2009 record of $5.83.

ANNE DUNFORD

Cattle market analyst

Anne Dunford sees feeder prices breaking more records in 2012.

further liquidation of the U.S. herd, Dunford said. Last year’s drought forced many ranchers to bring entire herds to town. “Would cull cow prices have been higher had the drought not happened? Pretty

well, I think you can assume that to be the case,” said Dunford. Alberta’s herd has diminished by 25 per cent since 2005, or 19 per cent since 2002, and is currently the smallest since 1991

Storage Versatility

Shrinking herd

In Canada, the herd has shrunk 21 per cent since 2005, leaving only 4.2 million beef cows, the smallest herd since 1994. “I think we’re going to be down two per cent still. We started to keep a few heifers back, but we still sold quite a few cows,” said Dunford. “In this past summer’s report we saw about a seven per cent increase in heifer retention or heifer numbers. It’s encouraging but don’t forget when you look at the actual numbers it was 42,000 actual heifers kept, we still shipped 90,000 cows to town. So the offset was still a decline in the overall numbers.” Dunford said weather will remain a wild card in 2012, noting that there are about 10 million cows in the area of the U.S. affected by record drought. “The U.S. holds about 30 million, so about a third of the U.S. cow herd is in this area that has been so severely impacted here in 2011. It’s big,” Dunford said. Despite some recent rains, conditions have stayed dry through the winter. If the same region falls victim to another severe drought, it may prompt

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at about 1.66 million head. Dunford believes the industry is moving out of the liquidation phase and into consolidation, and that once that stage is over and prices remain viable, the industry may start to expand again. She said there was a $75to $100-per-head profit in 2011, and that number is predicted to range between $100 and $150 in 2012.

Higher prices due to increased demand means there’s simply not enough feeder cattle hitting the market. Dunford said the current size of the industry was built upon feeding approximately 3.5 million head of cattle in Canada, but there were only 2.9 million head to go around in 2011 and she sees 2.8 million in 2012. “It’s going to mean some packers killing fewer cattle, it’s going to mean some auction markets are moving fewer cattle through the system, it’s going to mean fewer and fewer truckers being able to move the numbers,” said Dunford. “And I think this could drive some further consolidation in the industry. We’re not all going to be able to run the hotels full — it ain’t gonna happen.”

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

LIVESTOCK AUCTION RESULTS Weight Category

Feeder Steers

Ashern

Jan-25

Gladstone

Jan-24

Grunthal

Jan-24

Heartland

Brandon

Virden

Jan-24

Jan-25

Killarney

Ste. Rose

Taylor

Winnipeg

Jan-23

Jan-26

Jan-27

No. on offer

1,459

603

747

1,022

3,341

513

1,470

770

1,130

Over 1,000 lbs.

n/a

900-1,000

n/a

110.00-130.50

n/a

120.00-137.00

129.00-139.00

n/a

120.00-135.00

n/a

800-900

125.00-148.00

110.00-135.75

122.00-140.50

130.00-145.00

134.00-144.75

130.00-141.00

120.00-145.00

130.00-145.00

125.00-137.00

700-800

136.00-160.00

123.00-145.00

138.00-151.50

145.00-152.50

143.00-156.00

138.000-150.25

140.00-159.00

140.00-155.00

138.00-199.00

600-700

150.00-167.50

135.00-162.50

150.00-170.00

155.00-167.50

150.00-172.00

145.00-166.00

155.00-173.50

155.00-175.00

148.00-165.00

500-600

160.00-186.50

144.00-190.00

165.00-192.00

165.00-188.00

155.00-177.50

170.00-199.00

170.00-195.00

155.00-180.00

400-500

170.00-193.00

155.00-200.00

185.00-208.00

175.00-211.00

175.00-204.00

175.00-201.50

175.00-199.00

180.00-210.00

155.00-197.00

300-400

190.00-209.00

140.00-220.00

195.00-225.00

185.00-219.00

185.00-215.00

190.00-221.00

170.00-219.00

190.00-222.00

170.00-200.00

Feeder heifers 900-1,000 lbs.

n/a

90.00-115.50

n/a

115.00-125.25

115.00-126.00

n/a

110.00-120.00

n/a

800-900

105.00-126.50

94.00-126.75

110.00-125.00

120.00-132.00

121.00-131.00

118.00-127.00

120.00-136.00

120.00-130.00

115.00-125.00

700-800

108.00-137.00

105.00-139.50

125.00-140.00

125.00-138.75

128.00-141.00

123.00-133.50

125.00-142.00

130.00-145.00

122.00-136.00

600-700

110.00-150.00

110.00-146.50

132.00-145.00

135.00-151.50

132.00-149.00

128.00-142.50

125.00-146.00

140.00-155.00

130.00-140.00

500-600

120.00-164.00

130.00-161.50

144.00-166.00

140.00-165.50

147.00-166.00

137.00-155.00

150.00-183.00

150.00-165.00

140.00-163.00

400-500

140.00-172.00

110.00-179.00

160.00-181.00

145.00-180.00

158.00-176.00

155.00-175.00

160.00-186.00

160.00-175.00

140.00-190.00

300-400

n/a

160.00-185.00

170.00-187.50

155.00-183.00

160.00-188.00

165.00-185.00

150.00-186.00

175.00-190.00

190

Slaughter Market No. on offer

450

n/a

316

200

220

D1-D2 Cows

62.00-70.00

n/a

60.00-75.00

60.00-65.00

57.00-63.00

61.00-72.00

62.00-72.00

n/a

D3-D5 Cows

52.00+

n/a

55.00-60.00

50.00-60.00

48.00-55.00

50.00-60.00

55.00-60.00

n/a

Age Verified

68.00-75.00

n/a

63.00-68.50

60.00-67.00

n/a

Good Bulls

80.00-92.00

65.00-89.75

73.00-79.00

75.00-80.75

75.00-80.50

72.00-76.00

75.00-84.75

75.00-81.00

n/a

Butcher Steers

n/a

104.00-108.50

n/a

Butcher Heifers

n/a

103.00-107.50

n/a

Feeder Cows

n/a

45.00-70.00

62.00-70.00

72.00-84.00

65.00-80.00

n/a

Fleshy Export Cows

n/a

56.00-62.00

n/a

Lean Export Cows

n/a

48.00-54.00

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)

news

Feed efficiency jumps According to results of feed efficiency research projects funded by the Beef Cattle Industry Science Cluster, feed efficiency of Canadian cattle has made marked progress. Cattle that took three to five years to finish in the late 1880s now reach the same finished weights in less than 24 months. Feed conversion ratios have improved by 40 per cent between 1950 and 2001.

Colostrum boosts the health of cattle throughout their lifetime Interest revived for intranasal vaccine targeted at younger animals By Shannon VanRaes co-operator staff / Teulon

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 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.

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

n ounce of prevention is still worth a pound of cure, provincial extension vet Dr. Wayne Tomlinson told producers during a Beef and Forage Week seminar in Teulon. Vaccinations and proper colostrum uptake don’t just give calves a good start, but also keep them healthy into adulthood and the feedlot as well, he said. “Without the colostrum, everything else falls apart,” said Tomlinson. Newborns don’t have a fully developed immune system, and so must absorb antibodies from their mother’s colostrum. The positive effects are almost immediate. Colostrum also passes white blood cells, called T-cells, that enter into the calf’s bone marrow and program new cells to fight disease. During an experiment, 26 per cent of cows that did not receive colostrum became ill, compared to just five per cent that received full colostrum. Maternal antibody interference can be an issue when vaccinating calves younger than six weeks, but Tomlinson said late-born calves should still be vaccinated if they are heading out to pasture prior to turning six weeks old. “It’s not 100 per cent interference, the vaccines will do some benefit,” he said. Following the BSE crisis in 2003, Tomlinson said some producers cut corners and vaccination numbers dropped. “The price of cattle had tanked and a lot of people tried to save money wherever they could,” he said. “Some of them tried to save it by cutting preventive maintenance like vaccinations.” Since that time most ranchers have gotten back on board with a regular vaccination schedule, although the vet said there are still a few stragglers.

Consult your vet

Although some vaccinations, such as the one for blackleg, are broadly recommended, others are specifically suited to individual herds and regions.

Veterinarian Wayne Tomlinson speaks to farmers in Teulon about calf vaccinations. Photo: Shannon VanRaes

“I would recommend that everyone contact their local veterinarian and figure out what is best for their herd,” Tomlinson said. “For me to go around the province and say to everyone you should do one particular thing, there are just too many different types of management systems for me to make one blanket statement. So you really need to contact your veterinarian and find out what vaccine protocol is best for your herd.” For some respiratory viruses, a new version of an old method of vaccination has come back into the picture. An intranasal spray vaccine is now available for three respiratory infections. Tomlinson said this method was regularly used in the 1970s, before fading away in favour of a quick needle under the skin or in the animal’s neck. Now that the intranasal vaccine is targeted at younger animals, as well as dairy cows, interest has been revived. “Now when we start doing it on baby calves, it’s not quite as onerous to mess with their heads,” he noted. “It’s not new technology, it’s old technology. We’re just reinventing it.” The intranasal vaccines can be used on calves as young as a few days old and because it uses a different mode of action, it won’t cause maternal antibody interference, Tomlinson said. shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

The Manitoba Co-Operator | February 2, 2012

COUNTRY CROSSROADS connecting rur a l communities

wthe w

Mr., Mrs. and Ms. Daisy

Keep on Driving Public forms of transport geared to seniors lacking

In 2009 survey more than two-thirds of seniors between the ages of 65 to 74 reported that their main form of transportation was driving their own vehicle. ©thinkstock

Canadians are driving their own vehicles well into their 80s and rarely use public transport, according to findings released by Statistics Canada. By Lorraine Stevenson co-operator staff

art of the reason is that they have no option, especially outside urban areas, where slightly more over the age of 65 live, and public transportation alternatives don't

exist. Last week Statistics Canada reported three-quarters of Canadians 65 and older surveyed in a 2009 Canadian Community Health Study, still had a driver’s licence. More than two-thirds also said their car remains their main form of transportation. In every province, a majority of men (67 per cent) aged 85 or over hold a driver’s licence and continue to drive, although far fewer women that age (just 25 per cent) do so. The highest numbers of those still driving at these advanced ages were found in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Hearing and seeing

Most older drivers appear to be safe and capable. The study also surveyed for persons’ functional capacity to drive, and from self-reported data on visual and hearing abilities, ranked most seniors with drivers licences to be exhibiting good or very good visual and auditory and cognitive abilities. However, the study also notes some report that while not seeing well enough to read a newspaper or recognize someone across the street, they continue to drive.

In 2009, 28 per cent of those age 65 or older, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia, also had a driver’s licence and reported continuing to drive. Elderly women are least likely to still be driving. The study showed just 25 per cent of women over 85 still have a driver’s licence, with 18 per cent reporting using their private vehicle as their main form of transport. Researchers of seniors’ driving habits say the gender gap reflects an older generation’s driving habits, such as letting the husband drive. The gap also narrows among younger seniors; just six per cent of women between 45 and 54 did not possess a licence. The report suggests public policymakers should be paying attention to the seniors who don’t drive. Just six per cent of those age 65 to 84 report using transit or taxis as their primary means of transportation, and only three per cent walk or ride a bicycle. That’s partly because seniors tend to live in rural or low-density residential neighbourhoods where public transport is virtually non-existent.

Social isolation

Fourteen per cent of women over age 65 reported they needed help getting to places they couldn’t walk to, and that their lack of transportation makes it more difficult to age at home. Those who can’t get around face the prospect of more social isolation. The study noted that nearly three-quarters of those still driving got out somewhere in the past week, compared to less than half of those relying on some other form of transit. A Manitoba researcher overseeing an online study, Candrive (www.candrive. ca), exploring ways to extend the length of

“If you’re going to have more screening programs, then you absolutely need to have more alternatives for transportation.” Michelle Porter

University of Manitoba

time older drivers can continue to drive, says this lack of transportation alternatives is a key and emerging issue for Canada’s aging society. As more of us age there are bound to be many more who can’t or who choose not to drive. Policy-makers will have to find ways to address their needs, says Michelle Porter, a University of Manitoba professor in kinesiology and recreation management. This need for options will become critical if and when more mandatory, agebased screening is introduced. “I think that’s one of the real looming issues,” Porter said. “If you’re going to have more screening programs, then you absolutely need to have more alternatives for transportation. Hopefully, governments will start taking a better look at this and putting in place things that will take care of the needs of seniors. We really need to be thinking about providing alternatives to private vehicle.” The study used data from the Canadian Community Health Survey — Healthy Aging (CCHS) and was conducted in 2008 and 2009. The target population consisted of people aged 45 and over living in occupied private dwellings in the 10 provinces. Seniors living in residences or institutions were not included in the survey. lorraine@fbcpublishing.com

The Manitoba Co-Operator | February 2, 2012

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

Seeds for a Canadian diet Lorraine Stevenson Crossroads Recipe Swap

’ve been thinking about the concept of a “Canadian diet” lately, and what foods and ingredients might such a diet emphasize. Fiddleheads? Bacon? Butter tarts? I doubt it. A Canadian diet can’t possibly be a defined menu of select ingredients or chosen dishes in a multicultural society such as ours. Rather, what I’ve come to understand a Canadian diet is a way of eating that’s simply mindful of what Canadian farmers grow and raise. So if Italians and Greeks use olive oil, and hazelnuts and walnuts, in their Mediterranean diet, Canadians would be apt to use the edible oils we produce in abundance here, including our distinctly Canadian canola oil. We could add to our baking, pastas, salads and stir-fries the edible seeds of our oilseed crops as well. Lately, I’ve been eating more of three in particular — sunflower, flax and hemp. I love the texture and flavour they add. These seeds are incredibly nutritious too. Sunflower kernels, for example, are recognized by U.S. Dietary Guidelines as the best whole food source of vitamin E. Flaxseed, ground or whole has gained popularity thanks to its healthy omega-3 fatty acid profile, as well as its fibre and lignan content. Meanwhile, more of us are discovering hemp seed (and oil) as a new, or rather “new again” ingredient with its excellent balance of amino acids and essential fatty acids and great taste. When I started searching for recipes this week, it was daunting to try to choose items that might reflect the diversity of our diet, yet stick fairly closely to this theme of Canadian-grown ingredients. Here are three chosen for their use of Canadian-grown edible seeds for making healthy homemade snacks or breakfast foods.

Granola

Flax Blueberry Muffin

3 c. rolled oats 1 c. raw sunflower seeds 3/4 c. shredded sweet coconut 1/3 c. brown sugar 1/3 c. canola oil 1/3 c. maple syrup 1 tsp. salt 1 c. raisins

For topping: 1/3 c. quick oats 1/4 c. brown sugar 1/4 c. pecans, finely chopped 1/4 tsp. cinnamon 3 tbsp. non-hydrogenated margarine, melted 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 250 F. In a large bowl, combine oats, sunflower seeds, coconut and brown sugar. In a separate bowl, combine canola oil, maple syrup and salt. Combine both mixtures and pour onto two sheet pans. Cook for 15 minutes. Stir approximately halfway through cooking time. Remove from oven and transfer into a large bowl. Add raisins and mix until evenly distributed. Makes 3 cups. Recipe source: Manitoba Canola Growers Association www.canolarecipes.ca.

Flaxseed Crackers

For muffins: 1-1/2 c. all-purpose flour, sifted 1/2 c. milled flax 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 c. sugar 1 tbsp. canola oil 1 c. skim milk 1 tbsp. lemon juice 1 egg 1 tsp. vanilla 3/4 c. blueberries, frozen, unsweetened, wild

Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F). To make topping: Combine quick oats, brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon and flour; mix well. Add melted non-hydrogenated margarine; rub ingredients together.

1/4 c. flaxseed 1/4 c. ground flaxseed 1-1/2 c. all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 4 tsp. margarine or butter, softened 1/2 c. skim milk

In a bowl of a stand-up mixer, add flaxseed, ground flax, flour, baking powder, salt and margarine or butter. With the paddle attachment, mix on low speed until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Stir in milk and mix until mixture forms a soft dough. (You can also mix the dough by hand.) Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill 10 minutes. Divide the dough into quarters. Turn out onto a lightly floured board. Roll out very thin to a rectangle 1/16 inch thick. Cut into 2-inch squares. Transfer to a non-greased baking sheet. Repeat with the remainder of the dough. Preheat oven to 325 F. Bake 20 minutes until crisp and golden. Onion: 1 tbsp. powdered onion soup mix. Cheese: 1 c. grated cheddar cheese. Italian: 1 tbsp. oregano and 1 c. grated mozzarella cheese. Yield: 24 crackers Recipe source: Flax Council of Canada website at www.flaxcouncil.ca

To make muffins: Combine flour, milled flax, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together canola oil and egg. Add skim milk, lemon juice and vanilla. Whisk until well blended. Add dry ingredients to liquid. Stir until dry ingredients are thoroughly moistened. Add frozen berries. Gently fold into batter. Do not overmix. Spray muffin tin with non-stick vegetable spray. Fill each muffin cup with 1/4 cup of batter. Bake for 20 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven. Cool on wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove from tin and cool to room temperature. Makes 12 muffins. Recipe source: Flax Council of Canada

Hemp ’n Honey Cookies If you haven’t tried delicious hemp seeds you’re missing out. Manitoba Harvest has many more recipes online for using their growing range of hemp seeds, oils and protein powders. 1 c. Manitoba Harvest Protein Powder 1 c. Manitoba Harvest Shelled Hemp Seed 2 c. brown rice flour 2-1/2 c. rolled oats 1/2 c. fresh ground flaxseed 2 c. sunflower seeds, hulled 2-1/2 c. honey 1/4 c. vanilla extract 1/2 c. water

Lay sunflower seeds out onto a baking sheet and bake at 350 F for 10 minutes. Set aside. Blend all dry ingredients and set aside. Melt honey on the stove-top and mix in vanilla and water. Mix dry and wet ingredients, then add extra rolled oats if needed to thicken. Bake at 200 F for 30 minutes. Cookies will remain moist in the centre. The baking time pertains to cookies four inches round and one inch thick.

Recipe Swap

Makes: 24 - 36 cookies. Prep Time: 30 minutes. Cook Time: 30 minutes. Recipe source: Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods and Oils website at www.manitobaharvest.com/ recipes

We always enjoy hearing from you. Send us your favourite recipes or ideas for food columns. To contact us by mail please write to:

Manitoba Co-operator Recipe Swap Box 1794, Carman, Man. ROG OJO Or email: lorraine@fbcpublishing.com ©THINKSTOCK

The Manitoba Co-Operator | February 2, 2012

COUNTRY CROSSROADS

Farm home grounds winner Another well-deserved Minnedosa-area award By Albert Parsons Freelance contributor

Minnedosa farm couple has won the Chapman Museum Shield from the Manitoba Good Roads Association for the best farm home grounds — District 4. Allan and Barb Dalrymple operate a farm just northeast of town. T h e R M o f Mi n t o n o m i n a t e d them for the award. When you travel north on Bison Drive, you come to their large sign opposite the dam that directs you to turn east and go about a kilometre up a charming country road to get to A & B Dalrymple’s Country Farm Greenhouses. While this couple, originally from England, raises beef cattle and sheep on their quarter section of land along the edge of the Little Saskatchewan River, their main claim to fame in the area is the extensive garden centre and greenhouse operation that they have established over a 25-year period. Besides the thousands of bedding plants they grow, the Dalrymples are known for the hundreds of hanging baskets and colourful containers that they offer for sale each year. Many of these containers are sold at the open market at Clear Lake in the late spring. The Dalrymples continue to look for opportunities to diversify their operation. Allan is currently developing the area behind the greenhouses that is visible through the large windows of the tea room situated at the rear of the greenhouse complex. He has constructed a rocky, dry riverbed spanned by a wooden bridge and has added two perennial beds beneath the win-

dows. Future plans include a lookout tower to afford visitors a view of the valley, and development of the tea room business. The farmyard is well sheltered, with mature shelterbelts along the north, south and west edges of the yard. A large red barn sits beside the greenhouses and Barb maintains attractive displays of potted shrubs and trees as well as flowering containers and hanging baskets in front of the greenhouses. A colourful bed of annuals greets visitors at the entranceway to the farm and neatly clipped spruce hedges separate the house from the lane and parking area. The most spectacular feature of the farm home grounds, however, is the extensive stonework that Allan has created along the south side of the yard — directly across from the greenhouses. A large stone archway, a huge pond, and a massive riverbed that has water cascading over rock ledges and stony rapids are major features of Allan’s creation. He has also fabricated three tall metal posts with four large hooks on each one that hold massive hanging baskets during the growing season. Many native plants grow along the edges of the pond and along the riverbed, including cattails, grasses and innumerable clumps of marsh marigolds. During the spring greenhouse season, the marsh marigolds are in full bloom, their bright-yellow blossoms creating a mass of brilliant colour. A naturalized shade garden to the west of the riverbed and waterfall is taking shape beneath the tree canopy; Allan has removed much of the undergrowth, allow-

Brightly coloured marsh marigolds bloom along the edge of the riverbed and pond in the Dalrymple garden in the spring. photo: albert parsons

ing ferns, hostas, pulmonaria and other shade plants to flourish. The Dalr ymples’ hard work, great community spirit and passion for offering quality product have enabled them to grow their

garden centre business into a popular destination for area residents. The Good Roads Award is just one more testament to their success. Albert Parsons writes from Minnedosa, Man.

Be safe not sorry Food safety issues continue to surface

By Julie Garden-Robinson NDSU Extension Service

As I think of topics for my articles, sometimes I wonder if I have overdone the topic of food safety. Then I get a few calls or make some observations and think differently. Maybe we in food safety and nutrition education haven’t done enough. Just recently, three things happened that prompted this column, beginning with a school assignment for one of my kids.

Incident No. 1:

“Mom, we’re supposed to make some food for class. Here are the recipes we can use,” my teenage daughter said. I read through the recipes and found one that included raw eggs in the final dish. “I think you need to let your teachers know that eating raw eggs isn’t recommended,” I said. My daughter looked at me strangely because I was advising that she question her teacher. “We aren’t telling her how to teach her subject, just cautioning her about food safety,” I said. So, she agreed to mention it to her teacher. When she returned, she told me that her teacher said no one had gotten sick from the dish, so the recipe was OK. According to the Food and Drug Administration, raw eggs, poultry, eggs, milk and dairy, fish, shrimp and many other

foods have been associated with outbreaks of salmonellosis. Some forms can cause death while other types are linked with reactive arthritis with lifelong implications. I had a little discussion with my daughter about what it means to put yourself at risk. If you run a red light, do you get hit by a car every time? The answer is no, but you are placing yourself at risk for harm if you do not follow traffic safety recommendations. We also face some risks in the kitchen, so following food safety recommendations every time can protect us from illness. Not every egg contains salmonella, but you can’t see, smell or taste disease-causing bacteria. Sometimes you are lucky, and other times you are not. In the end, no one brought “salmonella delight” to class, so that was a good thing. A simple solution would be to change the recipe to say “pasteurized in-shell eggs.”

Incident No. 2:

An email arrived. Someone was making a recipe that called for canned tomatoes. When the person opened the can of tomatoes, it made a hissing sound like a soda pop can. The ends of the can were bulging. The tomatoes were now in a slow cooker. Fortunately, the client began to question the safety of the food before serving it to a group of people. No, we do not recommend that you consume food from bulging cans or containers that spurt gas or liquid when opened. A bulging can indicates gas-forming organisms are

present, and some bacteria produce toxins that are deadly in tiny doses. The worst-case scenario would be the presence of the botulism toxin, which can be fatal. Therefore, do not eat foods from cans that are bulging, leaking or excessively damaged. Never taste foods in bulging cans to see if they “taste OK.” The food needs to be discarded where no human or animal will consume it.

Incident No. 3:

This wasn’t quite an incident just yet. I was reading a conference brochure that described sessions being offered about home canning foods. I wasn’t familiar with the presenter and I didn’t notice any food science or safety credentials listed with the presenter’s description. I was a little surprised at some of the recipes that were going to be described in the session. If you decide to do home canning, you can find free research-based recipes on our website at www.ag.ndsu. edu/food. Click on “Browse Food, Food Safety and Nutrition Publications” to see publications on a wide range of topics. Don’t take risks with your health. Get your information from credible sources and ask questions. Julie Garden-Robinson, PhD, R.D., L.R.D., is a North Dakota State University Extension Service food and nutrition specialist and associate professor in the department of health, nutrition and exercise sciences.

The Manitoba Co-Operator | February 2, 2012

COUNTRY CROSSROADS COLUMN

Questions for Reena You’ve been asking and here’s the answers Reena Nerbas Household Solutions

PHOTO: ALMA BARKMAN

Three-generations quilt Many different fabrics and colours — one family piece By Alma Barkman FREELANCE CONTRIBUTOR

“Here,” my mother said, handing me a quilt top pieced together in little squares. “I can’t get this to come out right no matter how I try.” I was not surprised. Somehow the idea of careful measuring and consistent seam allowances usually escaped her, especially as she grew older. Consequently the pieced quilt top she had just handed me was narrow at one end and sort of flared at the other. In other words, it had gone “wonky,” as they say in quilting circles. I took it home, and busy with raising the family, 13 years went by. And then one day while going through my stash of quilting materials, I looked again at the wonky quilt top. The time had come. Taking out my seam ripper, I dismantled the entire quilt top, one patch at a time, until I had all 450 squares separated out. (Well, a few were squares, most were not!) That’s when the memories came flooding back, not only of Mom, but of her two sisters, bumbling, funny Aunt Nellie, and poised, quiet Aunt Emmie. By now they had all passed away, but included in the quilt top were patches from dresses I remembered all three of them wearing. Short, chubby Aunt Nellie liked polka dots, and while they may have done little for her figure, they were in keeping with her clown-like personality. She could find humour in any situation, but especially in those dilemmas she was instrumental in creating, and there

were many. If she wasn’t laughing at herself, she was poking fun at her tall, lanky husband, Uncle Jack, her sidekick in comedy. And here in the wonky quilt beside polka dot patches were pieces of blue plaid like the shirts he used to wear. And then there was Aunt Emmie, who loved autumn shades of tan and orange and brown, but she also favoured black and white prints, and stripes, and yes, here were remnants of all three. As I fingered them I recalled her soft-brown eyes, her gentle voice and her welcoming manner as she greeted me at the door of her big farmhouse where I would spend a few days of my summer vacation each year. Unlike her sister, my mother detested any shade of brown or gold. Her choice was anything blue — ginghams, geometrics, paisleys, but especially floral designs, the brighter the better. The wonky quilt contained more than its share of bold colours, all interspersed with soft pastels and wild prints. As I pressed and squared each one, I toyed with ideas of how to reassemble the patches. I decided to add some pieces from my own stash, scraps from garments I had sewn for both my daughter and myself. I separated the various-size squares with plain brown sashing representing the tastes of the three generations of women reflected in the quilt. Despite our different tastes, the quilt is a constant reminder that we are all tied together as family. Alma Barkman writes from Winnipeg

Really easy, really useful

Hey Reena, My son is doing a science fair project on “How permanent are permanent markers.” We are experimenting on various surfaces — linoleum, paint, wood and carpet. We want to include some green alternatives for removal. Do you have any suggestions? Please note — if it doesn’t remove from all the surfaces that is OK because it is just part of the science. — Thank you, Frances Dear Frances, My favourite less toxic solution for removing permanent marker from hard surfaces such as wood is baking powder and dish soap. Create a paste and scrub the surface. Takes some elbow grease but it will come off. Great science project topic — hope you get an “A!” Hello Reena, I heard you on the radio in B.C. and I am wondering if you can help our family. We would like to clean our kitchen oak cabinets. Can you please let us know the best solution? — Thanks, Linda Hi there Linda, Dilute one part soap in two parts warm water and clean the cabinets using a sponge or green scrubbing pad (not steel wool). When cleaning cabinets, pay particular attention to the area around cabinet door handles and drawer pulls as these places tend to be the stickiest. Removing cabinet hardware before cleaning will make it easier to clean. Other options for cleaning are: vinegar/water or baking soda/water or lemon juice/borax. For annual or biannual cleaning use Murphy’s Oil and water. After cabinets are clean you may want to buff them with a furniture wax suitable for your wood. Test all solutions on an inconspicuous area first! Hi Reena, I recently moved into a condo and I am having trouble cleaning the mirrors in both bathrooms. After cleaning (I have tried water and vinegar, Windex and then wiping them with newsprint)

but they look smeared. Any suggestions for cleaning the mirrors would be most appreciated. — Thank you, Connie Dear Connie, The water in your home may be a contributor to your streaky woes therefore, try bottled water if your tap water is mineral rich. Nothing beats a greatquality microfibre cloth for removing streaky-looking mirrors. Water and a cloth is all you need. Microfibre drying cloths are also a worthwhile investment, just don’t settle for the cheap stuff or you will be disappointed. The following is my absolute favourite Squeaky Clean Window Recipe: In a spray bottle, combine 1 tsp. (5 ml) inexpensive shampoo, 1/4 cup (60 ml) rubbing alcohol and fill remaining portion of the bottle with white vinegar. Spray and wipe. For extra shine make a paste of cornstarch and water, wipe mirrors and wipe with a clean cloth. (Taken from Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets. Extra Tip: To avoid foggy mirrors following hot showers, smear shaving cream or gel over mirrors once a month, remove all excess. Tips for fixing cooking mishaps: • If a tomato-based sauce becomes too acidic add a teaspoon of baking soda at a time to the sauce to reduce acidity. Some cooks prefer to add sugar for the same reason. Sugar can also reduce acidity of tomatoes used in salads. • If you find that the sauce you are cooking is liquidy and thin, thicken with a combination of flour and butter (add in small batches). Cornstarch is usually a good thickener, but it might help to mix it with water first. A little goes a long way. Some cooks use dried potato flakes as an emergency thickener. If the sauce would not do well with these ingredients, you may try a reduction. Allow the excess liquid to boil out of the sauce until it is reduced in volume. I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming! Check out my website www.householdsolutions.org. Reena Nerbas is a highly popular professional speaker and the author of three national bestsellers, Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions, Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets and Household Solutions 3 with Green Alternatives. Books and Household Solutions 1, 2 and 3 Cooking/Cleaning Gift Packs are available online or by calling: 204-320-2757.

READER’S PHOTO

By Stan Harder FREELANCE CONTRIBUTOR

Are you a quilter or maybe have someone in your life who quilts? Here’s the perfect way to store flat measuring tools. Cut a block of wood 14 inches long, 5 inches wide and 4 inches deep, then slice in a series of grooves lengthwise spaced approximately 5/8 of an inch apart. These grooves are one table saw blade in width and 3 inches deep. This will leave an inch of solid wood below to provide stability and substance. This may be one of the least complicated projects you’ve ever done. It may also turn out to be one of the most useful.

PHOTO: STAN HARDER

Cattle were still able to feed in the open in January on the Matchett farm south of Belmont, Manitoba. PHOTO: LILLIAN DEEDMAN

The 1 Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

The Manitoba Co-Operator | October 6, 2011

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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

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

ANTIQUES

BUSINESS SERVICES

FARM MACHINERY Combine – John Deere

FARM MACHINERY Specialty Equipment

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

ANTIQUES Antique Equipment

BUSINESS SERVICES Crop Consulting

2005 JD 9760 STS combine, 1100-hrs, duals, contour w/2009 JD 635F flex head, $144,500. Phone: (507)993-0720 .

2 COMPLETE SETS OF good leather harness, 1 set of heavy leather harness w/breechen, 3-ply tugs. A good assortment of horse collars, new yokes & double trees, old horse machinery, spread rings & scotch tops. Phone:(204)242-2809, Manitou.

FARM CHEMICAL SEED COMPLAINTS

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.

1983 MF 860 COMBINE, 9001 belt PU, chopper, chaff spreader, 24.5x32 tires, rear traction tires, rebuilt engine, new rad, VGC, always shedded, $7,800; JD 800 SWATHER, 18-ft. head, good shape, $900; JD 9350 PRESS DRILLS 2x10 rubber press, fert attach & markers, 1981 god condition, $3,500; JD 7000 PLANTER 8x36, fert attach & markers, good conditioner, $3,500. Phone (204)828-3396, Graysville.

AUCTION DISTRICTS 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

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

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

Birch River

Swan River Minitonas Durban

Winnipegosis

Roblin

Dauphin

Grandview

Ashern

Gilbert Plains

Fisher Branch

Ste. Rose du Lac Russell

Parkland

Birtle

Riverton Eriksdale

McCreary

Gimli

Shoal Lake

Langruth

Neepawa

Gladstone

Rapid City Virden

Carberry

Boissevain

Killarney

Pilot Mound Crystal City

Elm Creek

Sanford

Ste. Anne

Carman

Mariapolis

Lac du Bonnet

Beausejour

Winnipeg

Austin Treherne

Westman

Waskada

Stonewall Selkirk

Portage

Brandon Souris

Melita

Interlake

Erickson Minnedosa

Hamiota

Reston

Arborg

Lundar

St. Pierre

242

Morris Winkler Morden

Altona

Steinbach

Red River

AUCTION SALES AUCTION SALES Manitoba Auctions – Interlake MCSHERRY AUCTION SITE Estate and Moving Auction Sat. Feb. 18th @ 10:30am Stonewall, MB #12 Patterson Drive. Yard & Rec; Tools & Misc; Antiques Furniture; Antiques; Glassware; Household. STUART MCSHERRY (204)467-1858 or (204)886-7027 www.mcsherryauction.com MCSHERRY GUN AUCTION Saturday, Feb. 4th at 9:30am 12 Patterson Drive, Stonewall, MB. OVER 250 GUNS! Modern; Vintage; Military; Rifles; Handguns; Ammo; Decoys; Hunting Accessories. All Selling Unreserved! WE ACCEPT PROXY BIDS! Viewing: Friday, Februrary 3rd, 1:00 - 8:00pm. STUART MCSHERRY (204)467-1858 or (204)886-7027 www.mcsherryauction.com Next Gun Sale: Sat March 24nd , 2012

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. 1981 CASE W20B WHEEL loader, well maintained, $23,500. www.waltersequipment.com (204)525-4521

FARM MACHINERY FARM MACHINERY Fertilizer Equipment FERTILIZER SPREADERS 4T, $1,000; 4T stainless, $2,500; 5T, $4,000; 6T, $3,000; 8T, $8,000; 8T Tender, $3,000; 16T Tender, $5,900; PU Sand Spreader, $3,500. Phone (204)857-8403.

FARM MACHINERY Grain Dryers 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 WANTED: 570-BU. OR LARGER batch dryer. Phone (204)655-3458.

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 FOR SALE: JD 7700 combine, D, equipped to do hemp, trade for 500-bu. of Canola or cash; JD 8820 Titan II, good condition, trade for Canola. (204)655-3458.

Combine ACCessories FARM MACHINERY Combine – Accessories 1993, 1995, 2000 JD 925 Flex Platforms, 25-ft. w/PU Reel, Poly skids $6000-$16,500; 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003 JD 930 Flex Platforms, 30ft PU Reels, Poly skids $7900-$18,900; 2007 JD 630 Hydra Flex Platform, 30ft., PU Reel, Poly skids, Full Fgr Auger $28,500; 06 JD 635 Hydra Flex Platform, 35-ft., PU Reel, Poly skids, Full Fgr Auger $27500. Call Gary (204)326-7000 Steinbach, MB www.reimerfarmequipment.com 1994 CIH 1010 RIGID platform 25-ft w/PU Reel $5500; 1997, 1999, 2002 CIH 1020 Flex Platforms, 30ft w/PU Reels, Poly skids, mint condition $12,500- $16,500. Call Gary (204)326-7000 Steinbach, MB www.reimerfarmequipment.com 2000 JD 930 FLEX platform PU reel, full finger auger, poly skids, reconditioned, $17,900 OBO; 2006 JD 635 Flex, PU reel, FF auger, poly skids, single pt, looks like new, $27,900 OBO; 2000 JD 925 Flex, PU reel, FF auger, poly skids, real nice, $15,900 OBO; 2007 JD 630 flex, PU reel, FF auger, poly skids, single pt, beautiful platform, $28,900 OBO; Over 20 Platforms in stock, many more coming in, all makes. Garry (204)326-7000, Steinbach, MB. www.reimerfarmequipment.com 3 2011 635F FLEXHEADS & 2 2011 635D Draperheads, very low acres, like new. Call Ron @ (204) 272-5070 or (204) 626-3283. JD 212 PU PLATFORM 6-belt $950-$2500; JD 214 PU platform 7-belt $3450; JD 914 PU platform 7belt $7500. Call Gary (204)326-7000 Steinbach, MB www.reimerfarmequipment.com

AUTO & TRANSPORT

80-FT. BUCKET ELEVATING LEG w/3 phase 10-HP electric motor. Phone (204)886-3304.

NEW ELMERS 30-FT. HEADER Trailers w/flex kit $3000; New Arc-Fab 30-ft. Header Trailers w/flex kit $2950; New Arc-Fab 36-ft. Header Trailers w/flex kit, front dolly wheels, $5500; New Arc-Fab 38-ft. Header Trailers w/flex kit, front dolly wheels, tandem rear suspension axles $6500. Call Gary (204)326-7000 Steinbach, MB www.reimerfarmequipment.com

AUTO & TRANSPORT Auto & Truck Parts

FARM MACHINERY Haying & Harvesting – Baling

FARM MACHINERY Parts & Accessories

REMANUFACTURED DSL ENGINES: GM 6.5L $4,750 installed; Ford/IH 7.3L $4950 installed; GM Duramax; new 6.5L engines $6500; 12/24V 5.9L Cummins; other new/used & reman. engines available. Thickett Engine Rebuilding, 204-532-2187, Binscarth. 8:00am-5:30pm Mon.-Fri.

AUTO & TRANSPORT Semi Trucks & Trailers 2006 FREIGHTLINER HIGHWAY TRACTOR, new rubber, can be daycabbed, fleet maintained. $25,000; Westfield 830 auger w/5-hp electric motor; Westfield 741 auger w/gas motor. Phone: (204)348-2064, cell (204)345-3610.

BEEKEEPING BEEKEEPING Bee Equipment 690 POLY SURROUNDS; 385 with nests; 75 poly shelters, various makes. Phone: (204)435-2253.

BUILDING & RENOVATIONS BUILDING & RENOVATIONS Roofing

WINTER BLOWOUT!! 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

FARM MACHINERY Grain Elevators

2009 2150 HESSTON SERIES, 3x3 large square baler. Always shedded, total bales, 2500, used two seasons, asking $65,000 cdn OBO; 1982 1069 NH diesel bale wagon, c/w 1028S mil-STAK 3x3 loader arm, 354 Perkins engine w/redone fuel system last season. Always shedded. paint & rubber in good condition, AC/CD stereo, very nice wagon, well maintained ready to go to work, asking $45,000 cdn obo. email sdryden@rfnow.com or contact Steve Dryden (204)838-2352, Virden, MB. CASE-IH 8575 LARGE SQUARE Baler, GC; Inland 4000 square bale picker, GC; 2004 1475 NH haybine, VGC. Phone (204)467-5984 leave msg, Stonewall.

FARM MACHINERY Hay & Harvesting – Mower Conditioner NH 1441 DISC MOWER CONDITIONER 15-ft. $17,900 OBO. Call Gary 204-326-7000 Steinbach, MB www.reimerfarmequipment.com

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

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

TRACTORS FOR PARTS: IHC 1486, 1086, 886, 1066, 966, 1256, 656, 844, 806, 706, 660, 650, 560, 460, 624, 606, 504, 434, 340, 240-4, W9, WD6, W6, W4, H, 340, B-414; 275 CASE 4890, 4690, 2394, 2390, 2290, 2090, 2470, 1370, 1270, 1175, 1070, 970, 870, 1030, 930, 830, 730, 900, 800, 700, 600, 400, DC4, SC; MF 2745, 1155, 1135, 1105, 1100, 2675, 1500, 1085, 1080, 65, Super 90, 88, 202, 44, 30; JD 6400, 3140, 5020, 4020, 4010, 3020, 3010, 710; Cockshutt 1900, 1855, 1850, 1800, 1655, 1650, 560, 80, 40, 30; White 4-150, 2-105; Allis Chalmers 7045, 7040, 190XT, 190, 170, WF; Deutz DX130, DX 85, 100-06, 90-06, 80-05; Volvo 800, 650; Universal 651, 640; Ford 7600, 6000, 5000, Super Major, Major; Belarus 5170, 952, 825, 425; MM 602, U, M5; Versatile 700, 555, 145, 118; Steiger 210 Wildcat; Hesston 780. Also have parts for combines, swathers, square & round balers, tillage, press drills and other misc. machinery. Buying machinery, working or not. MURPHY SALVAGE (204)858-2727 or toll free 1-877-858-2728

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

Tractors Combines Swathers

FYFE PARTS

1-800-667-9871 • Regina 1-800-667-3095 • Saskatoon 1-800-387-2768 • Winnipeg 1-800-222-6594 • Edmonton “For All Your Farm Parts”

Combines

www.fyfeparts.com

BEAT THE PRICE INCREASES CALL NOW

FARM MACHINERY Combine – Case/IH

FOUILLARD STEEL SUPPLIES LTD.

2008 5710 BOURGAULT AIRDRILL, updated to 5810, comes w/6550 Bourgault tank, done 6500 acres, $168,000, OBO. Phone:(204)352-4037, evenings.

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.

Ask about our blowout colours...65¢/ft.2

ST. LAZARE, MB. 1-800-510-3303

BUILDINGS CONCRETE FLATWORK: Specializing in place & finish of concrete floors. Can accommodate any floor design. References available. Alexander, MB. 204-752-2069.

FARM MACHINERY Combine – John Deere 1990 9600 JD, 2900 sep hrs, 914 p/u, long auger, hopper-topper, 2-spd cyl, new tires, new chopper knives after 2011 harvest, in VGC, $55,000. OBO. Phone:(204)239-7874, Austin, MB.

BUILDINGS

WATROUS SALVAGE WaTRoUs, sK. Fax: 306-946-2444

NEW & USED TRACTOR PARTS NEW COMBINE PARTS Large Inventory of new and remanufactured parts

STEINBACH, MB. Ph. 326-2443 Toll-Free 1-800-881-7727 Fax (204) 326-5878 Web site: farmparts.ca E-mail: roy@farmparts.ca

Spraying EquipmEnt FARM MACHINERY Sprayers 1982 HAGIE 647 HIGH-CLEARANCE 4WD diesel Sprayer, 80-ft updated boom, 500-gal, MT flow control, outback guidance, new nozzles, $9000OBO; MF200 Swather, 30-ft, 1500-hrs, updated knifedrive, VGC, $19,000OBO. (204)529-2104. 2002 FLEXICOIL 67, SUSPENDED boom, 90ft. air curtain, 1000/gal tank, 100/gal rinse tank, $22,000 OBO (306)921-8217, Melfort, Sk.

Tillage & Seeding FARM MACHINERY Tillage & Seeding – Air Seeders 1997 EZEE-ON 28FT AIR SEEDER, 10-in. spacing, 175-bu. tank, rubber packers, harrows $30,000. Call Gary (204)326-7000 Steinbach, MB www.reimerfarmequipment.com

FARM MACHINERY Tillage & Seeding – Tillage FOR SALE: 3400 WIL-RICH field cultivator, 50.5-ft, 4 row harrows, excellent condition; 2001 Flexi-Coil 5000 air seeder, 57-ft, 7.2-inch spacing, rubber packer, tow-between 2340 tank, like new. Phone:(204)324-9300 or 324-7622.

FARM MACHINERY Tillage & Seeding – Various 8-ROW JD 7200 VACUUM planter, 36-in. spacing, dry fert & row cleaners, $7,500; 8-row Alloway cultivator, $1,200; Elmers 8-row band sprayer, $1,200; Phone (204)857-8400, Portage.

TracTors FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Allis/Deutz 1987 DUETZ 7085 FWA, open-station, 85hp, 5900-hrs, Allied 794 FEL $18,000. (204)525-4521 www.waltersequipment.com

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Case/IH 1988 CASE-IH 7130 TRACTOR, 4900-hrs, MFD, duals, $38,000 OBO. Phone: (204)352-4037 2006 CASEIH DX55 TRACTOR, w/lx 360 loader, fwa, 1-hyd, 3-PTH, 927-hrs. Phone:(204)825-2641. CIH 784 tractor, 3-pth, loader, $10,900. Call Gary (204)326-7000 Steinbach, MB www.reimerfarmequipment.com FOR SALE: 1981 CASE 2390 tractor, excellent condition, duals 6,300-hrs, $12,500 OBO. Phone (204)571-0023. INTL INDUSTRIAL 484 W/INDUSTRIAL loader factory cab & air, 4,500 actual hrs, tractor is in excellent condition, price $13,500. Phone (204)853-7755, Wpg.

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – John Deere 1982 JD 1040 W/CAB 3-PTH, JD 175 loader, $12,900 OBO. Garry (204)326-7000, Steinbach, MB. www.reimerfarmequipment.com 1995 JD 7200 MFWD 3-PTH, JD 740 loader, joystick, 7-ft. bucket, grapple, high hrs but excellent shape, free shipping in MB or SK, $42,900 OBO. Garry (204)326-7000, Steinbach, MB. www.reimerfarmequipment.com 2003 JD 6420 W/640 FEL bucket & grapple, joystick, 24-SPD trans, new front tires, 3-PTH, 8,000-hrs, asking $45,000 OBO. Call (204)739-3759 or (204)762-5913.

2160 LUCKNOW VERTICAL MIXER wagon, new 2006, good condition, always shedded; New Holland 195 spreader, balloon tires, good shape, farmuse only; approx 700 Broam alfalfa mix, 1st & 2nd cut, large round bales. Phone:(204)264-0099, (204)576-0071. 2 HONEY WAGONS FOR scrap or salvage, $300 each or $500 for both, OBO. Phone (204)746-4500. 70-FT. SUMMERS HEAVY HARROW, $15,000; Phoenix 42/53-ft. harrow, flexheads I-H 820, $2,000; 1020 25-ft., $6,000; 30-ft., $8,500; JD 925, $6,500; 12 wheel rake, $6,000; 14 wheel, $7,000; Vermeer hyd rake, $4,000; NH 9-ft. mower $2,200; IH 9-ft., $1,800; Haybuster 256+2 shredder, 4,000lb creep feeder, $1,200; Harsh 350 feedmixer cart, $6,000; Roorda feed cart, $2,000; 12-yd. JD scraper, $12,000; Haybuster 106 rockpicker, $2,500. Phone (204)857-8403. 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 FOR SALE: ACD15; JD420C; NH499 hay bine; 2003 258 hayrake. Phone:(204)828-3269 leave msg. FOR SALE DUE TO Quit Farming: 1) 1981 JD 8640 4WD tractor, approx 9,000-hrs, new 50 series eng, 4 whl diff lock, triple hyds, PTO, ac/heat, clean, $20,000; 2) 1993 Case-IH 1680 combine, approx 2,800-hrs, Cummins PWR, specialty rotor, chopper, hopper topper, 1015 PU, excellent, reliable, $35,000; 3) 1989 Freightliner FL112 semi truck, 3406 CAT, 13-SPD trans, air ride suspension & air ride cab, sleeper, very good Michelin rubber, diff lock, very clean, $15,000; 4) 1985 Ford L9000 Feed Truck, tandem axle, Rayman Aluminum feed body, 12-Ton 4 compartment, Cummins PWR, large front tires, good for fert or seed tender, $15,000; 5) 1985 Ford L8000 tandem grain truck, 20-ft. Cancade box, roll tarp, diff lock, 3208 Cat, 13-SPD trans, new PTO pump, mechanically sound, needs paint, $15,000; 6) Ezee-on 33-ft. Air Drill, double shoot, Model 2175-bu. cart, tow behind, hyd fan drive, 8-in. spacing, excellent, low acs, $35,000; 7) 1989 CI 722 swather, approx 1,900-hrs, 25-ft. UII PU reel, Isuzu DSL, joystick control, good canvas, ac/heat, $15,000; 8) 1981 JD 2750 tractor, 2 whl drive, new motor, c/w Allied FEL, joystick control, PTO, 3-pt. new rubber, new clutch, new starter, $19,000; 9) Farm King MD swing away auger, 60-ft. low profile hopper, hyd hopper mover, $4,000; 10) 4 misc augers, 5-HP electric 30-40-ft., $500 each; 11) Snowblower Farm King 8-ft., 3-pt., double auger, hyd chute, $1,800. Prices negotiable for more info contact Claude (204)744-2501 home or (204)825-0001 cell. FOR SALE: HD FRONT 3PT hitch to fit JD 40-42-44 series, can be adapted for all tractors, incl rear mount. $1200. Phone Arborg: (204)376-2604. GEHL 120 MX MIXMILL, always shedded, $2,500 OBO. Phone (204)937-2631. HAYBUSTER 2650 BALE SHREDDER, hyd deflector, big tires. Phone (204)242-2784, please phone for details. 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

2004 JD 7320 MFWD, 16x16 Partial Powershift Trans, LH Reverser, 3400-hrs $49,500. OBO; 1982 JD 1040 w/cab, 3-pth, JD 175 Loader, $12,900 OBO; 1961 JD 3010 Diesel, real nice, $6,900 OBO. Phone: Gary (204)326-7000, Steinbach, MB www.reimerfarmequipment.com

MANURE SPREADERS NH 195, $5,500; NH 500bu, $9,000; New Idea 3634, $4,000; H & S 400-bu., $3,500; Gehl scavenger, $2,500; JD 1,500-gal slurry, $2,500; Meyers 550 for poultry horse, sheep manure, $11,900; Henke 36-in. rollermill, $5,000; Farmhand mixmill, $1,500; Allied 2795 loader, $4,500; Dual 340 loader, $2,000; Dual 320 loader, $1,500. Phone (204)857-8403.

2004 JD 7320 MFWD 3-PTH, JD 740 loader, joystick, 7-ft. bucket, LH reverser, 16x16 partial powershift trans, 3,820-hrs, free shipping in MB or SK, $67,900 OBO. Garry (204)326-7000, Steinbach, MB. www.reimerfarmequipment.com

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.

2004 JD 7520 MSWD, 5400-hrs, 741 self-leveling loader/ grapple, PS/LHR, exc-cond, $72,500, OBO, would trade for 200HP MSWD tractor. Phone:(204)239-7874 Austin, MB.

USED EQUIPMENT: 1995 JD tractor 8300 MFWD, 3PT, P/S, less than 5800-hrs $77,500; Brand new 2011 Parker 739 grain cart w/tarp SALE PRICE $24,900; 2004 JD 630F SALE PRICE $20,500; 2004 JD 635F SALE PRICE $23,900. Please visit website at www.genag.com or call Shelton Kehler 701-330-7401 or Tom Wiebe 204-312-0604

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – 2 Wheel Drive 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.

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Various

Big Tractor Parts, Inc. Geared For The Future

STEIGER TRACTOR SPECIALIST

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.

1-800-982-1769 www.bigtractorparts.com

HEADERS, TRAILERS & ACCESSORIES. Arc-Fab Industries. 204-355-9595 charles@arcfab.ca www.arcfab.ca

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Simmental

M&J FARMS BULL & FEMALE SALE

Sat. Feb. 11, 2012

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Wanted

LIVESTOCK Cattle Auctions

CCIL 24-26-FT. DEEP TILLER w/mulchers in good condition, model 806 or 807. Phone (204)662-4580, Cromer, MB. WANTED: ALLIED 795 LOADER to fit 1175 Case. Phone (204)781-7988. WANTED: A VERSATILE 580 Sprayer in working condition. Phone:(701)593-6168. WANTED: GRAPPLE FORKS for JD 265 loader. Also 4020 JD engine or tractor for parts. Phone (204)768-3664, Ashern.

FENCING FREE STANDING PANELS FOR SALE: 30ft 5-bar panels, made out of 2 7/8” pipe $425/panel. Phone Brent (204)642-3026

GENERATORS

PRAIRIELANE FARMS LTD FEEDER/SLAUGHTER SALES Every Friday 8AM Receiving open until 11PM Thursdays Presale Sundays BRED COW/FEEDER/SLAUGHTER SALE Monday, February 13 9AM SHEEP & GOAT SALE 1st & 3rd Thursday of Every Month February 2nd & 19th 1PM 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 DIESEL GENERATOR SET. BF8M1015C, rebuilt Deutz Diesel, 400 KW, 60 cycle, 600 Vac. New generator, automatic shut down, $29,000. Blue Ball, PA (717)351-5081

HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING

Licence #1122

GRUNTHAL LIVESTOCK AUCTION MART. LTD. GRUNTHAL, MB. Agent for T.E.A.M. Marketing

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

Monday Feb. 13 & 27th - Sheep & Goat Sale with small animals - 12Noon Saturday, Feb. 18 - Bred Cow & Heifer Sale - 10am Regular Cattle Sales every Tuesday 9AM

Sales Agent for HIQUAL INDUSTRIES Livestock Handling Equipment for info regarding products or pricing, please call our office.

www.penta.ca

1-800-587-4711

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Friesen Built Inc. 1-866-388-4004

1-204-388-6150

IRON & STEEL FREE STANDING CORRAL PANELS, Feeders & Alley ways, 30ft or order to size. Oil Field Pipe: 1.3, 1.6, 1.9, 1 7/8, 2-in, 2 3/8, 2 7/8, 3 1/2. Sucker Rod: 3/4, 7/8, 1. Casing Pipes: 4-9inch. Sold by the piece or semi load lots, taking Spring bookings. For special pricing call Art (204)685-2628 or cell (204)856-3440.

LIVESTOCK LIVESTOCK Cattle Auctions

Attention: Cattle Producers

For on farm appraisal of livestock or for marketing information please call Harold Unrau (Manager) Cell 871 0250 Auction Mart (204) 434-6519 MB. Livestock Dealer #1111

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Angus BRED RED & BLACK Angus Heifers, Registered, AI & bull dates avail. Start calving Apr 1. Call after 7:00pm for more info. Doug (204)467-5093, Stonewall. HAMCO CATTLE CO. 14TH Annual Angus Bull Sale, Sat. March 17th, 2012 (1:00pm) at the farm South of Glenboro, MB. Selling approx. 70 yearling & 20, 2-yr old Red Angus & 25 yearling & 5, 2-yr old Black Angus bulls. Many are AI & some are ET. Free board till spring, semen tested, free delivery, delayed payment plan. Call for catalogue or view online at: www.hamcocattleco.com. Albert, Glen & Larissa Hamilton (204)827-2358 or (204)526-0705; Dr David Hamilton (204)822-3054 or (204)325-3635 STEWART CATTLE CO. & GUESTS BULL SALE 50 Black Angus bulls & 4 Simm X Angus bulls, February 23, 2012 at 1:30pm Neepawa Ag-plex, Neepawa, MB. Contact Brent Stewart (204)773-2356 home, (204)773-6392 cell. View catalogue online at www.stewartcattle.com

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Black Angus BLACK ANGUS HEIFERS FOR SALE bred to Black Angus bulls, start calving about Apr 6th, 2012. Dale Smith (204)876-4798, Snowflake, MB. BLACK ANGUS & POLLED Hereford bulls for sale, yearling & 2 yr olds. Semen tested, performance records & delivery available. Call Don Guilford (204)873-2430, Clearwater. BOTANY ANGUS & LEANING SPRUCE STOCK FARMS have for sale yearling Black Angus bulls. These bulls are fed a grower ration. For performance information and prices contact Ryan. Come early, a deposit will hold your purchase until spring. Contact Ryan Shearer (204)824-2151 or Lyall Edgerton (204)483-2913.

Please remember the upcoming bred cow/heifer sale on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 11 A.M. At the Ashern Auction Mart

CATTLEMAN’S CONNECTION BULL SALE March 2, 2012, Heartland Livestock, Brandon. For catalogue or more information call BROOKMORE ANGUS, Jack Hart (204)476-2607, (204)476-6696 or email brookmoreangus@mts.net

1st Consignment consists of a herd dispersal of approx. 180 Hereford cows 2nd Consignment consists of a herd dispersal of 80 mixed cows 3rd Consignment consists of 40 bred heifers.

CRANBERRY CREEK ANGUS BULLS for sale. Bulls are Reg. & will be semen tested before delivery May 1st. Hand fed & very quiet. These bulls are beefy & will add pounds to your calf crop. Please call for weights & EPD’s. Pics by e-mail also avail David & Jeanette Neufeld (204)534-2380, Boissevain.

For more information, please view on globalauctionguide.com or www.ashernauction.com Or call Buddy Bergner (Auctioneer) 204-768-0018 Kirk Kiesman (Manager) 204-768-0019 Interlake Cattlemen’s Co-op #1128

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Black Angus

REGISTERED BLACK ANGUS BRED heifers for sale bred to Black Angus bull. Due to start calving late March. Call Don Guilford (204)873-2430, Clearwater. REGISTERED BLACK ANGUS BULLS for sale, low birth weight & very quiet, no disappointments, epd & delivery available. Phone:(204)843-2287, Amaranth. TOPVIEW ACRES HAS 20 Black Angus bulls for sale. Free delivery & board until April 1st. For pictures and information call (204)546-2150 or (204)648-3280. Email: kltopham@goinet.ca

34th ANNUAL BULL AND HEIFER SALE

SATURDAY APRIL 14th, 2012 1:00 pm on the farm 12 miles west of Souris, MB Contact: Blaine Canning 204-858-2475 Michael Canning 204-858-2457 or visit website at www.prairielaneangus.com LIVESTOCK Cattle – Red Angus 18 MTH OLD PB Red & Black Angus bulls for sale. To view the bulls check our website www.reddiamondfarm.com We semen test, guarantee & deliver. Phone Michael Becker (204)348-2464, Whitemouth. 21 HEIFERS FOR SALE, mostly Red Angus bred to purebred Red Angus bull. To start calving early April. Phone: (204)327-5204. DENBIE RANCH IS PROUD to offer an excellent set of long-yearling and yearling bulls for sale. We have a great group of Red Angus bulls along with a good selection of hybrid bulls, who are half-bred Angus & half-Simmental. The long yearlings are the perfect age bulls, developed on grass so they will stand up for a long time and big enough to go out and breed any size of cow with no problems! The yearling bulls are also a great group out of breed leading A.I. sires as well as our own herd sires! Contact Denbie Ranch at (204)447-2473, or 447-7608 and 447-7057.

on the farm at Russell, MB 204-773-6275 All 2 year olds Red & Black Angus Red & Black Simmental Bulls View and bid online www.mjsimmentalangus.com FOR SALE: PB BLACK Simmental bull, Polled, good legs & feet, papers avail, asking $3,000. Call Mark (204)252-3158 or cell (204)872-2029.

LIVESTOCK Cattle Various

IN PURSUIT OF PERFECTION BULL SALE: Selling 100 Red & Black Simmentals, Red & Black Angus and Bestbeef Hybrid bulls March 8, 2012 at Spring Creek Ranch near Moosomin, SK. Contact: Spring Creek Simmentals/Red Rose Angus, Brian McCarthy (306)435-3590 or Black Sand Cattle Co. Craig Davidson (204)761-5991. www.springcreeksimmentals.com and www.blacksandcattle.com PB YEARLING SIMMENTAL BULLS, 9 Red, 1 Black, from Top Performance AI Sires. Birth weights 80-106-lbs, yearling weights 1,400-lb average. Weaning weight gain per day 3.47-lbs. Weaning to yearling gain 4.44-lbs per day. Will keep till Spring. Wilcox Simmentals (204)723-2735, Ernie cell (204)526-7183, Pat cell (204)526-7060.

Rendezvous Farms 8th Annual

Bull & Female Sale Monday, 1:00 p.m.

February 13

Ste. Rose Auction Mart Ste. Rose du Lac, MB Selling 82 beefy Simmental Bulls

KINARED RED ANGUS OFFERS about 50 2 yr old bulls for sale, complete performance data, guaranteed, semen tested, delivery available. Come select your bulls early, $500 deposit will hold your bull until Spring. Vaughan & Judy Greenslade (204)239-6891, Portage la Prairie.

FOR SALE: MIXED BREED beef herd, bred to 5 yr old PB Red Angus bull, calving Apr 2012. Would consider partnership or lease arrangement. (204)571-1254. LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO feed calve & pasture cows for the 2012 season. Mostly Black Angus cows, starting to calve Apr 15th. Call Darrell (204)937-3719, Roblin, MB.

Kopp Farms Simmentals

REGISTERED PB RED ANGUS bulls, 2 yr olds & yearlings w/low birth weights. Phone: Ren-Ele Red Angus, (204)526-2424, Bruxelles.

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Charolais

Selling 57 Red & 25 Fullblood Bulls

18 MTH OLD POLLED PB Charolais bulls for sale. To view the bulls check our website www.reddiamondfarm.com We semen test, guarantee & deliver. Phone Michael Becker (204)348-2464, Whitemouth.

8th Annual Bull & Female Sale ON THE FARM - AMARANTH, MB

February 20, 2012 - 1:00PM

BRED CHAROLAIS ANGUS CROSS cows & heifers. Phone (204)447-7007. CHAROLAIS BULLS, MAINLY 2-YEAR olds, polled & Horned, Red factor & white. Excellent performance, good feet & above average testicular development. Some semen tested & used in 2011. Bulls fed to grow but have longevity. Semen tested & delivered. Ian Milliken. Reston. Phone: (204)877-3346, email imilliken@mts.net. FOR SALE: PB CHAROLAIS bulls 1.5 yr olds & yearlings, Polled, some Red factor, some good for heifers, semen tested in Spring, guaranteed & delivered. R&G McDonald Livestock (204)466-2883 or (204)724-2811, Sidney, MB.

nutrition digestion prevention

Rendezvous Farms Ste. Rose du Lac, MB David Maguet

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

Also selling 27 heifers View catalog at www.transconlivestock.com Sales Consultant: Wilf Davis 204 834-2479

1.888.762.3299

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Hereford EXCELLENT HEREFORD BULL, VERY quiet, was used on heifers, 5 1/2 yrs old, only reason for selling: end of bloodline. Phone: (204)242-4302. POLLED HEREFORD & BLACK Angus bulls for sale, yearlings & 2 yr olds available. Semen tested, performance records & delivery available. Call Don Guilford (204)873-2430, Clearwater.

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Limousin TWIN OAK LIMOUSIN & Twin Meadow Livestock farms has Red Polled yearling bulls, birth weights 84-97-lbs, ADG 2.73-3.48. Selected for performance, moderate frame, calving ease, excellent disposition & body length. Will keep until needed. Call Gary or Josie (204)723-2275 or Tracey (204)723-2386.

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Maine-Anjou 2 YR OLD & yearling Black Maine-Anjou bulls for sale. Low birth weights, good performance, all guaranteed, delivered in Spring. Phone (204)523-8408

Home/office: 204/447-2054 cell 204 447-7573

Gerald Maguet cell 204 447-5037 LIVESTOCK Cattle Various

30 RED ANGUS X cows bred Red Angus and easy calving Simmental bulls, start calving July/August. Phone: (204)325-8691 or (204)325-2820. 35 RED ANGUS/CHAR X bred heifers $1400; 20 mature Char X bred cows $1100. Phone Larry (204)267-2438 or (204)871-0867, Oakville. 75 CHAROLAIS SIMMENTAL X cows for sale. Your pick from 140, closed herd. Cows are all home raised, have vaccination program. Cows expose to Char & Simm Bulls from May 15th to Aug 15th. Heifers exposed to Red Angus bull from May 15th to July 15th. Preg checked & Ivomeced. Heifers had 1st shot of Scourguard. Ray Girard (204)383-5958 house, (204)886-7550 cell, Lake Francis, MB. COMPLETE DISPERSAL: 210 excellent bred heifers & 60 2nd calvers Red & Black Angus X, bred Charolais and Red Angus. Also 130 very good Char X cows, bred Charolais. All done Pfizer Gold. Call (204)447-0184. FOR SALE: 7 BRED cows Charlois-Red Angus cross 3 with month old calves at foot. Wanted: Small sq straw bales. Call (204)749-2018 or (204)723-0747 cell.

Rendezvous Cooperator bull ad.indd 1

B E E F

Offering Approx. 100 Bulls

B U L L S

Offering Approx. 40 Heifers

Semen tested & guaranteed Remember, bull shopping doesn’t have to be a gamble. Kopp Farms produces bulls that are beneficial to the beef industry.

View Catalogue & Sale Videos Online www.koppfarms.com For Information or Catalogue Inquiries call 204-843-2769 Edmunds Cell: 204-856-3064 Steven’s Cell: 204-843-0090

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

save! Renew early and

LIVESTOCK Cattle Wanted

LIVESTOCK Livestock Equipment 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.

TIRED OF THE HIGH COST OF MARKETING YOUR CALVES??

HIGHLINE 7500 BALE SHREDDER $7500. Call Gary (204)326-7000 Steinbach, MB www.reimerfarmequipment.com

300-700 LBS. Steers & Heifers Rob: 528-3254, 724-3400 Ben: 721-3400

JD GRAIN CRUSHER, Phone (306)453-2843.

WANTED: USED CATTLE HOOF trimming chute. Phone (306)482-3858.

LIVESTOCK Horses – Donkeys

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LIVESTOCK Horses For Sale

Specialty

4 DRAFT CROSS MARES bred Mammoth Jack & Mammoth Jack is for sale. 2 yr old Draft cross Paint stud. Phone (306)453-2843.

LIVESTOCK Swine For Sale PUREBRED BERKSHIRE TAMWORTH, CHESTER White Boars & Guilts for sale. Nationwide delivery available. Contact Troy Callingridge (204)828-3317, (204)379-2004 or cells (204)750-2759 (204)750-1493.

WANTED: REAR TIRE RAIL duals and tires to fit 18.4x38. Phone: (204)838-2397

ORGANIC ORGANIC Organic – Certified ORGANIC PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA CO-OPERATIVE (OPAM). Non-profit member owned organic certification body, certifying producers, processors and brokers since 1988. Phone: (204)567-3745, Miniota, Manitoba. Email: info@opam-mb.com

LIVESTOCK Livestock Equipment

PERSONAL

2002 GEHL 8285 SILAGE wagon, $9000. Phone: (306)898-2123. 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)5562346 or (204)851-0145, Virden. FOR SALE: 285 LUCKNOW mix wagon w/scales, in good shape, $13,000. Phone:(204)648-3983 or (204)638-7634.

SINGLE? CANDLELIGHT MATCHMAKERS can help you find each other! Everyone deserves a Happy Relationship. Confidential, Photos & Profiles to selected matches. Affordable, local, 5 recent Weddings & an Engagement! Serving MB, SK, NW Ontario. Call/Write for info: Box 212, Roland, MB, R0G 1T0, (204)343-2475.

AVAILABLE BACHELORETTE

FOR SALE: PALLISER CATTLE oiler, like new, used only 1 yr. Phone (204)886-2142.

Weather now for next week.

Fun athletic, outgoing, a real go getter country gal. Loves horses, fine dining, travel, golf, enjoys the finer things in life as well as peace & quiet. At 34 this successful slim, fit, healthy, blonde with blue eyes & a Cover Girl smile is 5’7, 138lbs. A natural beauty is seeking an accomplished successful man, who is a farmer or rancher. A man who is seeking a life partner age 40-55.

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ATTACH YOUR MAILING LABEL HERE

*Taxes included

MAMMOTH/STANDARD FEMALE DONKEYS BORN May 2011. Weaned, dewormed, good working stock for cattle, sheep & goats. Parents good guard animals. Phone: (204)425-3131

TEAM OF WELL MATCHED 2 yr old fillies, 1 Thoroughbred/Percheron born June 2010, 1 performance horse registry born April 2010. Both registered w/NAERIC. For more information call Gerald (807)482-2980.

MISCELLANEOUS WANTED

WANTED: BUTCHER HOGS SOWS AND BOARS FOR EXPORT

Horses

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

LIVESTOCK Swine Wanted

FLOCK OF BRED MIXED breed ewes & ewe lambs, Suffolk Ram & guard Llama sell w/flock. Phone (204)571-1254.

1·800·782·0794

mowers.

PORTABLE WINDBREAKS, CALF SHELTERS, free standing rod & pipe panels, fence line & field silage bunks. Also sell Speed-Rite & 7L Livestock fence equipment, drill pipe & sucker rod. Phone (204)827-2104 or (204)827-2551, Glenboro.

LIVESTOCK Sheep For Sale

Call, email or mail us today!

Horse

KELLN SOLAR SUMMER/WINTER WATERING System, provides water in remote areas, improves water quality, increases pasture productivity, extends dugout life. St. Claude/Portage, 204-379-2763.

800-1000 LBS. Steers & Heifers Don: 528-3477, 729-7240

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

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE Motels & Hotels

REAL ESTATE Farms & Ranches – Manitoba TENDERS FARMLAND FOR SALE S 1/2 of SW 1-78W Approx 40 cult acs, approx 80-acs total, 3.5 million BTU boiler, 5000 head nursery barn, 2500 head finisher barn, 4.3 million gal Earthen manure storage, 600volt, 3-phase power, 14 ac w/yard, 50x80 shed, 60x120 shed, 40x50 shop, 3 cattle shelters w/corrals (seperate ownership title of 5.9 ac, 2000 sq/ft 2-storey home built in 1983). N 1/2 of SW 1-7-8W approx 65 cult acs, approx 80-acs total. SE 1-7-8W approx 135 cult acs, approx 180-acs total. NW 1-7-8W approx 145 cult acs, approx 160-acs total. W 1/2 22-7-8W approx 293 cult. acs, approx 310-acs total. SW 32-6-7W approx 115 cult acs, approx 160-acs total. W 1/2 of NE 6-7-7W approx 74 cult acs, approx 80-acs total. NE 8-6-8W approx 125 cult acs, approx 159-acs total. NE 9-6-8W approx 125 cult acs, approx 142-acs total. NE 15-6-8W approx 100 cult acs, approx 163-acs total. SW 16-6-8W approx 95 cult acs, approx 165-acs total. SE 17-6-8W approx 108 cult acs, approx 109-acs total. NW 25-6-8W approx 86 cult acs, approx 155-acs total. NE 33-6-8W Approx 125 cult ac, approx 145 total ac, 1600 sq ft home of 11 yrs, att 2 car garage, fin bsmt, both floor heated, heat pump, plenty of good well water, 40x60 quonset, 3-1600 & 4-1350 bus steel bins. Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted. Purchaser will be responsible for 2012 taxes starting March 1, 2012. For any additional info call Gilbert (204)751-0185 or Romeo (204)7230077. Marked & Sealed tenders will be received by the undersigned for the above described land up to 12:00pm Jan 31, 2012. Submit offers to: Farmland Tenders, Box 490, Notre Dame de Lourdes, MB R0G 1M0. Any other offers will be considered invalid.

REAL ESTATE Farms & Ranches – Wanted

REAL ESTATE Farms & Ranches – Manitoba FARM SPECIALIST: COUNT ON GRANT TWEED, informed, professional assistance for sellers & buyers. Call (204)761-6884 anytime, or www.granttweed.com. Service with integrity. RANCHES, GRAINLAND, BUILDING LOTS, Buffalo farm, homes, mobile homes, hunting land, pastures, hayland, hobby farms, large & small. We got them all. Call Harold (204)253-7373, www.manitobafarms.ca RANCH FOR SALE: NE, NW & SE 4-32-22 Crown Lands approved by MAFRI for transfer to purchase of Dianne Mayuks unit at Pine River 15 quarter township 31 & 32 Range 21 & 22W to purchase private land & apply for unit transfer Contact Dianne (204)263-5296. Comment on or object to this unit transfer write direct MAFRI Agriculture Crown Lands PO Box 1286, Minnedosa, MB. R0J 1E0 or e-mail robert.fleming@gov.mb.ca

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. 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

REAL ESTATE Land For Sale

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES Snowmobiles

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Hay & Straw

FOR SALE BY TENDER. Helen Friesen offers for sale by tender, the following parcels:

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

2500 MEDIUM SQUARE BALES Timothy hay, horse quality, stored in hay shed. Also 500 large round bales Alfalfa/Timothy mix, no rain, can deliver. Phone: (204)372-6937.

PARCEL 1: SE1/4 11-2-5 WPM except North 66ft Assessed at 158 acres.

or alternatively

PARCEL 2: Existing farmyard of 10 acres on SE1/4 11-2-5 WPM.

or alternatively

PARCEL 3: SE1/4 11-2-5 WPM except NOTRE DAME USED OIL North 66ft and excepting existing &farmyard FILTER DEPOT of 10 acres. • BuyWritten Used Oilsealed •tenders Buy Batteries must be • Collect Used Filters •byCollect Oil Containers received 5:00pm

Southern and Western February 24, 2012Manitoba at: 204-248-2110 J.A.Tel: Dykman Law Office 309 Stephen Street Morden, Manitoba R6M 1V1

TERMS: 1.) Seller will consider tenders on any or all parcels. 2.) The parcels described will be sold “as is”. 3.) The highest or any bid not necessarily accepted. 4.) Possession of cultivated land is April 20, 2012. 5.) Possession of yard site to be negotiated. 6.) Bid must be accompanied by a refundable deposit of 5% of the bid amount. (certified cheque made payable to: J.A. Dykman Law Office in Trust).

For further information contact: (204)822-3002 or (204)523-8429. Viewing at open house on Feb. 18, 2012 11:00am to 4:00pm.

REAL ESTATE Land For Sale

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

160-ACS FOR SALE: in the RM of Grey North of Haywood, approx 150-acs open, has a dugout currently used for pasture. Call (204)436-2301.

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES Motor Homes

PASTURELAND 1/2 SECTION ON South 10-17-13W in the Municipality of Lansdowne; 2004 26-ft. flat deck trailer w/loading ramps w/two 7-ton axles, c/w 4 semi holders & straps. Ken Oswald (204)386-2223.

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.

FIND

Sell Ag Equipment:

WANTED: JD LIQUIDATOR SNOWMOBILE or Liquifire; Also wanted older TNT or RV Squidoos or any other free air snowmobile. Phone (204)728-1861.

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

3X4 OAT STRAW BALES. Phone Chester or Lynn (204)746-2053, Morris, MB. FIRST & SECOND CUT hardcore round bales of Alfalfa/Grass mix. Feed tested & no rain. Phone: (204)836-2434, Swan Lake. 400 LARGE ROUND RED Clover Hay bales; 700 large round volunteer Canola & Wild Oats Bales; Hardcore & half net-wrapped, feed tested. Delivery avail. Jim Kaleta (204)638-7800, Dauphin. ALFALFA HAY MIX, 1ST & 2nd cut, round bales approx 1600-lbs, can deliver. Phone Bill (204)822-4962 leave message, or cell (204)325-3240, Morden. FOR SALE: 190 MILLET bales, asking 2 cents per lb. Call (204)526-0936 or (204)248-2291. FOR SALE: 600 MEDIUM square bales, 1st crop, Timothy/Alfalfa, feed test & delivery avail. Call (204)268-5615 or (204)268-4218, ask for Martin. FOR SALE: BIG ROUND 2011 1st cut Hay/Alfalfa mix. Phone (204)571-1254.

PEDIGREED SEED

FOR SALE: ROUND ALFALFA and brome Hay bales and round straw bales delivered in 40 bale loads. Phone:(204)483-2551 or (204)724-4974.

PEDIGREED SEED Cereal – Wheat

FOR SALE: ROUND BROM & alfalfa mix bales, excellent condition, also round wheat straw. Can deliver. Phone:(204)324-9300 or (204)324-7622.

LESS FUSARIUM MORE BOTTOM LINE. Wheat seed available. Suitable for ethanol production, livestock feed. Western Feed Grain Development Coop Ltd. 1-877-250-1552 www.wfgd.ca

From Producer to the World

For Sale: Hard Red Spring Wheat Certified Carberry / Glenn / Kane High quality; germination available Wholesale / Retail Contact Paul (204) 737-3004

GRASS & ALFALFA MIX bales. Contact Steve Dryden, at (204)838-2352, or email sdryden@rfnow.com. Virden MB. LARGE ROUND ALFALFA/BROME BALES. Phone: (204)859-2724 evenings, Rossburn MB. OAT STRAW ROUND BALES, baled by JD 567 baler. Freight available. Phone:(204)234-5411. ROUND BALES 1,200 1ST cut alfalfa grass, excellent condition, 1,300-lbs, $32; 200 2nd cut, 1,300-lbs, $40. Phone (204)625-5225 or (204)625-2702, Elphinstone. ROUND & SQUARE (306)453-2843.

HAY

bales.

Phone

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Hay & Feed Wanted WANTED: DAIRY, BEEF, GRASS & Straw bales in large square bales. Phone Mark 1-800-371-7928, Winnipeg.

PEDIGREED SEED Cereal – Various

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Feed Wanted

DURAND SEEDS: CERT AC Carberry & Harvest & Kane wheat; Souris Oats; Conlon Barley; CDC Bethune & Sorrel flax; Mancan Buckwheat; Canola & Forage seed. (204)248-2268,(204)745-7577, NotreDame. JAMES FARMS LTD: AC Barrie Wheat, Tradition Barley, Leggett & Summit Oats, Hanley Flax, Various Canola, Sunflower & Soybean seed varieties, Forage seed. Customer processing. Seed treating & delivery available. Early payment discounts. For info call (204)222-8785 or toll free 1-866-283-8785, Winnipeg. PUGH SEEDS: CERT KANE, AC Barrie, Somerset Wheat. Souris Oats. Conlon Barley. Reg & Cert Sorrel Flax. Phone (204)274-2179, Bill’s cell (204)871-1467, Barry’s cell (204)872-1851, Portage. SANDERS SEED FARM FDN, Reg. Cert. Domain Kane, Cert. Carberry, Harvest Wheat, Manitou, MB. Phone (204)242-4200 or (204)242-2576, Daniel Sanders.

PEDIGREED SEED Forage – Clover RED CLOVER SEED, double cut, hardy, cleaned, trace sweet clover & catchfly, cert. organic. Phone: (204)534-7843.

The largest selection of searchable ag equipment and machinery. Thousands of local and national listings added weekly.

PEDIGREED SEED Oilseed – Various

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

Call For Pricing Phone (204)747-2904

Toll Free 1-888-835-6351 Deloraine, Manitoba PEDIGREED SEED Specialty – Potatoes

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Grain Wanted GRAIN WANTED: Buyers willing to pay top dollar. Email: grainguy@live.ca or Phone: 778-868-3440. WANTED: A SEED GRAIN cleaner for wheat & barley, capacity 40-bu or more per hr. Phone (204)848-2485 Fax (204)848-4659.

WANTING TO BUY 30-TON Dark Red Northern potatoes & 10-ton white Granger potatoes. Koshowski Potato Growers (204)638-8415, Dauphin.

COMMON SEED COMMON SEED Various CORN SEED, $25/ACRE Alternative for Grazing & Silage High Yield & Nutrition –7 to 9-ft Tall– Leafy 2200 to 2350 CHU’s - Open Pollinated Varieties Phone (204)723-2831

SEED / FEED / GRAIN SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Feed Grain CONVENTIONAL AND ROUND UP Ready Grazing Corn. CanaMaize Seed 1-877-262-4046 or email info@canamaize.com FEED OATS 28-32 LBS/BU. Clean but light $2.00/bu at farm. Phone: (204)722-2023 McAuley, MB.

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Hay & Straw 1ST & 2ND CUT large round hardcore Alfalfa, Afalfala Silage & Hay, feed tested, 1,500-1,800-lbs. Phone (204)246-2032 or (204)823-0431 1ST CUT ROUND ALFALFA grass bales, no rain, approx wgt. 1,450-lbs. Phone (204)871-1129. 200 MEDIUM SQUARE BALES, asking $25 bale; 100 medium bales of wheat straw, $20 bale. Both in the yd, hay shed. Can deliver. Phone (204)755-2244.

BUYING:

HEATED & GREEN CANOLA • Competitive Prices • Prompt Movement • Spring Thrashed “ON FARM PICK UP”

1-877-250-5252

Vanderveen Commodity Services Ltd. Licensed and Bonded Grain Brokers

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

A Season to Grow… Only Days to Pay!

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Grain Wanted

CAREERS Professional

CANOLA WANTED

Heated, Green, Damaged Buying all levels of damaged canola. Best Prices. Bonded, Insured.

CALL US 1-866-388-6284 www.milliganbiotech.com

Looking for an Exciting Career Opportunity? SGS THE WORLD’S LEADING INSPECTION, TESTING, VERIFICATION AND

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

CERTIFICATION COMPANY IS LOOKING FOR Western Canadian Field Business Manager (Prairies Based) (Saskatoon)

NOW BUYING Confection and Oil Sunflowers, Brown & Yellow Flax and Red & White Millet

This position will identify and pursue Business Opportunities with current and new clients • Build and Manage a team of supervisors, soil samplers, bin probers and agronomy specialists • Maintain and build relationships with current accounts • Develop new service opportunities in soil, feed and manure. Field and testing • Build agronomy sales and service teams throughout Canada • Promote SGS’ image and service listings in a way which will further the company’s objectives • Participate in arranging and hosting current client and prospective client visits to all Canadian locations • Anticipate and resolve potential client problems • Ensure that any client complaints are forwarded to the appropriate individual(s) and ultimately resolved in a prompt and professional manner.

Licensed & Bonded

Box 144, Medora, MB. R0M 1K0 Ph: 204-665-2384

RYE GRAIN WANTED

Also Buying Brown & Yellow Flax & Field Peas Farm Pickup Available CGC Licensed and Bonded Call Cal Vandaele the “Rye Guy” Today!

“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

P.O. Box 1236 129 Manitoba Rd. Winkler, MB. R6W 4B3

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, LLOYDMINSTER, LETHBRIDGE, VANCOUVER, MINNEDOSA

1-204-724-6741

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Seed Wanted

45-FT. FRUEHAUF TRAILER, SAFETIED, new brakes & drums, complete rigging for round bales, $5,500 OBO. Phone (204)636-2450. BRANDON TRAILER SALES “You will like our prices!” “It’s that Simple!” “Let’s compare quality & price!” “Certainly worth the call!” Phone (204)724-4529. Dealer #4383

Required Qualifications: • Four year degree in a relevant field P.Ag. or PhD. In Soils sciences (e.g. business, marketing, agriculture, science) Advance degree preferred (MBA, MS) • Prefer an advanced knowledge of Variable Rate Technology, Soil Sciences and Agronomy. • Five years of business development experience in sales/marketing required • Business Development experience required • Must have excellent organizational skills; must be able to prioritize diverse tasks • Must posses solid critical thinking skills; must be able to anticipate and solve problems in a systematic manner • Must be proficient with computer database software (SalesLogix) and MS Office • Must have an understanding for agronomy, biology and sciences • Effective negotiation sales and skills • Small business skills-negotiation/selling/forecasts/financial transactions • People management skills, Independent Thinker, Self Motivated, Positive Attitude, Negotiation Skills, Highly organized, Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, Be a self-starter.

NEW ARC FAB COMBINE platform trailers in stock 30-ft., 36-ft., 38-ft., 40-ft. w or w/o dolly wheels. Dealer inquiries welcome. Garry (204)326-7000, Steinbach, MB. www.reimerfarmequipment.com

SGS offers a competitive executive level of compensation package and the position is eligible for a company vehicle Please refer to our website for complete position and application details: www.sgs.com/careers

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

SGS is an Employment Equity Employer

Looking for an Exciting Career Opportunity?

TRAVEL

SGS THE WORLD’S LEADING INSPECTION, TESTING, VERIFICATION AND

Agriculture Tours

Crop and Field Services Supervisor (Prairies Based) (Saskatoon)

Vomitoxin Testing (+Other Toxins, Falling No.) Fast, Accurate Results Prepayment Req’d by Cheque or Credit Card

WATER PUMPS

CERTIFICATION COMPANY IS LOOKING FOR

This position will be a key position within the SGS Agricultural Services Division by delivering a comprehensive portfolio of agronomic services to benefit farm customers. This position will be integral to creating SGS’s Agronomy business in the western Provinces of Canada. This position will also supervise a field services team.

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

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Required Qualifications: • Agriculture related degree/diploma/certificate • CCA (Certified Crop Advisor) or the ability to complete the course and have designation is required • P.Ag. (Professional Agrologist) or the ability to acquire the designation is required. • Some field and industry experience (at least one year or previous related summer positions). • Acts with professionalism at all time when representing the business to clients, peers and employees. • Customer Service experience • Strong technical and organization skills. • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to network within the Ag community and internal personnel. • Must be able to read, understand and follow work instructions in a safe, accurate and timely manner. • Intermediate knowledge of and familiarity with current technical agronomy application and other computer competencies. • Supervisory experience is an asset. • Sales related experience is an asset. • Mechanical/Fabrication knowledge is an asset. • Proven ability to manage and coordinate multiple projects in a fast-paced, highly professional environment. • Candidates must demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills including grammar and composition. • Ability to work well with others & independently. • Proven time management skills and a strong attention to detail. • Works well under pressure. • Ensures full compliance with the company’s Health & Safety, Code of Integrity, and Professional Conduct policies.

TRAILERS Livestock Trailers

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Manitoba

Please refer to our website for complete position and application details: www.sgs.com/careers

Intertek 1-866-821-2406 (Toll Free) TIRES FEDERATION TIRE: 1100X12, 2000X20, used aircraft. Toll free 1-888-452-3850

TRAILERS Grain Trailers

• 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.”

TRAILERS Trailers Miscellaneous

Ukraine/Romania – June 2012 Scotland/England/Wales – June 2012 Australia & New Zealand – Jan/Feb 2013 European Cruises – Call for Details Tours may be Tax Deductible Select Holidays 1-800-661-4326

973 St. James St., Wpg, MB R3H 0X2

We are buyers of farm grains.

CAREERS Professional

2011 & 2012 EXISS ALUMINUM LIVESTOCK TRAILERS: SELLING OFF STOCK FOR NEW INVENTORY UP TO $1,500 IN SAVINGS DIRECT TO YOU. 18-ft., 20-ft. & 24-ft. Gooseneck starting at $14,200. Avail at SOKAL INDUSTRIES LTD. Phone: (204)334-6596. Email: sokalind@mymts.net

TRAILERS Trailers Miscellaneous 2007 DAKOTA ALUM SUPER B grain trailers; 2000 Doepker steel tridem grain trailer; 1991 Fabrex 50ft walking floor aluminum bulk trailer (tridem); 2 1991 Arne’s hyd steel push-off trailers; 1967 trailmobile alum tridem end dump. Phone: (204)764-2449

Cudmore Bros. Farm King Snowblowers Sakundiak Augers Farm King Augers Auger Movers Honda & Kohler Engines Allied Loaders Farm King Grain Vac

CRYSTAL CITY, MB

204-873-2395

www.cudmorebros.com

SGS is an Employment Equity Employer

CCA TOWN HALL MEETING February 9, 2012. 2:30 PM at the community hall in Pipestone, MB. Beef producers, come and get a first-hand account of the many initiatives the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is involved in on your behalf and the progress we are making toward improving industry competitiveness for the long term. Learn more and RSVP at www.cattle.ca/townhall or call 403-275-8558. Meetings sponsored by Farm Credit Canada.

www.cattle.ca/townhall

CAREERS Help Wanted FULL TIME EMPLOYEE NEEDED for busy cattle farming operation. Duties include feeding & working cattle, fencing, operating & maintaining equipment and other farm related tasks. Class 1 license an asset. Must have livestock experience. Starting wage $13.90/hr. Phone: (204)723-2662 or (204)856-6907. SEASONAL FARM WORKERS NEEDED from Apr through Oct. Plant, hoe, harvest & pack vegetables. Stoop labour, outdoors, heavy lifting, minimum wage. Contact Dufferin Market Gardens (204)745-3077.

Watch your profits grow! Prepayment Bonus Prepay your regular classified ad for 3 weeks and your ad will run an additional 2 consecutive weeks for free! Call Our Customer Service Representatives To Place Your Ad Today!

Outside Winnipeg: 1-800-782-0794 Winnipeg: 954-1415

Manitoba’s best-read farm publication

1-800-782-0794

The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

CAREERS Professional

************* ************* ************* ************* ************* ************* ************* ************* ************* ************* ************* *******

CAREERS Professional

Your search is over.

0101101010001010101 1010101010101010100 0111101010101101010 1010100101010001010 1010101010101010101 1010100101010101010 1010010100010010101 0010101010111000101 0101010101010101001 0101010010110101000 1010000101010101010 1000101011110101010 0101010101010010101 0101010101010101010 1010101101010010101 0101010101001010001 1011101001010101011 1010101010101010101 0010101010

The Manitoba government offers you opportunity, diversity and a rewarding career.

Farm Production Advisor – Agricultural Crown Lands Regular/Full-Time, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Dauphin Advertisement Number: 25358 Closing Date: February 12, 2012 Salary Range: $57,120 to $73,983 per annum

CAREERS Professional

If you share our passion for quality at every level – in the work we do, in the products we sell, and the people we work with – then Viterra is the place for you.

************* ************* ************* ************* ************* ************* ************* ************* ************* ************* ************* *******

Quality ingredients start with quality people.

10101010001010110100101 00101010101010101010000 01010110101010111101010 01010001010100101010101 This position develops and delivers programming that assists primary 10101010101010101010101 agricultural producers in making decisions that encourage profitable, 01010101010100101011010 0101001000101001010101 productive and environmentally sustainable forage, pasture and 1livestock 10100011101010101001011 production. Combining your Degree in Agriculture with experience 10010101010101010101010 010101101001010101010 related to forage and livestock production, providing production00extension 01010101010100001010101 services to clients, and working in a regulatory environment you 0will 1010101111010100010101 101010on 01010101010101011 work with clients to prevent, diagnose, and provide remedial action 01010101010101010101000 land management and production issues and facilitate the adoption 101010of 01010110101010101 10001010010101010101010 techniques to improve farm production practices. Working within the 11010101010010111010100 regulatory environment of Agricultural Crown Lands program delivery 10101010101010101010001 01010101001010

you will enforce policies and procedures, manage crown land resources, undertake physical inspections of crown land and prepare and present information at Crown Land Appeals.

Candidates who do not meet the full qualifications may be considered on an underfill (development) basis. For full details on this opportunity, visit http://www.manitoba.ca/govjobs/

Apply to: Advertisement #25358 Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Human Resource Services 360-1395 Ellice Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3G 3P2 Phone: (204) 945-1845 Fax: (204) 948-2841 Email: hriat@gov.mb.ca

Sales Representative – Trainee Souris, MB & Regina, SK

We are seeking customer service driven individuals to join our growing sales team. This entry-level sales position works in conjunction with the local sales team, promoting marketing programs to an existing customer base. Applicants can expect to receive a wide range of exposure to corporate programs along with the training and skills required to be successful in an agricultural sales function. Applicants must have post-secondary education in Agriculture, Business or Commerce. Experience in agri-business and/or customer service is an asset. Tracking number 2082. Viterra offers a competitive salary, employee share purchase and benefits plan. For more information and to apply, please visit Viterra.ca. The closing date for applications is February 17, 2012.

Viterra is an exciting, growing, and dynamic global company that provides premium quality food ingredients to the world’s most discerning food manufacturers. Together, we seek to fulfill the nutritional needs of people everywhere. Visit viterra.ca

CAREERS

Your cover letter and resumé must clearly indicate how you meet the qualifications. We thank all who apply and advise that only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. Employment Equity is a factor in selection. Applicants are requested to indicate in their covering letter or resumé if they are from any of the following groups: women, Aboriginal people, visible minorities and persons with a disability. Find out about other current job opportunities — click on the Jobs button at manitoba.ca.

People. Purpose. Progress.

12-114-030 – Sales Representative – Trainee, Regina, SK & Souris, MB Sales / Marketing Thursday, February 2, 2012 – Manitoba Cooperator 3 columns x 80 lines (5.7” x 5.7143”) LOOKING FOR A CHALLENGE? Horse Country & Hearts of the Country, are two unique Manitoba magazines that share similar demographics, but are unique in their editorial mandates. Publishers are looking for an experienced Advertising Sales Representative. The ideal candidate must have proven experience in print advertising sales, accurate knowledge of a rural Canadian audience, database experience, high-speed internet, and a strong desire to match clients with campaigns. Candidates must have good communication skills, be independent, creative, honest, dependable and excited about the potential of both magazines. Commission with advancement opportunities, send resumes to contact@ horsecountry.ca. Phone:(204)372-6121. 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.

Stretch your ADVERTISING DOLLAR!

1-800-782-0794

We’ve got what you’re looking for in the classified section of the Manitoba Co-operator.

Is your ag equipment search more like a needle in a haystack search? Manitoba Civil Service Commission Publication: Manitoba Cooperator Ad size: 2 cols (4") x 118 Insertion date: February 2, 2012

Find it fast at

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The Manitoba Co-operator | February 2, 2012

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In a class by itself.

Infinity® herbicide is the only Group 27 and controls the toughest broadleaf weeds across the Canadian prairies, even if they are resistant to other herbicide classes. Powerful and technologically advanced, Infinity represents the first new mode of action in cereals for over 20 years, providing the highest degree of yield protection for your wheat and barley. For more information please visit BayerCropScience.ca/Infinity

C-52-01/12-BCS11083-E

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Always read and follow label directions. Infinity® is a registered trademark of Bayer. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

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