2020 Cattle Country by ManitobaBeefProducers

PUBLISHED BY MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS

DECEMBER 2020

FIRST SNOW

As the fall run ends provincial beef producers are turning their attention to the holiday season and planning for the year ahead. (Photo credit: Hugh Greaves)

MBP encourages producers to participate in Livestock Predation Prevention Pilot Project Survey Predation is a huge concern for many livestock producers across Manitoba, and for some, predators such as coyotes, wolves or black bear can cause devastating financial losses. This spring, a three-year, industry-led Livestock Predation Prevention Pilot Project (LPPPP) was launched with the aim of reducing wildlife predation of cattle and sheep in Manitoba. The multi disciplinary committee responsible for planning and delivery of the project, has representation from Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development (MARD), Agriculture and Agri Food Canada, Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation, commodity groups including Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and the Manitoba Sheep Association, as well as the Manitoba Trapper’s Association. MARD is providing $300,000 of funding over three years towards the project. The project will help producers most affected by predation to develop individual risk management plans, while also supporting broader industry-wide efforts to test a variety of risk management approaches and share

knowledge and best practices to reduce losses. “We continue to want to ensure that compensation is considered and properly done in relation to predation losses but this project is related to prevention or mitigation of these losses,” says Carson Callum, MBP General Manager. The first phase of the LPPPP is to collect data through a livestock predation survey that MBP is encouraging any producers affected by wildlife predation to complete. “What we are trying to do is pick the right risk management practices that will work for farmers, and collecting the survey information is the only way to know that,” says Ray Bittner, LPPPP project Lead. The survey is intended to determine what species of predators are causing problems, which class of livestock are being targeted and the timing, location and type of livestock losses producers are experiencing, for example, at pasture, in birthing pens etc. Information from the survey will help the project team understand which parts of the province are most prone to predator problems, and help it decide where to focus its efforts and deploy predator management project activities.

“The survey will provide baseline data about some of the issues that producers are facing, and help determine which producers to work with on this pilot to test mitigation strategies aimed at reducing the losses they have had on their farms,” says Callum. The next steps are to evaluate the effectiveness of various risk management practices on problem predators, share information with producers about management practices that help to mitigate predation losses, and conduct on-farm risk assessments so producers can build a plan for implementing best practices for their operations. The LPPPP survey is included in this issue of Cattle Country and is also available by calling the Manitoba Beef Producers office. It involves multiple-choice questions, is quick and easy to complete and a prepaid business return mail envelope is provided so there is no cost to producers to participate. Deadline to complete the survey is December 21, 2020. Participants will also be entered in a prize draw for a choice between a Ridgetec Lookout, Dual LTE Game Camera worth $785 or a Pit Boss® Pellet, Stainless Steel, Hardwood Pellet Grill Barbeque worth $700.

President's Column

Social distancing for livestock

Burrowing Owls

Page 3

Page 8

Page 16

POSTMASTER: PLEASE RETURN UNDELIVERABLE COPIES TO: MBP, UNIT 220, 530 CENTURY STREET, WINNIPEG, MB R3H 0Y4 CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL PRODUCT SALES AGREEMENT NUMBER 40005187 POSTAGE PAID IN WINNIPEG.

BY ANGELA LOVELL

CATTLE COUNTRY December 2020

A look back at key issues in 2020 Season’s greetings all. What a year. I never would have guessed after last year’s district meetings wrapped that this year would be on a virtual platform, but here we are. We completed our 10 virtual district meetings mid-November. I want to greatly thank all that took time to attend, and learn some of the ins and outs of the virtual meeting platform. For those that couldn’t attend, we will have a recorded version posted online for your viewing pleasure. These meetings were definitely different, but I am happy with how they went. As we do our best to get through these tough times, it is great we have these avenues to still “connect”. Over the course of the district meetings we covered a variety of topics that MBP has been working on over the past year, which I will touch on in this column. COVID-19 has been the major issue of 2020. It has had such a big impact on everyone in one way or another. It has affected how many organizations can operate, including MBP. The main impacts on the beef sector have been packing plant challenges, market uncertainty, and public health restrictions affecting things such as attendance levels at the markets, to name a few. The market crash that happened in the spring also greatly impacted the price that producers were able to get for their cattle. MBP, as well as our provincial counterparts and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), have been advocating for support for the sector throughout the pandemic. We have been happy to see some announcements, such as the 2020 Canada-Manitoba Finished Cattle Feed Assistance Program and adjustments to the Canada Emergency Business Account. We will continue to engage with both levels of government to try to ensure these programs, and any future programs, are responsive, effective and roll out smoothly. Overall, COVID-19 has driven home the need for effective Business Risk Management (BRM) tools for the sector to weather these unpredicted storms.

time. MBP continues to have concerns with other details of the ACL regulation, such as the removal of unit transfers and the lack of informed access, and will continue to advocate for adjustments to these areas. MBP has also asked if there is potential for new lease holders to establish a renewable legacy lease. Public trust continues to be a key focal point of work for MBP and national organizations such as the CCA and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, among others. There continues to be a lot of negative and inaccurate information being shared related to beef production. A huge area of MBP’s efforts moving into the future will be related to getting a positive message out to the general public. We have a great story to tell in our industry, whether it is from a habitat preservation perspective or a sustainability standpoint, and we look forward to continuing to come up with innovative ways to share this great message with the public. In this edition of Cattle Country you will see a survey related to predation. MBP is appreciative of the provincial government’s support for the important pilot project aimed at reducing the risks associated with negative interactions between cattle, sheep and goats and problem predators. This has been in discussion for a long time. I strongly encourage folks to fill out and send back the survey (postage is prepaid), as it will be important for our next steps on the project. There is also an article in this edition that explains the project. Well, as you can see, there is lots that is keeping us busy. I hope everyone can do their best to stay connected over the coming months, even if it is in a virtual format. We all need to do our part, and support each other as best we can as we navigate the pandemic. Have a very Merry Christmas, and looking forward to the New Year! Carson

CARSON CALLUM

General Manager’s Column Much of the advocacy work conducted by MBP, CCA, the National Cattle Feeders Association, and other groups has been related to needed improvements to current BRM tools. BRM programs are crucial to managing risk and in some instances require increased funding, particularly as extreme weather and significant market volatility continue to affect our agricultural environment. Programs such as AgriStability have a major equity gap for the cow/calf sector compared to other commodities and this needs to be addressed. The industry has made recommendations to improve the design of various programs. Examples of these recommendations include removal of the Reference Margin Limit under AgriStability, and making the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program a permanent BRM program and not dependent on renewal under each agriculture policy framework. MBP will continue to advocate for improvements to the BRM tools. Another area that was top of mind over the course of our virtual district meetings was agricultural Crown lands (ACL). The Manitoba government had been looking for feedback on the proposed renewal process for legacy forage leases and renewable permits under the ACL program. We really hope that producers were able to get their thoughts sent in to the province during the consultation period that ended November 16th. The more voices heard the better. MBP is supportive of the changes related to the first right of renewal for legacy leases, as access and predictability are essential to long-term planning for livestock operations that have been in business for a long

Resolutions for Debate at the 42nd MBP Annual General Meeting in February Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the format of Manitoba Beef Producers’ (MBP) recent fall district meetings was changed to virtual meetings. As such, MBP’s board of directors agreed to accept in writing proposed resolutions for debate at its virtual 42nd Annual General Meeting set for February 11, 2021. To ensure these could be reviewed by the board and published in this edition of Cattle Country, MBP had asked that they be submitted by November 9. The resolution that was submitted prior to

the deadline is printed below, as is one from MBP’s board of directors related to proposed changes to MBP’s bylaws. Additionally, MBP is still accepting late resolutions for consideration for debate at the AGM. They must be provided in writing to MBP staff no later than 8:30 a.m., Friday, February 5, 2021. Please send the proposed resolution (along with your contact information) to info@ mbbeef.ca to the attention of General Manager Carson Callum and Policy Analyst Maureen Cousins. Alternatively, you

may fax it to 1-204-7743264 or mail it to 220-530 Century Street, Winnipeg MB R3H 0Y4. A sample resolution template can be found on MBP’s website at https://www.mbbeef.ca/ events/42nd-annual-general-meeting/ If the resolution is deemed to be in order by MBP’s Resolutions Committee it will be considered for debate at the end of the resolutions session, time permitting. Please note: if the resolution covers off matters on which MBP is already conducting advocacy work, it may be deemed

help ensure Manitoba’s beef producers are aware of them in advance of the AGM. Consider attending the virtual 42nd MBP AGM to debate and vote on the resolutions. As a reminder, voting on MBP resolutions is restricted to producers who are members in accordance with MBP’s bylaws. As per the Section 1(1) (b) of the bylaws, membership refers to “Every person who is determined by the Board of Directors to be actively engaged in the raising of cattle in Manitoba, and who pays all fees to the Association in the man-

to be redundant and not taken forward for debate so as to ensure there is time to debate resolutions on emerging matters. As well, it is also important that proposed resolutions deal with something that is potentially achievable and clearly state the actions you are asking MBP to consider taking. In consultation with the resolution’s author, proposed resolutions may be subject to editing by MBP for clarity and to ensure consistency of formatting across all resolutions. MBP will also publish these resolutions online at www.mbbeef.ca to

DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 5

DISTRICT 9

DISTRICT 13

R.M. of Albert, Cameron, Whitewater, Edward, Brenda, Winchester, Morton

R.M. of Elton, North Cypress, North Norfolk, Cornwallis, Oakland, South Cypress, Victoria, South Norfolk

R.M. of Woodlands, Rockwood, St. Andrews, Rosser, St. Francis Xavier, Springfield, Tache, Whitemouth, Lac du Bonnet, Brokenhead, St. Clements, LGD of Alexander, Pinawa

R.M. of Shell River, Shellmouth,Hillsburg, Boulton, Grandview, Gilbert Plains, Ethelbert, Mossey River, Dauphin, LGD Park

GORD ADAMS

DISTRICT 2

NANCY HOWATT - SECRETARY

R.M. of Riverside, Strathcona, Argyle, Lorne, Turtle Mountain, Roblin, Louise, Pembina

STEVEN MANNS

DISTRICT 6

MELISSA ATCHINSON

R.M. of Wallace, Woodworth, Daly, Pipestone, Sifton, Whitehead, Glenwood

DIANNE RIDING - PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 10

MIKE DUGUID - 2ND VICE-PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 7

R.M. of Bifrost, Gimli, Fisher, Armstrong

R.M. of Portage la Prairie, Cartier, Grey, MacDonald, Dufferin, Thompson, Roland, Morris, Stanley, Rhineland, Montcalm

R.M. of Russell, Silver Creek, Rossburn, Ellice, Birtle, Shoal Lake, Strathclair, Archie, Miniota, Hamiota, Blanshard

DISTRICT 11

DISTRICT 4

MATTHEW ATKINSON

PETER PENNER - TREASURER

KEVIN DUDDRIDGE

R.M. of Richot, Ste. Anne, Hanover, De Salaberry, La Broquerie, Franklin, Stuartburn, Piney, LGD Reynolds

TYLER FULTON 1ST VICE-PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 8

R.M. of Harrison, Clanwilliam, Rosedale, Glenella, Saskatchewan, Odanah, Minto, Langford, Lansdowne, Westbourne, LGD Park

ROBERT METNER

R.M. of Siglunes, Grahamdale, Eriksdale, Coldwell, St. Laurent

DISTRICT 12

MARK GOOD

R.M. of Lawrence, Ochre River, Ste. Rose, McCreary, Alonsa

MARY PAZIUK

MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS Unit 220, 530 Century Street Winnipeg, MB R3H 0Y4

Ph: 1-800-772-0458 PH - (204) 772-4542 FX - (204) 774-3264 info@mbbeef.ca www.mbbeef.ca

GENERAL MANAGER Carson Callum

POLICY ANALYST Maureen Cousins

www.mbbeef.ca

ner and in the amount imposed on sellers of cattle pursuant to regulations made by the Board of Directors from time to time.” What does this mean? It means that if you have requested a refund in the last 12 months you have not paid all fees to the association as set out by the regulations and are not considered a member in good standing. We look forward to your participation and ask that you register in advance for the 42nd AGM. For more details visit: https://www.mbbeef.ca/annual-meeting/ Page 3 

DISTRICT 14 JIM BUCHANAN

R.M. of Minitonas, Swan River, Mountain, The Pas

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR David Hultin

FINANCE

Deb Walger

OFFICE ASSISTANT Vacant

CATTLE COUNTRY EDITOR David Hultin

Trinda Jocelyn

December 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Update on recent advocacy work DIANNE RIDING President's Column

Thank you to everyone who took part in our virtual district meetings in late October through mid-November. We had a few technical hiccups along the way, just like everyone else seems to experience on the virtual platforms, but overall the process worked well and we appreciate the producers, government staff, elected officials and the media for taking the time to join online or via the phone. Hopefully by next fall we will be able to have in-person meetings again. Next up on the virtual platform will be our 42nd Annual General Meeting, set for Thursday, February 11. We will be doing the traditional business meeting, reviewing some proposed MBP bylaw changes (details posted on our website), and debating resolutions. Due to the change in format for the district meetings, MBP’s board of directors is accepting in writing suggestions for resolutions to debate at the AGM. In consultation with the resolution’s author, proposed resolutions may be subject to editing by MBP for clarity and to ensure consistent formatting across all resolutions. If the resolution is deemed in order by MBP’s Resolutions Committee it will be considered for debate at the AGM. Please send

the proposed resolution (along with your contact information) to info@mbbeef.ca to the attention of General Manager Carson Callum and Policy Analyst Maureen Cousins. Or, fax it to 1-204-774-3264 or mail it to 220-530 Century Street, Winnipeg MB R3H 0Y4. For resolutions to be reviewed by MBP’s board of directors and posted on MBP’s website prior to the 42nd AGM for others to see, they need to be received by MBP no later than 8:30 a.m., Friday, February 5, 2021. One resolution has already come forward re: the Western Livestock Price Insurance program. See details in this edition. In recent weeks MBP has provided feedback on two different provincial government consultations. Key among them was the consultation on about proposed amendments to the Agricultural Crown Lands Leases and Permits Regulation under The Crown Lands Act, especially they relate to allowing for the first right of renewal for legacy leases. MBP is pleased the government is moving forward on this. It has been MBP’s long-standing position that leaseholders should have the first right of renewal upon expiry of their lease if they can demonstrate that they still meet the program’s terms and conditions. Access and predictability are essential to long-term planning for livestock operations. By having renewable leases producers will have the confidence to invest and improve lands, and to grow their herds. As well, MBP again asked for the continua-

tion of unit transfers. MBP restated a number of its other positions related to agricultural Crown lands. These include the need for a five-year transition for the rental rate increase to help lease holders adjust. MBP stressed the importance of a fair and transparent process for valuing improvements, as concerns have arisen about a move to the use of arbitration if an agreement cannot be reached between the outgoing and incoming lessee. MBP renewed its call for recognition of the ecosystem services provided by lease holders in managing these lands. MBP also noted the importance of filling staffing vacancies related to agricultural Crown lands program. MBP thanks those producers who participated in this consultation and who identified the impact of the changes taken to date on their operations. We will continue to engage with the province about the importance of the ACL leasing program. The other consultation MBP took part in was related to rural crime, metal theft and biosecurity. The province is looking at amendments to Manitoba’s Petty Trespasses Act, The Occupiers’ Liability Act and The Animal Diseases Act, as well as possible metal dealers and recyclers’ legislation. Unfortunately, as many of us know all too well rural crime can take on many forms that harm our operations, causing financial losses, endangerment to people and livestock, and damage to pastures, forages and infra-

structure. Maintaining high biosecurity standards is also very important to our industry. The potential introduction of foreign animal diseases can compromise animal health and lead to costly economic consequences, but also possible trade implications depending on the disease involved. As part of its submission, MBP strongly recommended that additional work be done to inform the general public who may wish to access private lands about the rationale behind and need for adherence to biosecurity practices. Also, this information needs to be conveyed to government departments and agencies, as well as the private contractors who work for them as they have critical responsibilities when it comes to helping to maintain biosecurity on farms and ranches. And, MBP restated its ask for informed access to agricultural Crown lands. Christmas and the New Year are just around the corner, times we traditionally get together with family and friends to share fellowship, eat some great food, do some fun activities and just recharge in general. Although both occasions are probably going to look a lot different this year, we can still reach out and stay in touch via traditional methods like snail mail or the phone, or make some memories over the new virtual platforms. On behalf of the MBP board of directors and staff, we’d like to wish you all the best over the holiday season and as we head into 2021!

Proposed resolutions for debate  Page 2 Proposed Resolutions for Debate Value of Livestock Price Insurance Program Whereas access to effective Business Risk Management (BRM) programs is crucial, particularly as factors such as extreme weather and significant market volatility continue to affect Canadian agriculture; and Whereas the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP) is an important risk mitigation tool that provides significant value to Manitoba’s cattle industry; and Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic caused market volatility which led to

additional WLPIP premium cost burdens for cattle producers, and the sector had requested premium cost-sharing by governments to help address this challenge; and Whereas certain aspects of BRM programs such as WLPIP – including program design, spending or availability – can create inequitable coverage levels amongst agriculture sectors and across regions in Canada; and Whereas there are producers in eastern Canada who are seeking access to livestock price insurance as a risk mitigation tool. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) advocate for the federal and provincial government to cost share the premiums

Box 274, Austin, MB R0H 0C0 President: Tracy Wilcox 204-713-0029 Secretary: Laurelly Beswitherick 204-637-2046 b2@inetlink.ca

for producers enrolling in the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP); and, Be it further resolved that MBP advocate with governments to work toward making livestock price insurance a national program offering; and Be it further resolved that MBP advocate with governments to no longer make livestock price insurance a program that is dependent on renewal under each successive agricultural policy framework, but rather to make it a permanent business risk management program for Canadian

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cattle producers. From the MBP Board of Directors re: Proposed Bylaw Amendments Be it resolved that the membership of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association (operating as Manitoba Beef Producers) supports the Board of Directors’ proposals for modernization of the organization’s administration bylaw as they were discussed at the fall 2020 district meetings and as published on MBP’s website prior to the 42nd Manitoba Beef Producers Annual General Meeting which is taking place on February 11, 2021.

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CATTLE COUNTRY December 2020

StockTalk Q&A Feature Brought to you by Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development KATHLEEN WALSH

Table 2: Mineral Requirements Based on Stage of Production, Maximum Tolerable Levels and the Greatest Impact on Performance of Beef Cattle Compared to MB Wheat Straw and Alfalfa Grass Hay Feed Analysis

Livestock Specialist, Manitoba Agriculture

Average MB Alfalfa Grass Hay Analysis*

kathleen.walsh@gov.mb.ca

Average MB Wheat Straw Analysis

Mineral

Q: I plan to feed my herd a straw-based ration for eight weeks to stretch my hay. Do I need to change my mineral package? They are getting a one to one mineral. Answer: As Elizabeth Nernberg discussed in last month's article, feeding straw during mid-gestation is a great way to stretch hay. Straw-based rations need to be properly balanced to meet the cow’s energy, protein, mineral and vitamin requirements. Although minerals make up a small amount of a beef cow’s

diet, it is very important to provide the right amounts and ratios. I want to start by providing some background information on minerals and the essential role they play in an animal’s bodily functions. The 17 minerals beef cattle require are shown in Table 1. The minerals are broken into two groups: Macrominerals and Microminerals. Macrominerals are provided in gram quantities and are usually expressed as a percentage of the diet. These minerals make up

Table 1: Minerals Required by Beef Cattle Macrominerals

Microminerals

Calcium (ca)

Chromium (Cr)

Magnesium (Mg)

Cobalt (Co)

Potassium (P)

Copper (Cu)

Sodium (Na)

Iodine (I)

Chlorine (Cl)

Iron (Fe)

Sulphur (S)

Manganese (Mn) Molybdenum (Mo) Nickel (Ni) Selenium (Se) Zinc (Zn)

Growing Finishing

Gestating Dry Cows

Lactating Cows

650lbs

1,250 lb

1,200 lb

Maximum Tolerable

Performance Impacted

Calcium, %

1.01

0.23

0.31

0.18

0.27

1.8

Growth, Milk Production

Phosphorous,%

0.2

0.11

0.27

0.18

0.27

0.3

Growth, Milk Production

Sodium, %

0.04

0.06

0.07

0.1

Milk Production

Magnesium, %

0.3

0.13

0.1

0.12

0.2

0.4

Growth

Sulphur, %

0.25

0.11

0.15

0.4

Growth

Potassium, %

1.79

1.3

0.6

0.7

Reproduction

0.1

Growth

100

Growth, Reproduction

0.5

Milk Production

1000

Reproduction

0.1

Immunity, Reproduction

500

Immunity, Reproduction

Chlorine, %

Cobalt, mg Copper, mg

8.09

2.76

10.78

1.9

Iodine, mg Manganese, mg Selenium, mg Zinc, mg

24.34

10.31

*Values from 889 Alfalfa Grass and 125 Wheat Straw Samples Submitted from 2007-2015

structural components of bone and other tissue, and are required for growth, maintenance, muscle function and milk production. Microminerals are often referred to as trace minerals and are required in smaller amounts. They are usually expressed in milligrams (mg). Microminerals play an important role in the immune system, bone formation and reproduction. Many of the required minerals are present in forages, including straw, but not always in sufficient

Merry Christmas Everyone!

for your support this year. A big Thank You to all our customers than any year past. We are We sold more bulls and bred heifers and put our genetics to grateful you have trusted our programherd. cow work in your

EASY • G IN S Y CA LV A E • L A N R E T A M O D E R AT E • M

HI LES

quantities or the correct ratios. If that is the case, supplementation will be required for best animal performance and health. Table 2 outlines the mineral requirements for beef cattle at different stages of production and the average mineral content of alfalfa-grass hay and wheat straw. In the table, you will see the difference in the mineral content of the two feeds. Looking at calcium and phosphorus, for example, not only do these two minerals have to be provided to meet a cow’s minimum requirement, but they also need to be included at the correct ratio. The calcium to phosphorus ratio should be a minimum of two to one in a beef cow diet. Cereal straw and grains are typically low in calcium and high in phosphorus, whereas alfalfa and alfalfa-grass hay are usually high in calcium and low in phosphorus. Keep the calcium and phosphorus content of your feed in mind when selecting a mineral package. Mineral packages are commonly labeled by their calcium and phosphorus ratio, for example, a one to one mineral has one part

calcium to one part phosphorus and a two to one mineral has two parts calcium to one part phosphorus. To answer your question, because you are feeding a one to one mineral, you will either have to change to a mineral with a higher calcium content or add additional calcium to insure your cows’ needs are being met. Feed grade limestone contains approximately 38 per cent calcium and is a relatively inexpensive way to add calcium to the diet. To best match your mineral package to your herd’s needs, conduct a feed test to determine the macromineral and micromineral quantities in your feed, and consult with a beef cattle nutritionist or an FPE and livestock specialist to discuss mineral options for your operation. You also need to monitor the cows’ mineral intake to make sure they are getting the right amount. This can be hard to do if the mineral is being fed free choice, as some cows will over consume and others may not eat any. If possible, mixing the mineral with the grain is a good way to make sure all the animals are receiving it. This is particu-

larly important if you are adding limestone, as it can be unpalatable. Although provided in small amounts, minerals are a very important component of beef cattle rations. This article just touches on the basics of mineral requirements. For more detailed information on minerals for beef cattle and ration balancing, check out the Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development website at www. manitoba.ca/agriculture/ livestock/production/beef. We want to hear from you For the next issue of Cattle Country, a Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development forage or livestock specialist will answer a selected question. Send your questions to Tim.Clarke@gov.mb.ca The StockTalk Q&A Feature for Cattle Country is brought to you by Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development. We encourage you to email your questions to our department’s forage and livestock team, who have a combined 120 years of agronomy experience. We are here to help make your cattle operation successful. Contact us today.

OCC Dixie Erica 693N pictured at 12yrs old, raising a calf this year at 17yrs old.

From our bubble to yours, the Board of Directors and staff at Manitoba Beef Producers wish you the best for the holidays and beyond. (New Year? Yes, please!)

50 Black & Red Angus | Rugged 2-yr Old Bulls Selling: March 13th, 2021

The MBP office will be closed December 19 - January 3

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December 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

A look ahead to the 2021 markets By the time this goes to print we will be in December, and 2020 will be all but a wrap! In the cattle business, as in life, this is a year is one we would like to forget. It started with so much promise for the cattle industry, but COVID-19 took that optimism away and contributed to a year of volatility and frustration for all. The majority of information requests I have received in the past few weeks are on what the market will do going forward. So let’s give it a shot and look into the crystal ball. The fed cattle market in the USA is working through the backlog of market-ready inventory, and prices for the spring have shown some improvement. In midNovember, the live cattle futures for February are at $112.22, and April sits at $116.20. There have been some decent basis contracts signed for May delivery. Last November the February market was at $120.50, and April was at $122.00. This explains why there have been very few Canadian feeder cattle going south so far this fall. Throughout October and November in Manitoba, we were at a 10 to 15 cent premium over the American feeder cattle market on the same weight and quality of calves. In reality, the Manitoba calf market has been the highest in Canada on average, week after week. The USA will continue to set the floor price in the market, but do not expect many feeder cattle going south until the second quarter of 2021. In Canada, the packers continue to enjoy large profits, and the backlog of fed cattle will continue into the first quarter of 2021 for sure. Packers are still booking fed cattle deliveries four to six weeks out. The prices improved slightly at the end of November as the spread between the USA and Canadian price tightened and some fed cattle started to move south. With the supply still outlasting the demand, and Canadian carcass weights continuing to be high, I don’t look for much improvement over the next two to three months.

The cull cow market continues an aggressive seasonal decline. Canadian packers are focusing on the fed cattle harvest and are processing the minimum number of cows required weekly. As of the middle of November, Canadian cull cows were below the American market, shifting the movement of cows from Manitoba to Alberta; now the majority are being delivered to the United States. Once again the cull cow market in Manitoba has been higher than most places, and local packers have been able to import cows from Alberta and Quebec cheaper than buying locally. Good weather and a late preg-testing season have delayed the delivery of cull cows. I would expect that some feeders looking for tax inventory will seriously consider feeder cows for a 100-day turnaround. In the past, the packers stockpiled some cows to have available for late December and early January harvest. This could put a bottom in the cows and even improve the price slightly. In the calf market, the deliveries to both the auctions and electronic sales are down compared to last year. Manitoba is running about 14% behind last year. Calf placements in the feedlots in western Canada are down 22% compared to last year, and producers are holding back more heifer calves. Heifer calf placements represent 36% of the calf marketing up to the middle of November. The big runs of feeder cattle in November failed to materialize, and we are starting to run out of marketing weeks before the holiday break. It looks like with more feed in Manitoba, and prices slumping near the end of October, more producers are holding back some of the calf crop. Custom feeding rates to background in Manitoba this fall range from 85-93 cents on steers and 88-95 cents on heifers. The rate will be determined by the allowed daily gain in the contract and the death loss clause. Induction protocols and maintenance drugs are not included in the cost of gain. According to CanFax, this fall’s calf prices are the lowest since 2017.

RICK WRIGHT The Bottom Line The weekly average for Manitoba and Saskatchewan, provided by the WCLPIP, would have resulted in a large number of producers who took the insurance receiving a payout of some kind this fall, indicating a lower market than predicted when the policy was bought. Fed grain prices

have leveled off with Lethbridge barley at $45 a tonne higher than last year. The feed price will definitely put some downward pressure on the spring calf market. As of November 13, the WCLPIP offered risk management based on 800 pound steers in Manitoba at $1.72 in February, and $1.68 in

March. If those prices come true, then producers would have been better off selling their steers at 600 pounds at $2.00 in the fall. As for the lightweight cattle under 550 pounds, demand is strong and will stay strong through the spring. Those producers who purchased yearlings to grass over the summer managed a good profit this fall despite lower than expected prices. They will continue to be aggressive on the market. The demand from Ontario and Quebec for orders on the Manitoba markets will keep the prices here

higher than further west on some classes of cattle. I would expect more local demand this spring for replacement heifers. Many producers have lower than normal cow inventory, and I expect that now they have feed, that they will consider rebuilding their cowherds. The spring of 2021 doesn’t look like much fun in the cattle industry, but for those with the stamina, determination and bank account to get through it, the rest of the year looks promising. Until next time, stay safe. Rick

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CATTLE COUNTRY December 2020

Exploring livestock grazing as a riparian phosphorous management tool BY: DR. ALEX KOITER

Brandon University

DR. MARY-JANE ORR

MBFI General Manager

Riparian areas are a relatively common sight across much of the prairie landscape, these permanently vegetated areas next to streams and wetlands serve an important role in the landscape; they connect the land and the water. Riparian areas come in all sorts of shapes and sizes: wide or narrow, grassed or treed, managed or wild. The inclusion of riparian areas is a common management practice to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution from agricultural landscape to maintain and improve water quality of Manitoba’s rivers and lakes. The perennial vegetation reduces the speed of runoff, traps sediment, increases infiltration, and increases plant uptake of nutrients. These areas also provide important habitat for a wide range of plant and animal species, reduce streambank erosion and provide shade which regulates water temperature and reduces algae growth. A Manitoba Association of Watersheds project, led by Dr. Alex Koiter from Brandon University, is investigating the use of cattle grazing as a management tool to help retain the effectiveness of riparian areas to trap nutrients and to reduce the amount of phosphorus (P) in surface waterways during spring snowmelt. Riparian areas are generally thought of as a relatively easy management option to reduce nutrient runoff, owing to the assumption they need little management after establishment. Recent research has shown that the capacity of riparian areas to trap nutrients (especially P) typically diminishes over time and may in fact become a source of P if not managed. Without management, the soil can become saturated with P overtime as there is no mechanism to remove P from the environment to counteract the input from adjacent farmland. Further, the above ground vegetation in the riparian area itself may be a significant source of P as the vegetation undergoes multiple freeze-thaw cycles in the fall and spring,

which increases the amount of available for release. Lastly, the high soil moisture in riparian areas produces abundant forage making them important resource for grazing, especially in times of drought. The main goal of the project is to look at potential loss from the riparian area during the spring snowmelt and to understand what the dominant sources of P are at the soil surface and how this may change in response to grazing. Four experimental treatments, replicated in four different riparian areas at the Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives Brookdale Farm, have been setup to include: 1. Do nothing (control); 2. Lower grazing pressure; 3. Higher grazing pressure; and 4. Mowing and removal. The grazing and mowing of the plots occurs in early- to mid-September before the first frost. Grazing in the fall is an ideal time as other sources of forage may have become depleted (extends the grazing season), avoids disrupting the breeding of ground nesting birds and other species, and soil is generally drier reducing soil pugging and compaction. We are characterizing the vertical distribution of P within the riparian area and are collecting samples both before and after grazing and mowing of: 1. Standing biomass (available for grazing); 2. Plant litter (accumulation of dead vegetation from previous years); 3. O-horizon on top of the soil surface (highly decomposed organic matter); and 4. A-horizon (top soil layer). We are characterizing the P in these samples by measuring the water-extractable P, which is an environmental indicator of potential P release to spring snowmelt. In addition to monitoring P, we are also measuring potential changes in the number and type of plants present and soil compaction that may occur as a result of grazing. Two complimentary lab-based projects using soils and vegetation collected in these riparian areas are being conducted by MSc students which will add to our understanding of nutrient dynamics in riparian areas. Ike Noyes (University of Waterloo; supervised by Dr. Merrin Macrae) is investigating the role of freeze-thaw cycles on the release of P from soil and

Dr. Alex Koiter, Brandon University (Photo credit: MBFI)

vegetation. Autumn Wiebe (Brandon University; Co-supervised by Drs. Alex Koiter and Aaron Glenn) is investigating the role of soil moisture on soil nitrogen losses through N2O emissions. The outcomes of this research will help inform best management practices for riparian areas to reduce nutrient loading to water, understand the impacts of grazing on the quantity and distribution of P in riparian areas, quantify the potential for beef cattle to export nutrients away from waterways through short duration grazing management, and provide information on extending the grazing season. Project Funder: Lake Winnipeg Basin Program Project Partners: Manitoba Beef Producers, Manitoba Association of Watersheds, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Upper Assiniboine River Conservation Districts, Brandon University, Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives. MBFI is thrilled to work with Dr.

Koiter’s team as he pursues research questions to understand connections between agriculture and environmental outcomes. Dr. Koiter’s academic career has taken him across Canada with an undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph in Ontario, a M.Sc. in soil science with Dr. David Lobb at the University of Manitoba, and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources & Environment Studies the University of Northern British Columbia. In 2017, Dr. Koiter joined the Department of Geography & Environment at Brandon University. This fall, Dr. Koiter was recognized as a participant in the Beef Cattle Research Council Beef Research Mentorship Program with Kristine Tapley and Larry Wegner as mentors. MBFI looks forward to Dr. Koiter’s study outcomes and future work. For more information on Dr. Koiter’s research program go to his webpage www. alexkoiter.ca and for more information on work being done at MBFI go to www.mbfi. ca or email information@mbfi.ca.

42 Annual General Meeting FEBRUARY 11, 2021 nd

Watch MBP’s website, social media, E-Newsletter and Cattle Country for more details regarding this virtual event In light of the COVID-19 pandemic (and associated restrictions on gatherings and social distancing requirements), holding general meetings in person has, like other large social events, become very difficult.

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December 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Holiday cooking ideas featuring beef BY ELISABETH HARMS The holidays are usually a time when we gather with extended families to celebrate the season. but this year is going to look a little different. These differences could be a chance for some of us to try something new for our holiday dinners. I know many of us will still cook a smaller chicken or turkey, but there’s always room for side dishes, so here are two of my favourite sides my family enjoys at Christmas. Both dishes use ground beef, which is a versatile and economical way to add to your holiday dinner, and these ideas are sure to please a crowd. The first dish I always look forward to is my aunt’s meatballs. These meatballs always turn out soft and tender and coated in a delicious mushroombacon gravy. While they may seem like a lot of work at first, if you’ve got some extra time and perhaps some extra helpers around the house, it could make for some great quality family time, and the meatballs you get at the end make it more than worth it. The recipe for these meatballs also makes a ton, and you can freeze them in batches. The extras will make a great meal when you need something quick and easy during the week. The second dish that is absolutely necessary at our family gatherings is

Meatballs cabbage rolls. While they are not made strictly out of ground beef, it is essential for the filling. In our family, the cabbage rolls are filled with a mixture of ground beef and rice, although the filling may change depending on the family or the tradition. My family also bakes them in a sauce made from tomato soup before they are completely devoured. For me, food and family are always important, but especially so at the holidays. Dishes like the ones I’ve described in this article remind me of being with family and enjoying the wonderful food we have at our gatherings. Even though I know I probably won’t be able to see my whole family this year, I keep these memories close. I hope you can take the time this year to enjoy each other’s company, whoever this may be, all while eating a truly delicious meal. Perhaps this year could be a chance for you to incorporate some new traditions into your holiday celebrations, whether it’s making homemade gifts for each other, or it’s adding some new dishes to your holiday meal that you’ve made together. Whatever it is, there is no reason why your holidays can’t still be special. Stay safe and healthy — Happy Holidays!

1 lb (500 g) lean ground beef 1/2 cup (125 mL) seasoned dry bread crumbs 2 Tbsp (30 mL) chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1/2 cup (125 mL) grated Parmesan cheese 1 tsp (5 mL) salt 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground black pepper 1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) ground nutmeg 1 large egg, beaten 2 Tbsp (30 mL) canola oil Directions Place the ground meat, bread crumbs, parsley, parmesan, salt, pepper, nutmeg, egg in a bowl. Combine very lightly using the paddle attachment of a stand mixer. Using your hands or meatball spoons lightly form the mixture into 2-inch meatballs. Pour oil into a large heated skillet. In batches, place the meatballs in the oil and brown them well on all sides over medium-low heat, turning carefully with a spatula or a fork. This should take about 10 minutes for each batch. Don’t crowd the meatballs and remove the seared meatballs to a plate covered with paper towels.

Stuffed beef cabbage rolls YIELDS 6 Servings Default (6 Servings) PREP TIME 30 mins COOK TIME 1 hr TOTAL TIME 1 hr 30 mins

1 medium head green cabbage, cored (approx. 3 lb/1.5 kg) 4 tsp (20 mL) vegetable oil 1 large onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 tsp (5 mL) paprika 1 ½ cup (375 mL) cooked rice 1 lb (500 mL) Lean or Extra Lean Ground Beef Sirloin or Round* 1 tsp (5 mL) salt (approx.) ½ tsp (2 mL) freshly ground black pepper (approx.) 1 can (28 oz/796 mL) plum tomatoes, including juice 2 tsp (10 mL) packed brown sugar Cook cabbage in large pot of boiling salted water for 5 to 6 minutes or until leaves are softened. Drain and rinse under cold water, carefully separating 12 leaves. Using knife, trim coarse veins from leaves. If inner cabbage leaves are not softened, blanch cabbage again in boiling water to soften leaves. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion, garlic and paprika, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until softened. In bowl, combine half of the onion mixture with rice, beef, salt and pepper; mix well. To make tomato sauce, purée tomatoes including juice and brown sugar in food processor. Add to remaining onion mixture in saucepan; bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste. Spoon 1/4 cup (50 mL) beef mixture onto each cabbage leaf just above stem. Fold ends and sides over filling; roll up. Spoon half of the tomato sauce into a 9 x 13 inch (23 x 33 cm) baking dish. Layer with rolls; top with remaining tomato sauce. Bake, covered, in 350°F (180°C) oven for 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until rolls are tender. *Other Options: Lean Ground Beef Chuck, Lean/Extra Lean Ground Beef Thurs., Feb 1 Tues., Feb 6

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CATTLE COUNTRY December 2020

Have you "herd?" Social distancing works for livestock too year’s calving season, it is good to think about how you can socially distance your herd to minimize scours and other calf disease. Planning well ahead of the calving season will help you be proactive in disease management. Disease occurrence is multi-factorial. There must be a susceptible host, “ideal” environmental factors and a sufficient pathogen load for disease to develop. As we are experiencing now, a very virulent COVID-19 virus causes severe disease in susceptible populations and it is highly contagious between individuals. As a virus, antibiotics cannot touch it. This is similar to the common non-bacterial scour pathogens like BCV (Bovine Coronavirus) and Cryptosporidia for which medications are generally support-

DR. TANYA ANDERSON, DVM

The Vet Corner

As a mixed animal practitioner, I have the opportunity and professional obligation to keep up on industry matters for all the species that I work with, so I regularly review and scan journals and producer publications. Catchy titles sell and so that is how I happened to read about the effects of social distancing in dairy animals. The beef industry and in particular, the cow/calf industry has been very fortunate to have mostly avoided the wrath of animal rights groups because that sector is less socially distant. Calves are not separated from their dams at birth, herds graze for a large portion of the year and less intensive management is becoming more

the norm for human quality of life and, arguably, animal quality of life reasons. Social distancing has become the buzzword for COVID-19 management to decrease the risk of horizontal (between persons) disease transmission. Think of the Code Orange and Red restrictions - with limits on group size. Small groups and spreading out animals is also an effective disease control strategy in cattle. And, as we humans have found, if you cheat and do not follow the public health recommendations, disease continues and those at most risk still sicken and die. As the fall run winds down and attention turns to pregnancy testing and preparation for next

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ive but not curative. The infection has to run its course while the animal/ person is supported in their recovery. This is labour intensive and costly - definitely not something desired in a beef operation during calving season. The race to control COVID-19 has focused on vaccination as permanent social isolation is not an option for the human race. So much is yet unknown about this emergent strain that we cannot yet know how effective any vaccines will be. Smallpox has been eradicated through vaccination because the vaccine was highly effective with lifelong immunity and prevented transmission of the virus between people. The virus was literally shut down by the vaccine. However, not all vaccines are that effective. Scour vaccines are only one tool in the prevention of scours in calves. Immunity of calves through vaccination of the cow herd prior to calving is solely reliant on the ability of the cow to produce quality colostrum in sufficient quanti-

ties to minimize disease in the calf as long as that calf ingests it in time. Calves must nurse within the first 6-12 hours of life - the earlier the better. That does not happen in most herds, despite excellent management and good nutrition. Herd dynamics and modern large-scale management practices require congregation of large groups which facilitates disease transmission. Poor weather further concentrates groups as everyone huddles to keep warm and dry or retreats to the same bush, wind fence or open front shed. I challenge you to evaluate your previous five years production data and look at the disease problems you encountered during the calving season. What was different for your herd during the “good” and the “bad” years? Hopefully your cows are wintering on ground that will not be later used for calving so that the area is not contaminated with manure loaded with pathogens that the cows are not susceptible to at their life stage but to which their unborn

calves will be highly at risk for contracting. Prepare to manage cohorts of calves based on age. Scour pathogens target calves of different ages so only keeping calves within a narrow age group (two weeks) together will minimize the chance that an older calf could contaminate the environment of susceptible younger calves. Moving newborn calves to clean ground that has not yet had calves on it this season also decreases that infection load. Bedding is still arguably the best scour control program. Warm and dry calves are better able to handle weather stressors. All these management tools are ways to manage the environment and that helps the vaccine work better because the immunity that is imparted to the calf is not overwhelmed. Reflection on seasons past and planning for the upcoming calving season should have started several months ago but it is not too late to even make some minor adjustments. Have your herd start social distancing this upcoming calving season.

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December 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Finding end markets for agricultural plastics is important. (Photo credit: Barbara McConnell)

Plans underway to transition cleanfarms ag plastic waste recycling pilots to permanent programs Province Provides Grant to Support Pilots and Transition BY BARBARA MCCONNELL,

Media and Communications Consultant, CleanFarms

Sustainability is not new to farming but some producers have found it challenging in recent years as convenient farm tools like twine and plastic grain bags end up as hard-to-manage ag plastic waste. Cleanfarms, a national, non-profit industry stewardship organization committed to environmental responsibility through proper management of inorganic agricultural waste has been working to change this. Since 2013, Cleanfarms has been operating pilots in Manitoba to collect and recycle plastic ag waste generated on farms. Over the years, the project has grown to 37 recycling collection locations throughout the province’s agricultural sectors. In 2019, Manitoba farmers took 51 tonnes of waste plastic to collection sites, up from 34 tonnes in 2018. “This kind of participation is a clear indication that farmers are really interested in ways to improve the sustainability of their operations, particularly for products like plastic film and twine,” said Cleanfarms’ Manager of Stakeholder Relations, Kim Timmer. This fall, the Government of Manitoba an-

nounced a grant of $185,000 to continue the pilots as plans to transition them to a permanent, industryfunded, stewardship program are underway. Timmer said the success of a permanent recycling program depends on: • Ensuring there are strong markets for collected materials • Giving farmers convenient access to collection points throughout the province, and • Building awareness of the program among producers. Cleanfarms is recommending a phased approach to the permanent, industry-funded program targeting ag plastics that can currently be recycled which, for now, includes grain bags (also known as grain silo bags or grain storage bags) and twine. Silage/bale wrap and netting will not be included until recycling end markets can be developed. The proposed time-

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10 CATTLE COUNTRY December 2020

Setting goals and adding diversity is key for intercropping There is a lot of buzz in beef and forage production systems around the concepts of sustainability and soil health and the numerous different production practices that can support those ideas. Innovative producers are seeking ways to work within their landbase to become more efficient and improve their soils, whatever that may mean to them on their farms. Intercropping is one strategy that may help them achieve their goals. What is intercropping? Is it different from planting cover crops, interseeding, or relay crops? How does intercropping fit in for beef and forage systems? The lines are blurry but the goals are clear Manitoba producer Alan MacKenzie considers intercropping to be two crops that are grown at the same time to be harvested together. The Nesbitt area cow-calf producer has been an organic farmer for twenty years and has used intercropping on-and-off as a tool on his mixed farm for the past decade. “I would say the main benefit is just trying to get some diversity and anytime we can get some legume in the mix for the nitrogen, that’s good,” MacKenzie explains. Some cash crop combinations he has tried in-

Yvonne Lawley, PhD, is an agronomy researcher from the University of Manitoba who studies cover crops and intercropping.

clude pea and mustard, a pea and oat mix, or wheat and flax, but he says there are numerous combinations that could work depending on the individual farm. “I seed everything at the same time, same depth,” he says. He mixes his seeds together in a mix mill and tries to choose an intermediate seeding depth to compromise different species’ requirements. MacKenzie also typically underseeds his cash crop mix to a forage “relay crop,” and usually seeds everything in one pass in the spring. “Relay cropping opens extra things, I’ll throw in vetch or Italian ryegrass or sweet clover at the same time,” MacKenzie says. He’ll harvest an intercrop of peas and oats for example, spread or bunch the straw, and then his cattle will graze the green forage crop that’s growing underneath in the fall. He says that some years it’s very dry

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and you don’t see the response, or sometimes some crops outshine the others, but this cattle herd always has access to good feed. Researcher and professor Yvonne Lawley, PhD, based out of the University of Manitoba, says terms like intercrops, cover crops, and relay crops are often used interchangeably, however they are all strategies for intensifying how to utilize land to capture sunlight. “I’m ok with the blurry lines and the confusion. The important thing is to think This pea and oat intercrop is one of many combinations Alan MacKenzie has used on about what your goals are his Manitoba farm. Photo courtesy of Alan MacKenzie. and what strategies are going to help you meet your crop because it has so much about managing risk and work and sometimes there biomass and energy in a not putting “all their eggs may not be enough of a goal,” Lawley explains. “If one of your goals small amount of space, but in one basket.” He says they reward in the marketplace is soil health, understand the inherent problem with seed a plow-down crop, to offset the hassle. He’s what aspect is important to corn is that is has lower pro- such as sweet clover and experienced other learning you,” says Lawley. “Is it in- tein,” she says, adding that vetch, every three years, curves, including a time filtration? Nutrient cycling? can be limiting when trying terminating the crop by when they used lentils in Then find a measurement to graze different classes of working it into the soil to an intercrop mix somewhat that is successful for you cattle that have higher pro- incorporate organic matter unsuccessfully. “Timing the that you can follow over tein requirements. Lawley and clean up weeds. It’s a species right is so importime to see if that invest- and McGeough will study versatile mix and adds that tant,” MacKenzie describes. ment is impactful to you,” different species of inter- they sometimes divert the “By the time the other crop she suggests. “If your goal crops with corn as well as plough down crop for feed. was ready for harvest, the is to provide more forage of two different fertility rates. “We will benefit from that, lentils had shelled out,” he whatever quality you need McGeough will study how utilizing that cropland as says. Accessing versatile than that is an important cattle perform on inter- cattle feed that doesn’t cost crops compared to corn a lot of money,” he explains. equipment can be another measure.” Lawley, an agronomy alone and there are collab- He also adds that hav- frustration, Lawley says. researcher, has teamed up orative test sites set up in ing both crops and cattle “Having equipment that alwith fellow University of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and is complimentary when it lows you to easily intercrop comes to utilizing screen- either by adjusting rate on Manitoba colleague Emma Manitoba. The advantages of ings from seed cleaning and alternate rows or allowing McGeough, PhD to evaludiversity separation. you to have bins that you ate corn intercropping MacKenzie says that Lawley explains that can set different rates on systems for cattle grazing. “Corn is a great winter feed for their farm, diversity is seeding intercrops or cov- for different seed sizes,” she er crops can create mul- says. “Those become imtiple opportunities in the portant if you’re doing this whole operation. “From a on a large scale or want to livestock perspective you operationalize over large can grow forage for differ- acres.” ent windows and provide “Another challenge more options for graz- may be getting connected ing throughout the entire to a group of intercroppers,” growing season,” she ex- Lawley explains, which is plains. “Are the crops for helpful for producers lookfeed? For soil? In reality, it’s ing to gain logistical inforfor both,” she says. mation, share ideas, and Balance hassle with learn from others’ experireward ences. She added that social Every innovative pro- media has been helpful in duction practice comes building new networks of with a learning curve. farmers and enabling those Lawley says there is no one conversations. recipe and each farm has Overall, intercroppers to individually decide what are very observant. Lawley new change will lead to an says they learn from sucinnovative practice that will cesses but they also learn help the overall operation. from mistakes. “They learn MacKenzie identified from the failures and thinka few challenges, including ing through what went separating crops after har- wrong, regrouping, pivotvest. “Make sure you have ing, and moving forward,” buyer acceptance,” he says, she says. “The surprises are explaining that some buy- where a lot of learning is ers have stringent guide- going to happen.” lines and may reject a nice This Beef Cattle Resample of oats, for example, search Council blog article if they have a minimal was published on NovemWatch the website for updates on upcoming amount of pea chips pres- ber 16, 2020 and originally events or cancellations • www.mbangus.ca ent. He adds that cleaning appeared on their website seed is a fair amount of www.BeefResearch.ca

www.mbbeef.ca

December 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY 11

Manitoba’s favourite food series wins national recognition Every year the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association celebrates the cream of the crop in agricultural ad campaigns, promotional materials and marketers of the year at the Best of CAMA Awards. Instead of the formal gala of the past, the 2020 awards ceremony went virtual with hosts Crystal MacKay (@ CrystalMacKay32) and Andrew Campbell (@ FreshAirFarmer) presenting the awards on Facebook Live. The live event had just over 200 viewers from across the country tuning in to be entertained by live and pre-taped presentations, skits and speeches. Great Tastes of Manitoba was a finalist in two of the categories with a focus on public trust campaigns targeted at the general public audience and the Manitoba-made production took home honours in both. Great Tastes of Manitoba – the cooking series

– was awarded a Certificate of Merit in the Company or Industry-Funded Advertising Campaign Directed at the General Public category. The winner in this category was FCC’s “Eat Like A Proud Canadian” campaign. The Great Tastes of Manitoba Season 30 web series was awarded top prize in the Social Media Campaign Directed at the General Public category. The web series took the cooking show in a new direction introducing viewers to farmers from across the province including Manitoba Beef Producers, Andre & Katie Steppler. “It was an honour just to be nominated” said Great Tastes Senior Producer Donalee Jones, “but then to take home the hardware for our work bringing stories directly from the farm into people’s homes, that was an amazing feeling. Especially when we were up against some pretty major players in Canada’s

efforts to build public trust.” The Canadian Cattleman’s Association was also awarded a Certificate of Merit in the category of Company or Industry Funded Public Relations Tactic Directed at the General Public for their Guardians of the Grasslands documentary. CAMA is a national organization with chapters in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. The 2020 Best of CAMA awards had over 300 entries in 42 different categories. Locally, Great Tastes is a perennial favourite, and it continues to be Manitoba’s most watched cooking show. It is the only collaboration of it’s kind in Canada, with 12 different ag-industry partners and Manitoba Agriculture participating. Each broadcast reaches over 25,000 adult viewers on CTV and building on the success of the Season 30 web series

the show’s digital reach has grown by 400%. Great Tastes of Manitoba is produced by FRANK Digital, a full

service video production studio & world-class post-production facility based in Winnipeg. Season 31 of Great

Tastes of Manitoba wraps up December 5, 2020 with a replay on CTV to begin airing February 6, 2021.

SAFETY ALERT May Your Holidays Be Merry, Bright and Safe! Nothing says the holidays like a beautiful and festive light display. However, with all the sparkling lights, inflatables, and other temporary electrical installations that are part of our seasonal decorating traditions, there is an increased risk of electrical hazards. Keep the following tips in mind to ensure your holidays are merry, bright and safe. 1. Inspect electrical decorations and cords for damage before use. Cracked or damaged sockets, bare wires, and loose connections may cause a serious shock or start a fire. 2. Lights and extension cords are rated for indoor or outdoor use. Read the package instructions and never exceed the recommended wattage. 3. Buy decorations with the mark of an accredited certification agency. Decorations not bearing a label from an independent testing laboratory have not been tested for safety and could be hazardous. 4. It’s not safe to connect more than three light strings together. In most cases – read the manufacturers’ instructions for directions. 5. Do not overload electrical outlets. Overloaded electrical outlets and faulty wires are a common cause of holiday fires. Remember the 80% rule – only load a 15 Amp circuit to 12 Amps, and a 20 Amp circuit to 16 Amps. 6. Use the proper clips for securing lights and decorations. Staples and nails can damage electrical cords! 7. Check for overhead powerlines before using a ladder outside or when you’re handling lights on trees. 8. Use GFCI-protected receptacles to protect you from shock when plugging in outdoors. Keep outdoor connections above ground and out of puddles. 9. Watch that children and pets don’t put electrical decorations or cords in their mouths.

Steven Manns, District 5 director, joined MBP General Manager Carson Callum in Winnipeg for the October 22 virtual district meeting. (Photo credit: Maureen Cousins)

10. Stay in the kitchen while something is cooking. Once the holiday meal is ready, check that the stove and oven are turned off and other kitchen appliances are unplugged when leaving the kitchen area. 11. Turn off holiday lights and decorations when you leave the house or go to bed.

MBP thanks the producers, industry stakeholders, and government officials who took part in the recent virtual district meetings.

12. Holiday decorations aren’t designed for year-round use and can deteriorate over time. Take them down when the holidays are over. Taking the time to follow electrical safety rules will ensure that your holiday will be a safe one for you and your loved ones.

November/December 2020

Available in accessible formats upon request.

Safety. It’s in your hands.

www.mbbeef.ca

12 CATTLE COUNTRY December 2020

Fostering connections between burrowing owls and cattle/grasslands based habitat suitability for burrowing owls which is collected from roadside surveys. Lands are selected based on several criteria but most importantly pastureland that is grazed. Grazing cattle keep the grass short which allows for the owls to find food easily (they eat a lot of insects – a favourite is grasshoppers!) and have a clear view of their burrow and the landscape should a predator be nearby. MBORP has worked with many cattle farmers over the years and has installed over 200 artificial nest burrows with their help. In 2020, a pair of wild burrowing owls nested in an artificial nest burrow installed on private land in 2017 and this pair raised 6 young! This was the first wild breeding record in the province since 2011. Burrowing owls, as well as, several other grassland species at risk in

BY ALEXANDRA FROESE Executive Director, Manitoba Burrowing Owl Recovery Program

The burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) in a unique, charismatic, little ground owl that lives in the Canadian prairies. The species in the only North American owl that nests in the ground. You might think that with a name like “burrowing owl” that the owl would be able to burrow but they cannot. Burrowing owls rely on foxes, badgers, coyotes and ground squirrels to excavate burrows. Once burrows are vacant, the burrowing owl will take over the spot. Burrowing owls are listed as Endangered across their Canadian range. Their population has declined by 96% over the last 50 years, especially in the most northeastern and northwestern extent of their breeding range (Manitoba and British Columbia). There has been

R E D

A N G U S

no single factor pinpointed to have caused their decline however several factors working simultaneously at once appear to be negatively impacting the species survival. These factors include habitat loss and fragmentation, loss of burrows and burrowing mammals, reduced prey availability and increased cool and wet weather events. Burrowing owls prefer to nest in open grassland/pastureland with available burrows. The Manitoba Burrowing Owl Recovery Program (MBORP) is working with cattle farmers in southwestern Manitoba to increase the species population through reintroductions and creating protected burrows for returning burrowing owls to nest. MBORP selects best sites to release owls and install artificial nest burrows

•

R E D

S I M M A N G U S

Manitoba require open, grazed pastureland to thrive. Cattle farmers play a huge role in maintaining grasslands for species at

risk and their continued support is needed to ensure that conservation-dependant species like the burrowing owl do not disappear from

Manitoba and Canada. Manitoba Beef Producers is proud to be a sponsor of the Manitoba Burrowing Owl Recovery Program.

Two young burrowing owls banded and fledged. (Photo credit: C. Froese)

C H A R O L A I S

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Two young burrowing owls banded and fledged. (Photo credit: C. Froese)

StockTalk Webinar Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development is offering a series of livestock and forage webinars led by innovative leading experts aimed to help Manitoba beef producers best manage their cattle operations. Topic: Improve Beef Production Profitability Date: December 10, 2020 Time: 1 - 2 p.m. Available on your computer, smartphone or tablet.

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Register for this StockTalk webinar at: register.gotowebinar.com/register/5726092041423487502 Submit your questions prior to or during the talk. January 14, 2021: Nutrition Nuggets February 25, 2021: Marketing Mania March 18, 2021: Forage Frenzy April 15, 2021: Forages for Cows For more information: Call 1-844-769-6224 Email: shawn.cabak@gov.mb.ca or lori.forbes@gov.mb.ca Visit: www.manitoba.ca/agriculture/online-resources/stock-talk.html Future webinars:

www.moosecreekredangus.com

www.mbbeef.ca

MB Agriculture – Stocktalk Webinar PO # 4501193018 Publication: Cattle Country Ad size: 1/4 Page (6.39" x 5.75”) Insertion date: Friday, Nov 27

PUBLISHED BY MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS

NOVEMBER 2020

TOGETHER, BUT APART On October 19 Manitoba Beef Producers kicked off district meeting season by successfully hosting the first of ten virtual Zoom meetings that are scheduled to run until November 5. Seen here is MBP General Manager, Carson Callum, in the MBP offices in Winnipeg speaking with producers and industry stakeholders across the province. (Photo credit: David Hultin)

COVID-19 presents challenges and opportunities for the beef industry Michael Young, President of Canada Beef has had a chance to watch the COVID-19 pandemic evolve and has seen its effects on the beef industry at all levels. We asked Young for his thoughts on how the industry has been affected to date, what some of the lingering effects will be post-pandemic, and how the industry is and will adapt for changes ahead. Challenges and solutions As with any crisis there are winners and losers, and sadly, the food service sector is struggling His daughters sell!

to recover from being completely shutdown at the beginning. “The go-back-to-business requirements for these operations, with 50 per cent occupancy, social distancing, and rising food costs has been crippling,” says Young. The packing industry has identified some key weaknesses in its systems and is focusing on how to address them going forward. “I think the rolling plant slow downs and temporary closures we saw demonstrated that the processing of animal proteins is extremely

labour intensive, and the dependence of the human factor working in close proximity has proved to be one of the weakest links,” says Young. “Packing plants in Canada have invested over $50 million to upgrade procedures, protocols and safety conditions so that their staff will be safe and that food can be produced safely.” As packing plants rebuild or upgrade facilities in the future, they will likely be considering these factors and investigating cost effective options for increased automation.

“The challenge in meat processing sector is to maximize throughput based on the operating space available in an efficient, cost effective and safe way. This requires a balance of automation and skilled physical labour”, says Young. “I think that most meat processing plants will be taking a good look at both advanced automation, robotics and flow-efficient layout changes to meet these challenges for the future. Protocols for managing and monitoring staff are also changing, and Canada Beef currently

is developing an app to help do pre-screening of employees working in the food industry. “The app will be available free of charge to food processors, retailer or food service operators who are looking for this kind of technology to automate new protocols and procedures to safeguard the food supply and protect employees from being exposed,” says Young. The employee simply responds to a few questions each morning before coming to work. The app will automatically inform their employer of their condition and if required,

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that they will be staying home. The app is designed to reduce reporting time and the reaction process before the employee comes into the work space. Page 2  POSTMASTER: PLEASE RETURN UNDELIVERABLE COPIES TO: MBP, UNIT 220, 530 CENTURY STREET, WINNIPEG, MB R3H 0Y4 CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL PRODUCT SALES AGREEMENT NUMBER 40005187 POSTAGE PAID IN WINNIPEG.

BY ANGELA LOVELL

She and 200 bred females sell!

CATTLE COUNTRY November 2020

Mental health is so important, now and always Hope by the time you are reading this, the weather has cooperated to get important fall chores done, and calf prices have held on as the fall run kicks in. These last few months have been challenging for so many reasons which is why my column this month is the importance of mental health. This is a topic that continues to receive significant attention for good reason: mental health is something that remains important before, during, and after a global pandemic. I believe it is a driver to success of all businesses or sectors, and personal lives as well. It is estimated that 62% of Canadian farmers are categorized with mid-stress scores and 14% with high stress. This number is only set increase with the impacts due to this pandemic. MBP helped fund a project, in collaboration with Farm Management Canada and many supporting partners, that was featured in the July 2020 issue of Cattle Country. The study aimed to improve the understanding of the relationship between mental health and farm business management. More specifically, how we can support mental health through farm business management and how supporting farm business management can contribute to positive mental health. The research led to recommendations for supporting farmer mental health and farm business management to ensure agriculture remains a vital contributor to Canada’s economy and public health. MBP will be

encourage anyone who might be struggling to reach out and try to get help. Gone are the days of the “pull yourself up by your boot straps” mentality. We all need help at some point, and there are many avenues to take. One option is the Manitoba Farm Rural & Northern Support Services stress line at 1-866-3673276. This service offers free, confidential and nonjudgmental counselling for anyone who lives on a Manitoba farm, or in a rural or northern community. Another option is The Anxiety Disorders Association of Manitoba (ADAM) that has established an anxiety support line for anyone seeking support during this challenging time. People are invited to call 204-925-0040. I’d also encourage you to visit our website (https://www.mbbeef.ca/cattle-country/) and seek out the May 2020 issue of Cattle Country for an article on coping with stress and anxiety. I have certainly enjoyed seeing many of you during our virtual district meetings over the past few weeks. Although it cannot be in person our virtual connection is positive for everyone involved. The way we all operate has been impacted by the pandemic, but I can assure you, MBP is working hard on many areas important to the industry. Have a safe and happy fall, Carson

CARSON CALLUM

General Manager’s Column looking at ways to work off these recommendations to support our producers in the province and ensure it is top of mind. Knowing the signs related to mental struggles are important for everyone to be aware of. Some of these warning signs include irritability, hopelessness/ despair, chronic fatigue, decreased productivity, and inability to concentrate. It is important for family and friends to be aware of these signs, so they can suggest loved ones seek help if needed. It is also important for each and everyone of us to know the signs, so we can try to get help for ourselves as well. Mental health should be a top priority as it can impact relationships and farm business. Uncertainty in the beef sector has increased the stress level for producers and their families. The concerns around the pandemic has impacted everyone, including MBP board and staff. We hope that if people do their best to focus on their mental health as well as their physical health, we can get through these challenging times together. I strongly

Industry update with Canada Beef Page 1 Positives and opportunities On the flip side, retail demand has increased, and retail beef sales continue to be strong, up anywhere from 10 to 30 per cent over last year, and with strong prices. In the beginning, the slowdown and plant closures caused public perception to focus on potential food shortages, which prompted panic buying in some areas, and pushed prices up and reduced inventory of many staple food items including meat. Consumers were buying in bulk whenever they could which also drove sales, adds Young. Another positive effect is that the pandemic has pushed the evolution of whole meal replacements, takeout meal kits and home meal (and grocery) delivery and the industry is working hard to figure out how to support it. “This category is evolving fast,” says Young. “We are in the process of developing a support strategy for those distribution channels because we know a lot of food is moving through them and it’s an exciting opportunity to increase our market share. We are working with retailers and food service operators to give them what they need to support the growth in the beef category, but we know that this other category is emerging quickly and we 

want to make sure beef is well represented in this channel.” Another area the industry is trying to figure out, says Young is portion cutting to reduce waste, control costs and better serve these new markets with the right size portions for the meal concepts that consumers are looking for. “There is a lot more attention being paid to that because if you’re going to offer an expensive meat item like beef and you intend to widen the assortment, you’ve got to engineer what you’re offering in terms of the weight, thickness and profile of the cut based on how it will be used by the customer,” he says. “We see an opportunity there to provide information about the different cuts, and carcass utilization to increase value optimization. How, as a portion cutter, do you efficiently fabricate four or five popular middle meat primal cuts to deliver four, six and eight-ounce portions to serve the high- end market? How do we fabricate other primal cuts to offer value cuts to target middle and lower price points?’ Consumers love Canadian beef, but the industry has to figure out how to offer a wider range of portion-cut beef and veal items for every budget that will deliver an exceptional eating experience every

time says Young. “That is what it will take to increase market share in this category. Canada Beef is investing in these concepts and we intend to offer training and marketing support to ensure that Canadian beef and veal is well represented in this new space,” he says. How people cook is changing Canada Beef and others in the industry are also responding to changes in the marketplace by taking a look at how people are preparing food at home. “We also see a huge opportunity in the kitchen and patio these days,” says Young. Home bound Canadians with spare time and hungry mouths to feed are purchasing cooking appliances or dusting off the ones that have been sitting idle for years. There is a resurgence of pressure cookers, hot pots, crock pots, fondue, deep fryers, steamers and even sous vide style cooking methods. On the patio, people are upgrading barbecues, and big green eggs and smokers are appearing in backyards, which presents more opportunities for beef and veal. “Canada Beef is reviewing and upgrading our inventory of recipes and cooking methods to ensure we have all the information we know consumers are looking for when it comes to many of these specialty appliances,” he says.

Young also sees the emergence of more plant-based protein alternatives as an opportunity gap that beef can fill, especially in the ground beef category, which is the single largest category for beef volume in retail stores, but has been taken for granted for far too long. “There is a focus on the ground meat category because that’s the easiest category to get into with plant-based alternatives, so we are refocusing our efforts in that space by encouraging new and creative ways to utilize ground beef and veal,” says Young, who adds that although beef ‘owns’ the luxury category in the retail case and on the menu, that luxury comes at a high price compared to the other animal proteins being offered. “We know folks are looking to stretch the food dollar these days and we know that beef can offer a wide range of value cuts at different price points beyond ground beef. Our team is focused on bringing those ideas to the table,” he says. COVID-19 is providing the necessity and opportunity for Canadian beef to capture a larger market share of the protein market, says Young. “It’s becoming a beauty contest of food ingredients out there and we want Canadian beef and veal to win that contest,” he says.

DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 5

DISTRICT 9

DISTRICT 13

R.M. of Albert, Cameron, Whitewater, Edward, Brenda, Winchester, Morton

R.M. of Elton, North Cypress, North Norfolk, Cornwallis, Oakland, South Cypress, Victoria, South Norfolk

R.M. of Woodlands, Rockwood, St. Andrews, Rosser, St. Francis Xavier, Springfield, Tache, Whitemouth, Lac du Bonnet, Brokenhead, St. Clements, LGD of Alexander, Pinawa

R.M. of Shell River, Shellmouth,Hillsburg, Boulton, Grandview, Gilbert Plains, Ethelbert, Mossey River, Dauphin, LGD Park

GORD ADAMS

DISTRICT 2

NANCY HOWATT - SECRETARY

R.M. of Riverside, Strathcona, Argyle, Lorne, Turtle Mountain, Roblin, Louise, Pembina

STEVEN MANNS

DISTRICT 6

MELISSA ATCHINSON

R.M. of Wallace, Woodworth, Daly, Pipestone, Sifton, Whitehead, Glenwood

DIANNE RIDING - PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 10

MIKE DUGUID - 2ND VICE-PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 7

R.M. of Bifrost, Gimli, Fisher, Armstrong

R.M. of Portage la Prairie, Cartier, Grey, MacDonald, Dufferin, Thompson, Roland, Morris, Stanley, Rhineland, Montcalm

R.M. of Russell, Silver Creek, Rossburn, Ellice, Birtle, Shoal Lake, Strathclair, Archie, Miniota, Hamiota, Blanshard

DISTRICT 11

DISTRICT 4

MATTHEW ATKINSON

PETER PENNER - TREASURER

KEVIN DUDDRIDGE

R.M. of Richot, Ste. Anne, Hanover, De Salaberry, La Broquerie, Franklin, Stuartburn, Piney, LGD Reynolds

TYLER FULTON 1ST VICE-PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 8

R.M. of Harrison, Clanwilliam, Rosedale, Glenella, Saskatchewan, Odanah, Minto, Langford, Lansdowne, Westbourne, LGD Park

ROBERT METNER

R.M. of Siglunes, Grahamdale, Eriksdale, Coldwell, St. Laurent

DISTRICT 12

MARK GOOD

R.M. of Lawrence, Ochre River, Ste. Rose, McCreary, Alonsa

MARY PAZIUK

MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS Unit 220, 530 Century Street Winnipeg, MB R3H 0Y4

Ph: 1-800-772-0458 PH - (204) 772-4542 FX - (204) 774-3264 info@mbbeef.ca www.mbbeef.ca

GENERAL MANAGER Carson Callum

POLICY ANALYST Maureen Cousins

www.mbbeef.ca

DISTRICT 14 JIM BUCHANAN

R.M. of Minitonas, Swan River, Mountain, The Pas

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR David Hultin

FINANCE

Deb Walger

OFFICE ASSISTANT Vacant

CATTLE COUNTRY EDITOR David Hultin

Trinda Jocelyn

November 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Province consulting on ACL regulation changes

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contract to introduce individual productivity indexing for silage corn, and increasing the transportation allowance within the forage insurance dollar value and Hay Disaster Benefit for the Forage Insurance Program; and • working with industry to reduce the impact of disaster years on insurance coverage, reduce participant burden and increase awareness of forage insurance options.

I, along with MBP directors Tyler Fulton and Mike Duguid and our staff appreciated the chance to have a short virtual meeting with Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to discuss matters affecting Manitoba’s beef industry, including BRM programs, livestock transportation and water management. MBP has also appreciated discusStan Foster sions it has had with Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) and Finally, on behalf of MBP, we would other government officials and Minister like to extend our sincere condolences to Pedersen about insurance programs and the family of the late Stan Foster of Benito. other BRM tools. MBP welcomes a re- Stan served as District 14 director for six cent provincial government announce- years, retiring from the board in February ment about some changes to programs 2018. Stan was a dedicated cattle producer offered through MASC that should prove and an avid horseman, and represented his beneficial to our industry. These include: district members well, bringing forward • a new pilot project to evaluate the po- their questions and concerns. He also had Thurs., Feb 1forage insurButcher Sale 9:00 am; to tential of index-based a great sense of humor and was happy ance products; swap tales with all. He will missed. Until Bred Cow Sale 1:00 pm • changes for the 2021 AgriInsurance next time, take care! Tues., Feb 6 Feeder Sale 9:00 am

NOVEMBER FEBRUARY

I hope you are having a productive fall. Harvest and other usual activities seem to be going along well for most, but there are concerns about the dry conditions we’ve faced in recent weeks and how this will affect wells and dugouts, and pasture and forage conditions going forward. The Manitoba government’s longawaited consultation on proposed changes to the Agricultural Crown Lands (ACL) Leases and Permits Regulation to allow for the first right of renewal for legacy lease holders is now underway. This change is very important to legacy lease holders and we thank the province for bringing this forward. There are also some other proposed amendments related to leases and renewable permits. MBP is strongly encouraging all ACL leaseholders to review and provide feedback on the proposed changes. Throughout the modernization of the ACL program, MBP has repeatedly advocated for the first right of renewal for eligible legacy lease holders, and for continued unit transfers. Visit the Manitoba Regulatory Consultation Portal at https://reg.gov.mb.ca/ home and provide your comments online before November 16. If that doesn’t work for you, contact Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development staff at 204-868-0684 to ask for copies of the consultation documents. Comments can also submitted by the deadline via email: agcrownlands@gov.mb.ca; by fax: 204-867-6578; or by mail to Agriculture Crown Lands, PO Box 1286, Minnedosa, MB, R0J 1E0. MBP will also be submitting comments. MBP continues to advocate with the Manitoba government to revisit the size of the ACL rental rate increase and the speed at which it is being enacted. MBP’s position is that there should be a five-year transition for the rate increase.

DECEMBER MARCH

President's Column

MBP thanks the federal government for making its 60 per cent contribution available under AgriRecovery for this program and recognizes the provincial government for administering it. To be frank, MBP is disappointed the Manitoba government is not contributing its 40 per cent share toward the program. The province had suggested a strategy to fund this contribution which would have had an impact on producers from a number of commodities, including beef. MBP was not comfortable with this approach and asked the province to revisit how it could fund it. Although we disagreed with the province in this area, MBP will continue to advocate with both the provincial and federal governments for effective disaster and BRM programs to help the beef industry weather the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other risks affecting the sector.

2020 SaleSale Schedule 2018Fall Winter Schedule

DIANNE RIDING

A longer transition would take into account factors such as successive challenging production years which drove up costs for many ACL lease holders around Manitoba, as well as ongoing uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for cattle markets going forward, among other concerns facing lease holders. And MBP continues to draw attention to other ACL matters including, but not limited to: ways to address concerns about the new processing for valuing leasehold improvements; the right to informed access whereby those wishing to access ACL would need to notify the lease or permit holder before entering; potential opportunities for lease holders to purchase ACL in a swifter fashion; and, government recognition of the ecosystem services lease holders provide in managing ACL. Since my last report there have been some developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic specifically, and more generally related to business risk management (BRM) programs. First, MBP recognizes the important financial support being made available through AgriRecovery for the recently-announced 2020 Canada-Manitoba Finished Cattle Feed Assistance Program. Manitoba’s cattle sector, like the rest of the Canadian industry has been hit by the effects of the pandemic, including processing disruptions in the early months of the pandemic which backed up cattle through the system and have created added costs for the industry. The program will allocate up to $2.5 million in AgriRecovery disaster relief funding to assist eligible Manitoba producers. Owners of finished cattle have under December 1, 2020 to apply for $1.20/day/animal to “help offset costs to feed animals beyond their expected marketing dates, due to slaughter plant closures and operational reductions resulting from COVID-19 outbreaks, or disease control measures.” For more details go to https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/financial-assistance/cattle-feedassistance.html .

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CATTLE COUNTRY November 2020

The balance of agriculture and conservation BY CURTIS HULLICK

Field Manager, Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation

Next year will mark 35 years for the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation (MHHC). Established in 1986 by the Government of Manitoba; MHHC was created to build partnerships and work with landowners, farmers, and ranchers in rural Manitoba. The mandate is simple: “Conserve, restore and enhance fish and wildlife habitat in Manitoba” and with the slogan, “Made in Manitoba”, MHHC has done just that. “Agriculture is the backbone of the economy. MHHC continues to focus on partnerships with landowners to find a balance within the agriculture and conservation relationship”, says Kasie McLaughlin, Habitat Conservation Specialist for MHHC. According to the 2016 Manitoba Census Report, there are approximately 17.6 million acres of farmland in Manitoba. Within that landscape MHHC has approximately 300,000 acres of conservation projects. The history of MHHC includes the Habitat Enhancement Land Use Program (HELP) which started in Shoal Lake area in the late 80s. HELP was a pilot project designed to test new ways to conserve waterfowl habitat cooperatively with farmers and ranchers. Examples of the projects included predator fencing, duck nesting structures and short-term leases for grasslands and wetlands. “HELP tested a variety of conservation activities to see if they could be beneficial and meaningful to landowners and wildlife” said Mclaughlin, “Waterfowl need sloughs, grasslands and other natural areas. The key to conserving those areas is the landowners and the partnerships that we can create and maintain”. HELP paved the way for MHHC to pursue Conservation Agreements. In 1997 the Province of Manitoba passed the Conservation Agreements Act, which enabled conservation groups to pay landowners for areas on their farms, such as sloughs, grasslands and bush that

are not cultivated and enter into a long-term agreement. A Conservation Agreement with MHHC outlines the areas of the farm where wildlife habitat exists, typically the least productive acres and landowners can continue to use the land as they have in the past. Decades later, MHHC continues to use Conservation Agreements to build partnerships with landowners to conserve sloughs and grasslands for wildlife habitat. MHHC recently worked with Don and Wenda Best of Kenton to conserve 375 acres of wetlands and grasslands on their farm. The Best family will continue to graze the pastures and farm their improved land while maintaining

a space for wildlife. “Its just the right thing to do, keeping the sloughs and bush around. You see all these farms with no habitat on them, it creates problems downstream. I like seeing the birds and wildlife on my land, the water helps the cattle immensely,” said Don Best, mixed farmer from Kenton. The Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation has incentives for landowners who are willing to conserve grasslands and wetlands. For more information call Kasie McLaughlin, Habitat Conservation Specialist at 204-724-0583.

Photo credit: Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corp.

ear DID YOU Res Fertility is 5X more important than KNOW? growth rate when it comes to profit. ch shows

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COVID-19 presents opportunities to connect with consumers BY ANGELA LOVELL COVID-19 has certainly caused disruptions and hardships for many along all points in the beef supply chain, but it hasn’t been bad news for everyone, particularly those producers who have found a way to sell directly to consumers via online platforms. Trish Tetz and her husband, Greg, launched the Craft Beef Company, an online sales platform for locally produced beef in Three Hills, Alberta during the pandemic, which didn’t seem like the best timing, but ended up working out well for the business. “We launched at an opportune time, where customers were seeking out products straight from the farm, so that worked in our favour,” says Tetz, who was speaking as part of a panel discussion at the recent Canadian Beef Industry Conference. “We recognize that not everyone in the industry had that same opportunity and it’s been tough, but we have been able to step in and offer select farms really fair pricing on some cattle, so we have been able to pass that good fortune on down the supply chain.” Speaking to customers critical Pasta florentine bake (Photo credit: Great Tastes of Manitoba) Craft Beef Company sources beef from a number of local ranches that are hand-picked to supply Opportunities in niche markets and family-run processing facilities to ship interbeef meeting specific criteria that matter most to Going forward, Tetz believes that, while large provincially throughout Western Canada, for their customers. All of its products are individually processing plants continue to be an essential part example, I think that is a really big opportunity that barcoded by farm, giving customers the choice to of the industry, there are opportunities to serve the industry could have,” she says. select what farm they want to purchase from based customers looking for niche products. Consumers are in flux on the values that they have for themselves and on the “There are customers who want to purchase direct Tetz also believes that consumer behaviour values of that farm’s production methods. from the farm and I do think that’s an area that is may well be changed forever because of COVID-19, That’s not to say that COVID-19 has had no both an opportunity and a challenge for the producer especially when it comes to how they interact with the impact on the new business, as it began to affect some because a lot of them are located in rural areas, so the food service industry. of the smaller, provincial packing plants that their logistics and the challenges of getting that product to “We are going to see a lot more home meal company uses to process their beef. While they did the customer is something that the large plants have delivery service and curbside pick-up has become not have any product in the plant while COVID-19 always done for the farmer,” says Tetz. a really common trend from local butcher shops was an issue and were not directly impacted, Tetz said She believes there is a place in the system for both everywhere,” says Tetz. “The industry is in for a they were still affected by backlogs and the inability to large packers and smaller plants with the flexibility to change because how customers want to interact with get cattle processed. It also presented a challenge for serve those niche markets. retailers, processors and farmers is all in flux right them in terms of how they talk to their customers in “I think there’s opportunity here for a provincial now.” light of those impacts. plant regulation to allow inter-provincial trade,” Tetz, who is also an agriculture banker, has “How do you speak to the consumer and assure says Tetz. “Provincial and federal plants do different colleagues with a lot of restaurant clients, and mixed them that your products are safe, and that they haven’t products. A lot of the federal plants are doing prime feelings about what is happening to the food service come into contact with COVID-19, that they don’t cuts and sending it to butcher shops who are packaging industry. “What is happening to the restaurant need to disinfect their packaging when it enters their it up for customers to purchase. Provincial plants are industry right now is terrible, homes and livelihoods home,” says Tetz. “That has become a big consumer often doing quarters, halves and wholes and filling up and many things are being impacted by COVID-19,” communication question.” people’s freezers, the ageing process is different, there she says. Tetz addressed those concerns through blog are just different opportunities for each.” On the other hand, people are discovering their posts, talking about the farms and processors that Because of regulatory limitations, provincial kitchens again and learning to be home chefs. “You are their products come from. “I think the blog posts plants are having a hard time growing, says Tetz, and eating healthy, eating at home, sitting down enjoying resonated with people at a time when they really not being able to do inter-provincial trade is also dinners with your family, and that is a trend that I needed it, so direct to consumer marketing has been limiting the ability of businesses like the Craft Beef hope continues, not just from a consumer purchasing a big strength for us going through COVID-19,” Company to expand. trend but from a family dynamic trend because those says Tetz. “If we could utilize some of these local operators things are so important,” says Tetz.

42 Annual General Meeting FEBRUARY 11, 2021 nd

www.mbbeef.ca

CATTLE COUNTRY November 2020

StockTalk Q&A Feature

brought to you by Manitoba Agriculture Resource Development, Livestock Extension Branch

ELIZABETH NERNBERG

Livstock Specialist, Manitoba Agriculture elizabeth.nernberg@gov.mb.ca

Q: My hay production is below normal this year, but I do have lots of straw. What is the best way to include straw in the ration? Or what alternative feeds should I be looking at? Answer: We often get questions like this in March, when the cows are lactating and the hay pile is running out, but there is still lots of straw on hand. At this point, your options are more limited with the herd requiring a higher plane of nutrition and supplies of different feedstuffs usually lower at this time of year. Planning earlier for the winter feeding period allows you more time and flexibility to better match the quality of your feed to your herd’s needs. In addition, there is likely more feed available, so better purchasing decisions can be made. In order to find the most economical one, comparing costs per pound of nutrient you are supplementing, such as protein or energy, should be completed. Straw is best utilized in cow rations earlier in the season during the mid-gestation stage when the cow’s nutritional requirements are lower. As well, the weather is typically warmer during this time period, so the animal requires less energy for maintenance. In addition, as the fetus grows and develops, the cow has less abdominal space, so her capacity to take in bulky feed is reduced. Straw quality does vary, but on average, cereal straws contain four per cent protein and about 45 per cent TDN. Of the cereal straws, oats are considered the most palatable, followed by barley and then wheat. Pea straw is usually higher in protein and calcium, but can be very dusty and dirty, affecting palatability and potentially resulting in reduced intakes. Soybean and flax straw have little or no value as a feed, due to its extremely high fiber content. Grass straws are considered more palatable than cereal straws, but keep in mind that turf types of tall fescue and perennial ryegrass should be tested for endophytes. Canola straw is lower quality and should be analyzed for sulphur, as it may contain high levels that can cause problems. Additional energy must be provided when

feeding straw-based rations. This can be done with higher quality feeds like cereal silage, or with the use of concentrates like barley, corn and oats, as well as screenings and or pellets. Keep in mind that, with grains, you know what you are getting because they are consistent. With pellets/screenings, the product can vary between loads and could contain unknown ingredients, such as weed seeds, shriveled or cracked grain, fusarium or ergot. Be sure to inquire about ergot levels in pellets and screenings when purchasing them and consider testing for it as high levels can cause health issues and the ergot bodies are not visible in pelleted feed. Supplemental protein is also required for strawbased rations. Such options include alfalfa, alfalfa/ grass hay or silage, peas, canola or soybean meal, dry distillers grain, and commercial protein supplements. A 32 per cent liquid supplement (molasses) can be poured or injected into straw bales, but does not provide sufficient energy and protein on its own in a straw-based ration. However, it can improve the palatability of the straw.

Five Different Cow Straw Ration Examples for Pre-Calving*

6. 7. 8.

10 lbs. Alfalfa Grass Hay 15 lbs. Barley Straw

17 lbs. Barley Straw 48 lbs. Barley Silage

47 lbs. Corn Silage

0.5 lbs. 32% Feedlot Supplement 20.5 lbs. Barley Straw

14 lbs. 20% Pro. Pellets

11 lbs. Barley Grain 1 lbs. 32% Feedlot Supplement

*Based on 1,400 lb. cow. Rations will also need to be balanced with salt, mineral and possibly limestone. For cost estimates and further details, visit 2020 Cost of Production Beef Cow-Calf.

When feeding straw keep the following in mind: Feed test: straw sources (e.g., barley versus wheat straw) differ in nutritional content and digestibility. It is critical to know the nutrient content of all feedstuffs to provide a balanced ration. 2. Maximum intake of straw in a straw grain ration is 1.25 per cent mature body weight, as it is slower to digest than hay. During colder weather, an animal 1.

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nutrition for a beef herd when hay supplies are short. Including straw in the ration is an excellent way to stretch the hay pile and/or other forage resources. Straw, in itself, does not contain adequate levels of nutrients and must be supplemented with energy, protein and mineral/vitamin premixes. We want to hear from you For the next issue of Cattle Country, a Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development forage or livestock specialist will answer a selected question. Send your questions to Tim.Clarke@gov.mb.ca The StockTalk Q&A Feature for Cattle Country is brought to you by Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development. We encourage you to email your questions to our department’s forage and livestock team, who have a combined 120 years of agronomy experience. We are here to help make your cattle operation successful. Contact us today.

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will try to eat more than they can digest and could become impacted, and possibly die. So, a 1,400 lb. cow would consume 17.5 lbs. of straw on a dry matter basis or 20 lbs. as fed with straw at 15 per cent moisture. Diets must be balanced for energy, protein, minerals and vitamins. Cattle consume greater amounts of year-old straw as it is generally more palatable than freshly baled straw. Ammoniating straw or other low quality forages: a) increases forage digestibility by 10-15%, b) increases forage intake by 5-10%, c) increases crude protein by 100-150%, and d) prevents spoilage of high moisture forages by killing moulds and fungi, and preventing heating. Grinding/chopping straw and feeding, as a part of a total mixed rations, will increase intakes. A 2:1 mineral (or 3:1) will be needed. Limestone may also be required, if no other forage is fed. Check the nitrate content. There are many alternative ways to provide

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November 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Producers may see price variability and market uncertainty this fall Just when cattle producers thought the fall calf prices were going to be better than expected, two of the major fundamentals that influence the calf prices changed, and the result was lower prices. The first fundamental was the increase in feed prices. Originally, better than expected yields and the quality of the fall harvest indicated that there would be a feed surplus, and it would cost less to feed a steer this year than last year. All of a sudden, China stepped in and started to purchase large quantities of American corn, soybeans and Canadian barley. This increase in the finishing ration prices will have a major impact on the spring market for cattle coming out of the backgrounding feedlots. The cost of backgrounding will not change much from last year, as there is lots of silage available in the backgrounding regions. With barley projected to be $6 a bushel in January, those feedlots that did not lock in a large percentage of their grain costs for finishing will be looking to pay less for calves. For every 50 cent increase in the cost of a bushel of barley the price of a 750-pound feeder will decrease approximately 10 cents per pound to compensate for the increased feed costs. China is a big importer of Canadian pork, but beef exports to China have failed to meet the potential predicted in the past. China banned beef products from Cargill beef plant in Alberta

due to COVID-19 issues; this resulted in a reduction in the tonnage and dollar value of Canadian beef exports to China. Increased exports are the lifeline of the Canadian beef industry, and until the Canadian government makes peace with China, the Chinese will continue to use nontariff trade barriers to increase trade tensions, negatively impacting many Canadian industries such as the beef industry. The second factor is pen space. The October 1, 2020 Western Canada “on feed report” for cattle in feedlots on a finishing ration reported that there was a 9% larger inventory than last year and a 17% larger inventory than the five-year average. Placements in the third quarter were up 16,000 head over last year. Feeder cattle exports to the USA to date this year are down 46% with imports of American feeder cattle increasing due to a favourable Canadian dollar and lower feeder cattle prices on wet nosed calves in the northern USA. Packers are booking for delivery in 30 days, and the carcass weights are going up, supporting the theory that the backlog of fed cattle is far from over. These cattle are taking up pen space that should have been filled with yearlings or heavy weight spring calves. The fall calf run was at least two weeks behind, as farmers focused on harvest and fall land work. In Manitoba, the three largest weeks for calf volumes come in the latter half of October and

cline and will continue to drop throughout the fall. Canadian packers are focusing on harvesting fed cattle. Cow slaughter in Canada is down 24% from last year, and exports of live cows to the USA are up 4%. Cow prices on the south side of the border are also under pressure, with large volumes of cows on offer and lean trim prices the lowest in the past v12 months. The question is, “Should you keep your cows and feed them until after the New Year?” This used to be a popular and profitable practice a number of years ago, but the demand from the packers has changed. Those “100 day” fat cows are not as popular as they once were. The demand now, is for the leaner cows. The packers are controlling

RICK WRIGHT The Bottom Line the first week of November. By the time you read this those weeks will have passed, and if the market can survive the big supply and any major corrections, the fall prices may hold together. So far the demand from eastern Canada for Manitoba calves has been strong. With larger volumes to choose from the market prices peaked in the first half of October, with even larger volumes ahead the supply and demand ratio should kick in. One of the many unknowns playing havoc with the futures market is the US Presidential election. Trump has been

friendly to American agriculture, while Joe Biden and the Democrats’ position on agriculture is a little less clear. Until the election is over there will be continued volatility in the futures markets. Even if the current Canadian calf prices dropped five to eight cents per pound, they would still be too high to export. On the other hand, the meat market in the USA has been strong, backed by good domestic demand and strong export sales. The USA is Canada’s biggest export market for beef products. Cow prices have started their seasonal de-

2020 Manitoba Beef Producers Resolutions Suggestion Form Because of the change in the format of MBP’s fall 2020 district meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MBP’s board of directors is now accepting in writing suggested resolutions for debate at its virtual 42nd Annual General Meeting set for February 2021. If the resolution is deemed to be in order by MBP’s Resolutions Committee it will be considered for debate at the resolutions session. In consultation with the resolution’s author, proposed resolutions may be subject to editing by MBP for clarity and to ensure consistency of formatting across all resolutions. Please note: if the resolution covers off matters on which MBP is already conducting advocacy work, it may be deemed to be redundant and not taken forward for debate so as to ensure there is time to debate resolutions on emerging matters. As well, it is also important that proposed resolutions deal with something that is potentially achievable and clearly state the actions you are asking MBP to consider taking. Please send the proposed resolution in the format below to info@mbbeef.ca to the attention of General Manager Carson Callum and Policy Analyst Maureen Cousins. Or, fax it to 1-204-774-3264 or mail it to 220-530 Century Street, Winnipeg MB R3H 0Y4. For resolutions to be considered in time for their publication in the December nd edition of Cattle Country prior to the 42 AGM, they must be received by MBP no later than Nov. 9.

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more of their long term inventory requirements than in the past. As of the middle of October, neither of the two large western packers were buying up cows to feed and store, which would indicate that the prices have not yet reached the seasonal bottom of the price scale. The other factor to consider is that it is not cheap to feed cows; the consumption is high and the feed conversion is terrible, especially in cold weather. I would suggest that if you have the feed, sell those cull cows and invest in some good bred cows, get your inventory back to predrought levels. The return on your investment should be better than feeding your culls. Until next time, good luck with your marketing and stay safe. Rick

Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers

Your name: Address: (include MBP District number if known) Phone Number:

Email Address:

www.mbbeef.ca

CATTLE COUNTRY November 2020

Cheesy Chili Mac sure to please Chili: 2 tbsp canola oil 1 onion, diced 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced ½ tsp dried oregano 2 tbsp chili powder 1 ½ tsp cumin 2 tsp paprika 4 tbsp tomato paste 1 lb ground beef 1-14oz can diced tomatoes 1 can kidney beans 1 cup beef stock or water Salt and pepper Mac: 1 lb macaroni 2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp flour 1 cup whole milk 5 oz cheddar cheese, grated 3 oz Colby cheese, grated ¼ tsp salt ¼ tsp chili powder, or ground cayenne powder ¼ tsp paprika or smoked paprika

Photo credit: Great Tastes of Manitoba

For the chili: Start by browning the ground beef in a non-stick pan. Heat canola oil in large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pan. Add onion, garlic, oregano and pinch of salt. Sauté until onion is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add chili powder, cumin, and paprika. Stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomato paste and ground beef and stir until combined. Add tomatoes, kidney beans, and liquid (stock or water). Stir and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 30 minutes – the chili will thicken slightly. For the mac: Start by bringing large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until al dente, about 9 minutes.

In a skillet, melt butter and add flour. Stir constantly for 1 minute. Add milk and bring to a simmer. Keep stirring constantly, until the mixture coats the back of a spoon, about 5-6 minutes. Add the Colby cheese and 3 oz of the cheddar cheese. Stir until melted. Add chili powder, salt, and paprika. Stir in the cooked pasta until well coated. Then: Turn oven broiler on. Combine the chili and the mac and pour into a large casserole dish (or two smaller ones). Top with the remaining 2 oz of cheddar cheese and the parmesan cheese and broil for 5 minutes, until nice, brown and bubbly. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes before serving.

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November 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Case study in herd development BY MARY-JANE ORR

General Manager, MBFI

The Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives (MBFI) farm operation that manages the land and provides the livestock for research and demonstration projects is designed for operation costs to be financially independent of grant funding. As a beef cattle cow-calf operation the MBFI farm is faced with the challenge of how to improve profitability of our herd to support long term farm operations. Starting in 2019, a demonstration case study in herd development is underway at MBFI to grow our herd to 150 cow-calf pairs. The Strategic Beef Cattle Herd Development plan centres on a breeding plan, selection and culling criteria, record keeping, and use of genetic tools available to aid decisions to build a herd suited to the land base available. We are working toward the goals of improving our herd fertility and longevity, selecting more efficient low maintenance cows that will produce a calf crop with uniform conformation and weaning weights. Selecting the animal genetics that align with producer goals and available production system is a key component in herd plan development. The MBFI breeding strategy, selection, and culling criteria were developed in consultation with Don Guilford (Clearwater MB)

to showcase hybrid vigor in Black Angus and Polled Hereford for both maternal and terminal development in a foragebased production system. The Angus and Hereford breeds were selected to target moderately framed cows, high fertility and longevity, strong mothering, ease of calving, docile temperament, hardiness, and strong calf performance in weaning weights. MBFI is documenting a number of measurements to track changes in herd performance over time, including % open, % calves born in 1st cycle, % calves born per number of females exposed, % calving assists, average birth weight, average weaning weight, cow age, cow body condition score, average daily gain, soundness scores (udder, teat, and feet), frame score, temperament, bull expected progeny differences (EPDs), and genetic traits (breed composition, heterosis score, trait scores, and leptin genotype). All these data records will help us to make informed decisions in culling cows, retention of replacement heifers, and in bull purchases to reduce production costs and improve our calf crop marketability. The genetic testing provided through Neogen Canada is an exciting area of development to predict performance in commercial crossbred and straightbred cattle. To evaluate the MBFI

herd baseline in the winter of 2019, we pulled tail hairs on 102 breeding females and 4 bulls were submitted for the EnVigour HX ($35 per head) and Tenderness/ Leptin ($15 per head) genetic tests. The EnVigour HX package for breed composition and hybrid vigor score is no longer available. The MBFI cow herd breed composition average was 68% Black Angus, 12% Simmental, 4% Hereford, with trace influence of Limousin, Maine Anjou, Salers, Shorthorn, and Charolais. The average calculated hybrid vigor score was 44% and ranged from 3% to 75%, where higher vigor score is associated with improved performance. The leptin gene is associated with fatness, both marbling and external carcass fat thickness, and test results give three leptin types TT (more fatty carcass), CT (intermediate fatty carcass), and CC (more lean carcass). In an economic analysis of leptin genotyping Eric

DeVuyst (North Dakota State University, NDSU) noted the finished steer or heifer TT type were more profitable when priced on quality valuing marbling. Jay Mitchell (NDSU) evaluated the impact of the leptin genotype on cow-calf performance and observed an increase in average cull age and weaning weight in the TT trait compared to the CC trait. MBFI leptin testing of breeding females indicated 33% TT type,

42% CT type, and 25% CC type. Further analysis is needed to document over time if trends appear indicating TT trait cows maintain higher condition and produce consistently higher weaning weights under MBFI management. Testing of 2020 replacement heifers and purchased bulls will include leptin trait and Igenity Beef Profile, a new Neogen product that provides 16 ma-

ternal, performance, and carcass trait scores based on genomic testing. The Igenity 16 trait profile is proposed as a tool for commercial beef maternal line improvement where EPDs are not available. The provided trait scores will be evaluated over time against observed performance measures. For more information please check our www. mbfi.ca webpage or email information@mbfi.ca.

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10 CATTLE COUNTRY November 2020

Advice on herd health invaluable Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) which monitors trends in antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance in selected bacterial organisms from human, animal and food sources across Canada. WeCAHN met in September and discussed health problems encountered in the second quarter of 2020. Treatment failures due to antimicrobial resistance are being reported with a slight increasing frequency in cases of bronchopneumonia caused by Pasteurella multocida. Traditionally this bacteria has been susceptible to a wide variety of antibiotics but recent lab data suggests resistance is developing to the common antibiotics in use in the cowcalf industry - macrolides (Draxxin, Zuprevo, Micotil) and oxytetracycline (OxyLA). Overuse of macrolides in the cow-calf sector will create issues for the prevention and control of respiratory disease in the feedlot sector, be it from Pasteurella, Mannheimia or Histophilus. Use of Draxxin for treatment of navel infections must stop - environmental management, genetics and ensuring colostrum consumption are much more effective for the prevention of all neonatal disease, including pneumonia and navel infection. Seek veterinary advice and have cultures done to determine the cause of the herd health challenges on your farm. Use your veterinarian’s expertise and the lab data to better prevent disease and to effectively treat the condition.

BY DR. TANYA ANDERSON, DVM In 2018, with funding from the Beef Cattle Research Council, the Canadian Cow-Calf Surveillance Network (C3SN) was developed. 175 beef cow-calf operations reflecting the current beef industry were recruited from across Canada. This group provides benchmarking productivity data and information about the economics of production limiting disease in Canadian beef herds. Regional networks, including one for Western Canada are offshoots of the national program. Based on the data generated, future research can be guided by identification of challenges being encountered in the industry. Topics of interest include biosecurity, animal welfare, antibiotic use and herd nutrition. So often, producers ask why research has been done on seemingly irrelevant topics or why no progress has been made on current issues that they themselves are dealing with in their own herds. C3SN and WeCAHN (Western Canadian Animal Health Network) are addressing this concern by screening participating herds and identifying health problems and management challenges that require further research. Networks like these are better able to rapidly detect emerging health problems and thus enable a quicker response to mitigate the negative impacts of changes in disease patterns. Support is also provided by the

I was visiting with a breeder the other day

about their 2020 season. He told me that in his 7 decades of raising Angus cattle and 50 years in the Red Angus breed, he’d never had a better year. They were able to market 170 bulls to commercial breeders, grossing in excess of $800,000. What he was most proud of though was the numerous third generation customers and the relationships built on trust and fair dealings. They sure have a lot to be proud of, I thought to myself. As I turned to leave, I looked back and said, “Thanks for the pep talk Dad.”

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Of particular frustration, a significant proportion of calf losses, stillbirths and abortions did not yield a diagnosis despite lab submission. Too often, a reason for this is failure to submit the correct samples, failure to choose the correct animal or delaying sampling until treatment avenues have been exhausted. An animal with symptoms typical of the problem must be chosen early in the disease course and prior to treatment with any medications, particularly antibiotics. Keep a log of the health challenges that you are experiencing to help you determine trends and thus guide you to seek diagnostic help sooner rather than later. Involve your veterinarian to ensure that any animals you choose to have examined are actually typical of your problem. If cultures are needed, be sure to obtain the necessary samples before ANY antibiotics are administered or it becomes much more difficult for the lab to isolate a diseasecausing organism because drug use suppresses its growth. Remember that a thorough necropsy may be necessary even when the problem seems isolated to one system (such as the lungs). Most diseases involve multiple organ systems

even though symptoms may point at only one system. A comprehensive set of formalin fixed and fresh tissues should be submitted for every necropsy case if the diagnosis is not immediately obvious by gross examination alone. This is particularly important in the diagnosis of abortion and stillbirth cases where a lab diagnosis is frustratingly low at <30% of cases. And remember that many disease issues do not require an antibiotic so don’t reach for the “miracle shot” every time a calf acts abnormal. Many health issues are not infectious but have an underlying nutritional or management problem. Thorough sample collection also helps in the identification of new disease syndromes like Mycoplasma bovis presenting as swollen joints in cows without isolation in the lungs. As Dr. Otto Radostits in vet school used to say….“You will miss more by not looking than by not knowing.” The seemingly relentless onslaught of regulations impacting beef operations should serve as the impetus for us as an industry to look at how we can do things better without relying on the old standbys like pills and shots. C3SN is a good start to helping us reach our goal in a sustainable responsible manner.

TESA applications due to MBP by December 4 Manitoba Beef Producers is accepting applications for Manitoba’s Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) until Friday, December 4, 2020. Since 1996, the Canadian Cattlemen Association’s (CCA) TESA has recognized producers who go above and beyond standard industry conservation practices, setting positive examples for other cattle producers and the general public. At the provincial level, the winning operation receives recognition for its outstanding contributions, which in MBP’s case occurs in conjunction with its annual general meeting in February. All provincial award recipients then move forward to compete at the national level. The national TESA recipient is announced in conjunction with the Canadian Beef Industry Conference and CCA Semi-Annual Meeting in August. Each TESA nominee exemplifies significant innovation and attention to a wide range of environmental stewardship

aspects of their farm operation. Such innovations extend beneficially to areas far beyond their land, including water, wildlife and air. All beef cattle operations in Canada may apply. Producers can either be nominated by an individual or organization, or apply themselves. Nominees and applicants compete for one of the provincial awards based on their province of residence. For more information and to access the application go to http://www.cattle. ca/sustainability/the-environmentalstewardship-award/, or contact MBP for a copy. The form, along with all supporting documentation (such as letters of support, photos and/or videos), is to be submitted to Manitoba Beef Producers c/o 220-530 Century Street, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0Y4 by December 4, 2020. The application is to be emailed to info@mbbeef.ca . If you have questions, please contact the MBP office at 1-800-772-0458.

Box 274, Austin, MB R0H 0C0 President: Tracy Wilcox 204-713-0029 Secretary: Laurelly Beswitherick 204-637-2046 b2@inetlink.ca

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November 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY 11

New research examines benefits of “upcycling” food waste into high quality beef protein BY CHRISTINE RAWLUK,

National Centre for Livestock and the Environment, University of Manitoba

A new study at the University of Manitoba will quantify food waste in Canada and identify the role of the beef industry in reducing plant-based byproducts and waste in Canada’s food system. “Our research will identify the extent to which byproducts are utilized, as well as opportunities to divert food waste from landfills and “upcycle” it into high quality livestock protein,” says Kim Ominski, animal scientist and study lead. Ominski’s multi-disciplinary research program focuses on strategies for improving the long term sustainability of beef cattle production systems. The goal is to achieve a smaller environmental footprint of our overall food system in Canada by capitalizing on the ability of cattle and other livestock to make use of these human-inedible products, keeping them in the food system and out of the waste stream. The potential benefits of using these materials as livestock feed can be far reaching – improved food security, reduced land, water, fuel and fertilizer use for food production, as well as lower greenhouse gas emissions. What is involved The first step is to determine the current state of food loss and food waste, as well as the proportion that is currently used by livestock across the supply chain in Canada. Next the team will explore opportunities to reduce and redirect food waste streams from the landfill to livestock feed. This step includes identifying potential barriers to upcycle food waste and byproducts through livestock related to transportation, centralization and regulations. They will also evaluate how feeding these materials to cattle impacts production efficiency and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with food waste through food vs feed comparisons. “By running these different scenarios through our models, we will

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be able to show the costs and benefits attributable to these different use pathways,” explains Ominski. “The beef industry can draw on these numbers when communicating with government and society at large about the role cattle play in making our food system more sustainable.” Their report will include best practices to reduce food waste and loss reduction related to crop harvest and post-harvest handling, improved food storage and transportation, and interventions at the retail and consumer stages.

The goal is to achieve a smaller environmental footprint of our overall food system in Canada by capitalizing on the ability of cattle and other livestock to make use of these human-inedible products, keeping them in the food system and out of the waste stream. This study is part of a larger project with the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment that Ominski co-leads with Tim McAllister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada examining the economic and environmental impacts associated with removing productivity-enhancing technologies in the Canadian beef cattle industry. This research is funded by the Beef Cattle Research Council and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada under the Sustainable Beef and Forage Science Cluster with

additional funding from Mitacs. Project team: Co-leads: Kim Ominski, University of Manitoba and Tim McAllister, Agriculture and AgriFood Canada. Co-Investigators: Emma McGeough, Karin Wittenberg, Jared Carlberg, Kebebe Gunte (University of Manitoba), Karen Beauchemin, Roland Kroebel (AAFC - Lethbridge), John McKinnon (University of Saskatchewan), Robin White (Virginia Tech) and Mark Klassen (Canadian Cattlemen’s Association). New University of Manitoba website shares beef research outcomes through podcasts The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences recently launched the Manitoba Agriculture and Food Knowledge Exchange – MAKE – website (www. makemanitoba.ca). The site profiles current research programs shared as articles and podcast interviews with Faculty scientists and other research collaborators in the community. Two podcasts feature animal scientist Kim Ominski, whose multi-disciplinary research program focuses on strategies for improving the long term sustainability of beef cattle production systems. In “The role of cattle in the environment: More complex than the simple “Cattle = GHG” sound bite” she presents an equation where impacts of GHG as well as benefits such as biodiversity and carbon sequestration are considered. What cattle eat, how they affect the environment, and the research being done to further improve the sustainability of livestock production systems in Canada are covered. In under 9 minutes, learn about the research findings comparing needle-and-syringe with needlefree injection systems to vaccinate cattle in the podcast “Needle-free vaccination systems for cattle proven effective by research”. A third podcast “Canada’s Verified Beef Production Plus Program: Sustainable practices validated by research at its core” is with Betty Green, Manitoba’s VBP+ coordinator. The VBP+ validates sustainable beef production practices that are based on research findings from across the country, including the University of Manitoba. Betty describes the program and shares her own personal story as a Manitoba farmer. Visit http://umanitoba.ca/agricultural-foodsciences/make-podcasts to listen to these and other podcasts. New content added regularly.

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OCTOBER 2020

Max, enjoying a ride in the ATV alongside his family, the Greaves from the Deerwood, MB. area, spot checks cows at different pastures earlier this summer. Photo credit: Jeannette Greaves

MBP district meetings go virtual When Manitoba cattle producers attend their annual fall district meetings this year, they won’t have to drive somewhere to do it. Instead, they’ll do it at home sitting in front of a computer, tablet or Smartphone. Or they can listen in by telephone. Manitoba Beef Producers will use a virtual platform to make presentations, go over audited financial statements, conduct elections, discuss activities and suggest resolutions. The content will be the same as always, only the delivery will be different. The reason? COVID-19, of

course. Like other organizations everywhere, the pandemic is forcing MBP to practise social distancing while keeping members informed about their association. Producers are being asked to register in advance for these meetings to ensure there’s a quorum and people are qualified to vote in director elections. A district meeting requires a minimum of 10 qualified members for a quorum. Dianne Riding, MBP’s president, said the new format was chosen because of the uncertainty about holding face-

to-face meetings, especially if a second wave of COVID infections occurs and public gatherings have to be curtailed. “We were thinking by the time October and November came around, we might be in a very difficult position to actually be able to host any number of people,” Riding said. “I’m really hoping people will give it a try and embrace it.” Virtual elections for directors are slated for odd numbered districts this year. Several districts require new directors to be elected, including Riding’s own District 9 because she is termed out after

serving three two-year terms on the board. Riding described the past year as “a tad difficult but interesting” after COVID-19 seriously disrupted the beef industry, causing a near price collapse and resulting in a large backlog of finished animals still to be processed. “It’s impacting everyone and it’s definitely giving a hit to the cattle industry in general,” said Carson Callum, MBP general manager. There are also other issues affecting the industry up for discussion at the meetings, said Callum. A big one is AgriStability,

General Manager's Column

President's Colum

Market Report

Page 2

Pag 3

Page 6

which is under fire for being complicated, time consuming and generally inadequate to meet producers’ needs. Locally, Manitoba producers are concerned about recent regulatory changes to the province’s Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program, which they feel disadvantage them. That’s all the more reason for producers to sign up for their virtual meetings so they can discuss issues and decide how to deal with them, Callum said. “We’re really encouraging folks to register so they can get all the right info they need to take part.” POSTMASTER: PLEASE RETURN UNDELIVERABLE COPIES TO: MBP, UNIT 220, 530 CENTURY STREET, WINNIPEG, MB R3H 0Y4 CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL PRODUCT SALES AGREEMENT NUMBER 40005187 POSTAGE PAID IN WINNIPEG.

BY RON FRIESEN

CATTLE COUNTRY October 2020

Recapping a busy summer and looking ahead to a fall filled with virtual district meetings CARSON CALLUM

General Manager’s Column Greetings members and industry stakeholders. I hope you are all enjoying a safe and happy harvest. It has been a busy number of months for all, trying to adjust to the new normal we find ourselves in. I thought this would be a great opportunity to touch on a number of important things happening in the industry right now. Over the summer, the Hon. Blaine Pedersen, Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development, held some grassroots meetings with producers to gather feedback to take to the table of the Federal Provincial Territorial (FPT) ministers of agriculture meeting this fall. We were encouraged to hear of the turnout by many beef producers at these events. In August, the province also held an online consultation – Engaging Manitoba’s Agriculture Industry – where commodity groups, producers and others could submit comments on several topics prior to these FPT meetings. MBP was pleased to submit

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comments on topics such as Business Risk Management (BRM), resiliency, innovation and technology, and market opportunities. One area of particular importance is BRM programs. This pandemic has really shown the need for BRM programs that are simpler, more predictable, bankable and more equitable overall. The beef industry continues to advance the need for improvements to programs such as AgriStability, one which has proven particularly ineffective for cattle producers in its current form. One of the changes being sought involves removing the reference margin limit (RML) under AgriStability as a way to address the equity gap for the beef industry versus other commodities. Modeling work undertaken on behalf of Canada’s beef industry shows that the RML unfairly limits many cow-calf producers reference margin under the program. The research found that intensive livestock (such as feedlots) require a smaller revenue drop to trigger AgriStability (3% to 7% range) when compared to cow-calf producers (25% to 40% range). This makes the program less valuable, especially for producers with lower costs, such as cow-calf producers who generally have lower eligible labour costs and who produce their own feed as oppose to buying it, i.e. fewer allowable expenses. MBP, our provincial counterparts, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and the National Cattle Feeders Association continue to bring BRM-related challenges to the attention of federal and provincial governments, seeking to have them addressed. A big focus of the sector is ensuring public trust around the beef industry. MBP, in collaboration with others in the sector, works on many initiatives that get a positive message about beef production out to the general public, through social media and other important communication mediums. We are very excited to be updating our website to improve its ease of use for both producers and consumers. An important message we want the public to understand is the importance of beef production for protecting grassland habitats, which is reflected in the Guardians of the Grasslands short film produced by the Public Stakeholder Engagement (PSE) group with the CCA in conjunction with other key stakeholders. As well, Species at Risk on Agricultural Lands (SARPAL) projects involving producers show the importance of cattle production in protecting habitat for endangered grassland species. PSE is an important component of our industry,

particularly in these challenging times due to COVID-19. They launched a special COVID-19 campaign titled Feeding the Future to raise awareness of the pandemic’s impact on the beef industry. One element of this featured personal stories from young producers on the impacts of COVID-19 to their operations and included participants from the Young Cattlemen’s Council. Another featured partner organizations like Ducks Unlimited Canada, Nature Conservancy of Canada, and Birds Studies Canada talking about the potential threat to native grasslands if beef producers are not able to keep their operations economically viable. These kinds of resources, as well as those produced by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, will be great for MBP and others to leverage to effectively get important messages out to the general public. I continue to believe this, as well as agricultural education overall, will be a top priority for our industry. Many other files continue to be top of mind at MBP, such as changes to the Agricultural Crown Lands (ACL) Leasing Program. We continue to advance our positions

A BIG FOCUS OF THE SECTOR IS ENSURING PUBLIC TRUST

AROUND THE BEEF INDUSTRY. with the province related to the ACL changes, such as the importance of the right of first renewal, continuation of unit transfers, and the need for a longer transition period for the rental rate increase (five years), in hopes of getting amendments to the regulations to benefit producers. We also are moving forward with our Livestock Predation Prevention Pilot Project to test various mitigation strategies on farm, and further understand wildlife/ livestock interactions with the aim of reducing negative outcomes. As I mentioned in my September column, due to pandemic-related challenges, we made the decision to move our fall district meetings to a virtual platform along with our AGM in February 2021. There is more information about our plans in this edition of the newspaper. Updates and registration info will also be available on our social media accounts and website. I invite you to join in the conversations. Thank you for your continued support of MBP. Stay safe and happy Thanksgiving to you and your families! Carson

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DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 5

DISTRICT 9

DISTRICT 13

R.M. of Albert, Cameron, Whitewater, Edward, Brenda, Winchester, Morton

R.M. of Elton, North Cypress, North Norfolk, Cornwallis, Oakland, South Cypress, Victoria, South Norfolk

R.M. of Woodlands, Rockwood, St. Andrews, Rosser, St. Francis Xavier, Springfield, Tache, Whitemouth, Lac du Bonnet, Brokenhead, St. Clements, LGD of Alexander, Pinawa

R.M. of Shell River, Shellmouth,Hillsburg, Boulton, Grandview, Gilbert Plains, Ethelbert, Mossey River, Dauphin, LGD Park

GORD ADAMS

DISTRICT 2

NANCY HOWATT - SECRETARY

R.M. of Riverside, Strathcona, Argyle, Lorne, Turtle Mountain, Roblin, Louise, Pembina

STEVEN MANNS

DISTRICT 6

MELISSA ATCHINSON

R.M. of Wallace, Woodworth, Daly, Pipestone, Sifton, Whitehead, Glenwood

DIANNE RIDING - PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 10

MIKE DUGUID - 2ND VICE-PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 7

R.M. of Bifrost, Gimli, Fisher, Armstrong

R.M. of Portage la Prairie, Cartier, Grey, MacDonald, Dufferin, Thompson, Roland, Morris, Stanley, Rhineland, Montcalm

R.M. of Russell, Silver Creek, Rossburn, Ellice, Birtle, Shoal Lake, Strathclair, Archie, Miniota, Hamiota, Blanshard

DISTRICT 11

DISTRICT 4

MATTHEW ATKINSON

PETER PENNER - TREASURER

KEVIN DUDDRIDGE

R.M. of Richot, Ste. Anne, Hanover, De Salaberry, La Broquerie, Franklin, Stuartburn, Piney, LGD Reynolds

TYLER FULTON 1ST VICE-PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 8

R.M. of Harrison, Clanwilliam, Rosedale, Glenella, Saskatchewan, Odanah, Minto, Langford, Lansdowne, Westbourne, LGD Park

ROBERT METNER

R.M. of Siglunes, Grahamdale, Eriksdale, Coldwell, St. Laurent

DISTRICT 12

MARK GOOD

R.M. of Lawrence, Ochre River, Ste. Rose, McCreary, Alonsa

MARY PAZIUK

MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS Unit 220, 530 Century Street Winnipeg, MB R3H 0Y4

Ph: 1-800-772-0458 PH - (204) 772-4542 FX - (204) 774-3264 info@mbbeef.ca www.mbbeef.ca

GENERAL MANAGER Carson Callum

POLICY ANALYST Maureen Cousins

www.mbbeef.ca

DISTRICT 14 JIM BUCHANAN

R.M. of Minitonas, Swan River, Mountain, The Pas

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR David Hultin

FINANCE

Deb Walger

OFFICE ASSISTANT Vacant

CATTLE COUNTRY EDITOR David Hultin

Trinda Jocelyn

October 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Update on some recent advocacy work I hope you’ve had a productive few weeks on the harvest front, and in getting prepared for the fall and winter that lay ahead. As you will see in Ron Friesen’s story in this edition, due to the COVID-19 situation MBP has made the difficult decision to move to virtual fall district meetings, and a virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) in February. The health and safety of all our district meeting and AGM attendees and their communities are a key priorities for MBP, so we, like many other organizations, are going virtual. This year director elections are required in districts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 and the election process will take place during the virtual meetings for those districts. If you would like to let your name stand for director, or, if you know of someone who would be a good addition to MBP’s board of directors, please contact me and I will ensure that MBP’s Nominations Committee brings your name forward to your district meeting. Nominations for oddnumbered districts remain open until those respective meetings. I, along with Gord Adams (District

1) and Peter Penner (District 3) have reached our respective term limits so new directors will need to be elected in these districts. As well, Robert Metner, District 11 director has indicated he will not be seeking reelection after serving four years with the board, so a new director is required in that district too. For all other districts – 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 – MBP is holding three virtual town hall information meetings. Attendees at all 10 virtual meetings will be given updates on MBP’s finances and its audited financial statement, its activities on behalf of the sector throughout the year, and producers can suggest ideas for possible resolutions for debate at the Annual General Meeting. You must pre-register for these virtual meetings. Visit www.mbbeef.ca and look for the meeting registration information on the front page of the website and get registered as soon as possible. If you need more information, call 1-800-772-0458 or email info@mbbeef.ca. More details about the AGM will be posted in the weeks ahead. We very much look forward to connecting

DIANNE RIDING President's Column

with you virtually! In other news, the Manitoba government has agreed to provide $32 million over the next five years as part of the interprovincial funding agreement for the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), a commitment that will provide 15 Manitoba students with a position in the program each year. Concerns were raised a couple of years ago that the government might reduce the number of seats it was funding at WCVM and MBP advocated for the continued funding of the 15 seats. The need to train Manitobans to become vets, particularly related to large animal husbandry cannot be understated. Having access to vets is integral to our farms and ranches and we are very appreciative of the services they provide. MBP thanks the provincial government for its decision to continue funding the 15 seats. Many cattle operations have been the victims of crime, be it theft, vandalism or damages caused by people trespass-

ing on private property. It is a concern that MBP, along with many other rural stakeholders has raised with the Manitoba government. Recently the province announced it wants to hear from Manitobans about possible measures to combat certain crimes. According to a government news release, “the province is considering whether to adopt legislation from other provinces to improve Manitoba’s trespass and occupiers’ liability laws and discourage stolen metal sales. This could include amendments to The Petty Trespass Act, to ensure the law is easier to enforce and to prevent confrontations between landowners and trespassers, and to The Occupiers Liability Act to ensure a landowner’s legal responsibility for injury is fair and reasonable when someone is on their property without permission. The province will also consider amendments to The Animal Diseases Act to support food safety on Manitoba farms. Manitobans are invited to provide feedback

on potential legislation that would enhance biosecurity and reduce hazards at food production premises with livestock or other animals.” MBP will be providing input, and we strongly encourage all of our members to consider doing the same. If you or someone you know has been affected by crime, or you have concerns about the biosecurity implications of people coming onto your property without permission, you have until October 31 to complete the public engagement questionnaire at https:// engagemb.ca. Make sure your voice is heard on this important issue affecting our rural communities. Water – either too much or too little of it – has again been a problem this year. The Manitoba government has announced it is providing Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) for three damaging high water/weather-related events this year. This is for damages caused by excess rain events that hit two areas of Manitoba in early June and then again at the end of June into early July, causing flooding issues. People who were affected by these events may be eligible for some DFA as-

sistance if other insurance programs did not cover their losses. The deadline to apply for the assistance is December 10. For details see www.gov.mb.ca/emo/ index.html, email dfa@ gov.mb.ca or call 1-888267-8298. Still on the water front, MBP recently provided comments to the provincial government’s Expert Advisory Council regarding the engagement document Manitoba Water Management Strategy: Seeking Perspectives. How water is managed in Manitoba has a major impact on the province’s beef industry, affecting not only its economic prosperity but also that of the larger economy. In recent years significant and repeated water-related challenges, including flooding and excess moisture conditions, as well as droughts have severely taxed some cattle producers’ ability to continue in the industry. MBP will continue to provide feedback to governments on water-related issues and management strategies given their effects on our industry. In closing, MBP looks forward to connecting with you soon via our virtual district meetings. Take care!

COVID-19 from the packers’ perspective BY ANGELA LOVELL While COVID-19 has touched the entire beef industry, processors have felt its impact acutely. Large packing plants closed temporarily during the early stage of the pandemic due to cases among workers, and smaller plants across the country have struggled to try and implement procedures and protocols to keep their workers healthy and reassure consumers that their product is safe. At the recent online Canadian Beef Industry Conference, packers discussed how COVID-19 has affected their businesses to date, what they have learned and how they are preparing for a post-COVID future. Atlantic Beef Inc at Albany, Prince Edward Island is the only federally inspected beef plant in Atlantic Canada. It employs around 160 people and normally processes around 750 head a week. The plant had to quickly adapt to the changing COVID-19 situation and learn from what other businesses were doing. “We kept an eye on the news and looked for anything we could learn from the hardships that other plants were going through,” says Atlantic Beef president, Russ Mallard. “We worked closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Canadian Meat Council and Canada Beef to ensure we were following regulations closely and sharing best practices where possible.” Cargill had tough decisions to make, not least to temporarily close its facilities at High River, Alberta and Les Aliments Cargill plant in Chambly, Quebec during the spring, when COVID-19 cases were rising fast. “COVID-19 has reinforced our strengths and values, which have guided us in the decisions we made” says Jarrod Gillig, North America business operations and supply chain leader for Cargill. “When we think about what we did to keep our employees safe – we obviously encountered some challenges, but learned a lot going through it.”

Finding creative solutions One of the biggest challenges facing all businesses at that time was the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) like face masks. “In hindsight, maybe we could have had more PPE around us, but we had no prior requirement for some things that were required to react to the pandemic,” says Mallard. “I am not sure we could have done anything much different given the fact that it hit so hard and fast.” Cargill, like many other businesses, had to find creative solutions to adapt the work environment and make sure everyone stayed safe. As an example, early in the pandemic, they were unable to find the appropriate thermometers to check the temperature of people coming to and from work. As a temporary solution, one of the company’s young engineers suggested adapting the infrared technology Cargill uses to evaluate its equipment to sense people’s temperatures until the thermometers still in use today could be acquired. Cargill also saw changes in its customers as the food service industry began to shut down, while the retail side increased demand, creating production issues. “Our lines are established on a percentage of retail and a percentage of food service, so that’s something we can continue to at look going forward, is how we get more flexible in that area,” says Gillig. “To make sure we kept protein, and beef specifically, in front of our customers, we all had to flex through the process.” An essential service With a lot of fear and uncertainty among their staff, packers provided tools and information to keep their workforce safe, but also remind them of the important role they had as essential workers in a crisis situation, says Mallard. “The ramifications to the industry, community, economy and the public would be severe if our plant closed, just like it was in Western Canada when beef started to back up into the marketplace,” says Mallard. “We wanted people

www.mbbeef.ca

to understand that we wanted them to stay safe, and that they have duties as an essential services worker. I think we were successful and the steps we took gave them confidence that we were working in a safe environment, and in order to keep it safe, everybody had to do their part.” COVID-19 has brought challenges for some and opportunities for others, but will it provide a catalyst for permanent changes in the Canadian beef industry going forward? Gillig says Cargill will be looking at more automation and ways to better utilize data within their facilities to respond quickly to changing situations and customer demands. “From an automation standpoint, we have done a lot with our distribution centres, and ergonomically we are looking at opportunities, for example where jobs are lifting 50 pounds, is there an exoskeleton we can utilize to help augment that?” says Gillig. “Those are the type of things we are exploring, and from a safety standpoint, the mitigation that we’ve put in place for COVID-19 is not going away. In fact, we are looking at locker rooms and other ancillary areas to make sure they are set up for even greater social distancing.” COVID-19 has amplified trends in the food industry that were already gaining momentum before the pandemic. A trend that is growing fast is consumers demanding to know where their food comes from, and whether it was raised safely, sustainably and in line with their personal values. That’s good news for beef, which has a great story to tell in those terms. But everyone needs to keep telling their part of that story, from producers to packers to retailers to chefs. “It’s important we tell our story; that we harvest humanely, and take care of the animals to give them the best experience they can have right up to the very last second, that the beef we buy is raised responsibly,” says Mallard. “When people sit down to enjoy beef, they need to know it’s not just beef on a plate, it’s beef with a story.”

CATTLE COUNTRY October 2020

Manitoba government announces disaster financial assistance programs (September 11, Province of Manitoba News Release) The Manitoba government will provide disaster financial assistance (DFA) for three high water/weather-related events that hit the province earlier this year, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced. “High water issues started in the spring and the response focused on the Red River Valley,” said Schuler. “Excessive rain events hit two areas of the province in early June and then again at the end of June into early July, creating overland flooding issues. We are able to provide disaster financial assistance programs for all three.” The provincial Hydrologic Forecast Centre identified a potential high water situation in the Red River Valley for spring 2020, during the event both the Red River Floodway and the Portage Diversion were activated. Provincial operations focused on the Red River Valley ring dike communities and included pumping, completing partial ring dike closures and ramping of roads for continued community access. The southeast area of the province received heavy rains from June 6 to 10, with some areas recording almost 200 millimetres of rain within three days. Overland flooding was reported in the rural municipalities (RM) of De Salaberry, Piney, Reynolds, La Broquerie and Stuartburn, as well as the Municipality of Emerson-Franklin. Another heavy rain event occurred June 28 to July 5 in western and southern Manitoba, impacting the communities of Minnedosa, Rapid City and Riv-

Manitoba Livestock Cash Advance Inc.

ers as the rain-swollen Little Saskatchewan River made its way to the Assiniboine River. The heavy precipitation was a one-in-1,000-year rain event resulting in the province losing confidence in the provincial dam near Rivers. Recommendations were shared with municipalities to evacuate a limited number of properties as a precaution. The Portage Diversion was activated from July 2 to 9, to limit water flow in the lower Assiniboine River. Heavy precipitation in the upstream watershed of the Whitemud River caused a significant rise in levels along the river, exceeding 2011 levels. Ten municipalities declared a state of local emergency and 20 municipalities were impacted by heavy rain. “Manitobans are always encouraged to check their insurance policies first, then consider a DFA program application,” said Schuler. “The DFA program should

be used as a last resort.” DFA programs provide provincial assistance for certain disaster-related losses when a widespread natural disaster strikes and creates an unreasonable financial burden. Assistance is generally provided for recovery needs of local governments, occupied private residential properties, farms, small business and some not-for-profit organizations. “We are pleased to be able to offer these programs even at a time when COVID-19 is consuming an enormous amount of provincial resources,” said Schuler. “Preliminary estimates show at least two of the programs will be substantial enough for potential costsharing with the federal government through the federal disaster financial assistance arrangements.” The DFA application deadline for local authorities and those in the private sector is Dec. 10.

ence and CCA Semi-Annual Meeting in August. Each TESA nominee exemplifies significant innovation and attention to a wide range of environmental stewardship aspects of their farm operation. Such innovations extend beneficially to areas far beyond their land, including water, wildlife and air. All beef cattle operations in

Canada may apply. Producers can either be nominated by an individual or organization, or apply themselves. Nominees and applicants compete for one of the provincial awards based on their province of residence. For more information and to access the application go to http : / / w w w. c att l e . c a / s u s t a i n ability/the-environmentalstewardship-award/, or contact MBP for a copy. The form, along with all supporting documentation (such as letters of support, photos and/ or videos), is to be submitted to Manitoba Beef Producers c/o 220530 Century Street, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0Y4 by December 4, 2020. The application is to be emailed to info@mbbeef.ca . If you have questions, please contact the MBP office at 1-800-772-0458.

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October 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

StockTalk Q&A Feature brought to you by Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, Livestock Extension Branch

Ammoniating forages improves feed quality TIM CLARKE

Livestock Specialist, Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development tim.clarke@gov.mb.ca

Producers faced with the problem of storing damp hay, or who want to improve the feed value of low quality forages, should consider ammoniation. Ammonia (NH3), which contains nitrogen, increases the crude protein content of feed. It improves the feed value by breaking down the poorly digested fibre of mature forages. Ammonia also acts as a preservative, allowing producers to safely harvest forages at higher moisture levels as bacteria and mold is destroyed during the ammoniation process. Factors affecting the response to ammoniation The percentage of moisture in the roughage, the time of ammoniation, the temperature and the amount of anhydrous ammonia applied are all key factors affecting forage response to the ammoniation process. Anhydrous ammonia binds to water molecules in the roughage. A minimum level of 12 per cent moisture is essential. Knowing the moisture level in the forage is important to determine the amount of NH3 to be added. When using ammonia to improve the protein content of low quality forages, it should be added at three to five per cent of the dry matter weight. When ammonia is to be applied as a preservative for high-moisture forage, the level can be decreased to two per cent of the dry weight. Temperature determines the speed at which the reaction between ammonia and the feedstuff occurs, as well as the extent of improved digestibility. Higher temperatures result in faster reactions and a greater increase in digestibility. When the temperature drops, the length of time required to complete the reaction goes up and the increase in digestibility is reduced. The percentage of improvement in crude protein depends on the amount of anhydrous ammonia applied to the

forage. Results from Manitoba Agriculture projects show increases in crude protein content ranging from 85 to

125 per cent, following ammoniation at three per cent of forage dry matter. Increases in digestibility, measured as total digestible nutrients (TDN), also occur when roughage is ammoniated. Applying ammonia provides these advantages: • increased forage digestibility (TDN) by 10 to 30 per cent • increased forage intake by 10 to 20 per cent • increased crude protein content • prevention of spoilage for high moisture forages Consider the following when choosing a location for ammoniating: • Provide shelter to reduce wind damage to the plastic and weathering of the ammoniated forage. • Locate the stack away from existing buildings. The combination of air and NH3 under certain conditions, can be very explosive. • Stack big round bales in a three or six bale pyramid. • Six or eight mil black, polyethylene plastic is recommended for cover-

ing. During stacking, check the dimensions of the stack to ensure that the plastic will cover the stack properly with adequate overlap. • The covered stack must be as secure and airtight as possible. • People should stand away from the stack during the ammoniation process to prevent possible contact with escaping ammonia gas. Keep in mind these points when feeding ammoniated forages to livestock: • It’s a good idea to uncover stacks three to four days before feeding to allow excess ammonia to escape. • Producer experience indicates that the palatability of ammoniated forages is excellent. • Ammoniated forage is a source of non-protein nitrogen (NPN). Avoid feeding it with other feedstuffs containing NPN. • Ammoniated forages should only be used in well-balanced rations as determined by feed analysis. • The cost of ammoniation, including anhydrous and plastic, will range from $30 to $40 per ton (1.5 to two cents per pound). Ammoniation is a viable option to consider, especially when the cost of forage is high, as it has been for the last two years. Manitoba Agriculture and

Box 274, Austin, MB R0H 0C0 President: Tracy Wilcox 204-713-0029 Secretary: Laurelly Beswitherick 204-637-2046 b2@inetlink.ca

CSA AGM & YCSA ShoW ll sales these fa s is m t o Do n th

July 22-25, 2021

Portage La Prairie, MB

watch our website for up to date information! Nov. 18 Maple Lake Stock Farms Production Sale - Hartney, Manitoba Nov. 20th Pembina Triangle Simmental Assoc. 40th Annual Sale - Cypress River, Manitoba Nov. 30th WLB Livestock Complete Dispersal - Douglas, Manitoba DEC. 3rd Queens of the Heartland Production Sale - McAuley, Manitoba DEC. 8th Keystone Konnection 41st Annual Sale - Brandon, Manitoba DEC. 13th Bonchuk Farms Female Production Sale - Virden, Manitoba DEC. 14th Shades of the Prairies Annual Sale - Brandon, Manitoba DEC. 17th Transcon’s Season Wrap Up Sale - Neepawa, Manitoba DEC. 20th Stewart Cattle Co. Complete Dispersal - Virden, Manitoba DEC. 22nd Northern Light Simmentals & HBH Angus Production Sale - Virden, Manitoba

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Manitoba Beef Producers is your organization – attend your virtual district meeting Chat with MBP representatives and fellow beef producers to discuss issues affecting your district and industry. MBP has been closely monitoring the developments surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The health and safety of all district meeting attendees and the communities they represent are MBP’s highest priorities. Therefore, the MBP Board of Directors has made the decision to organize virtual meetings for beef producers. All meetings begin at 6:30pm. By registering you will be able to connect to the meeting through your smartphone, tablet, laptop/desktop computer, or by using a phone to listen in. Visit www.mbbeef.ca to register online, call 1-800-772-0458 or email info@mbbeef.ca

Resource Development will be conducting ammoniation trials with several types of forages this fall and will have results to share. Manitoba Agriculture is holding a forage ammoniation workshop on October 1 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Bruce Sneezby’s farm, ½ mile north of corner of #16 & #50 highways. Social distancing must be observed at this event. Pre-registration is required. For more information, contact the Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development office in Portage la Prairie at 204239-3352 or by email at shawn. cabak@gov.mb.ca

DISTRICT

DIRECTOR

DATE

District 1

Gord Adams*

November 4

District 3

Peter Penner*

October 20

District 5

Steven Manns

October 22

District 7

Tyler Fulton

November 2

District 9

Dianne Riding*

October 21

District 11

Robert Metner**

October 27

District 13

Mary Pazuik

November 3

Virtual Town Hall

Online

October 19

Virtual Town Hall

Online

October 29

Virtual Town Hall

Online

November 5

*Director retiring **Not seeking re-election Elections to be held in odd-numbered districts.

For all other districts – 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 – MBP will be holding three virtual town hall information meetings where interested producers will be provided with the same updates as those producers in the odd-numbered districts.

www.mbbeef.ca

CATTLE COUNTRY October 2020

Calf prices may be better than predicted RICK WRIGHT The Bottom Line In the last edition of The Bottom Line I predicted that despite all the talk of buying discipline and restraint from the feedlot sector this fall, those same buyers would throw caution to the wind when the cattle started to show up for sale. I thought that it would take until at least halfway through the fall before they would revert back to their old habits, but much to my surprise they came out swinging on the few calves that were available in September. If that trend continues, the calf prices could be better than earlier predicted. Two trends that support an active calf market are profitability and weather. On the topic of profitability it is no secret that the fed cattle being sold on the current cash market are still losing money. This trend on the fed cattle will continue until the end of the first quarter of 2021. Between the backlog of fed cattle and the delay in putting replacement cattle on feed, the experts predict that there will be a surplus supply of fed cattle to cover the demand during that time period. The backgrounding feedlots lost a ton of money from February to September 2020. For many of those operators, the school of thought is that if we don’t have inventory to sell when the market turns around, we have no chance of recovering any of our losses on the previous inventory turns. Grass yearling

prices compared to last year are considerably lower, but in most cases they are turning a profit. Buyers have used some of the discipline and restraint that we predicted on the grass yearlings because these cattle are short term and most will be harvested in the first quarter of 2021. The wet-nosed calves are a longer-term investment Cattle feeders are always optimistic; if they make a dollar they invest it all back in. Recent reports from the USA suggest that they have reduced their surplus of cattle on feed for over 150 days from a million head down to 500,000. The majority of this reduction has not come from increased kills, but rather from smaller numbers put on feed during the spring and summer months. Those cattle were still in the system but not confined in major feedlots on a finishing ration. The August on feed report from the USA gave a glance into the near future. That report showed over 2% more cattle on finishing rations. This is the largest on feed inventory in the past 15 years. Placements in July 2020 were over 11% higher than 2019, and 6% more than the majority of experts had predicted. This caused the futures to drop for over a week and put downward pressure on the cash market for feeder cattle. Combine the heavier carcass weights in the USA and the extra volume of cattle to be put on feed this fall, and you have the extra supply of beef for the beginning of next year. In Canada, the estimated backlog of market ready cattle has been reduced to fewer than 100,000 head. This is almost a mirror image of the USA trend with one exception - Canadian carcass weights are now very close to last year’s average, which

Alert Agri – Harvey Dann Anderson Livestock - Scott Anderson Ashern Auction - Buddy Bergner 2 B Livestock - Jason Bodernak Cattlex Ltd. – Andy Drake DAM Cattle Buyers – Doug Mowat Double J Livestock – Jay Jackson Gladstone Auction – Tara Fulton Grunthal Auction – Harold Unrau HLS Brandon Keith Cleaver HLS Virden – Robin Hill Heartland Order Buying - Rick Wright Justamere Livestock - Ben Fox Killarney Auction – Allan Munro Martin Livestock – Brad Martin McDowell Stock Farms – Darrell McDowell McSherry Livestock – Jeff McSherry Norman Anderson & Sons 007 Livestock – Clive Bond P. Quintaine – Jim Quintaine Penno Livestock – Cliff Penno Pipestone Auction – Chad Parks Prairie Livestock - Kirk Sinclair Ransom Cattle Co. – Gordie Ransom Rockin U Feeders – Norm Unrau Roblin Vet Services – Darren Keown Ste. Rose Auction – Myles Masson Scott Bros. – Clair Scott South East Livestock – Dave Penner Taylor Exports and Assembly – Brock Taylor TJ Livestock – Thor Jonnson WD Livestock – Brad Welcher Winnipeg Livestock Sales – B. Anderson

could suggest that we are more current in our marketing than our neighbours to the south. Some of the surplus was the extra 100,000 cattle that were on feed in Canada in the first quarter. These cattle are going to be harvested in the near future allowing Canada to possibly clear up the backlog sooner than in the USA. The backlog numbers were reduced in the north by the reduction of feeder cattle put on feed in the second quarter of this year. The August 1st, the Alberta/Saskatchewan on feed report showed 105% cattle on feed, with a whopping 123% feeder cattle placements in July. August placements will be high as well due to the large number of backgrounded cattle and grass yearlings placed on finishing rations during that time. The second trend to consider is weather. The summer/fall of 2020 has been a pretty good year in the majority of the farming areas. Crops got timely rains and harvest was early with good conditions, which translated into good yields and above average quality. Hay crops were better than last year and straw was easy to find and get baled in timely fashion. Farmers are on schedule with fall work, pastures in most areas are holding on, pens are getting cleaned and repaired. This fall has been a treat compared to last year. Despite some regional differences, the cost of feeding calves will be lower than last year. Both corn and barley prices, along with bedding will be lower this year, reducing the cost of gain. Pens are ready to receive the cattle and most of the backgrounders are ready for calves now, six weeks ahead of last year. Last year wet and cold weather, along with poor pen conditions resulted in lots of sick

calves at the feedlots. This year is looking much better. The long-term predictions for the cattle industry look good. Canada will have to continue to maintain and increase their exports, but the opportunities are there. In closing I would like to address the COVID-19 protocols for this fall. The provincial government regulates the auction markets and buying stations. They are considered an essential service, which allows them to continue to offer public auction of your livestock. However, to be able to stay in business and serve you they must adhere to the provincial, and in some cases,t municipal regulations. So far since spring we have seen restrictions on the number of persons in the ring, public denied entry to the markets, and most recently in the Prairie Mountain Health District, the requirement that those attending the auction wear masks. These regulations can change on a moment’s notice. The Manitoba Livestock Marketing Association asks that you make yourself aware of the regulations in the area or at the market that you wish to attend and respect the required protocols. Your personal opinion on COVID-19 matters not, as the markets are required to operate within the provincial guidelines. Your patience and support will be appreciated as the markets and buyers attempt conduct commerce as close to normal as the regulations will allow. As always, maybe even more importantly this year, will be talking to you marketing representative prior to delivering livestock or attending a sale. Until next time, Rick

MANITOBA LIVESTOCK MARKETING ASSOCIATION “True Price Discovery”

The livestock marketing sector is recognized as an essential service, and the members of the MLMA have been allowed to operate and stay open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to serve the cattle producers and livestock feeding industry. The auctions and buying stations are regulated by federal, provincial and municipal regulations and guidelines including those related to the COVID-19 protocols. To remain open, to keep customers and staff safe, and provide you with a place to market your cattle, the auctions and buying stations have been required to limit the number of persons at the auction, restrict the public from attending the sales, and in some areas, require those attending to wear masks while at the sales. Markets have marked seating areas to maintain social distancing and have restricted public access to many areas of the facilities. The protocols can change very quickly and may vary from health district to health district. MLMA members do not make the rules but are required to follow them! MLMA members are committed to doing what is required to remain open and provide you with the service that you have come to expect. We urge all cattle producers, industry partners and livestock haulers to respect the regulations that the markets and buying stations are required to follow this fall. Some MLMA members may do more than the minimum requirements to ensure the safety of their customers and staff. Your support and patience will be appreciated by those committed to keeping our industry viable and sustainable during this difficult time. Your cooperation will help our members maintain their essential service designation. The members of MLMA provide True Price Discovery with competitive bidding through a number of marketing platforms. They are bonded and licensed and follow the prompt payment guidelines. Contact the member of your choice for more information on marketing your cattle this fall.

www.mbbeef.ca

October 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Why a cost of production network? Canada is the sixth largest beef exporter in the world. Live cattle to the United States are also a substantial business. Cost of production and price competitiveness are key aspects to any major exporting commodity, along with regulatory environment and available resources. The beef industry must be profitable and competitive to secure land, labour, and capital otherwise those investments will go into other commodities that provide a greater return on investment. The Canadian CowCalf Cost of Production Network (CDN COP Network) has been developed collaboratively with provincial coordinators and funded by the Beef Cattle Research Council. Industry has taken a lead role in coordinating the Network working with local expertise in each province. This information will support cow-calf producers as they evaluate how to evolve with new technologies and enhance competitiveness in an international marketplace. The four reasons for creating the CDN COP Network are: 1. Benchmarks created for specific ecoregions and production systems 2. National coverage and standardized methodology 3. Reduced response burden 4. Learning in community

Benchmarks Created for Specific Ecoregions and Production Systems Producers use cost of production data to benchmark and evaluate their own farm’s performance over time, but also to benchmark against a provincial average to determine competitiveness and resilience. However, provincial averages mean that data from an operation in one region of a province with less than 100 days of winter feeding and an operation located in an area with over 150 days of winter feeding are aggregated together into a single benchmark. These “benchmarks” do not make sense to producers and discourage participation in these programs and the concept of benchmarking. Grouping farms together based upon production practices rather than using provincial boundaries will allow producers to self-select benchmark farms that they can identify with through a set of management practices that best fit their operation’s situation. National Coverage and Standardized Methodology There has been limited cost of production data available to cow-calf producers outside of Alberta for several years. Historically each province has had their own system for collecting and calculating cost of production. Differences in methodology has

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meant results could not be compared, or if they were, it was done with caveats that methodology differed. Over the last 20 years, investment by provinces has declined from annual onfarm collection to surveys every five years, or no collection at all in some areas. With the CDN COP Network, there will be cost of production benchmarking data from coast to coast for the first time, all utilizing a standardized methodology that allows for international comparisons in agri benchmark, an international cost of production network with coverage in 34 countries representing 80% of global beef production. Reducing Response Burden Producer data will be collected every five years with prices indexed annually. This means that historical data will be available right away for analysis and research projects. Data collection through the CDN COP Network provides the basis for the different types of production

systems in each region; while provincial averages will be used for the appropriate sale weeks and weights for each animal type annually. In addition, duplication will be minimized as this cost of production information is used in research projects, reducing the need for additional data collection from producers. Specifically, the CDN COP Network data will provide the basis for the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef ’s updated economic assessment in 2021-2023. This project will connect cow-calf economics with practices that reduce

greenhouse gas emissions on-farm to find win-win solutions. Learning in Community Producers are able to learn from each other and share ideas on how to implement different practices once they complete their participation in a focus group. The goal of the Network is not just to provide benchmarks, but also to encourage innovation and pass on knowledge to a new generation of producers entering the industry and learn from other producers. This is an opportunity to be a part of a producer network committed to Production System A

Production System B

Calving start date

January 15

April 15

Calving season length

63 days

90 days

Weaning dates

October 15-30

November 1-15

Retained ownership

Replacements only

Pre-condition calves before sale

% of Land base used for cash crops

50%

Days of fall grazing (e.g. swath-grazing, crop residue, corn grazing)

Winter feeding location

Confined

Extensive (in-field)

First day of winter feeding

October 25

December 30

Days supplemented (e.g. hay) while on pasture, feed brought in.

120

Days on full feed (unable to graze)

150

Table 1. Example of Different Production Systems

Feeder Sales Canadian Angus RFID Indicator Program BRITISH COLUMBIA

B.C. Livestock Producers Co-Op (Kamloops) 250-573-3939 | October 13; November 3 Okanagon Falls Stockyards 250-497-5416 | October 19; November 2 Vanderhoof Auction Market Ltd. 250-567-4333 | October 16 Williams Lake Stockyards 250-398-7174 | October 14 VJV Dawson Creek Auction 250-782-3766 | October 16, 27

ALBERTA

learning about the benefits and costs of adopting different practices, and improving together. Scenarios will be developed for what future farms could look like utilizing the 5% Rule to identify where incremental improvements could be made around productivity, input costs, and output prices. How to Participate? Go to www.canfax.ca/ COPNetwork.aspx and fill out the Producer Sign-up Survey. This article originally appeared in the September 10, 2020 blog at beefresearch.ca and is reprinted with permission.

Balog Auction Services Inc. 403-320-1980 | October 20, 27; November 3 Bow Slope Shipping Association 403-362-5521| Contact for sale dates Calgary Stockyards Ltd. (Strathmore) 403-934-3344 | October 10, 24; November 7 Dryland Cattle Trading Corp. (Veteran) 403-575-3772 | November 2 Innisfail Auction Mart 403-227-3166 | October 5, 19; November 2, 16; December 7 Medicine Hat Feeding Company 403-526-2707 | October 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 31; November 2, 4, 6, 9 North Central Livestock Exchange Inc. (Clyde) 780-348-5893 | October 27 (Vermilion) 780-853-5372 | November 7 Olds Auction Mart 403-556-3655 | October 9, 23 Perlich Bros. Auction Market Ltd. 403-329-3101 | October 10, 14, 17, 24, 31; November 7, 14 Provost Livestock Exchange 780-753-2218 | October 26; November 9 Southern Alberta Livestock Exchange (Fort Macleod) 403-553-3315 August 7 (Chain Lakes); September 11 (Lethbridge Lodge); October 15, 17, 22 Foothills Auctioneers Inc. (Stavely) 403-549-2120 | October 5, 13, 19, 26; November 2, 9, 16, 23 Stettler Auction Mart (1990) Ltd. 403-742-2368 | October 2 (silver), 20 30; November 6, 17

Market your 2020 Angus tagged calves at these Angus feature sales at participating auction markets. These auction markets are recognized supporters and sellers of cattle identified as Angus through the Canadian Angus RFID indicator.

TEAM Electronic Sale 403-234-7429 | October 9, 23; November 6, 20; December 4 Thorsby Stockyards Inc. 780-789-3915| October 22; November 19 Viking Auction Market 780-336-2209 |October 6; November 3; December 1 VJV Auctions | 780-336-2209 Beaverlodge 780-354-2423| October 15 Ponoka 403-783-5561 | October 21 Rimbey 403-843-2439 | October 20 Triple J VJV Westlock 780-349-3153 | October 22 DLMS DLMS.ca 780-991-3025

SASKATCHEWAN

Alameda Auction Market 306-489-2221 | Contact for sale dates Assiniboia Livestock Auction 306-642-5358 | October 17, 24, 31; November 7, 14, 21 Cowtown Livestock Exchange Inc. (Maple Creek) 306-662-2648 | October 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31; November 3, 5, Heartland Livestock Services Moose Jaw 306-692-2385 | October 15, 27; November 10 Swift Current 306-773-3174 October 17, 24; November 7, 14, 21, 28 Yorkton 306-783-9437 | November 4, 11; December 2 Kelvington Stock Yards 306-327-8325 | Contact for sale dates Mankota Stockmen’s Weigh Co. 306-478-2229 | October 16, 23, 30 Northern Livestock Sales Lloydminster 306-825-8831 | November 2, 16 Meadow Lake 306-236-3411 | October 31; November 4 Prince Albert 306-763-8463 | October 26; November 9 Saskatoon Livestock Sales Ltd. 306-382-8088 | November 13 Shaunavon Livestock Sales (88) Ltd. 306-297-2457 | Contact for sale dates Spiritwood Stockyards 306-883-2168 | October 14, 28; November 11, 25 Weyburn Livestock Exchange 306-842-4574 | October 19; November 2, 16

Whitewood Livestock Sales 306-735-2822 | October 13, 27; November 3, 17; December 1

MANITOBA

Interlake Cattlemen’s Co-Op Assn Ltd. (Ashern) 204-768-2360 | October 28 Gladstone Auction Mart 204-385-2537 | March 9, 2021 Grunthal Livestock Auction 204-434-6519 | October 13 Heartland Livestock Brandon 204-727-1431 | October 13; November 3 Virden 204-748-2809 | October 14, 28; November 18 Killarney Auction Mart Ltd. 204-523-8477 | October 12 Pipestone Livestock Sales 204-854-2262 | October 16, 30; November 6, 20 Ste. Rose Auction Mart Ltd. 204-447-2266 | November 12 Winnipeg Livestock Sales 204-694-8328| October 9, 30; November 20

ONTARIO

Brussels Livestock 519-887-6461 | November 6 Ontario Stockyards Inc. (Cookstown) 705-458-4000 | October 8 Ottawa Livestock Exchange (Greely) 613-821-2634 | September 24; November 9 Kawartha Lakes Community Sale Barn Inc. 705-439-4444 | September 30; October 7, 14, 21, 28; November 4, 11, 18, 25; December 2, 9 Keady Livestock Market (Blue Water) 519-934-2339| October 29 Ontario Livestock Exchange Ltd. (Waterloo) 519-884-2082 |October 14; November 18

QUEBEC

Contact the Feeder Calf Sales Agency 450-697-0540

NOVA SCOTIA

Atlantic Stockyards Ltd. 902-893-9603 | Contact for sale dates

To order Canadian Angus RFID indicators, please order directly from CCIA at www.canadaid.ca or call 1-877-909-2333. www.cdnangus.ca

www.mbbeef.ca

CATTLE COUNTRY October 2020

2020 research & demonstration roundup BY: DR. MARY-JANE ORR

MBFI General Manager

The Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives (MBFI) 2020 summer field season in a pandemic was a steep learning curve for project leads, full time staff, and summer students. MBFI is grateful for the opportunity to be working with a fantastic team of collaborators and staff willing to go the extra mile in safety protocols and creative work arounds to get the job done for beef & forage research and demonstration. Studies underway this year at MBFI are distinguished into three types of projects, Tier I and II in on-farm demonstration and Tier III in academic research. All three Tiers complement each other in documenting benefits to producers and have a critical role in advancing the industry. Demonstration projects are created to showcase beneficial management practices, new tools or technologies, innovative grazing or cropping practices, and economics of practices. Studies may collect information on the types of plants present, forage yield and quality, soil properties, weight gain on livestock, days of grazing, labour and associated cash costs. Tier I demonstration is designed as case studies to display and document how a practice performs at MBFI. Similar to trying something out on your own farm these projects do not have treatment replication or built in comparison to a control. Findings will be based on measurements specific to the site and conditions of MBFI farm stations. Ongoing Tier I studies include: Improving marginal pasture through rotational and mob grazing, originally led by Jane Thornton (Manitoba Agriculture Resource Development; MB ARD) and currently led following Jane’s retirement by Mae Elsinger (Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, AAFC) in collaboration with MBFI staff. The project documents livestock performance, change in forage growth under rotational and mob grazing, evaluates influence of mineral placement in grazing patterns, and measures the establishment of legumes by broadcast seeding and hoof impact. Extensive winter grazing, led by Shawn Cabak (MB ARD) documents the livestock performance, productivity and cost of production of extending fall and winter grazing through stockpiled forage, swath grazing, standing corn grazing, and bale grazing. Strategic beef cattle herd development, led by MBFI details the implementation MBFI’s crossbreeding herd plan using genetic tools such as EnVigour HX breed compo-

sition and leptin testing. Tier II demonstration is designed with randomized treatment replication and or a control treatment to assess if the practice(s) perform better than a comparison under the conditions at MBFI. Ongoing Tier II studies include: Understanding and manipulating leafy spurge populations with cattle grazing and biological control, led by Mae Elsinger (AAFC) measures the impact of grazing and beetle biocontrol on the density of leafy spurge in a marginal pasture. Planned grazing, led by Pam Iwanchysko (MB ARD)

poly-crop into a marginal pasture using either chemical or grazing suppression of the forage stand, and evaluates the perennial forage re-establishment following harvest. Intercropping corn in an extensive beef cattle winter grazing system, led by MBFI comparing corn forage and between row cover crop productivity and quality in 30-inch and 60-inch row spacing. Effect of bale placement and binding material on grazing residue, led by MBFI measures residue wastage through winter bale grazing comparing side vs end placed bales and twine vs sisal twine binding. Fertilization comparison to increase rangeland health and yield, led by MBFI comparing standard fertility and Albrecht soil test fertility recommendations and forage productivity on a marginal pasture. The Tier III research is designed and carried out by university or federal researchers to the standard of respective study areas. Ongoing Tier III studies include: Soil health assessment for enhanced productivity and resilience for cattle grazing systems in Manitoba grasslands, Terrence McGonigle (Brandon University). Keep Grazing – Exploring cattle grazing as a riparian management tool, Alex Koiter (Brandon University). Assessment of spatial variability of agricultural and riparian soil GHG fluxes in regards of carbon and nitrogen losses, Alex Koiter (Brandon University). Long term impact of annual forage polycultures and fertility management on soil health and functioning, Luke Bainard (AAFC). Assessing the impact of grazing annual forage cover crops in an integrated crop-livestock system, Jillian BainSummer student Emily Pearson setting up grazing cages. ard (AAFC). evaluates livestock performance, differences in forage yield Impacts of cattle grazing on the proliferation of foxand quality, number of grazing days, and changes in plant tail barley in wet meadow rangelands, Rafael Otfinowski community composition between rotational and continu- (University of Winnipeg). ous grazing. Response of rangeland ecosystems to extreme Soil carbon monitoring to detect changes due to drought, Rafael Otfinowski (University of Winnipeg). grazing management, led by Mathew Wiens (MB ARD) Developing an efficient and reliable method of cenmeasures the change in soil carbon in the planned grazing susing ground squirrels, Susan Lingle (University of Windemonstration. nipeg) Using novel seed mix to rejuvenate tame pastures Strategic supplementation to improve beef cattle and create pollinator habitat, led by Kim Wolfe (MB performance in grazing systems, Kim Ominski (UniverARD) evaluates establishing a pollinator seed blend into sity of Manitoba). standing marginal pasture by chemical compared to grazThe majority of demonstration studies overviewed in ing suppression, and broadcast seeding with mob grazing this roundup will be wrapping up in the fall of 2021, trigcompared to no-till seeding. ging a new proposal intake in November 2021. For more Pasture cropping establishment comparison, led information check out MBFI’s newly revised Research & by MBFI compares no-till Demonstration webpage at www.mbfi.ca/research or email seeding a winter annual information@mbfi.ca

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October 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Chinese curry/stir-fry beef recipe BY ELISABETH HARMS With new fall routines in full swing, having an arsenal of quick, healthy and nutritious recipes at your disposal can make a big difference when time is short. This recipe for Chinese Curry Stir fry is perfect to add to that collection of healthy recipes you use when you need to get dinner ready quickly. I really like this recipe because it is a bit of a hybrid of two different styles of dishes, and each of these dishes lends its best qualities to this stir fry. As evident from the name of the dish, a curry and a stir fry lend their best parts to make up this recipe. For me, the best part of a curry is the sauciness and flavour, and the best part of a stir fry is how easy it is to throw together. A couple of ingredients included in this recipe are going to help you achieve the best possible result. To get the right flavour, you’ll need to add curry powder, which will give you the colour characteristic of a curry. At the end of cooking, you can add either chicken stock or water to get the right amount of sauce. The recipe calls for one cup, but if you like a lot of sauce in your dish, feel free to increase this to a cup and a half.

For this recipe, I have chosen to use sirloin steak here because of its natural tenderness and because it doesn’t need to be marinated for a long time. After about 15 minutes, this cut of meat will be ready to cook. If you can’t find sirloin, you can always substitute it for flank steak. If you do use a flank steak, make sure to marinate the meat for at least half an hour. Cooking the meat quickly over high heat and adding a flavourful sauce before the stock is one of the best parts of a stir fry. After adding stock to create your sauce, you will want to add a simple mixture of corn starch and water. This will ensure your sauce reaches your desired consistency. Making sure the corn starch and water is thoroughly mixed will also ensure a smooth sauce without lumps. It’s also a great trick to thicken any sauce quickly. Many different southeast Asian cultures have their own take on a curry, inspired by fresh and local ingredients. Whether you have tried an Indian curry or a Thai curry, I hope you’ll give this Chinese curry stir fry a try. Tune in to Great Tastes of Manitoba on October 31 for more meal ideas or visit www.GreatTastesMb.ca for lots of great recipes.

Chinese Curry/Stir-fry Beef (serves 4) 1 lb sirloin, thinly sliced against the grain 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp cooking sherry or water or stock 1 tsp sugar Combine ingredients and set aside until you are ready to cook. Slice: 1 yellow or red bell pepper 1 medium onion

Combine and set aside: 1 ½ tbsp oyster sauce 1 ½ tsp soy sauce ½ tsp Chinese five spice powder 1 ½ tbsp curry powder ¼ tsp chilli powder

Mince: 3-4 garlic cloves 1 ½” piece of ginger

Measure: 1 cup water or stock (add ½ cup more if you like it really saucy) Combine: 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water 1. 2.

Heat large frying pan or wok over medium high heat. Add 2 tbsp canola oil. Add garlic/ginger/onion and stir fry about 5 minutes. You want the onion to start to soften without turning brown. Add the pepper and stir-fry 2 minutes more. 3. Add the meat and cook until it has browned, and you don’t see any juices seeping through the slices. This will take about 7-10 minutes. 4. Add the oyster sauce mixture and stir so it coats the meat and vegetables evenly. It will thicken slightly as you stir it. 5. Add your stock/water and bring to a boil. Once it’s boiling, add the cornstarch/water mixture. Continue to boil about 5 minutes more, or until you reach your desired consistency. Serve over steamed rice.

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Soil health under a dual-purpose perennial forage grain system BY CHRISTINE RAWLUK

National Centre for Livestock and the Environment, University of Manitoba

We are currently in the middle of the International Decade of Soils, which runs from 2015 until 2024, and with the passage of time, the role of soils in sustaining our food systems remains as critical as ever. Once a year on December 5th, World Soil Day aims to remind us all of the importance of soil health and it is a popular topic for the agricultural community and consumers alike. Research plays an important role in evaluating farm management practices that benefit soil health, which is an important contributor to the overall sustainability of food production. At the University of Manitoba’s National Centre for Livestock and the Environment one such research project aims to identify integrated crop/livestock management practices using perennial grains that nurture healthy soils so they continue to yield high quality food crops and grasslands. Perennial grains a fit for cattle producers? Perennial grains such as intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) offer diversity to traditional forage/ cropping systems by providing grain for human consumption plus high quality forage regrowth for late season grazing from the same land area within a single growing season. Demand for

IWG grain – marketed as Kernza – is expected to continue to grow as food companies, big and small, look to develop food products which enhance environmental attributes. This project looks at the soil health benefits associated with incorporating IWG as a dual-use (within the same growing season) grain and forage crop in cattle production. This soil health research is one component of a larger study led by animal scientist Emma McGeough and plant scientist Doug Cattani to determine potential agronomic, animal production, economic and environmental benefits of IWGbased grazing strategies for late fall/early winter. Soil scientist Francis Zvomuya and graduate student Nikisha Muhandiram, working with Tim Crews of The Land Institute in Kansas, are conducting the soil health component of the project. The team will examine the changes in soil health under IWG in a pure stand, with or without nitrogen fertilizer post-establishment, or in a mixed stand (50:50) with a legume (Alsike clover), compared with a perennial mix of tall fescue/ alfalfa/ cicer milk vetch over a 3-year period. Major goals are to fill knowledge gaps, improve our understanding of the impacts of fall/ winter grazing of perennial grains on soil health, and to provide science-based information for the use of this novel, dual-purpose crop for the beef industry.

What is soil health and how do you measure it? The health of an agricultural soil is related to its biological, chemical and physical properties, which in turn are affected by factors such as crop and grazing land management, climate and the environment and even the conditions under which the soil formed. Soil properties such as organic matter content, texture, structure, bulk density, nutrients, pH, and salinity change in response to these conditions. In this study, properties that are sensi- Healthy soils benefit crop and pasture production. tive to changes in manageThe University of Maniment over the short term nutrients to the crop, and es in soil health withwill be measured owing to the ability of water to move out the need for annual toba research team includes Emma McGeough, Doug the 3-yr project duration. into and be stored within measurements. Because of the short Cattani, Francis Zvomuya, These include soil carbon, the soil for use by the crop duration of the study only Kim Ominski, and Derek nitrogen and phosphorus will be evaluated. soil properties that are ex- Brewin. Also part of the What will this soil health (total, mineralizable and pected to change over a research team are Roland research tell us? plant-available forms), As part of her mas- short time span will be in- Kröbel, Aaron Glenn and soil pH, salinity level, and physical properties like ter’s program, Nikisha’s soil cluded in the final models. Mae Elsinger (Agriculture bulk density and soil pore health research will explore The models will provide and Agri-Food Canada), Bill space which are related the relationships between insights into the effects Biligetu (University of Sasto soil compaction, aera- key soil properties and soil of IWG management op- katchewan) and Tim Crews tion, water infiltration and function under the various tions on soil functions or (The Lands Institute, KanIWG-based systems being “health” in the short term. sas). hydraulic conductivity. This project is jointly Healthy soils also per- tested. Data measured at This information will imform important functions the start of the experiment prove understanding of funded by Manitoba Beef to benefit the ecosystems will be used to develop the role of IWG as a novel Producers, NSERC, and Ag they support which can be models that can be im- dual-purpose, multi-year Action Manitoba program, linked to long-term sus- plemented by industry to crop as part of a robust funded under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. tainability. These functions predict long-term chang- grazing system. include increased carbon sequestration, increased water holding capacity, reNikisha Muhandiram is a Masters student in the duced soil erosion, reduced Department of Soil Science at the University of greenhouse emissions, Manitoba, under the supervision of Dr. Francis Zvomuya. Nikisha is originally from Sri Lanka, a and enhanced resilience to country blessed with high agro-biodiversity, which natural and anthropogenic inspired her to explore more about sustainable disturbances. For this study, management practices in crop production. In her IWG grain and forage yield, thesis research, she aims to assess the ability of accumulation of soil organsoil properties to predict changes in soil functions ic matter and soil carbon seunder different perennial forage grain systems. questration, capacity of the soil to capture and supply

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October 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY 11

Importance of vaccine programs BY DR. TANYA ANDERSON, DVM The most recent published (2019) Western Canadian Cow Calf Surveillance Study results indicated that 97 percent of cow/calf producers reported vaccinating their cow herd with at least one vaccine. This is a large improvement from results from the same study in 2002 that reported only 45 percent of herds being vaccinated. Of note, these are herds that regularly work with a veterinarian. Vaccine use in herds lacking a veterinary client patient relationship is much lower. The uptake of vaccination in calves is poorer than that in cows. According to the same study, not all producers vaccinate for Clostridial diseases and 15% do not give respiratory vaccines to calves before weaning. Cow herd vaccination is done primarily for the prevention of reproductive diseases but some of those same viruses (BVD, IBR namely) cause pneumonia in young

stock. Carryover of colostral antibody to calves helps provide protection for them within the first few months of life. Calves are the most at risk group in the herd for developing illness. They have immature immune systems and rely on colostral antibody transfer from their dams at birth. A solid cow herd vaccination and nutrition program will ensure that this transfer is the best it can be. But colostral immunity begins to wane by as early as two months depending on the disease organism and calves will then become more susceptible to disease unless their immune systems are again boosted through the use of vaccines. Calves are also high risk for developing disease due to herd dynamics and modern large scale management practices. Crowding and stress during processing, weaning and shipping causes immunosuppression. Mixing of cattle from various sources at sale time through auction barns or when sorted

MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS

for placement in the feedlot also increases the risk of disease transmission. Vaccination of calves prior to leaving the farm and going to the feedlot is crucial to ensure lowered sickness rates post-weaning. Think about how many of you have gotten sick when your children first went to school and brought home all the “community” bugs. News Feed from FoodPrint - “The rise of dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a public health crisis, and routine antibiotic misuse in industrial agriculture is part of the problem.” While there is a push back against industrial agriculture, defined as a farm that has >1000 head, the reality is that improved efficiency and maintenance of lower food costs requires specialized agricultural operations. However, it is imperative that we reduce our dependence on antibiotics from both an economic and regulatory standpoint. 80% of the antibiotic use in the world had been in food-producing animals with the vast majority of that for non-therapeutic uses such as growth enhancement and improved feed efficiency. That has since been banned but what many producers do not realize, there is also a push by some groups for the ban of medically important antibiotics for treatment of disease in livestock. Do any of these names ring a bell - Excenel, Excede, Baytril, A180, Draxxin, Zuprevo, Zactran, Micotil? Vaccines help eliminate or reduce the vulnerability to disease and the need

for antibiotics. Herd immunity through vaccination helps protect each individual animal by reducing exposure and propagation of disease causing organisms. Every cow and every calf on every farm needs to be vaccinated. Prevention of reproductive health problems in your cowherd protects your investment while prevention of respiratory disease in calves helps both you as well as those that you hope will buy your calves in the fall. The exact vaccine product and timing is a matter to discuss with your herd veterinarian. Every cow should be vaccinated with a 4-way viral vaccine and a Clostridial while calves get the same as well as vaccines to prevent bacterial pneumonia. The need for additional vaccines such as those for the prevention of footrot, pinkeye and scours can be tailored to each herd as required. I term this the “bare-bones” vaccination program for beef cattle. Choosing not to vaccinate because you don’t have health issues on your farm may be a valid comment but if you are want to sell your calves or are considering entering the bred cow/heifer market, no vaccinations equates to poor management and flags your operation as high risk for both disease and even antibiotic resistance. Some in the industry feel that the time will soon come where tracebacks to the herd of origin by cattle feeders will happen. Don’t be the producer who becomes known for cattle with high sickness and death losses in the feedlot.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

TOO MUCH CHARACTER As a herd pushed out of a Deerwood, MB farm yard to greener pastures, this new calf had never been through the gate before and tested everyone’s patience by refusing to join the group. A half hour later he reluctantly gave in, admitting defeat and winning sustenance! Photo credit: Jeannette Greaves

COVID-19 creates huge uncertainty for cattle producers A cloud of uncertainty hangs over Manitoba’s cattle sector as producers wonder when, or even if, the COVID-19 pandemic will let their lives return to normal. The industry is still struggling with a large backlog of slaughter cattle after the Cargill beef plant in High River, Alberta shut down briefly in the spring when workers tested positive for the COVID virus and some died. The virus also slowed operations at two other Alberta plants. Industry officials say it will take months to clear the backlog of 120,000 Canadian animals even with plants operating at or near full capacity. That’s assuming the virus doesn’t return in a second wave this fall and force plants to shut down again. All of which leaves producers on tenterhooks waiting to see if the other shoe will drop. “Extremely anxious” is the way Rick Wright, Manitoba Livestock Marketing Association administrator, described the mood among beef producers. “There’s a lot of volatility out there. There’s a lot of unknowns,” Wright said. “With the volatility in the market, the unknown about what’s going to happen this fall, flooding in some areas, some areas getting rain that haven’t had it for two years -- the tension among cattle producers is extremely

high. There’s a lot of stress in the country.” As of late July, cattle prices appeared to have stabilized -- more or less -- after taking a beating earlier this year. The big worry now is what prices will do in autumn when the annual fall run starts. “I think the most uncertain thing is pricing,” said Greg Schmidt, Alberta Cattle Feeders Association chair. “We seem to have stabilized over the last few weeks, albeit at a considerably lower level than normal. The uncertainty is, how would a second wave going into the fall affect our packing industry? “There’s a whole level of uncertainty there and I think that’s really affecting plans going forward on purchasing feeder cattle. That’s probably the biggest thing we’re facing right now.” Schmidt said he feels Alberta plants are well equipped to handle a possible second wave of COVID-19, having made significant changes to improve worker safety. For producers, the situation in late July was about as good as possible under the circumstances. But things were still behind normal, Schmidt said. “I would classify it as pretty much business as usual but still not at levels that we would have expected to see this time of year pre-COVID,” he said. For Dianne Riding, however, it is anything but business as usual.

Riding, Manitoba Beef Producers’ president, spends much of her day on the phone speaking with anxious producers who are low on both feed and patience. “I’m in the same shape as most of the folks who are phoning me and are short of feed and short of grass. The uncertainty is extremely tough on them,” says Riding, who raises cattle near Lake Francis in the Interlake. Riding herself is going into her third year of buying feed for her cows after missing much of the rain that saturated pastures in parts of Manitoba this spring. That, along with uncertainty about future cash prices, has Riding and other producers wondering: should I sell now or sit tight and wait? “The greatest uncertainty will be what our calves are worth this fall,” she says. “I’m telling producers who phone, I’m in the same boat as you and we need to make decisions early on, not when it’s way too late. “Animal welfare has to come first. That’s why we have to make our decisions on whether we can find enough feed, do we need to sell down, or do we need to sell out?” A lot depends on whether packers can work through enough the backlog of slaughter cattle to make room in feedlots for the slug of animals going to market this fall, says Riding. Page 2 

President's Column

Great Tastes of Manitoba Season 31

Forage insurance review released

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BY RON FRIESEN

CATTLE COUNTRY September 2020

Pandemic planning an exercise in patience CARSON CALLUM

General Manager’s Column I hope your summer has been going well, and that timely rains have led to more feed available for your herd this fall than the previous two production years. I know it hasn’t been a perfect summer for growing conditions for all our producers, but in some areas there does seem to be an improvement. Speaking with our directors and many members, they would echo the same comments. However, I still know August has turned dry again for many producers, so I am hoping lots were able to get some decent amount of feed off, even with dealing with other issues such as grasshoppers. Any improvements in production conditions are welcomed, as the COVID-19 pandemic we have all been dealing with has sure added to the challenges in our industry. A major impact that the pandemic has had on many sectors is related to planning and executing events. With rules and regulations that seem to change daily or weekly, it’s very challenging to make final plans for a few weeks out, let alone a few months. Crowd sizes, mask requirements, social distancing, strong sanitization – these are all things that groups like MBP now need to consider when planning an event that may have not have been top of mind before. With all these added uncertainties and public health restrictions, you can imagine that planning for our own MBP district meetings has been challenging, especially as it relates to allowable gathering sizes. The 2020 district meetings aren’t going to look the same as they have in years past due to the restrictions which exist right now, and which could well change by the time the meetings start, especially if case numbers spike. By the time you are reading this, we will

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be closer to finalizing our adjusted plan that tries to take a balance between protecting our board, staff, and meeting attendees, but also allows for completing the business we normally conduct as an organization. It’s hard to say if our plans will be thrown out the window with the very fluid situation that is this pandemic is, but we hope we can make an adjusted plan work. Watch your mail in late September or early October for our annual district meeting mailer which will have more details about the meetings and how they will be conducted. In the same vein, it’s way too soon and difficult to predict how the pandemic situation will impact our Annual General Meeting being planned for Brandon in early February, but we will keep all apprised of potentially adjusted plans. Even with the challenges associated in planning events during this pandemic, I am impressed and encouraged by the adaptations many groups have made thus far. From holding virtual AGMs to socially--distanced outside events, it has been really impressive to see. For example, Manitoba Youth Beef Round Up, which is a great event for young cattle producers, had to take their usual August event virtual this year. This was awesome to see, and I am positive many attendees got a great deal of information out of it. Another example is the Canadian Beef Industry Conference (CBIC). This usually in-person event had also gone virtual, with very engaging sessions throughout the three-day period. There were so many great speakers and even a “Cooking Dinner Together” session which made it a really great adjusted event that still got phenomenal thought-provoking information out to the industry in a safe setting. These are just a couple examples of the creativity in the agriculture sector, and there are many more. A particular CBIC event I was delighted to see wasn’t cancelled was the presentation of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA). The TESA awards ceremony was moved online. Since 1996, TESA has recognized producers who go above and beyond standard industry conservation practices and set positive examples for other cattle producers and the general public. MBP wants to congratulate Thomas and Felicity Hagan of Hagan Valley Ranch of the Virden area for being considered for this national award. They were the provincial TESA recipient at our AGM this

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past February, and their efforts to ensure an environmentally sustainable operation are very impressive. In relation to planning, we are well underway on the details for the Livestock Predation Prevention Pilot Project. I am very pleased to welcome Ray Bittner to the team to lead this project forward. Ray’s extensive knowledge of the agriculture sector and experience with livestock predation challenges will be of great benefit to the project as it moves forward. Before I close, I want to thank our board for being so diligent, hardworking, and flexible over the course of this world shifting event. Conference call after conference call can get tiring, but our board has stayed engaged in every discussion we have to ensure we are working effectively on behalf of our members. Though we have seen delays in certain files, such as the anticipated provincial government consultations on agricultural Crown lands and the first right of renewal, our board has still stayed motivated in our various lobby efforts. Happy harvest all, and here’s hoping for a smooth fall calf run. Carson

Uncertain fall awaits pan, now that an increased kill by packers makes more beef available for export. But he agreed uncertainty is still producers’ worst enemy, particularly because so little is known about COVID-19 and how it behaves. “We’ve never dealt with a pandemic in this generation before and with COVID-19 there’s still many things about it we don’t know,” Laycraft said. That’s no comfort to cattle producers who have spent the better part of the last 20 years dealing with one crisis after another. First came BSE, then country-of-origin labeling, E. coli, depressed market prices, droughts and flooding. And now this. It’s getting to the point where producers have to wonder how much more they can take, said Riding. “We are a resilient bunch but I’m getting a bit fearful that some folks are going to get to the age where we can’t keep doing this.”

 Page 1 “If we can’t get the backlog cleaned up, I feel it will affect all our cow-calf producers with the fact that either they’re going to discount those calves greatly or there might not be space for them in the feedlots,” she says. “It might come to the fact that they might not run sales to move cattle. That’s a very scary thought.” Dennis Laycraft, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association executive vice-president, said so far he hasn’t seen signs of panic selling by producers, especially since the federal government instituted a set-aside initiative through Agri-Recovery. Ottawa has pledged up to $125 million for livestock producers to help offset extra feeding costs for animals backed up on farms because of the pandemic. The cattle sector qualifies for $50 million of that. Exports of feeder cattle to the U.S. were down sharply as of June 1 because of backlogs there, too. But Laycraft said overseas sales of beef are doing well, especially to Ja-

DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 5

DISTRICT 9

DISTRICT 13

R.M. of Albert, Cameron, Whitewater, Edward, Brenda, Winchester, Morton

R.M. of Elton, North Cypress, North Norfolk, Cornwallis, Oakland, South Cypress, Victoria, South Norfolk

R.M. of Woodlands, Rockwood, St. Andrews, Rosser, St. Francis Xavier, Springfield, Tache, Whitemouth, Lac du Bonnet, Brokenhead, St. Clements, LGD of Alexander, Pinawa

R.M. of Shell River, Shellmouth,Hillsburg, Boulton, Grandview, Gilbert Plains, Ethelbert, Mossey River, Dauphin, LGD Park

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DISTRICT 2

NANCY HOWATT - SECRETARY

R.M. of Riverside, Strathcona, Argyle, Lorne, Turtle Mountain, Roblin, Louise, Pembina

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MELISSA ATCHINSON

R.M. of Wallace, Woodworth, Daly, Pipestone, Sifton, Whitehead, Glenwood

DIANNE RIDING - PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 10

MIKE DUGUID - 2ND VICE-PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 7

R.M. of Bifrost, Gimli, Fisher, Armstrong

R.M. of Portage la Prairie, Cartier, Grey, MacDonald, Dufferin, Thompson, Roland, Morris, Stanley, Rhineland, Montcalm

R.M. of Russell, Silver Creek, Rossburn, Ellice, Birtle, Shoal Lake, Strathclair, Archie, Miniota, Hamiota, Blanshard

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KEVIN DUDDRIDGE

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TYLER FULTON 1ST VICE-PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 8

R.M. of Harrison, Clanwilliam, Rosedale, Glenella, Saskatchewan, Odanah, Minto, Langford, Lansdowne, Westbourne, LGD Park

ROBERT METNER

R.M. of Siglunes, Grahamdale, Eriksdale, Coldwell, St. Laurent

DISTRICT 12

MARK GOOD

R.M. of Lawrence, Ochre River, Ste. Rose, McCreary, Alonsa

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DISTRICT 14 JIM BUCHANAN

R.M. of Minitonas, Swan River, Mountain, The Pas

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR David Hultin

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Deb Walger

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Trinda Jocelyn

September 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

AgriRecovery, BRMs, and Crown lands top of mind I hope this column finds you to be well as we continue to navigate “interesting” times. Since my last column, MBP continued its discussions with the Manitoba government about creating a set-aside program to help manage livestock that have become backed up due to the disruptions at processing plants caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In May the federal government announced a cost-shared AgriRecovery initiative with funding for a set-aside program to help farmers and ranchers keep their animals longer before marketing. These initiatives are usually cost shared 60-40 between the federal and provincial governments. The federal government is providing its 60 per cent share regardless of whether individual provinces make a 40 per cent contribution. Alberta and Saskatchewan provided their 40 per cent share and their set-aside programs were initiated in recent weeks. Ontario has also agreed to put up its 40 per cent and is working with its cattle sector on a program. MBP had asked the Manitoba government to provide its 40 per cent for a local set-aside program, just as other provinces have done. This would not have been without precedent. During the BSE years there was a Canada-Manitoba Fed Cattle Set-Aside Program and a Canada-Manitoba Feeder Cattle Set-Aside Program, both cost-shared on a 60-40 basis by the federal and provincial governments. They proved valuable, providing some needed assistance in that period. MBP has now been advised that the province will not be cost-sharing a set-aside program for fed cattle, but that it is working with the federal government on the development of it, albeit only with the federal contribution. MBP is very disappointed by this decision. MBP knows that all governments in Canada are facing fiscal challenges due to the pandemic as they provide support to both individuals and sectors hard hit by this crisis. MBP strongly believes that maintaining stability in the agriculture sector will be critical for Manitoba and Canada’s socioeconomic wellbeing for decades to come. Cattle production is one of our province’s key economic drivers. Manitoba cattle and calf sales accounted for 6.03% to 7.06% of Canadian farm cash receipts from cattle and calves over the period 2014 to 2018. Further, Manitoba cattle and calf sales accounted for 8.2% to 12.2% of total the province’s farm cash receipts. It has been estimated the Manitoba beef sector generated in the range of 14,540 to 15,913 person-years of employment (jobs) in the provincial economy over that same period. MBP believes an investment by the province in the set-aside program would have paid long-term dividends greater than the cost that would have been incurred by it. The effects of the pandemic on the cattle industry continue to be evaluated by groups like MBP, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, the National Cattle Feeders Association and other stakeholders. The backlog of cattle awaiting processing is dropping, but is still significant and it is unknown if there will be further processing disruptions. There are serious concerns about the implications in the marketplace for cow-calf producers in the weeks and months ahead. MBP believes it is important that government programs remain flexible and responsive to address emerging considerations and MBP will continue to speak with provincial and federal officials about these and other concerns arising in relation to the pandemic. This includes trying to find ways to address the well-known and longstanding shortcomings in the existing business risk management (BRM) programs, especially when it comes to the cattle sector. MBP has repeatedly advanced these concerns with government. Some of the ideas being taken forward by industry to the federal and provincial governments to enhance BRM programs include: remov-

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ing the Reference Margin Limit (RML), enhancing the trigger to 85 per cent of the RM for AgriStability, and removal of the payment caps. It is also important to keep in mind that during this pandemic (and even prior to that), there have been repeated comments by governments about the low level of producer participation in BRM programs. The cattle industry is working diligently with governments to try to improve the programs. Although imperfect, producers also need to carefully consider the BRM options to see what could reduce risks to their farms and ranches. Government expectations around operations using the risk management tools available to them is only growing, and the willingness by governments to provide ad hoc programs is only shrinking. There are simply no guarantees when it comes to ad hoc programs being available in a disaster. Please keep sharing your concerns with us about what needs to be changed with BRM programs to make them more effective for you. In other matters, MBP is still awaiting word as to when the Manitoba government will open up the public consultations on the first right of renewal on agricultural Crown land leases. MBP continues to reinforce the need for producers to have their say on this very important matter. We have restated the leaseholders’ concerns related to the first right of renewal, the need for a longer transition period for the rental rate increase, the concerns around the freeze on unit transfers, the valuation process for improvements and more. It is very important that these conversations continue and that movement can be achieved on this priority issue. The review of Manitoba’s suite of forage insurance programs is now complete. MBP thanks Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen for initiating this process. Beef producers have often raised concerns about gaps or challenges with the current forage insurance offerings that limit their responsiveness and which discourage them from taking out policies. This review was a valuable opportunity for MBP and our members to identify what is or isn’t working with the existing offerings, and what program changes could help. There are a number of recommendations arising from the report and MBP will work with officials from Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) and MARD to help ensure that the suite of insurance offerings are as responsive as possible to producers’ needs.

For the third year in a row, the weather has not been our friend (either too dry or too wet), leading to reduced pasture, forage and crop yields. MBP approached MARD in June and asked the province if it would open up Crown lands not normally open to haying and grazing for those purposes. MBP thanks the province for allowing this important access to happen. In July MBP convened a call of the Alternative Feed Strategy Working Group to discuss how to encourage synergies between different sectors in making alternative feeds available to the livestock sector. The Working Group includes reps from MBP, Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA), MARD and MASC. A joint news release between MBP, KAP and the MFGA in this regard was issued. In the spirit of co-operation, we are encouraging Manitoba farmers to avail themselves of the listing resources and work together to ensure feed and straw is available for cattle producers who require it. We truly appreciate those who advertise their available resources for sale. MBP is very pleased to welcome Ray Bittner to its team as the project lead for the three-year Livestock Predation Prevention Pilot Project which is being funded by MARD, MBP and the Manitoba Sheep Association. Ray has extensive experience and familiarity with the predation issue, both from his former work with MARD and he is also a beef producer himself. Bittner will be working with MBP and members of the Livestock Predation Protection Working Group to help roll this important project out in the months ahead. Finally, MBP staff and directors are trying to finalize details for the fall district meetings. Due to various challenges created by the pandemic, a decision has been made to hold in-person meetings only in the odd-numbered districts where director elections are required this year. Interested producers from even-numbered districts will be asked to attend the nearest meeting in an odd-numbered district if they wish. Otherwise MBP will have an online presentation for producers to provide an update on various matters. Due to provincial public health restrictions, it has proven difficult to find halls that are still taking bookings and which have enough space to accommodate the allowable gathering size while still being able to meet the social distancing requirements. As I said in my last column, MBP wants to make sure producers are informed of what’s going on, but we also need to do it safely for producers, and for our directors and our staff. Please monitor MBP’s website and social media for more details, and watch your mail for a district meeting invitation in late September or early October. As we head into harvest time and the cattle run, I wish you all the best for a safe and productive fall.

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Will COVID-19 drive changes in the food supply chain? risks,” says Charlebois, who is involved in the research. The COVID-19 pandemic is highCharlebois acknowledges that Canlighting some issues in terms of our cur- ada does have different challenges, not rent beef production and food supply least of which is the geographical size of chain systems that may require some in- the country and the distances that food novative solutions to make them more needs to travel to reach markets, but he resilient to unexpected disruptions in the believes part of the solution to those chalfuture. lenges is vertical integration, with more Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Senior Di- producer-owned, local food processing rector at the Agri-Food Analytics Lab, capacity. One of the major benefits of Dalhousie University, is an expert in food such a system is the fact that farmers and supply chain systems and has long been processors have shared interests and obadvocating for more emphasis, and tar- jectives. geted investments in localized food pro“With farmers and processors [in cessing. Canada today], there’s no understanding “Food processing or food manufac- of each other’s business dynamic,” says turing has to become our [food] strate- Charlebois. “Farmers are price takers, gies’ anchor point because if we don’t they’re very vulnerable. They control very invest in processing, or we don’t get that little. And processors are stuck between a part right, that’s when farmers will have rock and a hard place, dealing with farmto deal with backlogs, extra costs and ers on one end and gigantic organizations surpluses,” says Charlebois. “This is the on the other that are setting the tone, conone issue that COVID has made quite trolling the supply chain and have access obvious. Most commodity groups [in to all the data.” Canada] have been affected by an anemic There are many examples around food manufacturing sector, whereas in the world, and in Canada, of commodother countries, where COVID was man- ity groups that have successfully adopted aged differently, the food industry wasn’t this model. “One of the sectors that has impacted as much as in Canada because done very well in vertical coordination food manufacturing has been an impor- [in Canada] is potatoes, because if there’s tant part of their strategy.” a surplus of potatoes, McCain sees that as Other countries, such as the Nether- a problem as much as farmers and they lands, Germany and France have demand try to find solutions together to repurpose chain management systems, which means some of the surpluses, redirect some of it,” they are consumer focused, determining says Charlebois. what consumers want and building arThe beef industry is certainly lagchitecture to support that demand, says ging behind in even looking at a more Charlebois. integrated system, adds Charlebois, and “In Canada and North America, although he praises the work of the Cathe knee-jerk reaction has always been nadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef to grow something with the expectation (CRSB), which is a great example of how that someone will come,” he says. “Today, multiple stakeholders can get together to because of how systemic risks impact sys- advance a common goal, there needs to tems abruptly and quickly, you have to be a lot more of these cooperative models think about growing, processing and dis- put in place if the beef industry wants to tributing food differently now.” be resilient, sustainable and profitable for Canada is currently participating in the future. a global food innovation index, which “There’s not a unique voice. There looks at 27 different performance metrics are divisions within the profession which of 10 countries around the world. actually allows others to dictate rules, so “We haven’t released the report yet, whenever there’s a major problem that but some countries, in Europe in par- emerges, it becomes more difficult to reticular, have performed much better in solve,” says Charlebois. Thurs., Feb 1 Butcher Sale 9:00 am; terms of adapting to a shift in marketplace So, what’s holding the beef industry and they’ve been able to innovate more. Bred Cow Salefrom adopting vertically 1:00 pm back integrated They’ve been able to adapt more to system systems? Mindset and culture are big facTues., Feb 6 Feeder Sale 9:00 am

OCTOBER MARCH

2020 SaleSale Schedule 2018Fall Winter Schedule

SEPTEMBER FEBRUARY

BY ANGELA LOVELL

Thurs., Sept 1 Feb 8 RegularButcher Sale Sale Tues., Sept 8 Feb 13RegularPresort Sale Sale

Thurs., Feb 15 Butcher Sale Sept 15 Regular Sale Bred Cow Sale Sept 22 Presort Sale Tues., Feb 20 Feeder Sale Regular Sale afternoon Thurs., Feb 22 Butcher Sale Sept 29 Presort Sale - Simmental Influence Tues., Feb 27 Presort Sale Regular Sale Afternoon Fri., Mar 2 Cattleman’s Connection Bull Sale Oct 6 Presort Calf Sale Tues., Mar 6 Feeder Sale Regular Sale Afternoon Tues., Mar 13 Presort Sale Oct 13 Presort Calf Sale - Angus Influence Thurs., Mar 15 Bred Cow Sale Oct 20 Presort Calf Sale Tues., Mar 20 Feeder Sale Regular Sale Afternoon Tues., Mar 27 Feeder Sale Oct 27 Presort Calf Sale - Charolais Influence

9:00 am 9am 9:30 am 9am

9:00 am 9am 1:00 pm 930am 9:00 am 9:00 am 930am 9:30 am 1:00 pm 930am 9:00 am 9:30 am 930am 1:00 pm 930am 9:00 am 9:00 am 930am

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tors, says Charlebois. “I’ll give you an example for the beef sector,” he says. “I believe that Beyond Meat should have been a Canadian company. It started 12 years ago with some funding out of California, but a lot of the ingredients we can find in Canada, but of course the focus has always been for the longest time on animal proteins and we saw what was being proposed as a threat instead of seeing some of these shifts as an opportunity, and we have failed to do that time and again.” That boils down to a narrow mindset that doesn’t understand that consumerfacing businesses are trying to satisfy a changing marketplace. What Charlebois asks is why producers aren’t doing the same thing? “A steak is great, it’s authentic, it’s natural, but we’re not driving the same car as 30 years ago,” says Charlebois. “Things do change and there’s a way to actually keep a steak natural and authentic while changing as well. We should all be winning by providing value to the market instead of just selling calories.” How has COVID-19 changed consumers’ attitudes to beef? The global COVID-19 pandemic has been powerful and transformational for almost everyone, but will it change our behaviour around food and how we mitigate risks in our lives? And if so, will these changes be long-lasting? There have been plenty of surveys in past years to assess consumer trends and find out what is important to them in terms of the food they eat, focusing on different commodities, including beef. Consistently, over the past five years, the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity’s (CCFI) annual public trust survey has shown that the rising price of food, affordability of healthy food and food safety have ranked in the top five life concerns for Canadian consumers. Food safety has also been in the list of food-system specific concerns for consumers, along with climate change, humane treatment of farm animals and food security. What’s encouraging from past surveys is that a large number of Canadians, (around 60 per cent) are interested in learning more about agriculture, and that process begins with transparency and earning public trust. Public trust has been a major topic on the agenda in just about every agricultural conference or commodity group AGM for years, with lots of discussion about the role primary producers, processors, food companies, retailers, food service partners, non-profit and conservation groups must play in earning and maintaining public trust in Canada’s food system. The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef is an example of how important public trust has become to all of these different stakeholders. So, what has happened to public trust during the global, COVID-19 pandemic? Has it eroded or strengthened? In a May 2020 update to its annual Trust Barometer, global insight and analytics company, Edelman Intelligence showed that global public trust in general (not specifically related to the food system) has increased significantly, especially in Canada and the United States, up 10 points since January of this year. Trust levels for government, business and media have reached record highs in the midst of the global pandemic. So although that trend might suggest that consumers aren’t losing confidence

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Dr. Sylvain Charlebois

in the systems they rely on to govern and supply them with the essentials of life, food included, are there different things that are now more important to consumers, because of what they have experienced during the pandemic, in terms of not just the quality, price and choice of the food they consume, but also its supply? Dr. Charlebois, as well as researchers at Guelph University have been tracking consumer behaviours and attitudes since the beginning of the pandemic and have seen some changes in behaviour, for example consumers’ willingness to dine out in restaurants, which has a direct impact on the beef industry. Charlebois was lead author of the report that showed many Canadians, (around 50 per cent) are unwilling to go to restaurants this summer because of COVID-19. “The Canadian population is very much split,” says Charlebois. “Pre-COVID, 40 per cent of our food budget was spent on food consumed at a restaurant, so that’s a major shift. Will we still be at 50 per cent [of people going to restaurants] in two or three months? There are so many unknowns about COVID itself, in terms of how long it’s going to last, are we through this, is it coming back? It’s impossible to answer those questions.” The CCFI’s 2020 survey, which will take a deeper dive into consumer behaviour and attitudes, should shed some light on whether COVID-19 has changed them and how long those changes might be likely to impact the food system, including beef producers. Charlebois believes that COVID is going to force a lot of adaptation, innovation and change that needed to happen in food systems, and it’s already starting to happen through things like online direct marketing. “If e-commerce becomes a legitimate option for a lot of people it could de-marketize the supply chain and empower producers eventually, if they take advantage of it by selling their beef directly to the consumer,” says Charlebois. “There are plenty of companies that have never sold direct to consumers, that are now.” Some beef producers have already adapted to selling direct to consumers, so the model is shifting, which is powerful, says Charlebois, because when producers interact directly with consumers they have more opportunity to tell their own, unique stories in a way that is going to resonate, and create value and loyalty from the people buying their products.

September 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Behind the scenes at Great Tastes of Manitoba BY DAVID HULTIN

Editor, Cattle Country

Manitoba's most watched cooking show, Great Tastes of Manitoba, is returning this fall with fresh recipes and a new look. In advance of the season 31 premiere Elisabeth Harms, MBP Food Expert, and Donalee Jones, Senior Producer, shared the inside scoop on what to expect this year. What's new this year? Donalee: Great Tastes of Manitoba Season 31 has a whole new look! We have moved from the Grant Park Liquor Mart location into a new set courtesy of Supper Central. It’s a fresh look and we think our viewers are really going to like it. Also new for Season 31, we are going to be introducing our viewers to a different Manitoba farm family every week. This is something we’ve been wanting to do for a long time. It supports our mandate to build connections between Manitoba farmers and Manitoba consumers. How long does it take to complete each episode? Donalee: Pre-production is by far the most important stage of any film or television project. We spend approximately eight months preparing for each season of Great Tastes. Comparatively, we shoot all 13 episodes over the course of four days, and post production for the whole series takes about four months. Without that extensive pre-production process there is no way we could move as efficiently through production and post-production. How do you develop the recipes? Elisabeth: There is a lot of prep that goes into each segment – sometimes I need three versions of one dish, which makes for A LOT of meat! That is the secret behind ALL TV magic! One of my least favourite parts is making sure none of my ideas overlap with recipes already been done in the last five years or so, and this doesn’t mean overlapping with just beef recipes. You have to take the other commodities into account as well. Sometimes making sure the recipes have a theme is tricky – you want them all to be somewhat cohesive. My favourite part is simply being able to cook different things and experiment. For me, some of the joy comes from trying something a few times in order to get the right balance of flavour. It’s sort of a combination of different things – taking suggestions from friends/family/fans or going with things I want to make. For me, food is something that comes from the heart and sometimes I get inspiration from things my family has cooked in the past. What sort of precautions did the crew take during filming? Donalee: This year was definitely a new experience for our crew. Everyone had to adhere to some strict health and safety guidelines as set out by the province, and by our industry leaders at On Screen Manitoba. Crew had to complete the Shared Health Screening Tool each day prior to arriving on set. They all had their temperature checked and were required to fill out a daily health and safety questionnaire. All behind the scenes

FRIENDLY FACES: Host Dez Daniels on set with MBP food expert Elisabeth Harms. Photo credit: Donalee Jones

SEASON 31 TAKING SHAPE: The GTOM crew was working hard (and staying safe) on set to bring you some new shows for the 31st season premiering September 12 on CTV. Photo credit: Donalee Jones

crew had to wear masks and/or face shields and stay socially distant except for brief exchanges. There was rigorous cleaning and disinfecting happening between filming of episodes and uses of equipment, and everyone was using hand sanitizer and washing up more frequently. We usually have a pretty relaxed and open set, with cast and crew family members visiting throughout the week, but none of that could happen this year. No one was permitted to enter or exit throughout the day without producer permission. Probably the biggest change for our crew though, was that they couldn’t sample the recipes straight off the set anymore! In the past we all ate family style, and got to taste almost everything that was cooked on set, but this year all meals had to be prepared and individually packaged by assigned staff. So our camera guys still got to sample the recipes, but we didn’t have hordes of crew hovering over the counter to try a dish the minute it was ready! What are some of the highlights viewers can look forward to? Donalee: One of the highlights for me is always seeing the ratings. The loyalty of our fan base and the size of our following never fails to blow me away. When you think about the fact that we are a small budget, locally produced series, that has been on air for longer than almost anything else on television, and we’re attracting more Manitoba viewers than anything on the Food Network, it’s pretty amazing. When you see the list of big budget US network shows that have less viewers than Great Tastes it really puts things into perspective. We are one of only a handful of Canadian content programs to make the top 100 rankings, and we are nearly in the top 50 (52nd most watched show with Winnipeg females 35+). People are watching and some have been faithfully watching every Saturday night for 31 years so it definitely makes all the extra effort to overcome challenges worthwhile! How much footage is filmed before arriving at the final product? Donalee: In terms of the cooking segments, it’s actually not that much. We film pretty much “live to tape” which means we aren’t re-taking anything. The food experts cook each dish once and that’s what goes to air. In order to produce three or four episodes per day, we can’t

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really take time to re-do things. New for this year, however, are some behind the scenes stories with Manitoba farm families. These stories are filmed in a more documentary style, and that’s where you see a higher production/end content ratio. On average we spend about six to eight hours with the families in order to produce three and a half minutes of finished documentary content. Page 11 

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CATTLE COUNTRY September 2020

Genetic programming for mid to late gestation period Besides influencing calf growth, undernutrition of gestating cows has been illustrated to reduce passive immunity. While there was no difference in immunoglobulin Because of the pattern of placental growth in relation concentration in the colostrum of cows when fed different to fetal growth during gestation, it also is important to real- levels of protein, the amount of absorption by the calf after ize that the effects of maternal nutrition during pregnancy birth increased as protein levels increased in the dam diet. may depend on the timing, level or length of altered mater- It appears that protein restriction during late gestation can nal diet. Last column’s article talked about first trimester negatively impact colostral transfer. Immune function is critical for calf health which is directly correlated to feednutrition. Now we will discuss the impacts of nutrition during mid and late lot performance, carcass value and profitability. A Journal of Animal Science study reported that calves treated once gestation. for disease returned $40.62 less, calves treated twice returned $58.35 less and calves treated 3 or more times returned $291.93 less compared with untreated calves. The greatest loss in cow/ calf production systems occurs Workshops are being delivered in the first month of life - with by webinar during the evening industry average death losses being 6-16%. With a 90% born • Webinars take place in the evenings so producers aren’t taken away from alive rate, this is considered a their daily chores. preventable animal welfare issue • The interactive webinars are delivered using web based video conferencing with a huge negative economic software. impact. Dystocia (difficulty at • Participants can interact during the presentations, hear the presenters, birth as a result of fetal over or and ask questions or make comments in real time. under-size or prematurity) is the • Also available via app for iOS and Android. main cause of neonatal calf mortality, either directly or indirectly via decreased vigor. Research has shown that nutrient restriction during mid-gestation has • Webinar may be cancelled on a given week due to a lack of registered the greatest influence on calf viparticipants. ability by adversely affecting the • Pre-registration is required. ability of the newborn to adapt • Contact Melissa Atchison at (204) 264-0294 or email: rapidly to life “on the outside”. verifiedbeefmanitoba@gmail.com for details. The ability to thermoregulate, stand, nurse and ingest sufficient How to register for webinars or LIVE workshop colostrum in the first hours of life is required. Whereas protein • To sign up to attend a webinar or the LIVE workshop, please contact Melissa restriction in early pregnancy Atchison at (204) 264-0294 or email verifiedbeefmanitoba@gmail.com. can stimulate nursing behaviour, • Alternate times and days can be arranged based on producer demand. restriction in later pregnancy often results in calf weakness and

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poor colostrum quality and quantity especially in the face of warmer ambient temperatures (late May/June calving). However, the ultimate impact on calf survival appears to be influenced by a combination of factors. The same nutrition can have different effects depending on the herd genetics, the ambient temperature, the timing of the nutritional changes and the sex of the calf. Fetal growth retardation is more pronounced if maternal undernutrition occurs in late pregnancy when the fetal growth rate is highest. Cows grazed on poor quality pasture and with limited feed resources that resulted in weight loss during pregnancy produced offspring that grew more slowly before weaning and in the feedlot, irregardless of whether or not the sires had genetics for high yield or high marbling. Placental insufficiency can result from several environmental challenges, including heat, nutrient restriction and illness. This causes changes in the development of muscle, pancreas, liver and fat tissue and is evidenced in studies of people born during WW2 and during various famines. Similar to low birthweight children, low birthweight animals demonstrate accelerated catch-up growth (as in the feedlot) that is driven by increased fat deposition rather than muscle growth. This leads to a smaller carcass yield, smaller high-value cuts and increased fat thickness but decreased marbling. In summary, cow herd nutrition has long-term consequences for later calf growth and feedlot performance. Severe feed restriction during pregnancy reduces fetal growth capacity with smaller-for-age animals that take longer to reach market weights but has little effect on feedlot efficiency or carcass and meat quality. Specific nutritional interventions, particularly during later pregnancy, may limit these adverse outcomes. During drought years, it is critical that spring calving herds receive top quality feed post weaning to avoid poor performance of the next year’s calf crop. Similarly, during years with an abundance of feed supplies, testing and adjusting rations for optimal protein and energy levels will ensure quality genetics and performance of subsequent generations.

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September 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Forage insurance changes on the way following review BY ANGELA LOVELL The Manitoba government recently released a report on its review of forage insurance programs offered through the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC). The review was initiated to get a better understanding of the purchasing decisions of Manitoba producers in terms of the forage insurance products available to them. “Producers across the provinces have often raised concerns about some of the gaps and challenges with the current offerings, so it is good that the provincial government and MASC went through this process to try and determine what some of those challenges are, and are taking steps to try and improve the programs and make them more workable for producers,” says Carson Callum, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) General Manager. Input sought from all industry sectors The review was conducted using a number of different methods, including the online EngageMB portal, focus groups, and interviews with producers, MASC insurance agents, agricultural specialists, industry associations, financial advisors, as well as other insurance providers. In announcing the review findings, Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen said, “Regardless of the type of crop, producers are faced with tough decisions on what products make the most sense to help manage risk. It is important to get feedback so that we have a clear picture of what products they need to support their success in the agricultural industry. We’re pleased with the input we received from the many invested stakeholders and look forward to making improvements to the program where possible.” More than 1,200 producers currently have forage insurance through MASC, insuring in excess of 272,000 acres. This represents about 18 per cent of the more than 1.5 million eligible acres of for-

age in Manitoba. Factors affecting participation identified The review discovered a number of factors that affect producers’ decisions to purchase or not purchase forage insurance, and it seems that many lack confidence that the current program will cover their forage risk. Some of that perception could be a lack of understanding of the program. But producers also have concerns about the way in which yield is calculated under the program, coverage that doesn’t reflect the high cost of purchasing replacement feed in years when claims are triggered, and the administrative burden that the program places on producers. “I think administrative burden is a growing issue for all farmers, but beef producers in particular,” says Tyler Fulton, MBP Vice-President. “We need to be cutting, raking and baling, but are also expected to record and submit records, meet deadlines and be audited, and all of these things are adding to our already long list of things to do. Anything they can do to make it easier to meet the administrative requirements is money well spent.” Concerns with yield coverage A number of concerns emerged with regard to yield coverage. Producers felt that yield coverage offered to new insureds and producers that change their forage field (due to age or mix of forage) is not aligned with a producer’s expected yield until a producer builds up individual records over time, which can take up to seven years. In the meantime, they have coverage based on an area average yield, which can penalize producers with aboveaverage forage production until they can get to fully individualized coverage. Producers also felt that coverage is too sensitive to disaster years, resulting in coverage below expected yields following disaster years, and too low for meaningful protection. “It can take seven or eight years to have an average on your own farm, and until then [if you have a claim, coverage] will be based on averages

for your general area, and I feel that’s a deterrent because there are so many variables that make it difficult to use area averages. We can have a wide spread on what crops are yielding in a small area,” says MBP President Dianne Riding. More and more producers are also looking at alternative forages other than the traditional alfalfa, such as silage corn and polycrops, and Riding is hopeful that changes to the program will recognize that. “If the changes are made, it will help our beef producers, especially those that are trying to get the basis for coverage on their own farm, because we hear from producers doing silage corn that they are not happy with the coverage, if they have a claim, when it’s based on area averages,” she says. “For producers going to other forage mixes, we hope to get adequate coverage for those crops too.” The review suggests that MASC explore an index-based insurance approach, which is being used in other countries and Canadian provinces, that relies on weather or satellite-based technology to measure factors correlated to actual production instead of having to gather on-farm, physical production information. While the review introduced this concept to producers, they were interested in its potential for Manitoba. “We have the technology, we need to start using it to help give a more accurate picture of what the area averages really are,” says Riding. MASC hopes to implement changes for next insurance year Several key recommendations were made as a result of the review, and MASC says it will take immediate action to try and implement some of the changes for the next insurance year. This includes exploring new ways to assign coverages to new insureds, determining if the effect that disaster years have on future coverage can be minimized, establishing insured values that better reflect the price of hay in claim years, and identifying areas where the ad-

ministrative burden can be minimized. Communications is another area that needs work, as it emerged through the review process that some of the lack of uptake in forage insurance is due to producers’ lack of understanding or misconceptions of the program. There was broad consensus that there is poor understanding of the programs by producers, associations and financial advisors, the report says, adding that an underlying reason is the many options available and the complexity in the programs. The report urges MASC to work more closely with industry to inform producers and increase awareness of its forage insurance programs. No one-size-fits-all solution Coming up with a

forage insurance program that fits all types of producers isn’t easy, says Art Jonasson, Reeve of the Rural Municipality of West Interlake, who ranches on the east side of Lake Manitoba, and who gave input into the review. He feels it’s likely the reason that the review’s estimates for increases in expected participation, if recommended changes to the program are made, remain conservative, at around 30 to 40 per cent of insurable tame hay acres. “It seems like they have set a low bar for uptake, but I think that recognizes that there is such a wide variety of conditions on each producer’s farm, and a variety of risk,” says Jonasson. “Young producers starting out have the most risk, so hopefully the program can be a tool

that is going to work for them to help them offset some of their risk.” The report concludes that if producers had complete confidence that their insurance program covered their forage risk, they would invest more in their forages and hold onto or expand their herds. “Producers need to know that the programs they are enrolling in are going to cover the losses they incur, and if there is improvement in the delivery of these programs to ensure they make sense for producers and are easy to use, there could be an uptick in enrolment,” says Callum. The Forage Insurance program is part of AgriInsurance, a joint program of the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

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CATTLE COUNTRY September 2020

StockTalk Q&A Feature

brought to you by Manitoba Agriculture Resource Development, Livestock Extension Branch

effect on the level of root reserves, provided that plants have become dormant. Livestock Specialist, Manitoba Agriculture Another major considand Resource Development eration that affects alfalfa’s tim.clarke@gov.mb.ca winter survivability is the temperature of the crown. The crown is the part of the plant from which all stems Q: My alfalfa fields are getting poorer originate. If, during the winter, the crown and I want to assure that my yield will not is exposed to -12 to -15° C or colder for 24 to 36 hours, its chance of winterkill is indrop in 2021. What do I need to do? Answer: Proper fertility and fall cut- creased substantially. Snow cover insulates ting management are the largest factors that the crown and reduces the chance of winter promote long-term productivity of alfalfa. injury. For stands cut in the post-frost peFall harvest management of alfalfa can riod, leaving strips of uncut alfalfa to catch affect winter survival of alfalfa stands. Har- snow and insulate crowns from cold winter vesting alfalfa between August 15 and the temperatures can improve winter survival. first killing frost results in depletion of root Leaving a small strip of standing alfalfa evreserves and increases the chance of winter ery 24 to 30 feet will usually allow enough snow to accumulate and insulate the crop injury. After alfalfa is cut, root reserves are from cold winter temperatures. Variety and type of alfalfa also affect used to initiate re-growth. This draws down carbohydrate reserves in the roots. It results winter survivability of alfalfa. With tap in the root reserves being at their lowest rooted varieties the crown is generally 1.27 when plants reach 15 to 20 centimetres (six centimetres (½ inch) above ground/soil to eight inches) tall. If killing frost occurs at level, so it can be more readily exposed to the 15 to 20-centimetre height, replenish- cold winter air temperatures. The crowns ment of root reserves is curtailed and win- of creeping rooted varieties are at ground level, so they are generally more winter ter injury can be expected. The map below illustrates when we hardy. Other factors influencing the chance should avoid taking another cut of alfalfa, from the date listed, until the first killing of winter injury include phosphorus, potash and sulphur fertility, age of the stand, frost (usually -3° C for several hours). Sometimes, there is an opportunity to fall dormancy rating of the variety, and take a second or third cut after killing frost soil moisture levels. Where soils test lower has occurred in late September or early Oc- than 120 ppm in potassium, alfalfa winter tober. There is little growth after a killing survival will improve if potash fertilizer is frost and removal of forage will have little added.

TIM CLARKE

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The August/September period is a good time to consider starting to renovate those old, low productivity, winterkilled hay fields. Taking out old hayfields, STARTING with a non-selective herbicide (such as glyphosate) application, is the preferred method, since it leaves the root channels of the killed alfalfa and grass plants more intact for water movement in subsequent seasons. It also leaves the soil less exposed to wind and water erosion, and the soil temperatures remain cooler to promote the

persistence of beneficial organisms in the soil. When sod and vegetation decompose, they absorb nitrogen and later release nutrients once fully decomposed. Also, the soil pH drops around the decomposing sods. This makes it difficult to re-establish alfalfa for a while. For these reasons, I recommend starting the renovation process the prior fall. We want to hear from you For the next issue of Cattle Country, a Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development forage or livestock specialist will answer a selected question. Send your questions to Tim.Clarke@gov.mb.ca The StockTalk Q&A Feature for Cattle Country is brought to you by Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development. We encourage you to email your questions to our department’s forage and livestock team, who have a combined 200 years of agronomy experience. We are here to help make your cattle operation successful. Contact us today.

Feeding your Cattle As haying season is winding down, thoughts about whether we have enough feed for the winter start to increase in importance. Fall and early winter are good times to plan, by taking bale counts, cattle counts, culling the open females, and shipping enough animals to match feed inventory with livestock numbers. Also, talking to farming neighbours about whether they might have straw or corn stover to bale up before the combines roll, is a good idea. Remember that although spreading the straw or stover behind the combine MAY seem like that product is being discarded or wasted, it is not. Grain producers are quite aware of the value of adding plant material back to the soil. Returning organic materials back to soils helps to increase fertility and water holding capacity, while reducing leaching, runoff, salinization and soil erosion. A ton (2,000 lbs.) of wheat straw contains about 11 lbs. of nitrogen, three lbs. of phosphorus and 20 lbs. of potassium. The fertilizer cost of these nutrients works out to be about $15 per ton. A 1,200 lb. bale of wheat straw contains about $9 worth of nutrients. Keep this in mind when asking to pur-

chase your neighbours straw or stover in the windrow. Straw, stover and/or native hay can be supplemented with alternative feeds, such as distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGs), or off-quality grains or screenings to balance the ration when hay supplies are tight. Securing supply and prices of these products sooner, rather than later, can reduce financial stress and enhance animal performance during our long, cold winters. Your Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Livestock Specialists are available to help you sort through your different nutrition and financial options. They are: • Kathleen Walsh at Swan River, Kathleen.Walsh@gov.mb.ca, 204-2811960 • Elizabeth Nernberg at Roblin, Elizabeth.Nernberg@gov.mb.ca, 204247-0087 • Pamela Iwanchysko at Dauphin, Pamela.Iwanchysko@gov.mb.ca, 204648-3965 • Shawn Cabak at Portage La Prairie, Shawn.Cabak@gov.mb.ca, 204-2393353 • Tim Clarke at Gladstone, Tim. Clarke@gov.mb.ca, 204-768-0534

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September 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Market volatility expected to continue for the fall RICK WRIGHT The Bottom Line As this edition goes to print a large portion of the yearlings in Western Canada will have been priced for delivery. Prices appear to be 8 to 10 cents per pound lower than last fall. Producers are starting to look towards the fall calf run with some apprehension. This has certainly been the summer of discontent in the cattle industry. COVID-19 caused disruptions in the meat processing industry, creating a backlog of both beef and pork on both sides of the border. Exports have dropped off due to unstable economies around the world. Cattle feeders in western Canada have been suffering losses of $200 to $400 per head on fed cattle. Industry experts reported that there was a 130,000 head surplus of fed cattle in the pipeline; this made cattle feeders very nervous and created volatility in the cattle prices. Packers have ramped up weekly harvesting numbers and carcass weights in Canada are very close to last year’s weights. Canadian packers are booking cattle two to four weeks out, with market-ready cattle moving in more timely deliveries than expected. This has created pen space in the west for backgrounded cattle and yearlings off the grass. A few positive things have changed over the summer months that have altered the price prediction formulas for the fall calf run. In Manitoba, we have a calf market that is heavily influenced by eastern demand. At times, Manitoba has the highest calf market in western Canada when the Ontario and Quebec cattle feeders are active on the market. Two major factors determine their interest. First is availability and the cost of backgrounding calves in Manitoba. At this time, both of these fundamentals look positive. The number of backgrounding pens in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan has not changed significantly from last year. Harvest looks like it will be early, allowing the backgrounding lots to get their silage up, and if the

weather stays dry the pens will be in good shape to receive cattle. This would be a sharp contrast from last fall’s late harvest and wet weather. Early indications are that feed costs to background and finish cattle should be cheaper this year. Corn crops in the USA are expected to yield higher than last year with cash corn predicted at under $3.00 USD per bushel. China has kept the Canadian barley market stronger than expected, but the strong Canadian dollar will allow feeders to import corn at a competitive price. The second factor is the availability of local feeder cattle and lighter weight yearlings from the west. The east would prefer to buy weaned calves and yearlings due to health issues with freshly weaned calves. When we get into October, most of the yearlings are gone and some of the eastern feedlots will purchase calves, which puts more competition into the Manitoba calf market. In Alberta, the larger feedlots prefer yearlings over calves and normally have a good supply of local calves in late October thru December. Pen space is always a concern, and this year will no different. Many feedlots have put current inventory on lighter rations to try to avoid the predicted glut of fed cattle on the market. This means some pens will be slower to open up this fall. In Alberta, there have been reports that the fed cattle backlog could be cleaned up by the end of October. This optimistic approach is supported by smaller than predicted feeder cattle placements put on feed in March through May. During that time there was a total of 107,000 head fewer cattle - an average 23% - put on feed in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Nearly 43% fewer heifers were put in feedlots, which could indicate that there will be a lot more bred stock available this fall. This would help offset the 100,000 extra cattle that were reported inventory in the first quarter. Exports of

feeder cattle to the USA are still running 50% behind last year. Imports of feeder cattle are up an additional 15% at just under 85,000. These figures still add up to lots of cattle on feed in Canada. To hope that the backlog of market ready cattle to by cleaned up by October is highly optimistic. It currently looks like it could be considerably cheaper to feed cattle in the USA this year. Whether it is American feedlots buying or Canadian investors feeding cattle in the USA, there should be more interest from the south on Manitoba feeder cattle this fall. One piece of good news for cow calf operators is that there are predictions that the Canadian cowherd has been decreasing and inventory could be between 100,000 and 125,000 fewer calves on the ground by this fall. In a supply and demand driven market, fewer calves on offer is positive for the calf seller in the fall. With extra feed available this year, some producers may decide to retain ownership of their calves until next spring, which could also lighten the volume of calves on offer this fall. The only cattle showing a profit right now are the yearlings off the grass and those returns did not match the pre-COVID

projections. Cattle feeders are talking about strict buying discipline for this fall. However when the time comes, I predict that the urge to own some inventory will outweigh the discipline discussed during the summer. Will the calf prices be as good as last year? That would be a gift under the current volatility in the market. It looks like the calf market will be better than first predicted but may struggle to meet last fall’s prices.

The biggest fear is still the threat of a major second wave of COVID-19 and another disruption in the processing sector. Consumers are already starting to shy away from food service vendors, going back to take-out or home-prepared meals. Large supplies are keeping the boxed beef prices under pressure. As optimistic as we would like to be, we have to remember that the pork industry is in even bigger trouble on both sides of the border, with

lower prices and unpredictable demand. Cheap pork keeps the price of beef from reaching its potential. This fall is going to be a challenge for everyone in the industry. Market prices will vary from day to day and location to location. The best advice I can give is keep an open line of communication with your marketing representatives and do your due diligence on market demand. Stay safe my friends, Rick

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10 CATTLE COUNTRY September 2020

Hands-on learning connecting beef cattle with habitat conservation BY: DR. MARY-JANE ORR

MBFI General Manager

With less than 2% of our population directly connected to agriculture the need in urban and rural communities to connect to nature and understand agriculture is greater than ever. The Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives (MBFI) Learning Centre (LC) grounds development project “Connecting Prairie Pothole Habitat Conservation with Beef Cattle Production” is underway in establishing a number of new features at the Brookdale Farm. The developing LC interpretive program and site improvements will uniquely connect visitors to natural areas with hands-on learning link-

ing the role of beef cattle production in conserving wildlife habitat in the Prairie Pothole region. Building on the public engagement made possible through the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, MBFI aims to provide first-hand experiences to support Manitoba beef producers. The outdoor learning component complements a modern meeting centre located in Western Manitoba. The LC is situated on 640 acres encompassing wetlands, wood bluffs, pasture, hayfields, and annually cropped fields to produce forage for beef cattle. The LC facility, opened in 2018, has been widely used to

facilitate meetings and outreach with producers, students, industry, and the public. Establishment of new interactive features in 2020 creates opportunities to broadly engage with schools and the public for outdoor learning on a working beef farm. MBFI in collaboration with DUC will also have targeted student-to-student mentorship in wetland conservation through the Wetland Centres of Excellence program. Improved ecological goods and services of increased biodiversity, increased public access to nature, and interpretive program delivered in natural areas is underway

through three enhancement areas. MBFI will showcase the biodiversity of plant species present in native and tame grasslands in raised garden beds with 32 native grasses and forbs in comparison to 32 tame perennial grasses, legumes, cereal forages, and cover crop plants. Representative plants in a garden setting will facilitate understanding, identification and open discussion around niche roles different species have in grassland ecosystems. Comparison to tame forage species will also be valuable in understanding differences and shared environmental benefits of native grasslands and established grasslands for forage and grazing production.

Approximately a half acre of the LC front lawn is being transitioned to a native riparian meadow with representative plants from the raised garden also established into the meadow. Pathways through the riparian meadow will lead into an interpretive trail through bordering wooded area, shelter belt establishment demonstration, and adjacent wetlands with floating dock access. The trail will highlight feature areas to provide a framework to experience natural transition zones present in a working beef cattle operation. Educational programing through guided tours will increase awareness of beef cattle production practices and how livestock share the

landscape to create habitat for increased biodiversity of birds, pollinators, wildlife, and plants. Support for this project has been provided by the Conservation Trust, a Manitoba Climate and Green Plan Initiative delivered by the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation. This project was made possible through collaboration with Ducks Unlimited Canada education team; Mae Elsinger, Rangeland Management Specialist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; and Arbour Barbers, certified arborist. MBFI is looking forward to growing additional collaboration around the development as it takes root and establishes a unique hands-on learning space.

Minestrone soup - with a twist - sure to please BY ELISABETH HARMS Fall is approaching so quickly! And, with it perhaps a bit of a return to some sort of routine. While we are still unsure about what these fall routines will look like this year, chances are we will still need some quick and easy weeknight meal ideas to help us get through. This recipe for minestrone should be considered a regular in your meal rotation as it packs some great nutrition into a very hearty soup.

CAN

CELL

The soup starts with ground beef, browned with garlic and onion. After browning the ground beef, add the frozen veggies and some seasoning. You’ll want to sauté the veggies with ground beef a little bit to thaw them out and to begin their cooking process. After the veggies have mostly thawed, add some broth, canned tomatoes, and tomato sauce. After you stir everything together, bring to a boil and cook for about 15 minutes. Then, you’ll add your noodles and some canned white kidney beans to the soup and cook for an-

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other 10 minutes. This soup is ready to eat in under an hour and uses a variety of pantry staple ingredients — each lending a different quality to the soup. Frozen veggies and canned tomatoes give the soup some freshness. Canned white kidney beans provide the soup with some extra protein and fibre. They also give the soup extra nutritional value and help make the soup feel more like a full meal. This version of minestrone uses one other rather unique ingredient — a parmesan cheese rind. Adding the parmesan rind to the soup adds extra flavour and creaminess to the soup. You want to add the rind when you add the broth and tomatoes to the soup. The rind won’t fully melt into the soup, but it will soften considerably during the cooking process. You can remove it before serving. If you don’t have a leftover parmesan rind in your fridge, you can puree half a cup of white kidney beans instead and stir that to the soup before serving. This will also give the soup some creaminess and body. To save even more time for future meals, you can buy ground beef in a club pack and brown it and freeze it in one-pound batches. This will make it easy for you to pull a weeknight meal together if you find yourself short on time. This is just one idea for your big batch of ground beef, but keep in mind once it’s browned, you can make everything from nachos to spaghetti sauce or lasagna. Let yourself be more creative and visit www.canadabeef. ca for more ideas. This recipe, along with many other great meal ideas, will be available on www.greattastes.mb.ca very soon.

September 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY 11

TESA Applications A peek into GTOM Due to MBP by Dec 4

Manitoba Beef Producers is accepting applications for Manitoba’s Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) until Friday, December 4, 2020. Since 1996, the Canadian Cattlemen Association’s (CCA) TESA has recognized producers who go above and beyond standard industry conservation practices, setting positive examples for other cattle producers and the general public. At the provincial level, the winning operation receives recognition for its outstanding contributions, which in MBP’s case occurs in conjunction with its annual general meeting in February. All provincial award recipients then move forward to compete at the national level.

The national TESA recipient is announced in conjunction with the Canadian Beef Industry Conference and CCA Semi-Annual Meeting in August. Each TESA nominee exemplifies significant innovation and attention to a wide range of environmental stewardship aspects of their farm operation. Such innovations extend beneficially to areas far beyond their land, including water, wildlife and air. All beef cattle operations in Canada may apply. Producers can either be nominated by an individual or organization, or apply themselves. Nominees and applicants compete for one of the provincial awards based on their province of residence. For more information and to access the application go to http://www.cattle. ca/sustainability/the-environmentalstewardship-award/, or contact MBP for a copy. The form, along with all supporting documentation (such as letters of support, photos and/or videos), is to be submitted to Manitoba Beef Producers c/o 220-530 Century Street, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0Y4 by December 4, 2020. The application is to be emailed to info@mbbeef.ca . If you have questions, please contact the MBP office at 1-800-772-0458.

 Page 5 It’s a big commitment of time on their part, but all of these families have been so welcoming and invited us into their homes, toured us around their farms - often during their busiest season. They’ve fed us and put up with all our requests. They’ve been so open and honest in their interviews. It really is an honour to be able to share their stories. Where do all the leftovers go? Donalee: What leftovers? We really do try our best to avoid wasting any food. This year because of health and safety restrictions we had to get a bit more creative because the crew weren’t able to eat everything. Our food experts often take the leftovers home to feed their families, or their co-workers. Some cooking shows use food-styling hacks to make dishes look even tastier – what does GTOM do? Donalee: We are actually really proud of

the fact that we don’t use any of those food-styling hacks (or at least not the ones you might consider hacks, where they incorporate a whole bunch of inedible elements into a dish to try and make it look more edible). What you see on the plate at the end of a segment generally contains nothing but the recipe itself. Of course, we have a very talented food stylist who gets the placement of ingredients just right and knows how to garnish and plate things up so they look delicious, but there’s no hack involved, just a lot of planning and careful consideration. Good lighting never hurts either! What’s harder: filming or editing each segment? Donalee: That’s a tough question! If you were asking my editor, Lawrence Garry, he’d probably say editing but since you’re not asking him, I’m going to say filming. There is a lot of planning that goes into making sure

we have exactly what we need to pull off a successful production day. Scheduling (down to the minute), budgeting, finding the right crew, lists of ingredients and cookware that need to be available on set for each cooking segment, rehearsing the content and making sure we can demonstrate a recipe in five minutes or less, designing and lighting the set, creating a television studio in a space that was not designed to be a television studio, hair, make-up and wardrobe, making sure Dez Daniels (GTOM host) is prepared with all the right talking points, there are just so many things to consider. Lucky for me we have a great team, many of whom have been with the show for 20+ years and so they make my job pretty easy. Make sure to watch CTV Winnipeg at 6:30pm on September 12 and October 31 to see what Elisabeth has cooking! You can also catch the episodes on http://greattastesmb.ca/

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12 CATTLE COUNTRY September 2020

Photo courtesy of Staden Farms

Photo courtesy of Canadian Sheep Federation

GET TO KNOW US BETTER Photo courtesy of Connie Seutter

CCIA is the responsible administrator for cattle, bison, sheep and pending regulation, cervids and goats in Canada (with some exceptions in Quebec).

canadaid.ca

CCIA

CANADIAN CATTLE IDENTIFICATION AGENCY

KNOW | CLTS DATABASE clts.canadaid.ca Login to your CLTS account via your home computer or MOBO app; input your premises ID number and update your account information.

Prepare for proposed regulatory amendments now, to save time later. Get to know the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS), learn how by using the CLTS Resource Centre. Take a look at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s TRACE newsletters for information on the proposed amendments at https://www.canadaid.ca/traceability/newsletters/

LEARN | CLTS RESOURCE CENTRE support.canadaid.ca An online information and learning source on how to use the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS).

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PUBLISHED BY MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS

JULY 2020

At a farm near Deerwood, MB. the barley crop has poked through and the cows/calves have come to check out the sights. Producers around Manitoba are watching with interest what the next few months will bring as they remain hopeful for crops to grow and be harvested as well as a strong market for the calves. Photo credit: Jeannette Greaves

COVID-19 upends cattle industry Manitoba cattle producers are bracing for a possible second wave of COVID-19 later this year after an initial wave this spring disrupted cattle sales and slaughter. The pandemic swept through much of Canada’s beef packing industry in April and May, shutting down Cargill, the country’s largest slaughter plant in High River, Alberta, and slowing work at several others. The concern now is whether the virus will return with a vengeance and upset the beef industry again, said Dennis Laycraft, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association executive vice president. “With this unease looking forward, we’re wondering what we’re going to be dealing with this fall. Are we going to see a second wave of COVID-19?” Laycraft said. The Cargill plant was idle for 14 days, including 10 actual kill days, after workers tested positive for the COVID virus and several died. The disease also reduced operations at JBS Canada in Brooks, Alberta and Harmony Beef north of Calgary. Plants were back operating at near capacity by early June as pandemic restrictions eased and slaughter volumes rebounded. But the slowdown left a backlog of 130,000 fed cattle in Western Canadian feedlots that would normally have been processed. Plants will still be working through the summer to clear the backlog, said Laycraft. In the meantime, cash prices have recovered somewhat after collapsing during the early stages of the pandemic, according to Canfax Research Services. “With stronger cash prices, increased slaughter and larger fed cattle/cow exports, this week’s market

tone was slightly bullish,” Canfax said in a June 5 weekly market report. Canada’s beef exports are also strong, especially to Japan, Laycraft added. Year-to-date exports were up eight per cent as of late May. Still, the pandemic has had a major financial impact on cattle producers, said Carson Callum, Manitoba Beef Producers' general manager. “There definitely were producers in the province who took a financial hit. There’s also producers having to hold on to their animals longer because of the backlog that was part of those plant closures,” Callum said. “Here in the province we could be feeling the impact for the next number of months or longer, based on the challenges with processing capacity.” A federal government announcement made May 5 seeks to lessen the financial burden on producers forced to retain animals on farms because of the plant slowdowns. Ottawa is pledging up to $125 million for livestock producers toward a set-aside initiative to help offset extra feeding costs for livestock backed up on farms. The cattle and hog sectors will each get $50 million while the remaining $25 million is still undefined. Funding will flow through the federal-provincial Agri-Recovery program. The program is cost-shared 60-40 between Ottawa and the provinces. Ottawa says its share will be paid whether or not provinces participate with their share. As of June 22, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario had agreed to do so. In a June 9 interview with Cattle Country, Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen said the province expects to receive $8.5 million of the $50 million share for cattle produc-

ers. He said Manitoba was negotiating with Ottawa on how to contribute its 40 per cent share. If Manitoba decided to do so, it would add another $2.5 million to $3 million. “It never is enough. It never covers everything. But it’ll at least help producers keep operating,” Pedersen said. Meanwhile, cattle producers are lobbying federal and provincial governments to improve business risk management (BRM) programs because of COVID-19 fallout. Laycraft said an industry review of AgriStability is underway. It’s expected one of the recommended changes will be to remove the program’s reference margin limit, which limits payouts to farmers. Producers often say the program does not work for them. As a result, only about a third of all farmers are currently enrolled in AgriStability. The figure is even lower for cattle producers. Another concern is the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program, which saw premiums for forward price coverage skyrocket when COVID broke out. Many producers feel premiums are often too high and coverage too low for the program to be worthwhile. MBP had asked the federal and provincial governments to this year cost share the price insurance premiums with producers, similar to what is done with crop insurance, but governments did not act on this request. Pedersen said his province is trying to improve some of its own programs to benefit producers. A report on ways to improve crop insurance coverage for forages is expected soon. The province is also considering changes to hunting regulations for bears and wolves.

President's Column

Young beef producers and COVID-19

Market Report

Page 3

Page 5

Page 7

POSTMASTER: PLEASE RETURN UNDELIVERABLE COPIES TO: MBP, UNIT 220, 530 CENTURY STREET, WINNIPEG, MB R3H 0Y4 CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL PRODUCT SALES AGREEMENT NUMBER 40005187 POSTAGE PAID IN WINNIPEG.

BY RON FRIESEN

CATTLE COUNTRY July 2020

MBP busy on COVID file and more CARSON CALLUM

General Manager’s Column By the time you will be reading this, I will have celebrated my one year anniversary with MBP. And what a year it has been. I have greatly enjoyed getting to know the staff, the board, and many members in this great Manitoba industry. I have also enjoyed connecting with likeminded individuals on a national level, to have important discussions of how to drive this industry in the best direction. I am motivated by all the positive collaborations I have seen over the past year in the industry, and know this will be very important in the agriculture sector moving forward. There have been many positive things to look back on this year for me, both in my personal and professional life. However, it has also had its challenges, whether it is a drought or snowstorm leading to a major feed shortage or other production challenges. Regulatory changes, such as those to the Agricultural Crown Land Leasing Program have caused concerns for lease holders. Public trust is always an important area to work on in the industry as well. There is

always a lot of work to be done by the board and staff at MBP, and we continue to work hard on our members’ behalf in these challenging areas. On top of these challenges, you throw on a global pandemic, and it really shows you what you are made of. I spoke of resilience in my first article last year. Well, these last few months have definitely been a time for our industry to have that attribute. Over the past few months, the beef industry, as well as many other sectors have been hit hard by COVID-19. Initially the main concern in our sector was the decrease in processing capacity due to major plant closures, both in Canada and the United States. An industry priority was to get these back up and running as quickly as possible, but ensuring the health and safety of the workers at the plants was the most important part. These facilities have been working tirelessly to ensure work can be conducted safely under current health guidelines, but also working to keep the value chain moving. I greatly thank everyone involved

in providing these essential services. Major plants in North America are getting up to capacity, and working through the backlog of animals waiting to move through the line. Though we have seen some positive movements on the processing side of things, we need to stay vigilant to ensure there isn’t another outbreak of COVID-19 that could cause supply chain disruptions again, including compounding a backlog of cattle awaiting processing. MBP continues to advocate for the Manitoba government to take part in the set-aside program, which the federal government announced funding towards on May 5 under the AgriRecovery framework. Also, we are advocating for the province to be open to further discussions on potential support needed this fall if there are further supply chain disruptions. Market volatility has been another major impact on the beef sector, particularly here in Manitoba. The prices at which producers had to sell early in the pandemic led to losses estimated at greater than $300/ head. MBP, other provincial cattle groups, and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association are looking at what can be done for these impacted producers, and also ensuring that current business risk management programs

CSA AGM & YCSA postponed Till Box 274, Austin, MB R0H 0C0 President: Tracy Wilcox 204-713-0029 Secretary: Laurelly Beswitherick 204-637-2046 b2@inetlink.ca

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(such as AgriStability) properly cover the losses incurred. The market volatility and uncertainty also greatly impacted the cost/ coverage levels of policies for the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP). MBP strongly advocated for governmental support to help offset these high premiums costs, and we are disappointed to see the provincial government does not plan to cost share these added costs. Although the premium cost and coverage levels improved in the last few weeks, there are still producers that it just didn’t pencil out for. Also, some producers that purchased at a high premium cost could have utilized a rebate, similar to the support provided by the Saskatchewan government. As we look forward, we will continue to advocate for tools and programs to help the industry get through this pandemic. With Manitoba going to in to Phase 3 of its reopening plan, more business openings are a good thing for the demand side of the equation for beef. The industry will just need to ensure the processing plants can work through the backlog so that

it doesn’t impact live prices this fall during the calf run. We will also continue to work on areas not related to COVID 19 such as agricultural Crown land changes and management of Wildlife Management Areas. Another area that we are very focused on is predation. Producers in the province have been trying to deal with predation challenges for many years. I am excited to get the livestock predation prevention pilot project fully underway, which MBP received provincial government funding towards. We are currently in the hiring process for the part time lead for the project. The project’s key activities will include conducting on-farm predation risk assessments and planning in consultation with producers, testing on-farm predation mitigation practices, and sharing information with producers about management practices and research project results. This project is an important step to delivering knowledge to the industry on ways to decrease negative wildlife and livestock interactions and the adverse consequences associated with them. With COVID-19 clos-

TESA Applications due to MBP by December 4 Manitoba Beef Producers is accepting applications for Manitoba’s Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) until Friday, December 4, 2020. Since 1996, the Canadian Cattlemen Association’s (CCA) TESA has recognized producers who go above and beyond standard industry conservation practices, setting positive examples for other cattle producers and the general public. At the provincial level, the winning operation receives recognition for its outstanding contributions, which in MBP’s case occurs in conjunction with its annual general meeting in February. All provincial award recipients then move forward to compete at the national level. The national TESA recipient is announced in conjunction with the Canadian Beef Industry Conference and CCA SemiAnnual Meeting in August. Each TESA nominee exemplifies significant innovation and attention to a wide

range of environmental stewardship aspects of their farm operation. Such innovations extend beneficially to areas far beyond their land, including water, wildlife and air. All beef cattle operations in Canada may apply. Producers can either be nominated by an individual or organization, or apply themselves. Nominees and applicants compete for one of the provincial awards based on their province of residence. For more information and to access the application go to http://www.cattle.ca/sustainability/the-environmental-stewardshipaward/, or contact MBP for a copy. The form, along with all supporting documentation (such as letters of support, photos and/or videos), is to be submitted to Manitoba Beef Producers c/o 220-530 Century Street, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0Y4 by December 4, 2020. The application is to be emailed to info@mbbeef.ca . If you have questions, please contact the MBP office at 1-800-772-0458.

DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 5

DISTRICT 9

DISTRICT 13

R.M. of Albert, Cameron, Whitewater, Edward, Brenda, Winchester, Morton

R.M. of Elton, North Cypress, North Norfolk, Cornwallis, Oakland, South Cypress, Victoria, South Norfolk

R.M. of Woodlands, Rockwood, St. Andrews, Rosser, St. Francis Xavier, Springfield, Tache, Whitemouth, Lac du Bonnet, Brokenhead, St. Clements, LGD of Alexander, Pinawa

R.M. of Shell River, Shellmouth,Hillsburg, Boulton, Grandview, Gilbert Plains, Ethelbert, Mossey River, Dauphin, LGD Park

GORD ADAMS

DISTRICT 2

NANCY HOWATT - SECRETARY

R.M. of Riverside, Strathcona, Argyle, Lorne, Turtle Mountain, Roblin, Louise, Pembina

STEVEN MANNS

DISTRICT 6

MELISSA ATCHINSON

R.M. of Wallace, Woodworth, Daly, Pipestone, Sifton, Whitehead, Glenwood

DIANNE RIDING - PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 10

MIKE DUGUID - 2ND VICE-PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 7

R.M. of Bifrost, Gimli, Fisher, Armstrong

R.M. of Portage la Prairie, Cartier, Grey, MacDonald, Dufferin, Thompson, Roland, Morris, Stanley, Rhineland, Montcalm

R.M. of Russell, Silver Creek, Rossburn, Ellice, Birtle, Shoal Lake, Strathclair, Archie, Miniota, Hamiota, Blanshard

DISTRICT 11

DISTRICT 4

MATTHEW ATKINSON

PETER PENNER - TREASURER

KEVIN DUDDRIDGE

R.M. of Richot, Ste. Anne, Hanover, De Salaberry, La Broquerie, Franklin, Stuartburn, Piney, LGD Reynolds

TYLER FULTON 1ST VICE-PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 8

R.M. of Harrison, Clanwilliam, Rosedale, Glenella, Saskatchewan, Odanah, Minto, Langford, Lansdowne, Westbourne, LGD Park

ing mostly every major gathering in the near future, it has changed the way we can advocate with the general public. One exciting communication we have done in the last few weeks was a MBP commercial airing during CTV Morning Live, which has a large urban audience. This commercial featured beef producer Andre Steppler and his family, touching on the important balance of cattle and the environment. This is a valuable message to deliver to consumers, especially with all the negativity related to beef and the environment pre-COVID. We look forward to new ways to deliver our great industry message to the public as we get in to the summer months. It’s hard to say what will happen this fall, as I don’t have that much needed crystal ball in front of me. However, we can hope that this summer here in Manitoba, there are better weather conditions for pasture/hay growth than the previous couple years. Also, that calf prices look good. Stay safe, and try to enjoy the nice summer we do have here in Manitoba. Carson

ROBERT METNER

R.M. of Siglunes, Grahamdale, Eriksdale, Coldwell, St. Laurent

DISTRICT 12

MARK GOOD

R.M. of Lawrence, Ochre River, Ste. Rose, McCreary, Alonsa

MARY PAZIUK

MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS Unit 220, 530 Century Street Winnipeg, MB R3H 0Y4

Ph: 1-800-772-0458 PH - (204) 772-4542 FX - (204) 774-3264 info@mbbeef.ca www.mbbeef.ca

GENERAL MANAGER Carson Callum

POLICY ANALYST Maureen Cousins

www.mbbeef.ca

DISTRICT 14 JIM BUCHANAN

R.M. of Minitonas, Swan River, Mountain, The Pas

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR David Hultin

FINANCE

Deb Walger

OFFICE ASSISTANT Tanya Michalsky

CATTLE COUNTRY EDITOR David Hultin

Trinda Jocelyn

July 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Advocacy related to COVID-19 continues Well, the Red River Ex may have been cancelled, but we continue to ride the COVID-19 pandemic rollercoaster, dealing with all the ups and downs that have gone with that. After a period of decline at the start of the pandemic, the markets appear to have stabilized at the time of writing in mid-June, although forecasting remains uncertain. There is a significant backlog of cattle awaiting processing after operations at plants (especially in western Canada) were slowed or temporarily curtailed due to the pandemic. On the positive side consumer interest in and demand for our product has remained strong and elements of the economy, such as restaurants, are starting to reopen. And our trading partners continue to accept Canadian beef. No one can say for sure what the future holds, but as an industry, we continue our advocacy efforts around short and longterm matters related to the pandemic. Since writing my last column in May, MBP’s directors and staff have been very busy driving home to governments the pandemic’s impact on our sector. MBP has had regular contact with the Hon. Blaine Pedersen, Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development and his staff as the situation evolves. There have been letters and calls to Members of the Legislative Assembly, Members of Parliament, government staff, municipal councils, and to others like the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce to identify initiatives we believe could help. Thanks to those of

you who completed the form letters targeted at elected officials that we had developed outlining the concerns. Some of the things we have been seeking include, but are not limited to: having the pandemic deemed a natural disaster under AgriRecovery to hep flow immediate aid to producers; getting changes to AgriStability to make it more responsive; and, making modifications to the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP) in light of the spike in premium costs that has affected affordability. So where are we at? On May 5 the federal government announced it is providing $50 million as part of an AgriRecovery initiative toward a set-aside program for the cattle industry to help manage livestock that have become backed up due to the disruptions at the processing plants. AgriRecovery initiatives are usually cost shared 60-40 between the federal and provincial governments. The federal government said it will provide its 60 per cent share regardless of whether individual provinces decide to make their 40 per cent contribution. MBP has asked the Manitoba government to provide 40 per cent, but we are still awaiting a decision as I write this. Alberta has moved on its set-aside program and other provinces are examining this as well. While the set-aside initiative is important, there are also concerns about the effects of the pandemic in the marketplace for cowcalf producers in the weeks and months ahead. MBP believes it is important that

DIANNE RIDING President's Column

government programs remain flexible and responsive to address emerging considerations. On the business risk management (BRM) program front, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, supported by the provincial associations, continues to seek changes to AgriStability as we know the program is not as responsive to the cattle industry’s needs as it could be. Our industry is seeking the removal of the reference margin limit, the elimination of the $3 million payment cap, raising the payment trigger to 85 per cent, and the swifter processing of interim claims. It has been announced that for the 2020 program year, the governments of Canada and Manitoba have agreed to increase the interim payment rate from 50 per cent to 75 per cent of estimated final benefits. For more details see https://www.agr.gc.ca/ eng/?id=1574359523000 Due to the steep spike in premiums for WLPIP, MBP lobbied the federal and provincial governments to cost share the price insurance premiums with producers, as well as to extend the enrolment deadline. Having affordable, bankable and respon-

sive BRM tools is critical to the success of cattle operations. While the deadline to enrol in the calf program was extended to June 18, there was no agreement to cost share the premiums. This was disappointing. MBP worked with Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation to host a webinar on WLPIP to help raise awareness of this important tool. The federal and provincial governments have rolled out programs to help individuals and businesses deal with the effects of the pandemic. While some of these are not as responsive as the agriculture sector needs, producer should look at them to see what may or may not work for your operation. For information about provincial programs go to https:// www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/ infomanitobans/index. html and for federal programs go to https://www. canada.ca/en/departmentf inance/e conomic-response-plan.html . While these programs generally focus on the economic challenges associated with the pandemic, it’s very important we also think about the mental health piece, be it our own, or that of a family member, friend or

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neighbor. These are stressful times. Although we are sometimes uncomfortable reaching out to ask for help ourselves, or to offer help to someone else, please consider doing it. In this edition of Cattle Country you’ll see a couple of articles on a study recently released by Farm Management Canada that looks at farming and mental health, especially when it comes to how we manage our operations. MBP was pleased to provide funding for this project as we know that stress can have a significant impact on producers and their families. The weather is once again not being our friend. In some areas insufficient moisture is leading to poor pasture conditions, limited forage growth and raising concerns about feed supply availability as we think about next fall and winter. Excess moisture in other areas is a challenge. MBP has already written to the provincial government asking that Wildlife Management Areas be opened for haying and grazing. MBP is still awaiting word as to when the provincial government will open up the public consultation on the first right of renewal on agricultural Crown land leases, as well as awaiting the release of the study that has been undertaken in recent months on Manitoba’s forage insurance offerings. Although there are no

fairs and festivals in which to participate this summer, MBP has still been undertaking various communications activities. This includes running advertisements on CTV Winnipeg promoting Manitoba’s beef industry. There will be a summer radio advertising campaign targeted at listeners in Winnipeg and area. And MBP produced a video for social media thanking those working on the front lines in the processing plants for their efforts in getting our product onto the plates of our consumers. MBP has also begun the process to refresh its website to make it more user friendly and inviting, both for producers and for the general public who stop by seeking recipes or to learn more about our industry. Looking ahead, MBP is looking at how to hold its fall district meetings as the requirements related to the pandemic on matters such as gathering sizes, social distancing and so on means that the traditional way of holding meetings is now under the microscope. We want to ensure that producers are informed of what’s going on, but we also need to do it safely. Stay tuned for more details in the weeks ahead. All the best with your summer activities and keep in touch as your feedback is so important in helping to inform our activities.

CATTLE COUNTRY July 2020

Healthy Minds, Healthy Farms BY ANGELA LOVELL A new report on farmers’ mental health says that 62 per cent of Canadian farmers experience mid-level stress and 14 per cent high stress levels. The goal of the Healthy Minds, Healthy Farms study, commissioned by Farm Management Canada (FMC), in association with a number of farm groups, including Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), was to improve understanding of the relationship between farm business management practices and farmers’ mental health. “Many Canadian farmers are already at a mid-stress score and some at a high stress and the unknowns due to COVID-19 have compounded the issue,” says MBP General Manager, Carson Callum. “The report shows how important it is to recognize that mental health has a tremendous impact on producers’ day-to-day activities on the farm, as well as on their family life, and emphasizes the need to develop strategies and tools for producers to help them deal with these challenges.” Beef producers feel additional stress from public scrutiny Researchers conducted an extensive literature review and surveyed over 1,700 farmers, held 14 inperson focus groups across Canada, and interviewed 72 farmers and others in the agricultural industry. Three out of four farmers rated market unpredictability, workload pressures and financial concerns as the top three stress factors. In addition to these, beef producers also see public trust as a major stressor, saying

they face public scrutiny and criticism from activist groups. Beef producers also cited climate and certification policies, which add costs to beef production and reduce the global competitiveness of Canadian beef as other stressors, as well as the potential for disease outbreaks like bovine tuberculosis. The report highlights four key recommendations for supporting farmer mental health and farm business management, the first being to continue to raise awareness of the importance of farmers’ mental health. The second recommendation is to improve mental health literacy for farmers and others who support them. “One of the things that came out of this process was the need to create that circle around a farmer so that they’re not making decisions alone,” says Denise Rollin, Project Manager with FMC. “Encouraging advisors and those who are in contact with farmers to take mental health literacy training is important, as is trying to create that circle with advisors, sales people, family, with people outside of farming that farmers can depend on whether it’s from a business or personal perspective.” Focusing on risk management and preparedness Delivering business management advice that focuses on risk management and preparedness as a means of facing uncertainty, is a recommendation that resonates loudly with Manitoba Beef Producers, says Callum. “It’s really important to communicate the connection between mental

health and farm business risk management (BRM), and how it can impact producers’ mental health,” he says. “With BRM programs the focus is often on the economics of trying to reduce risk, but its also about providing a sense of security that producers are doing something to reduce the potential risk for the farm and controlling some of that risk can help decrease some of that mental stress on them and their families.” Rollin says that highlighting the need for more business and risk management advice in the report helps FMC continue to improve on some of the programs it already offers in this area. As an example, FMC recently launched AgriShield, its Risk Assessment and Planning platform, which will hold workshops across Canada over the next three years. Farmer-specific supports needed The fourth recommendation recognizes the need for more farmer-specific mental health support services. “I do believe that we should be focusing more on mental health services specifically for producers,” says Dianne Riding, MBP President, who also believes it’s important for producers to look out for each other, especially in difficult times. “Sometimes we all need to reach out to each other and hopefully, our friends or family can help guide us to the next level,” she says. “Through COVID-19, I’m a livestock producer so the self-isolation was not that hard because we’re calving cows. The hard part was not being able to visit the neighbours for a cup of coffee, so the next best solution has been

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to pick up the phone and check on people and make sure they’re OK. Sometimes when you make that call, or you get that call, it happens to hit on a day when you really need it.” Young farmers (under age 40) also reported feeling high stress levels and were less effective at coping with it, and were also less likely to adopt business management practices than older farmers. The young farmers surveyed said they were also more likely to sleeping less, or to not attend social or family gatherings due to stress, which is concerning because these changes in behaviour may further impact their mental health and leave them ill-equipped to manage their farm. “Compared to those 60 and older, farmers under 40 indicate that they are less likely to adopt positive coping strategies when under a great deal of stress. This includes seeking information and making informed decisions in a timely manner. These results demonstrate that young farmers in particular may benefit from additional business support,” says the report. “This stood out for us because you would assume that young people can pick up things quickly, they are more used to technology and so on, but many young farmers are also transitioning to running the farm, and that’s often a stressful situation,” says Rollin. “I think it’s also a reflection that younger people may be more aware of their mental health state, they understand their feelings more and recognize when they are under stress.” Industry needs to work together The report emphasizes the importance of mental health services for farmers and provides a good basis for the industry to work together to address some of these challenges, says Callum. “It can help guide many BRM programs as we move forward as we think about the human aspect of managing risk, not just the financial or economic component, and it demonstrates the importance of having many different players across the ag sector involved in these collaborative, open discussions, including government, industry associations like MBP, farm advisors, mental health profes-

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sionals and farmers.” “We feel the report is a good reflection of the industry as a whole and there is a great opportunity within here for lots

of different groups and people to find a recommendation that they feel like their organization can do better on and run with it,” says Rollin.

July 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

How is COVID-19 affecting our young beef producers? BY ANGELA LOVELL The current COVID-19 pandemic has created a lot of uncertainty for many businesses and individuals, and Manitoba’s beef producers are no exception. For young beef producers, especially, that uncertainty, along with some of the tangible effects of closed packing plants and unpredictable markets, is forcing them to make some tough decisions as they plan for summer and fall. Tyler Fulton, a young producer who operates a 600-head cow-calf and backgrounding operation south of Birtle, says there’s a lot of uncertainty over cash flow, market timing and prices, and he’s already had to make changes to his crop plan and lost some income on spring heifers he sold. “We still had about 300 yearling heifers that we needed to sell this spring, and we effectively got stuck with them as the virus developed when the buyer backed out because they didn’t have pen space for them,” says Fulton. “We did end up moving the animals, but they sold for about 20 per cent less than I had originally negotiated. We fed them all winter and added an extra 200 lbs on them and did it for nothing because we got paid the same price on a per calf basis as if we’d sold them last fall.” Fulton was also getting ready to convert about 200 acres to organic oat production, but because he ended up selling fewer spring heifers, and is hanging on to more cows he would normally cull because cull prices are lower, he has planted that 200 acres to feed to make sure he can feed a larger herd this winter. Kyle Campion operates Belle Creek Stock Farm near Pipestone with his parents and had just bought 60 more January-calving cows last fall to keep expanding his personal herd, and admits he’s now a bit concerned about what they will be worth this fall. Certainly, any future expansion plans for him personally or the farm are on hold for a while. The family have a 450-head cow/calf operation and also run an 800-head feedlot, and because they overwinter their calves, they had sold them this spring just before COVID-19 began impacting cattle prices. Campion says they are basically doing what they do every spring, seeding so they have feed for the winter and while hoping it’s going to be a year like any other, anticipating the adjustments they will have to make if it’s not. Their strategy has been to educate themselves and keep informed about what’s happening, reading up on developments from experts and scientists and listening to other producers and consumers. What are young producers most concerned about heading into fall? Looking ahead to this fall, the biggest concern for a lot of producers is what the market prices will be, and that’s influenced by a lot of things, not least of all processing capacity. As of mid-May there were an estimated 150,000 animals backlogged for slaughter with the temporary closure or slowdown of major packing plants in Alberta and eastern Canada, which is going to take time to work through, even if they get back to full capacity soon, and will have a knock-on effect for all beef producers. “Even if the packers go beyond their historical capacity, it’s not feasible for them to work through that backlog in this calendar year,” says Fulton. “If I’m a feedlot, and I’m still dealing this fall with animals that should have been marketed two or three months ago, the first action I’m going to take is not buy fall calves, and/or be very cautious about what price I’m paying for them.” Wilco Van Meijl had already sold most of the farm’s calves before COVID-19 hit the Canadian beef industry, so although they have clean pens at the moment, they are not oblivious to the effect that stalled or reduced processing capacity could have on their farm going forward. “With such a glut of animals to get through, that has ripple effects,” says Van Meijl, who operates a 450-head cow/calf operation with his wife, brother and sister-inlaw and his parents at Rapid City. “So, we have a lot of anxiety and apprehension about what things might look like for us from a pricing standpoint down the road.

Wilco Van Meijl had already sold most of the farm’s calves before COVID-19 hit the Canadian beef industry, so although they have clean pens at the moment, they are not oblivious to the effect that stalled or reduced processing capacity could have on their farm going forward. Photo credit: Van Meijl family

That’s been the major impact on our operation to this point.” There is also vast uncertainty about what future beef demand curves will look like, especially for high value cuts that traditionally went to the restaurant industry, which has been hard hit by the crisis. “What are consumer behaviours going to be? We were driving towards 50 per cent of meals being eaten in restaurants, so as restaurants have backed off, and there’s been a big shift to grocery, how will the industry deal with that when we get back to “normal”, and what does that look like from a demand standpoint,” says Van Meijl. “What’s that whole carcass value going to look like as we move through opening up of the economy?” As well, with every province, and the United States at different stages in relation to re-opening of their economies, that’s likely also going to have an impact on demand curves. “How does that all come down to the farm gate?” says Van Meijl. “I think everyone’s concerned about what does this mean to my bottom line. Just like a restaurant owner is saying, how does this effect my bottom line?” Are young producers using more risk management tools? For many beef producers, business risk management (BRM) tools have become even more essential to their operations this year. Fulton, who is vice-president of Manitoba Beef Producers and has also worked for 15 years as the Director of Risk Management for a hog marketing cooperative, is a big advocate of BRM tools and uses the Western Livestock Price Insurance program (WLPIP) and AgriStability on his ranch. Fulton says a tweak to AgriStability this year has made it a more effective tool for livestock producers than in the past. In the past, if a producer had livestock price insurance, and had a claim and payout, there was a reduced chance that he or she would see a benefit from AgriStability if they had been compensated through livestock price insurance, Fulton explained. “This year, the proceeds from private insurance programs (like WLPIP) no longer impacts your AgriStability claim,” he says. Van Meijl’s ranch has been using WLPIP for a number of years and enrolled again this year, and says the deadline extension for the program beyond May 31 definitely helped given the uncertainty and volatility this year, which has also meant premiums have been a bit higher. About 30 per cent of the Campions’ herd is currently insured under WLPIP and they were considering increasing it to 60 per cent.

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As well, producers can use WLPIP and AgriStability for cash advance programs. “A cash advance program provides the means to be able to weather any cash flow hurdles,” says Van Meijl. “It allows you some flexibility from a marketing standpoint, so that’s why we’re looking at AgriStability as well.” The problem of lack of equity Young producers often have less equity than established producers, and that can make access to financing difficult. “Where young producers typically run into challenges is because they are tight on equity and so they always have to generate enough cash to make their commitments,” says Van Meijl, who works with a lot of young producers in his off-farm job at Farm Credit Canada. So, has COVID-19 made that situation even worse, and how is it affecting producers’ day-to-day operations, or transition and expansion plans? Fulton has put replacement of a couple of tractors on the back-burner for this year. “There’s no major equipment replacement going to be happening just because cash flow is so tight and there’s just a lot of uncertainty as to whether or not we would be able to meet those debt obligations,” he says. 43-year-old Fulton, and his wife, Dorelle, recently bought out their parents’ stake in the family operation and is understandably concerned about meeting his obligations to them and the farm, but says he feels fortunate to be in a better situation than some young producers who aren’t as established and have been more negatively impacted by the pandemic. “We’ve been farming here for 13 years now, so we’ve built up a bit of equity and both have off-farm jobs so we’re in good shape, but the current situation can’t help but weigh on you. It completely changes the landscape which you use to view decisions. I just don’t see how the whole economy is not going to have a long recovery because how could you not be cautious?” Van Meijl and his wife are still expanding their herd and have been growing fairly aggressively, so cash is always tight and their off-farm incomes are important. Although not flush with equity, they had bought some land a while back that has appreciated in value and provided a bit of a buffer from an equity standpoint, but he is concerned that COVID-19 could put the brakes on expanding further. “If calf prices do fall considerably, and we sell more head to get the cash flow we need to make our commitments, there will be less room to expand,” says Van Meijl. “To me as a young producer, without that backstop of equity, with commitments to make, if my Page 6 

CATTLE COUNTRY July 2020

StockTalk Q&A Feature

brought to you by Manitoba Agriculture Resource Development, Livestock Extension Branch

PAM IWANCHYSKO

Production Extension Livstock Specialist, Manitoba Agriculture, Dauphin pam.iwanchysko@gov.mb.ca

Q: I am concerned that my stored hay for my beef cows is going to be limited this fall and winter. Is there a strategy that I can put in place now to prepare for a hay shortage? A: Many pastures in the province have been overgrazed, and as a result, productivity will be lower and fall and winter feeding may have to start sooner. This year’s growing period is a good time to reflect on your fall and winter requirements and assess what management decisions need to be made to remain profitable. Remember that each operation is different and there isn’t a one size fits all solution. Here are some positive actions that can be taken to help forage stands remain productive: 1. Grazing livestock on pasture is certainly the most economical method of reducing costs in your operation. It is important to carefully look at the current pasture condition to determine how soon the pasture might run out, and when winter feeding will need to begin. This will help you estimate how much winter feed will be required. 2. Using past records, estimate the length of the grazing season, and estimate the per cent shortfall in dry areas. To maintain pasture, periods of rest and recovery are needed. Optimum grazing days are attained by leaving 50 per cent residue on your pastures after each graze. 3. Create a paper inventory of hay yields and expected annual forage yields. Balance this to your animal numbers and the predicted length of the grazing season. 4. Balance any shortfall by looking for additional pasture, selling off animals, or supplementing pasture with hay or grain. This will allow your pasture to improve without continued hard grazing. 5. If the hay or silage volumes are below critical levels, consider purchasing annual crops from neighbours who might be willing to let go of a field because of problems with plant stand, weeds, or other issues. Also, watch for oppor-

tunities such as hail damaged crops. This will give you more flexibility on winter feed supplies, or provide another source of high quality feed for the winter feeding period. If moisture is adequate, seeding annuals such as oats or millet in Manitoba can be done into the first part of July. 6. To take advantage of best quality, cut alfalfa at 10 per cent bloom at first cut, even if yield is light. Cutting hay early is more soil moisture efficient and often provides a good second cut. However, if the first cut is left to full bloom, the alfalfa plant consumes a lot of moisture, only producing fibrous low energy, low protein in the stalks and very few high quality leaves. Feeding high quality first and second cut hay, blended with poorer feeds such as straw (as a roughage source), is more economical in the end. High quality stored alfalfa is the cheapest protein source available, and many rations are short on protein during the winter feeding period. Targeting to harvest hay at a high protein level can eliminate this shortfall. a. Quality of alfalfa drops quickly, ideal alfalfa at 20 per cent Crude Protein, 30 per cent Acid Detergent Fibre, and 40 per cent Neutral Detergent Fibre, can drop to 17 - 34 - 45, in only five to six days during the harvest period. Therefore, harvesting at the appropriate time is crucial. b. Since 1995, the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association has been conducting forage testing, otherwise known as the Green Gold Program. It has been used to help predict Hay Day – the date when pure alfalfa stands are at optimum quality (150 Relative Feed Value). This has been an invaluable resource for producers to highlight when their hay field may be ready to cut for optimum quality. For example, in 2017, the optimum Hay Day was June 14, where there was an early start to the growing season, with optimal conditions for growth. In 2019, however, we had a very dry and cool spring, causing stress to the plants. As a result, Hay Day was forecast to be June 5, nine days earlier than 2017. For up-to-date area forecasts, visit the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association website at www.mfga.net. 7. Working with your local nutritionist, feed test early in the fall, and ration balance all feeds to meet the feed requirements of your animals. This

The Manitoba Farm, Rural & Northern Support Services provides free, confidential telephone and online counselling to farmers, rural and northern Manitobans. Our counsellors are here to listen and to help you work through any issue you may be struggling with: farm, family, financial and other. Call 1-866-367-3276 or chat with us online at www.supportline.ca. www.mbbeef.ca

will allow you to forecast feed shortfalls early, secure other feed sources and blend feeds to overcome shortfalls. Reduced forage yields during dry conditions mean a declining plane of nutrition for cows and calves. This in turn means increased expenditure for grazing, poorer body condition on cows, and in turn, higher wintering costs. More open cows and later conceptions can result, so making defined decisions in a timely manner will pay off later on. During dry conditions, the farm manager must minimize the damage to stay profitable. Wellplanned grazing systems and winter feed planning to match the requirements of the animals will result in greater forage production and better animal performance. For further assistance, contact your local livestock specialist. We want to hear from you For the next issue of Cattle Country, a Manitoba Agriculture forage or livestock specialist will answer a selected question. Send your questions to wray.whitmore@gov.mb.ca The StockTalk Q&A Feature for Cattle Country is brought to you by Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development. We encourage you to email your questions to our department’s forage and livestock team, who have a combined 200 years of agronomy experience. We are here to help make your cattle operation successful. Contact us today.

COVID effects  Page 5 gross product is worth less, right, then I might have to go into contraction mode to be able to make my commitments, and then you feel like you’re going backwards and no one likes that.” What will the future look like? 20-year-old Campion is concerned that going forward, there might not be too many of his peers in the industry. “I don’t want to see it, but I can see the number of young producers go down,” he says. “Last year we had feed shortages and high feed prices going into the fall, then throw in COVID-19 and the impacts its had on us, and there is a lot of stress in trying to manage and stay profitable, so I can see a lot of the younger producers shying away from the industry, which is not what we need going into the future.” That said, Fulton believes that the beef industry’s self-reliance and investment in its culture will see it through this crisis, as it has through many prior, but he also can see fewer operations in the future and some further implications to communities and the environment. “I think there will be implications to the rural landscape, small towns could get smaller and

there could be impacts on wildlife and ecosystems associated with the beef industry,” he says. “If we see a significant shrink in our industry, these are negative consequences that are really difficult to recover from.” While COVID-19 continues to stress the beef industry, it also provides some learning opportunities, says Van Meijl. “We have to listen to our consumers and as we move on in this, to understand what we, as the beef industry, have learned from this crisis,” he says. “We need to recognize where there’s different opportunities to make shifts when these things happen and share that story with the supply chain. I think it’s important to look at this as creating energy because if it sucks all your energy out, it’s easier to sell the herd. It’s harder to find a solution and adjust to being nimble with how you do things. How do you change what you thought you knew? That’s the way we’re looking at it and we’re open to anything. We’ve been selling our calves direct over the last number of years and have been listening to the people buying our cattle so we can look at how do we make our product better or make it more of what our consumers want.”

July 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

COVID-19 continues to upend markets RICK WRIGHT The Bottom Line COVID-19 has changed the cattle industry; every cattleman in the “supply chain” has been affected, regardless of size. On top of that, every service provider to the cattle industry has also faced challenges during this crisis. The financial implications from the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt for years and some of the businesses may never recover. With many of the provinces starting to ease their COVID-19 restrictions, it may be easy to forget that COVID-19 is still here, and the disruptions it has caused in commerce are far from over. As I put pen to paper, it is the middle of June, and we have just experienced a short term rebound in the fed cattle prices. Beef packers in the USA are back to near normal capacities of 640,000 cattle per week. In Canada we are back to nearly 85 per cent capacity. The gap between fed yearlings and fed calves coming to market is nearly closed, with most of the yearlings having already been processed. Packers in the west were bidding on cattle for delivery the following month, eastern packers had filled the gap and were buying two weeks out. These signals suggest lower prices in the immediate future. With the harvest numbers close to normal, and the carcass weights coming in at 35 to 50 pounds per head heavier than last year, there is no shortage of beef in the food chain. With the increased steady supply of beef available, box beef prices in the wholesale business have started

to drop significantly. This in turn has prompted the packers to start dropping their prices to the feedlots, and the worst is yet to come! With the opening of some of the restaurants, we can expect an increase in the food services demand, but overall beef sales will not increase due to that. Food service demand will take away some of the current robust demand at the retail stores. The key to sustainable wholesale prices is export demand. COVID-19-related disruptions at the packing plants have created a backlog of fed cattle ready for market starting in March. As of June 1, 2020, Canada had an estimated backlog of 125,000 market ready cattle waiting to be harvested. In the USA, depending on estimate information, they were a minimum of 800,000 to 1,000,000 fed cattle behind. On January 1, 2020, Canadian sources reported that there were 100,000 more feeder cattle on feed in Canada than the previous year. Exports of feeder cattle to the USA as of June 1 are down over 45 per cent from last year. We already were aware that the peak of fed cattle deliveries in Canada would arrive in mid-July, August and September. Price projections for those months were volatile before COVID-19. The reality is that the backlog of fed cattle is expected to grow over the summer months, not decrease. Unless we are able to market a larger number of live fed cattle into the USA, it may take until the end of the year to clean up the surplus of fed cattle in Canada. The packers know that the cattle are going to be there and there is nothing to stop the prices from falling to March levels. The other factor is the predicted “second wave” of COVID-19 for the fall. Despite the many improvements made at the packing plants to increase worker safety, the processing industry is still very vulnerable to a major outbreak of an infectious disease.

This puts a black cloud over the fall feeder market predictions. If the feedlots cannot get their finished cattle moved in a timely fashion, pen space could be a problem. In the early fall, cattle feeders prefer the yearlings off the grass rather than wet nosed calves. Once the yearlings are cleaned up, the demand for calves increases. In Manitoba, we depend on the backgrounding lots to purchase calves during the heavy deliveries in later October and November. The Ontario feedlots that have been great supporters of the Manitoba cattle market were later getting their finished cattle sold and later than normal buying new inventory that in many cases will not be ready to market when the calf run starts in the fall. If you remember last fall, wet weather conditions delayed harvest and poor pen conditions kept the backgrounders off the market until mid- November. If the lack of pen space comes into play this fall, we will see the Americans take a large number of feeders from western Canada. If that happens, producers will not be happy, as the USA price is currently lower than the Canadian feeder cattle market. The good news for the fall is the predicted cheaper corn price in the south. The price predictions of under $3.30 per bushel makes feeding cattle attractive. With gas prices under pressure, the demand for ethanol is also lower, which will mean less DDGs available on the market. The expected volatility in the cattle market over the next few months will make any type of accurate market predictions very difficult. If the inventory numbers are correct, then it is quite possible that we could see the lowest fed cattle prices since BSE. If that is the case, then the best we can hope for in the fall would be last year’s prices. I hope I am wrong, but the fundamentals suggest otherwise. Until next time, Rick

Intercropping in corn for winter grazing BY DR. MARY-JANE ORR

MBFI General Manager

Cattle working their way through snow and standing corn continues to be more common across Manitoba. Corn is a versatile feed source shown to have lower winter feeding costs in fuel, equipment, and labour when grazed standing in a multi year project at Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives (MBFI) led by Shawn Cabak of Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development (MB ARD). Additionally, the high biomass production and stand height provides some winter weather shelter. Concerns to consider in corn grazing include overloading on grain, potentially high residue waste, and meeting crude protein requirements of the class of cattle. These challenges to date have been managed through utilizing electric fencing to strip grazing approximately a three-day allocation and supplementation with good quality grassalfalfa hay. Intercropping high protein forages in the corn stand is an exciting management option to meet livestock feed requirements and build soil health through increased plant diversity and grow-

ing season. No clear consensus has been identified so far on a combination for grazing corn with intercropped forages. Field studies and producer experiences ranging from Manitoba to Alberta, and United States Midwest to date have shown positive, neutral, and negative yield impacts on corn stands. Similarly, the success of establishing intercrops to generate enough yield to offset hay supplementation has had mixed results. Competition for water, nutrients, and sunlight capture can result in yield drag for the corn productivity and or failure of the intercrop to establish and thrive. In the case of winter grazing standing corn an added challenge is the intercrop’s susceptibility to lodging and snow cover. Intercropping with corn was a hot topic at the December 2019 Dakota Innovation Research & Technology Workshop, and the 2019 field season saw small plot studies carried out by the University of Manitoba’s Yvonne Lawley and Emma McGeough, and by the Westman Agricultural Diversification Organiza-

tion. The Peace Country Beef & Forage Association (PCBFA, 2017 Annual Report) small plot trial in Alberta evaluated six different companion crops and a complex mixture with corn. The corn and intercrops were seeded together and harvested to-

CAN

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gether in early September, modelling silage production. PCFBA observed relative to monoculture corn, the corn – crimson clover and corn – faba bean companion crops showed yield advantages. In a MBFI staff led on farm demonstration, alter-

nating test strips in 30-inch row corn were maintained as monoculture corn or planted with Melquatro Italian ryegrass, yellow sweet clover, Hungvillosa hairy vetch, and Akela forage rape. The intercrop mixture was seeded following incrop glyphosate control in

hybrid corn at the V5 stage. Yield and quality sampling were completed November 12th, 2019 to capture available winter forage. Starting in December, the 5-acre demonstration field at Brookdale Farm was strip grazed as one field. Page 9 

MAA SUMMER GOLD SHOW-HARDING FAIR July 17

D PONE POST 2021 UNTIL

SHOWDOWN NATIONAL JUNIOR SHOW

July 23-25/2020 - Brandon, MB

AG EX

October 28-31- Brandon W/ Angus show on the 29th

Manitoba Angus Association P: 1-888-622-6487 mandi.mbangus@gmail.com

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Watch the website for updates on upcoming events or cancellations • www.mbangus.ca

CATTLE COUNTRY July 2020

Grilled skirt steak with chimichurri sauce (Photo credit: Elisabeth Harms)

Get outside and get cooking! BY ELISABETH HARMS Now that summer is finally upon us, we can sit outside and enjoy the weather. Many of us have felt the strain of being inside for so long and have been waiting for the day where we can spend time outside; whether it’s gar-

dening, planting or simply reading a book. There are also lots of us who have been just waiting for the perfect summer evening to crank up the barbeque to cook dinner outside. I want to share with you a few of my favourite barbeque ideas as the summer stretches ahead of

us, providing us with lots of opportunities to enjoy them. First on my list is a good skewer or kebab — they are versatile in flavour and easy to make. These kebabs use sirloin tip, which has been cut up into cubes and marinated for about two hours. This

particular cut of meat is naturally slightly tender, so you do not need to rely on the marinade to achieve tenderness for you. The flavours in the marinade include garlic, rosemary, and red wine vinegar, all of which complement the beef nicely. Once you’ve marinated the beef, start

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soaking your skewers so they don’t burn when you are ready to cook. When you’re ready to build the skewers, pick any veggies you prefer to accompany the meat; onions, peppers, and cherry tomatoes work nicely, but feel free to substitute for mushrooms, zucchini, or eggplant. When you’re ready to get cooking, preheat your barbeque to 400F. Once ready, you will want to cook these skewers on direct heat, for about 15 minutes. You will get nice grill marks and a bit of char on the edges of the meat. Next is something a little bit different but could definitely become a great summer meal: grilled skirt steak with chimichurri sauce. Skirt steak is a bit of a different cut of beef but is most similar to flank steak. If you are unable to find skirt steak, you can definitely substitute it for flank, but the recipe’s method may change slightly. The two best parts of the meal are: the skirt steak, which is incredibly naturally tender, and the chimichurri sauce, which makes use of some lovely fresh garden herbs like parsley and oregano. Because the skirt steak is so tender, it doesn’t need a marinade — simply salt and pepper them before placing them on a medium-high barbeque (about 400F). Again, you want to cook these pieces of meat on direct heat for only a few minutes a side. Finally, I can’t do a favourite barbequed meal list without including burgers. They are a staple at many barbeques, and when we are able to have gatherings again, they are

a crowd-pleaser. Burgers can be incredibly versatile, not only with flavours you can add to the burgers themselves, but also with the toppings. When making the patties, you can include fresh herbs like parsley or oregano, or you can simply add steak spice to them. Both will complement the beef well. Make sure to add an egg and some breadcrumbs to make sure they hold their shape while cooking. Burgers will be best if you can make them a couple hours before cooking and you can let them sit in the fridge to firm up. This also allows the flavours to meld and overall, you’ll have a much tastier burger. When cooking, heat your barbeque to a medium to medium-high, making sure it’s not too hot. If it does get too hot, this could cause flare-ups and your burgers might cook unevenly. If you’re concerned about flareups, have a spray bottle handy while cooking. There is no limit to your burger topping ideas either. Cheese, bacon, tomatoes, onions, blue cheese…the list is endless. Use what you like! I hope some of these ideas have inspired you to create some really tasty and fun meals the whole family can enjoy this summer. I also hope by the end of the summer, we may be able to share some of these fabulous meal ideas with friends and family, even if we still have to maintain physical distancing. Stay well! Many of these recipes can be found on www.greattastesmb.ca, or you can visit www.canadabeef.ca for other inspiring ideas.

July 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

How COVID-19 could be devastating for Canada’s shrinking grasslands BY ANGELA LOVELL Just like other Canadians, COVID-19 has impacted the lives of the 60,000 families that raise beef in Canada, but the impacts of potentially losing farmers and ranchers because of the pandemic extends beyond our food supply, and threatens what little remains of Canada’s native grasslands. That was the message from the beef industry and conservation groups participating in the recent online discussion, Feeding the Future: COVID-19 impacts to the beef industry – increased risk for Canada’s grasslands, hosted by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB). Parallels to BSE The current pandemic has many parallels to the BSE crisis of the early 2000s, when more than 26,000 farmers and ranchers left the industry in the years that followed, and over five million acres of grasslands were converted to crops. The same could easily happen with COVID-19 warned Karla Guyn, CEO of Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) “History has shown that the potential of an economic fallout within the beef industry is a risk we can’t afford to take,” she said. “Memories of the BSE crisis, that shook the Canadian cattle industry, are a powerful reminder why. For many, farming no longer represented a profitable and sustainable way of preserving their land. This kind of widespread loss has a distinct and damaging effect.” Not only is this bad news for farm families and the beef industry, it’s also potentially devastating for the native grasslands in Western Canada, one of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet, 70 per cent of which have already been lost, and which continue to be lost at a steady rate. Grasslands filter water, help prevent flooding and drought, store and sequester carbon and more than 60 species at risk depend on this habitat. Grassland bird species have declined by 57 per cent since the 1970s and conservation groups have a long history of working with beef producers and other landowners to preserve these ecologically sensitive grasslands. “Today some of the country’s most important habitats continue to be managed and conserved by farmers and ranchers. We count them among our most important environmental stewards,” said Guyn. “So, as we witness the debilitating effects this pandemic is having on them, we are concerned. Simply put, the actions that impact grasslands,

wetlands, cattle and wildlife all go hand in hand. Without a successful beef industry, conservation in Canada will not continue at the rate or scale at which it’s so desperately needed.” Investing in processing What is lacking, says Dr. Sylvan Charlebois, is support for agriculture, particularly the livestock sector, through infrastructure investments and the supply chain. “We need to think about the financial viability of the industry, and the supply chain support,” said Charlebois. “In Canada, we often adopt a supply chain view on how to feed people, how to service markets. We grow things as best we can and then we figure out a market for it. Today, it’s very difficult to make agriculture sustainable unless you adopt a true demand chain management philosophy. In other words, everything starts with the consumer. This is what the CRSB is all about, it’s a supply chain focused initiative from farm to fork and that has a lot of merit, especially with what’s happening today.” Charlebois believes that investment in vertically-integrated processing capacity could be a good strategy to help keep the beef industry viable in the aftermath of COVID-19. “Rules are dictated by demand right now, and you have to adapt, and the one way to do that in a strategic way today is by investing in processing,” he said. “With what has happened over the last 11 weeks, if you don’t make processing the centrepiece of your strategy, ranchers will be the first ones to pay for it. We have seen that several times across the country in the last few weeks.” Incentives to reward ecological services Incentivizing the conservation and management of grasslands and other sensitive habitat could also help keep producers on the land and managing these areas for the benefit of the public good, says Bob Lowe, CCA President. “The ranching industry produces more than just beef, like carbon sequestration and [maintaining] wildlife and bird habitat, which we produce for free and which benefits everyone in the country,” he said. “If we could get rewarded for that, that would put the beef industry on par with growing canola. If you look everywhere else in the world, that happens. It doesn’t seem to happen very much in Canada.” To develop robust programs that support conservation and other ecological services by ranchers, we first need to properly value our natural assets in Canada, said Steven Price, President of Bird Studies Canada.

Intercropping continued  Page 7 No change in body condition was observed over the 31 days of grazing for 49 dry gestating cows. Corn forage (whole plant) yield indicated a trend to lower yield with the intercrop, 10,994 lbs compared to 13,150 lbs dry weight per acre in the monoculture corn. However, the difference in yield was not greater than the observed field variation. In contrast, corn forage crude protein trended higher when grown with the intercrop, 9.8 per cent compared to 8.1 per cent in the monoculture corn forage. All plants established in the intercrop mix and combined forage yielded between 748 lbs to 1,673 lbs dry weight per acre, compared to the monoculture weed biomass of

611 lbs dry weight per acre. The intercrop forage had an average of 21 per cent crude protein and 64 per cent total digestible nutrients. Seeding into the corn at the V4 to V6 stage minimized competition of the intercrop with corn but did result in moderate corn shading out of the intercrop mixture. Despite the promising intercrop yield and feed quality, an early fall snowstorm lodged and buried the intercrop to the point that the cows did not actively seek out the forage to graze. While not meeting the goal of supplementing winter grazing in 2019, the intercrop did perform well as a cover crop between the corn rows. Looking forward to the 2020 growing season at MBFI, the corn inter-

cropping trial has been planted with 60-inch row spacing strips in contrast to 30-inch row monoculture corn with the same plant populations per acre for winter grazing. A mixture of winter triticale, Jeanne Italian ryegrass, Berseem clover, plantain, chicory, Melquatro Italian ryegrass, yellow sweet clover, Hungvillosa hairy vetch, and Akela forage rape will be seeded in the 60-inch row space at the V4 to V6 stage in the corn. Demonstrating 60inch row spacing is an opportunity to test managing plant canopy structure to maximize sunlight capture for plant productivity. Bob Recker of Waterloo, Iowa raised the question in 2017 of if it was possible to manipulate the edge effect yield benefit of increased

sunlight by doubling the in-row plant population. The 60-inch row space is opened to lower canopy plants to capture more sunlight on the same acres as 30-inch row corn. Through on-farm trials with Cedar Valley Innovation and subsequently Practical Farmers of Iowa, a takeaway message has been the 60-inch row intercropping shows promising trade offs if the goal is to incorporate grazing and build soil health. Thank you to Pride, Pickseed, Pioneer, Brett Young and Legend Seed for their ongoing support of corn seed in the Extensive Winter Grazing demonstration, and to Imperial Seed, Northstar Seed, and Pickseed for the their contribution to intercropping seed in 2019 and 2020.

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“If we ever had declines in our investments [by the amount we see species like grassland birds decline] it would be headline news,” he said. “We have natural assets that are not properly valued and we need governments to do this so that they are properly valued, the contributions that ranchers are making and the expenses that they absorb in doing so are properly monitored in the system, so when we have declines it works as a gear in the economic system as well, so that we are addressing it. It’s a much larger challenge to solve but that’s what overlies this.” More support for programs that reward producers for maintaining and enhancing grasslands is needed from both the industry and government, says Anne Wasko, CRSB Chair. “Certainly, at the CRSB we look for support in terms of the science and the research that we do to provide the datapoints that the industry needs, things like a robust report on land conversion, understanding land use intensity and its impact on biodiversity. That’s some of the work that we do, but more and continued support would be great,” she said. “And the bottom line is that to preserve grasslands that our industry utilizes, we need to support programs that reward conservation. These are some key areas that we are working on, but further support beyond what we do as an industry at a government and legislative level would certainly be welcome.” Kevin Teneycke, Regional Vice-President for Manitoba with Nature Conservancy Canada (NCC) agrees that payments for ecological goods and services presents an opportunity to financially recognize beef producers’ conservation efforts and the public benefits they provide, but would like to see a change in focus to an outcome-based model. “One of the changes in focus should be towards the payment for the provision of the service and not a payment for a practice,” says Teneycke. “We have had a focus on paying for a practice and not paying for an outcome, and sometimes that payment for a practice comes with a requirement to change something. In the true essence of payment for an ecological good or service, that payment should be based on what the producers are providing, what public goods and benefits are being provided.” An example is the development of carbon markets to provide payments to producers for carbon sequestration on their lands. A healthy beef industry is vital on many levels, concluded Lowe. “A healthy beef industry is not only important for our food supply, food security and rebuilding our economy, but it plays an important role in sustaining iconic landscapes and the wildlife that call them home,” he said. Manitoba Livestock Cash Advance Inc.

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10 CATTLE COUNTRY July 2020

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This little calf has well covered himself with fresh straw, preparing for a nap. Photo credit: Jeannette Greaves

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Due to disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic (and the related closure of high schools and postsecondary institutions) MBP has decided to push the application deadline for its 2020 annual scholarships into November instead of the usual June intake deadline. This application process is for students who will be undertaking post-secondary studies in the 2020-21 academic year. Manitoba Beef Producers is pleased to make available six $500 scholarships annually for MBP members or their children attending a university, college, other post-secondary institution or pursuing trades training. Preference will be given to those students pursuing a field of study related to agriculture or to those acquiring a skilled trade that would be beneficial to the rural economy. Completed applications and supporting documents must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Friday, November 6th, 2020. A selection committee will review the submissions. Winners will be notified by December 11, 2020. The scholarship criteria is as follows: Eligibility: • Must be at least 17 years of age as of January 1, 2020. • Must be an active Manitoba beef producer or the child of an active Manitoba beef producer. Note: This can include beef producers returning to school after a period of time in the workforce. • Post-secondary program or trades training must be a minimum of one year in duration. Items You Are Required to Submit: • Completed application form; • A typed 600-word (maximum) essay discussing “What the beef industry means to my family, my community and Manitoba.” Also include the reasons you enjoy being involved in agriculture.*; • A copy of your transcript (either high school, or a recognized college, university or trade school); • Proof of enrolment in a recognized institution (current transcript, or your acceptance letter, or a letter of intent indicating your intended institution and field of study). • A list of community involvement (e.g. 4-H, community clubs, volunteer work, etc.); and, • The names of two references, including their addresses and telephone numbers. Submissions and ALL documentation must be sent no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2020 to: Manitoba Beef Producers Scholarship Committee 220 – 530 Century Street Winnipeg MB R3H 0Y4 Fax: (204) 774-3264 E-mail: info@mbbeef.ca

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July 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY 11

Developmental programming BY DR. TANYA ANDERSON, DVM

The Vet Corner

Developmental programming is a concept whereby events happening to the cow during critical stages of development of her fetus affect that unborn calf throughout its lifetime. Future production of the calves can be affected by herd management during gestation. It is known that proper nutrition during pregnancy will improve subsequent progeny performance and health in both the feedlot as well as in replacement heifer programs. But, there are also influences from the environment and the genetic makeup of the cowherd which impact metabolic efficiency and the ability to adapt to environmental conditions. This article is going to discuss what is currently

known about the impact of first trimester nutrition - the late spring/early summer feeding program for spring calving beef herds. Subsequent articles will discuss the impacts of nutrition during mid and late gestation. Maternal nutrient delivery during pregnancy programs the growth and development of both the fetus as well as the placenta. While adequate nutrition programs are vital to optimize health and production, there is now evidence to suggest that moderate stress created by suboptimal nutrition may help promote the development of adaptive responses in offspring replacements making them more suited for use in limited nutrient environments such

as lower quality pasture grazing systems. This could certainly explain why newly purchased cattle may fail to perform in their new environment despite being of similar genetics such as being homozygous leptin gene carriers. Placental development and function are altered through maternal nutrition. After implantation at day 21 of pregnancy, the placenta becomes the sole lifeline for the fetus. Defects in the placental growth (or alterations in placental programming) will thus alter fetal growth and development. Fetal organ development continues up to six months gestation and it is during this time that nutrient imbalances can negatively impact organ development. From a practical standpoint, this means that, during a drought

year or if adverse pasture grazing, nutrient deficiencies can impact the development of the fetal organs. Changes in the digestive system or muscle development can make the unborn calf more energetically “thrifty” and able to thrive in a lower energy environment. These animals, when exposed to a nutrient-rich environment (such as a feedlot) tend to be very “easy keepers”. If pushed excessively, these calves are more prone to metabolic disease such as rumenitis, liver abcessation, intestinal bacterial overgrowth and laminitis. Although becoming more feed efficient is desirable, if a young fetus is subjected to maternal nutrient restriction, any available nutrients are prioritized to the developing organs in order of importance for surviv-

al - the brain, liver and placenta. Muscle fibre number and type are sacrificed meaning smaller muscle size, decreased marbling and changed connective tissue content thus negatively affecting carcass weight, grade and tenderness score. In contrast, overfeeding energy during early pregnancy is associated with excess marbling. Thus, despite the fact that fetal and placental growth are minimal during the first 50 days of pregnancy, the many critical events that take place, including fetal organ and placenta development, appear to be susceptible to poor maternal nutrition. Another important point is that not only does maternal nutrition during early pregnancy affect fetal development but also even pre-breeding nutritional plane and

body condition at breeding, has dramatic effects on embryonic development and developmental outcomes. Underfeeding prior to breeding and extending into the first trimester of pregnancy results in the early birth of underdeveloped but normal weight calves that experience high mortality rates. This can occur even if maternal nutrition is optimal during later gestation. Research is ongoing and there is now promise that dietary supplementation with specific amino acids, vitamins and pharmaceuticals to target specific developmental stages in the fetus may help enhance future genetic programming. For now, minimize the negative consequences of developmental programming by ensuring that maternal nutrition is optimal year-round.

Key recommendations outlined in forage insurance review Stakeholders provided valuable input into review: Pedersen

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• identifying areas where the admin- well as other insurance providers. More than 1,200 producers currently istrative burden for insureds can be minihave forage insurance through MASC, mized, • reviewing the index-based insur- insuring more than 272,000 acres. This ance approach used in other jurisdictions represents about 18 per cent of the more which relies on weather or satellite-based than 1.5 million eligible acres of forage in Manitoba. technology, and The Forage Insurance program is part • working more closely with industry to inform producers and increase aware- of AgriInsurance, a joint program of the ness of the MASC Forage Insurance pro- Government of Canada and the Province grams. of Manitoba under the Canadian AgriculThe review was conducted using a tural Partnership. number of different methods, including For more information, and to view a the EngageMB portal, focus groups and copy of the review, visit: interviews with producers, insur- Sale https://gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/ Thurs., Feb 1 MASC Butcher 9:00 am; ance agents, agricultural specialists, in- proactive/2020_2021/forage-insuranceBredasCowreview-May-2020.pdf. Sale 1:00 pm dustry associations, financial advisors, Tues., Feb 6 Feeder Sale 9:00 am

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stakeholders and look forward to making improvements to the program where possible.” The review was initiated to get a better understanding of the purchasing decisions of Manitoba producers in terms of forage insurance products available to them. Several key recommendations were made and immediate action items will be undertaken by MASC prior to the next insurance year. Some of which include: • exploring new methodologies to assign coverages to new insureds, • determining if the effect that disaster years have on future coverage can be minimized, • establishing insured values that better reflect the price of hay in claim years,

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Government of Manitoba News Release June 19, 2020 After extensive engagement with the public, the Manitoba government released details of a review on forage insurance programs offered by the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC), Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen announced today. “Regardless of the type of crop, producers are faced with tough decisions on what products make the most sense to help manage risk,” said Pedersen. “It is important to get feedback so that we have a clear picture of what products they need to support their success in the agricultural industry. We’re pleased with the input we received from the many invested

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12 CATTLE COUNTRY July 2020

Impacts of corn supplementation for overwintered beef cows during mid- to late- gestation BY CHRISTINE RAWLUK

National Centre for Livestock and the Environment, University of Manitoba

Over the course of a ‘typical’ Manitoba winter pregnant beef cows can be exposed to long periods of cold and fluctuating weather patterns, including precipitation as both rain and snow. Highly variable weather and extreme weather events leading to flooding and drought over the last several years in Manitoba, and elsewhere on the prairies, have resulted in periods of decreased forage availability or forage of lower quality for feeding during the winter months. Nutrient deficiencies can occur during the winter-feeding period if forages do not meet the increased nutrient demand that coincides with decreased temperature and increased fetal growth during mid- to latestages of gestation. Feeding low-quality forages, which may be deficient in both energy and protein, could amplify possible adverse nutrition-related impacts. Periods of compromised nutrition during gestation can have lasting

impacts on offspring, including compromises to carcass quality. Proper nutrition is important for both the cow and the developing fetus. The fetal growth stage is important for lifetime muscle development, as the number of muscle fibres is set at this stage and does not change after birth. Research has shown that nutrient restriction during gestation can result in reduced muscle fibres, muscle mass, and marbling. On the flip side, researchers have measured increased carcass weights of steers from cows fed higher quality forage during late gestation. Research has also shown potential benefits to both cow and calf by supplementing poor quality forages with various feedstuffs to improve the nutrition profile. For example, research at North Dakota State University (NDSU) showed that forage intake by cows and calf weight at birth both increased when corn DDGs were added at 0.3 per cent of body weight. However, less is known about the long term impact

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on calf growth and carcass outcomes of supplementing pregnant cows with an energy-based source such as feed grains. What was done To address this lack of research evidence, University of Manitoba animal scientists Kim Ominski, Argenis Rodas-Gonzalez and Emma McGeough, through a unique collaboration with scientists Kim Vonnahme and Kendall Swanson at NDSU, fed low-quality forage diets to cows during mid- to late-gestation to determine if supplementation with an energy source resulted in lasting positive impacts on their calves. The cow feeding trial took place at NDSU. Fortyseven cows of predominantly Angus breeding, and all multiparous, were selected from a larger herd artificially inseminated and confirmed to each be carrying a single male fetus. All cows on trial were provided with a base diet of 45 per cent hay, 45 per cent straw and 10 per cent sugar beet concentrated separator by-product during gestation days 110 to 153, which was adjusted to 60 per cent hay/30 per cent straw/10 per cent beet concentrate for days 154 to 265. For the 24 cows receiving the supplemented diet, dry-rolled corn was added to the base diet at 0.2 per cent of body weight on a dry matter basis. This conservative addition rate was chosen to avoid possible changes to feeding behaviour and intake that have been observed at higher rates of supplementation. To determine the effect of corn supplementation on cow and calf performance, cow feed intake, body weight and body condition score, as well as calf weight were

Photo credit: A. Rodas-Gonzalez

Vaccinations by needle-free injection an option for cattle producers Multiple University of Manitoba studies have shown needle-free injection is as effective as using a needle and syringe for delivering common vaccines. In this University of Manitoba - North Dakota State University collaboration, calves vaccinated against BVDV were followed through to slaughter to confirm there was no lasting damage to tissues that could potentially reduce carcass value. Earlier UM research showed that needle-free injection was effective for vaccinating calves against bovine viraldiarrhea virus, as well as Clostridium chauvoei which is the organism responsible for blackleg in cattle. What is needle-free technology? As the name suggests, this system does not rely on needles to inject the vaccine. Needle-free injection systems deliver vaccine through the skin into the tissue in a high-pressure stream, providing a consistent dose with each delivery. The key advantage of this technology is the elimination of the risks associated with using needles - broken needles, disease transmission, and needle pricks to the user. measured at select times. Research findings and takeaway message This research, which was recently accepted for publication, revealed that additional energy supplied with corn supplementation improved the energy status of the cows, resulting in increased cow body weight and body condition score change. These cows had more forage meals yet spent less time eating those meals per day, and consumed less forage per meal and per day. Total dry matter intake did not differ for cows fed either diet, indicating that the reduced forage intake was offset by corn grain intake. Calf birth weight was not influenced by the supplementation of corn during gestation. It is likely there was not a great enough difference in energy status between cows in the two dietary treatments due to the low supplementation rate to have an impact. As well, research has shown the effects of supplementation on calf birth weight are highly variable and depen-

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dent on many factors. Although the supplementation rate used in this study was not sufficient to have lasting effects on calf growth, corn supplementation at low levels during gestation can benefit cow energy status and also decrease the amount of forage needed. These benefits to cow nutrient and energy status are even more important when weather or other challenges result in limited forage availability or low forage quality at a time when cow nutritional needs are higher, which commonly occurs during the course of a Manitoba winter. Next steps This study is the first phase of a comprehensive evaluation of the offspring from gestation through slaughter to determine if there are impacts on cow and calf performance in the short term, subsequent impacts on calf growth and development, and on carcass outcomes. At the end of the first phase, weaned calves were transported from NDSU to Manitoba

Beef and Forages Initiatives for the second phase of the study. This second phase continued through to slaughter to determine if there were any impacts of cow dietary treatments on progeny carcass quality once slaughter weight was attained. Significant research dollar cost-savings were achieved by layering an additional trial on this base study design which evaluated needle-free vaccination strategies at different periods during the lifetime of the progeny. This research was funded by Manitoba Beef Producers, the Governments of Manitoba and Canada through the Growing Forward 2, Growing Innovation-Agri-Food Research and Development Initiative, Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives Inc., NSERC, Mitacs, as well as multiple NDSU-secured sources. Results of the second phase of the nutrition study will be made available once finalized.

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MAY 2020

Beef demand good despite COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the economy, caused widespread unemployment and upended millions of lives. But in a strange sort of way, it may actually be a silver lining for Canada’s beef sector. By declaring food production an essential service, the federal government is giving Canadians a new understanding of the importance of agriculture, including beef cattle, in their lives, industry officials say. As well, with restaurants and food service outlets closed, Canadians are headed back to the kitchen to rediscover cooking meals from scratch, giving beef a major role to play, said Michael Young, president of Canada Beef. “We’ve got kitchencaptive Canadians now with lots of time to cook,” said Young. “Having Canadians back home and cooking for their families, they may rediscover some things that us older people know quite well. And beef may be very well suited to the challenge.” Young said Canada Beef has seen a 75 per cent increase in downloads off its website for beef recipes and cooking information since the COVID-19 crisis hit. Beef began flying off grocery store shelves in March as consumers began stocking up on food supplies. Shutting down restaurants has pushed beef out of the food service sector and into the retail sector, giving shoppers an abundance of meat to choose from, from ground beef to middle cuts. With an availability

of supply and versatility of cuts, beef is well positioned to meet the needs of consumers with time on their hands, tight budgets and hungry families to feed, said Young. “Everyone is worried about the cost of food and I can see a lot of people going back to the basics, going back to preparing full meals the way we used to. And I’m hoping we will hang on to this as we come through to the other side.” Dennis Laycraft, executive vice-president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, agrees declaring agriculture an essential service gives consumers a whole new outlook on food production and the people who make it happen. “Up until two months ago, people didn’t think very much about whether there would be a regular supply of food and where their food really does come from,” said Laycraft. “All of a sudden it’s more front of mind than it may have been since the last time there was a food shortage, which was the Second World War.” “There’s going to be a fundamental change in terms of how people view the importance of agriculture and food production.” On April 2 the federal government released a guidance document naming 10 sectors, including food and agriculture, as essential services. This allows industry supply chains to continue functioning while still following procedures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “We’re trying to keep the critical mass operating as close to capacity as possible,” Laycraft said. “(But)

I certainly wouldn’t want to leave the impression it’s business as usual.” Laycraft said the industry is working with truckers, packing plants and auction markets to implement procedural changes related to COVID-19. He said last month supply chains seemed to be working, despite additional procedures and heightened security. “Every aspect of how we do business has changed but so far I think we’ve maintained a fairly significant level of business continuity.” That’s not to say there’s been no negative fallout, especially among cattle producers. “They’re just getting hammered by the market,” said Janice Tranberg, president and CEO of the National Cattle Feeders Association. “There is so much instability in the market today and it’s driving prices down, which is causing a lot of concern with our producers.” Brian Perillat, manager and senior analyst with Canfax Research Services, said the impact of COVID-19 on markets and prices has been “big time.” “With the crazy uncertainty in the marketplace, equity and commodity markets are off and cattle are not immune to that,” Perillat said. He said fed cattle prices in late March were $10 to $20 a hundredweight below where they were predicted to be. Prices later this year may also be lower than previously expected. “Short term, the biggest thing is keeping the supply chain running as smoothly as possible and getting

cattle processed in a timely manner. That right now is number one. The secondary effect longer term is, what’s the impact going to be on beef demand?” Laycraft said he doesn’t expect beef consumption to change a lot, although eating patterns will.

“Basically what we’re hearing is, they’re going to eat about the same quantity of beef. It’s just going to be, instead of going out and eating it, they’re going to be eating it at home.” Laycraft expressed confidence the beef sector will emerge from the CO-

VID-19 crisis stronger, not weaker. “The food industry’s going to become, as we go through this, one of the cornerstone industries,” he said. “If we manage this properly, it’ll be one of the growth industries coming out of this.”

A SPRING UNLIKE ANY OTHER

The melting snow and mild temperatures are a welcome sign of brighter days ahead but the ‘new normal’ brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic is weighing heavily on the minds of Manitobans. We have extensive coverage of the virus and its impact on the beef industry in this issue of Cattle Country. (Photo credit: Jeannette Greaves)

President's Column

Market Report

Ticks and Cattle

Page 2

Page 9

Page 12

POSTMASTER: PLEASE RETURN UNDELIVERABLE COPIES TO: MBP, UNIT 220, 530 CENTURY STREET, WINNIPEG, MB R3H 0Y4 CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL PRODUCT SALES AGREEMENT NUMBER 40005187 POSTAGE PAID IN WINNIPEG.

BY RON FRIESEN

CATTLE COUNTRY May 2020

MBP focused on COVID-19 and more CARSON CALLUM

General Manager’s Column I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy in these unprecedented times. With all of the issues we have been dealing with in the past year, I never would have expected a pandemic would be a major cause of our challenges moving forward in 2020. As most can attest to, this ramped up very fast on a global scale and caused us at MBP to make swift changes to the way we conduct business. As you may have seen on our website and social media accounts, we have transitioned staff to a virtual office, as health of staff, directors, and our families is extremely important. We need to do what we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and do our part in practicing social distancing. However, this has not impacted our ability to serve our members as best we can. We have been very focused on challenges related to COVID-19, and working in collaboration with other provincial cattle groups, the Canadian Cattlemen Association (CCA), National Cattle Feeders Association (NCFA), Livestock Marketing Association of Canada (LMAC), and various other industry stakeholders to provide support for the beef sector. We also have been working hard on many other ongoing files important to producers in the province, such as Agricultural Crown Lands (ACL) and Predation. As I sit here in my makeshift home office, I realize we are not out of the woods when it comes to the virus. Our team at MBP is being diligent and adjusting as best we can to this ever evolving situation. I sincerely ask for your patience, as I want to ensure you we are trying to get support for producers that have been significantly impacted by a dramatic drop in prices as a result of this global crisis. As I mentioned, we have taken a very collaborative

approach as an industry to tackle this global issue. We are working with the CCA and other provincial cattle associations daily to provide input on how this is impacting producers in Manitoba. We fully understand the financial strain this has put on producers across the province. To get support for producers, the industry has made many recommendations to the federal government such as an extension to the Advance Payment Program, listing the beef supply chain as “Critical Infrastructure”, cost shared premiums for Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP), and triggering AgriRecovery to provide immediate financial support for impacted producers. More information on these recommendations, and more COVID-related documents can be found on our website, or the CCA website. So far, as of April 13, there has been a Stay of Default for all eligible farmers who have an outstanding Advance Payments Program (APP) loan due on or before April 30, thereby giving them an additional six months to repay the loan. Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has been provided with additional funds in lending capacity for the agriculture sector, including producers. The federal government has also deemed agriculture, including the beef supply chain, as “Critical Infrastructure.” These developments are positive, and we will continue to push for other support. We encourage producers to talk to their own financial institutions as well, to determine what can be done to support them in this difficult time. Another important step that the industry is taking to tackle the issues related to COVID-19 are protocols to ensure things keep moving. I want to commend the LMAC for their work on protocols to use at busy auction marts to reduce the spread of this virus. Processing facilities are also implementing strategies to keep the supply chain flowing, which is crucial for beef to make it to the grocery store shelves. There also has been work to get temporary foreign workers to Canada who are very important in the agriculture sector. It’s hard to say what will happen between now and the time you read this, but industry and government

are collaborating strongly to maintain a strong food supply. Now, moving back to other non COVID-related issues, since our Annual General Meeting, we have been moving on many important files that came from the business component of the meeting. We have continued to push our stance related to the Agricultural Crown Land Leasing Program changes to the province, such the importance of the first right of renewal and a longer transition period for increased rental rates. We hope to see the public consultations related to the right of renewal open very soon. If they have not happened in the time since I wrote this column, I strongly encourage you to put your voice in to the provincial government when they do. Other major files we have been working on have been predation, public trust, the Manitoba Protein Advantage, and the Species at Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands (SARPAL) initiative. Though many efforts recently have been related to COVID-19, we still are working to advance many files that will benefit the Manitoba beef sector. Before I close, I hope you all stay safe and well in these challenging times. This may not be a time where we can physically come together to tackle issues, but we need to come together from far and wide as an overall sector to keep the wheels turning. This is impacting so many people and sectors, and we will need to support each other moving forward. I want to thank all farmers, health care workers, truckers, veterinarians, auction marts and all of the other essential services for everything they do in these trying times. I hope everyone is able to get through the recommended isolation that is being asked of us as a society, and maintain a strong mental state. However, I know many of you have the experience in hunkering down, as calving season can already lead to folks spending lots of time on the farm. We will get through this, and we will get through it together. Carson

Initiatives to help producers are key DIANNE RIDING President's Column

unwelcome loop. That’s certainly the case with COVID-19. Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and other members of the Canadian beef industry have been strongly advocating with governments to try to ad-

As cattle producers we take great efforts to prepare for different events that might affect our operations, such as floods, droughts, bad storms and feed shortages. But still the unforeseen happens, throwing us for a most

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dress challenges arising from COVID-19. On the positive side, as I write this there has been no disruption of trade with our key trading partners. There is still good demand for our product in grocery stores as people cook at home, helping to partially offset diminished sales on the restaurant side. On the negative side are the ongoing questions around market volatility, and the effects of reduced productivity at processing plants. No one can definitively predict how this will play out in the weeks and months ahead. We recognize this situation is creating tremendous economic and personal stress for producers and others in the value chain, so continued advocacy work is key. Throughout this pan-

demic, Canada’s beef industry has held ongoing calls and virtual meetings with value chain members and governments discussing what can be done to help the industry weather both short-term and longterm matters arising from COVID-19. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (of which MBP is a member) has put forward several recommendations to the federal government to provide immediate stopgap support for producers to keep their operations financially sustainable, some of which will require the involvement of provincial governments if programs are cost shared. Among these are: having the pandemic deemed a natural disaster under AgriRecovery to hep flow immediate aid to producers; seeking

changes to AgriStability to make it more responsive; and, making modifications to the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program in light of the spike in premium costs that has affected affordability. Another key recommendation is to establish a set-aside program. A similar initiative was used during BSE. It would help address processing challenges by managing inventories throughout the beef production system and better match the number of cattle ready to market with available processing capacity. MBP has shared these asks with Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen and provincial government staff as well, seeking support for them. And we have raised

DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 5

DISTRICT 9

DISTRICT 13

R.M. of Albert, Cameron, Whitewater, Edward, Brenda, Winchester, Morton

R.M. of Elton, North Cypress, North Norfolk, Cornwallis, Oakland, South Cypress, Victoria, South Norfolk

R.M. of Woodlands, Rockwood, St. Andrews, Rosser, St. Francis Xavier, Springfield, Tache, Whitemouth, Lac du Bonnet, Brokenhead, St. Clements, LGD of Alexander, Pinawa

R.M. of Shell River, Shellmouth,Hillsburg, Boulton, Grandview, Gilbert Plains, Ethelbert, Mossey River, Dauphin, LGD Park

GORD ADAMS

DISTRICT 2

NANCY HOWATT - SECRETARY

R.M. of Riverside, Strathcona, Argyle, Lorne, Turtle Mountain, Roblin, Louise, Pembina

STEVEN MANNS

DISTRICT 6

MELISSA ATCHINSON

R.M. of Wallace, Woodworth, Daly, Pipestone, Sifton, Whitehead, Glenwood

DIANNE RIDING - PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 10

MIKE DUGUID - 2ND VICE-PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 7

R.M. of Bifrost, Gimli, Fisher, Armstrong

R.M. of Portage la Prairie, Cartier, Grey, MacDonald, Dufferin, Thompson, Roland, Morris, Stanley, Rhineland, Montcalm

R.M. of Russell, Silver Creek, Rossburn, Ellice, Birtle, Shoal Lake, Strathclair, Archie, Miniota, Hamiota, Blanshard

DISTRICT 11

DISTRICT 4

MATTHEW ATKINSON

PETER PENNER - TREASURER

KEVIN DUDDRIDGE

R.M. of Richot, Ste. Anne, Hanover, De Salaberry, La Broquerie, Franklin, Stuartburn, Piney, LGD Reynolds

TYLER FULTON 1ST VICE-PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 8

R.M. of Harrison, Clanwilliam, Rosedale, Glenella, Saskatchewan, Odanah, Minto, Langford, Lansdowne, Westbourne, LGD Park

ROBERT METNER

R.M. of Siglunes, Grahamdale, Eriksdale, Coldwell, St. Laurent

DISTRICT 12

MARK GOOD

R.M. of Lawrence, Ochre River, Ste. Rose, McCreary, Alonsa

MARY PAZIUK

MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS Unit 220, 530 Century Street Winnipeg, MB R3H 0Y4

Ph: 1-800-772-0458 PH - (204) 772-4542 FX - (204) 774-3264 info@mbbeef.ca www.mbbeef.ca

GENERAL MANAGER Carson Callum

POLICY ANALYST Maureen Cousins

www.mbbeef.ca

other matters with the province such as: interest rates charged on lending programs offered through MASC; labour shortages; ensuring that producers have timely access to driver testing and training; access to rural mental health services; and, the importance of personal protective equipment for the agriculture sector. Please share your concerns about how COVID-19 is affecting your operation with your elected officials at the federal and provincial level. Your first hand perspective is very important and drives home the urgency of this situation. Although there are challenges with some business risk management (BRM) programs that need fixing, MBP still encourages producers to Page 8 

DISTRICT 14 JIM BUCHANAN

R.M. of Minitonas, Swan River, Mountain, The Pas

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR David Hultin

FINANCE

Deb Walger

OFFICE ASSISTANT Tanya Michalsky

CATTLE COUNTRY EDITOR David Hultin

Trinda Jocelyn

May 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Coping with stress and anxiety BY ANGELA LOVELL Recognizing the signs of stress Nobody is immune from stress, as the current situation with the global COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates all too well, heaping new doses of anxiety on top of the usual day-to-day pressures of life and work. “Most people have experienced difficulties with mental health but wouldn’t recognize it because it’s so common in life and our human experience,” says clinical psychologist, Dr Rehman Abdulrehman. “What’s important is that we learn to identify when we are having difficulties and seek the help that we need.” How can we tell when we are getting beyond our capacity to cope? “If we find that our difficulties are interfering with our everyday life, and our abilities to carry out with what we need to do, and it’s causing some significant level of avoidance or distress, likely our mental health is impacted and we should consider thinking about how to address it,” says Abdulrehman. The most common type of mental health difficulty is anxiety. “With anxiety, we typically notice that we’re starting to avoid doing the things that we used to be able to, or that we can’t do them or are struggling to do them,” says Abdulrehman. “People will often struggle to actually get to work, or avoid going to work for, example, if it’s making them anxious.” The current environment is also highlighting another common symptom of mental health difficulty in that people avoid their feelings and begin to engage in compulsive behaviours, such as constantly checking or counting to avoid their feelings. “General avoidance of our feelings or circumstance is a key thing to watch for,” says Abdulrehman. Another common symptom is depression and mood changes. “The signs we should look for is that our energy is not at the same level that it was, sleep is disturbed, concentration and memory is impacted. People also find changes in appetite, in libido,” says Abdulrehman. “Those things happen periodically, but the moment they remain consistent over several weeks is when we really need to be able to review this.” Helping someone seek help

It can be hard to recognize and accept these symptoms of mental health difficulties in oneself, and it’s often loved ones or friends who can see the differences in behaviour, mood or function that point to a problem. So, how do you go about helping someone that you can see is struggling, and maybe persuade them to seek professional help? “It’s important to use language that makes sense for that person,” says Abdulrehman. “If someone who is struggling with depression is not willing to ever accept that term, they’re not going to get help. But if you say, you’re looking stressed out and I’m worried about you, maybe you need to talk to somebody, that would be more familiar as the first step.” It may also be that a person will need to make several efforts to broach the subject with a loved one or friend that they see struggling. “It maybe that we bring up the topic, leave the door open and bring it up periodically,” says Abdulrehman. “Sometimes when we push excessively, if somebody’s not used to that, they might push back.” The other important thing is to be as specific as possible about how that person could go about getting some help. “For a person who has never considered getting mental health care, it can be a daunting task to go search it out, and it’s unlikely that they’ll follow through,” says Abdulrehman. “But if you say, ‘I know or I spoke to this person and they said this is what they can do for you. Do you want to have a conversation with them?’ that’s very specific and you’ve done some of the legwork for them. Where to find help?

Although accessing mental health services will depend on a lot of factors such as the individual’s needs and location, a good place to start is the Manitoba Psychological Society, which has an online referral base. “You can find a psychologist, you can learn a little bit about them, so you can do all of this information gathering well before you actually make that call, so it’s nice to be able to do that on your own,” says Abdulrehman. Another avenue is to have a conversation with your own physician. “Physicians are often the gatekeepers, and they can also present options,” says Abdulrehman. “They might look at medication, or they might recommend a psychologist.” The most important thing is that people are comfortable with the mental health professional that they talk to. “I would encourage people to have conversations with the therapist before they make an appointment because the right fit is critical,” says Abdulrehman. “There needs to be a level of trust, so if you feel like you need some help, read up on the people that you want to go see. Feel that you can have some sense of relatability.” Mental health can have physical impacts Mental health, Abdulrehman emphasizes, is not just about our feelings. Our mental health can impact our physical bodies as well. “There are things that we can’t do sometimes just because our head’s not in the right space,” he says. “That could be intimate relations, or other healthrelated issues. There’s even a condition called shy bladder that’s impacted by

anxiety where people can’t use the bathroom in certain cases. So, our mental health will impact our body and sometimes the thing we’re looking for is not just hurt feelings.” People also have access to more information than ever before, so they can inform themselves, and in some cases even access online psychologists. “Reading about things can be a really effective way of coping,” says Abdulrehman. “Maybe you are not at the point where you want to go and get some help, but knowledge when managed well and from a reputable source can be very therapeutic.” Today’s current situation, as people deal with new realities such as selfisolation and social distancing, is forcing many people to deal with a lot of issues at once that can impact their mental health. “The pandemic is not just being worried about getting sick, it’s about not being able to get out, and being forced to deal with a lot of our demons,” says Abdulrehman. “Maybe there’s difficulties in relationships, others just like to be outdoors more and are stuck indoors in small spaces. Others are trapped in abusive situations. There’s a whole set of circumstantial situations that are tied to what we’re doing to cope with the physical health that are going to impact our mental health.” Thankfully, the stigma around mental health is eroding as people understand that visiting a psychologist doesn’t mean a person has a serious mental illness any more than going to see a doctor means they

Dr. Abdulrehman (Credit: Abdul Abdulrehman)

Dr. Abdulrehman’s top six tips for coping with stress and anxiety 1. Ensure you make use of your social supports as much as possible. That means company, but also trying to talk about what you’re feeling. Research shows that social support is a critical factor that promotes psychological resilience. 2. Challenge negative thinking. Negative thinking is often unrealistic, and/or not solution focused. Looking for what we can do or have control over (even if it is small) can be helpful in producing hope. 3. Face our fears, wherever possible. In our current pandemic climate, some of our fears may be harder to overcome given we are indoors more. But facing fears, appropriately, gradually, will allow our body to adjust to discomfort to the point that it no longer bothers us, or bothers us much less. 4. Be as active as you can. Both physical activity, and a diversity of tasks are good for mood and the brain. 5. Be mindful of alcohol and marijuana intake. Research demonstrates they can be tied to difficulties with mental health, especially when we use them to cope with difficult feelings or situations. 6. Be okay with imperfection. Do our best, but always understand that imperfection is humanity. have cancer. “There’s a lot of very common mental illnesses, and they are tied to our humanity, so when

we can see that it allows us more comfort to deal with what we need to deal with when it comes up,” says Abdulrehman.

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CATTLE COUNTRY May 2020

Some introductions to MBP's five new board directors Kevin Duddridge District 4 Representing: RM of Richot, Ste. Anne, Hanover, De Salaberry, La Broquerie, Franklin, Stuartburn, Piney, LGD Reynolds. Kevin Duddridge is a first-generation farmer, who emigrated to Canada in 1967, and now operates a 220-head cow/calf ranch near Grunthal with his wife, Ruth. Duddridge has a passion for the beef industry and its potential, which is why he agreed to stand as a director for MBP, and says he has been ‘blown away’ by how many capable people are representing the industry. “Having just attended the [Manitoba Beef Producers] AGM, I was taken aback by how well we are represented at all different levels, from government to marketing, researchers and all the expertise that is out there,” he says. That expertise will be needed to help meet some of the challenges facing the industry, he believes, such as stagnant returns and increasing inputs. Personally, Duddridge wants to see young people come into the industry and believes that there are plenty of opportunities for them if they embrace all the tools available. “There is equipment technology, feed and genetic opportunities that are underutilized in the industry,” he says. “If new entrants and existing producers can embrace them and capitalize on this production technology, and we can increase the amount of high-quality Canadian beef going to markets like Asia, the future for the industry is bright.” Melissa Atchison District 6 Representing: RM of Wallace, Woodworth, Daly, Pipestone, Sifton, Whitehead, Glenwood. Melissa Atchison had a pretty good idea what to expect when she decided to stand for election to the MBP board because her

husband, Trevor had also served for six years, one as MBP President. Melissa and Trevor’s children are the fifth generation to farm Poplarview Stock Farm, a 650-head cow/calf and backgrounding operation at Pipestone. Melissa has a lot of first-hand experience as a beef producer and with government, and she hopes to use those skills to help further the industry. She also decided to stand as a director for her own personal growth. “I am excited to have the opportunity to broaden my perspective, especially at the national level, and see this industry beyond the lens of my own experience,” she says. Melissa says one of the biggest challenges facing the industry is public perception. “I think we need to do a better job of sharing our story and being transparent,” she says. That said, she feels there is also tremendous opportunities to better leverage technology in the beef industry. “We are an industry that currently uses 50 per cent of available technology, so I think with younger producers getting excited about joining the farm and making use of that technology, there are opportunities for sure,” she says. Matthew Atkinson District 8 Representing: RM of Harrison, Clanwilliam, Rosedale, Glenella, Saskatchewan, Odanah, Minto, Langford, Landsdowne, Westbourne, LGD Park Matthew Atkinson, his wife Kate and daughter Evelyn ranch with his parents on the south edge of the Riding Mountain escarpment, about 20 minutes from Neepawa. Originally from England, the family, which has farmed for many generations, came to Manitoba 30 years ago, and now raise their 250head cow/calf herd with a focus on producing good quality, commercial replacement heifers. One thing he has already noticed in his new role as MBP director is the vast and diverse scope of MBP’s involvement in the beef industry. “The range of support, representation and involvement, both internally and external, on various committees is extensive,” he says. “It gives me a whole new level of appreciation for the MBP office staff to keep on top of everything and everyone informed.” Atkinson says the past two years have been particularly full of challenges for Manitoba’s beef producers, with drought conditions, Crown Land concerns, changes to transportation rules, and other difficulties. “It is hard to look at these challenges without also feeling amazement and pride at the resilience and innovation born of tough conditions,” says Atkinson. “I look forward to seeing that strong will to succeed make our operations more success-

www.mbbeef.ca

ful and profitable given the return of better years and hope that I can some play a role in assisting with that.” Mark Good District 12 Representing: RM of Lawrence, Ochre River, Ste. Rose, McCreary and Alonsa. Mark Good is a firstgeneration rancher, who moved to the Alonsa area in 2001, where he currently has a 300-head cow/calf operation on about 42 quarter sections of owned and rented land. In his capacity as MBP director, Good hopes to make a difference on issues like the agricultural Crown land legislation, and help promote beef to allow the industry to remain profitable, which he sees as one of the biggest challenges going forward. “A profitable industry entices young producers to come and stay in the industry and helps us to increase production, which encourages the use of marginal land in Manitoba,” he says. ‘“A thriving industry is good for cattle, the grassland and communities.” He sees great opportunities ahead for the industry particularly in promoting beef as a safe, nutritious product. “If we have a market for our product, we can continue to raise beef and use cattle to improve Manitoba’s grasslands,” he says. Besides serving on the committees with MBP, Good also serves on the Research Advisory Committee for The Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives and locally on the inter-Ridge Veterinary Clinic Board and museum board. Jim Buchanan District 14 Representing: RM of Minitonas, Swan River, Mountain, The Pas Jim Buchanan is a new cattle producer, who purchased heifers four years ago and now has a 80-head cow/calf herd near Minitonas. Since becoming a MBP director, Buchanan has been surprised by the amount and complexity of work there is to be done. “I didn’t realize how much government lobbying is being done and all the financial decisions that are made,” he said, adding he is impressed by the job Manitoba Beef Producers directors and staff all do to communicate effectively across the industry. “I haven’t had a lot of experience in doing that, but I really want to learn more about how to communicate,” he says, adding he sees promoting a positive image one of the big challenges facing the beef industry. “If we want strong markets for our cattle, we have to keep the public informed so they understand their beef comes from healthy, quality animals that are well taken care of,” he says. As a young producer, Buchanan sees a lot of opportunity in the beef industry going forward and plans to expand his own herd. “I can see myself expanding my herd and haying and pasturing more of my grain land because I enjoy being a cattle producer and think there is a wonderful opportunity to expand in the cattle industry today,” he says.

May 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Government Activities Update

COVID-19 dominates activities of governments in recent weeks

Wishing

2020 CSA AGM & YCSA Show Portage La Prairie, mb

a safe and

Thurs., Feb 8

successful spring!

July 23-26 Watch for more information to sponsor please contact Laurelly

Butcher Sale

9:00 am

April 14

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1:00 pm 9am

April 21

Regular Sale

9:00 am

April Tues., 28 Feb 27

Regular Sale Presort Sale

Cattleman’s Connection Bull Sale Regular Sale

9am 9:30 am

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Tues., Mar 6 May 12

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May 19

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May Tues.,26 Mar 20

Regular Sale Feeder Sale

REGULAR WILL Tues., Feb 13 SALES Presort Sale RUN ON TUESDAYS 9:30 am ONLY Thurs., FebTHROUGHOUT 15 Butcher Sale APRIL AND MAY 9:00 am Tues., Feb 20 Thurs., Feb 22

Fri., Mar May 5 2

MAY MARCH

Box 274, Austin, MB R0H 0C0 President: Tracy Wilcox 204-713-0029 Secretary: Laurelly Beswitherick 204-637-2046 b2@inetlink.ca

everyone

For a complete list of provincial government resources related to COVID-19, including health resources, go to www.manitoba. ca/covid19

tions that took effect on March 18. In addition to health screening protocols before travel, all individuals entering from abroad must isolate for 14 days upon their arrival in Canada. A temporary modification is being made to the Labour Market Impact Assessment process for agriculture and food processing employers, as the required twoweek recruitment period will be waived for the next six months. The federal government is also increasing the maximum allowable employment duration for workers in the low-wage stream of the TFW Program from one to two years. This will improve flexibility and reduce the administrative burden for meat processors. For more details go to https://www. canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/employercompliance/covid-faq.html Provincial Actions As part of its Manitoba Protection Plan, the provincial government is providing the following protections to Manitoba residents until Oct. 1: Manitoba Public Insurance will be re• not charging interest or penalties turning up to $110 million via rebates to for Manitoba Hydro, Centra Gas, Workers its policyholders. Rebates will be based on Compensation Board and Manitoba Public what policyholders paid last year and exInsurance (MPI); pected to be around 11 per cent, or between • not disconnecting customers of $140 to $160 per average policyholder. ReManitoba Hydro and Centra Gas; bate cheques will arrive at the end of May to • instructing MPI to relax ordinary early June. This surplus is the result of fewer practices on policy renewals and collec- claims during this COVID-19 period, coutions; pled with strong year-end financial results. • supporting Workers Compensation As a public insurance model, MPI operates Board (WCB) to do the same and asking on a break-even basis and is required to WCB to extend relief from penalties for late maintain its reserves at a level set by legislapayments; tion. • working with municipal partners to Re: mental health services, the provensure municipalities do not charge interest ince is providing Manitobans aged 16 or on provincial education taxes and school older free access to an internet-based cognidivision fees and the province is encour- tive behavioural-therapy program. Services aging municipalities to do the same with are available in English and French. It can respect to their own taxes and will start dis- be accessed at www.manitoba.ca/covid19 . cussions to support implementation. Crisis mental-health services are available Provincial income tax and corporate at www.gov.mb.ca/health/mh/crisis.html income tax filing deadlines and payments or call Manitoba Farm, Rural & Northern have been deferred to coincide with the Support Services at 1-866-367-3276 (hours current revised federal deferral of income Monday-Friday 10 am to 9 pm). tax to August 31. For a complete list of provincial govRepayment of Manitoba Aid Sale ernment resources related to 9:00 COVID-19, Thurs., Feb 1 Student Butcher am; loans has been suspended for six months including health resources, go to www. Bred Cow Sale 1:00 pm through September 30. manitoba.ca/covid19 . Tues., Feb 6 Feeder Sale 9:00 am

APRIL FEBRUARY

The following are some of the key government initiatives announced in recent weeks related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As programs have been evolving, check the government websites for the latest information. APP Stay of Default The federal government announced a stay of default for 2018 cattle and bison advances and 2018 crop advances to September 30, 2020 for those using the Advance Payments Program (APP) administered by the Manitoba Livestock Cash Advance Program and some other local administrators. Eligible producers with an outstanding APP loan due on or before April 30 will receive the stay, giving them another six months to repay the loan. Contact the MLCA office at 1-866-869-4008 for more information. Agristability Enrollment Deadline Extended The AgriStability enrollment deadline for the 2020 program year has been extended without penalty, from April 30 to July 3, 2020 to give producers more time to sign up for it. Call 1-866-367-8506 for more information. Farmers experiencing losses are encouraged to apply for interim payments under AgriStability for more rapid support. FCC Programs Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has received an additional $5 billion in federal funding to help its producer, agribusiness and food processor clients. FCC has put in place the following measures: • a deferral of principal and interest payments up to six months for existing loans; or • a deferral of principal payments up to 12 months; • access to an additional credit line up to $500,000, secured by general security agreements. FCC customers should contact their relationship manager or the FCC Customer Service Centre at 1-888-332-3301 to discuss options, or see https://www.fcc-fac.ca/ en/covid-19/program-details.html. Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan The federal government has launched a detailed economic response plan targeted at individuals, businesses and industries affected by the pandemic. For example, for individuals and families, this includes: increasing the Canada Child Benefit, a Special Goods and Services Tax credit payment,

and mortgage support. For businesses elements are aimed at avoiding layoffs and rehiring employees, including the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, an extension of the work-sharing program, temporary changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program, and the establishment of a Business Credit Availability Program. The plan also includes the creation of a Canada Emergency Business Account to ensure small businesses have access to capital. This program provides interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced, due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 virus. Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25 per cent (up to $10,000). Access is open to businesses that paid between $20,000 and $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019. Contact your financial institution for more details. The Canada Emergency Response Benefit is aimed at people who have stopped working because of the pandemic who are not eligible to collect employment insurance and are facing unemployment. It will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to four months to eligible workers who have lost their income due to COVID-19.For more details call 1‑800‑959‑2019 or 1‑800‑959‑2041 or apply online at https://www.canada.ca/en/ services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html . The federal government is allowing businesses to defer until after August 31, 2020 the payment of any income tax amounts that becomes owing on or after March 18 and before September 2020. This relief would apply to tax balances due, as well as instalments, under Part I of the Income Tax Act. No interest or penalties will accumulate on these amounts during this period. The filing due date for 2019 income tax returns for individuals has been deferred until June 1. Any new income tax balances due, or instalments, are also being deferred until after August 31 without incurring interest or penalties. For complete details of the federal Economic Response Plan, go to https:// www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/ economic-response-plan.html . Temporary Foreign Workers Program The federal government is allowing temporary foreign workers (TFW) in agriculture and agri-food to travel to Canada under exemptions to the air travel restric-

2020 SPRING Sale Schedule 2018 Winter Sale Schedule

BY MAUREEN COUSINS

MBP Policy Analyst

Tues., Mar 13 Thurs., Mar 15

Feeder Sale

Butcher Sale

9am

9:00 am

9am

Presort Sale

9:30 am

Bred Cow Sale

1:00 pm

9am

9am 9:00 am

Tues., Mar 27 NO SPECIAL

Feeder Sale TIME DUE TO COVID-19. 9:00 am SALES AT THIS NO ACCESS TO GENERAL PUBLIC AT THE SALES AS WELL.

www.mbsimmental.com www.mbbeef.ca

Heartland Livestock Services

CATTLE COUNTRY May 2020

Fresh straw in the pens attracts the attention of curious young calves at a farm in Deerwood in late March. (credit: Jeannettte Greaves)

COVID-19 reduces North American beef processing capacity: CCA recommends implementing set aside program (Credit: CCA statement)

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) is working with industry stakeholders and government to continue to supply beef and keep markets moving in these difficult times. In the last week, North American beef processing capacity has been reduced at a number of facilities due to challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic. For Canada, this includes the Cargill processing facility in High

River, Alberta , temporarily reducing shifts starting the week of April 13, 2020. This Cargill facility represents 36 per cent of total Canadian processing capacity. Other plants within Canada have also marginally reduced packing capacity to be able to implement COVID-19 protocols such as spacing of workers within the plant. These reductions in packing capacity will create challenges for Canadian beef farmers and ranchers, and additionally may have impacts at the

consumer level depending on the length of interruptions. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCA submitted a set of recommendations to the Federal Government including changes to the Business Risk Management (BRM) programs. Additionally, within the submission was the recommendation to re-build the BSE era set-aside framework to be implemented should a critical situation, such as a significant reduction in packing

capacity, arise. The CCA recognizes that we are now in a critical situation and recommends that this program be reinstated and implemented immediately to best address the array of challenges brought forward by packing capacity shortages. The CCA is in discussion with the Federal Government on our recommendations. “We learned many lessons during the hard years of BSE, and it is time to implement the policies that previously helped us weather the storm,” says

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Bob Lowe, President of the CCA. The objective of a setaside program is to delay the marketing of cattle when processing capacity isn’t available. The program would be designed to encourage farmers to hold cattle on maintenance rations. This would allow cattle marketings to stretch out over a longer period of time and be managed by existing packing capacity, until slaughter capacity can be regained. The program was originally developed in concert between governments and the Canadian beef industry during the BSE era and considered successful. “We also must look at and support all actions that can assist in our current situation. This could include increases in processing capacity at provincial packing plants and holding back cows so that we can focus slaughter on fed cattle - everything is on the table,” states Lowe. Canadian processing facilities have developed and implemented measures in consultation with public health agencies including: taking temperatures of employees before

the start of work each day, additional cleaning and disinfection for high touch surfaces, monitoring of hand washing with soap and water by quality assurance personnel, use of a sanitizer to disinfect hands, and the requirement for employees to self-monitor and not to come to work if observable symptoms are present. Health and food safety is paramount in all agriculture and food production operations in Canada. The above protocols are in addition to regular cleaning and sanitation. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) continues to indicate that they do not anticipate any food product recalls or withdrawals from the market due to COVID-19 contamination. Currently, there have been no reported cases of food or food packaging being associated with the transmission of COVID-19. For further information, contact: Michelle McMullen Communications Manager 403-451-0931 mcmullenm@cattle.ca

May 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Producers see a lot of twins – and triplets BY ANGELA LOVELL Producers around the province are reporting more twin calves – and at least one set of triplets – born this year, so what’s the cause, and is it actually as unusual as it seems? Dave Koslowsky usually averages between two to five sets of twin calves per year, but this spring is the first time he’s ever had triplets born on his farm, southeast of Killarney. “We have had one set of triplets and five sets of twins so far and are about two-thirds done calving,” said Koslowsky during the fourth week of March. Koslowsky had gone in for coffee the Sunday morning that one cow had given birth to twins and when he came back out a short while later, he was surprised to find a third calf in the pen. The triplets, two heifers and a bull calf, averaged around 68 lbs. birth weight each, and seem to be doing well, although Koslowsky did have to pull the male off after the cow began to reject him. “What we found interesting was we kept the calves in the barn because it was still fairly cool out and after about a week the cow would let the two female calves suck, but was pushing the male away,” said Koslowsky. “The next day another cow lost her calf, so we were able to put him onto her and it worked out.” In all his 50 years of calving cows, Fred de Laroque has never seen as many twins born as this year, and the timing has also been unusual. “We calve 125 cows and on a normal year we get one or two sets of twins,” said de Laroque, who farms near Woodlands, and was over halfway through his calving season when interviewed. “This year we have six sets of twins so far and they all came out of the first week of last year’s breeding

season, out of the first 15 to 20 cows to calve, which is really interesting.” Gladstone veterinarian, Dr. Tanya Anderson, may have an explanation for de Laroque and other producers who seem to have had a higher number of twins at time of writing. “It could simply be that many producers are near the beginning of the calving season,” said Anderson. “Most twins are born a little earlier so may be over-represented at this time.” That said, multiple births do seem to be trending a bit higher than usual, although it’s hard to know exactly why. Most experts agree that genetics has a lot to do with multiple births, and Anderson said one of the main reasons for twins is breed. “Higher milking breeds tend to have more twins, and it can be heritable from both the dam as well as the sire,” she said. “I do know that certain clients of mine seem to get more twins than others. Charolais and Simmental cows appear to be over-represented.” The role of nutrition The other part of the equation is nutrition. “A lot of multiple pregnancies come about because of nutritional status at breeding time,” said Ray Bittner, a livestock specialist with Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development. “For many producers cows are released onto pasture the same day as breeding season starts. With the transition from dry hay to extremely damp grass, and having a calf at side, the cow suffers a very dramatic transition.” In dry years like last year, when nothing is growing at the start of breeding season producers either keep cows on hay, or provide supplement to maintain nutritional status, which in turn would more likely allow more conception and less delays in con-

ception, added Bittner. Another factor could be that some cattle producers were forced to supplement their herds at the end of last winter and into early spring, leading to higher feed intakes, said Anderson. “Progesterone levels are decreased with high feed intake and this increases the likelihood of double ovulation and the conception of twins,” she said. Enhanced nutrition pre-breeding and during breeding season also can increase the rates of twinning. “Synchronization and AI programs may also produce more twinning due to fertility drugs being administered to synchronize heats,” said Anderson. “Yet some synch programs have been noted to decrease the incidence of twins in dairy breeding programs.” Bittner added producers who ran out of hay, and chose not to supplement may have had low conception and late calving. “In the Interlake, many producers found low conception and late cows at preg check time in fall,” he said. “Some producers chose to remove up to onethird of their herds due to low conception. This was primarily due to very dry conditions and minimal pasture growth in 2019.” Managing multiple calves As producers know, one of the biggest concerns with twins is whether the mother will accept both, and be able to feed them successfully. “One of the challenges with twins is does the mother have enough milk to sustain her, so if you have a spare cow that has lost her calf, you do have the option to take one calf off,” said Koslowsky. “But, on the flip side, the nutritional needs on a cow that’s feeding twins is higher, especially as you want her to cycle and get bred again.” Koslowsky likes to keep a careful eye on cows

that have had twins. “They do sometimes come in from pasture in poorer condition in fall than the ones that just had one calf,” he said. “It’s something you have to keep an eye on, and if the cow is getting run down you need to pull the calves off or bring her home earlier in the fall and feed her extra to get her in shape for the winter, because if she’s growing a calf inside her she’s working hard.” de Laroque lost two Three's company at the Koslowsky farm near Killarney. calves – one from each of (credit: Dave Koslowsky) the first sets of twins born, and prefers to leave only seems to come in waves,” he male and female twins.” one calf on with the cow, so said. “In the case of twinhad four bottle feeding. Generally, Duguid ning, there is also some “I have found over added, he puts cows with evidence that the fertility the years if you leave two twins into the first calvers’ of male calves is lowered,” calves on one cow you end pen to allow the calves to said Anderson, who emup with two poor calves, steal milk more readily, so phasized that not all female and the cow comes in either that pen gets on a higher calves born with male twins not bred or in poor condi- plane of nutrition, and pro- are sterile. She suggested tion,” he said, adding he is vides a creep feeder for the that producers have those always prepared with some calves to take some pressure heifers examined prior to colostrum in the freezer off the cows. selection for replacements, and plenty of milk replacer Something to be wary although often twins aren’t around. Apart from that, he of, said Duguid, is male and kept as replacement anisaid, he just makes sure to female twins, because there mals because they are usukeep an eye on things, es- is a higher chance that the ally smaller. pecially if he starts getting female calf will be infertile Ultimately, how promore twins than usual. (called a freemartin). ducers deal with twins will “When you start to get “If the twins are born depend on their own manthis many, it makes you a male and female, the male’s agement style and resourclittle more careful, if it’s a hormones can affect the es, said Duguid, but the big, old cow and out comes female in the uterus,” said fundamentals of lots of nua little calf, we are checking Duguid. “Then there is a trition, vitamins and minto see if there is a second chance the female won’t erals for a prolonged period one in there,” he said. “ reproduce, so we generally – are always sound practice In handling twins, never keep the female of for any breeding herd. Mike Duguid generally separates them and the cow for a while to ensure that the cow accepts both and is taking care of them well. “We have had twins born out in the pasture and the stronger calf got up and went with the cow and the weaker one was left behind, so that’s why we separate them, even if it’s only 36 hours, because the calves do strengthen quickly,” he said. TRUCKLOAD LOTS Duguid, who calves (APPROX. 42 MT) 175 cows near Camp MorDelivered right to your farm ton, had already had 17 sets of twins when interviewed, HIGH FAT EXPELLER CANOLA MEAL which is high, but not un(Approx. 37% Protein, 12% fat, 8% Moisture – As Fed) heard of. “We have had the same number in the past; it BROKEN CORN

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CATTLE COUNTRY May 2020

StockTalk Q&A Feature

brought to you by Manitoba Agriculture Resource Development, Livestock Extension Branch

JANE THORNTON

Livestock Extnesion Specialist, Manitoba Agriculture jane.thornton@gov.mb.ca

Q. My pastures were grazed hard last year because of the tough conditions in 2019. What can I do this year to speed their recovery? A. Pastures will need time to recover. There are a number of ways to aid pasture recovery. Rent Extra Pasture Renting additional pasture can take the pressure off your main pasture. Rented pasture can be used early in the season to allow your pasture to recover through May, June and July. You can also use it to reduce the herd size on your existing pasture or place the rented pasture into your rotation. All these strategies will take pressure off your pasture and allow it to recover faster. Good grazing management starts in the spring. Grazing too early in the spring can cost you up to 45 per cent of that year’s forage production. Though renting pasture may be expensive, it is less expensive than the cost of stored feed, yardage and feed delivery to the cows. In addition, if you have abundant pasture in fall,

your cows will gain weight and fat reserves and be less costly to feed in winter, once your cows are reliant on stored feed. Annuals for Grazing Annuals are another option for easing pressure on your pasture. Depending on the soil and moisture profile of your farm, you could try annual rye (for high precipitation areas), spring seeded fall rye (for drier areas), or winter wheatgrass (average moisture). You might also look toward cover crops to add pasture. There are many options to choose from, such as turnip, radish, kale, Chinese cabbage, forage rape, phaselia, plantain, crimson clover or hairy vetch and more. These novel crops can often be grazed multiple times throughout the season. They also provide other features, such as high protein, season-long ground cover, and late season grazing. However, with new crops, there are new management techniques required. For example, the brassicas will often require flea beetle control, because

the seed is not treated to resist flea beetle pressure. Most of these seeds are very small and require shallow incorporation, and often a separate seeding pass. Generally, a mix of both traditional cereal and broadleaf cover crops are more fail resistant than single species pasture. However, if broadleaf weed pressure is significant, a mix of many species may make chemical weed control impossible. Rotational grazing and some level of rest is required for all of these annuals to return to full leaf and resume growth. Under good fertility conditions, nitrate testing should be done once killing frosts are affecting the crops. Allocate pasture with a plan If you have no other choice than to go to pasture before it is ready, you can minimize the impact on your pasture’s health, and ensure your cattle’s nutritional needs are met by using some of the following strategies: a) Skim graze – This is the practice of moving your cattle through the pasture system at a very rapid rate. The objective is to only take off the very tips of the leaves, allowing the plant to continue photosynthesis with the remaining part of the leaf. This is not as harmful to the plant as grazing off all

SAFETY ALERT Recognizing natural gas leaks When it comes to natural gas safety, it’s important to know how to recognize the warning signs of a natural gas leak both inside and outside your home and then take the necessary steps to ensure safety. Natural gas is colourless and odourless, so in order for it to be easily detected an odourant called Mercaptan is added to give it a rotten egg smell. Know what to do if you smell natural gas. The three R’s of natural gas safety are: • Recognize the smell; • React by evacuating the area; • Report natural gas odours to Manitoba Hydro immediately. Other warning signs that can indicate a natural gas leak outside may include dirt being blown in the air, continual bubbling in a ditch, pond or waterway, and/or patches of dead vegetation among healthy plants, and a hissing sound. Leaks from gas pipelines, although rare, can be a fire hazard. If you think there may be a natural gas leak, do not use any electrical switches, appliances, telephones, motor vehicles or any other source of ignition such as lighters or matches. If you suspect a natural gas leak of any type, react by evacuating the area immediately. If you are at home, leave the door open as you exit. Stay away from the area until safety officials say it is safe to return. The next step is to report the smell of natural gas immediately. Call Manitoba Hydro at 204-480-5900 or 1-888-624-9376 (1-888-MBHYDRO) toll free and have the odour investigated. Manitoba Hydro employees are available 24-hours-a-day to respond to natural gas emergencies. Visit hydro.mb.ca for more information about natural gas safety.

March/April 2020

Available in accessible formats upon request.

Safety. It’s in your hands.

of the leaves. How fast you have to move from pasture to pasture will depend on the size of your pastures and herd, but may be from a few hours to a few days. b) Sacrifice pasture – In this practice, the producer will choose a field and keep the cattle there until other pastures are ready for grazing. It is usually accompanied by supplemental feeding of hay or concentrates. Ten pounds of oats per day will keep condition on cows on a pasture that is otherwise too thin. The same pasture can be used year after year, or you could choose a different pasture each year. Only choose pastures that are high and dry, as punching soft soils will further injure the forages and reduce production. Regardless of the pasture you use, a very long rest period will need to follow this early season grazing. A long rest period would range from 60 to 100 days. c) Implement a rotational grazing system – If you haven’t done so already, this is a good time to put up some fences and develop some water sources. Rotational grazing works because it allows time for your best pasture to recover. In the long run, it will produce better and reduce your risk. Herd Reduction Though most beef producers have already reduced their herd due to feed shortages, spring is a good time to do another assessment. Often, producers will carry a barren cow through the summer and market her in the fall. This year, market all animals that you don’t plan to keep in your herd. Every head counts. We want to hear from you For the next issue of Cattle Country, a Manitoba Agriculture forage or livestock specialist will answer a selected question. Send your questions to Ray.Bittner@gov.mb.ca The StockTalk Q&A Feature for Cattle Country is brought to you by Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development. We encourage you to email your questions to our department’s forage and livestock team, who have a combined 200 years of agronomy experience. We are here to help make your cattle operation successful. Contact us today.

www.mbbeef.ca

Weathering COVID-19  Page 2 look at the different programs to see what may work for you. The federal government announced a stay of default for 2018 cattle and bison advances and 2018 crop advances to September 30, 2020 for those using the Advance Payments. And, producers now have until July 3 enroll in AgriStability. Reach out to your financial institution to discuss options. In other matters, MBP is still talking to the provincial government about the modernization of the Agricultural Crown Lands (ACL) Leasing Program and ongoing producer questions and concerns related to this. MBP has restated our request for the rental rate increase to be phased in over a longer period, which is even more pressing in light of the uncertainty created by COVID-19. Our other comments continue to focus on matters such as: the need for the first right of renewal, the importance of maintaining unit transfers, challenges related to the new system for valuing improvements, the need for informed access before people enter ACL, potential sales of ACL, recognition of ecosystem services provided by producers in managing ACL and more. MBP has requested that the provincial government initiate its consultation process related to the first right of renewal as soon as possible and we strongly request that all lease holders consider providing their feedback during this process. As well, MBP has been providing input to Mike Lesiuk, the lead person on the review of the province’s forage insurance program. We thank all producers who have provided comments into this process, identifying both what does or does not work. The aim here is to come up with BRM tools better suited to our sector’s needs. As we move through these challenging times, where we are taking social distancing to an even new level by the standard of producers who are used to working alone or with few people around, it is really important that we stay connected. Farming and ranching can be very stressful at the best of times. Reach out to your friends and neighbours to talk – over the phone, via social media or even consider something old school like putting pen to paper. If you’d like to talk privately to someone about your concerns, there are free resources like the Manitoba Farm Rural & Northern Support Services. Call 1-866-367-3276 or 204-571-4180 or visit supportline.ca. The Manitoba government has teamed up with the firm Morneau Shepell to launch a free internetbased Cognitive Behavioural Therapy program to all Manitobans 16 years old and over to help people dealing with mild to moderate anxiety due to COVID-19. And, if your kids want to talk, but are more comfortable talking to someone outside the family, they can call the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or visit https://kidshelpphone.ca. Covid Information Resources: • MBP is providing information about COVID-19 on its website: https://www.mbbeef.ca/news/covid-19-updates • CCA has resources on its website: https://www.cattle. ca/cca-resources/covid-19. If you have not already done so, contact our Communications Coordinator David Hultin at dhultin@mbbeef.ca to sign up for the MBP e-newsletter to stay current on the latest developments. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. There is more information about governments’ COVID-19 programs and initiatives elsewhere in this edition of Cattle Country. In closing, I would like to take a moment to offer a heartfelt thanks to all of those who are providing the needed supplies and services to keep our farms and ranches operating and to keep us safe and healthy. Thank you to the vets and their staff, the auction marts, the feed suppliers, the health care providers, the police officers, the fuel companies, the grocery and farm supply stores, the equipment dealers, our restaurants, our food processors and their staff for keeping the plants running, and the teachers for trying to keep our children busy with at-home learning. Thank you to the truckers and all those others keeping the many elements of the supply chains running so there are as few disruptions as possible. Thank you to the other industry associations for working together to tackle the many different elements of COVID-19. Thank you to elected officials and government staff for continuing to listen to industry concerns and suggestions and who are trying to develop programs and initiatives to move through and beyond this pandemic. And thank you to the consumers who have been so supportive of the agriculture sector. We are stronger together when we tackle major challenges like this. Stay safe and here’s to a productive spring on the farm.

May 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Cattle markets a roller coaster ride RICK WRIGHT The Bottom Line Cattle markets during the past six weeks have been on a roller coaster that would make the most experienced rider sick. Days of limit gains on the futures followed by days of limit declines revealed just how volatile the cattle markets have gotten. For a while the cattle futures followed the movements in the stock markets, then for a few days they detached and went in the opposite direction; this left cattle feeders and investors in the cattle market extremely cautious about purchasing new inventory. So what happened to cause these mammoth swings in the cattle markets? My friend, Dr. Derrell Peel, a market analyst and professor from Oklahoma State University, used the term “black swan” to describe what happened. According to Dr. Peel, a “black swan” is a rare, unforeseen, event that has sudden, unexpected and dramatic impacts on the market. In the space of a couple of days, the North American economy was attacked by two separate “black swans.” The first was the realization and recognition that COVID-19 was here and it was a world pandemic. The second was the total collapse of world oil prices and the impact on both the American and Canadian economies. A dispute between Russia and Saudi Arabia resulted in OPEC flooding the market with cheap oil. With no immediate resolution in place, the oil-based economies of both Canada and the US were thrown into turmoil. The stock markets started to crash, investment values declined rapidly and all of the commodities started to slide down a very slippery slope. COVID-19 presented its own unique problems. In an effort to slow the spread and deal with the unknown, restrictions on travel, public gatherings, and non-essential services were put in place. Physical distancing measures were added to the new and rapidly changing ways we live and do business. These restrictions resulted in massive unemployment in the food service, entertainment, tourism and many service provider industries.

Schools and education centres were closed. Every major sporting event and entertainment venue was cancelled or closed. In the cattle industry, questions such as, “Will the border close?, Will the packing plants be able to stay open?, Will livestock transportation be affected?, Will the auction markets be able to have sales? And will there be any market for my cattle?” were common questions being asked on a daily basis. Starting in early March, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, along with the support of industry stakeholder groups from across the country, started working with the Federal and Provincial governments to formulate plans to keep the cattle industry and beef production functioning at a normal level. The staff and board members at CCA and their provincial counterparts have been working 24/7 attending strategy meetings and consulting with industry in order to develop viable plans. Other organizations such as the Canadian Meats Council, the Beef Breeds Association, Livestock Markets Association of Canada and the Trucking Association are working with CCA and government to keep the supply chain operating without interruption. CCA is also working on developing financial aid and assistance programs for the cattle industry to deal with the damage done by COVid-19. It is my opinion that if every cattle producer and feeder had the opportunity to see the work that CCA and MBP have being doing behind the scenes during this crisis, there would be no one complaining about check-offs or asking for their check-off refunds. Canadian and US officials from CFIA and USDA are working closely to keep the border open for shipments of all food items and essential products. CFIA is working with the packing industry to keep the plants operating. Truckers are still operating at the normal level despite a high risk to their drivers and warehouse staff. Markets are still providing marketing services and cattle sales for producers and buyers to move product to

One of the recommendations for cattle sales during COVID-19 is where possible view bulls ahead of time. (Photo credit: Jeannette Greaves)

the plants and replacement inventory to the feedlots. Through this time, the demand for beef has been extremely high at the retail level. Some reports suggest a 77% increase in the retail sales, with some stores in larger urban locations running out of beef on a daily basis. Packers have responded by planning sixday harvest weeks to meet the demand. Feedlots are entering a high period of market-ready fed cattle so supply should not be a problem. The demand for ground beef has skyrocketed, and combined with the seasonal shortage of cull cows, the result has been a very robust cow and bull market. The rub is, that despite the strong demand for beef and the increased kill, packers have yet to share the massive profits with the feeding industry. Immediate deliveries of cash cattle have seen an improvement in the price paid, but longer-term bids do not reflect any strength. Packers are only bidding 30 days out for cash cattle leaving smaller feeders very little leverage. Part of the reason is this. The spike in the demand for beef may not last very long. Demand from the food service industry has all but disappeared due to the majority of the restaurants being closed down, and for how all long, no one knows! The bulk of the higher priced middle meats are sold to food service providers. Consumers are buying and stockpiling beef. They are not eating it and coming back to purchase more the next day! With the unexpected high numbers of unemployed workers, available disposable cash will be a concern.

Price point and essential items will determine what they buy and how much they spend at the store. Exports will be volatile as well; many countries have restrictions affecting labour to unload boats and distribute product. Many manufacturing and process-

ing warehouses are either closed or short of labour. These two “black swans” will not disappear in the short term. Producers can expect market volatility over the next few months. While the heavy weight cattle over 700 pounds have been a tough sell, the

grasser type cattle are back to pre-COVID 19 prices. There is optimism that the fall will see some type of normality in the cattle markets. Until next time, stay safe my friends. Rick

ABOUT CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) WHAT IT IS COVID-19 is an illness caused by a coronavirus. Human coronaviruses are common and are typically associated with mild illnesses, similar to the common cold.

SYMPTOMS Symptoms may be very mild or more serious. They may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to the virus.

FEVER

COUGH

DIFFICULTY BREATHING

HOW IT IS SPREAD Coronaviruses are most commonly SPREAD from an infected person through: f

respiratory droplets when you cough or sneeze close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands touching something with the virus on it, then touching your eyes, nose or mouth before washing your hands

These viruses are not known to spread through ventilation systems or through water.

PREVENTION The best way to prevent the spread of infections is to: f

IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS If you have SYMPTOMS of COVID-19 — fever, cough, or difficulty breathing: f

if you live with others, stay in a separate room or keep a 2-metre distance

call ahead before you visit a health care professional or call your local public health authority —

avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, especially with unwashed hands avoid close contact with people who are sick when coughing or sneezing: —

cover your mouth and nose with your arm or tissues to reduce the spread of germs

—

immediately dispose of any tissues you have used into the garbage as soon as possible and wash your hands afterwards

stay home to avoid spreading it to others —

wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

tell them your symptoms and follow their instructions

if you need immediate medical attention, call 911 and tell them your symptoms.

clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, such as toys, electronic devices and doorknobs. stay home if you are sick to avoid spreading illness to others

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CORONAVIRUS:

www.mbbeef.ca

1-833-784-4397

canada.ca/coronavirus

10 CATTLE COUNTRY May 2020

ACC capstone project brings Ferruginous hawk habitats to MBFI BY JORDAN DICKSON

Research and Extension Coordinator

Building partnership and collaboration is a central pillar to activities at Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives (MBFI). Opportunities to partner with Assiniboine Community College (ACC) have come in the form of student field days held at MBFI, staff leading a team-taught course in forage and pasture management, and most recently collaborating with Land and Water Management students completing a capstone final project. Land and Water Management students at ACC, are gaining not only classroom knowledge but also practical experience of working with industry. Students in the second year of this program complete a capstone project along with their assigned coursework using real world problem solving, communication, and project management skills to complete projects by the end of the school year. The capstone project is designed to get students engaged with industry to identify a real-world problem and work with industry partners to plan and execute the project. James Hood, Instructor for Land

and Water Management, helps to guide students through each step of their project from planning to execution and conclusion. He believes it is an excellent opportunity to give students practical exposure to career life. James said “project topics are diverse every year, but they all focus around conservation and sustainability. Students can follow their passions and choose their own project topics as long as it works to help solve a real-world need or problem.” This year topics range from wild boar controls, dry dams, problem weed removal from lakes, a reusable bag program at the ACC bookstore, and endangered species conservation, along with many more. MBFI Extension and Research Coordinator, Jordan Dickson, attended a whirlwind brainstorming session in September where industry partners had 10 minutes to connect with each of the 14 students. Students were excited with a clear passion for coming up with solutions that address issues and knowledge gaps surrounding conservation and sustainability. Partner-

ships were identified and planning conversations took off as links were made between industry and the student’s interests. Breanna Sheppard partnered with MBFI for her capstone project to build two Ferruginous hawk nesting structures at MBFI’s Johnson Farm. Breanna has combined her passion for conservation and endangered species to design a project around a need for Ferruginous hawk nesting habitat in southwestern Manitoba. Ferruginous hawks are found primarily on grasslands in southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and are a specialist predator of Richardson’s Ground Squirrels (RGS). They have been listed as a threatened species in Canada for the last 40 years due to habitat loss. Ferruginous hawks typically nest in isolated trees or elevated structures but avoid nesting in heavily treed areas and are sensitive to nest disturbances. The project is a great fit at MBFI as it builds on previous conservation work completed by Kim Wolfe (Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development; MB ARD) and Melanie Dubois (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) on control measures for RGS and Northern

Ferruginous hawks are found primarily on grasslands and have been a threatened species in Canada for the last 40 years. (photo credit: Ben Ponsford)

Pocket Gophers (NPG) at MBFI’s Johnson Farm. Breanna and MBFI selected the Johnson Farm station to carry out the project as it has limited trees, open grasslands and a large RGS population. The structures will be built in spring 2020 on two locations that will have minimal disturbance. The hangingbasket nesting structures are modeled after a design that was proved successful Ferruginous hawk artificial nest poles (photo credit: in Alberta’s Species at Risk Alberta Species at Risk Program) Program with modifica- ber of gophers are ideal. Ferruginous hawk nesting tions as suggested by retired She hopes this project will sites and monitor them for Species-at-Risk Biologist, expand to target areas that activity for years to come Ken De Smet, and current have livestock as the hawks to promote species diverSpecies-at-Risk Biologist, will use their remnants sity and conservation of a Timothy Poole (MB ARD). such as hair and bones as threatened species.” The two nesting structures supplies in their nests along Part way through the will be included as part of with twigs and branches. school year in December, MBFI’s rodent control trapBreanna has been the capstone cohort of stuping program and will serve working closely with Timo- dents presented their projas a model to others who thy Poole (MB ARD) to ect topics and progress to are interested in becoming a create an updated guide fellow students and indusFerruginous hawk landlord. that will provide private try partners. Typically, the The overall goal of landowners, conservation capstone projects finish the Breanna’s project is to help districts, farmers and the year off with a public tradeincrease populations of Fer- public with information show where students showruginous Hawks by pro- and contacts to assist in case their work to instrucmoting the development providing this endangered tors, industry members and of nesting sites in multiple species with suitable nest- the public. This year will areas in Manitoba with the ing habitat. The guide will unfortunately look different help of landowners and include instructions on how due to COVID-19 social farmers. Increasing Ferru- to build a nesting structure distancing measures as the ginous hawk habitat con- and what to look for when showcase will be switched tributes to biodiversity, or monitoring for Ferruginous to a virtual presentation. species diversity, which pro- hawk activity. The guide In looking back on her vides many ecosystem ben- and more information will last year at ACC, Breanna efits to other wildlife and be available on MBFI’s web- said “the Land and Water humans. A Ferruginous site at www.mbfi.ca/ferru- Management program as Hawk pair are excellent bio- ginous-hawk-acc-capstone- given me the tools to gain control by consuming up to project for anyone to access. industry connections be500 Richardson’s Ground Breanna said, “my hope is fore entering the work force Squirrels in a single breed- that this project will en- and valuable practice expeing season, so areas that are courage landowners to use rience in project planning home to an abundant num- the guide to build their own and management.”

www.mbbeef.ca

May 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY 11

Biosecurity for scours prevention DR. TANYA ANDERSON, DVM

The Vet Corner

Research has shown that calf losses in Western Canadian cow/calf herds average 4% from the time between birth and weaning with the majority occurring within the first seven days of life. Many factors contribute to these statistics: calving difficulty, cow nutrition and mothering behaviour, climate, environment and infectious disease. Attention to each of these areas is required for optimal management and a successful stress-free calving season. This article is going to focus on environmental control as an aid in the

ductivity. The old adage of are found in the manure ensure that they are well cleaned out annually and 2L twice before 24 hours of normal cows. Shedding vaccinated and manage that drainage prevents of age is no longer recom- rates may be increased them as a separate herd pooling of water. Having prevention of the most mended. If using a colos- during the stress of late before introducing them creep areas or “calf concommon cause of calf trum replacement prod- pregnancy, inclement/ as cow/calf pairs when dos” ensures that calves sickness - scours. Howev- uct, strive to supplement a harsh weather and sub- turned out to pasture. can access clean dry beder, I must emphasize that minimum of 100 grams of optimal nutrition. It is Also minimize con- ding without cow manure it is critical that calves get immunoglobulin but the for this reason that cows tamination by avoiding contamination. But be quality colostrum as soon calf ’s own dam’s colostrum should never be wintered confinement and over- sure that these shelters as possible after birth or is the best. As difficult as in the calving area. Move crowding. Remove snow are maintained - regularly it doesn’t matter what you it is to accept, the major- cows onto the calving less and provide adequate bed- bedded and well ventilated do, they will get sick and ity of cases of diarrhea, than two weeks before ding with access to shelter. to avoid moisture buildup. they will die before wean- navel infection, sepsis and calving and group them Remember that cows will If out in an open calving ing. pneumonia in calves un- by estimated calving dates. congregate in areas with area, move the shelters Colostrum is our der two months of age are The different scour patho- protection from the wind regularly to clean ground. most valuable “drug” and a result of failure to receive gens cause infections at and where there is acIn a scour outbreak, it must be given within the adequate colostrum. The different ages so grouping cess to feed. Shelter can is important to move diarfirst few hours of life. Keep calf may have been seen to calves by age helps mini- be natural in the form of rheic calves out of the area in mind that new research be nursing but it either did mize disease transmission. trees or valleys or por- as the shelters can quickly has shown that giving 4L of not consume enough or This is also not the table wind breaks need become disease cesspools. colostrum within the first the colostrum quality was time to introduce new pur- to be used. Feeding areas Get diagnostics done so 6 hours is the best insur- inadequate. chases to the herd - wheth- should be moved around that you can manage your ance for good health and Despite adequate co- er as a bred cow or the pur- to “spread out the manure” outbreak more effectively maximum lifelong pro- lostrum intake (as mea- chase of an orphaned calf. but should be stationed and, more importantly, sured by total protein Those healthy animals are where there is shelter. It take steps to prevent a simlevels in calves sampled shedding scour pathogens is important to note that ilar occurrence in future under one week of age) and, if your herd has not during inclement weather calving seasons. In herds and an excellent cow vac- been previously exposed and extreme cold, cows using scour vaccines, often cination program, disease to that particular bug, a will prioritize shelter over the pharmaceutical comcan occur if pathogen severe scour outbreak can eating. pany will support diagpressure is high. Environ- happen. It is better to leave If possible, rotate nostics to investigate scour mental management has a cow to dry off or ship her calving areas from year to issues so be sure to discuss been shown to be critically rather than risk the pur- year. This can be difficult any health concerns with important in the preven- chase of disease with a calf in operations where con- your veterinarian and to makes it a great option for tion of calf scours. bought online or from the finement calving must be get updated treatment proa quick weeknight meal. Most of the disease neighbour. If you are in utilized. In those cases, it tocol advice. If you decide to freeze agents that cause scours the market for bred cows, is critical that manure be your ground beef cooked and unseasoned, then you can easily throw it into a soup or stew, with a reduced amount of prep time. Beef and barley soup and minestrone are great options for a quick meal that provides your family with a nutritious meal. Both of these recipes have the added advantage of using those pantry staples I mentioned earlier, which can help make shopping for ingredients quicker and easier. Casseroles are also a great way to use ground beef and your favourite pantry staples in a creative way. With a minimal amount of preparation, you can make a tomatobolognese sauce pasta casserole. All of these ideas are family-friendly and easy to do in a short amount of time. They also use ingredients that you are likely to have in your pantry already. I hope these ideas Thank you to Gemstone Cattle Company, Gem, AB for help you to make some partnering with us on this exciting OCC Easy Red 868A son tasty meals without making extra trips to the store for ingredients you might not have. On a more personal note, I hope everyone stays well! Canada Beef ’s website (www.canadabeef.ca) GIVE US A CALL IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR CAREFULLY DEVELOPED 2YR OLD BLACK has some great options for AND RED ANGUS BULLS. WE HAVE SOME AVAILABLE BY PRIVATE TREATY meals like beef and barley soup and baked pasta casseroles. For other great weeknight meal ideas, like Novel tools for Soil Health, Extending tacos, check out www.greGrazing & profitable Beef Production attastes.mb.ca.

Ground beef versatile BY ELISABETH HARMS In light of the unique circumstances that we are trying to navigate, I wanted to write something that would help make cooking one of the things that you DON’T worry about. Everything is changing: how we work, how we live, how we shop, and how we eat and cook. We are all struggling to figure out what the new normal is for us, but we all still have to eat. This has changed the way we think about food and, for some, it has presented new challenges in making sure our families are getting nutritious meals. It may be difficult to ensure everyone is still getting enough nutrients, but along with this article, there are many resources that share new and exciting meal ideas for your family. There are different ways to incorporate Canadian beef into your meals that are easy and that don’t require a lot of extra time. Ground beef, along with some pantry staples, is one of the best ways to do this and ensure your family is getting all the great nutrients that beef has to offer. Ground beef is something that’s easy to buy in large amounts and freeze for later use. You can freeze it either cooked or uncooked, seasoned or unseasoned, although, how you choose to use it in the end will determine how you prepare it. Ground beef can be cooked and seasoned with taco seasoning, then frozen, which

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12 CATTLE COUNTRY May 2020

Ticks and cattle: what you need to know BY CHRISTINE RAWLUK

National Centre for Livestock and the Environment, University of Manitoba

Mention ticks and a fat blood-filled tick comes to mind. Ticks are well known for their blood sucking nature, but they can also transmit diseases to people, cattle and other animals. Ticks are moving into new areas, expanding the geographic range of where they can be found, but what does this mean for cattle producers in Manitoba? Manitoba Beef Producers is supporting new research at the University of Manitoba that will shed light on the health and economic risks associated with ticks on pastures and develop strategies to reduce these risks. The two most common tick species in Manitoba are the American dog tick (a.k.a. wood tick) and the blacklegged tick (a.k.a. deer tick). American dog ticks have been present for a long time in Manitoba, yet how far their range has increased over the past 50 years was only recently determined. Extensive multi-year sampling by University of Manitoba entomologist Kateryn Rochon and her colleagues showed this range has expanded 300 km to the west and 350 km further north in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. American dog ticks can carry the bacterium that causes bovine anaplasmosis, a blood-borne disease that can severely impact the health and productivity of infected cattle. In the US, where this disease is widespread, the total cost to the beef industry is estimated to exceed $300 million annually. In addition, daily gain is lower for cattle with heavy tick infestations, due mainly to blood loss and altered behavior. Blacklegged ticks only recently arrived in Manitoba, being first reported to the Department of Entomology in 1989. Yet over the past decade they have spread throughout southern Manitoba and expanded northward into the Interlake region. Cattle can serve as hosts for blacklegged ticks, but there is no information on the presence of blacklegged ticks on pastures or cattle in the Prairies, or the importance of this parasite-host relationship. Blacklegged ticks can also transmit several tick-borne infections like Lyme disease, granulocytic anaplasmosis, and babesiosis to humans, dogs, and horses. The increased abundance and distribution of both tick species means there is greater economic risk as more cattle and ranchers are now encountering ticks at multiple time points during the pasture season. The team’s earlier work showed the chance of encountering ticks can vary greatly from year to year and at various locations throughout their range. This new research, led by Dr. Rochon, focuses at the pasture scale. “We need to know when and where these ticks are most prevalent, and how this translates to tick infestations in cattle in order to properly assess productivity and health risks,” notes Rochon. “This risk is created at the pasture level, where ticks encounter their hosts, so that is where we need to look.” Project results will lead to the development of management strategies that will improve tick management, reduce disease risk, and increase cattle welfare and productivity. Assessing the risk of exposure to blacklegged ticks for producers who spend large portions of their days working outdoors during late spring and fall will result in the implementation of safe work practices to prevent infections. “Ticks numbers differ based on the habitat. Therefore, it should be possible to target control measures to areas of high tick abundance within pastures, thereby reducing exposure risk and reducing the economic loss due to reduced weight gain, disease, or lost wages and labour,” says Rochon. What does the study involve? Kateryn and her team will conduct their research in five pastures in southern Manitoba, selected based on the intensity of cattle production, history of bovine anaplasmosis, and presence of specific tick species. “Two sites are located at the Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiative (MBFI) farms in the Brandon area. A demonstration project by Manitoba Agriculture taking place there may allow us to also compare the impact of different grazing management strategies on tick populations”, says Rochon. “We will be looking for three collaborating producers in districts 4 or 9, 3, and 12.” GPS collars on the cattle will monitor movement within pasture and within areas where ticks are commonly found. At each site ticks will be collected from approximately 50 animals, as well as from locations where cattle congregate - near water or mineral sources, along fence lines, wooded areas, and other tick habitat areas within

and alongside the pastures. Producers will also be provided with sampling kits. Ticks collected from the environment, animals and humans will be counted, identified and tested for pathogens. “We will be sampling at times that coincide with critical activity periods,” says Rochon. Pastures will be sampled in May when cattle enter the pasture, June which coincides with peak American dog tick activity, and in October when cattle are taken off pasture and which is also the period of peak blacklegged tick activity. Providing training where the need is growing but expertise is greatly lacking Problems related to insect pests are expected to increase in Manitoba due to environmental changes associated with global warming. Already flies, lice, and ticks are becoming resistant to treatment, invading new territory or transmitting new pathogens. As the only livestock entomologist in Manitoba, Rochon knows the importance of training students in this area so that they can bring this knowledge to their future roles within the agricultural sector. This project will provide critical training in veterinary entomology, tick management and animal health and welfare to eight students. Hands-on experience and opportunities to interact directly with cattle producers will equip students with the blend of practical and scientific knowledge needed to support the livestock sector in facing emerging

pest challenges. The funding provided by Manitoba Beef Producers will support a graduate student whose research will focus on the relationship between tick abundance and cattle infestation with American dog ticks in Manitoba. In addition to funding provided by Manitoba Beef Producers, support is also provided by the Ag Action Manitoba program, funded under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

American dog tick

COVID-19 IS HERE, MANITOBA It only takes one person to infect many. DON’T BE THAT ONE PERSON. PROTECT yourself, PROTECT your loved ones and PROTECT your community

SOCIAL DISTANCING (also called Physical Distancing) is the best way to reduce the

spread of viruses like COVID-19 during an outbreak. It means changes to our day-to-day lives to minimize close contact with others, whether we know them or not. With patience and cooperation, we can do this, and we need to do it NOW.

DO THIS:

DON’T DO THIS:

Keep at least 2 arms lengths away

We still need to go out in public for things like essential appointments and shopping. Where possible, spending time outside and utilizing green spaces is also important. In all situations, keep at least 2 metres or 6 feet from others as much as possible. This only applies if you don’t feel sick. If you feel sick, you must stay home.

Stay home as much as possible

Things you can do at home like reading, watching TV, playing games, sitting on your deck, spring cleaning, yard work, and cooking are all good! Staying home whenever possible makes us all safer right now.

Non-essential gatherings

We all need to avoid things like parties, weddings, birthdays, play-dates, sleepovers for kids and other non-essential visitors to our homes. Also, avoid all non-essential travel.

Physical greetings

Handshakes and hugs are out. We need to get good at non-physical greetings like waving or nodding. Limiting unnecessary touching makes us all safer right now.

Shop wisely

Touching surfaces people touch often

Use technology to keep in touch

Contact with people at higher risk

There are things we need like groceries, fuel and the like. Where possible, use online shopping and home delivery. Please remember that panic buying is not needed. Finally remember that if you feel sick, do not go out – you must stay home.

We all need to keep in touch with our friends and loved ones, especially when keeping physical distance. Phone calls, texting, and video chats are all great options.

ALSO REMEMBER:

Walking or exercising outside is good, but keep your distance from others and avoid things like hand rails, public play structures and public phones whenever possible

We all have a responsibility to protect those in our community who are most at risk from COVID-19, which includes the elderly and those with other health conditions. We can use non-physical ways to stay in touch, and where possible we can help these people with getting groceries and other essential errands.

• Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and avoid touching your face • Cough or sneeze into the bend of your arm • Disinfect frequently-used surfaces often

FOR MORE INFO VISIT: covid19manitoba.ca

www.mbbeef.ca

PUBLISHED BY MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS

MARCH 2020

Fourty-two resolutions were carried at the 2019 fall district meetings and taken forward for debate at the 41st AGM held February 6 in Brandon.

A lot of issues on the table at 41st MBP AGM It was a busy two days at the 41st MBP AGM on February 6 and 7, as the producer delegates voted on resolutions, engaged in lively debate about topics such as agricultural Crown lands, wildlife predation issues and changes to the livestock transport regulations, and listened to speakers discuss Canadian beef ’s place in the global marketplace. Thursday morning kicked off with an overview of how Manitoba beef producers’ check-off dollars are being spent. A portion of check-off dollars goes to Canada Beef for marketing initiatives, and the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) to support research work at the University of Manitoba, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Research and Development Centres, Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives, and other Canadian university and public research programs benefiting the beef industry. Canada Beef President Michael Young gave a rundown of its domestic and inter-

national marketing and promotion strategies, including new programs. Young also unveiled some ideas to build both export and domestic demand which will include the launch in March of Project Trust, where producers tell their story of on-farm sustainability, and Project Crave, a multimedia campaign focusing on promoting the benefits of beef. Dr. Reynold Bergen, Science Director for the BCRC and Dr. Kim Ominski of the University of Manitoba outlined some of their past and ongoing beef research in areas such as how beef production impacts biodiversity and grasslands affect carbon storage. New research at the University of Manitoba is exploring the economic and environmental impacts of using growth hormones in beef production. Around 27 young beef producers attended the Young Producers luncheon to hear Stacey Stott of MNP provide some tips on succession planning, while other delegates watched a screening of two new videos that were produced by Manitoba

Beef Producers. One video involves cow-calf producer Melissa Atchison speaking about the animal care practices used on her family’s beef operation in the Pipestone area. The second video features bird expert Dr. Christian Artuso talking about the importance of maintaining beef production as the preservation of grasslands provides critical habitat for species at risk such as a number of threatened birds. This video was shot in southwestern Manitoba. MBP was also pleased to show the award-winning documentary, Guardians of the Grasslands. Created in collaboration with Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Nature Conservancy of Canada as well as the Waldron Grazing Co-op and local ranchers in Alberta, the film explores the vital role cattle play in preserving and maintaining one of the world’s most endangered ecosystems – the native prairie grasslands. A new MBP president The business portion of the AGM included ratification of directors and Ex-

ecutive members. Joining MBP’s board of directors for 2020 are Kevin Duddridge (District 4), Melissa Atchison (District 6), Matthew Atkinson (District 8), Mark Good (District 12) and Jim Buchanan (District 14). On the Executive, outgoing MBP President Tom Teichroeb is replaced by Dianne Riding (District 9), Tyler Fulton (District 7) is Vice-President, and Second Vice-President is Mike Duguid (District 10). Peter Penner (District 3) remains in his position of Treasurer and Nancy Howatt (District 2) takes on the role of Secretary. Thursday evening, Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development, Blaine Pedersen brought greetings and talked about the Manitoba Protein Advantage, announced a new livestock predation prevention program, and, to applause from the attendees, promised that changes to the Crown Lands Act will include the sale of Crown Lands to producers. Page 2   Page 1

President's Column

Market Report

Resolutions outcome

Page 3

Page 4

Page 12

POSTMASTER: PLEASE RETURN UNDELIVERABLE COPIES TO: MBP, UNIT 220, 530 CENTURY STREET, WINNIPEG, MB R3H 0Y4 CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL PRODUCT SALES AGREEMENT NUMBER 40005187 POSTAGE PAID IN WINNIPEG.

BY ANGELA LOVELL

CATTLE COUNTRY March 2020

Thoughts on the 41 MBP AGM st

Greetings members and industry stakeholders, I sit here writing this report shortly after wrapping our 41st Manitoba Beef Producers AGM, so I feel it is a perfect opportunity to summarize my thoughts on the event. Overall it was an excellent meeting, and I am encouraged by the optimistic feeling throughout the day-and-a-half program. I want to start by thanking all the speakers who spoke during the program. All provided such valuable information for our members. There are many important things to consider about where beef fits in an evolving marketplace. Michael Young, President of Canada Beef, gave an overview on the global status of Canadian beef. Brenna Grant with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) gave a rundown of current markets, as well as the National Beef Strategy. We heard from two distinguished researchers, Dr. Kim Ominski of the University of

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Manitoba and Dr. Reynold Bergen of the Beef Cattle Research Council. Our panel discussion, which featured Maurice Bouvier with Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, Andrea White from the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, and Mark Ludwick from Chop Steakhouse & Bar, was very engaging as we talked about beef being a sustainable protein choice for consumers. Amie Peck of the CCA discussed key areas that the new Public and Stakeholder Engagement (PSE) Program under the CCA is working on to build our industry’s public trust. PSE will be a very important part of our industry moving forward. These speakers combined created a very informative agenda for our AGM. An important aspect

CARSON CALLUM

General Manager’s Column

of any AGM is an effective business meeting. During this portion of the AGM, Tom Teichroeb gave his final President’s Report, and I greatly thank him for everything he has done for the industry. The main categories covered in our resolutions session were Agricultural Crown Lands, Business Risk Management Programs, Environment/Production Management, Transportation, and Justice. Many resolutions related to these categories were carried by the delegates, which provide guidance for the organization moving forward. There was healthy debate during this section,

and MBP looks forward to continuing its work related to these. An update on which resolutions carried and which were defeated can be found in this edition of Cattle Country. The President’s Banquet at our AGM was an excellent opportunity for folks to unwind, connect with many producers/industry stakeholders, and share a great beef meal. This year we had lots of excitement during the evening. Greetings was brought forward by Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen, and he announced funding towards a predation preven-

Retiring and non-returning MBP directors, Tom Teichroeb, Larry Wegner, Jade Delaurier, Robert Kerda and Kris Kristjanson were recognized, and Outstanding Contribution Awards were presented to long-time MBP employees, bookkeeper Deb Walger, and Policy Analyst Maureen Cousins. In presenting the award, Teichroeb and Penner thanked them for their hard work and dedication to the organization over the past 20 years. This year’s Manitoba Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) went to the Hagan family – Thomas, Felicity and sons Rory and Ryan, who operate Hagan Valley Ranch near Virden. The Hagans were recognized for their contribution to the environment and conservation including efforts to incorporate habitat enhancement strategies on their 3,200 acres of largely native pastures. They have embraced new ideas in grazing management, marketing and soil health and ecology with a goal to have a sustainable ranch that ‘grows lots of grass, is diverse in wildlife and plant life, environmentally aware and financially stable’. How does beef stack up? Friday’s panel brought together speakers representing many aspects of the beef industry to weigh in on how beef stacks up to today’s competitive protein marketplace. Maurice Bouvier, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Production and Economic Development Division of Manitoba Agriculture

GORD ADAMS

R.M. of Albert, Cameron, Whitewater, Edward, Brenda, Winchester, Morton

DISTRICT 2

NANCY HOWATT - SECRETARY

R.M. of Riverside, Strathcona, Argyle, Lorne, Turtle Mountain, Roblin, Louise, Pembina

DISTRICT 5

STEVEN MANNS

R.M. of Elton, North Cypress, North Norfolk, Cornwallis, Oakland, South Cypress, Victoria, South Norfolk

DISTRICT 6

MELISSA ATCHINSON

R.M. of Wallace, Woodworth, Daly, Pipestone, Sifton, Whitehead, Glenwood

and Resource Development gave an overview of Manitoba’s Protein Advantage strategy and goals, which he said is an economic development and sustainability strategy. “We want to drive investment, new jobs, value in our rural and urban communities through the strategy,” explained Bouvier, emphasizing that although the strategy encompasses both animal and plant-based proteins, the animal protein sector right now is driving a lot of value and creating a lot of jobs. “We see beef as an important part of this [strategy] and we see that there are growth opportunities in beef production in Manitoba.” Mark Ludwick, Regional Manager for Chop Steakhouse & Bar, which has restaurants across Canada, said customers are increasingly asking questions about the source of the beef on their plate. Ludwick said his staff is excited about sharing the positive story of how Canadian beef is raised, and added this March, for the first time, the company will offer its customers a verified, sustainable Chop Burger. Around 65 per cent of Canadians want to know more about agriculture and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) brings together the entire beef value chain from producers to retailers, as well as other partners like NGOs and conservation groups who are all working together to promote the positive stories of beef production. The CRSB’s Community Engagement Manager, Andrea White, cited Cargill’s Canadian Beef

DISTRICT 9

DIANNE RIDING - PRESIDENT

R.M. of Woodlands, Rockwood, St. Andrews, Rosser, St. Francis Xavier, Springfield, Tache, Whitemouth, Lac du Bonnet, Brokenhead, St. Clements, LGD of Alexander, Pinawa

DISTRICT 10

MIKE DUGUID - 2ND VICE-PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 7

R.M. of Bifrost, Gimli, Fisher, Armstrong

R.M. of Portage la Prairie, Cartier, Grey, MacDonald, Dufferin, Thompson, Roland, Morris, Stanley, Rhineland, Montcalm

R.M. of Russell, Silver Creek, Rossburn, Ellice, Birtle, Shoal Lake, Strathclair, Archie, Miniota, Hamiota, Blanshard

DISTRICT 11

DISTRICT 4

MATTHEW ATKINSON

KEVIN DUDDRIDGE

R.M. of Richot, Ste. Anne, Hanover, De Salaberry, La Broquerie, Franklin, Stuartburn, Piney, LGD Reynolds

ing on their behalf as we move forward in 2020. It’s definitely sad to see directors finish their time on the board. Progressive, thoughtful, and professional directors like these folks are really what drive this industry forward. Even though they are leaving the board, I still hope to consider them friends. I am excited to get to know many of the new board members, and work closely with our new President, Dianne Riding, on many files important to the beef industry. Before I close, I want to thank the supporters and sponsors of our AGM. Without you, this event would not be possible. I also want to thank our members for attending and for your constant support of MBP. All the best during calving season! Carson Callum

AGM highlights (cont.)

DISTRICT 1

PETER PENNER - TREASURER

tion pilot project MBP has sought for some time. The Environmental Stewardship Award was presented to the Hagan family, who are very deserving of the award. Kind (and humorous) words were spoken about retiring and non-returning directors, a bittersweet moment for many in the room. It was also great to recognize two staff members, Maureen Cousins and Deb Walger, for their contribution to the industry. The evening was capped off by the hilarious comedian Dan Verville. It was such as great evening overall, and I was very happy to see all the folks enjoying themselves, especially after the tough production year in 2019. This being my first AGM, I am very pleased with how things went. The engagement by producers was outstanding, and I look forward to work-

TYLER FULTON 1ST VICE-PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 8

R.M. of Harrison, Clanwilliam, Rosedale, Glenella, Saskatchewan, Odanah, Minto, Langford, Lansdowne, Westbourne, LGD Park

ROBERT METNER

R.M. of Siglunes, Grahamdale, Eriksdale, Coldwell, St. Laurent

DISTRICT 12

MARK GOOD

R.M. of Lawrence, Ochre River, Ste. Rose, McCreary, Alonsa

Sustainability Acceleration pilot project as a good example of how the industry is working to create a certified sustainable Canadian beef supply chain. Still on the theme of the Canadian beef ‘story’, Amie Peck of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association discussed how its Public and Stakeholder Engagement Program is addressing misconceptions about the industry. CCA not only responds to issues as they arise, but has a number of proactive projects and provides science-based information through its Beef Advocacy website that gives producers and other stakeholders concise, effective messages to share about the benefits of Canadian beef production. Market outlook The conference wrapped up with reports from the BCRC including details of current research that is looking to fill the information gaps about the effects of rest stops on animal being transported over long distances. This research is important to address some of the livestock transportation regulation changes coming into effect this year. Finally, Brenna Grant, Manager of Canfax Research Services gave a market outlook for 2020 that forecasts beef prices will likely remain fairly stable, total beef production will be up slightly by around 2.2 per cent and international export demand will remain strong despite lots of competition from other beef producing countries.

DISTRICT 13

DISTRICT 14

MARY PAZIUK

R.M. of Shell River, Shellmouth,Hillsburg, Boulton, Grandview, Gilbert Plains, Ethelbert, Mossey River, Dauphin, LGD Park

MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS Unit 220, 530 Century Street Winnipeg, MB R3H 0Y4

Ph: 1-800-772-0458 PH - (204) 772-4542 FX - (204) 774-3264 info@mbbeef.ca www.mbbeef.ca

GENERAL MANAGER Carson Callum

POLICY ANALYST Maureen Cousins

www.mbbeef.ca

JIM BUCHANAN

R.M. of Minitonas, Swan River, Mountain, The Pas

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR David Hultin

FINANCE

Deb Walger

OFFICE ASSISTANT Tanya Michalsky

CATTLE COUNTRY EDITOR David Hultin

Trinda Jocelyn

March 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

The 2020-2021 Board of Directors (from left to right). Back row: Matthew Atkinson (District 8); Kevin Duddridge (District 4); Gord Adams (District 1); Mark Good (District 12); Steven Manns (District 5); Carson Callum, General Manager Middle row: Jim Buchanan (District 14); Robert Mettner (District 11); Mary Paziuk (District 13); Melissa Atchison (District 6) Seated: Nancy Howatt (Secretary, District 2); Tyler Fulton (1st Vice President, District 7); Dianne Riding (President, District 9); Mike Duguid (2nd Vice President, District 10); Peter Penner (Treasurer, District 3)

New president will lead advocacy efforts I am pleased to be submitting my first column since becoming president of Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP). I thank my fellow directors for their confidence in me as I take on this important role in representing my fellow producers as we advocate on issues of importance to our industry. I’d like to tell you a bit about myself. My partner Gary and I operate a commercial cow-calf operation in the Lake Francis area. We have a mix of agricultural Crown land and deeded land. Like so many of you, our farm has seen the negative effects of adverse weather conditions over the past few years, including severe flooding as well as droughts. We have also experienced the years of more favourable production and market conditions and the opportunities that go with that. There is never a dull moment when it comes to raising cattle. As I write this we are just coming off of our very successful 41st MBP Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Brandon. I would like to extend a sincere thanks to all the delegates who came to listen to the various speakers and to participate in the resolutions session. We had some really good discussions about topics such as the changes to the Agricultural Crown Lands program, business risk management programs, wildlife management, animal transportation, rural crime and more. MBP will continue to advocate in these areas and others in the months ahead. And, no AGM is a success without the generous support of our sponsors and trade show exhibitors and

we are truly appreciative of their participation. Look for coverage of our AGM throughout this edition of Cattle Country. I would like to personally recognize our retiring and non-returning directors: Robert Kerda (District 4), Larry Wegner (District 6), Tom Teichroeb (District 8) and Jade Delaurier (District 14). Each of these directors capably served their districts over the years, taking time away from their own operations and families to do so. Your contributions are appreciated more than you know. And I’d like to extend a hearty welcome to incoming directors Kevin Duddridge (District 4), Melissa Atchison (District 6), Matthew Atkinson (District 8), Mark Good (District 12) and Jim Buchanan (District 14). As well, I would also like to congratulate Hagan Valley Ranch (Thomas, Felicity, Rory and Ryan) for being named the latest recipients of The Environmental Stewardship Award in Manitoba. They will now go on to vie for the national TESA which will be awarded in the summer at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference. We’ve had some important announcements in recent weeks involving Manitoba’s beef industry. In early January the provincial government announced the insurance program changes for the upcoming year. MBP is pleased that forages used for extended-season grazing are now eligible for compensation under the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program for Crops. MBP has long requested improved coverage to

DIANNE RIDING President's Column

bring insurance programs up to date with both current industry practices and practices being encouraged by governments, such as extended grazing. MBP continues to raise with MASC concerns about damage caused by other wildlife such as blackbirds, ravens and wild boars. At our AGM the Hon. Blaine Pedersen, Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development announced the provincial government will be providing funding toward a threeyear Livestock Predation Prevention Project aimed at reducing wildlife predation of livestock. For years MBP has pursued this type of initiative as we recognize the heavy toll that predation takes on our sector and news the province is supporting this important project is welcomed. Key areas of focus will include conducting on-farm predation risk assessments and planning in consultation with producers, testing onfarm predation prevention and removal practices, and sharing information with producers about management practices. The project will be targeted in areas such as the northern Interlake and Parkland regions where there are the highest incidences of predation. The Livestock Predation Protection Working Group (of which MBP is the co-chair) will develop and lead the project. Watch for more details in upcoming weeks. In January the pro-

vincial and federal governments announced that about 1,500 eligible producers will be receiving payments after the Hay Disaster Benefit triggered due to the 2019 forage shortfall in Manitoba. The payments are flowing to those producers who took out Select Hay or Basic Hay Insurance coverage, two of the forage insurance programs provided through Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC). MBP recognizes that this does not help all the producers affected by the drought. It is important to note that the Manitoba government recently announced that it is doing a review of the forage insurance pro-

gram. According to the province’s news release, “More than 1,200 producers currently have forage insurance, representing more than 272,000 acres. This represents about 18 per cent of the more than 1.5 million eligible acres in Manitoba. For comparison, about 90 per cent of annual crop acreage is insured through MASC.” MBP is strongly encouraging all beef producers to take part in the consultations related to the forage insurance program review. It is essential that the province and MASC have an understanding of why forage insurance does or does not work for your farm or ranch, and what needs to be done to make these insurance programs more responsive to your operation’s needs. The consultation process will be starting very soon, so watch our enewsletter and social me-

dia channels for updates. Looking ahead MBP will continue to advocate on issues like these and others that affect our industry. As we head into the next production year there is a possibility that some parts of the province may be affected by spring flooding. We encourage producers to take steps to prepare in case such an emergency arises and to watch our website and social media for information. MBP will also continue to advocate with both the provincial and federal governments for effective water management strategies to reduce future risk, such as the completion of the Lake Manitoba and Lake Manitoba outlet channels project. As we work through calving season and get ready for spring activities, I wish you all the best for the production year ahead.

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CATTLE COUNTRY March 2020

Leaders heading to Manitoba in May Just when it looked like the cattle industry was going to catch a break and the market showed strength along came the coronavirus which sent the world economy into a tail spin. The virus sent shock waves of uncertainty around the world and every commodity price dropped. The USA had just agreed to resume trade with China and Japan reduced tariffs on USA beef destined. These two agreements created a very bullish market in the beef industry. China was already suffering to the effects of the African Swine Fever that decimated their pork industry and were in the process of buying huge amounts of beef trim and pork from around the world. With travel restrictions

imposed on the Chinese population many factories were forced to close down due to a lack of workers. This disrupted production and trade world wide. Despite the fact that people still have to be fed the meat processors and the com- $170.00 to $161.00 per modity traders found a pound with the majority way to lower both the cash going to the finishing lots in market for fed cattle and the Western Canada. This drop in prices refutures market. The heavy calf mar- sulted in the backgroundket took the biggest hit. ers that purchased feeders Early January prices for a last fall took it on the chin 900-pound steer in Mani- again this spring. The bad toba was close to $1.82 news is that with the poor per pound. Cash price weather conditions last fall in the middle of Feb- the majority of the backruary had dropped to grounded cattle were pur$1.75. With very limited chased and placed on feed demand for replace- later than usual and this ment heifers for breeding means the majority of those Please keep an eye out for cattle weighing 800 pound 850-pound heifers in Maniupcoming online surveys, inperson consultations, plus will or come to market in toba had dropped from submit your comments to March. MBP. As of today, there is Forage Insurance Review very little chance of much The Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development of a market increase on wants to better understand the decisions of Manitoba producers when it comes to forage insurance products heavy during March and available through MASC. early April. Many of those cattle may not be sold with

RICK WRIGHT

The Bottom Line

@ManitobaBeef

the feedlots choosing to retain ownership and finish the cattle hoping to mitigate their potential losses. Some will finish the cattle here, but the majority will be sent south to be finished in the USA. Slightly more competition in the packing industry, more available pen space and financing available for both the feed and the cattle, makes feeding in the USA more attractive for the owners of the cattle. Interest from the Ontario and Quebec feedlot operators has been somewhat diminished this spring. Poor finished cattle prices resulting in large losses combined with unpredictable delivery times to the packers created pen space, cash flow and de-

Manitoba Beef Producers

The review will ask producers about insurance products, how they currently manage risks and how the program can evolve to support growth in the livestock sector.

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mand issues. This has also put extra pressure on the Manitoba markets. On the other side of the coin the really good news as been in the grass cattle trade. Demand for the cattle under 700 pounds opened the year strong and has never looked back. The grassland operators came off a profitable fall in 2019 and the long-term futures look very positive for the fall delivery on grass yearlings. There were a lot of grass cattle buyers that did not purchase any inventory in the fall due to the poor weather and pen conditions. Many producers were short of feed and sold more feeders in the fall than usual. The supply/demand ratio kicked in and the buyers of light weight grass type cattle threw caution to the wind. Heifers saw the biggest price improvement as some buyers switched from steers to heifers. The spread is still

20 cents per pound between heifers and steers but with the high steer market sellers are more satisfied than they were last fall. With the hope that coronavirus will be under control by fall and the predictions of $2.00 per pound for 800-pound steers and $1.90 plus for 900-pounders the grass operators have created a very strong market this spring. In other industry news Manitoba was selected by the Livestock Marketing Association of Canada to host the 2020 LMAC convention. The convention will be held in Brandon May 7 to 10 at the Clarion Hotel. The Canadian Livestock Auctioneering Championships is held in conjunction with the convention and will held at Heartland Livestock Services in Virden on May 8. The convention will bring the leaders of the livestock marketing business from across Canada to Brandon to listen to speakers and discuss issues that affect the auction market and livestock marketing sector. The Auctioneering competition will see over 40 auctioneers from across Canada competition for the Canadian crown. The competition is free for the public to attend. Virden Heartland manager Robin Hill will be taking a limited number of cattle for this special sale so book early. The convention and competition also attract extra buyers from across the country and they like to do a little business adding extra competition. Watch for more details over the next few weeks. Until next time. Rick

March 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

StockTalk Q&A Feature brought to you by Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, Livestock Extension Branch Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Livestock Extension Specialists Shawn Cabak.............Portage la Prairie.....204-239-3353 Ray Bittner.................Ashern.......................204-768-0010 Elizabeth Nernberg...Roblin.........................204-247-0087 Kathleen Walsh.........Swan River................204-734-3417 Jane Thornton...........Souris.........................204-483-2153 Tim Clarke...................Gladstone..................204-768-0534 Pam Iwanchysko.......Dauphin.....................204-648-3965 Question. My beef operation has had a difficult couple of years. What can I do to prevent further setbacks if the weather doesn’t cooperate in 2020? Answer: As Manitoba Agriculture Livestock staff we answer the difficult questions on livestock and forage management, but the experts on forage and pasture risk are found at MASC Insurance. We asked them to answer this question and would like to remind producers to get the details on the forage insurance programs prior to the enrollment deadline at the end of March. Answer (Courtesy of MASC Insurance): There’s only one sure guarantee for agriculture in Manitoba: the weather does not always cooperate. Lately, cattle producers might wonder if it ever cooperates, and with two straight years of province-wide forage shortfalls, you’re right to search for ways to prevent further setbacks. As a cattle producer, your best option is to decrease the risk your operation will face in the coming year. You can lessen your risks by enrolling in business risk management (BRM) programs. When your forage production, forage quality or calf prices fall short, or the weather doesn’t cooperate, BRM programs can mean the difference between an average-to-good year and a terrible-to-devastating year. MASC has BRM programs that target the unpreventable challenges you face as a cattle producer. Rheal Bernard, Manager of Insurance at MASC, points out that for the reasonable cost of a program premium, you’ll be paid an indemnity if your operation suffers a forage production or quality shortfall, diminished calf prices, or other setbacks. Livestock producers face more than just the whim of Manitoba weather. From calving until sale,

you are also exposed to market forces and fluctuations that push and pull on daily livestock prices. How can you budget for your operation when you have a successful calving season and still lose out due to low sale prices? “Your operation is too important to be managed by a gut feeling of future price predictions,” said Bernard. “The Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP) is a BRM tool that provides a floor price protection for your livestock. With the program, you can insure a sale price for a specific weight of cattle on a certain date. Then, if the market price is lower than your insured price, you are paid an indemnity on the difference. This is one way beef producers can protect their investment.” Producers may see program premiums as costly, or even wasteful in good years when no indemnity is paid. While there’s some merit to this way of thinking, producers should understand that when they do not collect an indemnity, they are building their coverage over time, as hay is an Individual Coverage crop. However, Bernard said, “If you are not willing to invest in your operation, no one else will. This is like putting money in the bank.” Producers need to view premiums as an investment for the long-term protection of their businesses. “The good news is, MASC and the governments of Manitoba and Canada recognize the costs of sustaining BRM programs are too much for producers to bear alone,” said Bernard. “That means premiums for the business risk management programs are shared and producers only have to foot the bill for about 40 per cent of the costs.” For forage producers, MASC offers a whole subset of insurance products designed to protect against the challenges of growing forages in Manitoba. This includes: • Select Hay Insurance • Basic Hay Insurance • Forage Establishment Insurance

• Corn Silage Insurance • Greenfeed insurance • Pasture Days Insurance “With so many programs and various levels of premiums, it might seem like a daunting task for producers to even try to figure out what might be the best options for their operation. That’s why we have knowledgeable staff available to help walk our clients through all the options and make decisions on what makes sense for them based on their operation. It’s not a one-size fits all situation,” said Bernard. What some producers may not realize is that MASC’s Forage Insurance also gives them access to additional benefits, such as the Forage Restoration and Hay Disaster benefits. “Take the Hay Disaster Benefit, for instance,” said Bernard. “We paid out approximately $3.2 million on 1,000 claims for 2018, and an estimated $5.3 million for 2019 in production shortfalls. This is one risk management tool that more producers could be taking advantage of.” While farmers always hope for favourable weather and positive results, it is a good idea to plan for less than ideal circumstances to protect yourself, your family and your business operations. Contact your local MASC Insurance office for more details. We want to hear from you! For the next issue of Cattle Country, a Manitoba Agriculture livestock specialist will answer a selected question. Send your questions to Ray.Bittner@gov. mb.ca The StockTalk Q&A Feature for Cattle Country is brought to you by Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development. Our forage and livestock team, who have a combined 230 years of agronomy experience, are here to help make your cattle operation successful. Contact us today.

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Field trial in pasture cropping BY DR. MARY-JANE ORR

MBFI General Manager

Revitalizing tame pasture and hay land through direct seeding into sod minimizes soil disturbance, retaining soil moisture and limiting erosion losses. Pasture cropping is a variation of sod seeding promoted by Colin Seis and Darryl Cluff in Gulgong region of Australia starting in the early 1990s. The strategy to seed winter annual cereals into dormant forage stands was designed to capture two windows of productivity while avoiding the costs of breaking and re-establishing forage stands. As one of the first Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives (MBFI) led onfarm trials, a comparison of approaches to pasture cropping is being evaluated at the Johnson Farm over the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons. The field trial is an opportunity to showcase the potential to increase productivity in forage stands and increase plant diversity while minimizing negative environmental impacts. The aim of pasture cropping is to see successful seeding establishment and increased productivity over the winter annual growing seasons with minimal disturbance to the existing forage stand. The trial objectives are to measure the establishment and yield of two pasture cropping strat-

egies relative to the preexisting forage stand. Measurements of the baseline forage yield before the start of the trial and two months following seeding were collected in 2019, and samples will be collected in the 2020 growing season at green feed - hay harvest. The Australian model of pasture cropping was adapted to accommodate the shorter Manitoba growing season. The trial area is located on loamy fine sands with dominate forage of Kentucky bluegrass, brome grass, and less than ten per cent legumes. The stand has been managed for grazing and hayed in years with adequate moisture. To use a late summer seeding window the pre-existing forage stand was setback by either grazing or chemical suppression and was compared to a control without any setback or seeding. The three treatments were replicated three times and randomly applied to the field plot area. In July 2019, two weeks before seeding grazing suppression was carried out by mob grazing to 80% utilization of the forage stands. Chemical suppression was applied one week prior to seeding as 360 g glyphosate per acre. All treatments were given the same base fertility. In both the chemi-

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cal and grazing suppression treatments a mix of fall rye, winter triticale, Hungvillosa hairy vetch, tillage radish, and Hercules turnips were seeded on August 8, 2019 with a John Deere 750 no-till drill. Available moisture is the most critical element to successfully seeding into a forage stand, and in this trial the rains were timely beginning on August 12, 2019. The baseline sampling of yield and forage quality established no differences between plot areas. In the two months following suppression and seeding, the per cent of canopy cover in the chemical suppression treatment showed a trend of an increase in bare ground, decrease in established grasses, and increase in all seeded crops relative to the grazing suppression and control. The grazing

suppression showed com- ability to quickly respond nual over wintering and parable winter cereals cov- to favorable growing con- evaluating the impact of fall erage to chemical suppres- ditions out yielded the Au- rye and winter triticale on sion, but significantly lower gust seeded winter annuals forage yield to be harvested brassicas, hairy vetch, and in the fall of 2019. MBFI is green feed at the soft dough bare ground. The grazing looking forward to spring stage compared to hay yield suppression also showed observations of winter an- in the control plots. a decrease in established grass canopy cover. Initial observations indicate that while all plant varieties seeded were able to establish in both suppression treatments, the seeded varieties thrived more under the chemical suppression. The observed increase in plant stand diversity did not translate to early increase in yield compared to the control forage plots. The control plots showed an average of approximately 400 lbs dry weight per acre more grass yield compared to both suppression and seeding treatments. The fall moisture combined with the established forages’ Chemical Suppression – October 2019

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New research supported by Manitoba Beef Producers Watershed-scale assessment of water and nutrient dynamics of pastures utilized by beef cattle BY CHRISTINE RAWLUK

National Centre for Livestock and the Environment, University of Manitoba

Marcos Cordeiro, Assistant Professor in Animal Science and soil scientist David Lobb lead new research funded by the Beef Cattle Research Council and Manitoba Beef Producers that will provide science-based information on the environmental goods and services provided by the beef industry. The Canadian beef industry has been under constant scrutiny regarding environmental performance. One area for which there is relatively little data is nutrient dynamics in grasslands, as detailed assessments describing the contribution of beef cattle to nutrient cycling in grasslands and its relationship to land management and water cycling in these landscapes are still lacking. This area is a priority for the beef industry at both the national (Beef Cattle Research Council, Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef) and provincial levels (e.g. Manitoba Beef Producers). Cordeiro’s and Lobb’s research will narrow this knowledge gap by estimating the impact of grazing on water cycling and nutrient dynamics in pasture landscapes in the

Prof. Marcos Cordeiro

Canadian Prairies. Specifically, the objectives of the project are to (1) estimate nitrogen and phosphorus excretion by beef cattle based on a range of pasture quality and productivity, weather conditions, and pasture management practices commonly adopted in Canada, (2) simulate the major water budget components by a set of algorithms developed specifically for Canadian conditions, (3) estimate relative contribution from vegetation, soils, and manure to the overall nutrient dynamics from pasture land, and (4) integrate objectives 1-3 to identify prominent processes, sources, and management practices impacting nutrient cycling in pasture and grasslands. This project will provide datasets and models quantifying pasture productivity and quality, hydrological responses, nutrient accumulation in different pools, and the impact of management practices on nutrient export. Understanding of the

relationships between climate, hydrology, nutrient sources and land management in grasslands will (1) provide the industry with science-based information necessary to identify the merits of grassland and pasture systems in achieving whole-farm sustainability, (2) enable risk management analysis under periods of feed shortage by clearly describing the relationship between precipitation and pasture productivity and quality, and (3)

equip producers to better manage these landscapes. This research will investigate the climatic and hydrological processes driving nutrient dynamics, creating a link between water and nutrient cycles in grasslands. It will also illustrate the importance of beef cattle as a source of exported nutrients from pasturelands, converting plant biomass into a high quality protein for human consumption. The outcomes of this research

will inform future policy development and effective public communication regarding environmental goods and services provided by the beef industry. The research team: Marcos Cordeiro, David Lobb, Kim Ominski and Don Flaten (University of Manitoba), Tim McAllister (AAFC - Lethbridge, AB), Henry Wilson (AAFC - Brandon, MB), John Pomeroy (University of Saskatchewan), Helen Baulch (University of Sas-

katchewan) and Merrin Macrae (University of Waterloo). The U of M Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences beef production systems research team includes Kim Ominski, Emma McGeough, Argenis Rodas-Gonzalez, Marcos Cordeiro, Kateryn Rochon, Claudia Narvaez, Doug Cattani, Yvonne Lawley, Francis Zvomuya, Mario Tenuta, Don Flaten, David Lobb and Derek Brewin.

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CATTLE COUNTRY March 2020

Quality colostrum key to successful calving season DR. TANYA ANDERSON, DVM

The Vet Corner

The requirement for the development of a VCPR (Vet Client Patient Relationship) has resulted in very positive discussions between veterinarians and their clients as they work together to improve herd health through better management rather than relying on drugs. Today’s topic is about the oldest “drug” available for the newborn calf – colostrum, something that requires review for clients every year prior to calving season. Calves are born with virtually no protection against disease and rely on rapid efficient absorption of their dam’s colostrum to ensure their survival. Recent research continues to find out just how invaluable colostrum is for the survival of the newborn calf.

Colostrum isn’t just a source of antibodies. The high fat provides a sustained energy source while an abundance of hormones and growth factors stimulate appetite and ensure growth by promoting sugar and amino acid uptake. Still other hormones promote the development of the reproductive system and enhance immunity to disease. Each mL of colostrum contains over 10 million white blood cells which teach the calf ’s immune system how to work. This perinatal programming is maximized with adequate colostrum consumption. Unfortunately a study of well-managed Western Canadian beef herds indicated that 30% of calves do not receive enough colostrum. The calves most at risk were those born to heifers, twins, or those follow-

ing a difficult or prolonged birth. Breed factors also play a role with calving ease and time to stand and nurse post-calving. Vigour at birth is largely influenced by the bull genetics. If your calves are slow at birth, look at changing your bull battery. Quality colostrum starts with quality cow care. Thin cows or those that are malnourished produce poorer quality and lower quantities of colostrum. Good nutrition including a trace mineral and vitamin program ensures that high levels of immunoglobulins, fats and hormones are available for colostrum production. Scour vaccines should be administered according to label recommendations to ensure that there is adequate time for the cow to mount an immune response and direct those antibodies into the colostrum. Keep in mind that the final week before calving is when colostrum

volume accumulates. The antibodies have largely already been deposited in the udder so cows that calve a week early should still have adequate colostrum available for the calf. Levels can be measured using a BRIX refractometer or supplementation can be provided to ensure adequate protection. Beware that supplementation can create a sense of false security. Calves absorb their own dam’s colostrum better than that of others. If the calf is orphaned or its mother’s colostrum is inadequate, the next best option would be from an older cow in the same herd. Herd mates have had similar disease exposures and have protection against the pathogens on the premise. Quality commercial powdered colostrum supplements such as Head Start or Calf ’s Choice would be a third choice. Fresh is definitely the best as freezing,

drying and pasteurization destroys >85% of the white blood cells that are critical in helping develop the calf ’s own immune system. Dairy colostrum is the least ideal due to the dilution of antibody levels (higher volume) and disease risks from unpasteurized milk. Timing of colostrum administration is critical. The first six hours are optimal for absorption as the calf ’s ability to absorb colostrum begins to lessen more rapidly by 12 hours with a marked decrease in absorption by 18 hours of age. Assist calves early and if in doubt, fully milk the cow (all four quarters) and tube the calf with the whole volume. Partial milking means that the next feed will be a mix of colostrum and milk as the udder begins milk production. Recent research has also determined that if a cow is not nursed within several hours of giving birth, she will start to resorb the

immunoglobulin in her colostrum - 3-4% loss per hour. Early intervention is critical. Calves that get sick at under six weeks of age almost always did not receive enough colostrum. Calves treated at <3 months of age are 2.5x more likely to die before reaching maturity and will have a decreased growth weight pre-weaning. Heifers are 2.4x more likely to have calving difficulty and to calve later. If you experience high sickness amongst your young calves, talk to your veterinarian about colostrum management and test calves to ensure that their antibody levels are adequate. Remember to look after your cow this calving season and ensure calves mother up early. No drug or management tool comes close to outperforming colostrum. Program your calves to not only survive but to thrive.

LIMOUSIN THE NATURAL GENETIC ADVANTAGE FROM BIRTH TO PLATE

ATTENTION PRODUCERS Amaglen Limousin 204-246-2576 / 204-823-2286 View bulls & Females for sale online at www. amaglenlimousin.ca Campbell Land & Cattle 204-776-2322 Email: cam.limousin@gmail.com Bulls & Females for sale by Private Treaty on the farm Cherway Limousin 204-736-2878 View Bulls & females for sale online www.cherwaylimousin.ca Diamond T Limousin 204-838-2019 / 204-851-0809 (Cell) Email: diamondtlimo@gmail.com 2yr old & yearling bulls for sale by Private Treaty on the farm Hockridge Farms 204-648-6333 Brad/ 204-648-5222 Glen www.hockridgefarms.ca Bulls for sale on farm.

Jaymarandy Limousin 204-937-0828 Email: ne262527@gmail.com Bulls for sale at the farm Todd Jay-Dean Angus Jules Smyth L&S Limousin Acres 204-838-2198 Bulls sell March 28 at Douglas Bull Test Maplehurst Farms 204-274-2490 Bob Bulls for sale on farm &at Douglas Bull Test Station

Year after year, we buy Limousin bulls because they give us great calves that we get a premium for. Raising superior calves is why we farm.” Craig and Lorna Marr 250 Head Cow/Calf 2013 MB COMMERCIAL

Silver Ridge, MB BREEDER OF THE YEAR

We use quiet Limousin bulls for the big beefy calves with great hair and hip. They have been our terminal cross for over 20 years and the calves are vigorous at birth, do well in the feedlot, and have great carcass yield. Gord Kozroski 500 Head Black Cow Herd Gull Lake, SK 2013 SK COMMERCIAL

BREEDER OF THE YEAR

Park Performance Limousin Rick 701 340-2517 2 yr old Bulls available by Private Treaty Calves for Sale Fall of 2020 Triple R Limousin 204-685-2628 / 204-856-2440 Email: triplerlimo@yahoo.ca Bulls for sale at the farm. 40 Limousin and Limousin/Angus, 2-yr olds and yearlings

Marketing Limousin influence calves this fall? List them on our website and contact the CLA for marketing assistance!

Using Limousin bulls on our black cows gave us calving ease and a cross breeding advantage. Our ranch was able to sell market topping 1000 pound grass yearlings in late July.

www.mbbeef.ca

Connor Brothers Hannah, AB

700 Head Cow Herd

CANADIAN LIMOUSIN

~ ASSOCIATION ~ #13, 4101-19 STREET NE CALGARY, AB T2E 7C4 PHONE 1. 403.253.7309 TOLL-FREE 1.866.886.1605 FAX 1.403.253.1704 EMAIL limousin@limousin.com WEB www.limousin.com Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/ManitobaLimousin-Association/572198599475105

March 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

South American delights BY: ELISABETH HARMS In an effort to broaden my beef-cooking horizons, I attempted to cook some skirt steak this weekend. I have also been curious about cooking beef in a more South American style, as they are one of the world’s leaders in beef consumption and they approach cooking beef in a very different way. For my first attempt at South American cooking, I chose something quite simple in both preparation and cooking: skirt steak, grilled, with chimichurri sauce. For those of you who don’t know, the skirt steak comes from the side of the cow, right next to the flank steak. These two cuts of meat can be used interchangeably in a variety of recipes, but they are not the same thing. The biggest difference is the degree of tenderness of each of these cuts. The best way to get a tender flank steak is to either pound it or to marinate it. A skirt steak is naturally tender and does not require a marinade (or pounding) to make it that way. Skirt steak also contains a lot of marbling. Your instinct may be to cut as much as you can off, but it will be best if you don’t. The fat will render during cooking, adding to the tenderness and flavour of the finished product. In South American tradition, the best way to cook beef is over wood on a grill for a long period of time. However, in North America we don’t usually grill over wood barbeques, and we don’t usually like to take too long when grilling something. Luckily, skirt steak is a cut of meat that can be cooked over any kind of heat source and it doesn’t take longer than about 15 minutes. If you haven’t heard of chimichurri sauce, think of it like a South American version of pesto: a mixture of herbs, garlic, oil and red wine vinegar. Traditionally, oregano and parsley are used, but chimichurri sauce is fairly customizable. You could substitute rosemary or thyme for one of these herbs, or you could add red pepper flakes or fresh chillies if you like more heat with your meal. If you like to experiment even further, you could swap out the red wine vinegar for balsamic to add more depth of flavour. When you’re ready to prepare the meat, it doesn’t take long. There are a couple of different ways you can cook it. You can heat a very heavy pan, preferably cast iron, over medium heat, or you can heat your barbeque to a medium temperature, like 375F. When you cook the meat, make sure it’s been patted dry. This will help avoid flare-ups on a gas grill,

PRAIRIE Bull Sale DISTINCTION TUESDAY, MARCH 31ST, 2020 1:00 PM DST • Beautiful Plains Ag Complex, Neepawa, MB Oﬀering 38 Yearling & 18 Two Year Old Charolais Bulls • White, Tan, Red ~ Something for everyone ~

and you will limit the amount of splattering if you are cooking stovetop. Season lightly with salt and pepper before placing in the pan, or on the grill. For a medium doneness, cook each piece of meat no longer than 4-5 minutes per side. You will also want to rest your meat before you slice or serve it. When ready to serve, slice your skirt steak into 1/2” slices and serve with chimichurri sauce, either beside or on top. For other interesting skirt steak ideas, visit www. canadabeef.ca. Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce 2 lbs skirt steak, trimmed of any excess fat Salt and pepper 4 tbsp parsley, finely chopped

2 tbsp oregano, finely chopped 2-3 cloves garlic, finely minced 3 tbsp olive or canola oil 1.5 tbsp red wine vinegar Salt and pepper 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Prepare meat by trimming any excess fat or silverskin. Cut into smaller pieces if you need to make them fit into a pan. Combine herbs, garlic, oil and vinegar in bowl. Set aside. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Heat large cast-iron pan over medium heat, or preheat grill to 375F. Cook skirt steak until medium doneness – about 4-5 minutes a side, no longer. Slice and serve with chimichurri.

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10 CATTLE COUNTRY March 2020

Canadian beef exports and the China factor also knocking on the door of European pork producMichael Young, Presiers like Germany – one dent of Canada Beef, has of the largest, although worked in the Canadian some experts believe that meat industry for more it might not be as devastatthan 40 years, and says that ing thanks to the stringent in all that time he has never biosecurity measures Euseen the economic indicaropean countries employ. tors [for any export market] A huge protein gap line up the way that they Nevertheless, there currently are for China. is currently a huge gap in African Swine Fever, pork supply to China. It’s which has decimated Chihard to get an exact numna’s pork industry, will be a ber and estimates range game changer in the animal from an 18 million tonne protein world, Young told to a 32 million tonne Manitoba beef producers shortfall. Whatever the figat their Annual General ure, said Canfax Research Meeting in Brandon on Services Manager Brenna February 6. Grant, also speaking at the Why? AGM, the reality if that First of all, the virus once the supply gap reachis very hard to kill, there is es anything over 15 million no vaccine and mortality tonnes, it cannot be filled. rates are over 95 per cent. So, while many coun“Seventy-five per cent tries, including Canada, of the world’s hogs are are positioning themselves now threatened in the EU to fill that gap with beef Michael Young, President of Canada Beef, on the opening day of the 41st AGM. and Asia combined,” said products and other proYoung. “It’s going to drive teins, Grant is cautious build their domestic herd restocking,” said Grant. ing to be a high risk, high demand for global animal about how big an opportu- in order to have food secu- “This means it’s going to reward market for major protein for five to seven nity this disaster will actu- rity for their consumers.” be a volatile market as they exporters.” years.” ally offer. Pork producers in try to rebuild and figure Lots of competition That’s the expected “China doesn’t want China who are able to keep out what’s successful and Canada will have amount of time it will take that gap filled,” she said. a sow and her piglets alive what’s not. There’s lots of some stiff opposition as to rebuild China’s domestic “The Chinese government will currently make $400 a failure and successes hap- market leaders including pork supply, and although has a commitment to re- head, she added. pening and it’s a really Brazil, Uruguay, Argen“There has to be a big messy market, but it means tina, Australia, New Zeaenough reward for those that over the next five to land, the United States, producers to take on the seven years there is going Mexico and others vie for risk of doing all the work to be lots of volatility, and position on the Chinese of decontaminating and China, consequently, is go- mainland. “The Chinese have been approving a lot of (processing) and market newcomers like Japan and India will all be looking at exporting beef to China,” said Young. Australia, although it’s had issues over the past year and its agricultural exports are expected to be down almost 20 per cent this year as a result, is still a At the farm , South of Glenboro, MB 1:00 p.m. major competitor to watch Your source for Elite Angus Genetics! out for, said Grant. “They have been priSelling 50 Red & 50 Black Angus Yearling Bulls oritizing China over the Selling 25 Red & 15 Black Angus 2 Year old Bulls last year and that means China, which had been their third largest export destination [for beef] was their top destination in congratulations 2019, surpassing Japan and to the 2019 Scholarship Recipents the US,” she said. “They Gracie Falconer, Hartney, MB have been pulling product Box 274, Austin, MB R0H 0C0 Shaelyn Beswitherick, Austin. MB President: Tracy Wilcox 204-713-0029 out of North America in Cody Carson, Rossburn, MB Secretary: Laurelly Beswitherick 204-637-2046 b2@inetlink.ca order to prioritize Asian markets.” üMany are AI sired Total beef Australian 2020 CSA AGM & YCSA Show üBulls semen tested Portage La Prairie, mb imports into Canada are üBulls on home performance test - data available down 30 per cent (with üDeveloped on a high forage TMR ration New Zealand imports also üSelected from a 530 purebred cow herd down by 27 per cent), but üFree board until April 15 most of the product imüOnline Bidding with DLMS ported from these two Please join us for lunch 12:00 p.m. on Sale Day countries is lean trim, where prices remain strong For more information or catalogues view us on line and will offer opportuniat hamcocattleco.com or contact us ties for Canadian beef producers. Watch for more information The Hamiltons “From the second half to sponsor please contact Laurelly Glen & Carleen (204) 827-2358 Dr. David & Shelley (204) 822-3054 of last year on we have seen Larissa & Kyle (204) 526-0705 Cell (204) 325-3635 Cell w w w . m b s i m m e n t a l . c o m larissa_hamilton@hotmail.com Embryo@mymts.net really Page 11 

BY: ANGELA LOVELL

the Chinese government is committed to doing that, it’s not going to be an easy task, and might mean that the Chinese people’s appetite for pork could change. “If they don’t have this product, after five to seven years of rebuilding [their domestic supply], experts are saying that the Chinese flavor for pork will have changed,” said Young. “Chinese consumption will shift, they won’t eat as much pork, opening the door for other protein and we will be one of those suppliers if we can maintain access.” The Chinese consume around 88 pounds of pork per capita annually and the Chinese pork supply represents 20 per cent of total global meat and poultry consumption. By October 2019, just 13 months after the outbreak, the World Organization of Animal Health estimated that African Swine Fever had killed more than 300 million pigs in China alone, and it’s also decimated herds in Vietnam and other countries across Southeast Asia. African Swine Fever is

HAMCO CATTLE CO. al u 22nd Ann

Angus Bull Sale

Saturday, March 21, 2020

July 23-26

www.mbbeef.ca

March 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY 11

Brenna Grant, Manager, Canfax Research Services

WHERE THE GOOD BULLS COME 52n d An nu a l

LUNDAR

in phase one of the new U.S.-China trade agreement are the equivalent to what Canada already had, said Grant, except that they had all age restrictions removed, while Canada still has restrictions on OTM [over 30 months] access. “They also got group plant approvals for all of their federally inspected plants, whereas Canada’s all have to be one on one inspected and approved,” remarked Grant. “The hype about purchase agreements, that’s going to be decided by markets and prices, the real wins on that agreement were the nontariff barriers that were removed.” Young believes the new U.S.-China trade deal will not make much of a dent in Canadian exports. “Although they [the U.S.] will have an advantage in some areas, they

will still have a much higher tariff than we do, so I think we will still have a

great share as long as China will treat us the same on some of the things that

they have relaxed on [with the U.S.],” said Young.

Offering:

Angus Bulls • Angus Yearling • Heifers Angus Inﬂuence • Yearling Heifers

Saturday, April 11, 2020

1:00pm Heartland Livestock, Yorkton, SK

CONSIGNORS

per cent in 2019 is projected to be up by one per cent this year,” said Grant. “There is going to be a gap in the Canadian pork market that is either going to be backfilled by US pork product or we are going to have smaller per capita pork consumption here at home. So there are opportunities for other commodities as the switching occurs.” Another issue could simply be cost, said Grant. “It’s questionable if a lot of these southeast Asian countries are going to be able to compete to pay for product, whether it’s pork or other livestock proteins, so the expectation is, in a lot of these countries, there is going to be a switch back to plant protein options and that is going to impact future consumption patterns in the next generation,” she said. What about the U.S.China trade deal? Many of the things that the U.S. were granted

 Page 10 strong lean trim prices, and this is expected to continue in 2020, so this will be supporting cow prices,” says Grant. “It’s got the potential to raise all boats in terms of the cut-out value overall when you have got underutilized cuts that actually end up being ground into ground beef.” Canadian beef exports will continue to rise Despite some reservations about the Chinese market, Canada will likely still export more beef to China in the years ahead. It’s a market that has been growing steadily over the past couple of years, and China (and Hong Kong) are now Canada’s third largest export market for beef. Exports were up 17 per cent in 2019 to China despite import restrictions from July to October. “We are looking at exports [to China] being up 10 per cent in 2020 while pork production, which was up six to seven

14 t h An n u al

Blue Collar Bull Sale

NORTHERN VIEW ANGUS Neudorf, SK Troy, Amy, Bret, Alexis & Talon Frick Cell: 306-728-8911 Alvin & Marlene Frick - 306-728-3295 northernviewangus@imagewireless.ca

VIEW THE CATALOGUE ONLINE AT:

www.buyagro.com www.castlerockmarketing.com

PARKWOOD FARM Yorkton, SK Jack & Joyce - 306-782-7112 Scott, Mandy, Katie, Landon & Macy Burkell 306-783-7986 • Cell: 306-621-3638 E: s.a.burkell@sasktel.net

VIEW THE SALE VIDEOS ONLINE AT: www.cattlevids.ca FIND US ON FACEBOOK

SWAN HILLS RANCH Swan River, MB Scott, Cindy, Martina, Robyn & Parker Tibble Cell: 204-734-0210 • Ranch: 204-539-2570 stibblemail@gmail.com

SALE MANAGEMENT

Shane Castle Devin Warrilow Cell: 306-741-7485 780-581-4329 castlerock.mktg@sasktel.net

WHEN POUNDS MATTER

Charolais Gets The Job Done!

Purebred Beef Cattle Sale

Saturday, April 4, 2020 LUNDAR Sale: 1:00 p.m. Offering at Lundar Agri-Ed Centre 54 Lots HEREFORD 13

GELBVIEH 2

LIMOUSIN 6

Yearling Bulls

2 Year old Bulls

HEIFERS 1

ANGUS 1

SIMMENTAL 6

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Yearling Bulls

2 Year old Bulls

Angus

check o ut these bull sales for yo u ne x t herdsire:

March 8 th Steppler Farms 9th Annual Bull Sale, Steppler Sale Barn, Miami MB

March 21 st Pleasant Dawn Charolais 17th Annual Bull Sale, at the farm, Oak Lake MB

For more information, Contact: Jim 1-204-461-0884 Ken 1-204-793-4044 lundarbullsale@gmail.com

March 20 th High Bluff Stock Farm Charolais & Simmental Bull Sale, at the farm Inglis MB

Manitoba Charolais Association

March 23 rd Tee M Jay Charolais Bull Sale Ashern Auction Mart, Ashern MB March 23 rd Tri-N Charolais Farm & Guests Bull Sale, at the farm, Lenore MB March 25 th HTA Charolais & Guest Bull Sale, at the farm Rivers MB March 31 st Prairie Distinction Charolais Bull Sale, Beautiful Plains Ag Complex, Neepawa MB April 2 nd Hunter Charolais 9th Annual Bull Sale, at the farm, Roblin MB April 2 nd C2 Charolais 2nd Annual Bull Sale, Killarney Auction Mart, Killarney MB April 13 th Cattle Capital Bull Sale, Ste Rose Auction Mart, Ste Rose MB

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CHAROL AIS C ALVES ARE

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Find a complete list of Charolais breeders at WWW.CHAROLAISBANNER.COM/MCA

12 CATTLE COUNTRY March 2020

Outcome of Resolutions for debate at MBP’s 41st Annual General Meeting Forty-two resolutions were carried at Manitoba Beef Producers’ (MBP) 2019 fall district meetings and taken forward for debate at MBP’s 41st Annual General Meeting held February 6 in Brandon.

Where appropriate, MBP’s Resolutions Committee proposed consolidating resolutions covering similar topics and asks/intent into single resolutions for debate at the AGM. Instances where this has occurred are outlined below. Also outlined are instances in which resolutions were amended at debate. The following list of the resolutions is categorized by theme, their district of origin, and the outcome of each vote. Explanatory notes are included where required. One late resolution was also debated.

In the end, 24 resolutions were carried (several of which were consolidated versions), nine resolutions were defeated, one was referred back to MBP’s Executive for further analysis and consideration, and one resolution was not debated as there was no mover or seconder. MBP thanks all delegates who participated in the resolutions debate, as well as parliamentarian Roger Woloshyn for chairing the session. CATEGORY: AGRICULTURAL CROWN LANDS 1: Whereas the Government of Manitoba is making changes to the rental formula for agricultural Crown lands forage leases whereby the rate will be based on a three-year rolling average of cattle prices; and Whereas this period is too short and may not allow producers to retain income earned during the years of more competitive cattle prices. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to have a rental rate formula for agricultural Crown land forage leases which should be based on a 10-year rolling average instead

of a three-year rolling average. District 8 Outcome: DEFEATED 2: Whereas the rental rate formula outlined in the modernized Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program in part is based on the market price of cattle, and Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to have a rental rate formula for agricultural Crown land forage leases which includes a reasonable cap on the market price of beef. District 13 Outcome: DEFEATED 3: Whereas there are concerns about the amount that the rental rate for forage leases under the revised Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program is rising and the speed at which the new rental rate is being implemented; and Whereas in other provinces such as Alberta there are different rental rates in different regions/zones of the province to reflect the productivity of the agricultural Crown lands. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to implement a longer transition period for the rental rate increase under the modernized Agricultural Crown Lands (ACL) Leasing Program, and Be it further resolved that MBP lobby the Government of Manitoba to investigate and implement a system of regions where the rental rate better reflects the productivity of the ACL forage parcels. District 13 Outcome: CARRIED 4: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to include

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the cost of production in the calculation for the rental rate formula for agricultural Crown lands, not just the market price. District 9 Outcome: DEFEATED Original Resolution 5: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba that agricultural Crown land auction bids be based on the price of improvements (less the administrative fee), and that this value be transferred to the outgoing lessee. District 11 NOTE: Two amendments to this resolution were carried to add the words “an agreed upon” and “predetermined” before the words “price of improvements.” The word “the” before “price” was also deleted from the original resolution. The following amended resolution was debated and voted upon: Amended Resolution 5: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba that agricultural Crown land auction bids be based on an agreed upon predetermined price of improvements (less the administrative fee), and that this value be transferred to the outgoing lessee. Outcome: CARRIED AS AMENDED 6: Whereas a producer who is bidding on the right to agricultural Crown land forage leases is expected to pay the entire bid amount at the time of the auction; and Whereas depending on the dollar value of the winning bid this may be a large amount and it may be cost prohibitive for the bidder to have to pay the entire amount at the time of the auction. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to allow the winning bidder for the right to a forage lease at an agricultural Crown land auction to have the ability to pay the bid amount over the period of the lease. District 8 Outcome: DEFEATED Explanatory note part 1: Producers in Districts 10, 11 and 12 passed three resolutions (numbers 7, 8 and 9 below) with similar content and intent with respect to having a 10,000 Animal Unit Month (AUM) cap on agricultural Crown land leases and District 13 passed a resolution seeking a 15,000 AUM cap (number 10 below). Page 15 

Diamond W CHAROLAIS 18th Annual Bull Sale

Tuesday, March 24, 2020 • 1:30 p.m. DST Valley Livestock, Minitonas, MB

45 Charolais Two Year Old & Yearling Bulls 20 Red and Black Angus Yearling Bulls

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Sale Manager: BY LIVESTOCK Helge By 306.536.4261 • Jon Wright 306.807.8424 charolaisbanner@gmail.com View the bulls online at www.bylivestock.com

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March 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY 13

Minister announces new Wildlife Predation Prevention Project at AGM BY ANGELA LOVELL A new, three-year Livestock Predation Prevention Project was announced at Manitoba Beef Producers’ (MBP) 41st Annual General Meeting by Blaine Pedersen, Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development. “I know that in my short time as Agriculture Minister this has been front and centre with Manitoba Beef Producers, and we are very happy to be coordinating this [program] with them,” said Pedersen in his address during the MBP President’s Banquet on February 6 in Brandon. Livestock predation, including outright losses and injuries to animals, is a significant problem for Manitoba producers, who have repeatedly requested action through MBP resolutions. This year’s AGM resolution debate included four resolutions related to wildlife predation, all of which were carried, including one requesting that MBP continue to lobby the Manitoba government for predator control initiatives. Other resolutions recommended that MBP administer the Problem Predator Removal Program, that compensation paid to trappers participating in the program be increased, and that compensation to producers for cattle losses reflect the true value of those losses. The province will provide $300,000 for the project which will be developed and led by the Livestock Predation Protection Working Group (LPPWG). MBP co-chairs the LPPWG and other members include the Manitoba Sheep Association, Manitoba Goat Association, Manitoba Trappers Association, Manitoba Ag-

I-HOG HFARM & RANCH TH

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“Manitoba Beef Producers has long advocated for strategies to reduce the risk of negative wildlife-livestock interaction and conflict, and we are pleased to see this important project moving forward." Dianne Riding, President of MBP riculture and Resource Development, Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Reducing economic losses from wildlife predation The applied research project will identify and test ways to reduce economic losses from wildlife predation of cattle and sheep herds. “Manitoba Beef Producers has long advocated for strategies to reduce the risk of negative wildlifelivestock interaction and conflict, and we are pleased to see this important project moving forward,” said Dianne Riding, President of MBP in a press release. “Predation-related challenges pose a significant concern for Manitoba’s livestock producers, who pride themselves on providing quality animal care and husbandry. This project will help improve the understanding of the risks, and work toward developing effective prevention and mitigation methods to reduce future losses.” The project’s key activities will be conducting onfarm predation risk assessments and planning in consultation with producers, testing on-farm predation prevention and removal practices, and sharing information with producers about management practices and research project results. Pedersen noted the research project will target the highest-known predation areas and emerging problem areas. Currently, the highest incidence of predation is in the northern Interlake and Parkland regions. The governments of Canada and Manitoba currently provide compensation to affected producers through the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program, up to a maximum of $3,000 per animal. This program has paid producers an average of more than $1.8 million annually in compensation in recent years.

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14 CATTLE COUNTRY March 2020

Government activities update Forage insurance review, wildlife damage compensation and more MAUREEN COUSINS

Policy Analyst

There have been several provincial and federal government announcements in recent weeks that will impact Manitoba’s beef industry. Many involve issues on which Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) has been advocating and MBP is pleased that progress is being made on these important files. The following is a brief rundown of each of announcement. Forage Insurance Review Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen has announced a review of forage insurance products provided through Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC). Over the next few weeks producers will be asked about their perceptions of the existing forage insurance products, how they currently manage forage production risks and how they believe the program can be improved. The provincial government notes that the rate of take-up on forage insurance is low, with only about 18 per cent of the more than 1.5 million eligible acres in Manitoba being covered by insurance. By comparison, about 90 per cent of annual crop acreage is insured through MASC. “We have repeatedly heard from beef producers that the forage insurance offerings are not as effective as they would like them to be, so we are strongly encouraging producers to provide feedback into these

consultations,” said MBP President Dianne Riding. “This is an important opportunity to get not only our concerns out there, but also to raise ideas about how to potentially improve forage insurance. Having sound business risk management tools is key.” Insurance Program Changes Also on the insurance front, the province has announced that forages used for extended-season grazing are now eligible for wildlife damage compensation. MBP had been advocating for this change recognizing that many producers are using extended grazing but also experiencing challenges related to wildlife. Eligibility includes crops used for in-field bale and swath grazing, as well as standing annual crops intended for grazing (e.g. corn). Producers will receive 45 per cent of the value of the loss caused by big game and waterfowl during the extended grazing period. Of note from the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program for Crop Damage fact sheet: • Baled hay must be gathered from the field and placed in an eligible storage site, unless the bales are intentionally left for winter grazing. If bales cannot be gathered due to wet field conditions, they remain eligible for wildlife damage compensation. • Producers must have a grazing plan, and use controls (e.g. fences) to control access • Eligibility ends when livestock have

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access • The crop must be suitable for livestock feed Compensation is not provided for hay left standing after it could have been harvested, stockpiling or winter grazing of hay fields, or pastures. Further, MASC states that compensation is equal to the amount of lost or damaged production, multiplied by the AgriInsurance dollar value, multiplied by 90% (45% for extended grazing forage). For damage to stored forages, compensation is determined by multiplying the tonnes of destroyed hay by the AgriInsurance dollar value for that type of hay, multiplied by 90%. For more information speak to your local MASC agent. Livestock Predation Protection Project The provincial government will be providing up to $300,000 over three years toward the applied research Livestock Predation Prevention Project. The aim is to reduce economic losses from wildlife predation of cattle and sheep. See Angela Lovell’s story in this edition of Cattle Country for further details. DFA for October’s Severe Weather The province has announced that disaster financial assistance (DFA) will be available for farms and others affected by the severe weather in October 2019. As the province notes, “Disaster financial assistance is generally available as a last resort for evacuations, municipal response costs, repairs to damaged infrastructure and non-insurable damage to principal residences and buildings essential to the operation of eligible farms and small businesses. Home and business owners affected by the fall severe weather are encouraged to seek assistance first through private insurance claims, and to carefully check insurance coverage to ensure they are protected against potential risks in their area.” More information and applications

can be found at www.manitobaemo.ca or call the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization at 1-888-267-8298. Applications are also available at most municipal offices. Basins Conditions Report The provincial government continues to monitor the risk of spring flood, having released its latest basins conditions report at the start of February, with the first full 2020 Flood Outlook to be released in late February. Of note: • soil moisture levels range from well-above average in southeast Manitoba including the Red River Valley, southwest and southeast Manitoba to near normal in northern Manitoba. In the United States portion of the Red River watershed, soil moisture levels were at record high levels. • Since November 2019, precipitation is tracking below to well-below normal in most parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. However, precipitation in the US portions of the Red and Souris rivers are tracking as much as 150 to 300 per cent of normal accumulation. • Base flows and levels in Manitoba’s rivers have been declining since the fall of 2019, but are still above normal for southern and northern Manitoba, and normal to above normal in central Manitoba basins. The Basins Condition Report is available at www.gov.mb.ca/mit/floodinfo/index.html. Also at this site is information such as the daily flood reports, river levels, lake levels and forecasts and more. The Manitoba government has a number of useful resources to help people prepare for a possible flood, including which level of government to contact about flood-related matters. See https://www. gov.mb.ca/flooding/preparations.html

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March 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY 15

Outcome of Resolutions Continued...  Page 12 These resolutions were as follows: 7: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to reverse the removal of the cap on animal unit months (AUM) on agricultural Crown land leases and to instead apply a cap of 10,000 AUMs. District 10 8: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers reverse its current position on the Animal Unit Month (AUM) cap, which advocated to remove the AUM cap on agricultural Crown land (ACL) leases, and to instead lobby for a cap of 10,000 AUM on ACL leases. District 11 9: Whereas the Government of Manitoba has removed the 4,800 Animal Unit Month (AUM) cap on agricultural Crown lands, and Whereas the AUM cap should be inclusive of the producer’s ACL leases only and not take into account a producer’s deeded land. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to change the Animal Unit Month cap on agricultural Crown land leases to 10,000 AUMs. District 12 10: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba for a cap of 15,000 Animal Unit Months per agricultural Crown land lease holder, not including their deeded lands. District 13 Explanatory note part 2: The four aforementioned resolutions from Districts 10, 11, 12 and 13 were combined into a single resolution for debate at the AGM as follows: PROPOSED COMBINATION OF RESOLUTIONS 7, 8, 9 AND 10: Whereas the Government of Manitoba has removed the 4,800 Animal Unit Month (AUM) cap on agricultural Crown lands (ACL), and Whereas the AUM cap should be inclusive of the producer’s ACL leases only and not take into account a producer’s deeded land. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers revise its current position on the Animal Unit Month (AUM) cap on agricultural Crown land (ACL) leases, (which advocated for the removal of the AUM cap), and to instead lobby the Government of Manitoba to reverse its removal of the cap on AUMs on ACL leases and to instead apply a cap of ________ AUMs, not including their deeded lands. Proposed combined resolution from Districts 10, 11, 12 and 13 Explanatory note part 3: At the AGM, parliamentarian Woloshyn worked through a process with the delegates to come to an agreement on the amount of the AUM cap that would be debated as part of the consolidated resolution. The majority favoured the inclusion of a 10,000 AUM cap. The following combined resolution was then debated and put to a vote: COMBINATION OF RESOLUTIONS 7, 8, 9 AND 10: Whereas the Government of Manitoba has removed

the 4,800 Animal Unit Month (AUM) cap on agricultural Crown lands (ACL), and Whereas the AUM cap should be inclusive of the producer’s ACL leases only and not take into account a producer’s deeded land. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers revise its current position on the Animal Unit Month (AUM) cap on agricultural Crown land (ACL) leases, (which advocated for the removal of the AUM cap), and to instead lobby the Government of Manitoba to reverse its removal of the cap on AUMs on ACL leases and to instead apply a cap of 10,000 AUMs, not including their deeded lands. Combined resolution from Districts 10, 11, 12 and 13 Outcome: CARRIED as the combined resolution with the 10,000 AUM cap 11: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to give producers the first right of renewal on all Agricultural Crown Land leases, be they existing leases or new leases. District 12 Outcome: CARRIED 12: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to allow for the continuation of the practice of both unit transfers and family transfers under the modernized agricultural Crown lands program. District 13 Outcome: CARRIED Original 13: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers continue to lobby the Government of Manitoba against the use of proxy bids at agricultural Crown land lease auctions. District 9 NOTE: Two proposed amendments to the resolution were carried, one to add the words “to have proxy bidders announce” before the word “whom” and, to add “prior to the auction” at the very end of the resolution. The amended

resolution was debated and voted upon as follows: Amended 13: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers continue to lobby the Government of Manitoba to have proxy bidders announce whom they are bidding on behalf of at agricultural Crown land lease auctions prior to the auction. Outcome: CARRIED AS AMENDED 14: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to move the date of the agricultural Crown land lease auctions to June 1, but maintain the date of possession to be January 1, to allow for a longer period of negotiation for transfer/removal of improvements. District 9 Outcome: DEFEATED Explanatory note part 1: Districts 12 and 13 passed two resolutions (15 and 16 below) with similar content and intent with respect to producers being able to purchase agricultural Crown lands. These resolutions were as follows: 15: Whereas some beef producers have expressed an interest in being able to purchase their agricultural Crown land leases, and, Whereas in the past the process to purchase agricultural Crown land leases from the provincial government has been lengthy and cumbersome. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to make it easier and swifter for beef producers to be able to purchase provincial agricultural Crown lands. District 12 16: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to re-institute sales of agricultural Crown lands to the lease holders, and that the process move much more swiftly than it has in the past. District 13 Explanatory note part 2: Resolutions 15 and 16 were combined into a single resolution as follows for debate and voted upon: Page 16 

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16 CATTLE COUNTRY March 2020

Outcome of Resolutions Continued...  Page 15 CONSOLIDATION OF RESOLUTIONS 15 AND 16: Whereas some beef producers have expressed an interest in being able to purchase their agricultural Crown land leases, and, Whereas in the past the process to purchase agricultural Crown land leases from the provincial government has been lengthy and cumbersome. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to re-institute sales of agricultural Crown lands to the lease holders and to make it easier and swifter for beef producers to be able to purchase these lands than it has been in the past. Combined resolution from Districts 12 and 13 Outcome: CARRIED as the combined resolution 17: Whereas all monies collected through the Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program currently go into the general revenue of the Government of Manitoba. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to set aside twenty five per cent of the revenue generated through agricultural Crown lands leases to an agricultural Crown lands improvement program which lease holders could access. District 12 Outcome: CARRIED 18: Whereas the fall 2019 snowstorm resulted in significant tree damage to fences on agricultural Crown land leases. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby to Government of Manitoba to increase the allowable width of fence lines on agricultural Crown land leases from the existing 50 feet to 100 feet. District 11 Outcome: CARRIED 19: Whereas there is considerable confusion about the changes the Government of Manitoba has made to the Agricultural

Crown Lands Leasing Program, such as term limits, transfers, improvements, the speed at which the rental rate is being increased, etc. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to revisit the areas of concern related to the Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program to ensure that it is fair and equitable to lease holders before it is implemented, thereby helping to protect producers’ economic sustainability. District 10 Outcome: CARRIED 20: Whereas Manitoba Beef Producers has outlined its positions on the proposed Government of Manitoba changes to the Agricultural Crown Lands program in an October 2, 2019 media statement, e.g. with respect to family and unit transfers, first right of renewal, the rental rate formula, and informed access. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers continue to lobby the Government of Manitoba for changes to the Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program as per its October 2, 2019 media statement. District 12 Outcome: CARRIED 21: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers organize peaceful rallies at the Manitoba Legislature to draw awareness to producer concerns about the impact of the Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program changes until such time as the concerns are addressed. District 11 Outcome: DEFEATED CATEGORY: BUSINESS RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS 22: Whereas producers have sustained losses in the fall of 2019 related to excess moisture conditions and overland flooding, much of which is not insurable. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby government to provide compensation to producers. District 4

Outcome: DEFEATED 23: Whereas damage to crops, perennial forages/pastures and property caused by wild boars is an increasing concern to agricultural producers; and Whereas there is the lack of a funded Government of Manitoba program to monitor the problem and to address it. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to immediately develop and implement a funded strategy to address the wild boar problem and also to provide compensation to producers for damage to crops and property. District 5 Outcome: CARRIED 24: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby to have wild boars/pigs added as an eligible species under the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program for Crops. District 5 Outcome: CARRIED CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT/ PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT 25: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers continue lobbying the government for predator control initiatives. District 4 Outcome: CARRIED 26: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to allow MBP to administer the Problem Predator Removal Program. District 11 Outcome: CARRIED 27: Whereas trappers participating in the Government of Manitoba’s Problem Predator Removal Program receive little in the way of financial compensation, which may limit the number of trappers willing to do this type of work; and Whereas this has a negative impact on producers needing to have problem predators removed in order to protect their livestock. Be it resolved to recommend that

Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to increase the amount of compensation paid to trappers who participate in the Problem Predator Removal Program. District 14 Outcome: CARRIED 28: Whereas cattle producers continue to incur considerable financial losses related to wildlife predation; and Whereas there is currently a cap on the amount of compensation paid under the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program for Livestock Predation. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to ensure that the amount of compensation paid under the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program for Livestock Predation for identified cattle losses reflects the true value of those losses. District 8 Outcome: CARRIED 29: Whereas challenging weather conditions have made it very difficult for producers to clean cattle handling facilities and to spread that manure in the fall of 2019. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to extend the nutrient application deadline to an appropriate date depending on the conditions. District 2 Outcome: CARRIED 30: Whereas beef producers are bearing pass-through costs related to the implementation of carbon taxes. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the federal and provincial governments to use some of the monies generated through the carbon tax to provide programs to help reduce the financial burden producers are bearing of these pass-through costs. District 5 Outcome: CARRIED 31: Whereas the retention guarantee on RFID tags is only one year, yet they are required to be in the animal for its life; and Page 17 

Pleasant Dawn Charolais 18th Annual Bull Sale

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Helge By 306.536.4261 Jon Wright 306.807.8424

www.mbbeef.ca

March 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY 17

Outcome of Resolutions Continued...  Page 16 Whereas there is currently a limited variety and style of RFID tags available for sale through the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency, many of which are produced by the same manufacturer; and Whereas cattle producers would like more product options when it comes selecting RFID tags for their cattle, including tags with a better retention rate. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers advocate that the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency provide a wider variety and style of RFID tags with an improved retention rate for sale to cattle producers. District 7 Outcome: CARRIED 32: Whereas Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development used to have a large number of staff dedicated to providing extension and other services which are valuable to the beef industry, and Whereas there is currently a high vacancy rate in the department, with many positions going unfilled across the province. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to make a concerted effort to fill its vacant positions in Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development. District 7 Outcome: CARRIED CATEGORY: TRANSPORTATION Explanatory note part 1: Districts 8 and 6 passed four resolutions (numbers 33, 34, 35 and 36 below) with very similar content and intent with respect to the changes to the federal government’s Health of Animals Regulations (Part XII) on animal transportation. These resolutions were as follows: 33: Whereas the Government of Canada is implementing changes to the Health of Animals Regulations (Part XII) on animal transportation that come into effect in February 2020; and Whereas the beef industry has concerns about the effects of these changes

from an animal health and welfare perspective, a cost perspective, etc. and; Whereas additional scientific research is underway about the effects of transporting cattle in Canada that should help inform the content of these regulations; Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers and its industry partners continue to lobby the Government of Canada for a two-year extension on the coming into force date of the Health of Animals Regulations (Part XII) on animal transportation until such time as additional science-based research is completed to ensure the best outcomes in humane transportation are achieved. District 8 34: Whereas the Government of Canada is implementing changes to the Health of Animals Regulations (Part XII) on animal transportation that come into effect in February 2020; and Whereas the changes will have an impact on commerce with respect to Manitoba cattle being moved to markets in locations such as Ontario and Quebec in that cattle will need to be unloaded more frequently and currently there is no infrastructure in place to accommodate this; and Whereas it is anticipated that the costs of building new infrastructure will be borne by producers. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Canada to pay for the cost of the additional infrastructure required to unload, feed and house cattle as a result of the changes to the Health of Animals Regulations (Part XII) on animal transportation. District 8 35: Whereas the Government of Canada is making changes to the Health of Animals Regulations (Part XII) on animal transportation that will take effect in February 2020 that will result in the need to unload, feed and rest cattle more frequently; and Whereas these changes will result in

more cattle being comingled at rest stops which poses a risk to cattle in terms of potential biosecurity issues. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Canada to make sure there are provisions in place to manage the industry’s biosecurity concerns related to the comingling of cattle at rest stops and to ensure that these costs are not borne by producers. District 8 36: Whereas the Government of Canada is making changes to the Health of Animals Regulations (Part XII) on animal transportation that will take effect in February 2020 that will result in the need to unload, feed and rest cattle more frequently; and Whereas the beef industry has concerns about the effects of these changes from an animal health and welfare perspective, a cost perspective, etc. and; Whereas scientific research conducted in Canada has demonstrated that 99.5 per cent of cattle on a longer haul arrive at their destination injury free and additional research is still pending; Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers and its industry partners continue to lobby the Government of Canada to revisit the proposed

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Tues Mar 10 Presort Sale Bred Cow Sale Regular Sale in the afternoon

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changes to the Health of Animals Regulations (Part XII) on animal transportation to recognize that beef cattle are arriving at their destination in good condition and should not be subject to changes in feed, water and rest as are being applied to other sectors. District 6 Explanatory note part 2: The four aforementioned resolutions from Districts 6 and 8 were combined into a single resolution for debate as follows. CONSOLIDATION OF RESOLUTIONS 33, 34, 35 AND 36: Whereas the Government of Canada is implementing changes to the Health of Animals Regulations (Part XII) on animal transportation that come into effect in February 2020; and Whereas these changes will result in the need to unload, feed and rest cattle more frequently at rest stops, and this comingling poses a risk to cattle in terms of potential biosecurity issues; and Whereas the changes will have an impact on commerce with respect to Manitoba cattle being moved to markets in locations such as Ontario and Quebec in that cattle will need to be unloaded more frequently and currently there is no infrastructure in place to accommodate this; and Page 18 

Tues Tues.,Apr Mar26

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Tues Sale Tues.,Apr Mar913 Regular Presort Sale Pen of 5 Replacement Heifers Thurs., Mar 15

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9:009am am

9am

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18 CATTLE COUNTRY March 2020

Outcome of Resolutions Continued...  Page 17 Whereas it is anticipated that the costs of building new rest stop infrastructure will be borne by producers; and Whereas the beef industry has concerns about the effects of these changes from an animal health and welfare perspective, a cost perspective, etc. and; Whereas scientific research conducted in Canada about the effects of transporting cattle has demonstrated that 99.5 per cent of cattle on a longer haul arrive at their destination injury free; and Whereas additional scientific research is underway about the effects of transporting cattle in Canada that should help inform the content of these regulations. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers and its industry partners continue to lobby the Government of Canada to revisit the proposed changes to the Health of Animals

Regulations (Part XII) on animal transportation to recognize that beef cattle are arriving at their destination in good condition and should not be subject to changes in feed, water and rest as are being applied to other sectors; and Be it resolved to recommend that MBP and its industry partners continue to lobby the Government of Canada for a two-year extension on the coming into force date of the Health of Animals Regulations (Part XII) on animal transportation until such time as additional science-based research is completed to ensure the best outcomes in humane transportation are achieved; and Be it further resolved to recommend that MBP lobby the Government of Canada to pay for the cost of the additional rest stop infrastructure required to unload, feed and house cattle as a result of the changes to the regulations; and Be it further resolved to recom-

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mend that MBP lobby the Government of Canada to make sure there are provisions in place to manage the industry’s biosecurity concerns related to the comingling of cattle at rest stops and to ensure that these costs are not borne by producers. Combined resolution from Districts 6 and 8 Outcome: The combined livestock transportation resolution was not voted upon. After some initial debate a motion was moved and carried to refer this matter back to MBP for further analysis. This was in light of a decision made by the federal government in mid-December (after MBP’s fall district meetings ended) to not immediately begin to enforce the regulatory changes as they pertain to livestock transportation. Instead, there will be a 2-year “transition period” on the revised feed, water, and rest interval provisions for the livestock sector to allow for a period of adjustments to meet the new transport of animal requirements. CATEGORY: OTHER 37: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers not accept late resolutions at its Annual General Meetings. District 11 Outcome: DEFEATED 38: Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the Government of Manitoba to provide the explanation as to how it plans to expand or sustain the beef industry in challenging production conditions.

District 9 Outcome: There was no mover for this resolution, so it was not debated. CATEGORY: JUSTICE 39: Whereas activists have been entering agricultural operations, posing a risk with respect to biosecurity and animal care. Whereas other provincial governments are enacting legislation to address this serious situation. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby government to impose stricter and higher minimum penalties on those who trespass on agricultural operations in Manitoba. District 4 Outcome: CARRIED Explanatory note part 1: Districts 2 and 5 passed resolutions (numbers 40 and 41) with similar content and intent with respect to the issue of rural crime. They were as follows: 40: Whereas rural crime continues to be a growing problem. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the federal government to invest more resources in rural policing. District 2 41: Whereas rural crime is a growing problem that is having a detrimental impact on rural residents with respect to costs, personal safety, mental health, anxiety and other concerns. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers align with other concerned Page 20 

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March 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY 19 Photo courtesy of Staden Farms

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20 CATTLE COUNTRY March 2020

Outcome of Resolutions Continued...  Page 18 stakeholders, including producers to lobby the provincial and federal governments to implement more robust and effective strategies to reduce rural crime and to enact timely and meaningful penalties against those who commit crimes or profit from them. District 5 Explanatory note part 2: Resolutions 40 and 41 were combined into a single resolution for debate as follows: CONSOLIDATION OF RESOLUTIONS 40 AND 41: Whereas rural crime continues to be a growing problem that is having a detrimental impact on rural residents with respect to costs, personal safety, mental health, anxiety and other con-

cerns. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers align with other concerned stakeholders, including producers to lobby the provincial and federal governments to implement more robust and effective strategies to reduce rural crime and to enact timely and meaningful penalties against those who commit crimes or profit from them; and Be it further resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers lobby the federal government to invest more resources in rural policing. Districts 2 and 5 Outcome: CARRIED as the combined resolution 42: Whereas there is a growing

u o y k n a h T

need to convey information to the public about the variety of ecosystem services and other benefits that the beef industry provides that benefit larger Canadian society. Be it resolved to recommend that Manitoba Beef Producers encourage the Canadian beef industry to invest more of its check-off dollars into public and stakeholder engagement activities aimed at building public understanding and trust of the beef industry. District 13 Outcome: CARRIED LATE RESOLUTION L1: Whereas Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) board of directors members are leaders in Canada, and Whereas some MBP directors go

on to serve on the boards of national beef organizations and it takes a few years to get the understanding of national beef organizations, and a few years to become leaders of these organizations, and Whereas directors on the MBP board of directors are limited to a maximum of three, two-year terms with the MBP board. Be it resolved to recommend that the Manitoba Beef Producers board of directors allow its directors who are on national beef organizations and in leadership positions to continue IN that role until the term of that position is completed, even when that person has termed out on the MBP board. Outcome: DEFEATED

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FEBRUARY 2020

Cutline

Producers get temporary reprieve from new transport regulations Manitoba cattle producers are relieved the federal government will not actively enforce its new livestock transport regulations for the next two years, but worry what will happen once they are fully implemented. Producers fear shorter maximum hours for transporting animals, which the new rules require, will seriously affect cattle shipments to Eastern Canada and undermine animal welfare. “It’s going to be a huge, huge disruption for us,” said Rick Wright, Manitoba Livestock Marketing Association administrator. “There’s no science behind what they’re doing here and it’s going to disrupt things big time.” The beef industry will use the extra time to conduct scientific research into whether shorter hauling times and longer rest stops actually benefit cattle. So far, that seems uncertain, said Reynold Bergen of the Beef Cattle Research Council in Calgary. “The science we have available is suggesting that there’s not a whole huge benefit to rest stops,” Bergen said. The amendments to federal regulations, announced last year, decrease the allowable time between stops while lengthening required rest periods for transported livestock. Cattle must now spend no more than 36 hours on a trailer before stopping for feed, water and rest. The old rules allowed for 48 hours, with additional flex time if the load was within four hours of its destination, making the absolute maximum time 52 hours. The previous mandatory layover time at rest stops

was five hours. It is now eight hours. CFIA says the reason for the changes centres around animal welfare. “The amended regulations contain outcome-based requirements to ensure that animals are not likely to suffer (from exhaustion, dehydration, weather or other conditions), be injured or die,” an agency spokesperson told Cattle Country in an e-mail. “The CFIA has the discretion to appropriately enforce these outcome-based requirements to prevent and act on animal welfare situations.” The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced the two-year enforcement delay in December after producers and the industry expressed widespread concern about the effect of the new requirements on animals and their business. It’s the new 36-hour rule that concerns Manitoba producers most. An estimated 60 per cent of live cattle leaving Manitoba travel east, most of them headed to feedlots in Ontario and Quebec. There is a rest stop at Thunder Bay, Ontario where cattle can be unloaded, fed, watered and rested. But livestock dealers say that of the 160,000 cattle that went through Thunder Bay in 2018, fewer than 60,000 stopped there. The rest rolled through because the old 48-hour rule didn’t require them to stop. Now most will have to stop to unload, feed, water and reload, all of which stresses animals, Wright said. Even worse, the Thunder Bay station isn’t large enough to accommodate the additional surge in cattle, said Wright. “We can’t cram all the cattle into Thunder Bay at the

peak times that they’re going to go. At peak times, Thunder Bay’s full now, even before the new rules,” he said. “It’s going to be bottleneck. If you don’t book your spot in, there’s going to be no room in the hotel when you get there. It’s as simple as that.” Wright predicted Eastern buyers will also bid lower for cattle because delays cost money. The rules are expected to have limited effect on shipments going west. Most can cross the Prairies within the required time limits. CFIA says the new regulations will still come into force February 20, 2020 as previously planned. But the agency will focus on compliance through education and awareness during a two-year transition period. CFIA has formed two working groups, one for beef and the other for dairy and veal, to “interpret and clarify any guidance needed on the regulations, identify issues and discuss possible solutions,” the spokesperson said. The two-year pause affects only cattle, not pigs, poultry or other livestock. Tom Teichroeb, Manitoba Beef Producers president, called the delay “really positive” and hoped CFIA will consider scientific evidence about how long-distance transportation really does affect cattle. “Let’s revisit this before we disrupt commerce in the industry.” The old regulations on humane transport of animals were last changed in 1977. In 2013, CFIA issued a preproposal about revamping the rules. The agency initially suggested 28 continuous hours as the maximum time on the truck but the industry called the idea impractical. Page 4 

President's Column

The benefits of soil carbon

U of M advances MBP Priorities

Page 2

Page 7

Page 9

POSTMASTER: PLEASE RETURN UNDELIVERABLE COPIES TO: MBP, UNIT 220, 530 CENTURY STREET, WINNIPEG, MB R3H 0Y4 CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL PRODUCT SALES AGREEMENT NUMBER 40005187 POSTAGE PAID IN WINNIPEG.

BY RON FRIESEN

CATTLE COUNTRY February 2020

Head Line Please Another year is in the rear view mirror. More sunlight with each new day has restored my optimism and spring doesn’t seem that far away. Before we rush into spring, it is important to exhale and recharge. Some producers are still baling corn stovers and other feed stuffs that didn’t get harvested. It is also a time for winter sporting activities or a much needed getaway for those who are so inclined. I am thrilled to stay local, spend time with family and friends, do chores and start planning for a new year. With each new year comes a new calving season. I am pleased to say mine doesn’t start until late April but for many people the time is now. Long days and night shifts are necessary for those who calve in the winter months. There is also the excitement of bull sale season and after looking through 50 catalogues each year, I’m reminded that I’m still paying last year’s bills. Planning those dreaded end-of-year purchases which leave bank accounts bare for the new year can seem daunting. Seed, fertilizer and other inputs for 2020 are just some examples. Rent and lease agreements need to be negotiated and depending on the arrangement, payments may need to be made. There also seems to be a never-ending necessity to upgrade equipment and infrastructure. It is a vicious cycle on an annual basis but planning is crucial for continued success. Aside from planning for the coming year, it will soon be time for the Manitoba Beef Producers’ (MBP) 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM). This year’s AGM will be held on February 6-7 at the Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre in Brandon. On behalf of MBP, I would like to extend an invitation to all livestock producers, the livestock sector and industry, and government officials to attend. It is always important to have the Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development, The Honourable Blaine Pederson and his staff from the department attend and support the MBP AGM. I will suggest that in light of an extremely challenging past year for the livestock industry, the Minister’s support and ongoing commitment will be sincerely appreciated. When reflecting on 2019, it is difficult to imagine a more challenging year. The most obvious challenge was the drought which has spanned over two years. Sourcing feed, often at outrageous prices, proved to be very frustrating. Overwhelming circumstances forced some producers to reduce their herd size or to liquidate entirely. The snowstorm in late fall was

This will be an excellent opportunity to showcase Manitoba’s young producers. Key topics include succession planning, tax and financial issues, land acquisition, as well as managing the business and the human resources side of the operation. Business Risk Management (BRM) tools continue to be another focus area for MBP. Although the Select Hay Program and Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP) seem to respond well, there is still a lot to be desired with respect to some of the other BRM programming. This is especially true for the livestock industry. I am certain that through advocacy as well as the provincial and federal BRM review process, the livestock industry will achieve improved BRM programming. A new year also brings changes to MBP’s board of directors. Five new directors were elected at various district meetings and will join the board of directors once they are ratified at the AGM in February. I would like to thank each of the new directors who will take on this new challenge. It is important to have fresh perspectives and renewed enthusiasm and I’m convinced the new directors will help advance the excellent work that MBP is already delivering. I would also like to thank our outgoing directors for their years of service to the board and to the producers in their respective districts. MBP will also elect a new President at the AGM. After serving six years as a director, with a year and a half as president, this will be my final submission. It has been a privilege and an honour to serve as a director and president. I will start by thanking all directors, past and present, for their hard work and commitment to the MBP organization. I would also like to thank all of you, the producers, who support and provide policy direction for MBP and ensure its continued success. I will once again recognize MBP staff for their ongoing efforts. They work tirelessly for MBP and it is their work that brings continued success and credibility to MBP as an organization. Finally, I will thank my family for the sacrifices they made which have allowed me to be director with MBP as well as the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA). Representing both MBP and CCA was only possible because of their exceptional contributions to our family as well as our business. More specifically, I am indebted to my wife, Michelle, who has made this opportunity to represent MBP and CCA possible. Thank you once again. Kind regards, Tom

TOM TEICHROEB President's Column

most unwelcome and harvest has continued into late December and beyond. However, the combination of 12 inches of rain and heavy wet snow did replenish dugouts and will help improve moisture conditions for 2020. These very challenging circumstances will likely impact the Manitoba herd size yet again. There was a herd reduction in 2018 and there is a further decrease anticipated for 2019. Some aspects of the new agricultural Crown lands regulations that were announced following the provincial election were not well received by many producers. Hopefully ongoing dialogue between MBP and government will have a more positive outcome and address concerns arising in areas such as: the need for a longer transition period to the new rental rate formula; how lease hold improvements will be valued; the future of unit transfers; recognition of ecosystem services provided by lease holders; and, the need for informed access, among others. Former Agriculture Minister Eichler announced on October 11 that producers will be given the first right of renewal for existing leases on Crown lands. Another public consultation process on the regulation will be initiated around this change. MBP will participate in this process and we are strongly encouraging all lease holders to provide their input as well. Nonetheless, not all is bad news. MBP continues to work on and advance a number of initiatives and advocacy pieces. As most of you are aware, the predation file has been ongoing for a number of years. There has been some progress and MBP looks forward to a pilot program focused on addressing this challenge that will hopefully be launched in 2020. The construction of the proposed Lake Manitoba Outlet Channel remains a key priority for MBP. There will be continued efforts by MBP to advocate on behalf of beef producers and the industry for the completion of this critical commitment to flood protection, funding for which was announced by both the federal and provincial governments in 2018. MBP will also host its first ever youth retreat in January for producers between the ages of 18 to 39.

MAYBE A STAND ALONE PHOTO HERE?? RED ANGUS | BLACK ANGUS | SIMMENTAL

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DISTRICT 1

GORD ADAMS

R.M. of Albert, Cameron, Whitewater, Edward, Brenda, Winchester, Morton

DISTRICT 2

NANCY HOWATT

R.M. of Riverside, Strathcona, Argyle, Lorne, Turtle Mountain, Roblin, Louise, Pembina

DISTRICT 5

STEVEN MANNS

R.M. of Elton, North Cypress, North Norfolk, Cornwallis, Oakland, South Cypress, Victoria, South Norfolk

DISTRICT 6

LARRY WEGNER

R.M. of Wallace, Woodworth, Daly, Pipestone, Sifton, Whitehead, Glenwood

DISTRICT 9

DIANNE RIDING - 2ND VICE-PRESIDENT

R.M. of Woodlands, Rockwood, St. Andrews, Rosser, St. Francis Xavier, Springfield, Tache, Whitemouth, Lac du Bonnet, Brokenhead, St. Clements, LGD of Alexander, Pinawa

DISTRICT 10

MIKE DUGUID - SECRETARY

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 7

R.M. of Bifrost, Gimli, Fisher, Armstrong

R.M. of Portage la Prairie, Cartier, Grey, MacDonald, Dufferin, Thompson, Roland, Morris, Stanley, Rhineland, Montcalm

R.M. of Russell, Silver Creek, Rossburn, Ellice, Birtle, Shoal Lake, Strathclair, Archie, Miniota, Hamiota, Blanshard

DISTRICT 11

DISTRICT 4

TOM TEICHROEB - PRESIDENT

PETER PENNER - TREASURER

ROB KERDA

R.M. of Richot, Ste. Anne, Hanover, De Salaberry, La Broquerie, Franklin, Stuartburn, Piney, LGD Reynolds

TYLER FULTON

DISTRICT 8

R.M. of Harrison, Clanwilliam, Rosedale, Glenella, Saskatchewan, Odanah, Minto, Langford, Lansdowne, Westbourne, LGD Park

ROBERT METNER

R.M. of Siglunes, Grahamdale, Eriksdale, Coldwell, St. Laurent

DISTRICT 12 VACANT

R.M. of Lawrence, Ochre River, Ste. Rose, McCreary, Alonsa

DISTRICT 13

DISTRICT 14

MARY PAZIUK

R.M. of Shell River, Shellmouth,Hillsburg, Boulton, Grandview, Gilbert Plains, Ethelbert, Mossey River, Dauphin, LGD Park

MANITOBA BEEF PRODUCERS Unit 220, 530 Century Street Winnipeg, MB R3H 0Y4

Ph: 1-800-772-0458 PH - (204) 772-4542 FX - (204) 774-3264 info@mbbeef.ca www.mbbeef.ca

GENERAL MANAGER Carson Callum

POLICY ANALYST Maureen Cousins

www.mbbeef.ca

JADE DELAURIER

R.M. of Minitonas, Swan River, Mountain, The Pas

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR David Hultin

FINANCE

Deb Walger

OFFICE ASSISTANT Tanya Michalsky

CATTLE COUNTRY EDITOR David Hultin

Trinda Jocelyn

February 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Hon. Sarah Guillemard, MLA for Fort Richmond, and Minister of Conservation and Climate, welcomed board and staff members from Manitoba Beef Producers to her office on January 8. Pictured from left to right: Mike Duguid, MBP Director for District 10, Maureen Cousins, MBP Policy Analyst, Hon. Sarah Guillemard, Peter Penner, MBP Director for District 3, and Carson Callum, MBP General Manager.

Head Line Please I hope you were able to find time to relax with your family and friends over the holiday season, as we closed out another decade. In 2019, MBP was very busy with many files, such as production year conditions, predation, and regulatory changes. MBP will continue its efforts related to these key matters in 2020. With it being a new decade, I hold a new sense of optimism for our industry, and that we will determine strategies to move it forward in a positive way. A couple short term wins in my mind would be changes to the new agricultural Crown lands (ACL) regulations and mitigation to predation. Various other issues will be top of mind throughout the year, such as business risk management tools and 2020 production conditions. However, one area that MBP and the overall beef industry will be focused on is public trust. Public trust in our industry is more important than ever. Many negative opinions around beef production has led to a poor light being shined on the industry, which can have an impact across the whole value chain. It can impact what consumers are willing to buy from a protein standpoint. It can also impact regulations being developed on

a provincial and federal scale. The new transport regulations are a prime example of this impact. As we move forward, a key priority of MBP will be developing strategies that share the positive messages of our great industry with the general public. We will leverage some of the information developed from our national counterpart, CCA, but also use some of our provincial collateral as well. For those of you that attended our district meetings in 2019, we unveiled videos that demonstrate beef ’s importance for habitats of endangered birds, and that it is ethically raised. These videos are easy to share on social media and with the mainstream urban media as well as being valuable assets at public events such as the Red River Ex and AG in the City. To improve the industry’s public trust, we need to consider the demographic that would have the greatest longterm benefit. Currently, there is a great deal of misinformation being shared with school age children, as it relates to agriculture as a whole. These young minds are in the prime stage of learning, and we need to ensure they are getting accurate information regarding beef cattle production in Canada. This is why MBP will

CARSON CALLUM

General Manager’s Column

continue to support and build upon efforts being done by groups like Agriculture in the Classroom. They are working to get accurate information in to the school system, for a wide range of age groups, to allow students to hear how food is made from the source. Agriculture in the Classroom also puts efforts towards getting this information in the hands of the teachers, so they can incorporate into their learning plans. Ensuring the

next generation has both sides to the story will be extremely important, as they will one day be making the food purchasing decisions for themselves. MBP looks forward to building on these efforts. As we enter the new year, I feel a great deal of optimism for the industry. I am optimistic we can strengthen our relationship with government, to secure regulations that positively impact the industry. I am optimistic current pro-

grams/tools can be improved to help producers in poor production conditions or from pressures such as predation. I am also optimistic that there will be a more positive public perception on the connection between beef and the environment. The last two years in particular have been a challenge for producers, especially in Manitoba. However, producers are very resilient and we will continue to work together as an industry to determine ways to meet the current challenges and positively impact the future of the Manitoba beef herd. I look forward to working on behalf of producers across the province. Our 41st AGM is set to take place February

6th/7th in Brandon, MB. If you haven’t registered, please do so at mbbeef.ca. The theme is “Where Beef Fits in an Evolving Marketplace.” I hope you can make it out, as it is great way to engage with fellow producers, provide input to the efforts of MBP moving forward, and garner a bit of that optimism I referenced throughout my article. Cheers to a new year and a new decade. Carson

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CATTLE COUNTRY February 2020

Headline Please BY ELIZABETH HARMS The New Year is upon us and, for many it is an opportunity to start fresh. Many of us might make resolutions to inspire change in our lives. Many people like to make food- and exercise-related resolutions, which help them start the year off right. The holiday season is a time when we tend to over-indulge, so it feels good to have something that will help us get back into a routine in the new year. Some give up alcohol for the month of January, and there is a new trend where some give up meat to do “Veganuary.” Apart from these trends, I believe there are many ways to help reset your mind and body, which will help to set you up for success in the new year. One of these ways is to come up with fresh meal ideas different from traditional holiday fare. When it comes to making fresh and healthy meals, Canadian beef can play a very tasty role. Because we tend to over-indulge during the holidays, thinking about portion control can be a big help when meal planning. You can also think about other healthy ingredients to incorporate into your meal that can com-

plement the beef. Adding seared flank steak to a salad or noodle stir-fry, or mixing ground beef with fresh veggies and rice to stuff a pepper or fill a lettuce cup are great ideas for a healthy, wellrounded meal that provides a variety of nutrients without feeling too heavy. If you are active in the new year, including Canadian beef in your diet also helps ensure you will have enough nutrients and energy for your workout. The protein from beef helps your body build muscle when you aren’t working out. Nutrients like iron, selenium and vitamins B6 and B12 help your body metabolize energy and improve blood flow. All these things will help you perform while you are active. After the holiday season, we also like to cut back a bit and spend more time cooking and eating at home. Ground beef is a healthy and costeffective way to incorporate nutrients into our meals. Cooked ground beef complements everything from chilis and soups to sauces and stews, all of which are already full of healthy and fresh ingredients. To help with meal planning, you can also cook a couple of pounds of ground beef and freeze them pre-portioned, so they are easy to grab

when you need to make a quick meal. These are just a few meal ideas to help you start your new year off right. Eating well is important at any time of year, and there are many more ideas

that include Canadian beef at both www.canadabeef.ca and www.greattastesmb.ca. There are also quite a few ideas that might help you reinvent any leftovers you may have in your freezer.

Turn Head Please submissions, CFIA in early 2019 announced February 2020 as the implementation date. The new rules do not contain the previous fourhour flex period. Vanderploeg said there’s no point in appealing for it now. “The regulations as published in Gazette 2 are what they are. There’s no opportunity any more to get that put in.” Animal welfare groups and oth-

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ers have long argued that keeping cattle on a truck for 48 straight hours is inhumane. They point to Europe and the United States, where maximum times are eight and 28 hours respectively. But Vanderploeg said it’s misleading to compare Canada with the EU and the U.S. Those two have denser populations, with packing plants and feeding operations closer together. Vanderploeg said the best comparison is Australia, with its large land mass, sparse population and long distances between major centres, where the maximum travel time is 48 hours, the same as Canada used to have. “You’ve got to be care-

ful when you’re making those types of comparisons. You’ve got to make sure you’re comparing an apple to an apple.” Vanderploeg said the new rule might actually harm animals instead of benefiting them because of the extra stress and risk of injury involved. “Let’s understand that it’s the loading and unloading of cattle that carries the highest risk to animal welfare and we’re now going to be doing more of that.” More frequent unloading and co-mingling of cattle could also increase the risk of transferring diseases, such as shipping fever, Vanderploeg said.

He said people who favour shorter transport times mean well but their feelings may not always agree with the facts. “There’s a recognition out there that the public at large are concerned about these sorts of things but they don’t always understand very well how it works. A lot of public opinion can be misinformed opinion.” Bergen, the BCRC’s science director, said research doesn’t support the idea that cattle suffer during transport. He said Alberta Beef Producers conducted a benchmarking study in 2008-10 on the effect of long-distance transport on cattle leaving the province. It found that

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 Page 1 “It was simply undoable, given how cattle move around Canada,” said Casey Vanderploeg, National Cattle Feeders Association vice-president. CFIA extended the allowable time to 36 hours in 2014 when it published the new regulations in Canada Gazette 2 for public comment. After receiving many

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99.95 per cent of cattle going on trips longer than four hours came off the truck in good condition and with no ill effects. “We need to look at the facts,” said Bergen. “When we’ve got the science available and it’s saying there’s actually no real benefit but there are potentially some real risks associated with loading and unloading, then we need to think about it a little differently.” A current study, headed by Agriculture and Agri-Food scientists and partly funded by BCRC, plans to develop sciencebased recommendations for duration and management of rest stops during long-distance transit. Results are expected in March 2022. Bergen said he hopes CFIA will be open to considering the new research, which may prove the saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” “As an analogy, if my kids’ report cards were averaging 99.95 per cent across all their classes, I’d be a little reluctant to insist on major changes to their work and study habits. Big changes to their studying habits may be more likely to lower their grades rather than improve them. In the same way, regulation changes that alter current transport practices may be more likely to lower overall transport outcomes than improve them.”

February 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

Headline Please When I look into the crystal ball for 2020 I am pleasantly surprised to predict that 2020 has a lot of potential to be a better year for the cattle industry than 2019. There are a number of fundamentals that are pointing to better demand for both live cattle and beef products. On the south side of the border, the cowherd has stopped expanding. Combined with poor weather conditions and lower calf prices, American cow/calf operators culled 7% more cows, making 2019 the largest beef cow slaughter since 2013. They also placed more heifer calves on feed this fall with heifers averaging 39% of the cattle on feed inventory in the USA. Analysts suggest that any time the number of heifers in the feed yards surpass 35% to 36%, there will be a decrease in the national cowherd. In Canada, the beef cowherd numbers have been shrinking and are currently at the lowest level in 30 years. In Canada, we killed 7% more cows in 2019 than the previous year. Once again this fall there were limited numbers of bred heifers on offer, producers have been culling at higher rates due to a forage feed shortage, and there were more heifer calves marketed this fall. Simple math suggests

that with the decrease in the number of cattle there should be a shortage! That thought is not as cut and dried as we would like to think; keep in mind that beef production on both sides of the border has increased substantially despite the reduction in the number of beef cows in inventory. In Canada, beef production has increased by 30% since 2015. Better genetics, more efficient feeding programs, and harvesting techniques have resulted in way more pounds of saleable beef from each producing female. Demand for beef looks promising for 2020. Canada’s exports were very good in 2019, posting a 20% increase. The USA remained Canada’s largest customer for beef products, with increases to Japan. The beef business suffered collateral damage during the political dispute with China. Indications are that China is willing to start importing Canadian proteins in 2020. The African Swine Flu has decimated the Chinese pork industry, resulting in an immediate need to import more proteins. At the end of 2019, US packers increased their demand for Canadian-fed cattle. Large shipments from Alberta into Washington State, and from Ontario south, opened much needed

RICK WRIGHT The Bottom Line pen space and gave cattle feeders a little more negotiating leverage with the Canadian packers. This was especially important for the feedlots in Ontario who purchase a lot of Manitoba calves. At times during the year, the domestic feed cattle price was running 20 to 30 cents per pound lower on the rail than western Canada. With the closure of the Riding Regency plant, some feeders were forced to market their finished cattle in Alberta just to get rid of them. The forecast looks like demand for the Canadian-fed cattle should be good for the first six months of 2020. Once the USMC (NAFTA) agreement is signed, there will be more stability in the North American arena. The Americans seemed to have reached agreements with both China and Japan on reducing tariffs, which in turn will make their beef products more competitive with other countries that export to those countries. The Americans are predicting a decrease of 6% in their own beef imports from Australia, New Zealand and South America.

Demand for beef trim from China has shifted exports from those countries away from the USA. This should help improve the cull cow market in 2020 on both sides of the border. Over the past year, Canada was a major importer of American feeder cattle. These were mostly Holstein steers coming into Saskatchewan and Alberta, with some beef cattle coming into Alberta and Ontario. In 2019 imports of feeder cattle from the USA were higher than our exports. Feeder cattle exports for 2019 were down nearly 60% from the previous year. With pen space tight in Canada, these imports certainly had some negative effect on the Canadian feeder cattle prices. It looks like the flow of Holstein steers into Canada will slow up in 2020 creating more space for Canadian calves. Lower prices for feeders in the USA in 2019 decreased the demand for Canadian feeder cattle. Exports to the USA will finish the year at approximately 185,000 head, down from the 4-year average of 239,900

head and a far cry from the peak in 2014 of 429,000 head. The value of the Canadian dollar always an important factor in the cattle markets. Experts are predicting the dollar to float around 77 cents (US) for 2020. If the dollar were to strengthen to 80 cents, it would be detrimental to trade with the USA. A weaker dollar in the low 70s would make a huge difference in the north/south trade. There is a shortage of hay for the cowherds, and to a lesser degree, silage for backgrounding is not of as good quality as desired. The cost of finishing a steer has dropped due the amount of feed barley and wheat available. Backgrounding based on 2.25 pounds per day is costing between 85 and 95 cents depending on at what location you are feeding. The cost of finishing a steer in Western Canada is around $1.00 per pound. With the poor fall weather conditions, there was a major delay in the placement of feeder cattle this fall. This will translate into a shortage of 800 pound plus cattle in January and February. Fed cattle futures look very strong until the end of June in 2020. Feedlots with pen space should be very aggressive to purchase cattle that will hit

that marketing window. Those backgrounders who got their inventory purchased in September and early October could see a good return on their investment. The strong prices in the first half of 2020 will encourage feeders to stay current with their marketing to avoid the predicted surplus for fed cattle in the third quarter of the year. The demand for grass-type cattle will be very strong in the first half of 2020. Grassing operations made good money last year. Many did not purchase as many calves in the fall due to the weather conditions and the poor pen conditions. There were more lightweight cattle sold in the fall, and the feeling is that there could be a shortage of grass calves this spring. The supply and demand ratio could result in very strong demand during the first half of 2020. US analysts are predicting calves to be 13 cents Canadian higher this fall than last year. We desperately need a good crop in Canada with adequate pasture and forage crops. We can’t control the weather, but 2020 is starting to look like a good year for the Canadian cattle industry. Until next time, Rick

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CATTLE COUNTRY February 2020

StockTalk Q&A Feature brought to you by Manitoba Agriculture Manitoba Agriculture Livestock Extension Specialists Shawn Cabak.............Portage la Prairie.....204-239-3353 Ray Bittner.................Ashern.......................204-768-0010 Elizabeth Nernberg...Roblin.........................204-247-0087 Kathleen Walsh.........Swan River................204-734-3417 Jane Thornton...........Souris.........................204-483-2153 Tim Clarke...................Ashern.......................204-768-0534 Pam Iwanchysko.......Dauphin.....................204-648-3965 Q. The pregnancy rate in my cow herd was the lowest it’s ever been this past breeding season. I need to ensure the highest pregnancy rate possible for the 2021 calving season. Do you have any advice? Answer. Pregnancy rate is a complicated issue. In difficult years, it can be affected by a variety of deficiencies, and every herd can be different. Here is a list of possible issues and related solution: Cow nutrition through the winter of 2019-2020 has been a challenge for many herds. this is because of the short supply of hay and forage products due to dry conditions in early 2019. Feeds like straw, corn stover, dry grass and bullrushes, if they are fed with energy and protein supplements, can carry cows through ges-

tation. However, they won’t work well as a pre-breeding ration. Pre-breeding rations need be on a rising plane of nutrition. This allows the cow to milk, heal her reproductive tract and return to estrous. Positive energy balance is critical to resume ovulation. The natural breeding season for ruminants often relies on bountiful green grass to provide this positive energy balance. However, herds that start breeding between May 15 and the end of June often do not have enough time on good grass to achieve a positive energy balance. As such, energy supplementation needs to come from either highquality hay or mediumquality forages, with added grain products. Pre-breeding rations should provide 62 per cent

Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) and 11 per cent Crude Protein* to achieve normal return to estrous and successful conception (NRC Beef 2000). Thin cows may require higher levels of energy and protein to be ready for rebreeding. Producers who use straw and rough mature hay for breeding cow diets also need to consider that these feeds can be deficient in nutrients that are important for conception. Special supplementation may be required, to either increase mineral concentration or balance minerals. However, this may hinder the absorption of other minerals. Vitamin A is also an important nutrient for beef reproduction. Straw products and very mature hay contain lower concentrations of vitamin A than immature forages. The table below shows that the levels of nutrients in alfalfa hay are superior to those in straw products, So if your rations contain significant amounts of straw or mature residue, we recommend you consult with a livestock nutritionist. If your herd’s breeding season starts well after

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IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS FOR BEEF REPRODUCTION Wheat Straw

Corn Stover*

Barley Straw

Oat Straw

Alfalfa Hay

Timothy Hay

Calcium%

0.13

0.55

0.13

0.26

1.52

0.49

Phosphorous %

0.08

0.11

0.08

0.1

0.24

0.16

Copper mg/kg

3.0

6.5

3.0

6.0

Manganese mg/kg

Zinc mg/kg

Adapted from Cowbytes 5.31: *Corn Stover MRC Beef 9th edition

pasture release, it can cause conception issues if the pasture is deficient. While the intent of a mid-summer breeding system is to work in harmony with the environment, it can occasionally work against successful conception. Normally, a cow will flourish once it is introduced to pasture, because energy, protein and vitamin levels are high with immature grass and legumes. However, if pasture is lacking because of previous year sward damage, the nutrition provided might not keep up with the needs for milking and reproductive tract renewal. Producers need to consider that June pasture in Manitoba will normally be very high in digestible nutrients, protein and vitamin as measured in per cent. However, the total number of pounds that can be consumed by the cow may still not meet lactating and conception needs. To compound the problem, cows may not consume free choice salt and mineral adequately, due to mineral palatability, location of the feeder, or salt availability in the water source or saline area grasses. If your cows are consuming stored feed, they generally consume free choice mineral on a more stable basis. If your pasture in 2020 is substandard, con-

sider supplementing a grain product mixed with mineral (and salt) for 30 days before breeding. While this isn’t usually necessary, you might need to supplement the cow to bring her up to a positive energy balance to assure conception success. This can also introduce calves to eating concentrates early. Bulls are 50 per cent of the conception process. However, because of the breeding ratio of male to female, the bull group only eats one-twenty-fifth of the feed in preparation for breeding season. As such, preparation for the bulls breeding season should include a good quality ration through the winter and spring, holding the body condition without over-fattening. If you have a ration and management that was successful in the past, with good hay, grain and mineral, it is worth the same effort prior to the 2020 breeding season. Straw bedding is important and needs to be maintained to insulate the bull from the snow and ground, no matter how high the cost of straw. A breeding soundness exam, performed by a veterinarian, is also a good insurance policy and should be performed well in advance of the breeding season. If the exam is done early enough, new bulls can

still be purchased. Finally, before the breeding season, the bull should be introduced to an environment similar to the one he will be breeding in. For example, if the bull will be breeding in a wide open, fresh grass pasture, he should be introduced to the same conditions beforehand. That way, his digestive system should already be adjusted to fresh grass. The bull will also benefit by having room to walk and exercise, rather than being limited to a small pen and fed dry hay until the first day of breeding. The fewer adjustments the bull needs to make prior to breeding for the greater his ability to travel and achieve conception on a larger group of females. We want to hear from you! For the next issue of Cattle Country, a Manitoba Agriculture livestock specialist will answer a selected question. Send your questions to Ray.Bittner@gov. mb.ca The StockTalk Q&A Feature for Cattle Country is brought to you by Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development. Our forage and livestock team, who have a combined 230 years of agronomy experience, are here to help make your cattle operation successful. Contact us today.

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Producers explain the benefits of soil carbon BY ANGELA LOVELL It’s well known that native grasslands provide important ecosystem services, as well as tangible economic benefits for livestock producers through improvements in water infiltration and storage capacity, and the build up of soil organic carbon that enhances soil health. The three Prairie provinces originally had more than 60 million hectares of native grasslands, of which only around 11 million hectares remain today. In addition, there are around three million hectares of tame pastures in the region. The ecological goods and services that these grasslands provide include water purification and storage, carbon and greenhouse gas storage, pollination, forage production and biodiversity and habitat. Grazing has a positive effect on soil carbon Globally, the effect of grazing on soil carbon can be hard to predict because there are many different grazing systems, vegetation types and environmental conditions. But a benchmarking study at more than 100 sites in Alberta completed in 2018 showed that grazing increased soil carbon concentrations by 12 per cent, especially in the top 15 cm of soil. Those carbon increases were most apparent in grasslands with favourable rainfall. In addition, plant diversity increased with long-term grazing, paralleling increases in soil C. These changes in plant composition, coupled with grazing enhanced decomposition of surface litter, could explain how livestock impact the incorporation of plant mass into soil and build C stores.

Do different grazing systems affect soil carbon? Another ongoing Alberta study is comparing adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) rotational grazing with conventional grazing at 24 sites across the three prairie provinces to determine the effect on pasture production, soil microbes, carbon and greenhouse gases. Early results suggest that soils associated with AMP grazing may have a lower greenhouse gas footprint. Producer experiences with soil carbon At the recent Regenerative Agriculture Forum in Brandon, organised by the Manitoba Forage and Grasslands Association, a panel of beef producers shared their experiences with AMP or similar intensive planned grazing systems and the benefits to their operations of building soil carbon. Larry Wegner’s interest in carbon sequestration wasn’t an environmental decision, it was an economic one. After a serious drought hit in 2005, Wegner was having trouble growing enough grass to feed his cattle. “The grass was going dormant in mid July and we couldn’t figure out how to make it better, but we didn’t want it to happen again,” says Wegner, who custom grazes 200 cow/calf pairs on 800 acres near Virden. He remembered one of his college instructors telling him that adding organic matter to the soil could correct most soil issues, so Wegner decided the most inexpensive way to try and improve his soil was to leave more grass on top. He started leaving more armour (residue) behind after grazing to maintain soil cover to reduce soil temperature and began a simple twice-over ro-

tation on five quarters from fall 2005 to 2007 allowing lots of rest time between grazing for the grass to rejuvenate. “When we started doing this, if the neighbours beside us could run 15 to 20 pairs on a quarter section they were happy and we were doing the same, but we weren’t happy,” says Wegner. “We are now running 150 pairs on the bulk of the land for five months and we have our own herd out grazing by April 1 on stockpiled forage.” By spring of 2008, Wegner had adopted a full holistic planned grazing system, moving cattle in sync with available resources. “As the grass grows faster, we move the cattle two to three times up to five times a day,” says Wegner. In 2019, the dry conditions meant Wegner had slower grass growth, so the cattle moved once a day to every three days. “The key is being adoptive to the conditions of the time,” he adds. Monitoring the progress Wegner soil tested the first year to give him a baseline and has seen improvements in soil health and forage production every year since. It’s particularly noticeable in dry years like this past summer. “The grass was still productive all season and stayed green and lush even though on the neighbours, if you walked on it, you could hear the

grass crunch,” he says. Although Wegner started out with the aim of capturing and storing more water on his land, the sequestered carbon that comes along with his regenerative system is a by-product that is providing him additional, tangible economic benefits. “Putting the carbon in the soil is a benefit and it’s a way of marking how much good we’ve done,” he says. Wegner is involved in soil carbon testing on his land with the University of Alberta, which is monitoring organic matter (soil carbon) and its effect on soil health parameters such as water infiltration. “The water infiltration on one of the monitoring sites is now at 7½ inches in an hour whereas on the other side of the fence it’s doing 1¼ inches in an hour,” says Wegner. “We can handle any rain that comes and we don’t have water running off. We have springs popping again we didn’t have before; the water is cycling.” Since 2004, the organic matter has doubled from three to six per cent on some of his less productive land. Carbon as a risk management tool Ryan Canart grazes yearlings on his farm near Elkhorn, and is also Manager of the Upper Assiniboine Page 10 

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CATTLE COUNTRY February 2020

Examining the benefits of Standard Operating Procedures DR. TANYA ANDERSON, DVM Almost all producers are now aware of the need for a VCPR (Vet Client Patient Relationship) to get prescription medications (specifically antibiotics). This article is going to discuss another aspect (and benefit) of the VCPR - the development of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures). SOPs are written, stepby-step instructions that describe how to perform a task. From the cow/calf producer’s standpoint, a useful SOP would be one that outlines how to detect a sick animal, assess its symptoms and then choose an effective treatment based upon that assessment. Treatments could then be done at the time that the animal is first found and at the producer’s convenience, leading to a more suc-

cessful outcome due to few delays. This written document can be provided by your veterinarian upon annual renewal of your VCPR. It is developed in consultation with each producer such that it is realistic under the conditions for which it needs to be implemented. Develop a comfortable working relationship with your veterinarian and be honest in what animal health issues you struggle with, your goals for your operation and what you and your staff or family members are capable of doing. SOPs are not just for big farms - the same concepts apply to smaller farms and help improve efficiency and decrease unnecessary or incorrect medication usage. Protocols should be written

for easily recognizable, commonly occurring conditions on the farm. Every protocol should clearly describe the condition being treated, the approved drug for treatment including the drug name, dosages, frequency, route of administration, and withdrawal times. I like to include pictures and sometimes have video available for training purposes. Additionally, protocols should clearly advise what to do when things don’t go as expected—i.e., failure to respond, relapses after treatment, or symptoms not matching any approved protocol. Once you have implemented Standard Operating Procedures on your farm, you should be reviewing them with your veterinarian on at least an annual basis and more frequently if needed. The three most basic

components of treating any disease are the criteria for making the decision to treat, the treatment regimen and then the criteria for determining the success or failure of that treatment. A review of the SOP helps us learn if the protocol is effective. Are animals being detected soon enough? Is the treatment working and, if not, what additional concerns or issues are arising? Just as antibiotic and feed prescriptions have expiries, standard operating procedures also become outdated. Sometimes the disease itself changes Histophilus somni was originally called ITEME because it initially caused neurological signs in feedlot cattle but is now well recognized as causing disease in a number of organ systems including the lungs, bone, joint, mammary gland, geni-

tals, heart, and eye. Obviously the symptoms for diagnosis would change. Drug sensitivity patterns also change with time such that different drugs or different doses, drug combinations and lengths of treatment become the new “standard of care”. New designer drugs have been developed and new uses for “older” drugs have been discovered, often through research and development using large scale trials. Sometimes protocols need to be changed due to changing regulations on how drugs can be used. For example, several feed grade antimicrobials were removed from the market following the implementation of the new antimicrobial usage regulations. Other medications have faced issues at manufacture, creating backorders and triggering changes

in protocols based on the need for an effective alternative. Reviewing records of the diagnosis and antibiotic use allows the early detection of trends in disease incidence and thus triggers a review to improve management to minimize losses and improve animal health through preventative measures like vaccination and biosecurity. It may be deemed necessary to do further testing - blood work, necropsies, nutrition consults, etc. to gather more data. Veterinary oversight allows continuous monitoring and identification of potential improvements to the animal care plan. Oversight is an integral component for validation of the VCPR and provides accountability, ultimately resulting in increased consumer confidence.

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February 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY

University of Manitoba advances Manitoba Beef Producers’ priorities BY CHRISTINE RAWLUK

National Centre for Livestock and the Environment, University of Manitoba

Manitoba Beef Producers’ research priorities span economics and profitability, nutrition and feed efficiency and environmental sustainability to achieve the combined goals of increased profitability, reduced environmental impact, and improved public perceptions of the beef industry. Researchers with the University of Manitoba’s National Centre for Livestock and the Environment work at developing wholefarm approaches that improve the environmental sustainability of livestock agriculture while improving farm-level profitability. Through our research we develop and test made-athome strategies, using science-based data collected under Manitoba production conditions. Industry support of our research is critical to obtain matching funding. Research funding and inkind contributions from Manitoba Beef Producers are used to multiply your investment three- to tenfold, increasing the value of your check-off dollars. Our research by animal, plant and soil scientists and economists is providing the science-backed information that Manitoba beef producers and the Canadian beef industry can draw on when engaging with a public that is very much interested in how their food is grown and raised. Here is a look at our current research. Economics And Profitability Manitoba beef industry profile. Graduate student Sydney Fortier is working with Manitoba Beef Producers and Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development’s policy branch to provide an updated overview of the

current status of the beef industry in Manitoba in terms of production practices and economics. This industry profile information will be used for providing strategic direction to Manitoba’s beef industry. Sydney is supervised by economist Derek Brewin and animal scientist Kim Ominski. Nutrition And Feed Efficiency The grasslands/forages-beef production systems research program seeks to improve the quality of forages and grasslands, identify promising new forage varieties, and evaluate new extended grazing and alternative feeding strategy options that are both economically and environmentally sustainable. Research outcomes will provide opportunities for the beef industry to increase their competitiveness while enhancing the resilience and diversity of cattle feeding systems. Intercropping corn with high quality forages for extended grazing. Animal scientist Emma McGeough and plant scientist Yvonne Lawley completed preliminary research funded by the Beef Cattle Research Council demonstrating the promise of intercropping corn with high quality forages for extended grazing options that provide higher energy and protein. They, along with other collaborators, intend to continue this work comparing corn intercropped with a variety of annual forages to increase protein content. New forage variety perennial forage grain for both food and feed. Emma McGeough and plant scientist Doug Cattani are the first to evaluate the perennial grain intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) as a dual-purpose crop to provide both a cash food grain crop and high quality forage regrowth for grazing cattle into the late fall and early winter. Demand for IWG as a food grain is growing, in part because of

environmental attributes associated with perennials such as carbon storage. Agronomic research in Canada has shown IWG to be highly adaptable to the prairies, being able to withstand cold, drought and excess moisture. Their project includes both field research and a cattle grazing trial for a whole-system assessment encompassing agronomic and cattle performance, grain and forage quality, environmental sustainability and ecosystem services. As well, Derek Brewin will assess the economic potential of the combined croplivestock system. Research by soil scientist Francis Zvomuya builds a soil health component into the grazing study. This NSERC Strategic project is in partnership with Manitoba Beef Producers, Ducks Unlimited, Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association, and Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, as well as research collaborators at the University of Saskatchewan, AAFC and the Kansas Land Institute, with additional funding through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Environmental Sustainability Our research approach is whole-systems based, looking at the big picture at high resolution from mul-

tiple angles, drawing on the diverse expertise of our research teams. With this approach we are quantifying the true impact of beef production – both Canadawide and regionally – on the environment, and identifying effective mitigation strategies that can improve the sector’s overall environmental footprint at the national, regional and farm levels. Improved resilience and adaptation coupled with environmental benefits. The goal of Marcos Cordeiro’s sustainable food systems modeling program is to develop decision management tools targeting strategies for environmental sustainability and climate change resilience. Working with soil scientists David Lobb and Don Flaten, his early research will examine the potential for nutrient loading from beef production systems to waterways and adaptation strategies for overcoming environment-related challenges such as flooding and drought. Combining management strategies to reduce whole farm greenhouse gas emissions for cow-calf producers. Research led by Kim Ominski and soil scientist Mario Tenuta will determine if combining multiple feeding and manure man-

agement strategies proven effective on their own can result in greater emissions reductions of both methane and nitrous oxide – the two most important GHG in agriculture – when used together, compared with using them on their own. Funding for this research is provided by AAFC’s Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program. Accounting for overlooked environmental benefits of cattle on the landscape – biodiversity and carbon storage. Life cycle assessments (LCA) are commonly used to assess the environmental impacts of food products, yet this method places a disproportionate emphasis on greenhouse gas emissions. As such, available LCA models overlook benefits of beef production on biodiversity and carbon storage. Research led by Kim Ominski, Marcos Cordeiro and AAFC researchers Tim McAllister and Roland Kroebel aims to develop LCA modeling tools that properly account for soil carbon and biodiversity plants, animals, insects and birds - within cattle grazing and pasture systems, so that future assessments of beef production across Canada are whole-systems based. Their work will also assess soil carbon stock impacts

Happy New Year to all cattle producers across Manitoba! With calving upon us order your Angus ID tags by contacting CCIA: www.canadaid.ca or 1-877-909-2333 For upcoming bull sales please visit: www.mbangus.ca/outlooknewsletter As always, follow up on MB Angus updates, events, and news by visiting: www.mbangus.ca or by following us on Facebook at Manitoba Angus.

Manitoba Angus Association P: 1-888-622-6487 mandi.mbangus@gmail.com

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when pasture land is converted to other agricultural and non-agricultural land uses. This research is supported by the Beef Cattle Research Council and Mitacs Canada. Christine Rawluk is the research development and communications facilitator with NCLE and the Faculty, specializing in livestock production systems. The U of M Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences beef production systems research team includes Kim Ominski, Emma McGeough, Argenis Rodas-Gonzalez, Marcos Cordeiro, Kateryn Rochon, Claudia Narvaez, Doug Cattani, Yvonne Lawley, Francis Zvomuya, Mario Tenuta, Don Flaten and Derek Brewin. Working with research partners across Canada, the University of Manitoba forage-beef production systems research team with the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment is conducting research here in Manitoba aimed at improving profitability, environmental sustainability and providing sciencebacked information that can be used to address the public’s perception of the beef industry.

10 CATTLE COUNTRY February 2020

Turn Headline 2 decks please  Page 7 River Conservation District, and he says his biggest motivation is also the risk management of drought protection by building carbon in his soils. “That’s going to help me ride out floods, drought, disease and pest risks on farm,” he says. “The only way I can control the quality and quantity of forage I can produce on the farm is by trying to use the livestock as a tool to build organic matter in soil, which will be reflected at the surface as grass.” Canart began to rotationally graze in 2001, but experimented with intensive AMP grazing in 2017, rotating the cattle through different paddocks several times a day and doubling the rest period on the pastures. “I have become very comfortable with portable fence, very high stock density rotational grazing,” says Canart. “I’m still seeing the benefits even through a dry summer like this one; the grass yields were good.” He also emphasizes that moving cattle isn’t as onerous as a lot of people believe. “I used to take weeks to train cattle to move on a rotational

grazing basis, but with a new approach, within a day I can train 500 head to respect a single wire and move them into a small area knowing that they’re not going to run out,” he says. “There is a lot of time invested in moving a fence and water compared to continuous grazing systems and I understand some people don’t want to make that commitment, but I have found it gives me the opportunity to observe the pasture and animals much more. I tested the opportunities of being able to drought proof my land, and I think that’s all worth it, at least in my system.” Building resilience with soil carbon Jonathan Bouw sums up his efforts to build soil carbon in one word; ‘resilience.’ “I live east of Winnipeg and we usually have excess moisture because we have very heavy clay soils with poor infiltration, so that’s usually our problem,” says Bouw. “The last three years, we’ve had an unprecedented drought, but where we’ve bale grazed, the grass was lush and thick, so the carbon that has gone into the soil from the bale grazing has really given that soil

Soil carbon dynamics

resilience. It’s a measurable, quantifiable thing just being able to graze cattle where people who manage differently aren’t able to graze cattle.” He began implementing regenerative agriculture practices like planned grazing, moving animals every one to two days and incorporating a 60-day minimum rest period between grazing periods, and bale grazing on his ranch near Anola around 12 years ago, and he and his family took a holistic management course in 2014. Jonathan and his wife Eileen, together with his brother Stefan and wife Kendra, and parents Marilyn and Herman custom graze around 600 cattle on 1700 acres and have their own 200-cow purebred Angus herd, selling 50 bulls a year and supplying grassfed beef to restaurants and private customers. Bouw says he has increased carrying capacity on land that has been bale grazed by up to six times and it especially shows in extremely dry years like 2019. “For us, there’s really good financial incentives,” says Bouw. “Bale grazing saves us money because we don’t start a tractor or a manure spreader all

winter for those cattle, they are out there and leaving the nutrients on the soil. It saves us a lot of time and money. We’re busy all summer moving cattle but we manage more intensely and we get a lot more out of our land because of that in terms of more cattle per acre than if we did continuous, setstock grazing, so there’s financial benefits for sure. Land is not cheap, and we figure we can essentially gain acres of production without expending capital just by managing our forage and grazing production more intensely.”” The farm used to produce organic grain, but in recent years the family has moved heavier into beef production and has planted everything to perennial forages. “Even when we were doing organic grain production, our goal was to reduce our risks by not having to purchase inputs, so planned grazing is another effort to reduce our risks and invest in our soil so that sunlight and rain are the only inputs. Moving away from the NPK paradigm to the regenerative and carbon farming mode is a natural progression for us and the resilience is what it boils down to.”

The University of Alberta’s rangeland ecology and management specialist, Edward Bork explained how carbon dynamics work in grasslands recently at the Manitoba Forage & Grasslands Associations, Regenerative Agriculture Forum in Brandon. Agro-ecosystems remove CO₂ via plant growth (photosynthesis), Bork said, and release oxygen back into the atmosphere. In temperate regions, like western Canada, short bursts of carbon uptake in a three to six month growing season are balanced against gradual C loss due to respiration from plant decay throughout the year. Carbon uptake increases with practices such as fertilization, seeding of legumes and irrigation, but these all require energy inputs as well. Grasslands currently cover around 15 per cent of the world’s land surface and store 10 to 30 per cent of the global organic carbon. Temperate, (cool-season) grasslands, such as those in western Canada, contain more than 300 gigatons (Gt) of carbon, three percent of which is in plants, and 97 percent of which is in soils. Why have grasslands and their underlying soil accumulated so much carbon? Perennial grasslands have high root to shoot ratios, which means the majority of their biomass is below ground, which leads to high soil organic matter (SOM) accumulation. As most of the resulting C is stored below ground it is less prone to disturbances like fire, making it more stable in the long term. What changes soil carbon? A number of activities can change soil carbon in grasslands, including erosion from wind and water, as well as cultivation, which globally leads to the loss of around 30 to 55 per cent of soil carbon. The ‘furnace effect – which is warm soil temperatures combined with oxygenated soil – can greatly increase microbial activity that hastens the decay of plant residue and increases soil C loss through respiration. The lowest levels of soil carbon are in annual cropping systems because annual plants do not generate as much below ground biomass as perennial plants. One study in southwest Alberta in an area with moderate moisture availability showed a 20 to 30 per cent reduction in soil C in as little as six years after conversion of a native grassland to annual cropland. In a drier, more arid environment, the loss was 30 to 40 per cent after five to six years after conversion. While tame forages are more effective than cropland at building soil C, they do not have the same proportion of root mass as native grasslands, and thus lead to less SOM and C storage. What’s the value of lost carbon in converted grasslands? Using a value of $30 per tonne of CO₂ equivalent, Bork estimated that in Alberta, the value of lost C from past grassland conversion to cropland varies from approximately $8.4 billion to $22.6 billion depending on the region. Other indicators of soil health also decline following cultivation of grasslands, including reduced water availability and soil porosity, as well as diminished soil aggregation.

Denbie Ranch & Guests Bull Sale

Saturday, Feb 22nd, 2020 2:00 P.M. @ Ste. Rose Auction Mar t 64 Bulls Sell

3 Breeds

Red Angus, Charolais, Red Angus x Simmental– Hybrids

Red Angus

Charolais

Hybrid –Red X Simmental

Two year old, Long Yearling and Yearling Bulls that are well grown out and Not Pushed! They will last!

Denbie Ranch

Myhre Land and Cattle

Bar J

Denis and Debbie Guillas

Hans Myhre

Jack Robertson

204-447-2473

204-638-5664

204-843-2246

Cell: 204-447-7608

Cell: 204-648-6416

Justin Robertson

Sale Day Online Bidding with DLMS

204-871-3086

View Catalogue @ srauction.ca and Denbie Ranch Facebook

www.mbbeef.ca

February 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY 11

Grazing Management as a tool for Pasture Rejuvenation Maximizing forage productivity per grazed acre is a significant driver in overall farm profitability, a strong theme at the 2019 Western Canada Conference on Soil Health & Grazing (WCCSHG). A theme also echoed in a survey of over 300 beef producers across 14 Manitoba Beef Producer District meetings, with 63% indicating pasture and or hay land rejuvenation as a top interest area for on farm trials. As we look forward to 2020 after an extremely challenging year, it is an ideal time to look at the topic of pasture rejuvenation identifying common topics, resources available to producers, and highlight ongoing studies at Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives (MBFI). Following an engaging and inspiring conference or workshop it is important to take time to reflect on how to use ideas and aha moments to apply them to your farming operation. Understanding the root causes of poor pasture performance and where to start making improvements can be an overwhelming undertaking. The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) resource page provides an excellent overview of pasture rejuvenation with research findings illustrating outcomes observed in Western Canada. The Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association (MFGA) research webpage is a rich resource for fact sheets, guides, and the recently released Manitoba Rangeland and Pasture Health Initiative (https://www.mfga. net/rangeland-pasture-health). Ongoing field demonstrations at Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives (MBFI) continue to build data and provide hands on learning opportunities to advance adoption of beneficial grazing practices. In getting started, quality of the pasture in question needs to be assessed and long-term goals set. Where are there gaps in your production system? What are the limitations (e.g. moisture, salinity, soil type)? Do you need higher yields to support more grazing days, increase the legume content, or decrease undesirable plant species? A common thread highlighted by

Dr. Dwayne Beck, Dr. Allen Williams, and Dr. Llewllyn Manske at the WCCSHG was to keep the historical landscape ecosystems and subsequently their limitations in mind when setting goals for pasture productivity. Regular monitoring and documentation of pasture and livestock performance builds a benchmark for estimating the potential productivity. It is important to note that native rangeland should be preserved without the introduction of tame species and managed according to ecological principles. Investing in pasture improvement without addressing grazing management leads to lost economic potential. The BCRC resources page recommends evaluating the grazing system with respect to timing, over utilization, and rest period duration. Continuous grazing poses a serious challenge for maintaining productive forage stands with a high proportion of desirable legume plant species. At MBFI Brookdale farm in the Planned Grazing Demonstration, led by Pam Iwanchysko (MB Agriculture), the continuous grazing livestock repeatedly go back to preferred plant areas. A constant state of regrowth from repeated bites to the same plants leads to decreased plant vigour, due to sugars being diverted from growing roots and new tillers. Leading to overall lower pasture productivity and the encroachment of undesirable plants. In contrast, the intensive one to two acre planned rotational grazing with rest periods targeted to be between 60 and 90 days has shown an increase in grazing days and maintenance of desirable forage species. In some cases, installing the water and fencing infrastructure for rotational grazing is not feasible. At the First Street Pasture, Jane Thornton (MB Agriculture) is evaluating tools to achieve increased grazing distribution by moving mineral placement and over seeding small areas to legumes. Several varied and in some cases contrasting strategies using grazing as a tool to improve pasture performance

were presented at the WCCSHG. Gabe Brown, a household name when it comes to Regenerative Agriculture, uses perennial pasture in combination with annual crops in his farm’s grazing plan. Pasture paddocks are sized for daily moves and to ensure adequate recovery Gabe plans for 12 to 14 months rest before that same area is grazed again. Grazing diverse cover crops creates a window for stockpiling perennial forage to be grazed late fall into winter or early spring. Dr. Williams a pioneer in developing adaptive grazing protocols, and a partner with Gabe in the Understanding AG regenerative agricultural consulting company, spoke to the need for integrating a diversity of forage species (e.g. grasses, legumes, forbs, and woody species) along with variable grazing disturbance patterns as key elements to steadily improving productivity and soil health. Allen recommends not moving through pasture rotations in the same order every year, but rather for a given paddock each time it is grazed changing stocking density (expressed at lbs live weight per acre), the time of year, changing rest periods, and grazing to different heights while taking no more than 30% to 50% of the available forage in a single grazing event.

Another option in grazing management of perennial pastures was presented by Dr. Llewellyn Manske, North Dakota State University, in the twice-over rotation grazing system (https://www. ag.ndsu.edu/dickinsonrec/grazinghandbook). Dr. Manske’s system centers on managing forage vegetative reproduction by targeting grazing to plant stage to promote tillering for increased productivity and to capture peak forage quality per acre when it is available. Building a system that takes advantage of forages with differing seasonality creates opportunity for extended grazing. Dr. Manske raised caution to grazing stockpiled cool season grasses due to the primary tillers already in place to resume growth in the spring will negatively impact plant vigor if damaged. Dr. Williams also drove home the best tool in a grazier’s toolkit is the power of observation, noting that constant observation leads to keen intuition in developing and adapting grazing plans. The Manitoba Range and Pasture Health Workbook (MFGA) along with the Rejuvenation of Tame Forages (Saskatchewan Agriculture) are excellent guides to honing field observations and providing context to determining management decision thresholds for your operation.

12 CATTLE COUNTRY February 2020

Hay Disaster Benefit activated, Crown land sales changes and more Approximately 1,500 insured forage producers are expected to receive in excess of $5 million in payouts after the Hay Disaster Benefit (HDB) was triggered as a result of the 2019 forage shortfall in Manitoba. The announcement was made January 10 by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen. “The Hay Disaster Benefit (HDB) is a complimentary feature of the AgriInsurance program that compensates insured forage producers for the increased cost of hay and transportation when there is a severe provincial forage shortfall,” said Pedersen. “All producers who are enrolled in the Select Hay Insurance and Basic Hay Insurance programs are automatically enrolled in the HDB.” This payment is triggered when at least 20 per cent of producers with Select Hay or Basic Hay Insurance harvest less than 50 per cent of their long-term average hay yield. For 2019, producers will receive an additional $40 for each tonne below their Select Hay or Basic Hay Insurance coverage. All insured hay types (alfalfa, alfalfa grass mixtures, grasses, sweet clover and coarse hay) are eligible. This is the second time the HDB has triggered since changes were made to Manitoba forage insurance offerings in 2014. It was first activated in relation to the 2018 production year and benefits totalling $3.2 million were paid to 708 eligible producers. There is no cost to producers as the premiums are cost shared 60-40 by the federal and provincial governments under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. For more information on forage insurance, contact a MASC office or visit www.masc.mb.ca/masc.nsf/program_forages.html . The deadline to sign-up for 2020 forage insurance is March 31. Legislation to streamline Crown land sales On December 3, the Manitoba government introduced Bill 13 – The Crown Lands Disposition Act (Various Acts Amended). “The Crown Land Dispositions Act will make the overall process of land dispositions more efficient, effective and transparent,” said Central Services Minister Reg Helwer. “Manitobans who want to purchase surplus Crown land for economic or recreational purposes would see shorter wait times and quicker response times

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from the province on routine real estate transactions.” The proposed changes would delegate more authority to ministers to make land sales decisions. Currently, all sales above $25,000 require cabinet approval (along with one statute of $500). Under the new structure: a department minister could sell Crown land and property valued up to $200,000, the minister of finance could authorize sales between $200,000 and $1 million, and cabinet approval would be required on sales valued at $1 million and over. “This will reduce the number of transactions that require cabinet approval and speed up the process for land sales,” said Helwer. “Safeguards would be in place to ensure all land sales are open and transparent, and free of inside influence.” As well, according to the bill’s explanatory note, persons employed in specified branches or offices of departments that are involved in the administration or disposition of Crown lands must obtain ministerial authorization in order to acquire an interest in Crown land; ministers and senior public servants must obtain Cabinet authorization before acquiring an interest in Crown land; and regulation-making powers under the Act are clarified, including those concerning the establishment and operation of snowmobile trails on Crown lands. The province now has an interactive online mapping tool where people can find information on land sales or acquisitions. See: http://resd.ca/disclosure/Disclosure. aspx To review Bill 13 go to: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/ bills/42-2/b013e.php Ag Crown Lands update At the time this edition of Cattle Country was going to print (mid-January) there was still no word as to when the regulatory change required to allow for the first right of renewal for existing agricultural Crown land (ACL) legacy leases will be made public for stakeholder feedback. Following pushback from MBP and stakeholders the province announced October 11 that it is pursuing further amendment to the regulation to enable successive renewals for legacy leases, provided that leaseholders remain eligible. MBP will provide feedback on this regulatory change when the public consultation process is initiated

and strongly encourages ACL lease holders to provide their input as well. MBP has long advocated for the first right of renewal for eligible leaseholders. Access and predictability are essential to long-term planning related to livestock operations. By having long-term leases producers will have the confidence to invest and improve lands, and to grow their herds. Short-term leases do not provide financial institutions with the security they seek to make capital available, nor does it encourage investments in improvements to the ACL. 2019 Fall Conditions Report Manitoba Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre released the 2019 Fall Conditions Report in mid-December, a report that looks at factors such as the current state of soil moisture at the time of freeze-up, base flows in rivers and water levels on lakes prior to the spring run-off. This information is used by the provincial government, along with other data to begin assessing the potential risk of spring flooding. The report found that base flows on most rivers were above normal to well-above normal for that time of the year, and that soil moisture levels before freeze-up were above normal to well-above normal for most of Manitoba’s river watersheds, with the exception of northern basins. The report noted “The Assiniboine River is predicted to remain at near-normal to slightly-above-normal flows until the spring run-off. The Red River is expected to remain at above-normal flows and levels prior to the spring run-off. Flows on the Waterhen, Fairford and Dauphin rivers will remain near normal to slightly above normal. Lake Manitoba is expected to remain near 811.5 feet throughout the winter. Lake Winnipegosis will remain near 830.6 ft. throughout the winter. Lake St. Martin is expected to reach near 799.2 ft. before the spring run-off.” A variety of factors determine the spring run-off potential and flood risk, such as future weather conditions (winter and spring precipitation levels), as well as melt conditions. Manitoba’s first official spring flood outlook is expected at the end of February. The 2019 Fall Conditions Report is available at: https://www.gov.mb.ca/mit/floodinfo/pdf/2019/2019_ fall_conditions_report.pdf

WHY FIT IN WHEN YOU WERE BORN TO

S T AND OU T

check o ut these bull sales for yo u ne x t herdsire:

February 22 nd Myhre Land & Cattle/Bar J Charolais Bull Sale, Ste Rose Auction Mart, Ste Rose MB February 29 th Triple C Charolais Bull Sale, Ashern As hern Auction Mart, Ashern MB March 8 th Steppler Farms 9th Annual Bull Sale, Steppler Sale Barn, Miami MB

HIGH FAT EXPELLER CANOLAMEAL (APPROX. 37 % PROTEIN, 12 % FAT) CORN SCREENINGS (Similar nutrient value to whole kernel corn) (No grinding or rolling required to feed) OTHER FEED INGREDIENTS AVAILABLE! FOR PRICES DELIVERED TO YOUR AREA PLEASE CONTACT US Feed Ingredients from a Name that Delivers Quality, Reliability and Value

Jan or Heather (204) 822-6275 1 (877) 999-6604

March 20 th High Bluff Stock Farm Charolais & Simmental Bull Sale, at the farm Inglis MB March 21 st Pleasant Dawn Charolais 17th Annual Bull Sale, at the farm, Oak Lake MB March 23 rd Tee M Jay Charolais Bull Sale Ashern Auction Mart, Ashern MB March 23 rd Tri-N Charolais Farm & Guests Bull Sale, at the farm, Lenore MB March 25 th HTA Charolais & Guest Bull Sale, at the farm Rivers MB March 31 st Prairie Distinction Charolais Bull Sale, Beautiful Plains Ag Complex, Neepawa MB April 2 nd Hunter Charolais 9th Annual Bull Sale, at the farm, Roblin MB April 2 nd C2 Charolais 2nd Annual Bull Sale, Killarney Auction Mart, Killarney MB April 13 th Cattle Capital Bull Sale, Ste Rose Auction Mart, Ste Rose MB MORE POUNDS = MORE $$

Manitoba Charolais Association Fi nd a comp l ete l i st of Cha rol a i s b reed ers a t WWW.CHAROLAISBANNER.COM/MCA

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February 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY 13

HOG HITH

FARM & RANCH EQUIPMENT Ltd

E OU TST

RA ANDING B

HI-HO G

Farm & Ranc h Equ ipment

Offers for Sale by Private Treaty 40 Yearling Black Angus Bulls 20 2yr Old Black Angus Bulls Sires Represented: Bar-E-L Candidate 10C

*Bar-E-L Candidate 10C *Young Dale Absolute 3D *BM Feel Good *BJ Harvestor

* Youngdale Edan

*Young Dale Hi Definition 185B

Young Dale Absolute 3D

Ou tstanding Calving Equipment

All bulls are Bunk Fed TMR Silage Ration Fertility Tested and Delivery Available

Fed Responsibly to Ensure Longevity! Young Dale Hi Definition 185B

The WALKERS Miniota, MB Call Bill at 204-567-3782

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CANADIAN OWNED & MADE

14 CATTLE COUNTRY February 2020

FORAGE BASED BLACK ANGUS BULLS & REPLACEMENT FEMALES

Wednesday, February 19, 2020 On the Ranch, Russell, Manitoba Black and Red Simmental, Angus and Simm-Angus Bulls

Coming Two Year Old Bulls & Bred Females

www.nerbasbrosangus.com 204-773-6800 Congratulations to

2020 bull sales

A.O. Henuset Ambassador Recipients Schweitzer Simmentals -Decker, MB Pembina Triangle Association Commerical Breeder of the Year Allan Lindal & Family - Fisher Branch, MB Box 274, Austin, MB R0H 0C0 Keystone Simmental Association President: Tracy Wilcox 204-713-0029 Commerical Breeder of the Year Secretary: Laurelly Beswitherick 204-637-2046 b2@inetlink.ca Robbie & Cody Milliken - Reston, MB Feb. 17th Feb. 19th Mar. 4th Mar. 5th Mar. 9th Mar. 10th Mar. 11th Mar. 13th Mar. 14th Mar. 15th Mar. 16th Mar. 17th Mar. 18th Mar. 20th Mar. 21th Mar. 23th Mar. 24th Apr. 13th

Rendezvous Farms 16th Annual Simmental Bull & Female Sale, Ste. Rose du Lac, MB M&J Farms Simmental & Angus 2 year Bull & Female Sale, Russell, MB Maple Lake Stock Farms Kick off to Spring Bull Sale, Hartney, MB JP Cattle Co./Stewart Cattle Co. Annual Simmental & Angus Bull Sale, Mcauley, MB Canadian Central Bull & Female Simmental Sale, Winnipeg, MB Bonchuk Farms Annual Bull Sale, Virden, MB Mar Mac Farms Bull & Commercial Female Sale, Brandon, MB Rainbow River Simmentals 3rd Annual Bull & Female Sale, Fisher Branch, MB Ranchers Select Simmental Bull Sale, Neepawa, MB Rebels of the West Simmental Bull Sale, Virden, MB Transcon’s Winnipeg Simmental Bull Sale, Winnipeg, MB Prairie Partners Bull & Female Sale, Killarney, MB Transcon’s Premium Beef Simmental Bull Sale, Neepawa, MB High Bluff Stock Farms Charolais & Simmental Bull Sale, Inglis, MB Oakview/Perkin/Triple R Simmental Bull Sale, Brandon, MB Transcon’s Cattle Country Bull Sale, Neepawa, MB WLB Livestock 16th Annual Simmentl Bull Sale, Douglas, MB Cattle Capital Bull Sale, Ste. Rose du Lac, MB

Sale Managed By: T Bar C Cattle Co. Ltd. Chris: 306.220.5006

Miles & Bonnie Glasman Matthew & Leanne Glasman Jared & Chelsey Glasman find us on: Home: 204.773.3209 Home: 204.773.3279 Matt’s Cell: 204.773.6055 Miles’ Cell: 204.773.6275 mlg@glasmanfarms.com Jared’s Cell: 204.796.0999 www.glasmanfarms.com mjsimmentalangus@gmail.com www.mjsimmentalangus.com

www.mbsimmental.com www.mbbeef.ca

February 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY 15

AGM thank you ad

www.mbbeef.ca

16 CATTLE COUNTRY February 2020

MH TITAN 752

Pictured at 9yrs of age, Still going strong at 13 yrs old - 12 Sons sell!

Our 13 Annual Sale! th

55 Black & Red Angus

Rugged 2-Yr Old Bulls

30 Black Angus Bred Heifers Selling: March 14, 2020-Ashern MB Moderate - Maternal - Easy Calving - Easy Fleshing

Come to the Ashern Auction Mart to hear STEVE KENYON at our Pre-Sale Meeting, Friday, March 13th @ 7 pm. www.ediecreekangus.com  twitter: @ediecreekangus

Jonathan Bouw: Stefan Bouw: 204-471-4696 204-232-1620 BREEDING BULLS for GRASS FARMERS www.mbbeef.ca

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February 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY 17

HAMCO CATTLE CO. al u 22nd Ann

CHAROLAIS & SIMMENTAL BULL SALE ON THE FARM, INGLIS, MB. MARCH 20, 2020

Angus Bull Sale

Saturday, March 21, 2020 At the farm , South of Glenboro, MB

1:00 p.m.

Your source for Elite Angus Genetics! Selling 50 Red & 50 Black Angus Yearling Bulls Selling 25 Red & 15 Black Angus 2 Year old Bulls

üMany are AI sired üBulls semen tested üBulls on home performance test - data available üDeveloped on a high forage TMR ration üSelected from a 530 purebred cow herd üFree board until April 15 üOnline Bidding with DLMS

f f u l B h Hig

Please join us for lunch 12:00 p.m. on Sale Day

STOCK FARM

www.highbluffstockfarm.ca

For more information or catalogues view us on line at hamcocattleco.com or contact us

The Jackson Family Carman: 1-204-773-6448 Erin: 1-204-821-4110 www.mbbeef.ca

The Hamiltons

Glen & Carleen (204) 827-2358 Larissa & Kyle (204) 526-0705 Cell larissa_hamilton@hotmail.com

Dr. David & Shelley (204) 822-3054 (204) 325-3635 Cell Embryo@mymts.net

18 CATTLE COUNTRY February 2020

& guest Stewart Cattle

Simment al & Angus Bull & Female Sale

Thurs., Feb 1

March 5, 2020

glenn & Barry lowes eric & Melissa Pateman

Mcauley, MB glen: 204-851-5669 Barry: 204-851-0342 eric: 306-434-8567 brookecanart@gmail.com mmwilson87@hotmail.com www.jpcattle.com

Brent & dale Stewart Kelsey & Tyler Thompson Russell, MB 204-773-2356 Cell: 204-773-6392 stewartcows@wificountry.ca www.stewartcattle.com

Sale Managed By T Bar C Cattle Co. Ltd. info@tbarc.com | www.buyagro.com Chris Poley: 306-220-5006 Shane Michelson: 403-363-9973 Ben Wright: 519-374-3335

Watch & Bid online

FEBRUARY FEBRUARY

Thurs., Feb 8

Butcher Sale

9:00 am;

Bred Cow Sale

1:00 pm

Feeder Sale

9:00 am

Butcher Sale

9:00 am

Tues Feb 4

Regular Sale

Thurs Feb 6

Bred Cow Sale

Tues Feb 11

Presort Sale Bred Cow Sale Regular sale in the afternoon

9:30am 1:00 pm

Tues Feb 18

Regular Sale

9:00am

Tues Tues.,Feb Feb 25 27

Presort Sale Presort Sale Regular Sale in the afternoon

9:30am 9:30 am

Regular Sale

9:00am

Tues., Feb 13 Thurs., Feb 15 Tues., Feb 20

Thurs., Feb 22 Fri., Mar 2

Tues Mar 3

MARCH MARCH

on the Farm mCauley, manitoba

Tues., Feb 6

2020 Winter Sale Schedule 2018 Winter Sale Schedule

SeLLing L SiMMenTa uLLS & anguS B MeRCiaL PLuS CoM RS BRed Heife

C o.

Tues., Mar 6

Presort Sale

Butcher Sale Feeder Sale

Butcher Sale

Cattleman’s Connection Bull Sale Feeder Sale

9:00am 9:30 am

11:00am 9:00 am

9:00 am 9:00 am

1:00 pm 9:00 am

Fri MarMar 6 13 Cattlemen’s Connection Bull Sale 1:00pm Tues., Presort Sale 9:30 am Tues Mar Thurs., Mar10 15 Presort Bred Sale Cow Sale Regular Sale in the afternoon Tues., Mar 20 Feeder Sale Tues Tues.,Mar Mar 17 27 Regular FeederSale Sale Tues Mar 24 Regular Sale

9:30am 1:00 pm 9:00 am

9:00am 9:00 am 9:00am

View the catalogue online at www.BuyAgro.com www.mbbeef.ca

Heartland Livestock Services

February 2020 CATTLE COUNTRY 19

w w w. m a r m a c f a r m s . n e t

BLACK ANGUS

BULL SALE

Simmental, Red & Black Angus er

On Off

YEARLING BULLS COMING TWO YEAR OLD BULLS COMMERCIAL BRED HEIFERS

RED ANGUS

CUSTOMER SERVICE ONLY TOP END OF PEN SELL

LEADING EDGE GENETICS

March11 POWER & CALVING EASE BULLS

2020

AT THE FARM | BRANDON, MB

MAR MAC FARMS

Blair, Lois McRae & Family | Brandon, Manitoba 204-728-3058 | Blair: 204-729-5439 | Lois: 204-573-5192

Consignors: McRae Land & Livestock and Angus Valley Farm

www.mbbeef.ca

SIMMENTAL

20 CATTLE COUNTRY February 2020 Photo courtesy of Staden Farms

Photo courtesy of Canadian Sheep Federation

GET TO KNOW US BETTER Photo courtesy of Connie Seutter

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